Beginning of the End
Rebellion Grows Underground
Discontent with the government was spreading fast, stirred up and encouraged by the prince. Absalom was generally regarded as heir to the kingdom, and many wanted him to sit on the throne. “So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” Yet the king suspected nothing. David thought the princely role that Absalom had assumed was intended to give honor to his court. BOE 368.5
Absalom secretly sent chosen men throughout the tribes to lay plans for revolt, and now he used religious devotion as a covering to conceal his traitorous plans. Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the Lord. For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” BOE 368.6
The fond father, comforted with this appearance of piety in his son, sent him away with his blessing. Absalom planned his crowning act of hypocrisy not only to blind the king but to secure the confidence of the people. In this way he would lead them on to rebellion against the king whom God had chosen. BOE 369.1
Absalom set out for Hebron, and with him “two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything.” These men went, never thinking that their love for the son was leading them into rebellion against the father. At Hebron, Absalom called for Ahithophel, a man famous for wisdom. Ahithophel’s support made Absalom’s cause appear certain to succeed, attracting many influential men to his ranks. As the trumpet of revolt sounded, the prince’s spies throughout the country spread the news that Absalom was king, and many of the people gathered to him. BOE 369.2
1974
BOE
Beginning of the End
[{"para_id":"1974.17","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0003_eng_m_foreword_1974_17.mp3#duration=121&size=1083520"},{"para_id":"1974.24","title":"Why Was Sin Permitted?","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0004_eng_m_why_was_sin_permitted_1974_24.mp3#duration=884&size=7189478"},{"para_id":"1974.61","title":"Creation: God\u2019s Answer to Evolution","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0009_eng_m_creation_god_s_answer_to_evolution_1974_61.mp3#duration=689&size=5628954"},{"para_id":"1974.95","title":"The Predicament of Our First Parents","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0013_eng_m_the_predicament_of_our_first_parents_1974_95.mp3#duration=1075&size=8718811"},{"para_id":"1974.152","title":"The Plan of Redemption Is Unveiled","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0018_eng_m_the_plan_of_redemption_is_unveiled_1974_152.mp3#duration=742&size=6050545"},{"para_id":"1974.187","title":"The First Murderer and His Victim","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0022_eng_m_the_first_murderer_and_his_victim_1974_187.mp3#duration=663&size=5418703"},{"para_id":"1974.220","title":"Seth: When Men Turned to God","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0025_eng_m_seth_when_men_turned_to_god_1974_220.mp3#duration=894&size=7269757"},{"para_id":"1974.262","title":"When the World Was Destroyed by Water","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0029_eng_m_when_the_world_was_destroyed_by_water_1974_262.mp3#duration=1158&size=9379686"},{"para_id":"1974.317","title":"After the Flood, a New Beginning","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0036_eng_m_after_the_flood_a_new_beginning_1974_317.mp3#duration=409&size=3383853"},{"para_id":"1974.338","title":"The Beginning of the Literal Week","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0038_eng_m_the_beginning_of_the_literal_week_1974_338.mp3#duration=460&size=3794870"},{"para_id":"1974.359","title":"When Languages Were Changed","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0040_eng_m_when_languages_were_changed_1974_359.mp3#duration=538&size=4415404"},{"para_id":"1974.387","title":"Abraham, the Father of All Believers","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0043_eng_m_abraham_the_father_of_all_believers_1974_387.mp3#duration=587&size=4808438"},{"para_id":"1974.419","title":"Abraham, a Good Neighbor in Canaan","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0047_eng_m_abraham_a_good_neighbor_in_canaan_1974_419.mp3#duration=1163&size=9421415"},{"para_id":"1974.478","title":"The Offering of Isaac: Test of Faith","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0053_eng_m_the_offering_of_isaac_test_of_faith_1974_478.mp3#duration=1080&size=8758630"},{"para_id":"1974.536","title":"The Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0061_eng_m_the_sin_of_sodom_and_gomorrah_1974_536.mp3#duration=1125&size=9112411"},{"para_id":"1974.588","title":"Isaac\u2019s Marriage: The Happiest in the Bible","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0066_eng_m_isaac_s_marriage_the_happiest_in_the_bible_1974_588.mp3#duration=670&size=5473035"},{"para_id":"1974.625","title":"Jacob and Esau","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0069_eng_m_jacob_and_esau_1974_625.mp3#duration=607&size=4975278"},{"para_id":"1974.659","title":"Jacob\u2019s Flight and Exile","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0073_eng_m_jacob_s_flight_and_exile_1974_659.mp3#duration=931&size=7565238"},{"para_id":"1974.706","title":"Jacob\u2019s Terrible Night of Wrestling","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0077_eng_m_jacob_s_terrible_night_of_wrestling_1974_706.mp3#duration=663&size=5418950"},{"para_id":"1974.743","title":"Jacob