King David (1985)

[bunniefuu]

in addition, all amalekite land

to be given to Israel

together with a ransom
of 100,000 shekels.

The prophet Samuel wishes
to speak with Saul.

He cannot speak with him now.

The king's engaged
in the affairs of state.

Affairs of state
don't take precedence

over the affairs of God.

Samuel,

we welcome you.

With God's blessing,
our victory is complete.

Is this how you show gratitude,

by robbing the amalekites
of their women and cattle

and holding
their king in chains?

We were... Discussing
a possible treaty.

The king's to be ransomed...

treaty?

Ransom?

Saul,

for this you have
betrayed your own soul

in the sight of God.

His instructions
were plain enough.

He said, "I'm resolved
to blot out these heathen

"from the face of the land,

"for I am a jealous God.

"I abhor their
abominable practices.

Therefore, send
for my servant Saul..."

"And tell him to fall
upon the amalekites

"and utterly destroy them.

"Put them all to death...

"men and women, children,

"babes in arms,
sheep and cattle.

"Spare nothing from the sword.

Nothing."

When our tribes
clamored for a king,

to make us like other nations,

I answered them,

"we're not like other nations.

The lord of hosts
is our God and our king."

The people said,

"we want a king we can see.

We want a king of our own
flesh and blood."

Here are your kings
of flesh and blood.

Here is a king you can see.

I have sinned.

Saul... I weep
in the dark for you.

Forgive me.

I beg of you!

Even so...

As the lord tore the
kingdom of Israel

from the house of Saul.

Soon he'll give it to another...

a man after his own heart.

A worthier man than you.

And the lord said to Samuel,

"do not mourn for Saul.

"Fill your horn with oil,

for I'm sending you
to Jesse of Bethlehem."

Blessings be upon you, Jesse.

On this day

shall the lord God of Israel
choose himself a king

from among your sons.

But...

But Saul is our king.

God is not a man that
he should deceive you.

Which of my sons must it be?

My first son, eliab.

The lord does not see
as man sees.

Men judge by
outward appearances,

but the lord judges
by the heart alone.

My second son, abinadab.

My third son, shammah.

The lord has chosen
none of these men.

You've no other sons?

David.

You kneel before me

as the Shepherd
of your father's flock,

but God's chosen you

to be the Shepherd
of his people Israel,

to unite his scattered
tribes into one nation,

and to send the heathen
from his promised land.

My brothers are all soldiers.

Why not choose one of them?

It was not I who chose you.

It was the lord God.

I am the least in
my father's house.

You are a child
after God's own heart.

If I am so favored,

let him command me
face to face.

No man may see God and live.

God speaks to man
through his prophet.

So be it.

When I die,

you'll be brought before the
king by one of his sons.

Then shall God challenge you

as you have challenged him

to defend his name
and his honor.

Have no fear, David.

The lord shall not forsake you

so long as you keep his laws

and obey his prophets
without question.

There's no sense in
waiting longer, my lord.

Samuel will not come.

He will come.

No, my lord.

He will come!

Is Israel governed by a king

or the whims
of a senile old prophet?

You cannot have one
without the other.

What if Samuel's
a false prophet?

If Samuel is a false prophet,

I'm a false king.

It was Samuel who anointed me,

even as he's rejected me.

The people look to
you as king, father.

The people will not fight
without Samuel's blessing.

Then permit me to
move them into position

while we await his arrival!

Abner's right, father.

But what was his name?

The man who wrestled
with me until daybreak.

What man, my lord?

It was only a dream.

If it was a dream,

send in my musician.

Let me dream on.

Where is Samuel?

These are Samuel's last words...

"tell Saul to lead
the people out

"against the philistines.

"The lord shall deliver
them into their hands,

"for, though
he's rejected Saul,

he won't forsake
his people Israel."

Samuel is dead?

He is.

His soul rests at peace.

The levite...

peace!

You talk to me of peace?

Dear God,

my God...

Why have you forsaken me?

David!

You're David.

I'm Jonathan, son of Saul.

Your cousin jerod says
you're a fine singer.

You've come to bring me
to the king.

How do you know?

The prophet Samuel
is dead, isn't he?

Who told you?

David!

What are you doing here?

Who's minding father's sheep?

