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Sun 29 Aug 2021, 22:15 by JudeTHE OLIVE BRANCH | GOD IS MY SALVATION
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II SAMUEL CHAPTER 9 - 16
END TIME NEWS, A CALL FOR REPENTANCE, YESHUA THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN :: CHRISTIANS FOR YESHUA (JESUS) :: THE BELOVED AND I VOLUME 3: RUTH TO CHRONICLES
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II SAMUEL CHAPTER 9 - 16
Jude Thu 09 May 2013, 02:23
2 SAMUEL 9
1 And David said “Is any left
Of Saul’s house, that for the bereft
I may show kindness for the sake
Of Jonathan?” 2 Now of Saul’s house
There was a servant like a mouse
Whose name was Ziba, and they called
Him to David, and unappalled
The king said to him “Are you Ziba?”
And he said “Here in your gazebo.”
3 And the king said “Is any left
Of the house of Saul unbereft,
That I may show God’s kindness to?”
And Ziba told the king for true,
“There is a son of Jonathan,
Whose feet are lame, as lame as can.”
4 And the king said to him, “Where’s he?”
And Ziba answered the king free,
“See, he is in the house of one
Machir of Ammiel the son,
In Lo-debar.” 5 King David sent
And fetched him from the house as lent
From Machir son of Ammiel,
From Lo-debar. 6 And so the swell
Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son
The son of Saul, when all is done,
Came to David, fell on his face
Prostrating himself there a space.
And David said “Mephibosheth!”
And he answered in the same breath,
See, here your servant!” 7 David said
“Don’t be afraid, for I am led
To show you kindness for the sake
Of Jonathan, your father’s stake,
And will restore you all the land
Of Saul your father in your hand,
And you shall eat bread at my side
And at my table aye abide.”
8 And he bowed down and said “What is
Your servant, that you favour his
Life, which is but a dead dog here,
And before the king I appear.”
The mix of mercy and the weight of kings
Is something that stirs heart as well as wings
In flight from court and its hypocrisy.
What is the motive in giving freely?
Perhaps the friends of Saul still smell the blood
Of David and would try to hit the mud,
And David thinks to keep the man in sight.
With my dealings in oriental might
I’d think that likely. But, Beloved, Your hand
Lies on David, Your chosen, in the land.
Your mercy is the better part and grand
Of valour, as the courtly proverbs stand.
Let me see lowly space and righteousness
Unsullied by courtly charms and address.
9 Then the king called to Ziba, who
Was Saul’s servant, said to him true,
“Now everything that was Saul’s own
And of his house, I’ve given alone
To Your master’s son from the throne.
10 “And you shall work the land for him,
You and your sons and servants trim,
And you shall bring in all the fruit,
So your master’s son head to boot
May have bread to eat, but the son
Of your master, Mephibosheth,
Shall eat bread long as he has breath
At my table. 11 So Ziba said
To the king, “As your word is spread
By all my lord the king commands
His servant, so shall both my hands
Do.” “But Mephiboseth shall eat
At my table as king’s sons treat.”
12 Now Mephiboseth had a young
Son, whose name was Micha unsung.
And all who lived in Ziba’s house
Were servants to Mephibosheth.
13 Mephibosheth lived like a mouse
In Jerusalem, for he ate
Always at the king’s place and plate,
And he was lame, both feet in fate.
If not in flesh, in spirit I may be
Grandson of wicked king and misery,
But look on me, Beloved, as David looked
Upon the son of Jonathan, and booked
A table in his dining room to see
Him come to eat there and continually.
I take from Your broad table all I need
In dandelion, in wood-nettle, in greed
Pick the sweet cicely and spike my soup
With onion, garlic, and at last a scoop
Of light soy textured protein to set off
The rice that forms the staple at the trough.
Beloved, I taste with You the days and rights
That spring up from the soil for acolytes.
2 SAMUEL 10
1 It happened after this, the king
Of Ammon’s children died in spring,
And Hanun his son reigned instead.
2 And David said “I shall be led
To show kindness to Hanun son
Of Nahash, as his father’s done
In showing kindness to me.” And
David sent by the hand of his
Servants condolences, that is,
Concerning his father, and then
They came to land of Ammon’s men,
David’s servants did. 3 But the princes
Of Ammon’s folk said, as for winces,
To Hanun their lord, “Do you think
David has sent comforters’ wink
To you? Has not David rather
Sent his servants to you to stir
The city, and to spy it out,
And overthrow it in the rout?”
4 So Hanun took David’s servants,
And shaved off one half of their beard,
And cut off the half of their pants,
Even up to their butts to dance.
5 And they brought David word of weird
And shameful things done to the men,
So he sent to meet them. The king
Said “Stay in Jericho till your
Beards have grown back and more,
And then return to your living.”
Except when dealing with the king and court,
It’s usually best to take face value short.
The problem with David as king is that
He too often says straight and where it’s at.
The world is ready for conniving kings,
And so they’re forced to do their devious things.
Bless me, Beloved, to understand when I
Meet suspicion for motives when I try
To do good things for others, that the trial
Ascribes to me a kingly, royal guile.
Bless me, Beloved, despite the strike of state,
To renew always my attempts to rate
Through compassion and mercy to the raw
Who stand by instinct instead of Your law.
6 And when the folk of Ammon saw
They were disgusting in the craw
Of David, then Ammon’s folk sent
And hired Syrians resident
In Beth-rehob, and Syrians
Of Zobah, twenty thousand fans
On foot, and the king of Maacah
With a thousand men, and the raw
Men of Tob twelve thousand in awe.
7 When David heard of it, he sent
Joab, and all the army lent
Of mighty men and to present.
8 And Ammon’s men went out to fight
All in array by the gate’s light,
And the Syrians of Zobah and
Of Rehob, and Tob’s men to stand
With Maacah by themselves together
In the field to follow the weather.
9 Now when Joab saw that the fight
Was pitched against him from the right
And left, he chose out of all those
Young men in Israel to oppose
The Syrians in battle spread.
10 The rest of the folk he put by
Command of brother Abishaih,
That he might set them to the fray
Against the folk of Ammon’s way.
11 And he said “If the Syrians
Are too strong for me in my plans,
Then you shall help me, but if those
Sons of Ammon strongly oppose
You, I’ll bring help against your foes.
12 Be of good courage, let us prove
Strong for our people, and let’s move
For the cities of Ælohim
Our God, and YHWH do what shall seem
Good in His sight.” 13 So Joab and
The people with him drew in band
Near for the battle at the hand
Of Syrians, and they fled out
Before him. 14 And they saw the rout
Of Syrians, Ammon’s folk did,
Fled before Abishaih and hid
In the city, and Joab came
Back from Ammon’s folk and their shame
Entered Jerusalem in fame.
I see the way that men follow their suit
When they take notice that their crimes to boot
Were misplaced and mistaken on the route.
