2 Samuel
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[1]
Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned
from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in
Ziklag;
[2] It came even to pass on the third day, that,
behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent,
and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that
he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
[3] And David said
unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the
camp of Israel am I escaped.
[4] And David said unto him,
How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the
people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are
fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
[5]
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou
that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
[6] And the young
man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa,
behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and
horsemen followed hard after him.
[7] And when he looked
behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am
I.
[8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered
him, I am an Amalekite.
[9] And he said unto me again,
Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon
me, because my life is yet whole in me.
[10] So I stood
upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live
after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his
head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them
hither unto my lord.
[11] Then David took hold on his
clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with
him:
[12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until
even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the
LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the
sword.
[13] And David said unto the young man that told
him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an
Amalekite.
[14] And David said unto him, How wast thou not
afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's
anointed?
[15] And David called one of the young men, and
said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
[16]
And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth
hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's
anointed.
[17] And David lamented with this lamentation
over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
[18] (Also he bade
them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is
written in the book of Jasher.)
[19] The beauty of Israel
is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
[20]
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the
uncircumcised triumph.
[21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let
there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of
offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,
the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
[22]
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not
empty.
[23] Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in
their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were
swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
[24] Ye
daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with
other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
[25]
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan,
thou was slain in thine high places.
[26] I am distressed
for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
[27]
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
[1]
And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD
said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he
said, Unto Hebron.
[2] So David went up thither, and his
two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife
the Carmelite.
[3] And his men that were with him did David
bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities
of Hebron.
[4] And the men of Judah came, and there they
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David,
saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
[5]
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said
unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this
kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
[6]
And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will
requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
[7]
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for
your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed
me king over them.
[8] But Abner the son of Ner, captain of
Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over
to Mahanaim;
[9] And made him king over Gilead, and over
the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin,
and over all Israel.
[10] Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty
years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years.
But the house of Judah followed David.
[11] And the time
that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years
and six months.
[12] And Abner the son of Ner, and the
servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to
Gibeon.
[13] And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants
of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they
sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the
other side of the pool.
[14] And Abner said to Joab, Let
the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them
arise.
[15] Then there arose and went over by number twelve
of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and
twelve of the servants of David.
[16] And they caught every
one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's
side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called
Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
[17] And there was a
very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of
Israel, before the servants of David.
[18] And there were
three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and
Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
[19] And Asahel
pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor
to the left from following Abner.
[20] Then Abner looked
behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
[21]
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy
left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his
armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
[22]
And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me:
wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold
up my face to Joab thy brother?
[23] Howbeit he refused to
turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote
him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he
fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass,
that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died
stood still.
[24] Joab also and Abishai pursued after
Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of
Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of
Gibeon.
[25] And the children of Benjamin gathered
themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on
the top of an hill.
[26] Then Abner called to Joab, and
said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will
be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou
bid the people return from following their brethren?
[27]
And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then
in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his
brother.
[28] So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people
stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they
any more.
[29] And Abner and his men walked all that night
through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all
Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
[30] And Joab returned
from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people
together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and
Asahel.
[31] But the servants of David had smitten of
Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore
men died.
[32] And they took up Asahel, and buried him in
the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his
men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
[1]
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul
waxed weaker and weaker.
[2] And unto David were sons born
in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess;
[3] And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the
wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah
the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
[4] And the fourth,
Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of
Abital;
[5] And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife.
These were born to David in Hebron.
[6] And it came to
pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of
David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
[7]
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of
Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto
my father's concubine?
[8] Then was Abner very wroth for
the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against
Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to
his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into
the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault
concerning this woman?
[9] So do God to Abner, and more
also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to
him;
[10] To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul,
and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from
Dan even to Beer-sheba.
[11] And he could not answer Abner
a word again, because he feared him.
[12] And Abner sent
messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying
also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with
thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
[13] And he
said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require
of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring
Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
[14]
And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver
me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of
the Philistines.
[15] And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her
from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
[16]
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
[17]
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye
sought for David in times past to be king over you:
[18]
Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the
hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand
of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
[19]
And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to
speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel,
and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
[20]
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David
made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
[21] And
Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all
Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee,
and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And
David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
[22] And,
Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop,
and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David
in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
[23]
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told
Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent
him away, and he is gone in peace.
[24] Then Joab came to
the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto
thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite
gone?
[25] Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came
to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to
know all that thou doest.
[26] And when Joab was come out
from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again
from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
[27] And
when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to
speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that
he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
[28] And
afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are
guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of
Ner:
[29] Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his
father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one
that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff,
or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
[30]
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain
their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
[31] And
David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend
your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.