I know. You've come
to watch the battle.

What are you doing here?

Father?

I've brought the boy.

Have you seen him face to face?

I saw him. Once.

He smiled on me, too.

But at daybreak...

He was gone.

¶

¶ the lord ¶

¶ is my Shepherd ¶

¶ shall not want ¶

¶ he lies me down ¶

¶ in green pastures ¶

¶ he leads me beside ¶

¶ still waters ¶

¶ he restores ¶

¶ my soul ¶

slaves of a nameless God,

once again I bring you

the challenge of
goliath of goth,

champion of the philistines.

Where is your faith
in your God?

Where is your trust
in his protection?

You boast that
he can move mountains,

and yet he cannot
move one man among you

to defend his honor.

6 times have we challenged you

to put forward a champion,

and 6 times
have you cowered in silence!

Send out a champion.

Whoever wins the combat

wins the day
for his country and God.

Well, israelites,

what is your answer?

Then let all the world
bear witness...

there is no God in Israel!

¶ Yea, though I walk ¶

¶ through the valley
of the shadow of death ¶

¶ I will fear no evil ¶

¶ for thou art with me ¶

goliath!

Yea! Yea!

He will feed your flesh
to the birds

and the beasts of the field.

So be it, lord.

So be it!

An entire army at my command...

It takes a Shepherd boy
to wipe out our disgrace?

He's given us back our pride.

From that day,

David did not return
to his father's house,

but remained with Saul
at gibeah,

where he served in the army
for 10 years.

He fought so bravely

that Saul placed him
over his men of w*r.

Each victory was greeted
with exultation

in the sight of all the people.

Saul has k*lled his thousands,

and David his tens
of thousands!

Saul has k*lled his thousands,

and David
his tens of thousands!

Saul has k*lled his thousands,

and David
his tens of thousands!

Saul has k*lled
his thousands...

May the lord bless you
and keep you

and be gracious to you.

May the lord lift
his face towards you

and give you peace.

From this day forth,

no man shall cover thee but me.

It was I who
taught him the harp.

Ah, but I taught him
to use the sling.

Father taught him both,
didn't you, father?

Any man can teach,

but David's gifts
are the gifts of God.

Ha. There he goes again.

David's a man after God's
own heart, isn't he?

Is it true that he
once k*lled a lion?

With his own bare hands.

Which were tied behind
his back no doubt.

Yes. And with a blindfold.

David's a man after God's
own heart, you say?

That's what the prophet
said, wasn't it, father?

Did I please you, my lord?

You only have to smile,

and I am pleased.

Did I smile... My lord?

My name is David.

Ah. Forgive me.

The confusion is easily made.

By whom?

The people who worship
you as their God.

Well, as for Jonathan...

He loves me as a brother...

As I love him.

And his sister?

The resemblance is marked...

But I suspect
it's only skin deep.

Then why did you marry me?

You're my prize
for Goliath's head.

Is that your only reason?

Is love not reason enough?

You scarcely know me.

Your mystery overwhelms me.

And my beauty?

Bless your modesty.

Uh...

a king's daughter
has cause to be proud.

As does the man
who has won her.

Because it was
a moonlit night...

And David and I led the way.

We were climbing up the hill.

At the top,

hittites and ammonites
faced us on either side.

I urged David to turn back,

but he said,

"God will deliver
them into our hands."

Hear him warbling in praise
of the cuckoo bird.

What cuckoo bird?

He ate from my table
and lies with my daughter.

He's robbed me of my God,
my people, even my children.

What else can he take
but my crown?

That's a lie.

While David lives,

neither I nor you nor the
throne shall be safe.

What proof do you have?

Did Samuel anoint your brother?

The prophet blessed
him, my lord.

David has done
nothing wrong, father.

You cannot harm
an innocent man.

Samuel anointed him
in my place!

David!

The boy I trusted
and loved as my own son.

Then be glad of it!

Give thanks Israel's future

belongs to a man
worthy of your love.

No!

Oh! Oh!

Where have you hidden him?

I don't know where he is.

Don't lie to me!

When I awoke, he was gone.

Shammah.

That's the important thing.

Who cares about
her mother? Ha ha...

Find David Ben-Jesse!

Find him!

Search the courtyard
and stables!

Get horses!