They hire a gunman to assassinate
The one they falsely thought against their plate.
For doing well one raises head above
The parapet, becomes a target’s love.
Let me, Beloved, remain unseen by those
To whom I do a good turn quid-pro-quos.
When Jesus said “Don’t let the left hand see
What the right does,” it was not modesty
But self-preserving informed of his fee.
Beloved, though I am modest, preserve me
From gratitude of both my friends and foes.
15 The Syrians saw they were beaten
Before Israel, and tried to sweeten
By gathering themselves together.
16 And Hadadezer sent with tether
And brought out Syrians on the other
Side of the river to help brother
They came to Helam with Shobach
The captain of the host not slack
Of Hadadezer at their head.
17 But it was told David instead.
And he gathered all Israel out,
And passed over Jordan in route,
And came to Helam. Without doubt,
The Syrians set in array
Against David to join the fray.
18 And Syria fled before Israel,
And David killed captain in style
Of their army, so he died there.
19 When all the kings that were servants
To Hadadezer saw the chance
That they were beaten by Israel,
Then they made their peace with Israel,
And gave them tribute for a while.
And so the Syrians feared to give
Aid any longer to help live
In Ammon’s folk, in Ammon’s style.
Once enemies, it seems the fate of man
Is to fight as long as he ever can.
He does not stop to think of time or cost.
As soon as he’s in battle, he is lost.
So Syria had to move on Israel’s land
Because they were paid once to lend a hand
To Ammon, and they made an enemy
In their own right in perpetuity.
They did not think that Israel could have spent
A penny and make them their friend well bent
On fighting Ammon. So slight is the motive
For violence in sacrificial votive.
Beloved, make in my heart a golden link
That loves humanity upon the brink.
2 SAMUEL 11
1 It happened at the time of year
When kings do battle without fear,
David sent Joab and his men
With him and all Israel again,
And they destroyed Ammon’s folk, and
Besieged Rabbath, but David’s stand
Was still in Jerusalem’s land.
2 It happened toward the eventide,
That David got up from the side
Of his couch, and walked on the roof
Of the king’s house, and from the roof
He saw a woman bathing there,
And the woman was very fair
To look at. 3 And David sent to
Inquire after the woman’s due.
And one said “Is not this the lady
Bathsheba, daughter of unshady
Eliam, who’s engaged as wife
To Uriah Hittite for strife.”
4 And David sent messengers, and
Took her, she came in to him planned,
He lay with her, since she was pure
From her uncleanness, that is sure,
And she returned to her own house.
5 And the woman conceived by spouse,
And she sent David word and said
“I am with child, for I have bred.”
How is it David thought he had the right
To marry another’s chosen in sight?
Simply, Beloved, because You sent a law
To Moses that was always held in awe,
That states outright a man must lose fiancée
If during that year he joins in the fray.
Uriah chose to further his career
And that made Bathsheba free volunteer.
David saw her in the miqwe and thought
Her the morsel that he had always sought,
And since Uriah had abandoned her
By law he had a right to skin the fur.
All things are lawful, says Apostle Paul,
But not expedient, if I recall.
6 And David said to Joab, “Send
Me Uriah the Hittite, send.”
And Joab sent Uriah to
David to see what he would do.
7 And when Uriah came to him
David asked him what kind of trim
Joab was in and how the folk,
And how the war went stroke by stroke.
8 And David told Uriah, “Go
Down to your house to rest from foe
And wash your feet.” Uriah went
Out of the king’s house as was sent,
And with him followed generous
Portions of food from the king’s mess.
9 But Uriah slept at the door
Of the king’s house with all the store
Of servants of his lord and did
Not go down to his house, but hid.
10 And when they told David the thing,
“Uriah did not go to sing
At his own house,” then David said
To Uriah, “Were you not led
On a journey, why did you not
Go down to your house and your plot?”
11 Uriah said to David then,
“The ark, Israel and Judah’s men
Live in tents, and my lord Joab
And my lord’s servants, gay and drab,
Are camping in the open field,
Shall I go to my house and yield,
To eat and drink and sleep with wife?
As you live and your soul has life,
I’ll not do this thing, though for strife.”
12 And David told Uriah then,
“Stay here tomorrow and again
I’ll let you go.” Uriah stayed
In Jerusalem taxes paid
That day and the next unafraid.
13 And David called him and he ate
And drank before him and was late
As he made him drunk, and at eve
He went out to lie in reprieve
On his bed with the servant staff
Of his lord, but went not to quaff
At his own well and house for leave.
So David and Bathsheba had a fight
Which of them should tell Uriah the light
That their engagement ended, David had
Taken her as his wife. The thing looked bad.
Neither could bring themselves to say the word,
Which makes one wonder how much heart was stirred
In innocence for having followed law
To its letter, while Uriah made awe
Of a career in military state.
Beloved, I have no ambitions like he
For leaving fiancée for the army,
Nor have I lust to take another wife,
Nor have I any message cut like knife.
I have only desire to find Your tree.
14 And morning came, and David wrote
A letter to Joab by note
And sent it by Uriah’s hand.
15 He wrote in the letter command,
Saying “Put Uriah in front
To bear the hottest battle’s brunt,
And then retreat from him that he
May be smitten and die sadly.”
16 It happened when Joab kept watch
Upon the city, he set notch
To Uriah to keep the place
Where he knew valiant men would face.
17 The men of the city went out
And fought with Joab to some rout
And there fell some of the folk there
Even of David’s servants square,
Uriah the Hittite died there.
18 Then Joab sent and told the king
David all of the war and thing,
19 He told the messenger to say
“When you have finished the relay
Of all the things about the war
To the king and the battle’s score,
20 “If it happens the king becomes
Angry and says ‘Why for your sums
Were you so close to city wall
To fight, did you not know at all
That they would shoot down from the wall?
21 “‘Who struck down Abimelech son
Of Jerubbesheth? Did not one
Woman throw down an upper stone
Of the mill on him from the zone,
So he died in Thebez alone?
Why did you go so near the wall?’
Then you shall say ‘our servant tall,
Uriah the Hittite also
Is dead in the battle and show.’”
Your ways, Beloved, devious though they seem,
Are not in plot and thought as those in scheme
Around the court and battle field on earth.
Life here is harsh in intrigue and in worth.
I see the stubborn Hittite make his fate
Yearning for fame in battle over mate
And shirking his God-given time to be
Married to his engaged wife, unwisely.
Until the scandal forced his hand the king
Had no legal blemish to mar his ring.
And now two men are guilty of one death.
My sorrow, my Beloved, my song and breath
Arise to You still to remember how
Doing things for ambition can harm now.
22 So the messenger went and came
And told David all of the same
That Joab had sent him to tell.
23 The messenger told David this,
“The men beat us back with a hiss,
Came out against us in the field,
And we came up to them as well
To the door of the gate and sealed.
