patriarchs and prophets-第193章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
beginning of wisdom〃 （Proverbs 9：10）； and this； Ahithophel did not possess；
or he could hardly have based the success of treason upon the crime of
incest。 Men of corrupt hearts plot wickedness； as if there were no
overruling Providence to cross their designs； but 〃He that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh： the Lord shall have them in derision。〃 Psalm 2：4。 The
Lord declares： 〃They would none of My counsel： they despised all My reproof。
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way； and be filled with
their own devices。 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them； and
the prosperity of fools shall destroy them。〃 Proverbs 1：30…32。
Having succeeded in the plot for securing his own safety；
740
Ahithophel urged upon Absalom the necessity of immediate action against
David。 〃Let me now choose out twelve thousand men；〃 he said； 〃and I will
arise and pursue after David this night： and I will come upon him while he
is weary and weak…handed； and will make him afraid： and all the people that
are with him shall flee； and I will smite the king only： and I will bring
back all the people unto thee。〃 This plan was approved by the king's
counselors。 Had it been followed； David would surely have been slain； unless
the Lord had directly interposed to save him。 But a wisdom higher than that
of the renowned Ahithophel was directing events。 〃The Lord had appointed to
defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel； to the intent that the Lord might
bring evil upon Absalom。〃
Hushai had not been called to the council； and he would not intrude himself
unasked； lest suspicion should be drawn upon him as a spy； but after the
assembly had dispersed； Absalom； who had a high regard for the judgment of
his father's counselor； submitted to him the plan of Ahithophel。 Hushai saw
that if the proposed plan were followed； David would be lost。 And he said；
〃The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time。 For； said
Hushai； thou knowest thy father and his men； that they be mighty men； and
they be chafed in their minds； as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field：
and thy father is a man of war； and will not lodge with the people。 Behold；
he is hid now in some pit； or in some other place；〃 he argued that； if
Absalom's forces should pursue David； they would not capture the king； and
should they suffer a reverse； it would tend to dishearten them and work
great harm to Absalom's cause。 〃For；〃 he said； 〃all Israel knoweth that thy
father is a mighty man； and they which be with him are valiant men。〃 And he
suggested a plan attractive to a vain and selfish nature； fond of the show
of power： 〃I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee； from
Dan even to Beer…sheba； as the sand that is by the sea for multitude； and
that thou go to battle in thine own person。 So shall we come upon him in
some place where he shall be found； and we will light upon him as the dew
falleth on the ground： and of him and of all the men that are with him there
shall not be left so much as one。 Moreover； if he be gotten into a city；
then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city； and we will draw it into the
river； until there be not one small stone found there。
741
〃And Absalom and all the men of Israel said； The counsel of Hushai the
Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel。〃 But there was one who was
not deceivedone who clearly foresaw the result of this fatal mistake of
Absalom's。 Ahithophel knew that the cause of the rebels was lost。 And he
knew that whatever might be the fate of the prince； there was no hope for
the counselor who had instigated his greatest crimes。 Ahithophel had
encouraged。 Absalom in rebellion； he had counseled him to the most
abominable wickedness； to the dishonor of his father； he had advised the
slaying of David and had planned its accomplishment； he had cut off the last
possibility of his own reconciliation with the king； and now another was
preferred before him； even by Absalom。 Jealous； angry； and desperate；
Ahithophel 〃gat him home to his house； to his city； and put his household in
order； and hanged himself； and died。〃 Such was the result of the wisdom of
one； who； with all his high endowments； did not make God his counselor。
Satan allures men with flattering promises； but in the end it will be found
by every soul； that the 〃wages of sin is death。〃 Romans 6：23。
Hushai； not certain that his counsel would be followed by the fickle king；
lost no time in warning David to escape beyond Jordan without delay。 To the
priests； who were to forward it by their sons； Hushai sent the message：
〃Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel； and
thus and thus have I counseled。 Now therefore 。 。 。 lodge not this night in
the plains of the wilderness； but speedily pass over； lest the king be
swallowed up； and all the people that are with him。〃
The young men were suspected and pursued； yet they succeeded in performing
their perilous mission。 David； spent with toil and grief after that first
day of flight； received the message that he must cross the Jordan that
night； for his son was seeking his life。
What were the feelings of the father and king； so cruelly wronged； in this
terrible peril？ 〃A mighty valiant man；〃 a man of war； a king； whose word was
law； betrayed by his son whom he had loved and indulged and unwisely
trusted； wronged and deserted by subjects bound to him by the strongest ties
of honor and fealtyin what words did David pour out the feelings of his
soul？ In the hour of his darkest trial David's heart was stayed upon God；
and he sang：
742
〃Lord； how are they increased that trouble me！
Many are they that rise up against me。
Many there be which say of my soul；
There is no help for him in God。
But Thou； O Lord； art a shield for me；
My glory； and the lifter up of mine head。
I cried unto the Lord with my voice；
And He heard me out of His holy hill。
I laid me down and slept；
I awaked； for the Lord sustained me。
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people；
That have set themselves against me round about。 。 。 。
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord：
Thy blessing is upon Thy people。〃 Psalm 3：1…8。
David and all his companywarriors and statesmen； old men and youth； the
women and the little childrenin the darkness of night crossed the deep and
swift…flowing river。 〃By the morning light there lacked not one of them that
was not gone over Jordan。〃
David and his forces fell back to Mahanaim； which had been the royal seat of
Ishbosheth。 This was a strongly fortified city； surrounded by a mountainous
district favorable for retreat in case of war。 The country was
well…provisioned； and the people were friendly to the cause of David。 Here
many adherents joined him； while wealthy tribesmen brought abundant gifts of
provision； and other needed supplies。
Hushai's counsel had achieved its object； gaining for David opportunity for
escape； but the rash and impetuous prince could not be long restrained； and
he soon set out in pursuit of his father。 〃And Absalom passed over Jordan；
he and all the men of Israel with him。〃 Absalom made Amasa； the son of
David's sister Abigail； commander…in…chief of his forces。 His army was
large； but it was undisciplined and poorly prepared to cope with the tried
soldiers of his father。
David divided his forces into three battalions under the command of Joab；
Abishai； and Ittai the Gittite。 It had been his purpose himself to lead his
army in the field； but against this the officers of the army； the
counselors； and the people vehemently protested。 〃Thou shalt not go forth；〃
they said： 〃for if we flee away； they will not care for us； neither if half
of us die； will they care for us： but thou art worth ten thousand of us：
therefore
743
now it is better that thou be ready to succour us out of the city。 And the
king said unto them； What seemeth you best I will do。〃
2 Sa
