As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei . . . and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, ‘’Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The LORD has repaid you for all the b...  Read More

A messenger came and told David, ‘’The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.’’ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, ‘’Come!We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.’’. . . The king set out, with his entire household following h...  Read More

In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, ‘’What town are you from?’’ . . . Then Absalom would say to him, ‘’Look, your claims are v...  Read More

21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep shearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there.Absalom went to the king and said . . .  ‘‘Will the king and his attendants please join me?’’...  Read More

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill.  . . .Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab . . . a very shrewd man.  He asked Amnon, ‘’Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?’’ Amnon said to him, ‘’I’m in love with...  Read More

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. 2 Samuel 12: 24-25. The love of God is so comforting! The love of God is so pure! The love of God is so refreshing! The love of God is so magnanimous t...  Read More