24 “And archers shot at your servants
From off the wall, of those servants
Of the king some are dead and your
Servant Uriah the Hittite
Is also dead beside the door.”
25 Then David in messenger’s sight
Said “You shall say to Joab so,
‘Don’t let this sadden you to go,
For the sword consumes as it will,
Sometimes one way, sometimes to fill,
Be strong against the city now
And overthrow it anyhow,’
And so encourage him with will.”
26 When Uriah’s fiancée heard
That Uriah her man uncured
Was dead, she mourned for her ex-man.
27 And when the mourning time was past
David sent and took her by plan
Home to his house and she at last
Was his wife and bore him a son.
But the thing that David had done
Displeased YHWH and left Him aghast.
Uriah chose the warrior’s fame instead
Of staying home to wife and hearth and bed
As demanded by Torah law for those
Who affianced a wife, any he chose.
He ran the risk and took the chance of war,
And gained the fame that he was fighting for.
If David helped his course to his destruction,
It was wrong indeed, but the whole production
Took both men in their own ambitious greed.
Beloved, let me plant only lowly seed,
The seeds of flowers, of dill, and parsley green.
Let me not seek the finer, higher scene.
And I shall be content to praise Your name
Here where I am not king or guard for fame.
2 SAMUEL 12
1 YHWH sent the prophet Nathan to
David, and he came into view
And said to him “Once there were two
Men in one city, one rich and
The other poor, nothing in hand.
2 “And the rich one had lots of flocks
And herds. 3 “But the poor man for stocks
Had nothing but one little ewe,
A lamb that he brought up and reared
Like one of his children appeared,
It ate the morsel of his bread,
And drank from his cup when it fed,
And slept on his breast like a true
Daughter. 4 “A traveller came in view
To the rich man, who did not wish
To slay his own flocks for a dish,
Nor touch his herds to dress a meal
For the traveller who was genteel,
So he took the poor man’s one lamb,
And dressed it for the man like ham
Who had come in to make a deal.”
The prophet Nathan comes not with the word
Of law before which every heart is stirred,
But with the fable to rouse up emotion
And inform David of another notion.
His action was made by letter of law.
The woman was fair game to royal paw
Since her husband went off to war instead
Of finishing the marriage in the bed.
He did not kill the man with his own hand.
By letter of the law, David was grand.
It was a matter of the heart and will
To do the righteous thing and not the ill.
So many who obey today are still
Of evil heart and wash the hand in swill.
5 And David’s anger greatly roused
Against the man, and David groused
To Nathan, “As YHWH is alive,
The man who did this thing to jive
Deserves to die. 6 “And he’ll give back
The lamb fourfold for his attack
Without pity.” 7 Then Nathan said
To David, “You’re the man so led.
So says YHWH Israel’s Ælohim,
‘I anointed you from the stream
As king of Israel, and saved
You from the hand of Saul enslaved,
8 ‘And I gave you your master’s house,
And master’s wives to be your grouse,
And gave you house of Israel
And of Judah, and if that spell
Were too small, then I would give more.
9 ‘Why have you despised YHWH’s word sore
To do what’s evil in My sight?
Your sword struck Uriah Hittite,
And his fiancée you have taken
To be your wife, and him forsaken
To Ammonite folk’s sword mistaken.
That’s why the sword shall never leave
Your house, since you came to aggrieve
Myself and took the fiancée
Of Uriah the Hittite’s prey
To be your wife and in one day.’
11 “So says YHWH, ‘See, I shall raise up
Adversity from your own cup,
And I will take your wives before
Your eyes and give them at the door
To your neighbour, and he shall lie
With your wives under the sun’s eye.
12 “For what you did in secret I
Shall do in all of Israel’s sight,
And out under the sun for light.’”
13 So David said to Nathan, “I
Have sinned against YHWH, that is why.”
And Nathan said to David, “YHWH
Has also forgiven to you
Your sin, you shall not die for stew.
Ah my Beloved, how soon the good and great
Turn to desire and sin and face their fate,
For sin is to transgress Your law divine
And fail to live according to design.
Ah my Beloved, how soon the great and good
The king and prophet David, as he should,
Heeds Your call to repent and with a word
Confessed his fault and then in faith he heard
That You, without a sacrifice beyond
The heart repenting, in Your grace respond
Assuring of forgiveness for his sin.
Ah my Beloved, I also come within
Your arms of grace to crave Your mercy’s power
From day to day even from hour to hour.
14 ‘But by this deed you’ve given cause
For YHWH’s foes to blaspheme His laws,
And so the child also that’s born
To you shall surely die forlorn.’”
Beloved, I understand the leader set
By You on David’s throne was one to get
The blame when he acted with selfish heart
To twist law to fit his pocket and part.
All understand injustice when it comes
From any hand but their own when they’re bums.
But what I do not understand is how
You lay the punishment on infant’s brow.
Had I been born to Bathsheba and king
Even in that cruel and wanton thing,
I should have wanted to live and to love,
To feel the wind, to see the flight of dove,
To know the thrill of lightning and of sound,
To sit hard and fulfilled upon the ground.
15 So Nathan went back to his house.
And YHWH struck down the little mouse
Of child that Uriah’s fiancée
Bore to David upon that day,
And he was very sick. 16 David
Prayed to Ælohim when He hid,
And David fasted, and went in
Lying on earth all night for sin.
17 The elders of his house arose
And stood beside him as they chose
To raise him from the earth, but he
Would not, and would not eat with them.
18 It happened on seventh day’s hem,
That the child died. And David’s men
Were afraid to tell him again
That the child had died, for they said
“See, while the child lived in the bed,
We spoke to him, and he heard not,
Then how can we tell him the plot
Of his child’s death, he’d slay his knot.”
19 And David saw his servants near
And whispering in common fear,
And so David knew that the child
Was dead, David irreconciled
Said to his servants, “Is the child
Dead?” And they answered, “He is dead.”
The sorrow I see all around is not
Always what I think in my heart and plot.
Some weep to see some suffer, others cry
Because they were caught doing on the sly.
Some weep for Your forgiveness, some for grace,
Some weep because they do not see Your face,
And others weep before the vision’s light.
Some weep to break the spear and some to fight.
Beloved, who knows what hearts hide behind tears?
Who knows whether the cry is one of fears
Or one of bliss. I come to You to find
Whatever sorrows and joys fill the mind
That is submitted to Your sovereign will,
That walks the plain and does not cart the hill.
20 Then David got up from the bed
Of earth, washed and anointed head,
And changed his clothes and came into
The house of YHWH and worshipped true,
And then he went to his own place,
And when he asked for food with grace
They brought it to him and he ate.
21 His servants asked him, “Why this rate?
You fasted and wept for the child
While he lived, but then when the child
Was dead, you rose and did eat bread.”
22 And he said, “While the child yet lived
I fasted and wept negatived.
