About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible::

About the Author of the Blogsite, Not the Author of the Bible: I was uncertain of how to accomplish this, mindful of Revelation 22:18-19, which says that nobody is to add to, or to take away from what was written in the Bible. After lots of prayerful contemplation, the Lord had it on my heart that I’m not to change the meaning of what is written in the Bible. He has also shown ways to add to people’s understating of that meaning, without altering the meaning, by putting that info within [brackets]. This is primarily accomplished with the KJV Bible and lots of prayers, but at times, BibleGateway.com, Biblehub.com, NIV Bible, Webster Dictionary, and other internet resources, as needed. Debra Seiling

About Understanding the Bible:

Understanding the Bible: After reading Isaiah 28:10 many times over the years and not totally understanding it, it recently became apparent to me that the Lord God has this passage as the means for understanding the Bible. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. Isaiah 28:10 KJV. Being prayerful about this passage, and looking up 'precept' in the Webster's Dictionary, it gave this passage a whole new meaning, once 'commandment' is substituted for 'precept'. Within brackets are additional words the Lord had on my heart to aid in understanding the meaning. For commandment must be [built up] upon commandment; commandment upon commandment; line upon line, line upon line; [developing understanding] here a little, and there a little.

The Table Format:

The Table Format: I was overwhelmed with how to explain the process for determining if someone had leprosy in Leviticus 13, which seemed very complicated. After praying, "Lord, if this is difficult for me to understand after reading it many times, how can this be explained to others?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was for me to put it into a vertical chart to visually see the process. This made it much easier for me to follow the progression. After doing so, I prayed, "Lord, how can this be conveyed to readers, so that they can understand this process?" The thought the Lord God had on my heart was to put it within the lines of a table. Being a stiff-necked, stubborn person, as it's often called in the Bible, I prayed, asking the Lord God if He's sure that's really what He wanted me to do? I reluctantly put Leviticus 13 into a table format. When I read this difficult leprosy process within a table format, it suddenly became easier for me to understand. That's because it builds line upon line, as explained in the Understanding the Bible section. Shortly after that, the Lord God had it on my heart, to put all of The Books of the Bible in Smaller Chunks within a table format, to aid in understanding, line upon line.

8/27/2023

2 Samuel 18:1-33 The Men of Israel with Absalom Battle with David’s Servants

 

The Men of Israel with Absalom Battle with David’s Servants

2 Samuel 18:1-33       The Book of 2 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks]

David [counted] the people [who] were with him & [put] captains over 1,000’s & over 100’s of them. And David sent [out,] 1/3 of the people [under the control] of Joab, 1/3 under Abishai, [Jeruiah’s] son, [who was] Joab’s brother & 1/3 under [the control] of Ittai; the Gittite. 

And King [David] said to the people, I will surely go [out] with you myself. But the people answered, You shall not go [out.] If we [should] flee away [or] if 1/2 of us die, they will not care [about] us, but you are worth 10,000 of us.

Therefore it is better now, that you [help us from] the city. And King [David] said to them, I will do what seems best [to] you. And the king stood by the side [of the] gate & all the people came out by [the] 100's & 1,000’s.

And King [David] commanded Joab, Abishai & Ittai, saying, For my sake, deal gently with the young man, Absalom, [king David’s son.] All the people heard when the king gave all the captains [orders about] Absalom. 

So, the people went out into the field against Israel & the battle was in the [woods] of Ephraim. David’s servants [killed] 20,000 men of Israel [during] the great slaughter that day.  

For the battle was scattered over all the [countryside] & the [woods] devoured more people than the sword devoured. And Absalom, [riding] on a mule, [happened to meet] the servants of David. 

[As] the mule went under the thick [limbs] of the [large] oak [tree] & his head got caught [between] the [oak’s branches] & when his mule [went out from] under him, [Absalom’s] head [was caught] between the [sky] & the [ground.]

A man saw it & told Joab & said, [Look,] I saw Absalom [hanging] in an oak [tree.] Joab [asked him,] Why didn’t you [strike] him to the ground there? I would have given you 10 shekels of silver & a [warrior’s belt.]

The man said, [Even if] I should receive 1,000 shekels of silver in [my] hand, I [still] wouldn’t put my hand [out] against the king’s son, for [we heard] the king [order] you, Abishai & Ittai, saying, Beware, that [no one should] touch the young man, Absalom. 

Otherwise, I [would’ve risked my] own life, for [nothing is hidden] from the king. And you, yourself, would have [come out] against me. Then, Joab said, I [can’t wait like this] with you. [So, Joab] took 3 [spears] in his hand & [threw] them through the heart of Absalom, while he was [still] alive in the [middle of] the oak. 

And 10 young men [who carried] Joab’s armor [surrounded around] Absalom & [killed] him. And Joab blew the trumpet & the people returned [from] pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. 

And they took Absalom & [threw] him into a [big] pit in the [woods] & laid a heap of stones on him. All [of] Israel fled, everyone to his tent. [While] Absalom [was alive,] he had [put] up a [memorial pillar] for himself in the King’s [Valley.]

[For Absalom] said, I have no son to [carry on] my name in remembrance [of me, so Absalom] called the pillar [by] his own name. To this day, it’s called Absalom's Place. 

Then, Ahimaaz, [Zakok’s] son, said, Let me run now & give the king [the news of] how the Lord has avenged [king David] of his enemies. And Joab [told] him, You shall not [give this news today,] because the king’s son is dead. But you shall [give this news] another day. 

Then, Joab said to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen. And Cushi bowed to Joab & ran. Then, Ahimaaz, [Zadok’s] son, [continued to say] to Joab, I pray [that] you also let me run after Cushi. Joab [asked, Why,] will you run, my son, seeing that you haven’t [any news] ready? 

[However, Ahimaaz asked, Still] let me run. And [Joab said he could.] Then, Ahimaaz ran by the [road] of the plain & [outran] Cushi. And David sat between the 2 gates & the watchman went up to the roof [above] the gate to the wall & [looked up & saw] a man running alone. The watchman cried [out] to the king & told [him.]

King [David said,] If [he’s] alone, [he has news to tell me.] He [ran rapidly] & [came close.] [Then,] the watchman saw another man running & called to the [gatekeeper] & said, [Look,] another man [is] running alone. 

And the king said, He also brings [news.] The watchman said, [I] think the 1 running [in the front, runs] like Ahimaaz, [Zakok’s] son. King [David] said, He is a good man & [has] come with good [new.] 

And Ahimaaz called [out] & said to the king, All is well & he fell down [facing the ground in front of] the king & said, Blessed be the Lord your God, [Who] has delivered up the men [who raised their hands] against my lord, the king. 

And King [David] said, Is the young man, Absalom, safe? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant & me, your servant, I saw a [lot of commotion,] but [didn’t know] what it was.

And King [David] said to him, Turn aside & stand here [& he did.] And [look,] Cushi came & said, [I have news,] my lord, the king, for the Lord has avenged you of all [those who] rose up against you. 

King [David asked] Cushi, Is the young man, Absalom, safe? Cushi [answered, All] of the enemies of my lord, the king & all [who] rose against you [to harm] you, [should] be [like that] young man is. 

And King [David] was [very distressed] & went into [his room] over the gate & wept. [While] he went [there,] he said, O my son, Absalom, my son, my son, Absalom! I [wish that] God had [me] die [instead of] you, O Absalom, my son, my son!