²⁸ Absalom^(A) ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high^(B) spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.^(C)” ²⁹ So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

³⁰ While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” ³¹ The king stood up, tore^(D) his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.

³² But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. ³³ My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

³⁴ Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.

Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.”^[a]

³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.”

³⁶ As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.

³⁷ Absalom fled and went to Talmai^(E) son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.

³⁸ After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. ³⁹ And King David longed to go to Absalom,^(F) for he was consoled^(G) concerning Amnon’s death.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

14 Joab^(H) son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. ² So Joab sent someone to Tekoa^(I) and had a wise woman^(J) brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions.^(K) Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. ³ Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab^(L) put the words in her mouth.

⁴ When the woman from Tekoa went^[b] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

⁵ The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”

She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. ⁶ I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. ⁷ Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death^(M) for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir^(N) as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left,^(O) leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”

⁸ The king said to the woman, “Go home,^(P) and I will issue an order in your behalf.”

⁹ But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardon^(Q) me and my family,^(R) and let the king and his throne be without guilt.^(S)”

¹⁰ The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.”

¹¹ She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger^(T) of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”

“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair^(U) of your son’s head will fall to the ground.^(V)”

¹⁹ The Jews who heard these words were again divided.^{(A) 20} Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed^(B) and raving mad.^(C) Why listen to him?”

²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.^(D) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”^(E)

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication^[a] at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.^{(F) 24} The Jews^(G) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”^(H)

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you,^(I) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,^{(J) 26} but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.^{(K) 27} My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,^(L) and they follow me.^{(M) 28} I give them eternal life,^(N) and they shall never perish;^(O) no one will snatch them out of my hand.^{(P) 29} My Father, who has given them to me,^(Q) is greater than all^[b];^(R) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”^(S)