For I said ‘Who knows if YHWH may
Pity me and let the child stay?’
23 “But now he is dead, why should I
Fast? Can I bring him on the sly
Back once more? I shall go to him,
But he’ll not return from the dim.”
24 And David comforted his wife
Bathshebah and went in for life
To her and lay with her and she
Bore a son and called him namely
Solomon. And YHWH loved the wee.
25 And by the hand of Nathan sent
As prophet, he was called as bent,
Jedidiah, because of YHWH,
The One who loved the boy who grew.
The story shows it obvious that You,
Beloved, willed that the boy should be born too.
You may have even willed the death of brother
So that Solomon should be first his mother
Brought into royal line to be a king.
Your will is such a darkly mannered thing.
So You loved Solomon, what of the child
Who died within the week? Though I am wild,
I think to live a week in this world’s all
One needs to benefit the Sabbath call.
The boy died, yes, but not before his wait
Brought him alive though ill through Sabbath’s gate.
Beloved, I too in anguish or in joy
Await the Sabbath day in Your employ.
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah
Of Ammon’s folk and took éclat
Of royal city in his paw.
27 Then Joab sent his messengers
To David and said by the fers,
“I have fought with Rabbah, I took
The town of waters from the crook.
28 “So gather all the rest to come,
All of the people and in sum
Encamp against the city and
Take it, lest I conquer the land
And town and it be called by name
After me and for my own fame.”
29 And David gathered all the folk
Together and went up at stroke
Against Rabbah, and fought them there
And took the city for his share.
30 And he took the crown of their king
Molchom from off his head with string,
And it weighed a talent of gold
With precious stones, and it was sold
Upon the head of David, and
He brought much spoil from that town’s land.
31 And he brought up the folk from there
And put them under saws for share,
And under iron harrows’ wear,
And under iron axes, and
Made them pass through the brick kiln, and
So he did to all cities in
The places of Ammon’s children.
When David struts about with crown on head
Stolen from some monkey of kingly dread,
No one today says any word’s mistrust.
Instead they have Muhammad and the dust
They throw on him for robbery and strife
As some would try to read the prophet’s life.
There may have been men in the past whose fame
And Your appointment made them not to blame
For the atrocity of warfare meant
To cleanse earth from its wickedness and vent.
There may have been, but I am sure that now
Those who make sword and bomb of peaceful plough
Have no such mandate. No, not any one.
Their mandate is the booty and the fun.
2 SAMUEL 13
1 After this Absalom who was
The son of David taken pause
Had a sister lovely to tell
Whose name was Tamar, and her spell
Upon David’s son Amnon fell.
2 Amnon was so distressed that he
Fell ill because his sister’s fee,
Tamar’s, was of virginity,
And it seemed hard for Amnon to
Do anything for her to woo.
3 And Amnon had a friend whose name
Was Jonadab, the son to blame
Of Samaa, David’s brother, and
Jonadab was a cunning brand.
4 And he said to him “Why, O son
Of the king, do you leave your fun
And food to lose weight day by day?
Why don’t you tell me what gives way?”
And Amnon said to him, “I love
Tamar, brother Absalom’s dove.”
5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lie
Down on your bed and be so sly
As to pretend that you are sick.
And when your father sees the trick,
Tell him, ‘Let my sister Tamar
Come, please, and give me caviar,
And cook a meal here in my sight
And feed me with her own hand light.”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended
That he was sick, and when the fended
King came to see him Amnon said
To the king, “Let my sister led,
Let Tamar come, please and make me
A couple of cakes where I see,
And I shall eat from her hand free.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar,
Saying “Now go with your guitar
To you brother Amnon’s house and
Roust him a meal and feed by hand.”
Those days it seems princesses knew the trade
Of cooking and confections sweetly made.
In that they are like present royalty
Who go to the same schools as the needy.
It was but century or so ago
The royals spent their time on glit and glow
And let the servants learn to bake the dough.
Even the king of Sweden has the show
Of annually making in family
His own sausages for the Christmas spree.
Beloved, David is not too wise when he
Lets out the dove to tiger in the grass.
Wait but a moment for the lust to pass,
And see how many stick in the morass.
8 Went Tamar to her brother’s house,
And he was lying sick like mouse,
And she took dough and kneaded it,
And made cakes in his sight and fit,
And baked the cakes on brazier lit.
9 And so she took the frying pan
And poured them out before his scan,
But he would not eat. Amnon said
“Send every man out from my bed.”
And every man went out as led.
10 And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring
The food into the chamber wing,
And I will eat it from your hand.
And Tamar took the cakes she’d made,
And brought them in the chamber planned
To brother Amnon unafraid.
11 And when she’d brought them near to him
To eat, he caught her in his vim,
And told her, “Come and lie with me,
My sister.” 12 And she said freely,
“No, my brother, do not force me,
For no such thing now ought to be
Done in Israel, so do not do
This wanton deed, but please stand true.
13 “And I, how shall I bear the shame,
And you will be as one to blame
In Israel. Now therefore please
Speak to the king, and he’ll give ease
Not to withhold me from your pleas.”
14 But Amnon would not hear her voice,
But overpowered her by choice
And humbled her without invoice.
A half brother is capable I see
Of incest even on the royal tee.
What surprises perhaps is that she thought
The king would let him have the suit he sought.
There are coxcombs about this living day
Who do not wish to marry lawful prey,
But prefer to force one or all to take
A sip of their nectar for sweetness’ sake
And leave the scene of prime to find again
Another on another day and when.
Beloved, I too feel passion in the vein
And hear the calling of the virgin rain.
But keep me from incestuous refrain,
Unlike the house of David in their train.
15 Then Amnon hated her with such
Very great hatred, hate as much,
No more than the love by which he
Had loved her. Amnon said freely
To her, “Get up, get out, banshee.”
16 And she said to him “Let it not
Be so, because this wrong unsought
In putting me out is worse than
The other evil done by plan.”
But he would not listen to her.
17 Then he called for his servant fer
That waited on him, and he said
“Now put this woman from my bed,
Lock the door after her instead.”
18 Now she was wearing a robe made
Of varied colours as displayed
By the king’s virgin daughters then,
And his servant led her parade
Outside and locked the door again.
19 And Tamar put ash on her head,
And tore her coloured robe when led,
And put her hands up on her head,
And went crying and weeping sped.
20 And Absalom her brother said
To her, “Did brother Amnon stay
With you? Just keep still on the way,
My sister, he’s your brother, so
Don’t take to heart the thing or show.”
21 But when David heard all these things,
He was angry to bellowings.
22 And Absalom spoke to Amnon
Neither good nor bad as sun shone,
But Absalom hated Amnon,
Because he forced his sister’s shame,
And Tamar was his sister’s name.
Amnon it seems was unaccustomed to
The lassitude that comes to each on cue
After ejaculation, it would seem
That he had never gone beyond wet dream.
