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Ahithophel 〃gat him home to his house； to his city； and put his household in
order； and hanged himself； and died。〃 Such was the result of the wisdom of
one； who； with all his high endowments； did not make God his counselor。
Satan allures men with flattering promises； but in the end it will be found
by every soul； that the 〃wages of sin is death。〃 Romans 6：23。
Hushai； not certain that his counsel would be followed by the fickle king；
lost no time in warning David to escape beyond Jordan without delay。 To the
priests； who were to forward it by their sons； Hushai sent the message：
〃Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel； and
thus and thus have I counseled。 Now therefore 。 。 。 lodge not this night in
the plains of the wilderness； but speedily pass over； lest the king be
swallowed up； and all the people that are with him。〃
The young men were suspected and pursued； yet they succeeded in performing
their perilous mission。 David； spent with toil and grief after that first
day of flight； received the message that he must cross the Jordan that
night； for his son was seeking his life。
What were the feelings of the father and king； so cruelly wronged； in this
terrible peril？ 〃A mighty valiant man；〃 a man of war； a king； whose word was
law； betrayed by his son whom he had loved and indulged and unwisely
trusted； wronged and deserted by subjects bound to him by the strongest ties
of honor and fealtyin what words did David pour out the feelings of his
soul？ In the hour of his darkest trial David's heart was stayed upon God；
and he sang：
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〃Lord； how are they increased that trouble me！
Many are they that rise up against me。
Many there be which say of my soul；
There is no help for him in God。
But Thou； O Lord； art a shield for me；
My glory； and the lifter up of mine head。
I cried unto the Lord with my voice；
And He heard me out of His holy hill。
I laid me down and slept；
I awaked； for the Lord sustained me。
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people；
That have set themselves against me round about。 。 。 。
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord：
Thy blessing is upon Thy people。〃 Psalm 3：1…8。
David and all his companywarriors and statesmen； old men and youth； the
women and the little childrenin the darkness of night crossed the deep and
swift…flowing river。 〃By the morning light there lacked not one of them that
was not gone over Jordan。〃
David and his forces fell back to Mahanaim； which had been the royal seat of
Ishbosheth。 This was a strongly fortified city； surrounded by a mountainous
district favorable for retreat in case of war。 The country was
well…provisioned； and the people were friendly to the cause of David。 Here
many adherents joined him； while wealthy tribesmen brought abundant gifts of
provision； and other needed supplies。
Hushai's counsel had achieved its object； gaining for David opportunity for
escape； but the rash and impetuous prince could not be long restrained； and
he soon set out in pursuit of his father。 〃And Absalom passed over Jordan；
he and all the men of Israel with him。〃 Absalom made Amasa； the son of
David's sister Abigail； commander…in…chief of his forces。 His army was
large； but it was undisciplined and poorly prepared to cope with the tried
soldiers of his father。
David divided his forces into three battalions under the command of Joab；
Abishai； and Ittai the Gittite。 It had been his purpose himself to lead his
army in the field； but against this the officers of the army； the
counselors； and the people vehemently protested。 〃Thou shalt not go forth；〃
they said： 〃for if we flee away； they will not care for us； neither if half
of us die； will they care for us： but thou art worth ten thousand of us：
therefore
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now it is better that thou be ready to succour us out of the city。 And the
king said unto them； What seemeth you best I will do。〃
2 Samuel 18：3； 4； R。V。
From the walls of the city the long lines of the rebel army were in full
view。 The usurper was accompanied by a vast host； in comparison with which
David's force seemed but a handful。 But as the king looked upon the opposing
forces； the thought uppermost in his mind was not of the crown and the
kingdom； nor of his own life； that depended upon the wage of battle。 The
father's heart was filled with love and pity for his rebellious son。 As the
army filed out from the city gates David encouraged his faithful soldiers；
bidding them go forth trusting that the God of Israel would give them the
victory。 But even here he could not repress his love for Absalom。 As Joab；
leading the first column； passed his king； the conqueror of a hundred
battlefields stooped his proud head to hear the monarch's last message； as
with trembling voice he said； 〃Deal gently for my sake with the young man；
even with Absalom。〃 And Abishai and Ittai received the same charge〃Deal
gently for my sake with the young man； even with Absalom。〃 But the king's
solicitude； seeming to declare that Absalom was dearer to him than his
kingdom； dearer even than the subjects faithful to his throne； only
increased the indignation of the soldiers against the unnatural son。
The place of battle was a wood near the Jordan； in which the great numbers
of Absalom's army were only a disadvantage to him。 Among the thickets and
marshes of the forest these undisciplined troops became confused and
unmanageable。 And 〃the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
David； and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand
men。〃 Absalom； seeing that the day was lost； had turned to flee； when his
head was caught between the branches of a widespreading tree； and his mule
going out from under him； he was left helplessly suspended； a prey to his
enemies。 In this condition he was found by a soldier； who； for fear of
displeasing the king； spared Absalom； but reported to Joab what he had seen。
Joab was restrained by no scruples。 He had befriended Absalom； having twice
secured his reconciliation with David； and the trust had been shamelessly
betrayed。 But for the advantages gained by Absalom through Joab's
intercession； this rebellion； with all its horrors； could never have
occurred。 Now it was in Joab's power
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at one blow to destroy the instigator of all this evil。 〃And he took three
darts in his hand； and thrust them through the heart of Absalom。 。 。 。 And
they took Absalom； and cast him into a great pit in the wood； and laid a
very great heap of stones upon him。〃
Thus perished the instigators of rebellion in Israel。 Ahithophel had died by
his own hand。 The princely Absalom； whose glorious beauty had been the pride
of Israel； had been cut down in the vigor of his youth； his dead body thrust
into a pit； and covered with a heap of stones； in token of everlasting
reproach。 During his lifetime Absalom had reared for himself a costly
monument in the king's dale； but the only memorial which marked his grave
was that heap o