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1. Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom.
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1. Now Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 perceived H3045 that H3588 the king H4428 's heart H3820 was toward H5921 Absalom H53 .
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2. So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, "Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Don't anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time.
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2. And Joab H3097 sent H7971 to Tekoah H8620 , and fetched H3947 thence H4480 H8033 a wise H2450 woman H802 , and said H559 unto H413 her , I pray thee H4994 , feign thyself to be a mourner H56 , and put on H3847 now H4994 mourning H60 apparel H899 , and anoint H5480 not H408 thyself with oil H8081 , but be H1961 as a woman H802 that H2088 had a long H7227 time H3117 mourned H56 for H5921 the dead H4191 :
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3. Go to the king and speak to him in the following fashion." Then Joab told her what to say.
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3. And come H935 to H413 the king H4428 , and speak H1696 on H413 this H2088 manner H1697 unto H413 him . So Joab H3097 put H7760 H853 the words H1697 in her mouth H6310 .
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4. So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, "Please help me, O king!"
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4. And when the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 spoke H559 to H413 the king H4428 , she fell H5307 on H5921 her face H639 to the ground H776 , and did obeisance H7812 , and said H559 , Help H3467 , O king H4428 .
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5. The king replied to her, "What do you want?" She answered, "I am a widow; my husband is dead.
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5. And the king H4428 said H559 unto her, What H4100 aileth thee? And she answered H559 , I H589 am indeed H61 a widow H490 woman H802 , and mine husband H376 is dead H4191 .
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6. Your servant has two sons. When the two of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him.
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6. And thy handmaid H8198 had two H8147 sons H1121 , and they two H8147 strove together H5327 in the field H7704 , and there was none H369 to part H5337 H996 them , but the one H259 smote H5221 H853 the other H259 , and slew H4191 him.
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7. Now the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, 'Turn over the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and avenge the death of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also destroy the heir.' They want to extinguish my remaining coal, leaving no one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband."
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7. And, behold H2009 , the whole H3605 family H4940 is risen H6965 against H5921 thine handmaid H8198 , and they said H559 , Deliver H5414 H853 him that smote H5221 his brother H251 , that we may kill H4191 him , for the life H5315 of his brother H251 whom H834 he slew H2026 ; and we will destroy H8045 H853 the heir H3423 also H1571 : and so they shall quench H3518 H853 my coal H1513 which H834 is left H7604 , and shall not H1115 leave H7604 to my husband H376 neither name H8034 nor remainder H7611 upon H5921 H6440 the earth H127 .
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8. Then the king told the woman, "Go to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation."
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8. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 the woman H802 , Go H1980 to thine house H1004 , and I H589 will give charge H6680 concerning H5921 thee.
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9. The Tekoan woman said to the king, "My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!"
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9. And the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 said H559 unto H413 the king H4428 , My lord H113 , O king H4428 , the iniquity H5771 be on H5921 me , and on H5921 my father H1 's house H1004 : and the king H4428 and his throne H3678 be guiltless H5355 .
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10. The king said, "Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won't bother you again!"
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10. And the king H4428 said H559 , Whosoever saith H1696 aught unto H413 thee, bring H935 him to H413 me , and he shall not H3808 touch H5060 thee any H3254 more H5750 .
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11. She replied, "In that case, let the king invoke the name of the LORD your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!" He replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of your son's head will fall to the ground."
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11. Then said H559 she , I pray thee H4994 , let the king H4428 remember H2142 H853 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 , that thou wouldest not H3808 suffer the revengers H1350 of blood H1818 to destroy H7843 any more H7235 , lest they destroy H8045 H853 my son H1121 . And he said H559 , As the LORD H3068 liveth H2416 , there shall not H518 one hair H4480 H8185 of thy son H1121 fall H5307 to the earth H776 .
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12. Then the woman said, "Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter." He replied, "Tell me."
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12. Then the woman H802 said H559 , Let thine handmaid H8198 , I pray thee H4994 , speak H1696 one word H1697 unto H413 my lord H113 the king H4428 . And he said H559 , Say on H1696 .