Find David Ben-Jesse!

You look in the storage room!

Go to the South tower!

David...

You must go at once
to the sanctuary of nome

and ask for the high
priest ahemelek

and show him this.

Come with me.

I cannot.

But we have a covenant to
friendship between us.

What of the covenant of honor
between the father and his son?

I would lay down my life
for you willingly,

but I will not break
faith with my father...

As I will not
break faith with you.

Forgive me.

You have the love of one far
greater than I to care for you.

My father has no one.

May the lord be with you.

May his light shine
within your heart...

Even as you shine within mine.

"So Jacob was alone,

"and a man struggled with
him there until daybreak,

"and the man said, let me go.
The day is breaking.

"But Jacob replied,

"I will not go unless
you tell me your name.

"And the man said,
why do you ask my name?

"I am that I am.
That is who I am.

"And so Jacob
called the place paneil,

"which means the face of God,

"because, he said, I have
seen God face to face,

and my life has been spared."

Were Moses and Jacob the only men
to have seen him face to face?

Even Abraham was denied
the supreme revelation.

Then why did God choose Jacob?

Why has he chosen you?

God may have created man in
his own image and likeness,

but he has denied us all
understanding of his purpose.

I knew him once.

As a boy, I could feel his
presence all around me.

If only I, too, could see him.

Are you aware of the
presence that you are in?

The ark of the covenant.

None but a priest
may gaze upon it.

The 10 commandments lie within,

written on tablets of stone

by the finger of God himself.

Why is it kept here?

It should be enthroned on high,

not hidden away like this.

For 250 years it has
awaited such a home.

Then hear, o lord, the vow
of thy servant David...

When once my feet
have found their rest,

I will give no sleep to my eyes

until I have built
a temple for the lord...

A dwelling place for the
mighty one of Jacob.

Shelmo.

Prince jonsan says that...

who are you?

I am the high priest ahimine.

Where is the guardian
of the ark?

He's at his station
in the cavern.

Prince jonsan says the guardian

sent word to the king
that you are here.

Joab and our brothers have
escaped to the caves of adurnam.

Stand before the ark.

Now swear to me
in the sight of God

that you have not
betrayed our guest.

Shobread...

Law forbids anyone but a
priest to partake of it.

May God forgive us both.

This I return to you
with a clear conscience.

Goliath's sword.

It was sent here
for safekeeping.

David!

May the lord bless you
for your kindness.

And protect you, my son.

We must bar the gates.

No. We have no one to hide.

¶ It is good
to give thanks to the lord ¶

¶ for his love
endures forever ¶

¶ declare it,
people of Israel ¶

¶ for his love
endures forever ¶

¶ give thanks
to the God of gods ¶

¶ for his love
endures forever ¶

¶ he made the great lights ¶

¶ for his love
endures forever ¶

¶ a son to whom... ¶

silence!

Where is David Ben-Jesse?

I do not know.

You are lying.

A priest does not lie.

He was here, was he not?

He was here.

When did he leave?

Some time ago.

In what direction did he go?

I did not see.

The guardian of the ark,
my lord, he will know.

Where is the guardian?

He, too, is no longer with us.

Abner...

I want these priests
k*lled one by one

until their high priest
changes his mind.

Then the k*lling will stop.

No soldier would
carry out such an order.

These priests...

these priests...

Are maggots

in carrion...

Fattening themselves

on the offerings
people give to the lord.

They are traitors,
every one of them!

And so is any soldier

who refuses to obey
the king's command.

You.

I cannot.

You.

No, father!

Will no one obey the king?

I will, my lord.

It takes a gentile to obey.

¶ It is good ¶

¶ to give thanks to the lord ¶

¶ his love endures forever ¶

¶ he brought Israel
out of Egypt ¶

¶ his love endures forever ¶

¶ no king shall bring him low ¶

¶ His love endures forever ¶

¶ no enemy shall
strike him down ¶

¶ his love endures forever ¶

¶ for the lord has sworn ¶

¶ to his servant ¶

¶ David ¶

haah!

His love for him...

Endures...

Forever.

And it came to pass

that David remained
in the wilderness

for 6 years,

while Saul sought him
day after day.

Everyone that was in distress,

everyone that was in debt,

and everyone
that was discontented

gathered themselves unto him.

