From the walls of the city the long lines of the rebel army were in full view. The usurper was accompanied by a vast host, in comparison with which David's force seemed but a handful. But as the king looked upon the opposing forces, the thought uppermost in his mind was not of the crown and the kingdom, nor of his own life, that depended upon the wage of battle. The father's heart was filled with love and pity for his rebellious son. As the army filed out from the city gates David encouraged his faithful soldiers, bidding them go forth trusting that the God of Israel would give them the victory. But even here he could not repress his love for Absalom. As Joab, leading the first column, passed his king, the conqueror of a hundred battlefields stooped his proud head to hear the monarch's last message, as with trembling voice he said, "Deal gently

Hele oprørshæren kunne ses fra byens mure, og i sammenligning med denne synede Davids hær meget lidt. Men da kongen kastede blikket ud over de styrker, som han stod over for, gjaldt hans første tanke ikke kronen eller riget; heller ikke hans eget liv, som afhang af slagets udfald. Faderens hjerte var fyldt af kærlighed til den oprørske søn. Da hæren drog ud gennem byens porte, opmuntrede David sine trofaste soldater og opfordrede dem til at stole på, at Israels Gud ville give dem sejren. Men selv i dette øjeblik kunne han ikke skjule sin kærlighed til Absalom. Da Joab gik forbi kongen i spidsen for den første kolonne, bøjede sejrherren fra hundrede slagmarker sit stolte hoved for at lytte til monarkens sidste ord. Med skælvende stemme sagde David: "Far nu lempeligt med den unge Absalom!" Abisjaj og Ittaj fik den samme befaling: "Far nu lempeligt med den unge Absalom!" Men kongens bekymring, der tydede på, at Absalom betød mere for ham end både hans rige og de af hans undersåtter, som var tro imod ham, opflammede blot soldaternes vrede over for hans unaturlige søn endnu mere.