Full Text
1:1 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; 1:2 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.
1:3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou?
And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
1:4 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.
1:5 And David said unto the young man that told him,
How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 1:6 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.
1:7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and
called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
1:8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered
him, I am an Amalekite.
1:9 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.
1:10 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.
1:11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent
them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 1:12 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.
1:13 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.
1:14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid
to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 1:15 And
David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon
him. And he smote him that he died.
1:16 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.
1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over
Saul and over Jonathan his son: 1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children
of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the
mighty fallen! 1:20 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.
1:21 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.
1:22 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.
1:23 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.
1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed
you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon
your apparel.
1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the
battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
1:26 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.
1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of
war perished! 2:1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired
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.
2:2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also,
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
2:3 And his men that were with him did David bring
up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
2:4 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 Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead,
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.
2:6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto
you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done
this thing.
2:7 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.
2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host,
took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 2:9
And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel,
and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
2:10 Ishbosheth 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.
2:11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over
the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of
Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13 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.
2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now
arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve
of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve
of the servants of David.
2:16 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 Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
2:17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and
Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
2:18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab,
and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going
he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
2:20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou
Asahel? And he answered, I am.
2:21 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.
2:22 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? 2:23 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.
2:24 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.
2:25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves
together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of
an hill.
2:26 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? 2:27 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.
2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood
still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
2:29 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.
2:30 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.
2:31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin,
and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
2:32 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.
3:1 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.
3:2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his
firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3:3 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; 3:4
And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah
the son of Abital; 3:5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife.
These were born to David in Hebron.
3:6 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.
3:7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah,
the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou
gone in unto my father's concubine? 3:8 Then was Abner very wroth for
the words of Ishbosheth, 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? 3:9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD
hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 3:10 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 Beersheba.
3:11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because
he feared him.
3:12 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.
3:13 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.
3:14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's
son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an
hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband,
even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
3:16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind
her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
3:17 And Abner had communication with the elders of
Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
3:18 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.
3:19 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.
3:20 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.
3:21 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.
3:22 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.
3:23 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.
3:24 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? 3:25 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.
3:26 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.
3:27 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.
3:28 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: 3:29 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.
3:30 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner,
because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
3:31 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.
3:32 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.
3:33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died
Abner as a fool dieth? 3:34 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.
3:35 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.
3:36 And all the people took notice of it, and it
pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
3:37 For all the people and all Israel understood
that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
3:38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye
not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
3:39 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.
4:1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead
in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
4:2 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.
4:3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were
sojourners there until this day.) 4:4 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.
4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab
and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of
Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
4:6 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.
4:7 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.
4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David
to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth 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.
4:9 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, 4:10 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: 4:11 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? 4:12 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 Ishbosheth, and buried
it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto
Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
5:2 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.
5:3 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.
5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned forty years.
5:5 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.
5:6 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.
5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion:
the same is the city of David.
5:8 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.
5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the
city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD
God of hosts was with him.
5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David,
and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an
house.
5:12 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.
5:13 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.
5:14 And these be the names of those that were born
unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 5:16 And Elishama,
and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
5:17 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.
5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim.
5:19 And David enquired 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.
5:20 And David came to Baalperazim, 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
Baalperazim.
5:21 And there they left their images, and David and
his men burned them.
5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread
themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
5:23 And when David enquired 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.
5:24 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.
5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him;
and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen
men of Israel, thirty thousand.
6:2 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.
6:3 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.
6:4 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.
6:5 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.
6:6 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.
6:7 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.
6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had
made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah
to this day.
6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and
said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 6:10 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 Obededom the Gittite.
6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house
of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom,
and all his household.
6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD
hath blessed the house of Obededom, 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 Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark
of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his
might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought
up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
6:16 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.
6:17 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.
6:18 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.
6:19 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.
6:20 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! 6:21 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.
6:22 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.
6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no
child unto the day of her death.
7:1 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;
7:2 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.
7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is
in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
7:4 And it came to pass that night, that the word
of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, 7:5 Go and tell my servant David,
Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
7:6 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.
7:7 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? 7:8 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: 7:9
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.
7:10 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, 7:11 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.
7:12 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.