David took unto himself
3 wives:

Abigail, ahinoam, and maacah.

Ahinoam bore David
a first-born,

whom he called amnon.

Maacah bore him a second son,

whom he called absalom.

And David loved absalom
with all his heart.

Lord God of all Israel,

king of the universe,

we have circumcised this child

that he may enter
into Abraham's covenant.

God of our fathers,

preserve this child.

As he's entered
into the covenant,

so may he enter into the law,

natural grace, and good deeds.

David.

David!

Where's Saul?

In the cave.

Abner and his men
are in there, too.

Let's move the women
and children at once.

They'll move against us
at daybreak.

Where are you going?

To visit Saul.

David!

David, don't be a fool.

Saul hasn't come to talk,

but to k*ll.

The lord didn't anoint me

to die at Saul's hand.

My lord, the day is broken!

He was here.

He was here.

Who?

David.

That's not possible, my lord.

I guarded you...

he was here!

He was very close.

I felt him.

Saul!

Can you not answer me, Saul?

Who are you, David,

to shout to Israel's king?

Who are you, abner,

to call yourself commander
in the king's army?

Why did you not

keep watch over the king
while he slept?

Where's the king's sword
that was by his side?

Here is the king's sword,

in the hands of his enemy.

A lie!

The lord delivered you
into my hands,

and I spared your life.

David...

My son.

May the lord bless you.

Let all Israel witness

how the king loves David.

He has held my life
precious this day.

Put up your arms.

We return to gibeah.

He's in our palm.

Abner!

The king...

Has spoken.

He'll be back.

I know.

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

Make way for the blind!

My master wishes to see achish,

lord of the philistines.

He's israelite?

He is mad.

Therefore israelite.

My master has
a message for the king.

From who?

God.

I apologize

for the necessity
of your performance.

But in our country,
madmen are held sacred.

Grasp that, and you've grasped

the very essence of religion.

Another samson?

My son absalom.

Hmm.

Absalom, I'd be obliged

if you'd keep away
from those pillars.

Youth is
no barrier to strength,

as you yourself so ably
demonstrated, David.

God's victory, not mine.

I was but the means to his end.

Or goliath, perhaps.

It's your God's motive
that seems less clear.

If he can deliver
you of a giant,

why can't he free you of Saul?

If you grant us refuge,

he will have done so.

What about dagon,
God of this temple?

Will not he deserve
some measure of thanks,

hmm?

It's you who'll thank him.

We'll be yours to command

against any enemy
you choose to name.

Except Saul, of course.

I won't raise my hand
against the lord's king.

He's ready to raise
his hand against you.

He could no sooner
rid himself of me

than I could bring
myself to k*ll him.

To love one's enemy
is a fine sentiment,

but for a poet, not for a king.

Very well,

we'll grant you ziklag
as a place of refuge.

But in addition to the
services of your men,

we want a sworn
undertaking from you

that once you become
king in Israel,

you will renounce all
claims to philistine lands.

Respect what is ours,

and we shall
keep faith with you.

I refer to the so-called...

Promised land.

Didn't your God promise Moses...

or was it Abraham...

all the lands between
Lebanon and Egypt?

Between the Syrian wilderness

and the Western sea?

The land of the hittites,

the jebozites,

the amorites,

and, uh, need I add...

The philistines, hmm?

What God chooses to give,

we cannot refuse.

The law of Moses isn't renowned

for its impartiality
towards heathen races.

The law of David

shall deal justly with all men,

Hebrew and heathen alike.

On that I give you
my solemn oath.

The lord of hosts
is the God of Israel!

If you leave the promised land,

you'll be placing yourself

beyond his divine protection,

into the mercy of heathen gods.

We've been hounded
from every cesspit

and rat hole
in the promised land.

Is that your idea
of protection?

Whose shield has
guarded you thus far?

By what miracle
have you survived

without the lord's grace?

You're right.

Will his sun be less warm,

his wind less cool...

Across this border?

Go then.

And may the lord be with you,

for I cannot.

David dwelt in the country
of the philistines

a full year and 4 months.

So that achish said,

"he shall be
my servant forever."

It came to pass

the philistines
sent word to Saul,

challenging Israel
to battle at mount gilboa.

