Then KingDavidsentto Zadokand Abiatharthe priests,saying,"Speakto the eldersof Judah,saying,'Whyare you the lastto bringthe kingbackto his house,since the wordof allIsraelhas cometo the king,[even] to his house?
Therefore Zadokand Abiatharreturnedthe arkof Godto Jerusalemand remainedthere.
Then Joabsaid,"I will not wastetimeherewith you." So he tookthreespearsin his handand thrustthem through the heartof Absalomwhile he was yetalivein the midstof the oak.
And tenyoungmenwho carriedJoab'sarmorgatheredaroundand struckAbsalomand killedhim.
"However, Absalom,whomwe anointedoverus, has diedin battle.Nowthen, whyare you silentabout bringingthe kingback?"
And behold,allthe menof Israelcameto the kingand saidto the king,"Whyhad our brothersthe menof Judahstolenyou away,and broughtthe kingand his householdand allDavid'smenwith him overthe Jordan?"
The kingappointedBenaiahthe sonof Jehoiadaoverthe armyin his place,and the kingappointedZadokthe priestin the placeof Abiathar.
"Let your lightshinebeforemenin such a waythat they may seeyour goodworks,and glorifyyour Fatherwho is in heaven.
Therefore,we are ambassadorsfor Christ,as thoughGodwere making an appealthroughus; we begyou on behalfof Christ,be reconciledto God.
not becausewe do not havethe right[to this], but in orderto offerourselvesas a modelfor you, sothat you would follow our example.