7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will
stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
7:14 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: 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart
away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established
for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
7:17 According to all these words, and according to
all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
7:18 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? 7:19 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? 7:20 And what
can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
7:21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own
heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know
them.
7:22 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.
7:23 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? 7:24 For thou hast confirmed
to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and
thou, LORD, art become their God.
7:25 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.
7:26 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.
7:27 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.
7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy
words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
7:29 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.
8:1 And after this it came to pass that David smote
the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of
the hand of the Philistines.
8:2 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.
8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob,
king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
8:4 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.
8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour
Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand
men.
8:6 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.
8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on
the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer,
king David took exceeding much brass.
8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten
all the host of Hadadezer, 8:10 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: 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with
the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
8:12 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.
8:13 And David gat him a name when he returned from
smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand
men.
8:14 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.
8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David
executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host;
and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 8:17 And Zadok the son
of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and
Seraiah was the scribe; 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over
both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief
rulers.
9:1 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?
9:2 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.
9:3 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.
9:4 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 Lodebar.
9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the
house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
9:6 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! 9:7
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.
9:8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant,
that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9:9 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.
9:10 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.
9:11 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.
9:12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name
was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto
Mephibosheth.
9:13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did
eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king
of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
10:2 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.
10:3 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? 10:4 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.
10:5 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.
10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they
stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians
of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of
king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and
all the host of the mighty men.
10:8 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 Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
10:9 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: 10:10 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.
10:11 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.
10:12 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.
10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were
with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before
him.
10:14 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.
10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten
before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
10:16 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.
10:17 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.
10:18 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.
10:19 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.
11:1 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.
11:2 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.
11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman.
And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite? 11:4 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.
11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David,
and said, I am with child.
11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah
the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
11:7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded
of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
11:8 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.
11:9 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.
11:10 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?
11:11 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.
11:12 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.
11:13 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.
11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David
wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
11:15 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.
11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the
city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant
men were.
11:17 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.
11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things
concerning the war; 11:19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou
hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 11:20
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? 11:21 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.
11:22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David
all that Joab had sent him for.
11:23 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.
11:24 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.
11:25 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.
11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah
her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
11:27 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.
12:1 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.
12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
12:3 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.
12:4 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.
12:5 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: 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb
fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
12:7 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; 12:8 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.
12:9 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.
12:10 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.
12:11 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.
12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this
thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
12:13 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.
12:14 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.
12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the
LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was
very sick.
12:16 David therefore besought God for the child;
and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
12:17 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.
12:18 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? 12:19 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.
12:20 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.
12:21 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.
12:22 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? 12:23 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.
12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba 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.
12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet;
and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children
of Ammon, and took the royal city.
12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said,
I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
12:28 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.
12:29 And David gathered all the people together,
and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
12:30 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.
12:31 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 brick-kiln: and thus did he unto
all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people
returned unto Jerusalem.
13:1 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.
13:2 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 anything to her.
13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab,
the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
13:4 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.
13:5 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.
13:6 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.
13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now
to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
13:8 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.
13:9 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.
13:10 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.
13:11 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.
13:12 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.
13:13 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.
13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice:
but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
13:15 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.
13:16 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.
13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto
him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after
her.
13:18 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.
13:19 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.
13:20 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.
13:21 But when king David heard of all these things,
he was very wroth.
13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither
good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar.
13:23 And it came to pass after two full years, that
Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons.
13:24 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.
13:25 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.
13:26 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? 13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and
all the king's sons go with him.
13:28 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.
13:29 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.
13:30 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.
13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments,
and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes
rent.
13:32 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.
13:33 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.
13:34 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.
13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the
king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
13:36 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.
13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son
of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was
there three years.
13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth
unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
14:1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the
king's heart was toward Absalom.
14:2 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: 14:3 And come
to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words
in her mouth.
14:4 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.
14:5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee?
And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
14:6 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.
14:7 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.
14:8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine
house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
14:9 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.
14:10 And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto
thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
14:11 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.
14:12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray
thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
14:13 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.
14:14 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.
14:15 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.
14:16 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.
14:17 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.
14:18 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.
14:19 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: 14:20
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.
14:21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have
done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
14:22 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.
14:23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought
Absalom to Jerusalem.
