DAVID'S FLIGHT.


AND all the people of Jerusalem followed David, weeping to see their king so dishonored. 

The priests also followed, taking the ark with them; but David told them to go back, and put the ark in its place, saying, "If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation. . . . 

And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot; and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up."

Ahithophel was a wise man, who gave counsel to the king. When David heard that Ahithophel had joined Absalom, he prayed God to turn his counsel into foolishness. Hushai was another wise man. David sent him to join Absalom, so that when Ahithophel gave counsel, Hushai might persuade Absalom not to follow it. He was also to tell Zadoc and Abiathar, the priests, all Absalom's plans, and the priests were to send their sons to tell David.

When David came to Bahurim, Shimei, who was of the family of Saul, came out and cursed David, saying, "Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial; the Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, thy son; and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."

Then David's men wanted to kill Shimei, but David would not allow it, saying, “Let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David." So Shimei followed on, still cursing David, and throwing stones and dust at him.

David knew that he himself deserved to die for his sin in causing the death of Uriah, and he was willing to bear anything, which the Lord might suffer to come upon him.

Ahithophel counseled Absalom to send an army of soldiers to overtake David that very night, while David and his men were weary, and before others had time to join them. He said that the people would be afraid, and leave the king alone, and that when the king was slain, the people would all serve Absalom. But Hushai said that this counsel was not good; that David and his men were mighty in war, and at this time were so chafed in their minds that to come upon them now would be like meeting a bear robbed of her whelps. Absalom took the counsel of Hushai, and this gave David time to escape.