210 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

David, of course, gave him permission to go. He
next persuaded two hundred respectable citizens to
accompany him,—men who certainly would not have
gone had they had any idea what his real design in this
journey was. They believed, as he told them, that it
was undertaken for a religious purpose; but the re-
ligion of Absalom was only a cloak to cover his rebel-
lious project.

Marianne. Did nobody except himself know what
he meant to do?

Grandfather. Yes, he had spies stationed through all
the tribes of Israel, to whom he gave orders that as
soon as they heard the sound of the trumpet, they were
to say, “ Absalom reigneth in Hebron.” Wherever
that proclamation was made it increased the number of
his adherents, and the party of the rebellious son became
so strong that a messenger who brought the tidings to
David, expressed it in these words,—‘“ The hearts of
the men of Israel are after Absalom.” Immediately
the king resolved to abandon his capital, and his ser-
vants declared that they were ready to do whatever
pleased him.

George. It looked very cowardly to run away; why
did David do it ?

Grandfather. We are not told what his reasons were,
but he may have had many, and weighty ones too. Be-
fore this he had sinned greatly ;—the Lord was dis-
pleased, and sent a prophet to warn him that evil
would rise up against him out of his own house. In