And king David himself followed the bier.
[32] And they
buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at
the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
[33] And the
king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
[34]
Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man
falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept
again over him.
[35] And when all the people came to cause
David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do
God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the
sun be down.
[36] And all the people took notice of it, and
it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the
people.
[37] For all the people and all Israel understood
that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of
Ner.
[38] And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not
that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in
Israel?
[39] And I am this day weak, though anointed king;
and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall
reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
[1]
And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands
were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
[2] And
Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the
one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon
a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was
reckoned to Benjamin:
[3] And the Beerothites fled to
Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
[4] And
Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was
five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of
Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as
she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name
was Mephibosheth.
[5] And the sons of Rimmon the
Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the
day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
[6]
And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they
would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and
Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
[7] For when they
came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they
smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat
them away through the plain all night.
[8] And they brought
the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king,
Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which
sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day
of Saul, and of his seed.
[9] And David answered Rechab and
Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto
them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all
adversity,
[10] When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is
dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and
slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward
for his tidings:
[11] How much more, when wicked men have
slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not
therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from
the earth?
[12] And David commanded his young men, and they
slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up
over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and
buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
[1]
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake,
saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
[2] Also in
time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out
and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed
my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
[3]
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king
David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they
anointed David king over Israel.
[4] David was thirty years
old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
[5]
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and
Judah.
[6] And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto
the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David,
saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not
come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
[7]
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city
of David.
[8] And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth
up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the
blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain.
Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the
house.
[9] So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the
city of David. And David built round about from Millo and
inward.
[10] And David went on, and grew great, and the
LORD God of hosts was with him.
[11] And Hiram king of Tyre
sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and
masons: and they built David an house.
[12] And David
perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and
that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
[13]
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after
he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born
to David.
[14] And these be the names of those that were
born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and
Solomon,
[15] Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and
Japhia,
[16] And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
[17]
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over
Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of
it, and went down to the hold.
[18] The Philistines also
came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
[19]
And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said
unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into
thine hand.
[20] And David came to Baal-perazim, and David
smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine
enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the
name of that place Baal-perazim.
[21] And there they left
their images, and David and his men burned them.
[22] And
the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim.
[23] And when David inquired of the
LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them,
and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
[24]
And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of
the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then
shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the
Philistines.
[25] And David did so, as the LORD had
commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to
Gazer.
[1]
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty
thousand.
[2] And David arose, and went with all the people
that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the
ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts
that dwelleth between the cherubims.
[3] And they set the
ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of
Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of
Abinadab, drave the new cart.
[4] And they brought it out
of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of
God: and Ahio went before the ark.
[5] And David and all
the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of
instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and
on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
[6] And when
they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the
ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
[7]
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote
him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
[8]
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this
day.
[9] And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and
said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
[10] So
David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of
David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the
Gittite.
[11] And the ark of the LORD continued in the
house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed
Obed-edom, and all his household.
[12] And it was told king
David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all
that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went
and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the
city of David with gladness.
[13] And it was so, that when
they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed
oxen and fatlings.
[14] And David danced before the LORD
with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
[15]
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD
with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
[16] And
as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's
daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and
dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
[17]
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in
the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
[18]
And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and
peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of
hosts.
[19] And he dealt among all the people, even among
the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every
one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.
So all the people departed every one to his house.
[20]
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter
of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king
of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the
handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly
uncovereth himself!
[21] And David said unto Michal, It was
before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his
house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before the LORD.
[22] And I will yet
be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of
the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in
honour.
[23] Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no
child unto the day of her death.
[1]
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had
given him rest round about from all his enemies;
[2] That
the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house
of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
[3]
And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for
the LORD is with thee.
[4] And it came to pass that night,
that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
[5] Go
and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me
an house for me to dwell in?
[6] Whereas I have not dwelt
in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel
out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a
tabernacle.
[7] In all the places wherein I have walked
with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes
of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why
build ye not me an house of cedar?
[8] Now therefore so
shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I
took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler
over my people, over Israel:
[9] And I was with thee
whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of
thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the
great men that are in the earth.
[10] Moreover I will
appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they
may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall
the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
[11]
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people
Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the
LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
[12] And
when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I
will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
[13] He shall
build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his
kingdom for ever.
[14] I will be his father, and he shall
be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of
men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
[15] But
my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom
I put away before thee.
[16] And thine house and thy
kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall
be established for ever.
[17] According to all these words,
and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto
David.
[18] Then went king David in, and sat before the
LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that
thou hast brought me hitherto?
[19] And this was yet a
small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of
thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner
of man, O Lord GOD?
