The Bible, Douay-Rheims Part 190

15:30. But David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, going up and weeping, walking barefoot, and with his head covered, and all the people that were with them, went up with their heads covered weeping.

Weeping, etc... David on this occasion wept for his sins, which he knew were the cause of all his sufferings.

15:31. And it was told David that Achitophel also was in the conspiracy with Absalom, and David said: Infatuate, O Lord, I beseech thee, the counsel of Achitophel.

15:32. And when David was come to the top of the mountain, where he was about to adore the Lord, behold Chusai the Arachite, came to meet him with his garment rent and his head covered with earth.

15:33. And David said to him: If thou come with me, thou wilt be a burden to me:

15:34. But if thou return into the city, and wilt say to Absalom: I am thy servant, O king: as I have been thy father's servant, so I will be thy servant: thou shalt defeat the counsel of Achitophel.

15:35. And thou hast with thee Sadoc, and soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests.

15:36. And there are with them their two sons Achimaas; the son of Sadoc, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar: and you shall send by them to me every thing that you shall hear.

15:37. Then Chusai the friend of David went into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Kings Chapter 16

Siba bringeth provisions to David. Semei curseth him. Absalom defileth his father's wives.

16:1. And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold Siba the servant of Miphiboseth came to meet him with two a.s.ses, laden with two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs, and a vessel of wine.

16:2. And the king said to Siba: What mean these things? And Siba answered: The a.s.ses are for the king's household to sit on: and the loaves and the figs for thy servants to eat, and the wine to drink if any man be faint in the desert.

16:3. And the king said: Where is thy master's son? And Siba answered the king: He remained in Jerusalem, saying: To day, will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

16:4. And the king said to Siba: I give thee all that belonged to Miphiboseth. And Siba said: I beseech thee let me find grace before thee, my lord, O king.

16:5. And king David came as far as Bahurim: and behold there came out from thence a man of the kindred of the house of Saul named Semei, the son of Gera, and coming out he cursed as he went on,

16:6. And he threw stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people, and all the warriors walked on the right, and on the left side of the king.

16:7. And thus said Semei when he cursed the king: Come out, come out, thou man of blood, and thou man of Belial.

16:8. The Lord hath repaid thee for all the blood of the house of Saul: because thou hast usurped the kingdom in his stead, and the Lord hath given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold thy evils press upon thee, because thou art a man of blood.

16:9. And Abisai the son of Sarvia said to the king: Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will go, and cut off his head.

16:10. And the king said: What have I to do with you, ye sons of Sarvia?

Let him alone and let him curse: for the Lord hath bid him curse David: and who is he that shall dare say, why hath he done so?

Hath bid him curse... Not that the Lord was the author of Semei's sin, which proceeded purely from his own malice, and the abuse of his free will. But that knowing, and suffering his malicious disposition to break out on this occasion, he made use of him as his instrument to punish David for his sins.

16:11. And the king said to Abisai, and to all his servants: Behold my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now a son of Jemini? let him alone that he may curse as the Lord hath bidden him.

16:12. Perhaps the Lord may look upon my affliction, and the Lord may render me good for the cursing of this day.

16:13. And David and his men with him went by the way. And Semei by the hill's side went over against him, cursing, and casting stones at him, and scattering earth.

16:14. And the king and all the people with him came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

16:15. But Absalom and all his people came into Jerusalem, and Achitophel was with him.

16:16. And when Chusai the Arachite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, he said to him: G.o.d save thee, O king, G.o.d save thee, O king.

16:17. And Absalom said to him, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?

16:18. And Chusai answered Absalom: Nay: for I will be his, whom the Lord hath chosen, and all this people, and all Israel, and with him will I abide.

16:19. Besides this, whom shall I serve? is it not the king's son? as I have served thy father, so will I serve thee also.

16:20. And Absalom said to Achitophel: Consult what we are to do.

16:21. And Achitophel said to Absalom: Go in to the concubines of thy father, whom he hath left to keep the house: that when all Israel shall hear that thou hast disgraced thy father, their hands may be strengthened with thee.

Their hands may be strengthened, etc... The people might apprehend lest Absalom should be reconciled to his father, and therefore they folllowed him with some fear of being left in the lurch, till they saw such a crime committed as seemed to make a reconciliation impossible.

16:22. So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and he went in to his father's concubines before all Israel.

16:23. Now the counsel of Achitophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man should consult G.o.d: so was all the counsel of Achitophel, both when he was with David, and when he was with Absalom.

2 Kings Chapter 17

Achitophel's counsel is defeated by Chusai: who sendeth intelligence to David. Achitophel hangeth himself.

17:1. And Achitophel said to Absalom: I will choose me twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night.

17:2. And coming upon him (for he is now weary, and weak handed) I will defeat him: and when all the people is put to flight that is with him, I will kill the king who will be left alone.

17:3. And I will bring back all the people, as if they were but one man: for thou seekest but one man: and all the people shall be in peace.

17:4. And his saying pleased Absalom, and all the ancients of Israel.

17:5. But Absalom said: Call Chusai the Arachite, and let us hear what he also saith.

17:6. And when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom said to him: Achitophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do it or not? what counsel dost thou give?

17:7. And Chusai said to Absalom: The counsel that Achitophel hath given this time is not good.

17:8. And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people.

17:9. Perhaps he now lieth hid in pits, or in some other place where he liest: and when any one shall fall at the first, every one that heareth it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that followed Absalom.

17:10. And the most valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall melt for fear: for all the people of Israel know thy father to be a valiant man, and that all who are with him are valiant.

17:11. But this seemeth to me to be good counsel: Let all Israel be gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered: and thou shalt be in the midst of them.