And so he blamed Tamar after the fit
When he was too tired to keep up his wit.
It’s typical a man will blame his wife
For what he himself fails to do in strife.
A father’s role’s to rage and keep his hand
From doing any outrage by command.
A brother’s role is to keep silent word
And pretend no offence has yet occurred.
Beloved, Yours is the vengeance of the just
To fall upon all men possessed of lust.
23 It happened after two full years,
That Absalom with his sheep shears
Was in Baal Hazor, which is near
Ephraim, so Absalom’s cheer
Was to invite each royal son.
24 And Absalom came on the run
To the king and said “See now, your
Servant has sheep shearers at door,
Let the king, please and his servants
Go with your servant down to dance.”
25 And the king said to Absalom,
“No, my son, let’s not all in sum
Go, lest we be burden to you.”
He urged him but he would not go,
But only blessed him for the show.
26 Then Absalom said “If not, then
Please let Amnon my brother’s yen
Go with us.” And the king told him,
“Why should he go? It’s a thing dim.”
But Absalom urged him, so he
Let Amnon go and all that be
King’s sons to keep him company.
28 Absalom commanded his men,
Saying “Now take notice and when
Amnon’s heart’s merry with his drink,
And when I tell you at the brink,
‘Strike Amnon down and kill the man,’
Have no fear, since it is my plan.
Be of courage and valiant link.
I understand the anger in the breast
Of Absalom and how he got no rest
For what had happened to his favoured girl
And sister at the actions of the churl.
I also understand that he could not
Raise his own hand on brother in the plot,
But rather gave command a servant might
Strike down the valiant Amnon and the wight.
But what I do not fathom is the wake
Of crass obedience the servants make.
If anyone is worse than Hitler and
The group of tyrants of last century’s stand
It is the little man who will obey
The orders given to him with a bray.
29 And Absalom’s servants did what
Absalom told them to and sought
To kill Amnon, and all the sons
Of the king got up from their buns
And everyone got on his mule
And took to heel as though from school.
30 It happened while they travelled on,
The news came to David anon
That Absalom had killed them all,
All the king’s sons, none left in stall.”
31 Then up the king got and he tore
His clothing and lay on the earth,
And all his servants stood before
With their clothing torn without mirth.
32 But Jonadab, son of Shimeah
David’s brother, answered gainsayer,
And said “Let not my lord suppose
That they have killed in all their rose
The young men the king’s sons, but just
Amnon is dear, for by the lust
Of Absalom’s vengeance this thing
Is determined today to ring
Because he forced his sister Tamar.
33 “So now don’t fret at the disclaimer,
My lord the king to say in heart,
‘All the king’s sons lie dead in cart,’
For only Amnon of them all
Is dead and lying in the stall.”
34 But Absalom escaped and fled.
And the young man who kept the head
Of the guard lifted up his eyes
And saw beholding in this wise,
That many people by descent
Around about the hillside went.
And the watchman came told the king,
And said “See, I have seen a thing,
Men arriving upon the road,
And on the mountainside they strode.”
35 And Jonadab said to the king,
“See now, the king’s sons in a ring,
Just as I told you, see the thing.”
Well might the man Jonadab have his say
And appear to divine before the sway
Of David’s throne, since he was behind all
The plot to rape the girl and then to call
The moves as he delighted to address
The world behind the scenes in power to guess.
The weeping and the quailing is for show
In every court of king and gigolo,
The praying and the singing are a round
That hide the lust to kill that must abound
Where Your law is unloved though once confessed.
The honesty that’s seen is window dressed.
Beloved, curse Jonadab and everyone
That’s like him living here under the sun.
36 It happened as soon as he’d done,
See in came each and every son
Of the king, and lifted up voice
And wept, the king as well as choice
Of all his servants was to weep.
37 But Absalom fled and went to
Talmai the son of you know who
Ammihud king of Geshur’s crew.
And David mourned each day for that
Son. 38 But Absalom fled and sat
In Geshur three years, 39 till the king
David ceased to go out to bring
Absalom to justice. For he
Had been comforted for the spree
Against Amnon’s mortality.
If David had treated Amnon by law
Of incest and rape there would be no claw
To cause such violence upon the land.
Absalom would have remained out of hand
In innocence and Tamar satisfied.
David and his brother, both side by side,
One wielding outward power, the other’s hand
Mixing in all affairs with sly command,
These are the guilty ones. Amnon’s a pawn,
And so is Absalom risen by dawn.
Beloved, I see the flight, and spy the tears
Of refugee today before their fears,
And what the kings and presidents relay,
And know that Jonadab will have his way.
2 SAMUEL 14
1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah
Noticed the king’s heart in latria
Towards Absalom. 2 And Joab sent
To Tekoa’s apportionment,
And fetched from there a woman wise,
And said to her, “Mourn in disguise,
And put on mourning weeds and yet
Do not put oil upon the set,
And be as widow mourning one
That is many days dead and done.
3 “And you shall go before the king,
And speak to him and according
To this word.” And Joab put words
In her mouth as though from the birds.
4 When the woman from Tekoa
Spoke to the king, she fell in awe
On her face to the ground and thus
Prostrated herself’s animus,
And said to him, “Help, O king, us.”
5 And the king said to her, “What is
The matter with you?” She took his
Word answering, “I am indeed
A widow woman and in need
For my husband is of death’s breed.
6 “And your handmaid had two sons, and
They fought together at a stand
And in the field there was no one
To part them, but the other son
Struck down the one killed by his hand.
7 “And see the whole family arose
Against your handmaid and they chose
To say ‘Give up the one who killed
His brother, so we may be filled
In vengeance for his brother’s life,’
And so destroy the heir in strife.
And so they’ll quench my coal that’s left,
And leave to my husband bereft
Neither name nor remainder on
The face of the earth at the dawn.”
The office of wise woman is not known
In Torah, Psalm, Gospel or Qur’an’s own,
But is the secret left remaining in
The Book of Samuel underneath the din
Of male authority to show the old
The ancient living matriarchate bold.
The woman’s leadership was set up once
In Paradise, which is why never dunce
The serpent watcher addressed Eve instead
Of the man with her. Here in David’s spread,
Though he is king, there are such women still
Who rule the quiet ways beyond the hill.
The wise woman thus comes to king with word
Better than those that have the prophets stirred.
9 And Tekoa’s woman then said
To the king, “On me, my lord, spread,
O King, and on my father’s house
Be the iniquity like mouse,
And the king and his throne be free
Of the guilt and iniquity.”
10 And the king said “Who spoke to you?
Bring him to me, and in my view
He shall not touch you any more.”
11 And she said “I pray on that score,
Let the king remember, mind YHWH
Your Ælohim, that on his cue
The blood avenger not destroy
Anymore, lest they kill my boy.”