[20] And what can David say more unto
thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
[21] For thy
word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all
these great things, to make thy servant know them.
[22]
Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee,
neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have
heard with our ears.
[23] And what one nation in the earth
is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a
people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great
things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou
redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
[24]
For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people
unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
[25]
And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy
servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as
thou hast said.
[26] And let thy name be magnified for
ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the
house of thy servant David be established before thee.
[27]
For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy
servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy
servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
[28]
And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and
thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
[29]
Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant,
that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast
spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be
blessed for ever.
[1]
And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and
subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the
Philistines.
[2] And he smote Moab, and measured them with
a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured
he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the
Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
[3]
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he
went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
[4] And
David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen,
and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot
horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
[5]
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of
Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
[6]
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became
servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went.
[7] And David took the shields of
gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to
Jerusalem.
[8] And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of
Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
[9] When
Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of
Hadadezer,
[10] Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king
David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against
Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And
Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
vessels of brass:
[11] Which also king David did dedicate
unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all
nations which he subdued;
[12] Of Syria, and of Moab, and
of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and
of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
[13]
And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians
in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
[14]
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons,
and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved
David whithersoever he went.
[15] And David reigned over
all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his
people.
[16] And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host;
and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
[17] And
Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the
priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
[18] And Benaiah the
son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and
David's sons were chief rulers.
[1]
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul,
that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
[2] And
there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And
when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou
Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
[3] And the king
said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the
kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath
yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
[4] And the king said
unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in
the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.
[5]
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the
son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.
[6] Now when Mephibosheth,
the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on
his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he
answered, Behold thy servant!
[7] And David said unto him,
Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy
father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father;
and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
[8] And
he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest
look upon such a dead dog as I am?
[9] Then the king called
to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy
master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
[10]
Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land
for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son
may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat
bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty
servants.
[11] Then said Ziba unto the king, According to
all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy
servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my
table, as one of the king's sons.
[12] And Mephibosheth had
a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of
Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
[13] So Mephibosheth
dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table;
and was lame on both his feet.
[1]
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of
Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
[2]
Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash,
as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him
by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came
into the land of the children of Ammon.
[3] And the princes
of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou
that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto
thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search
the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
[4]
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of
their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their
buttocks, and sent them away.
[5] When they told it unto
David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed:
and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and
then return.
[6] And when the children of Ammon saw that
they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the
Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand
footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve
thousand men.
[7] And when David heard of it, he sent Joab,
and all the host of the mighty men.
[8] And the children of
Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the
gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah,
were by themselves in the field.
[9] When Joab saw that the
front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of
all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the
Syrians:
[10] And the rest of the people he delivered into
the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array
against the children of Ammon.
[11] And he said, If the
Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the
children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help
thee.
[12] Be of good courage, and let us play the men for
our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which
seemeth him good.
[13] And Joab drew nigh, and the people
that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they
fled before him.
[14] And when the children of Ammon saw
that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and
entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon,
and came to Jerusalem.
[15] And when the Syrians saw that
they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves
together.
[16] And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the
Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and
Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
[17]
And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and
passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves
in array against David, and fought with him.
[18] And the
Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred
chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote
Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
[19] And
when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were
smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them.
So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
[1]
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when
kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with
him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and
besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
[2]
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his
bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof
he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to
look upon.
[3] And David sent and inquired after the woman.
And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?
[4] And David sent messengers, and
took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was
purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
[5]
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with
child.
[6] And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah
the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
[7] And when
Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how
the people did, and how the war prospered.
[8] And David
said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah
departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of
meat from the king.
[9] But Uriah slept at the door of the
king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to
his house.
[10] And when they had told David, saying, Uriah
went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not
from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine
house?
[11] And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel,
and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my
lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine
house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
[12] And
David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let
thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the
morrow.
[13] And when David had called him, he did eat and
drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to
lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to
his house.
[14] And it came to pass in the morning, that
David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
[15]
And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of
the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten,
and die.
[16] And it came to pass, when Joab observed the
city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant
men were.
[17] And the men of the city went out, and fought
with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of
David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
[18] Then Joab sent
and told David all the things concerning the war;
[19] And
charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling
the matters of the war unto the king,
[20] And if so be
that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore
approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not
that they would shoot from the wall?
[21] Who smote
Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a
millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye
nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead
also.
[22] So the messenger went, and came and shewed David
all that Joab had sent him for.
[23] And the messenger said
unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us
into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the
gate.
[24] And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy
servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant
Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
[25] Then David said unto
the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing
displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make
thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and
encourage thou him.