My lord, I honestly
beg you to reconsider.

We're outnumbered
by 20,000 men.

Let's withdraw while we can.

Still tarnished.
Polish again. Again.

David isn't among the enemy.

Your honor isn't at stake.

Our men's lives are.

I will ride
against the philistines,

if I ride alone...

So be it.

The prophet Nathan is ready
to offer the sacrifice.

There will be no sacrifice.

Still tarnished at the bottom.

Polish more. More.

They won't fight without
Nathan's blessing.

Rouse yourselves in anger!

Lord God, avenge us!

Lay nations at our feet!

Lord God, avenge us!

With your flashing swords...

Lord God, avenge us!

Make your arrows
drunk with blood.

Lord God, avenge us!

There will be no sacrifice!

Lord...

I am your sacrifice.

This day you will surely die.

Then my prayer will
be answered at last.

The lord scorns your prayers.

He has utterly rejected you.

And Samuel, too.

And Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob!

Even David will
be forsaken at the end.

For in death,

we are all cut off
from God's care.

What purpose, then,
in serving him?

He wrestles with man

for the nighttime of his life,

but at daybreak he is gone.

Gone.

Father.

Who marches with the king?

Who marches with the king

and his son?

I march with the king

and his son.

And his sons!

The sword of the lord
and of Saul!

Beware!

Yaah!

Yaah!

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

The beauty of Israel

is slain upon its high places.

How are the mighty fallen.

You mountains of gilboa...

Let there be
no dew or rain upon you,

for there the life of Jonathan

is vilely cast away.

From the blood of the slain,

the bow of Jonathan
held not back,

and the sword of Saul
returned not empty.

In life and in their death,

they were not divided.

They were swifter than eagles,

stronger than lions.

You daughters of Israel,

weep over Saul

who clothed you in Scarlet

and ornaments of gold.

My brother Jonathan,

thy love to me was wonderful.

How are the mighty fallen...

And the weapons of w*r
perished.

This is the word
of the lord of hosts:

"I took you from the pastures

"and from following the sheep

"to be prince
over my people Israel.

"I have been with you
wherever you have gone

"and have destroyed all
the enemies in your path.

"I will make you a great name

"among the great ones
of the earth.

"I will assign a place
for my people in Israel.

"There I will plant them,

and they shall dwell
in their own land."

Why am I brought before you?

Shall not the husband

enjoy the company of his wife?

My husband
is paltiel Ben-laish.

The king knows that.

I am your husband,

your first and only husband

in the eyes of God.

I've never loved another woman

as I once loved you.

If you truly cared,

you'd let me go
to the man I love.

You have many wives,

but he has only me.

But I need you.

Indeed you do, my lord,

as a symbol of unity

between the house of David
and my father's house.

I'm nothing more to you
than a political necessity.

Today, all of Israel
praised the lord,

except you.

By your absence,

you insult both your
God and your king.

I saw no king.

I saw only a dancing man,

flaunting his nakedness
in the sight of every...

in the sight of God,

who created man in the
perfection of his own image.

So your search is over.

What search?

Behold,

the king of glory,

face to face.

Your other women
are better able

to flatter your vanity than I.

A love untouched by human care,

a love that endures forever.

He who has saved us
from our enemies,

who has delivered
Jerusalem into our hands.

How have we repaid him?

By rewarding ourselves alone

with the wealth
he has bestowed upon us.

I, too, am guilty,

for here I live

in a palace of cedar,

while the ark of God
is housed in a tent.

How then can we demonstrate
our love for him?

I will tell you how.

By building him this,

a great and glorious temple!

Here on this holy hill of zion,

in which his sacred presence

may abide forevermore.

Is there a man among you,

indeed, in this nation,

who would not gladly give 1/10

of his God-given wealth
to such an endeavor?

Has the lord
considered my request?

God doesn't gird himself about

with the trappings of kingship.

If he desired
the ark in a temple,

would he not have commanded
Moses to build him one?

Perhaps he didn't consider
40 years in the wilderness

as either the time or place
for such a venture.

The tent was
intended as a symbol

of simplicity and humility,

the 2 virtues you seem
to have forsaken.

Let the lord be my judge.

When will you bring
me his answer?