Comes Home","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0082_eng_m_jacob_comes_home_1974_743.mp3#duration=838&size=6822931"},{"para_id":"1974.789","title":"The Amazing Story of Joseph","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0085_eng_m_the_amazing_story_of_joseph_1974_789.mp3#duration=899&size=7311584"},{"para_id":"1974.837","title":"Joseph and His Brothers","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0090_eng_m_joseph_and_his_brothers_1974_837.mp3#duration=1844&size=14872806"},{"para_id":"1974.937","title":"Moses, the Leader of God\u2019s People","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0100_eng_m_moses_the_leader_of_god_s_people_1974_937.mp3#duration=1311&size=10602018"},{"para_id":"1974.1007","title":"The Ten Plagues of Egypt","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0107_eng_m_the_ten_plagues_of_egypt_1974_1007.mp3#duration=1418&size=11463045"},{"para_id":"1974.1086","title":"The First Passover","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0115_eng_m_the_first_passover_1974_1086.mp3#duration=487&size=4010356"},{"para_id":"1974.1110","title":"The Israelites Leave Egypt","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0118_eng_m_the_israelites_leave_egypt_1974_1110.mp3#duration=617&size=5054467"},{"para_id":"1974.1145","title":"Israel Meets With Difficulties","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0122_eng_m_israel_meets_with_difficulties_1974_1145.mp3#duration=1040&size=8439768"},{"para_id":"1974.1198","title":"God Gives His Law on Mount Sinai","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0128_eng_m_god_gives_his_law_on_mount_sinai_1974_1198.mp3#duration=1123&size=9103576"},{"para_id":"1974.1266","title":"Israel Worships a Golden Calf","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0133_eng_m_israel_worships_a_golden_calf_1974_1266.mp3#duration=1352&size=10932348"},{"para_id":"1974.1337","title":"Satan\u2019s Hatred of God\u2019s Law","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0142_eng_m_satan_s_hatred_of_god_s_law_1974_1337.mp3#duration=934&size=7591687"},{"para_id":"1974.1385","title":"The Sanctuary: God\u2019s Dwelling Place in Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0146_eng_m_the_sanctuary_god_s_dwelling_place_in_israel_1974_1385.mp3#duration=1390&size=11235083"},{"para_id":"1974.1451","title":"The Sin of Nadab and Abihu","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0153_eng_m_the_sin_of_nadab_and_abihu_1974_1451.mp3#duration=336&size=2802890"},{"para_id":"1974.1466","title":"The Grace of Christ and the New Covenant","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0155_eng_m_the_grace_of_christ_and_the_new_covenant_1974_1466.mp3#duration=980&size=7958243"},{"para_id":"1974.1514","title":"The Terrible Grumblings of God\u2019s People","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0160_eng_m_the_terrible_grumblings_of_god_s_people_1974_1514.mp3#duration=895&size=7276914"},{"para_id":"1974.1563","title":"Twelve Spies Survey Canaan","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0164_eng_m_twelve_spies_survey_canaan_1974_1563.mp3#duration=719&size=5870059"},{"para_id":"1974.1603","title":"Korah Leads a Rebellion","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0168_eng_m_korah_leads_a_rebellion_1974_1603.mp3#duration=915&size=7435716"},{"para_id":"1974.1658","title":"Forty Years of Wandering in the Wilderness","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0173_eng_m_forty_years_of_wandering_in_the_wilderness_1974_1658.mp3#duration=360&size=2993490"},{"para_id":"1974.1679","title":"Moses Fails on the Border of Canaan","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0175_eng_m_moses_fails_on_the_border_of_canaan_1974_1679.mp3#duration=665&size=5434926"},{"para_id":"1974.1712","title":"Why the Long Journey Around Edom?","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0178_eng_m_why_the_long_journey_around_edom_1974_1712.mp3#duration=1042&size=8450373"},{"para_id":"1974.1767","title":"The Conquest of Bashan","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0184_eng_m_the_conquest_of_bashan_1974_1767.mp3#duration=481&size=3964854"},{"para_id":"1974.1792","title":"Balaam Tries to Curse Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0188_eng_m_balaam_tries_to_curse_israel_1974_1792.mp3#duration=1186&size=9603298"},{"para_id":"1974.1864","title":"How Balaam Led Israel into Sin","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0195_eng_m_how_balaam_led_israel_into_sin_1974_1864.mp3#duration=816&size=6642451"},{"para_id":"1974.1905","title":"God Teaches His Law to a New Generation","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0200_eng_m_god_teaches_his_law_to_a_new_generation_1974_1905.mp3#duration=631&size=5166916"},{"para_id":"1974.1936","title":"The Death of Moses","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0202_eng_m_the_death_of_moses_1974_1936.mp3#duration=906&size=7367858"},{"para_id":"1974.1980","title":"Crossing the Jordan","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0206_eng_m_crossing_the_jordan_1974_1980.mp3#duration=492&size=4048860"},{"para_id":"1974.2006","title":"The Miraculous Fall of Jericho","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0208_eng_m_the_miraculous_fall_of_jericho_1974_2006.mp3#duration=1015&size=8239147"},{"para_id":"1974.2059","title":"The