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13. The woman said, "Why have you devised something like this against God's people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.
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13. And the woman H802 said H559 , Wherefore H4100 then hast thou thought H2803 such H2063 a thing against H5921 the people H5971 of God H430 ? for the king H4428 doth speak H4480 H1696 this H2088 thing H1697 as one which is faulty H818 , in that the king H4428 doth not H1115 fetch home again H7725 H853 his banished H5080 .
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14. Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.
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14. For H3588 we must needs die H4191 H4191 , and are as water H4325 spilt H5064 on the ground H776 , which H834 cannot H3808 be gathered up H622 again; neither H3808 doth God H430 respect H5375 any person H5315 : yet doth he devise H2803 means H4284 , that his banished H5080 be not expelled H5080 from H4480 him.
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15. I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. But your servant said, 'I will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks.
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15. Now H6258 therefore that H834 I am come H935 to speak H1696 of H853 this H2088 thing H1697 unto H413 my lord H113 the king H4428 , it is because H3588 the people H5971 have made me afraid H3372 : and thy handmaid H8198 said H559 , I will now H4994 speak H1696 unto H413 the king H4428 ; it may be H194 that the king H4428 will perform H6213 H853 the request H1697 of his handmaid H519 .
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16. Yes! The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!'
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16. For H3588 the king H4428 will hear H8085 , to deliver H5337 H853 his handmaid H519 out of the hand H4480 H3709 of the man H376 that would destroy H8045 me and my son H1121 together H3162 out of the inheritance H4480 H5159 of God H430 .
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17. So your servant said, 'May the word of my lord the king be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the LORD your God be with you!'"
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17. Then thine handmaid H8198 said H559 , The word H1697 of my lord H113 the king H4428 shall now H4994 be H1961 comfortable H4496 : for H3588 as an angel H4397 of God H430 , so H3651 is my lord H113 the king H4428 to discern H8085 good H2896 and bad H7451 : therefore the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will be H1961 with H5973 thee.
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18. Then the king replied to the woman, "Don't hide any information from me when I question you." The woman said, "Let my lord the king speak!"
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18. Then the king H4428 answered H6030 and said H559 unto H413 the woman H802 , Hide H3582 not H408 from H4480 me , I pray thee H4994 , the thing H1697 that H834 I H595 shall ask H7592 thee . And the woman H802 said H559 , Let my lord H113 the king H4428 now H4994 speak H1696 .
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19. The king said, "Did Joab put you up to all of this?" The woman answered, "As surely as you live, my lord the king, there is no deviation to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has said. For your servant Joab gave me instructions. He has put all these words in your servant's mouth.
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19. And the king H4428 said H559 , Is not the hand H3027 of Joab H3097 with H854 thee in all H3605 this H2063 ? And the woman H802 answered H6030 and said H559 , As thy soul H5315 liveth H2416 , my lord H113 the king H4428 , none can turn H518 H786 to the right H3231 hand or to the left H8041 from aught H4480 H3605 that H834 my lord H113 the king H4428 hath spoken H1696 : for H3588 thy servant H5650 Joab H3097 , he H1931 bade H6680 me , and he H1931 put H7760 H853 all H3605 these H428 words H1697 in the mouth H6310 of thine handmaid H8198 :
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20. Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land."
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20. To H5668 fetch about H5437 H853 this form H6440 of speech H1697 hath thy servant H5650 Joab H3097 done H6213 H853 this H2088 thing H1697 : and my lord H113 is wise H2450 , according to the wisdom H2451 of an angel H4397 of God H430 , to know H3045 H853 all H3605 things that H834 are in the earth H776 .
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21. Then the king said to Joab, "All right! I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom!
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21. And the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 Joab H3097 , Behold H2009 now H4994 , I have done H6213 H853 this H2088 thing H1697 : go H1980 therefore, bring H7725 H853 the young man H5288 Absalom H53 again.
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22. Then Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground and thanked the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant!"
