The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

17 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. ² I will come upon him while he is ^(A)weary and weak, and make him ^[a]afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will ^(B)strike only the king. ³ Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” ⁴ And the saying pleased Absalom and all the ^(C)elders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

⁵ Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he ^(D)says too.” ⁶ And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

⁷ So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. ⁸ For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like ^(E)a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people. ⁹ Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will ^(F)melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. ¹¹ Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^(G)from Dan to Beersheba, ^(H)like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. ¹² So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one. ¹³ Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will ^(I)pull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

¹⁴ So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For ^(J)the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

^15 (K)Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. ¹⁶ Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night ^(L)in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ” ^17 (M)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz ^(N)stayed at ^(O)En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David. ¹⁸ Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house ^(P)in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it. ^19 (Q)Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known. ²⁰ And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

So ^(R)the woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ²¹ Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, ^(S)“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.” ²² So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ^(T)his house, to his city. Then he ^[b]put his ^(U)household in order, and ^(V)hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ Then David went to ^(W)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ And Absalom made ^(X)Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ^[c]Jithra, an ^[d]Israelite, who had gone in to ^(Y)Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that ^(Z)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, ^(AA)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and ^(AB)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty ^(AC)in the wilderness.”

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

18 And David ^[a]numbered the people who were with him, and ^(A)set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. ² Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, ^(B)one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of ^(C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”

^3 (D)But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”

⁴ Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. ⁵ Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” ^(E)And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

⁶ So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the ^(F)woods of Ephraim. ⁷ The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. ⁸ For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁹ Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and ^(G)his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. ¹⁰ Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”

¹¹ So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

¹² But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. ^(H)For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ^[b]‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ ¹³ Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

¹⁴ Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. ¹⁵ And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

¹⁶ So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people. ¹⁷ And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and ^(I)laid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel ^(J)fled, everyone to his tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a ^[c]pillar for himself, which is in ^(K)the King’s Valley. For he said, ^(L)“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

¹⁹ Then ^(M)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has ^[d]avenged him of his enemies.”

²⁰ And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.” ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

²² And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But ^[e]whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.”

So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

²³ “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.”

So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the ^(N)two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone. ²⁵ Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

²⁷ So the watchman said, ^[f]“I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with ^(O)good news.”

²⁸ So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, ^[g]“All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, ^(P)“Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

²⁹ The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”

³⁰ And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

³¹ Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the Lord has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

³² And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

David’s Mourning for Absalom

³³ Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: ^(Q)“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, ^(R)my son!”

The Widow’s Two Mites^(A)

21 And He looked up ^(B)and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain ^(C)poor widow putting in two ^(D)mites.^{[a] 3} So He said, “Truly I say to you ^(E)that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings ^[b]for God, but she out of her poverty put in ^(F)all the livelihood that she had.”

Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple^(G)

^5 (H)Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was ^[c]adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ⁶ “These things which you see—the days will come in which ^(I)not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age^(J)

⁷ So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

⁸ And He said: ^(K)“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ ^[d]Therefore do not ^[e]go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of ^(L)wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

^10 (M)Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great ^(N)earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. ^12 (O)But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and ^(P)prisons. ^(Q)You will be brought before kings and rulers ^(R)for My name’s sake. ¹³ But ^(S)it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ^14 (T)Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will ^[f]answer; ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom ^(U)which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or ^[g]resist. ^16 (V)You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put ^(W)some of you to death. ¹⁷ And ^(X)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ^18 (Y)But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹ By your patience possess your souls.

The Destruction of Jerusalem^(Z)

^20 (AA)“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. ²² For these are the days of vengeance, that ^(AB)all things which are written may be fulfilled. ^23 (AC)But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. ²⁴ And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles ^(AD)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man^(AE)

^25 (AF)“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, ^(AG)for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man ^(AH)coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because ^(AI)your redemption draws near.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree^(AJ)

^29 (AK)Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. ³¹ So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. ^33 (AL)Heaven and earth will pass away, but My ^(AM)words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching^(AN)

³⁴ “But ^(AO)take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with ^[h]carousing, drunkenness, and ^(AP)cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For ^(AQ)it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ^36 (AR)Watch therefore, and ^(AS)pray always that you may ^[i]be counted ^(AT)worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and ^(AU)to stand before the Son of Man.”

^37 (AV)And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but ^(AW)at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. ³⁸ Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.