When you've finished the task

you were chosen to perform:

Destroy the heathen nations

that occupy our lands.

Haven't I done so?

Their armies, not
their inhabitants.

Moses' law commands that
nothing be left alive.

God's kingdom can't
be brought about

by slaughtering
women and children.

Who are you to
question his laws?

A man after God's own heart.

God gave the law unto
Moses face to face.

Absalom.

Now it came to pass

that maacah bore David
a daughter called tamar,

and amnon, his first-born,
was sick with love for her.

Where's absalom?

Am I my brother's keeper?

Half-brother. Oh!

Let go!

Father!

Absalom,

have you some
grievance against me?

On behalf of one of
your subjects, father.

Has he a good case?

An excellent case.

My niece awaits your
presence in the throne room.

Who?

Why, bathsheba, my lord.

The petition, father,
will you read it?

Perhaps you and absalom

would care to consider
the other petitions

until my return?

Certainly, my lord.

Shall we begin, my prince?

Guard.

I've seen you once before.

I know.

My lord, I'm married.

To captain uriah...

An alien hittite.

He's still my husband.

How long have you been
married to uriah?

5 years, my lord.

And yet you have no children?

He scorns to lie with me.

He refuses even to touch me

except with a whip.

He shall be punished.

A woman has no redress

against her husband, my lord.

I can endure the pain.

But where's the child
for my suffering?

You shall have him.

No, my lord...

Not while my husband lives.

Deliver this to captain joab.

Yes, my lord.

Uriah.

See that joab
receives it in person.

Yes, my lord.

And the messenger
said to David,

"the bowmen
upon the walls of ekron

"fired their arrows
at your servants.

"Among the dead
is uriah the hittite

who had been placed in the
forefront of the att*ck."

David said,

"who knows where the angel
of death will strike?"

He'll marry me.

He said so.

Who? Who said so?

Who did this thing?

Your brother amnon.

Half-brother. Half-brother.

Half-brother marry half-sister.

He will marry me.

Oh, tamar, don't...

Absalom.

Forgive me, father.

"Wherever hurt is done,
you shall show no mercy.

"You shall take eye for eye,

"tooth for tooth,
hand for hand,

"burn for burn,
wound for wound,

"strike for strike...

Life for life."

Prince absalom must die.

The law has long recognized

a brother's right to avenge
his sister's death.

But the princess is alive.

She is dead!

Both here and here.

Let the king sentence.

Prince absalom
shall be banished

to our estates in hebron,

there to live
in permanent exile.

May the lord be with you.

May his light shine
within your heart,

even as you shine within mine.

Save me, o God,

for the waters
are come in unto my soul.

I sink in deep mire

where there is no standing.

I am come into deep waters

where the floods overflow me.

I am weary of my crying.

My throat is dry.

My eyes fail while
I wait for my God.

I have become a stranger
unto my children.

I would value your
judgment on a matter.

Since when have you ever
valued my judgment?

Have your powers of
divination forsaken you?

It's a civil petition, David,

concerning a merchant
and one of his servants.

The merchant is a man
of great prominence

who owns large flocks
and herds,

but the servant on
whose behalf I speak

owned nothing but one
small ewe lamb.

He had reared it himself,

and it grew up in his own home.

It was as an only child to him.

It ate from his dish,

drank from his cup,

and even slept in his arms.

Not long ago,

a traveler came
to the merchant's house

to dine with him.

The merchant was too selfish

to take a sheep
from his own flock

to serve his guest,

so he took
his servant's lamb...

And k*lled it...

And served that instead.

As the lord lives,

the man who did this
deserves to die.

Thou art the man.

This is the word
of the lord thy God.

"I anointed you
king over Israel

"and gave you
the daughters of Israel

"for your own.

"I have blessed you
with honor and glory.

"I have given you
silver and gold,

"the treasures of kings.

"Why then did you
m*rder my servant uriah

"and take his wife...

his only wife...
to be your own?"

Ohh.

Do with me what you will, lord.

Only do not take her from me.

You shall not die,

nor shall uriah's wife
be taken from you.

As punishment
for your great sin,

the first child born
to you shall not survive,

and you will never again
have rest from the sword.

Wash away my guilt.

Cleanse me of my sin.

Wash me,

that I may become
whiter than snow.

