聖經365恩典之旅

本日經文提要( 撒母耳記下 15:1~16:23)

.押沙龍如何暗中得了以色列人的心?他的目的是甚麼?結果最後造成以色列人甚麼影響?
撒下15:1此後，押沙龍為自己豫備車馬，又派五十人在他前頭奔走。
撒下15:2押沙龍常常早晨起來站在城門的道旁，凡有爭訟要去求王判斷的，押沙龍就叫他過來，問他說：你是那一城的人，回答說：僕人是以色列某支派的人。
撒下15:3押沙龍對他說：你的事有情有理，無奈王沒有委人聽你伸訴。
撒下15:4押沙龍又說：恨不得我作國中的士師，凡有爭訟求審判的，到我這裡來，我必秉公判斷。
撒下15:5若有人近前來要拜押沙龍，押沙龍就伸手拉住他，與他親嘴。
撒下15:6以色列人中，凡去見王求判斷的，押沙龍都是如此待他們。這樣，押沙龍暗中得了以色列人的心。
撒下15:7滿了四十年，〔有作四年的〕，押沙龍對王說：求你准我往希伯崙去，還我向耶和華所許的願。
撒下15:8因為僕人住在亞蘭的基述，曾許願說：耶和華若使我再回耶路撒冷，我必事奉他。
撒下15:9王說：你平平安安的去罷。押沙龍就起身，往希伯崙去了。
撒下15:10押沙龍打發探子走遍以色列各支派，說：你們一聽見角聲，就說：押沙龍在希伯崙作王了。
撒下15:11押沙龍在耶路撒冷請了二百人與他同去，都是誠誠實實去的，並不知道其中的真情。
撒下15:12押沙龍獻祭的時候，打發人去將大衛的謀士，基羅人亞希多弗，從他本城請了來。於是叛逆的勢派甚大，因為隨從押沙龍的人民，日漸增多。
撒下15:13有人報告大衛說：以色列人的心，都歸向押沙龍了。
撒下15:14大衛就對耶路撒冷跟隨他的臣僕說：我們要起來逃走，不然都不能躲避押沙龍了，要速速的去，恐怕他忽然來到，加害於我們，用刀殺盡合城的人。
撒下15:15王的臣僕對王說：我主我王所定的，僕人都願遵行。
撒下15:16於是王帶著全家的人出去了，但留下十個妃嬪，看守宮殿。
撒下15:17王出去，眾民都跟隨他，到伯墨哈，就住下了。
撒下15:18王的臣僕都在他面前過去，基利提人，比利提人，就是從迦特跟隨王來的六百人，也都在他面前過去。
撒下15:19王對迦特人以太說：你是外邦逃來的人，為甚麼與我們同去呢。你可以回去，與新王同住，或者回你本地去罷。
撒下15:20你來的日子不多，我今日怎好叫你與我們一同飄流，沒有一定的住處呢，你不如帶你的弟兄回去罷，願耶和華用慈愛誠實待你。
撒下15:21以太對王說：我指著永生的耶和華起誓，又敢在王面前起誓，無論生死，王在那裡，僕人也必在那裡。
撒下15:22大衛對以太說：你前去過河罷。於是迦特人以太帶著跟隨他的人和所有的婦人孩子，就都過去了。
撒下15:23本地的人都放聲大哭，眾民盡都過去，王也過了汲淪溪，眾民往曠野去了。
撒下15:24撒督，和抬神約櫃的利未人，也一同來了，將神的約櫃放下，亞比亞他上來，等著眾民從城裡出來過去。
撒下15:25王對撒督說：你將神的約櫃抬回城去，我若在耶和華眼前蒙恩，他必使我回來，再見約櫃，和他的居所。
撒下15:26倘若他說：我不喜悅你，看哪，我在這裡，願他憑自己的意旨待我。
撒下15:27王又對祭司撒督說：你不是先見麼，你可以安然回城，你兒子亞希瑪斯，和亞比亞他的兒子約拿單，都可以與你同去。
撒下15:28我在曠野的渡口那裡等你們報信給我。
撒下15:29於是撒督和亞比亞他將神的約櫃抬回耶路撒冷，他們就住在那裡。
撒下15:30大衛蒙頭赤腳，上橄欖山，一面上，一面哭，跟隨他的人，也都蒙頭哭著上去。
撒下15:31有人告訴大衛說：亞希多弗也在叛黨之中，隨從押沙龍。大衛禱告說：耶和華阿，求你使亞希多弗的計謀，變為愚拙。
撒下15:32大衛到了山頂，敬拜神的地方，見亞基人戶篩，衣服撕裂，頭蒙灰塵，來迎接他。
撒下15:33大衛對他說：你若與我同去，必累贅我。
撒下15:34你若回城去，對押沙龍說：王阿，我願作你的僕人，我向來作你父親的僕人，現在我也照樣作你的僕人，這樣，你就可以為我破壞亞希多弗的計謀。
撒下15:35祭司撒督和亞比亞他，豈不都在那裡麼，你在王宮裡聽見甚麼，就要告訴祭司撒督和亞比亞他。
撒下15:36撒督的兒子亞希瑪斯，亞比亞他的兒子約拿單，也都在那裡，凡你們所聽見的，可以託這二人來報告我。
撒下15:37於是大衛的朋友戶篩進了城，押沙龍也進了耶路撒冷。

