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And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.

Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.

And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:

And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king"s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.

And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men"s bones shall be burnt upon thee.

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.

And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king"s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king"s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king"s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David"s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king"s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king"s sons, and there is not one of them left.

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king"s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon"s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king"s sons go with him.

Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king"s sons.

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.