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22. And Joab H3097 fell H5307 to the ground H776 on H413 his face H6440 , and bowed himself H7812 , and thanked H1288 H853 the king H4428 : and Joab H3097 said H559 , Today H3117 thy servant H5650 knoweth H3045 that H3588 I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight H5869 , my lord H113 , O king H4428 , in that H834 the king H4428 hath fulfilled H6213 H853 the request H1697 of his servant H5650 .
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23. So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.
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23. So Joab H3097 arose H6965 and went H1980 to Geshur H1650 , and brought H935 H853 Absalom H53 to Jerusalem H3389 .
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24. But the king said, "Let him go over to his own house. He may not see my face." So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the king's face.
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24. And the king H4428 said H559 , Let him turn H5437 to H413 his own house H1004 , and let him not H3808 see H7200 my face H6440 . So Absalom H53 returned H5437 to H413 his own house H1004 , and saw H7200 not H3808 the king H4428 's face H6440 .
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25. Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.
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25. But in all H3605 Israel H3478 there was H1961 none H3808 H376 to be so much H3966 praised H1984 as Absalom H53 for his beauty H3303 : from the sole H4480 H3709 of his foot H7272 even to H5704 the crown of his head H6936 there was H1961 no H3808 blemish H3971 in him.
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26. When he would shave his head� at the end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long and he would shave it� he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds according to the king's weight.
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26. And when he polled H1548 H853 his head H7218 , (for it was H1961 at every year's end H4480 H7093 H3117 H3117 that H834 he polled H1548 it : because H3588 the hair was heavy H3513 on H5921 him , therefore he polled H1548 it:) he weighed H8254 H853 the hair H8181 of his head H7218 at two hundred H3967 shekels H8255 after the king H4428 's weight H68 .
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27. Absalom had three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.
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27. And unto Absalom H53 there were born H3205 three H7969 sons H1121 , and one H259 daughter H1323 , whose name H8034 was Tamar H8559 : she H1931 was H1961 a woman H802 of a fair H3303 countenance H4758 .
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28. Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king's face.
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28. So Absalom H53 dwelt H3427 two full years H8141 H3117 in Jerusalem H3389 , and saw H7200 not H3808 the king H4428 's face H6440 .
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29. Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.
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29. Therefore Absalom H53 sent H7971 for H413 Joab H3097 , to have sent H7971 him to H413 the king H4428 ; but he would H14 not H3808 come H935 to H413 him : and when he sent H7971 again H5750 the second time H8145 , he would H14 not H3808 come H935 .
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30. So he said to his servants, "Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set Joab's portion of the field on fire.
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30. Therefore he said H559 unto H413 his servants H5650 , See H7200 , Joab H3097 's field H2513 is near H413 mine H3027 , and he hath barley H8184 there H8033 ; go H1980 and set H3341 it on fire H784 . And Absalom H53 's servants H5650 set H3341 H853 the field H2513 on fire H784 .
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31. Then Joab got up and came to Absalom's house. He said to him, "Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?"
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31. Then Joab H3097 arose H6965 , and came H935 to H413 Absalom H53 unto his house H1004 , and said H559 unto H413 him, Wherefore H4100 have thy servants H5650 set H3341 H853 my field H2513 on fire H784 ?
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32. Absalom said to Joab, "Look, I sent a message to you saying, 'Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there."' Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!"
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32. And Absalom H53 answered H559 H413 Joab H3097 , Behold H2009 , I sent H7971 unto H413 thee, saying H559 , Come H935 hither H2008 , that I may send H7971 thee to H413 the king H4428 , to say H559 , Wherefore H4100 am I H589 come H935 from Geshur H4480 H1650 ? it had been good H2896 for me to have been there H8033 still H5750 : now H6258 therefore let me see H7200 the king H4428 's face H6440 ; and if H518 there be H3426 any iniquity H5771 in me , let him kill H4191 me.
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33. So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.
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33. So Joab H3097 came H935 to H413 the king H4428 , and told H5046 him : and when he had called H7121 for H413 Absalom H53 , he came H935 to H413 the king H4428 , and bowed H7812 himself on H5921 his face H639 to the ground H776 before H6440 the king H4428 : and the king H4428 kissed H5401 Absalom H53 .
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