17 They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit inthe forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him.
Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
17 They threw Absalom‘s body into a deep pit in the forest and piled a great heap ofstones over it. And all Israel fled to their homes. - P86
20 "You are not the one to take the news today," Joabtold him. "You may take the news another time, but youmust not do so today, because the king‘s son is dead." - P87
22 Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, "Comewhat may, please let me run behind the Cushite." ButJoab replied, "My son, why do you want to go? Youdon‘t have any news that will bring you a reward."
23 He said, "Come what may, I want to run." So Joabsaid, "Run!" Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain andoutran the Cushite. - P87
Joab sounds the trumpet and the battle ends. Absalom is buried in the forest.
Ahimaaz asks Joab if he can deliver the news of victory to David. - P87
Joab discour-ages him from doing so because he would also have to tell David that Absalomis dead. Joab sends a Cushite instead, but Ahimaaz insists on running behindhim. Joab allows him to go. - P87
Joab kills Absalom and buries his body underneath a heap of stones.
Absalom‘s defeat brings an end to the war and causes the Israelites toflee to their homes. - P88
We are then told that during his lifetime, Absalomhad erected a monument to himself, pridefully believing his kingdomwould endure and that his people would remember him as a hero. - P88
Butinstead, this pillar will serve as a shameful reminder of a dark time inIsrael‘s history and a warning against rebellion. - P88
How do you want tobe remembered? Rather than trying to make a name for ourselves, let us live for God‘s kingdom purposes and make His name great. Then,
we will leave a lasting legacy that will inspire others to serve the Lord. - P88
Ahimaaz son of Zadok is eager to take the message of Absalom‘s defeatto King David, but Joab wants to send a Cushite instead. - P88
It seems im-portant to Joab that the messenger be well suited to the message beingrelayed. Because he is sending bad news of the death of the king‘s son,
he would rather send an unknown foreigner than a man David knowsand trusts. - P88
We, too, are called to be messengers in the Lord‘s service.
God has entrusted us with the good news of His salvation-offeredfreely to all through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
- P88
Let us live in a way that is worthy of the message we carry so that itshearers would receive the gospel with joy. - P88
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