And he said “As YHWH lives, there shall
Not one hair of the prodigal
Fall to the earth.” 12 The woman said
“Let your handmaid, please, have word spread
Before my lord the king.” And he
Said “Speak your message faithfully.”
13 And the woman said “Why have you
Devised this thing against God’s crew?
For in this word the king is met
As one that’s of the guilty set,
In that the king does not bring home
Again his banished one Salome.
The Torah trick of the avenger’s plot
Is mitigated here when Joab sought
To bring back Absalom. It seems the turn
Of feuding was against the crown to spurn
The judgement powers of the king appointed.
And so Joab thought to strengthen anointed
King at the same time as increase the peace.
The point’s to abrogate the sure release
Of slayer in the city of refuge,
And make the king an arbitration’s stooge.
Blood vengeance is a dirty row to hoe
And often gets out of hand at the show.
But so does judgement of the court and state.
Corruption falls on every sceptred pate.
14 “For we shall surely die and be
As water poured on earth from sea
Which cannot be gathered again,
Nor does God respect any men,
But let him devise means that he
Who’s banished not an outcast be.
15 “And now whereas I came to speak
This word to my lord the king, meek,
It is because the folk made me
Afraid, and so said your handmaid
16 “For surely the king will hear you,
To save his servant from the crew
Of men who would destroy me and
My son together from the land
Given us by Ælohim’s hand.”
18 And the king answered, and he said
To the woman, “Don’t hide the spread
From me, please, nor the matter which
I ask of you yourself in switch.”
And the woman said “Let my lord
The king by all means speak a word.”
19 And the king said “Is not the hand
Of Joab with you by command?”
And the woman answered and said
“As you soul lives, my lord king led,
None can turn to the right or left
But that my lord the king is deft,
For your servant Joab, he told
Me, and he put all these words bold
In the mouth of your handmaid old,
20 To change this state of how things are
Done has your servant Joab, star,
Done his thing, but my lord is wise,
According to great wisdom’s size
To know all thing on earth that rise.”
David is Your appointed one to rule
And apply Your laws in the swimming pool,
And yet the ways of taking care of mate
That slays another when he meets his fate
Are changed not through a revelation made
Through him or through his conscience to be stayed,
But through a general in army paid
And through a woman wise whose role was found
In days when matriarchy still had ground.
Beloved, the world is open in Your will
To surprises like peacocks on the hill,
Or snow in summer, or in winter’s night
A burnished branch of carded candlelight.
Beloved, I listen for Your speeches still.
21 And the king said to Joab, “See,
I have done now accordingly,
Go and bring back the young man called
Absalom, though I am appalled.
22 And Joab fell down on his face
To the ground and prostrated place,
And blessed the king, and Joab said
“Today your servant knows as led
That I have found grace in your sight,
My lord, O king, who did me right
In your servant’s request and plight.”
23 And Joab got up and went to
Geshur, and brought Absalom to
Jerusalem. 24 And the king said
“Let him turn to his own house, but
Let him not see my face unshut.”
So Absalom turned to his house
And did not see king’s face or mouse.
25 Now in all Israel there was none
To be so much praised under sun
As Absalom for his beauty,
From the sole of his foot to knee
And to the crown of his head there
Was no blemish, not anywhere.
26 And when he polled his head, that is,
When he cut off his hair in whiz
At the end of the year, because
It was so heavy on his paws,
He weighted the hair from his head,
Two hundred shekels by the bled
Royal shekel by royal laws.
The rite of shaving head at the year’s end
Is something no Scriptures come to defend
Or give the prohibition, but the thing
Was done at least by one son of a king
Who stands as divine guide and divine proof.
And so I do not come to stand aloof
From doing so. I take the proven track
From Makkah to Mina and turn my back
On where I started in Mount Arafat
To find a barber who will shave my mat
And so remind me of where the king led
In submission to You, Beloved, instead
Of sun or moon or any gods that glow
In heaven above or in waters below.
27 And to Absalom there were born
Three sons and one daughter to warn
Whose name was Tamar, and she was
A woman fair as beauty does.
Note well, Beloved, that Absalom did not
Vent merely wicked vengeance in a plot,
But made positive sign of righteousness,
A tribute to his sister in address
Who had been shamed, by naming his own girl
After her even though she scorned the churl.
There’s always something positive to do
In face of evil, and to name a few
With names well measured in their message true
Is recourse men as well has women follow.
One need not stumble and lie down to wallow.
One can grow up like Tamar year be year
Like the date-palm and facing without fear
The generations, wipe away the tear.
28 And Absalom lived two full years
In Jerusalem, it appears
He did not see king face to face.
29 Then Absalom sent to the place
Of Joab, to send him the grace
To come to the king, but he would
Not come to him for ill or good.
30 Therefore he said to his servants,
“See, Joab’s field, one where he plants
His barley, go set it on fire.”
And Absalom’s servants in choir
Set the field alight. 31 Joab rose
And came to Absalom to pose
To him the question, “Why have your
Servants lit up my field for war?”
32 And Absalom answered Joab,
“See I sent to you at a jab,
Saying ‘Come here that I may send
You to the king to say “Why tend
To bring me from Geshur? If I
Have sinned, then judge me now to die.”’”
33 So Joab came before the king
And told him, and when he had called
For Absalom, he came enthralled
To the king, and bowed on his face
To the ground before the king’s grace,
And the king kissed Absalom’s face.
It sounds to me that in the reconciling
Of Absalom to David the one styling
For loss was only Joab in his field.
No one replaced the loss in barley yield.
The king is happy and also the son,
But Joab’s under catastrophic dun.
He might have left the well enough alone
In Gershur where Absalom had his throne.
Beloved, let me not intercede for king
And estranged child in any kind of thing.
My business is alone with You to set
Your names to melodies I’ve not yet met.
Human relations are a waste of time,
At least to those who have to spend the dime.
2 SAMUEL 15
1 It happened after this prepared
Absalom chariots and spared
No means acquiring horses too
And fifty men to run in crew
Before him. 2 And Absalom would
Get up early and stand as good
Beside the way to the king’s gate,
And when anyone came in state
With a suit of judgement to take
To the king, then Absalom’s ache
Was to call him and say “Of which
City are you?” And he would hitch
To inform him, “Your servant’s one
From the tribes of Israel a son.”
3 Then Absalom would say to him,
“See, your case is one just, not dim,
But there’s no man set by the king
To hear you and correct the thing.”
4 And Absalom would answer then,
“Oh that I were made judge to sit
In the land, that every man fit
Who had a suit or cause might come
To me, and I’d do justice’ sum.”
5 And it was so that when a man
Came near to bow down where he ran,
That he stretched out his hand and took
Hold of him and he kissed the crook.
6 And in this way did Absalom
Act toward judgement, so Absalom
Stole the hearts of Israel’s men.
