Quotes About Sacrifice

But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my fatherís house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”

“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your sonís head will fall to the ground.”

After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.

For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ëIf indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.í”

While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Davidís counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalomís following kept increasing.

Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”

“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had passed out of the city.

When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.”

Then the manís wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing.

But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”

“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

There the people of Israel were defeated by Davidís servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.

When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ëProtect the young man Absalom for my sake.í

If I had jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”

But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.

And ten young men who carried Joabís armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.

They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.

Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”