[26] And when the wife of Uriah heard
that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
[27]
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his
house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing
that David had done displeased the LORD.
[1]
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said
unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other
poor.
[2] The rich man had exceeding many flocks and
herds:
[3] But the poor man had nothing, save one little
ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up
together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat,
and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a
daughter.
[4] And there came a traveller unto the rich man,
and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress
for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's
lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
[5]
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to
Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall
surely die:
[6] And he shall restore the lamb fourfold,
because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
[7]
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God
of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out
of the hand of Saul;
[8] And I gave thee thy master's
house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house
of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would
moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
[9]
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil
in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and
hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword
of the children of Ammon.
[10] Now therefore the sword
shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me,
and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
[11]
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of
thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and
give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the
sight of this sun.
[12] For thou didst it secretly: but I
will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
[13]
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And
Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou
shalt not die.
[14] Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast
given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the
child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
[15]
And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child
that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
[16]
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and
went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
[17] And the
elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the
earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
[18]
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the
servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for
they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him,
and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex
himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
[19] But
when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the
child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child
dead? And they said, He is dead.
[20] Then David arose from
the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel,
and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to
his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and
he did eat.
[21] Then said his servants unto him, What
thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the
child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst
rise and eat bread.
[22] And he said, While the child was
yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD
will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
[23] But
now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again?
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
[24] And
David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay
with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the
LORD loved him.
[25] And he sent by the hand of Nathan the
prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
[26]
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the
royal city.
[27] And Joab sent messengers to David, and
said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of
waters.
[28] Now therefore gather the rest of the people
together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the
city, and it be called after my name.
[29] And David
gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought
against it, and took it.
[30] And he took their king's
crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with
the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought
forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
[31] And he
brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws,
and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass
through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the
children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto
Jerusalem.
[1]
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a
fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved
her.
[2] And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his
sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him
to do any thing to her.
[3] But Amnon had a friend, whose
name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was
a very subtil man.
[4] And he said unto him, Why art thou,
being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me?
And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's
sister.
[5] And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy
bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee,
say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me
meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it
at her hand.
[6] So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick:
and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I
pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in
my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
[7] Then David sent
home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress
him meat.
[8] So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house;
and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made
cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
[9] And she
took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat.
And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man
from him.
[10] And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat
into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the
cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon
her brother.
[11] And when she had brought them unto him to
eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my
sister.
[12] And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not
force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou
this folly.
[13] And I, whither shall I cause my shame to
go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now
therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold
me from thee.
[14] Howbeit he would not hearken unto her
voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with
her.
[15] Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the
hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he
had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
[16]
And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me
away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would
not hearken unto her.
[17] Then he called his servant that
ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and
bolt the door after her.
[18] And she had a garment of
divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's
daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her
out, and bolted the door after her.
[19] And Tamar put
ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on
her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
[20]
And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been
with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother;
regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother
Absalom's house.
[21] But when king David heard of all
these things, he was very wroth.
[22] And Absalom spake
unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon,
because he had forced his sister Tamar.
[23] And it came to
pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in
Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the
king's sons.
[24] And Absalom came to the king, and said,
Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech
thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
[25] And the
king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be
chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go,
but blessed him.
[26] Then said Absalom, If not, I pray
thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him,
Why should he go with thee?
[27] But Absalom pressed him,
that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
[28]
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when
Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite
Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be
courageous and be valiant.
[29] And the servants of Absalom
did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons
arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
[30]
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to
David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is
not one of them left.
[31] Then the king arose, and tare
his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by
with their clothes rent.
[32] And Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose
that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon
only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been
determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
[33]
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart,
to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is
dead.
[34] But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept
the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came
much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
[35]
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy
servant said, so it is.
[36] And it came to pass, as soon
as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons
came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all
his servants wept very sore.
[37] But Absalom fled, and
went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned
for his son every day.
[38] So Absalom fled, and went to
Geshur, and was there three years.
[39] And the soul of
king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted
concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
[1]
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was
toward Absalom.
[2] And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched
thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to
be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself
with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the
dead:
[3] And come to the king, and speak on this manner
unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
[4] And when
the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the
ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
[5] And
the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am
indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
[6] And thy
handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and
there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew
him.
[7] And, behold, the whole family is risen against
thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother,
that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and
we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which
is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder
upon the earth.
[8] And the king said unto the woman, Go to
thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
[9]
And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the
iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his
throne be guiltless.
[10] And the king said, Whosoever
saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee
any more.
[11] Then said she, I pray thee, let the king
remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the
revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And
he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall
to the earth.
[12] Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid,
I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say
on.