Here Absalom, inventor of the rate
Of modern politics of lobby fate
And flattering the folk disconsolate,
Foils justice while praising with tender heart
Justice that could be wrought with horse and cart
If he were given rein. I see the part
Replayed in every election and grade.
Beloved, Your way is best, the lottery
That gives You chance to choose among the free.
God grant futile, costly democracy
Be replaced with the falling numbered balls,
And fortunes rather given at the calls
Of merit for things done in work and rhyme.
Beloved, inflict a change in space and time.
7 It happened when forty years came
To an end in Davidic fame,
That Absalom said to the king,
“Please let me go by vow and sing
What I have vows to YHWH to bring
In Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed
A vow while I lived when allowed
In Geshur in Aram, saying
“If YHWH shall indeed truly bring
Me back to Jerusalem, then
I will there serve YHWH once again.”
9 And the king told him “Go in peace.”
See this, Beloved, the king’s son calls himself
The servant of the king, not waif or elf.
Then why do simple folk insist Your word
Is stinking like corruption of a turd
Because in one You call a man Your son,
And in the other, the same man when done,
A servant? If Absalom can say so
With king’s impunity, why all the show
To criticize You, my Beloved, who speak
To say every son of Your hand is weak
And human, yet revealing of Your face
Throughout creation’s form, colour and grace?
I am a son and more of You who made
Me to serve You with pen and cart and spade.
10 But Absalom sent spies all through
The tribes of Israel to give cue,
“As soon as you hear the horn’s sound,
Then you shall say the word around,
“Absalom’s king on Hebron’s ground!”
11 Two hundred men with Absalom,
They went out of Jerusalem,
In their hearts’ full simplicity,
And did not know the treachery.
12 And Absalom sent for the man
Ahithophel Gilonite’s plan,
David’s counsellor from his town,
Even from Giloh, without frown,
While he offered the sacrifice.
And the conspiracy’s device
Was strong, for the folk came along
Always after Absalom’s song.
13 And there came messengers at last
To David, saying “The full cast
Of Israel’s men is for the reign
Of Absalom.” 14 David would fain
Say to all his servants that were
With him at Jerusalem’s spur,
“Get up, let’s go, lest he come fast
To attack us and the town’s mast
With the mouth of the sword up cast.”
15 And the king’s servants told the king,
“In all our lord king chooses, see
We are your servants loyally.”
16 And the king went out and with all
His household after him to crawl,
And the king left ten women who
Were concubines to keep the crew
Of the house. 17 And the king went out
And all the folk after his route
And stopped at the outskirts to scout.
King David trusted his son in the thing
Regarding the court ladies remaining.
He could not think that harm should come to them
From one who was so full of stratagem
To rake vengeance of brother for the crime
Of abuse of his sister for a dime.
He knew the colour of the man and so
Predicted righteousness even in show
Of cold conspiracy. Beloved, I know
That human hearts may reckon good a while,
But when faced with ambition and in style,
The good is thrown out with intentions made
When justice was set out and on parade.
David’s mistake is trusting human guile.
18 And all his servants passed beside
Him, and all the Cherethites’ tide,
And all the Pelethites and all
The Gittites, six hundred at call
That came after him from Gath, passed
On before the king at the mast.
19 Then said the king to Ittai who
Was of the Gittites and their crew,
“Why are you going with us too?
Return and remain with the king,
For you’re a foreigner to swing
And an exile and refugee
From your own place and your city.
Since you just came here yesterday,
Should I drag you about today
Considering I go where may?
Go back then you and all of yours
And may YHWH deal with you for scores
In truth and in His mercy’s stores.”
21 Ittai answered the king and said
“As YHWH lives and my lord is led,
As the king lives, where he will be,
In death or life’s serenity,
There shall also your servant be.”
22 And David said to Ittai then,
“Go and pass over with the men.”
And Ittai the Gittite passed over,
And all his men and every rover,
And all the little ones with him.
23 And all the land wept loud and grim,
As all the people passed the rim,
And as the king crossed brook Kidron,
All the folk passed over and drawn
Toward the way of the wilderness,
There to find needed new address.
Though prophet is unknown in his own land,
And son of peace may turn a traitor’s hand,
It still is rare a stranger on the prowl
Is such a friend as Ittai with a growl.
When one is down, the worthy thing to do
In this brave city is to join the crew
Of those who throw stones at the fallen view.
Every foundation’s made of stone and sand.
The hard heart and the fickle take a stand,
Beloved, where I too raise an eye to see.
I look about wilderness and country
To find a fleeing king and Ittai’s band.
Beloved I only see the rush to find
A place among the shadows of the blind.
24 And see, Zadok was also there,
And all the Levites he could spare,
Bearing the ark of Ælohim
In covenant, in their esteem
They set down ark of Ælohim,
But Abiathar went up till
All the town folk had crossed the hill.
25 And the king said to Zadok then,
“Carry Ælohim’s ark to den
Of the city, and if I find
Favour in YHWH’s eyes, I’m resigned
He’ll bring me back and show me it
As well as His dwelling and fit.
26 But if He says ‘I’ve no delight
In You’, I am not here to fight,
Let Him do to me as seems best
To Him and in Him I find rest.”
27 The king also said to Zadok
The priest, “See here, you should go back
To the city in peace or lack,
And your two sons with you, your son
Ahimaaz, the other one
Jonathan son of Abiathar.
28 “See, I will stay upon the plains
Of wilderness, as long detains
Word from you and what it contains.”
The humble treaty of David is not
So innocent of political plot.
He has his spies and sends them with an eye
Of what he wants to know for them to spy.
A priest is a good choice, since many think
The priest is neutral on politics’ brink.
But such is never so: the innocent
Are not priests but the good in heart when sent.
Beloved, I send my spies into Your den,
And meet Your spies come out to me again.
I send my doves with white wing to abound
And find where Your ark rests upon the ground
And take it to my heart that I may be
One with You, my Beloved, eternally.
29 So Zadok and Abiathar
Brought back the ark of YHWH and star
To Jerusalem, where they are.
30 And David went up by ascent
Of mount of Olives, and he lent
His voice to weeping as he went,
Covered his head and trod barefoot,
And all the people with him put
A cover on their heads and rose
Up weeping as their sorrow shows.
31 And one told David, and he said
“Ahithophel is also led
Among conspirators to be
With Absalom.” And David’s plea
Was, “O YHWH, I pray You to turn
Ahithophel’s counsel to spurn.”
32 It happened that when David came
To the top of the hill where claim
Of worship to Ælohim’s name
Took place, see Hushai the Archite
Came to meet him, his coat a sight,
And torn, and earth upon his head.
33 And David told him “If you go
With me, you’ll be a burden so.
34 “But if you return to the town
And tell Absalom without frown,
‘I shall be your servant, O king,
As I’ve done for your father’s ring
In times past, so I shall now be
Your servant,’ then will you make free
To defeat Ahithophel’s word
Of counsel for me when he’s stirred.
