the antiquities of the jews-1-第78章

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and　on　that　account　he　appeared　the　more　friendly　to　him。　But　as
he　was　ascending　the　Mount　of　Olives　barefooted；　and　all　his
company　were　in　tears；　it　was　told　him　that　Ahithophel　was　with
Absalom；　and　was　of　his　side。　This　hearing　augmented　his　grief；
and　he　besought　God　earnestly　to　alienate　the　mind　of　Absalom
from　Ahithophel；　for　he　was　afraid　that　he　should　persuade　him　to
follow　his　pernicious　counsel；　for　he　was　a　prudent　man；　and　very
sharp　in　seeing　what　was　advantageous。　When　David　was　gotten　upon
the　top　of　the　mountain；　he　took　a　view　of　the　city；　and　prayed
to　God　with　abundance　of　tears；　as　having　already　lost　his
kingdom；　and　here　it　was　that　a　faithful　friend　of　his；　whose
name　was　Hushai；　met　him。　When　David　saw　him　with　his　clothes
rent；　and　having　ashes　all　over　his　head；　and　in　lamentation　for
the　great　change　of　affairs；　he　comforted　him；　and　exhorted　him
to　leave　off　grieving；　nay；　at　length　he　besought　him　to　go　back
to　Absalom；　and　appear　as　one　of　his　party；　and　to　fish　out　the
secretest　counsels　of　his　mind；　and　to　contradict　the　counsels　of
Ahithophel；　for　that　he　could　not　do　him　so　much　good　by　being
with　him　as　he　might　by　being　with　Absalom。　So　he　was　prevailed
on　by　David；　and　left　him；　and　came　to　Jerusalem；　whither　Absalom
himself　came　also　a　little　while　afterward。

3。　When　David　was　gone　a　little　farther；　there　met　him　Ziba；　the
servant　of　Mephibosheth；　（whom　he　had　sent　to　take　care　of　the
possessions　which　had　been　given　him；　as　the　son　of　Jonathan；　the
son　of　Saul；）　with　a　couple　of　asses；　loaden　with　provisions；　and
desired　him　to　take　as　much　of　them　as　he　and　his　followers　stood
in　need　of。　And　when　the　king　asked　him　where　he　had　left
Mephibosheth；　he　said　he　had　left　him　in　Jerusalem；　expecting　to
be　chosen　king　in　the　present　confusions；　in　remembrance　of　the
benefits　Saul　had　conferred　upon　them。　At　this　the　king　had　great
indignation；　and　gave　to　Ziba　all　that　he　had　formerly　bestowed
on　Mephibosheth；　for　he　determined　that　it　was　much　fitter　that
he　should　have　them　than　the　other；　at　which　Ziba　greatly
rejoiced。

4。　When　David　was　at　Bahurim；　a　place　so　called；　there　came　out　a
kinsman　of　Saul's；　whose　name　was　Shimei；　and　threw　stones　at
him；　and　gave　him　reproachful　words；　and　as　his　friends　stood
about　the　king　and　protected　him；　he　persevered　still　more　in　his
reproaches；　and　called　him　a　bloody　man；　and　the　author　of　all
sorts　of　mischief。　He　bade　him　also　go　out　of　the　land　as　；an
impure　and　accursed　wretch；　and　he　thanked　God　for　depriving　him
of　his　kingdom；　and　causing　him　to　be　punished　for　what　injuries
he　had　done　to　his　master　＇Saul＇；　and　this　by　the　means　of　his
own　son。　Now　when　they　were　all　provoked　against　him；　and　angry
at　bin；；　and　particularly　Abishai；　who　had　a　mind　to　kill　Shimei；
David　restrained　his　anger。　〃Let　us　not；〃　said　he；　〃bring　upon
ourselves　another　fresh　misfortune　to　those　we　have　already；　for
truly　I　have　not　the　least　regard　nor　concern　for　this　dog　that
raves　at　me：　I　submit　myself　to　God；　by　whose　permission　this　man
treats　me　in　such　a　wild　manner；　nor　is　it　any　wonder　that　I　am
obliged　to　undergo　these　abuses　from　him；　while　I　experience　the
like　from　an　impious　son　of　my　own；　but　perhaps　God　will　have
some　commiseration　upon　us；　if　it　be　his　will　we　shall　overcome
them。〃　So　he　went　on　his　way　without　troubling　himself　with
Shimei；　who　ran　along　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　and　threw
out　his　abusive　language　plentifully。　But　when　David　was　come　to
Jordan；　he　allowed　those　that　were　with　him　to　refresh
themselves；　for　they　were　weary。

