Well, as if shee had gone to fetch water, or to wash some cloathes there, and so went unsuspected, but a boy saw them, and came and told it to Absalom, who by the same expositours is held to have beene her sonne, and thought by this meanes to come into great favour with Absalom: but the scripture leaveth it uncertaine who he was. They then perceiving, that they were sought for, for Absalom sent some immediately to apprehend them, went to a Well in a mans yeard in Bahurim, and were hidden there by the care of a woman. How they perceived the danger comming is not said, but happily they had some inkling given them hereof, by some friend that perceived it. Sallianus saith, that Absaloms messengers pursuing them on horsbacke might be heard by them afar off, who feared the worst upon any sound made, and therefore hid themselves, but how they being footmen could do this so suddenly, and the Well be covered, and that device used by the woman to lay on a covering and ground corne upon it, I cannot see. Absaloms messengers comming thither, happily upon notice gi∣ven, that they went into that mans yard, the woman, as another Rabab, to save them from danger, said, that they were gone in hasle, having drunke a lit∣tle water, and so they ceased to pursue them, so the Vulg: Lat: but the Hebrew they are gone over the river of water, that is, over Jordan: A wonderfull provi∣dence of God over David and his friends thus to move the hearts of some to [Note.] worke for their good, and to worke s••ch remisnesse in these pursuers, that they sought no further after them; so well doth hee provide even beyond their expectation, for the good and safety of those that goe in a right way.
Then these two men hastened to David, and hee with his company after this intelligence had with all speed went over Jordan the same night, which could not but bee a wonderfull great trouble unto him, after his weary journey in the day to have no time to refresh him in the night, but yet hee had one com∣fort, not one of his company forsooke him in this danger, or miscarryed in passing over the river in the night, for it is said, that there was not one, but was come over by the appearing of the next morning unto the other side.
Then Achitophel seeing that his counsell was not followed, hanged himselfe, viz: because he foresaw certained destruction to come upon Absalom, and that the victory would fall to David, which if it did, he was in danger of being put to a shamefull death: A just reward for so wicked a man, who being indued with such excellent wisdome imployed it so ill, whereas hee should rather have devised how to make Absalom humble, and reconcile himselfe againe to his father, so Lyra, and others. And Josephus saith, that hee spake to this ef∣fect to those of his house, that David would reobtaine the kingdome, and hee should bee hanged, wherefore it was better for him to prevent it, and manfully to dye with his owne hands. It is likely also, that discontent wrought with him, forsomuch as his counsell, which had hitherto beene held as an oracle, was now so sleighted. But hee was punisht in his kinde, hee that would have lifted up his hands against his Lord David, lifteth up his hand against himselfe, and is by a just judgement given over to a sinne so much greater then common murther, by how much his owne life was nearer unto him then another mans. And in this, as in other things, hee is rightly held by some to have beene a type of Judas, who also gave counsell against his master Christ, and so came to the like shamefull end.
Then David came to Mahanaim, that is, saith one, a City in the land of Gi∣lead, of the Tribe of Gad, 44 miles from Jerusalem, this place had this name given it from Jacob, Gen: 31. because here Tents of Angels were seene about him to guard him when hee was in danger by Esau his comming against him. This saith Josephus, was a most faire and well fenced City, to this Ishbosheth betooke himselfe also, when hee tooke the kingdome upon him, ch: 2. 8. Da∣vid had not long rested here, but hee was pursued by Absalom, who brought his army over Jordan after him. And hee made Amasa Captaine of his army, who was the sonne of Ithra by Abigail the daughter of Naas, the sister of Zerviah, Joabs mother, so that hee and Joab were sisters children, and both Nephewes