35 “And see, with you there are Zadok,
Abiathar the priests in stock,
And it shall be that everything
You hear out of the counselling
Of the king’s house, such shall you bring
To Zadok and Abiathar
The priests who are my guiding star.
36 “See, they have with them their two sons,
Ahimaaz Zadok’s son who stuns,
Jonathan Abiathar’s son,
By them you’ll tell me what is done.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend came to
The city, and Absalom too
Came to Jerusalem and won.
You may wonder, Beloved, if the plan will
Amount to anything on Zion’s hill.
Many distrust the friend of enemy,
Until he shows his worth in battle spree.
Hushai is known as David’s loyal friend
And thus is unreliable to tend
Matters for David’s son and valiant foe,
Absalom. My experience has taught
Duty is something that is always bought.
You alone are true to the righteous weight
Along the centuries of power and state.
Alone You can be trusted, yet men still
Linger about the court for good or ill.
I flee to You, Beloved, from every mate.
2 SAMUEL 16
1 When David was a little past
The top, Ziba, slave of the last
Mephibosheth, met him with two
Donkeys saddled, and on those two
Hundred loaves of bread, and a store
Of one hundred clusters not more
Of raisins, and of summer fruits
A hundred, and grape juice as suits
In a bottle. 2 And the king said
To Ziba, “Why have you been led
To bring these things?” And Ziba said
“The donkeys are for the king’s house
To ride on, and the bread to douse
With summer fruit for the young men
To eat, and the grape juice again
For such as are faint in the glen
To drink.” 3 And the king said again,
“Where is your master’s son?” and he
Ziba said to the king freely,
“See, he is in Jerusalem,
For he said “Today will the hem
Of Israel’s house be once restored
To me and kingdom of my lord.”
4 Then said the king to Ziba, “See,
Yours is all that belonged in fee
To Mephibosheth.” Then said he,
Ziba, “I bow down, let me find
Grace in your sight, lord king assigned.”
5 When king David saw Bahurim,
See, there came out one from regime
Of Saul’s family, one who was called
Shimei the son of Gera stalled,
And he came cursing unappalled.
Beloved, I too come cursing kings a while
And follow their parade a second mile
And throw stones at their entourage and smile
To see them muddied and sullied for guile.
There’s nothing sweeter on earth than the curse
One mouths against prime ministers and worse.
Though I’m a man of peace and no stone from
My hand will attain mark to beat the sum
Or draw blood from the royal brow, yet I
Still curse the head of state when passing by.
I once came without warning on the street
In London and whom should I sudden meet
But Prince Edward, eye to eye, face to face.
I failed to lift my hat, still feel disgrace.
6 And he threw stones at David, and
At all the servants at the hand
Of king David, and all the folk
And all the mighty men awoke
On the right and left of the king.
7 And so Shimei went on cursing
Him saying “Begone, begone, you
Man of blood, and base bloke and crew,
8 “YHWH’s taken vengeance on you due
For all the blood of house of Saul,
In whose place you have reigned to pall,
And see, you’re caught in your own net
Of mischief, because you’re one set
In blood.” Then Abishai the son
Of Zeruiah said when done
To the king, “Why should this dead dog
Curse my lord king? Let me unclog
His head.” 10 And the king said “What do
I have to do with this thing, you
Sons of Zeruiah? So let
Him curse, because YHWH once has set
Him saying ‘Curse David,’ then who
Shall say ‘Why have you come to do?’”
11 And David said to Abishai,
And all his servants, “See here, my
Own son, who came out from my own
Body, would kill me for the throne,
How much more this Benjamite now?
Let him alone and let him curse,
Since YHWH has commanded him terse.
12 “It may be that YHWH will look on
My eye, and that YHWH’s benison
Will reward me good for the wrong
Of his cursing me this day long.”
13 So David and his men went by
The road, and Shimei long the hill
Throwing stones at him on the sly
And casting dust upon him still.
14 And the king and all the folk there
With him were weary with the care
And so he refreshed himself there.
I join the House of David and attach
My lowly self to be servant for scratch
In David’s court to cantillate his Psalms
Week by week beneath firs instead of palms,
And know the Sufic character that he
Projects upon both servant and the free
Is still a word of power and hope to be
Fulfilled on me who now persistently
Beyond his centuries before his throne
Wait in faith and in hope that You alone
May grant reward and vengeance on the pate
Of those who are rebellious in their hate
Of You, Beloved, and invent modern state
To defy Decalogue, the insensate.
15 But Absalom and all the folk
The men of Israel to a bloke
Came to Jerusalem, also
Ahithophel came with the show.
16 It happened when Hushai Archite,
David’s friend had come in the sight
Of Absalom, that Hushai said
To Absalom, “Long live king led,
Long live the king,” so Hushai said.
17 And Absalom said to Hushai,
“Is this your kindness to the guy
Who was your friend? Now tell me why
You did not join your friend to die?”
18 And Hushai said to Absalom,
“No, but whom YHWH and this folk’s sum,
And all Israel have chosen, his
Will I be and dwell where he is.
19 “And again, whom should I serve then?
Should I not serve as denizen
Before his son, as I have served
In your father’s presence unswerved,
So I’ll be to you, as I’ve served.”
I too, Beloved, bow before rules of state
And pay my taxes, though careless and late,
And give robber and merchant each his due
And do not fail to kiss the mighty crew
Demolishing the palaces and true
Of David’s tabernacle set in song.
I bow and smirk before those who do wrong
But wield the sword and claim to bear Your name
Before the world for their oppression’s claim.
But I’m no spy like Hushai in the court.
I’m just a leprechaun with finger wart,
Appearing now with bow and scrape and zeal,
Then disappearing in the commonweal
To hide beneath the fir and forest game.
20 Absalom told Ahithophel,
“Give counsel, what we shall do well.”
21And Ahithophel then said to
Absalom, “Go you in unto
Your father’s concubines that he
Has left to keep the house in fee,
And all Israel will hear the spree
And know you dishonour your dad,
So the hands of all with you, lad,
Will be strong in the strength you had.”
22 So they spread Absalom a tent
On the house-top, and there he went
Into his father’s concubines
Before all Israel by designs.
23 Now Ahithophel’s counsel then
Which he counselled those days of men
Was as if a man asked of God,
So finely Ahithophel trod,
Both with David and with the clod
Absalom, both in bloom and pod.
For shame that such counsel should see the light
Of inner sanctum of the palace night!
For shame that Israel could bear the sight!
And yet the government today is set
To close an eye to all perversion met
In pedophile and slave traffic to get
A profit from free enterprise and strong.
Lacking the funds is the only thing wrong
By the standards of worldly recompense.
Without the Decalogue, man has no sense.
Beloved, I cry fie on hypocrisy
That builds glass and steel towers to be free
And yet sees that extortion is the way
To make the populace pay and repay.
AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN
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