2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
18:5 The king ordered
Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man
Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the
commanders concerning Absalom.
18:6 So the army went out into the field
against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.
18:7
The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the
slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.
18:8 The
battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more
victims that day than the sword.
18:9 Absalom happened to meet the
servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the
thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left
hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went
on.
18:15 And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and
struck him, and killed him.
18:31 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite
said, "Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this
day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you."
18:32
The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" The
Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to
do you harm, be like that young man."
18:33 The king was deeply moved,
and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O
my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O
Absalom, my son, my son!"
Psalm 130
130:1 Out of the
depths I cry to you, O LORD.
130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be
attentive to the voice of my supplications!
130:3 If you, O LORD, should
mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
130:4 But there is forgiveness
with you, so that you may be revered.
130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul
waits, and in his word I hope;
130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than
those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the
morning.
130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is
steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
130:8 It is he who
will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