14:24 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.
14:25 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.
14:26 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.
14:27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons,
and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
14:28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem,
and saw not the king's face.
14:29 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.
14:30 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.
14:31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his
house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on
fire? 14:32 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.
14:33 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.
15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom
prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
15:2 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.
15:3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are
good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
15:4 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! 15:5 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.
15:6 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.
15:7 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.
15:8 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.
15:9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he
arose, and went to Hebron.
15:10 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.
15:11 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.
15:12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,
David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased
continually with Absalom.
15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying,
The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
15:14 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.
15:15 And the king's servants said unto the king,
Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall
appoint.
15:16 And the king went forth, and all his household
after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep
the house.
15:17 And the king went forth, and all the people
after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
15:18 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.
15:19 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.
15:20 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.
15:21 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.
15:22 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.
15:23 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.
15:24 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.
15:25 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:
15:26 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.
15:27 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.
15:28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness,
until there come word from you to certify me.
15:29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark
of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
15:30 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.
15:31 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.
15:32 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:
15:33 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt
be a burden unto me: 15:34 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.
15:35 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.
15:36 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.
15:37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city,
and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
16:1 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.
16:2 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.
16:3 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.
16:4 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.
16:5 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.
16:6 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.
16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out,
come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 16:8 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.
16:9 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.
16:10 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? 16:11
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.
16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction,
and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
16:13 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.
16:14 And the king, and all the people that were with
him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
16:15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel,
came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16:16 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.
16:17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness
to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? 16:18 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.
16:19 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.
16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel
among you what we shall do.
16:21 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.
16:22 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.
16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled
in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so
was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
17:1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me
now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after
David this night: 17:2 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: 17:3 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.
17:4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all
the elders of Israel.
17:5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite
also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
17:6 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.
17:7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that
Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
17:8 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.
17:9 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.
17:10 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.
17:11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally
gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is
by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
17:12 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.
17:13 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.
17:14 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.
17:15 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.
17:16 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.
17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel;
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.
17:18 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.
17:19 And the woman took and spread a covering over
the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was
not known.
17:20 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.
17:21 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.
17:22 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.
17:23 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.
17:24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed
over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
17:25 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.
17:26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of
Gilead.
17:27 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 Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite
of Rogelim, 17:28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and
wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles,
and parched pulse, 17:29 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.
18:1 And David numbered the people that were with
him, and set captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
18:2 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.
18:3 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.
18:4 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.
18:5 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.
18:6 So the people went out into the field against
Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; 18:7 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.
18:8 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.
18:9 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.
18:10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and
said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
18:11 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.
18:12 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.
18:13 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.
18:14 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.
18:15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed
about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
18:16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned
from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
18:17 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.
18:18 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.
18:19 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.
18:20 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.
18:21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what
thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
18:22 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? 18:23 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.
18:24 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.
18:25 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.
18:26 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.
18:27 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.
18:28 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.
18:29 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.
18:30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and
stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
18:31 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.
18:32 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.
18:33 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! 19:1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king
weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
19:2 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.
19:3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into
the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
19:4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried
with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 19:5
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; 19:6 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.
19:7 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.
19:8 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.
19:9 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.
19:10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead
in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king
back? 19:11 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.
19:12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh:
wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? 19:13 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.
19:14 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.
19:15 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.
19:16 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.
19:17 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.
19:18 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; 19:19
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.
19:20 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.
19:21 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? 19:22 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? 19:23 Therefore the king said unto
Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
19:24 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.
19:25 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? 19:26 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.
19:27 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.
19:28 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? 19:29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou
any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
19:30 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.
19:31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim,
and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
19:32 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.
19:33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou
over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
19:34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have
I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 19:35 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? 19:36 Thy servant
will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king
recompense it me with such a reward? 19:37 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.
19:38 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.
19:39 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.
19:40 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.
19:41 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? 19:42 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? 19:43 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.
20:1 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.
20:2 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.
20:3 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.
20:4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the
men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
20:5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but
he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
20:6 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.
20:7 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.
20:8 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.
20:9 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.
20:10 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.
20:11 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.
20:12 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.
20:13 When he was removed out of the highway, all
the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
20:14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel
unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered
together, and went also after him.