[13] And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou
thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth
speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not
fetch home again his banished.
[14] For we must needs die,
and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up
again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means,
that his banished be not expelled from him.
[15] Now
therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the
king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid
said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will
perform the request of his handmaid.
[16] For the king will
hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would
destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
[17]
Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be
comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to
discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with
thee.
[18] Then the king answered and said unto the woman,
Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And
the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
[19] And
the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the
woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none
can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the
king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all
these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
[20] To fetch
about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and
my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know
all things that are in the earth.
[21] And the king said
unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring
the young man Absalom again.
[22] And Joab fell to the
ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab
said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy
sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request
of his servant.
[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and
brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
[24] And the king said, Let
him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom
returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
[25]
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for
his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head
there was no blemish in him.
[26] And when he polled his
head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the
hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair
of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
[27]
And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose
name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
[28]
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's
face.
[29] Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent
him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again
the second time, he would not come.
[30] Therefore he said
unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley
there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on
fire.
[31] Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his
house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on
fire?
[32] And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto
thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say,
Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been
there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there
be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
[33] So Joab came
to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he
came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before
the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
[1]
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots
and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
[2] And
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it
was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for
judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art
thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
[3]
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but
there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
[4]
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that
every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I
would do him justice!
[5] And it was so, that when any man
came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took
him, and kissed him.
[6] And on this manner did Absalom to
all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the
hearts of the men of Israel.
[7] And it came to pass after
forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go
and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
[8]
For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying,
If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will
serve the LORD.
[9] And the king said unto him, Go in
peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
[10] But Absalom
sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye
hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in
Hebron.
[11] And with Absalom went two hundred men out of
Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and
they knew not any thing.
[12] And Absalom sent for
Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city, even from
Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong;
for the people increased continually with Absalom.
[13] And
there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of
Israel are after Absalom.
[14] And David said unto all his
servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for
we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he
overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with
the edge of the sword.
[15] And the king's servants said
unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my
lord the king shall appoint.
[16] And the king went forth,
and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which
were concubines, to keep the house.
[17] And the king went
forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was
far off.
[18] And all his servants passed on beside him;
and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the
Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on
before the king.
[19] Then said the king to Ittai the
Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and
abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
[20]
Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up
and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take
back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
[21] And
Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord
the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be,
whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
[22]
And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite
passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with
him.
[23] And all the country wept with a loud voice, and
all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the
brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the
wilderness.
[24] And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites
were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set
down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had
done passing out of the city.
[25] And the king said unto
Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find
favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me
both it, and his habitation:
[26] But if he thus say, I
have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as
seemeth good unto him.
[27] The king said also unto Zadok
the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and
your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of
Abiathar.
[28] See, I will tarry in the plain of the
wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
[29]
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
[30] And David went up
by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his
head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with
him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they
went up.
[31] And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is
among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray
thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
[32]
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the
mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to
meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
[33]
Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be
a burden unto me:
[34] But if thou return to the city, and
say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy
father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then
mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
[35]
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests?
therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of
the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the
priests.
[36] Behold, they have there with them their two
sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them
ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
[37] So
Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into
Jerusalem.
[1]
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba
the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled,
and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of
raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
[2]
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba
said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread
and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as
be faint in the wilderness may drink.
[3] And the king
said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house
of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
[4] Then
said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto
Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find
grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
[5] And when king
David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of
the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came
forth, and cursed still as he came.
[6] And he cast stones
at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people
and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
[7]
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody
man, and thou man of Belial:
[8] The LORD hath returned
upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou
hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand
of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief,
because thou art a bloody man.
[9] Then said Abishai the
son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord
the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
[10]
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so
let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who
shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
[11] And David
said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came
forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this
Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath
bidden him.
[12] It may be that the LORD will look on mine
affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing
this day.
[13] And as David and his men went by the way,
Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as
he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
[14] And
the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and
refreshed themselves there.
[15] And Absalom, and all the
people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with
him.
[16] And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite,
David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom,
God save the king, God save the king.
[17] And Absalom said
to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not
with thy friend?
[18] And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay;
but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel,
choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
[19] And
again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his
son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy
presence.
[20] Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give
counsel among you what we shall do.
[21] And Ahithophel
said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath
left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art
abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with
thee be strong.
[22] So they spread Absalom a tent upon the
top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in
the sight of all Israel.
[23] And the counsel of
Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had
inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel
both with David and with Absalom.
[1]
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve
thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
[2]
And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will
make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and
I will smite the king only:
[3] And I will bring back all
the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all
returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
[4] And the
saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
[5]
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear
likewise what he saith.
