And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and
said, "Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath delivered up the men that
lifted up their hand against my lord the king."

And the king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?"

And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, even me thy
servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was."

And the king said, "Turn aside, and stand here."

And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, the Cushite came; and
the Cushite said, "Tidings for my lord the king: for the Lord hath
avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee."

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[Illustration]
ANCIENT TOMBS NEAR JERUSALEM.
From a photograph belonging to Dr. W. J. Moulton
and used by his kind permission.

Many of the kings of Judah were buried in these rock tombs. "Every
family who could afford it had their tomb hewn out of the rock, with
niches for the reception of many bodies."
[End illustration]

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And the king said unto the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man
Absalom?"

And the Cushite answered, "The enemies of my lord the king, and all that
rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is."

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate,
and wept: and as he went, thus he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my
son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

THE PASSING OF DAVID.

"_I Go the Way of All the Earth_."

Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged
Solomon his son, saying, "I go the way of all the earth: be thou
strong therefore, and show thyself a man; and keep the charge of the
Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his
commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, according to
that which is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in
all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: that the
Lord may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If
thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with
all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee a
man on the throne of Israel.'"

And David died, and his son Solomon reigned in his stead.

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SOLOMON

_The Story of the Wisest and Greatest King Israel Ever Had_.

(After some opposition on the part of the other sons of David,
Solomon was established on the throne.