撒下16:1大衛剛過山頂，見米非波設的僕人洗巴拉著備好了的兩匹驢，驢上馱著二百麵餅，一百葡萄餅，一百個夏天的果餅，一皮袋酒來，迎接他。
撒下16:2王問洗巴，說：你帶這些來是甚麼意思呢。洗巴說：驢，是給王的家眷騎的，麵餅，和夏天的果餅，是給少年人吃的，酒，是給在曠野疲乏人喝的。
撒下16:3王問說：你主人的兒子在那裡呢。洗巴回答王說：他仍在耶路撒冷，因他說：以色列人今日必將我父的國歸還我。
撒下16:4王對洗巴說：凡屬米非波設的都歸你了。洗巴說：我叩拜我主我王，願我在你眼前蒙恩。
撒下16:5大衛王到了巴戶琳，見有一個人出來，是掃羅族基拉的兒子，名叫示每，他一面走，一面咒罵。
撒下16:6又拿石頭砍大衛王和王的臣僕，眾民和勇士都在王的左右。
撒下16:7示每咒罵說：你這流人血的壞人哪，去罷去罷。
撒下16:8你流掃羅全家的血，接續他作王，耶和華把這罪歸在你身上，將這國交給你兒子押沙龍，現在你自取其禍，因為你是流人血的人。
撒下16:9洗魯雅的兒子亞比篩對王說：這死狗豈可咒罵我主我王呢。求你容我過去，割下他的頭來。
撒下16:10王說：洗魯雅的兒子，我與你們有何關涉呢。他咒罵，是因耶和華吩咐他說：你要咒罵大衛，如此，誰敢說你為甚麼這樣行呢。
撒下16:11大衛又對亞比篩和眾臣僕說：我親生的兒子，尚且尋索我的性命，何況這便雅憫人呢。由他咒罵罷，因為這是耶和華吩咐他的。
撒下16:12或者耶和華見我遭難，為我今日被這人咒罵，就施恩與我。
撒下16:13於是大衛和跟隨他的人往前行走，示每在大衛對面山坡，一面行走，一面咒罵，又拿石頭砍他，拿土揚他。
撒下16:14王和跟隨他的眾人，疲疲乏乏的到了一個地方，就在那裡歇息歇息。
撒下16:15押沙龍和以色列眾人，來到耶路撒冷，亞希多弗也與他同來。
撒下16:16大衛的朋友，亞基人戶篩，去見押沙龍，對他說：願王萬歲，願王萬歲。
撒下16:17押沙龍問戶篩說：這是你恩待朋友麼，為甚麼不與你的朋友同去呢。
撒下16:18戶篩對押沙龍說：不然，耶和華和這民，並以色列眾人所揀選的，我必歸順他，與他同住。
撒下16:19再者，我當服事誰呢。豈不是前王的兒子麼。我怎樣服事你父親，也必照樣服事你。
撒下16:20押沙龍對亞希多弗說：你們出個主意，我們怎樣行才好。
撒下16:21亞希多弗對押沙龍說：你父所留下看守宮殿的妃嬪，你可以與他們親近，以色列眾人聽見你父親憎惡你，凡歸順你人的手，就更堅強。
撒下16:22於是人為押沙龍在宮殿的平頂上，支搭帳棚，押沙龍在以色列眾人眼前，與他父的妃嬪親近。
撒下16:23那時，亞希多弗所出的主意，好像人問神的話一樣，他昔日給大衛今日給押沙龍所出的主意，都是這樣。

 

---

 

 

  

 

2 Samuel 15

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 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?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” 4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7 At the end of four[a] years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. 8 While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.[b]’”

9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.

David Flees
13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 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.”

15 The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”[c]

21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”

22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace. 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.

 

2 Samuel 16

David and Ziba

16 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

2 The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3 The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”

Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

4 Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 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. 7 As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8 The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

15 Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16 Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”

18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.