[6] And when Hushai was come to
Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after
this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
[7]
And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given
is not good at this time.
[8] For, said Hushai, thou
knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be
chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field:
and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the
people.
[9] Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some
other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be
overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is
a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
[10] And
he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall
utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man,
and they which be with him are valiant men.
[11] Therefore
I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan
even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and
that thou go to battle in thine own person.
[12] So shall
we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will
light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of
all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as
one.
[13] Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall
all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the
river, until there be not one small stone found there.
[14]
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the
Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had
appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent
that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
[15] Then said
Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did
Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and
thus have I counselled.
[16] Now therefore send quickly,
and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the
wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up,
and all the people that are with him.
[17] Now Jonathan and
Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into
the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king
David.
[18] Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom:
but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in
Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
[19]
And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and
spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
[20]
And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they
said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them,
They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and
could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
[21] And
it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of
the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise,
and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled
against you.
[22] Then David arose, and all the people that
were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light
there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
[23]
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled
his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and
put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was
buried in the sepulchre of his father.
[24] Then David came
to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of
Israel with him.
[25] And Absalom made Amasa captain of the
host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was
Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash,
sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
[26] So Israel and Absalom
pitched in the land of Gilead.
[27] And it came to pass,
when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of
Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of
Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
[28]
Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley,
and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched
pulse,
[29] And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of
kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for
they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the
wilderness.
[1]
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of
thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
[2] And David
sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a
third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And
the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself
also.
[3] But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth:
for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us
die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of
us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the
city.
[4] And the king said unto them, What seemeth you
best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the
people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
[5] And the
king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my
sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard
when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
[6]
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle
was in the wood of Ephraim;
[7] Where the people of Israel
were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great
slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
[8] For the
battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the
wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
[9]
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule,
and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head
caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and
the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
[10]
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw
Absalom hanged in an oak.
[11] And Joab said unto the man
that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not
smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten
shekels of silver, and a girdle.
[12] And the man said unto
Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine
hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for
in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying,
Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
[13]
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for
there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have
set thyself against me.
[14] Then said Joab, I may not
tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust
them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the
midst of the oak.
[15] And ten young men that bare Joab's
armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
[16]
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing
after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
[17] And they
took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a
very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to
his tent.
[18] Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and
reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he
said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the
pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's
place.
[19] Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now
run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of
his enemies.
[20] And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not
bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but
this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is
dead.
[21] Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what
thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
[22]
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever,
let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore
wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
[23]
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
[24]
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the
roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked,
and behold a man running alone.
[25] And the watchman
cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is
tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
[26]
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called
unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the
king said, He also bringeth tidings.
[27] And the watchman
said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and
cometh with good tidings.
[28] And Ahimaaz called, and said
unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his
face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which
hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord
the king.
[29] And the king said, Is the young man Absalom
safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me
thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
[30]
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned
aside, and stood still.
[31] And, behold, Cushi came; and
Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee
this day of all them that rose up against thee.
[32] And
the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi
answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against
thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
[33] And the
king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and
wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son
Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
[1]
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for
Absalom.
[2] And the victory that day was turned into
mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how
the king was grieved for his son.
[3] And the people gat
them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal
away when they flee in battle.
[4] But the king covered his
face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
[5] And Joab came into the house
to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy
servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy
sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives
of thy concubines;
[6] In that thou lovest thine enemies,
and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou
regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that
if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had
pleased thee well.
[7] Now therefore arise, go forth, and
speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou
go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that
will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy
youth until now.
[8] Then the king arose, and sat in the
gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king
doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for
Israel had fled every man to his tent.
[9] And all the
people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying,
The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us
out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the
land for Absalom.
[10] And Absalom, whom we anointed over
us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of
bringing the king back?
[11] And king David sent to Zadok
and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah,
saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house?
seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his
house.
[12] Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my
flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
[13]
And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do
so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me
continually in the room of Joab.
[14] And he bowed the
heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that
they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy
servants.
[15] So the king returned, and came to Jordan.
And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king
over Jordan.
[16] And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite,
which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to
meet king David.
[17] And there were a thousand men of
Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his
fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over
Jordan before the king.
[18] And there went over a ferry
boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought
good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was
come over Jordan;
[19] And said unto the king, Let not my
lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy
servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of
Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
[20]
For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am
come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet
my lord the king.
[21] But Abishai the son of Zeruiah
answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because
he cursed the LORD's anointed?
[22] And David said, What
have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be
adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in
Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
[23]
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king
sware unto him.
[24] And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came
down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed
his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed
until the day he came again in peace.
