May 17 - Evening
"Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
'How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.' "
- Job 8:1-6
'How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right? When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin. But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty, if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.' "
- Job 8:1-6
Bildad's Contribution to 'Common Sense' Theology
Bildad (meaning “Bel has loved”) was the second friend to speak. Bildad speaks three times in the Book of Job: Job 8 and Job 18 and Job 25. Bildad came to comfort Job, but became more accusing of Job the longer he had to listen to Job’s words.
Bildad’s first words are NOT words of comfort, but a rebuke of Job’s words which attacked 'common sense' theology. Bildad says:
“How long will you say such things?
Your words are a blustering wind.”
Job had argued that God must be unjust if a man’s disasters are equal to a man’s sin since God has clearly overreacted in Job’s situation. Job claims he is innocent of great sin equal to the punishment God is getting credit for having sent.
To this Bildad firsts asks Job: “Does God pervert justice?” and “Does the Almighty pervert what is right?” The appropriate assumed response to these rhetorical questions is 'common sense' theology statement #2: “No, God does not pervert justice!” So, 'common sense' theology statement #2 combined with 'common sense' theology statement #1, “God punishes sin by sending disaster,” gives us Bildad’s 'common sense' words of wisdom to explain to Job what is really going on. Bildad tells Job your children got what they deserved when all ten of them were killed by the desert storm.
“When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.”
And, this leads to another 'common sense' theology conclusion: God sends prosperity, possessions, health, family and friends to people who are obedient to God and please him. So, if you want to be rich you better go to church and do righteous things.
Remember, that at the end of the book when God finally speaks he says,
“The Lord…said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has…My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.” – Job 42:7-9
Phusis (Gr) – Nature (Eng) – a Greek word that comes from the Greek word phuo which means “to bring forth” or “to produce.” Phusis is used in:
1. Romans 1:26 to refer to the normal, created law and order of nature.
2. Galatians 2:15 and Romans 2:27 to refer to the source as in the origin or the birth.
3. Ephesians 2:3 and 2 Peter 1:4 to the nature, character or inherent powers.
1. Romans 1:26 to refer to the normal, created law and order of nature.
2. Galatians 2:15 and Romans 2:27 to refer to the source as in the origin or the birth.
3. Ephesians 2:3 and 2 Peter 1:4 to the nature, character or inherent powers.
Do I do good things because I think it puts God in debt to me?
Do I live righteous merely to avoid judgment from God?
Do I live righteous merely to avoid judgment from God?
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
To be a good spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend
Church
Avoid compromise
Nation
Censorship
World
Eritrea
Someone to Quote
“Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in His great campaign of sabotage”
- C. S. Lewis
- C. S. Lewis
Something to Ponder
In the law of Moses a husband could write
"a certificate of divorce"
for his wife because she was "displeasing" to him because he "finds something indecent about her." The same thing could be done by her second husband...read it here:
"If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house..." - Deuteronomy 24:1-3
"If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house..." - Deuteronomy 24:1-3
Here’s a Fact
David and his men hid in the Cave of Adullam in the Judean Wilderness. A site two miles south of the Herodium and three miles NE of Tekoa consists of a secluded wilderness with massive rock fragments in a cavern on a long narrow ledge high above a ravine. The entrance is almost impassable due to a large rock. On this ledge there is a cave accessed through a round opening seven feet high. Once entered there is a low, narrow passage to a cave. From the cave another passage may be followed into a large room of 5,000 square feet. There are many other passages to many other caves here. David had 400-6—men with him at times who could easily be quartered in this space that had room for 1,000 or more. The location has a spring of fresh water.
(Details)
Proverb
"A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred
lashes a fool."
- Proverbs 17:10
more than a hundred
lashes a fool."
- Proverbs 17:10
Coach’s Corner
You blaming others is you admitting you are powerless with suspended freedom.
Job 8
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4
When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5
But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6
if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.
7
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8
“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10
Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11
Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12
While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15
They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16
They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17
it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18
But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19
Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20
“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4
When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5
But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6
if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.
7
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8
“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10
Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11
Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12
While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15
They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16
They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17
it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18
But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19
Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20
“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
Job 18
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3
Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
4
You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
5
“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.
6
The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out.
7
The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down.
8
His feet thrust him into a net; he wanders into its mesh.
9
A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast.
10
A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path.
11
Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step.
12
Calamity is hungry for him; disaster is ready for him when he falls.
13
It eats away parts of his skin; death’s firstborn devours his limbs.
14
He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors.
15
Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.
16
His roots dry up below and his branches wither above.
17
The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.
18
He is driven from light into the realm of darkness and is banished from the world.
19
He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived.
20
People of the west are appalled at his fate; those of the east are seized with horror.
21
Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God.”
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3
Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
4
You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
5
“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.
6
The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out.
7
The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down.
8
His feet thrust him into a net; he wanders into its mesh.
9
A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast.
10
A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path.
11
Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step.
12
Calamity is hungry for him; disaster is ready for him when he falls.
13
It eats away parts of his skin; death’s firstborn devours his limbs.
14
He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors.
15
Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.
16
His roots dry up below and his branches wither above.
17
The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.
18
He is driven from light into the realm of darkness and is banished from the world.
19
He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived.
20
People of the west are appalled at his fate; those of the east are seized with horror.
21
Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God.”
Job 25
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
25 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
3
Can his forces be numbered? On whom does his light not rise?
4
How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
5
If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes,
6
how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!”
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
25 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
3
Can his forces be numbered? On whom does his light not rise?
4
How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
5
If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes,
6
how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!”
Job 42:7-9
New International Version (NIV)
Epilogue
7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
New International Version (NIV)
Epilogue
7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
2 Kings 12
New International Version (NIV)
Joash Repairs the Temple
12 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
4 Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. 5 Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”
6 But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7 Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” 8 The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.
9 Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priests who guarded the entrance put into the chest all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord. 10 Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord and put it into bags. 11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the Lord—the carpenters and builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the Lord, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.
13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord; 14 it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.
17 About this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his predecessors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.
19 As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla. 21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
New International Version (NIV)
Joash Repairs the Temple
12 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
4 Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. 5 Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”
6 But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7 Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” 8 The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.
9 Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priests who guarded the entrance put into the chest all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord. 10 Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord and put it into bags. 11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the Lord—the carpenters and builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters. They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the Lord, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.
13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the Lord; 14 it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.
17 About this time Hazael king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his predecessors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.
19 As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla. 21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
2 Samuel 18
King James Version (KJV)
18 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
King James Version (KJV)
18 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!