20:15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah,
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.
20:16 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.
20:17 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.
20:18 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.
20:19 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? 20:20 And Joab answered
and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or
destroy.
20:21 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.
20:22 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.
20:23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
20:24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud
was recorder: 20:25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were
the priests: 20:26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about
David.
21:1 Then there was a famine in the days of David
three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the
LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he
slew the Gibeonites.
21:2 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.) 21:3 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? 21:4 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.
21:5 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, 21:6 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.
21:7 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.
21:8 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: 21:9 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.
21:10 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.
21:11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter
of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and
the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had
stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged
them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: 21:13 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.
21:14 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.
21:15 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.
21:16 And Ishbibenob, 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.
21:17 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.
21:18 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.
21:19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the
Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew
the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like
a weaver's beam.
21:20 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.
21:21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son
of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.
21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and
fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
22:1 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: 22:2 And he said, The LORD
is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 22:3 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.
22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be
praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
22:5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods
of ungodly men made me afraid; 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me
about; the snares of death prevented me; 22:7 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.
22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations
of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and
fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and
darkness was under his feet.
22:11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and
he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
22:12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him,
dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals
of fire kindled.
22:14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most
High uttered his voice.
22:15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them;
lightning, and discomfited them.
22:16 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.
22:17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out
of many waters; 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from
them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
22:19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity:
but the LORD was my stay.
22:20 He brought me forth also into a large place:
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
22:21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness:
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have
not wickedly departed from my God.
22:23 For all his judgments were before me: and as
for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
22:24 I was also upright before him, and have kept
myself from mine iniquity.
22:25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according
to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
22:26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful,
and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
22:27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and
with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
22:28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but
thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will
lighten my darkness.
22:30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my
God have I leaped over a wall.
22:31 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.
22:32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a
rock, save our God? 22:33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh
my way perfect.
22:34 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth
me upon my high places.
22:35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of
steel is broken by mine arms.
22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:
and thy gentleness hath made me great.
22:37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that
my feet did not slip.
22:38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them;
and turned not again until I had consumed them.
22:39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them,
that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
22:40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:
them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
22:41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,
that I might destroy them that hate me.
22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even
unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
22:43 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.
22:44 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.
22:45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as
soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
22:46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be
afraid out of their close places.
22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and
exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
22:48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth
down the people under me.
22:49 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.
22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD,
among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
22:51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and
sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
23:1 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, 23:2 The
Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
23:3 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.
23:4 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.
23:5 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.
23:6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as
thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 23:7 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.
23:8 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.
23:9 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: 23:10 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.
23:11 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.
23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and
defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great
victory.
23:13 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.
23:14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison
of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
23:15 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! 23:16 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.
23:17 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.
23:18 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.
23:19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore
he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
23:20 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: 23:21 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.
23:22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
and had the name among three mighty men.
23:23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but
he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
23:24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty;
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 23:25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika
the Harodite, 23:26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
23:27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 23:28 Zalmon
the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 23:29 Heleb the son of Baanah,
a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children
of Benjamin, 23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of
Gaash, 23:31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 23:32 Eliahba
the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 23:33 Shammah the
Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 23:34 Eliphelet the
son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel
the Gilonite, 23:35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 23:36 Igal
the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite, 23:37 Zelek the Ammonite,
Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 23:38
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 23:39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and
seven in all.
24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against
Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and
Judah.
24:2 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 Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the
number of the people.
24:3 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? 24:4 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.
24:5 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: 24:6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land
of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon, 24:7
And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites,
and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even
to Beersheba.
24:8 So when they had gone through all the land, they
came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
24:9 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.
24:10 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.
24:11 For when David was up in the morning, the word
of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 24:12 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.
24:13 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.
24:14 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.
24:15 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 Beersheba seventy thousand men.
24:16 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.
24:17 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.
24:18 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.
24:19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went
up as the LORD commanded.
24:20 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.
24:21 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.
24:22 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.
24:23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give
unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept
thee.
24:24 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.
24:25 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.
Sources: Portions copyright © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant, All Rights Reserved
JPS Electronic Edition Copyright © 1998 by Larry Nelson, All Rights Reserved
Jewish
Bible |