[25] And it came to
pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king
said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
[26]
And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy
servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and
go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
[27] And he
hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the
king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine
eyes.
[28] For all of my father's house were but dead men
before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them
that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to
cry any more unto the king?
[29] And the king said unto
him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and
Ziba divide the land.
[30] And Mephibosheth said unto the
king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come
again in peace unto his own house.
[31] And Barzillai the
Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king,
to conduct him over Jordan.
[32] Now Barzillai was a very
aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of
sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great
man.
[33] And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over
with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
[34]
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I
should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
[35] I am this
day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can
thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the
voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy
servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
[36] Thy
servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why
should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
[37]
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine
own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother.
But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the
king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
[38]
And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do
to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou
shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
[39] And all
the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the
king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own
place.
[40] Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham
went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and
also half the people of Israel.
[41] And, behold, all the
men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our
brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the
king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over
Jordan?
[42] And all the men of Judah answered the men of
Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye
angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or
hath he given us any gift?
[43] And the men of Israel
answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king,
and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise
us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our
king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words
of the men of Israel.
[1]
And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba,
the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We
have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of
Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
[2] So every man
of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of
Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even
to Jerusalem.
[3] And David came to his house at Jerusalem;
and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to
keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in
unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living
in widowhood.
[4] Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me
the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
[5]
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer
than the set time which he had appointed him.
[6] And David
said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm
than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after
him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
[7] And
there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the
Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem,
to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
[8] When they were
at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And
Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a
girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof;
and as he went forth it fell out.
[9] And Joab said to
Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the
beard with the right hand to kiss him.
[10] But Amasa took
no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him
therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground,
and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his
brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
[11] And one
of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he
that is for David, let him go after Joab.
[12] And Amasa
wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw
that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway
into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one
that came by him stood still.
[13] When he was removed out
of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after
Sheba the son of Bichri.
[14] And he went through all the
tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites:
and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
[15]
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast
up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the
people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
[16]
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you,
unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
[17]
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab?
And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of
thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
[18] Then she
spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They
shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
[19]
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou
seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou
swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
[20] And Joab
answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should
swallow up or destroy.
[21] The matter is not so: but a man
of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his
hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I
will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his
head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
[22] Then the
woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the
head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew
a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And
Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
[23] Now Joab was
over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over
the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
[24] And Adoram
was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was
recorder:
[25] And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar
were the priests:
[26] And Ira also the Jairite was a chief
ruler about David.
[1]
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after
year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is
for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the
Gibeonites.
[2] And the king called the Gibeonites, and
said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of
Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of
Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal
to the children of Israel and Judah.)
[3] Wherefore David
said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith
shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the
LORD?
[4] And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no
silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou
kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I
do for you.
[5] And they answered the king, The man that
consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed
from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
[6] Let
seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up
unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the
king said, I will give them.
[7] But the king spared
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the
LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son
of Saul.
[8] But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the
daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth;
and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up
for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
[9] And he
delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them
in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and
were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the
beginning of barley harvest.
[10] And Rizpah the daughter
of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the
beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and
suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the
beasts of the field by night.
[11] And it was told David
what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had
done.
[12] And David went and took the bones of Saul and
the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which
had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines
had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
[13]
And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of
Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were
hanged.
[14] And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son
buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of
Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And
after that God was intreated for the land.
[15] Moreover
the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down,
and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and
David waxed faint.
[16] And Ishbi-benob, which was of the
sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred
shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought
to have slain David.
[17] But Abishai the son of Zeruiah
succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men
of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to
battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
[18] And
it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the
Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which
was of the sons of the giant.
[19] And there was again a
battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of
Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the
Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
[20]
And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature,
that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four
and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
[21]
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of
David slew him.
[22] These four were born to the giant in
Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
[1]
And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that
the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and
out of the hand of Saul:
[2] And he said, The LORD is my
rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
[3] The God of my
rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my
salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me
from violence.
[4] I will call on the LORD, who is worthy
to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
[5]
When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made
me afraid;
[6] The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the
snares of death prevented me;
[7] In my distress I called
upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of
his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
[8] Then
the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and
shook, because he was wroth.
[9] There went up a smoke out
of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were
kindled by it.
[10] He bowed the heavens also, and came
down; and darkness was under his feet.
[11] And he rode
upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the
wind.
[12] And he made darkness pavilions round about him,
dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
[13] Through
the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
[14]
The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his
voice.
[15] And he sent out arrows, and scattered them;
lightning, and discomfited them.
[16] And the channels of
the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at
the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his
nostrils.
[17] He sent from above, he took me; he drew me
out of many waters;
[18] He delivered me from my strong
enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for
me.