And the first child
of David and bathsheba

lived only 7 days.

Then bathsheba bore
a second child, a son,

and the lord loved him.

The prophet Nathan

says the lord has chosen
Solomon to be your heir.

Might I urge you
to name him so.

Prince absalom
is my oldest son.

But, my lord,

absalom's not only in exile...

let the king's wish prevail.

Is it not a fine-looking son?

Solomon found favor
in the sight of David,

but his love remained
bound to absalom,

and his heart went
out to him in longing,

and absalom remained
in exile for 3 years.

Everyone that was in distress,

everyone that was in debt,

and everyone
that was discontented

gathered themselves unto him.

No matter
how good a man's case is,

he'll receive
no audience with the king

unless he pays a bribe.

Even that may not help,

for the king's judgment
means nothing

without the approval of
uriah's widow, bathsheba.

If only I were made
a judge in the land,

I would see that everyone

who brought a petition
received justice!

Promise.

All the pillars
should be octagonal,

like this one,

instead of round,
like that one.

What do you think?

Every day he stands
in the marketplace

preaching to the people,

stealing their affections.

Well?

Um... That one.

The round ones?

The rabble are flocking
to his side, David.

Some say he's
planning a rebellion.

Why?

I would've thought
that's obvious!

Why the round ones?

David, listen to me!

Absalom's a traitor
who must be...

absalom is my son!

Any man who dares
call my son a traitor

without the supporting evidence

shall himself meet
the fate of a traitor

by my own hand!

I am giving you the evidence.

"Some say" is not evidence.

On the morning of passover,

your father will
proclaim prince Solomon

as heir to
the throne of Israel.

He swore to me he'd
never name another.

His promises mean nothing.

You once loved him.

Why have you
turned against him?

How many men can you muster?

Because I love my king
beyond all others,

and it breaks my heart, too.

Love blinds you, my friend.

There are 1,000 supporters
in Jerusalem alone.

More than sufficient
for the task.

Strike now, my prince,

or regret it for the
rest of your life.

Who is absalom, father?

A boy who was once like you.

Is he your enemy?

Perhaps I am his...

But he could never be mine.

Jerusalem!

For the sword of the lord...

And for David!

Whoa.

Turn back!

Keep f*ring!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Aah!

Aah!

My lord!

My lord!

My lord!

Is the young man absalom safe?

Praise be to God,

for he's delivered you

from all those that
rose up against you!

Is the young man absalom safe?

May all my lord's enemies
be as that young man.

All praise be to God!

All praise be to God!

All praise be to God!

All praise be to God!

Oh, my son.

My son.

Absalom...

My son.

My son!

My son absalom.

Would God I had d*ed for you!

Absalom...

My son.

My son.

My son.

Why does the king
lie in the dust

like a beggar at his gate?

Why weep for your enemies

and scorn those who serve you?

When will you learn
to obey the lord

instead of your emotions?

He has forsaken me.

David, it is you who
have forsaken him.

You've continuously
disobeyed his laws

and have stubbornly
presumed to know his will

better than we, his prophets.

I am beyond care.

I will go to my grave

mourning for my son.

I shall go to him...

For he shall never
come back to me.

You have your will of me.

So be it.

Fear the lord

and serve him in truth
with all your heart.

Consider the great things
he has done for you.

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

Aah!

And, behold, it came to pass

that David sinned no more.

And the lord smiled
upon his servant David

and strengthened his hand

and gave him victory
over his enemies

wheresoever he went.

And David smote the philistines

and conquered them

and drove them into the sea.

And he went forth
and smote the moabites

and the ammonites
and the edomites

and put them all to the sword.

And David ruled
over the kingdom of Israel

for 40 years,

and he was a lamp
unto his people

like the light of the sun.

And when David was old
and stricken in years,

he caused the prophet Nathan

to anoint Solomon, his son,

king over Israel.

Mark this above all:

Be guided by the instincts
of your own heart...

No matter what
the prophets tell you.

For it's through the heart,

and the heart alone,

that God speaks to man.

Must you record
every word I utter?

It's for the book
of Samuel, my lord.

You ordered it yourself.

May the lord bless you.

May his light shine
within your heart

even as you shine within mine.

I am waiting, lord.

Hide your face no more.