1. What is laudable in the actions recorded here of:
   (a) Joab and
   (b) David, and what gives rise to misgivings?
2. How does David’s predicament illustrate the situation confronting God with the human race?
   How is the gospel ‘solution’ at once more far-reaching and more satisfactory than the expedient adopted by David?
3. Study Absalom’s character, and list his faults.

Note. 14:7. Those who demanded the murderer’s death had justification according to the law (see Deut. 19:11-13). The women based her plea on her own great need.