one daughter; which daughter was of very great
beauty, and which Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, took to wife afterward,
and had by her a son named Abijah. But Absalom sent to Joab, and desired
him to pacify his father entirely towards him; and to beseech him to
give him leave to come to him to see him, and speak with him. But when
Joab neglected so to do, he sent some of his own servants, and set fire
to the field adjoining to him; which, when Joab understood, he came to
Absalom, and accused him of what he had done; and asked him the reason
why he did so. To which Absalom replied, that "I have found out this
stratagem that might bring thee to us, while thou hast taken no care to
perform the injunction I laid upon thee, which was this, to reconcile my
father to me; and I really beg it of thee, now thou art here, to pacify
my father as to me, since I esteem my coming hither to be more grievous
than my banishment, while my father's wrath against me continues."
Hereby Joab was persuaded, and pitied the distress that Absalom was
in, and became an intercessor with the king for him. And when he
had discoursed with his father, he soon brought him to that amicable
disposition towards Absalom, that he presently sent for him to come to
him; and when he had cast himself down upon the ground, and had begged
for the forgiveness of his offenses, the king raised him up, and
promised him to forget what he had formerly done.

CHAPTER 9. Concerning The Insurrection Of Absalom Against David And
Concerning Ahithophel And Hushai; And Concerning Ziba And Shimei; And
How Ahithophel Hanged Himself.

1. Now Absalom, upon this his success with the king, procured to himself
a great many horses, and many chariots, and that in a little time also.
He had moreover fifty armor-bearers that were about him; and he came
early every day to the king's palace, and spake what was agreeable to
such as came for justice and lost their causes, as if that happened for
want of good counselors about the king, or perhaps because the judges
mistook in that unjust sentence they gave; whereby he gained the
good-will of them all. He told them, that had he but such authority
committed to him, he would distribute justice to them in a most
equitable manner. When he had made himself so popular among the
multitude, he thought he had already the good-will of the people
secured to him; but when four years [16] had passed since his father's
reconciliation to him, he cam