5。　But　when　Absalom；　and　Ahithophel　his　counselor；　were　come　to
Jerusalem；　with　all　the　people；　David's　friend；　Hushai；　came　to
them；　and　when　he　had　worshipped　Absalom；　he　withal　wished　that
his　kingdom　might　last　a　long　time；　and　continue　for　all　ages。
But　when　Absalom　said　to　him；　〃How　comes　this；　that　he　who　was　so
intimate　a　friend　of　my　father's；　and　appeared　faithful　to　him　in
all　things；　is　not　with　him　now；　but　hath　left　him；　and　is　come
over　to　me？〃　Hushai's　answer　was　very　pertinent　and　prudent；　for
he　said；　〃We　ought　to　follow　God　and　the　multitude　of　the　people；
while　these；　therefore；　my　lord　and　master；　are　with　thee；　it　is
fit　that　I　should　follow　them；　for　thou　hast　received　the　kingdom
from　God。　I　will　therefore；　if　thou　believest　me　to　be　thy
friend；　show　the　same　fidelity　and　kindness　to　thee；　which　thou
knowest　I　have　shown　to　thy　father；　nor　is　there　any　reason　to　be
in　the　least　dissatisfied　with　the　present　state　of　affairs；　for
the　kingdom　is　not　transferred　into　another；　but　remains　still　in
the　same　family；　by　the　son's　receiving　it　after　his　father。〃
This　speech　persuaded　Absalom；　who　before　suspected　Hushai。　And
now　he　called　Ahithophel；　and　consulted　with　him　what　he　ought　to
do：　he　persuaded　him　to　go　in　unto　his　father's　concubines；　for
he　said　that　〃by　this　action　the　people　would　believe　that　thy
difference　with　thy　father　is　irreconcilable；　and　will　thence
fight　with　great　alacrity　against　thy　father；　for　hitherto　they
are　afraid　of　taking　up　open　enmity　against　him；　out　of　an
expectation　that　you　will　be　reconciled　again。〃　Accordingly；
Absalom　was　prevailed　on　by　this　advice；　and　commanded　his
servants　to　pitch　him　a　tent　upon　the　top　of　the　royal　palace；　in
the　sight　of　the　multitude；　and　he　went　in　and　lay　with　his
father's　concubines。　Now　this　came　to　pass　according　to　the
prediction　of　Nathan；　when　he　prophesied　and　signified　to　him
that　his　son　would　rise　up　in　rebellion　against　him。

6。　And　when　Absalom　had　done　what　he　was　advised　to　by
Ahithophel；　he　desired　his　advice；　in　the　second　place；　about　the
war　against　his　father。　Now　Ahithophel　only　asked　him　to　let　him
have　ten　thousand　chosen　men；　and　he　promised　he　would　slay　his
father；　and　bring　the　soldiers　back　again　in　safety；　and　he　said
that　then　the　kingdom　would　be　firm　to　him　when　David　was　dead
＇but　not　otherwise＇。　Absalom　was　pleased　with　this　advice；　and
called　for　Hushai；　David's　friend　（for　so　did　he　style　him）；　and
informing　him　of　the　opinion　of　Ahithophel；　he　asked；　further；
what　was　his　opinion　concerning　that　matter。　Now　he　was　sensible
that　if　Ahithophel's　counsel　were　followed；　David　would　be　in
danger　of　being　seized　on；　and　slain；　so　he　attempted　to
introduce　a　contrary　opinion；　and　said；　Thou　art　not
unacquainted；　O　king；　with　the　valor　of　thy　father；　and　of　those
that　are　now　with　him；　that　he　hath　made　many　wars；　and　hath
always　come　off　with　victory；　though　probably　he　now　abides　in
the　camp；　for　he　is　very　skiliful　in　stratagems；　and　in
foreseeing　the　deceitful　tricks　of　his　enemies；　yet　will　he　leave
his　own　soldiers　in　the　evening；　and　will　either　hide　himself　in
some　valley；　or　will　place　an　ambush　at　some　rock；　so　that　when
our　army　joins　battle　with　him；　his　soldiers　will　retire　for　a
little　while；　but　will　come　upon　us　again；　as　encouraged　by　the
king's　being　near　them；　and　in　the　mean　time　your　father　will
show　himself　suddenly　in　the　time　of　the　battle；　and　will　infuse
courage　into　his　own　people　when　they　are　in　danger；　but　bring
consternation　to　thine。　Consider；　therefore；　my　advice；　and
reason　upon　it；　and　if　thou　canst　not　but　acknowledge　it　to　be
the　best；　reject　the　opinion　of　Ahithophel。　Send　to　the　entire
country　of　the　Hebrews；　and　order　them　to　come　and　fight　with　thy
father；　and　do　thou　thyself　take　the　army；　and　be　thine　own
general　in　this　war；　and　do　not　trust　its　management　to　another；
then　expect　to　conquer　him　with　ease；　when　thou　overtakest　him
openly　with　his　few　partisans；　but　hast　thyself　many　ten
thousands；　who　will　be　desirous　to　demonstrate　to　thee　their
diligence　and　alacrity。　And　if　thy　father　shall　shut　himself　up
in　some　city；　and　bear　a　siege；　we　will　overthrow　that　city　with
machines　of　war；　and　by　undermining　it。〃　When　Hushai　had　said
this；　he　obtained　his　point　against　Ahithophel；　for　his　opinion
was　preferred　by　Absalom　before　the　other's：　however；　it　was　no
other　than　God　（17）　who　made　the　counsel　of　Hushai　appear　best　to
the　mind　of　Absalom。

