The two young men were narrowly watched, and had it not been for the deception practiced on Absalom’s servants by the mistress of the house at Bahurim, they would probably not have reached David in time to put him on his guard. That her device secured his safety does not extenuate nor justify her falsehood. God could have found some other method of delivering his servant. Let us remember the warning voices that speak to us, bidding us beware of temptation. There is a river that we also may put between us and our pursuers. It is the Jordan of Calvary—the Cross of our Saviour. Reckon yourselves dead unto sin!

As Ahithophel foreshadowed Judas in his treachery, so did he in his end. See Psa. 41:9; Matt. 27:5. He was not only mortified by the refusal of his advice, but clearly saw therein the inevitable triumph of David’s

cause and the punishment that would follow. On the farther bank friends awaited the fugitives. For Shobi, see 10:1, 2; Machir, 9:4. But Psalms 42 and 43 reflect David’s feelings at this sad hour. Even in the night God’s song was with him.