196 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

the petted, favored, son who tramples upon his father’s dignity’
and honor, and steals the hearts of his loyal people? Oh,
shameless, heartless, unfilial thief!

And now lying follows fast on other forms of evil, in.
this sad revolt. Absalom went to the King and said, I pray
thee let me go to Hebron, and pay my vow to the Lord.
He pretended that he had made a vow to offer up a sacri-
fice at Hebron, and that now he wanted to go there and do
it. And the King told him he might go, so he arose and
went.

But it was not to serve the Lord that he went; it was:
to have himself made King instead of his father. Therefore,
he sent spies through all the land to persuade the people to
put his father away, and make him King. And the spies.
told the people that, on a certain day, as soon as they
should hear the sound of the trumpets which Absalom’s
friends would blow, they should cry out, Absalom is King in.
Hebron! He took two hnndred men with him out of Jeru-
salem to help him, and sent also for a great man, named
Ahithophel, who was David’s counsellor, or adviser. And.
Ahithophel and many of the people went with him.

And there came a messenger to David, and told him
how the men of Israel were going after Absalom. Then
David was afraid, and said to his servants, Arise, and let
us flee; make haste and go, for fear Absalom may come
suddenly and fight against the city with the sword.

His servants answered, We are ready to do whatever
the King shall command. And the King fled in haste out of
Jerusalem, he and his servants, and many of the people of
the city, and they passed over the brook Kedron and went
up toward the wilderness.

Think of this warrior King, fleeing from his throne, from.