7。　So　Hushai　made　haste　to　the　high　priests；　Zadok　and　Abiathar；
and　told　them　the　opinion　of　Ahithophel；　and　his　own；　and　that
the　resolution　was　taken　to　follow　this　latter　advice。　He
therefore　bade　them　send　to　David；　and　tell　him　of　it；　and　to
inform　him　of　the　counsels　that　had　been　taken；　and　to　desire　him
further　to　pass　quickly　over　Jordan；　lest　his　son　should　change
his　mind；　and　make　haste　to　pursue　him；　and　so　prevent　him；　and
seize　upon　him　before　he　be　in　safety。　Now　the　high　priests　had
their　sons　concealed　in　a　proper　place　out　of　the　city；　that　they
might　carry　news　to　David　of　what　was　transacted。　Accordingly；
they　sent　a　maid…servant；　whom　they　could　trust；　to　them；　to
carry　the　news　of　Absalom's　counsels；　and　ordered　them　to　signify
the　same　to　David　with　all　speed。　So　they　made　no　excuse　nor
delay；　but　taking　along　with　them　their　fathers'　injunctions；
because　pious　and　faithful　ministers；　and　judging　that　quickness
and　suddenness　was　the　best　mark　of　faithful　service；　they　made
haste　to　meet　with　David。　But　certain　horsemen　saw　them　when　they
were　two　furlongs　from　the　city；　and　informed　Absalom　of　them；
who　immediately　sent　some　to　take　them；　but　when　the　sons　of　the
high　priest　perceived　this；　they　went　out　of　the　road；　and　betook
themselves　to　a　certain　village；　that　village　was　called　Bahurim；
there　they　desired　a　certain　woman　to　hide　them；　and　afford　them
security。　Accordingly　she　let　the　young　men　down　by　a　rope　into　a
well；　and　laid　fleeces　of　wool　over　them；　and　when　those　that
pursued　them　came　to　her；　and　asked　her　whether　she　saw　them；　she
did　not　deny　that　she　had　seen　them；　for　that　they　staid　with　her
some　time；　but　she　said　they　then　went　their　ways；　and　she
foretold　that；　however；　if　they　would　follow　them　directly；　they
would　catch　them；　but　when　after　a　long　pursuit　they　could　not
catch　them；　they　came　back　again；　and　when　the　woman　saw　those
men　were　returned；　and　that　there　was　no　longer　any　fear　of　the
young　men's　being　caught　by　them；　she　drew　them　up　by　the　rope；
and　bade　them　go　on　their　journey　accordingly；　they　used　great
diligence　in　the　prosecution　of　that　journey；　and　came　to　David；
and　informed　him　accurately　of　all　the　counsels　of　Absalom。　So　he
commanded　those　that　were　with　him　to　pass　over　Jordan　while　it
was　night；　and　not　to　delay　at　all　on　that　account。

8。　But　Ahithophel；　on　rejection　of　his　advice；　got　upon　his　ass；
and　rode　away　to　his　own　country；　Gilon；　and；　calling　his　family
together；　he　told　them　distinctly　what　advice　he　had　given
Absalom；　and　since　he　had　not　been　persuaded　by　it；　he　said　he
would　evidently　perish；　and　this　in　no　long　time；　and　that　David
would　overcome　him；　and　return　to　his　kingdom　again；　so　he　said
it　was　better　that　he　should　take　his　own　life　away　with　freedom
and　magnanimity；　than　expose　himself　to　be　punished　by　David；　in
opposition　to　whom　he　had　acted　entirely　for　Absalom。　When　he　had
discoursed　thus　to　them；　he　went　into　the　inmost　room　of　his
house；　and　hanged　himself；　and　thus　was　the　death　of　Ahithophel；
who　was　self…condemned；　and　when　his　relat