[19] They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but
the LORD was my stay.
[20] He brought me forth also into a
large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
[21]
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the
cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
[22] For I
have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from
my God.
[23] For all his judgments were before me: and as
for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
[24] I was
also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine
iniquity.
[25] Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me
according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye
sight.
[26] With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself
merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself
upright.
[27] With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure;
and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
[28]
And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the
haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
[29] For thou
art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
[30]
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over
a wall.
[31] As for God, his way is perfect; the word of
the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in
him.
[32] For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock,
save our God?
[33] God is my strength and power: and he
maketh my way perfect.
[34] He maketh my feet like hinds'
feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
[35] He teacheth
my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
[36]
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
gentleness hath made me great.
[37] Thou hast enlarged my
steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
[38] I have
pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until
I had consumed them.
[39] And I have consumed them, and
wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under
my feet.
[40] For thou hast girded me with strength to
battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
[41]
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might
destroy them that hate me.
[42] They looked, but there was
none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
[43]
Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp
them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
[44]
Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou
hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not
shall serve me.
[45] Strangers shall submit themselves unto
me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
[46]
Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their
close places.
[47] The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;
and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
[48] It
is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under
me,
[49] And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou
also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me:
thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
[50] Therefore
I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will
sing praises unto thy name.
[51] He is the tower of
salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto
David, and to his seed for evermore.
[1]
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said,
and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of
Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
[2] The
Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
[3]
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that
ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
[4]
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of
the earth by clear shining after rain.
[5] Although my
house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my
salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
[6]
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away,
because they cannot be taken with hands:
[7] But the man
that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a
spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same
place.
[8] These be the names of the mighty men whom David
had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains;
the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight
hundred, whom he slew at one time.
[9] And after him was
Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with
David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered
together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
[10]
He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his
hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that
day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
[11]
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the
Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of
ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the
Philistines.
[12] But he stood in the midst of the ground,
and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a
great victory.
[13] And three of the thirty chief went
down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam:
and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of
Rephaim.
[14] And David was then in an hold, and the
garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
[15] And
David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water
of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
[16] And
the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and
drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and
took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink
thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
[17] And he said,
Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the
blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he
would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
[18]
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among
three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew
them, and had the name among three.
[19] Was he not most
honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he
attained not unto the first three.
[20] And Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many
acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a
lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
[21] And he
slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his
hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out
of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
[22]
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among
three mighty men.
[23] He was more honourable than the
thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him
over his guard.
[24] Asahel the brother of Joab was one of
the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
[25]
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
[26] Helez the
Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
[27] Abiezer
the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
[28] Zalmon the
Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
[29] Heleb the son of
Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the
children of Benjamin,
[30] Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai
of the brooks of Gaash,
[31] Abi-albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
[32] Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of
the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
[33] Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
[34] Eliphelet the
son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of
Ahithophel the Gilonite,
[35] Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai
the Arbite,
[36] Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the
Gadite,
[37] Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite,
armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
[38] Ira an
Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
[39] Uriah the Hittite: thirty
and seven in all.
[1]
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he
moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
[2]
For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with
him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to
Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of
the people.
[3] And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD
thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold,
and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my
lord the king delight in this thing?
[4] Notwithstanding
the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of
the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the
presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
[5]
And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side
of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward
Jazer:
[6] Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of
Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,
[7]
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the
Hibites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of
Judah, even to Beer-sheba.
[8] So when they had gone
through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine
months and twenty days.
[9] And Joab gave up the sum of the
number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight
hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of
Judah were five hundred thousand men.
[10] And David's
heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said
unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I
beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I
have done very foolishly.
[11] For when David was up in the
morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's
seer, saying,
[12] Go and say unto David, Thus saith the
LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may
do it unto thee.
[13] So Gad came to David, and told him,
and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy
land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they
pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now
advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
[14]
And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into
the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall
into the hand of man.
[15] So the LORD sent a pestilence
upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there
died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand
men.
[16] And when the angel stretched out his hand upon
Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said
to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine
hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah
the Jebusite.
[17] And David spake unto the LORD when he
saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and
I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine
hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
[18]
And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an
altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the
Jebusite.
[19] And David, according to the saying of Gad,
went up as the LORD commanded.
[20] And Araunah looked, and
saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went
out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the
ground.
[21] And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the
king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor
of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be
stayed from the people.
[22] And Araunah said unto David,
Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him:
behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments
and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
[23] All these
things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said
unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
[24] And the
king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a
price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of
that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor
and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
[25] And David
built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and
peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the
plague was stayed from Israel.