Blessings and the Curses","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0214_eng_m_the_blessings_and_the_curses_1974_2059.mp3#duration=325&size=2718617"},{"para_id":"1974.2079","title":"A Canaanite Tribe Deceives Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0216_eng_m_a_canaanite_tribe_deceives_israel_1974_2079.mp3#duration=500&size=4111410"},{"para_id":"1974.2106","title":"Home at Last","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0219_eng_m_home_at_last_1974_2106.mp3#duration=1063&size=8619253"},{"para_id":"1974.2165","title":"The Last Words of Joshua","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0225_eng_m_the_last_words_of_joshua_1974_2165.mp3#duration=367&size=3048745"},{"para_id":"1974.2187","title":"The Blessing of Tithes and Offerings","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0227_eng_m_the_blessing_of_tithes_and_offerings_1974_2187.mp3#duration=330&size=2754779"},{"para_id":"1974.2205","title":"God\u2019s Care for the Poor","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0229_eng_m_god_s_care_for_the_poor_1974_2205.mp3#duration=620&size=5075417"},{"para_id":"1974.2242","title":"Annual Feasts of Rejoicing","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0233_eng_m_annual_feasts_of_rejoicing_1974_2242.mp3#duration=444&size=3664549"},{"para_id":"1974.2273","title":"The Judges, Deliverers of Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0235_eng_m_the_judges_deliverers_of_israel_1974_2273.mp3#duration=1355&size=10957796"},{"para_id":"1974.2347","title":"Samson, the Strongest Yet Weakest Man","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0243_eng_m_samson_the_strongest_yet_weakest_man_1974_2347.mp3#duration=914&size=7430714"},{"para_id":"1974.2402","title":"God Calls the Child Samuel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0250_eng_m_god_calls_the_child_samuel_1974_2402.mp3#duration=496&size=4087162"},{"para_id":"1974.2429","title":"Eli and His Wicked Sons","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0253_eng_m_eli_and_his_wicked_sons_1974_2429.mp3#duration=498&size=4095783"},{"para_id":"1974.2452","title":"Punishment: The Ark Taken","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0256_eng_m_punishment_the_ark_taken_1974_2452.mp3#duration=1115&size=9038321"},{"para_id":"1974.2516","title":"The Schools of the Prophets","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0263_eng_m_the_schools_of_the_prophets_1974_2516.mp3#duration=708&size=5778374"},{"para_id":"1974.2552","title":"Saul, the First King of Israel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0266_eng_m_saul_the_first_king_of_israel_1974_2552.mp3#duration=1146&size=9285605"},{"para_id":"1974.2612","title":"Saul Makes a Terrible Mistake","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0271_eng_m_saul_makes_a_terrible_mistake_1974_2612.mp3#duration=824&size=6709110"},{"para_id":"1974.2656","title":"Saul Rejected as King","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0278_eng_m_saul_rejected_as_king_1974_2656.mp3#duration=852&size=6935376"},{"para_id":"1974.2700","title":"David Anointed as King","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0283_eng_m_david_anointed_as_king_1974_2700.mp3#duration=379&size=3146601"},{"para_id":"1974.2719","title":"David Kills Goliath","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0285_eng_m_david_kills_goliath_1974_2719.mp3#duration=562&size=4610644"},{"para_id":"1974.2752","title":"David Flees","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0289_eng_m_david_flees_1974_2752.mp3#duration=1019&size=8267489"},{"para_id":"1974.2809","title":"The Noble Spirit of David","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0296_eng_m_the_noble_spirit_of_david_1974_2809.mp3#duration=1152&size=9331102"},{"para_id":"1974.2871","title":"Saul Takes His Own Life","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0303_eng_m_saul_takes_his_own_life_1974_2871.mp3#duration=585&size=4792618"},{"para_id":"1974.2903","title":"Ancient and Modern Spiritualism","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0305_eng_m_ancient_and_modern_spiritualism_1974_2903.mp3#duration=520&size=4274468"},{"para_id":"1974.2927","title":"David\u2019s Heavy Trial","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0307_eng_m_david_s_heavy_trial_1974_2927.mp3#duration=609&size=4988218"},{"para_id":"1974.2962","title":"David Crowned King at Last","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0312_eng_m_david_crowned_king_at_last_1974_2962.mp3#duration=456&size=3764237"},{"para_id":"1974.2987","title":"The Prosperous Reign of David","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0314_eng_m_the_prosperous_reign_of_david_1974_2987.mp3#duration=1092&size=8854729"},{"para_id":"1974.3050","title":"David\u2019s Sin of Adultery and His Repentance","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0320_eng_m_david_s_sin_of_adultery_and_his_repentance_1974_3050.mp3#duration=915&size=7439398"},{"para_id":"1974.3100","title":"The Rebellion of Absalom, David\u2019s Son","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0325_eng_m_the_rebellion_of_absalom_david_s_son_1974_3100.mp3#duration=1670&size=13474687"},{"para_id":"1974.3188","title":"A Man After God\u2019s Own Heart","mp3":"\/mp3\/1974\/0336_eng_m_a_man_after_god_s_own_heart_1974_3188.mp3#duration=803&size=6541668"}]