Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

^[a] A song of David when he pretended to be crazy so that Abimelech would send him away, which he did.

Hushai Sends a Warning to David

¹⁵ Hushai told the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, what was said. He told them what Ahithophel suggested to Absalom and the leaders of Israel. Hushai also told them what he himself had suggested. He said, ¹⁶ “Send a message to David now! Tell him not to spend the night at the places where people cross into the desert. Tell him to go across the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, the king and all his people will not be caught.”

¹⁷ The priests’ sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, did not want to be seen going into the town, so they waited at En Rogel. A servant girl went out to them and gave them the message. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz carried the message to King David.

¹⁸ But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and ran to tell Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They arrived at a man’s house in Bahurim. The man had a well in his courtyard.^[a] Jonathan and Ahimaaz went down into this well. ¹⁹ The man’s wife spread a sheet over the mouth of the well and covered it with grain. The well looked like a pile of grain, so no one would know to look there. ²⁰ Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

The woman said to Absalom’s servants, “They have already crossed over the brook.”

Absalom’s servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, but they could not find them. So Absalom’s servants went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ After Absalom’s servants left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well and went to King David. They said to David, “Hurry, go across the river. Ahithophel is planning to do something to you.”

²² So David and his people crossed over the Jordan River. By sunrise, all of David’s people had crossed the Jordan River. No one was left behind.

Ahithophel Kills Himself

²³ When Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not do what he suggested, he saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He made plans for his family and then hanged himself. They buried him in his father’s tomb.

Absalom Crosses the Jordan River

²⁴ David arrived at Mahanaim just as Absalom and the Israelites who were with him crossed over the Jordan River. ^25-26 Absalom and the Israelites made their camp in the land of Gilead. Absalom had made Amasa the new captain of the army. He took Joab’s place.^[b] Amasa was the son of Ithra the Ishmaelite.^[c] His mother was Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Joab’s mother, Zeruiah.^[d]

Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai

²⁷ When David arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai were there. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar. Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead. ^28-29 These three men said, “The people are tired, hungry, and thirsty from the desert.” So they brought many things to David and those with him. They brought beds, bowls, and other kinds of dishes. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, dried seeds, honey, butter, sheep, and cheese made from cow’s milk.

Help Each Other

6 Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin too. ² Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ. ³ If you think you are too important to do this, you are only fooling yourself. ⁴ Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. ⁵ You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.

Never Stop Doing Good

⁶ Whoever is being taught God’s word should share the good things they have with the one who is teaching them.

⁷ If you think you can fool God, you are only fooling yourselves. You will harvest what you plant. ⁸ If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death. But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. ⁹ We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up. ¹⁰ When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.