1:1It happened after the death of
Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and
David had abode two days in Ziklag; 1:2it happened
on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with
his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to
David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 1:3David said
to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am
I escaped. 1:4David said to him, How went the
matter? Please tell me. He answered, 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. 1:5David said to the young man who
told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? 1:6The young man who told him said,
As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his
spear; and, behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
1:7When he looked behind him, he saw
me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I. 1:8He said to
me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 1:9He said to
me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold
of me, because my life is yet whole in me. 1:10So I stood
beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live
after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and
the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.
1:11Then David took hold on his
clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him: 1:12and 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. 1:13David said to the young man who
told him, Whence are you? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an
Amalekite. 1:14David said to him, How were you
not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy THE LORD's anointed? 1:15David called one of the young
men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died.
1:16David said to him, Your blood be
on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have
slain THE LORD's anointed.
1:17David lamented with this
lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 1:18(and he
bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold,
it is written in the book of Jashar):
1:19Your glory, Israel, is slain on
your high places!
How are the mighty fallen!
1:20Don't tell it in Gath,
Don't publish it in the streets of Ashkelon;
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
1:21You mountains of Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings:
For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
1:22From the blood of the slain, from
the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan didn't turn back,
The sword of Saul didn't return empty.
1:23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and
pleasant in their lives,
In their death they were not divided:
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
1:24You daughters of Israel, weep
over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,
Who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
1:25How are the mighty fallen in the
midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.
1:26I am distressed for you, my
brother Jonathan:
Very pleasant have you been to me:
Your love to me was wonderful,
Passing the love of women.
1:27How are the mighty fallen,
The weapons of war perished!
2:1It happened after this, that David
inquired of THE LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?
THE LORD said to him, Go up. David said, Where shall I go up? He said, To
Hebron. 2:2So David went up there, and his
two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal
the Carmelite. 2:3His men who were with him did
David bring up, every man with his household: and they lived in the cities
of Hebron. 2:4The men of Judah came, and there
they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying,
The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul. 2:5David sent
messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be you
of THE LORD, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul,
and have buried him. 2:6Now THE LORD show loving kindness
and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you
have done this thing. 2:7Now therefore let your hands be
strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house
of Judah have anointed me king over them. 2:8Now Abner
the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of
Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 2:9and he made
him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over
Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 2:10Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was
forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two
years. But the house of Judah followed David. 2:11The time
that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and
six months. 2:12Abner the son of Ner, and the
servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the
servants of David, went out, and met them 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. 2:14Abner said to Joab, Please let
the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise. 2:15Then they arose and went over by
number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and
twelve of the servants of David. 2:16They caught
everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his
fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called
Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 2:17The battle
was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel,
before the servants of David. 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were
there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a
wild gazelle. 2:19Asahel pursued after Abner; and
in going he didn't turn to the right hand nor to the left from following
Abner. 2:20Then Abner looked behind him, and
said, Is it you, Asahel? He answered, It is I. 2:21Abner said
to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you
hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor. But Asahel would not
turn aside from following him. 2:22Abner said again to Asahel, Turn
you aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? how
then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother? 2:23However he
refused to turn aside: therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear
struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell
down there, and died in the same place: and it happened, that as many as
came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 2:24But Joab and Abishai pursued
after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of
Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 2:25The children of Benjamin gathered
themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top
of a hill. 2:26Then Abner called to Joab, and
said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be
bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid
the people return from following their brothers?" 2:27Joab said, As God lives, if you
had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor
followed everyone his brother. 2:28So Joab blew the trumpet; and all
the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought
they any more. 2:29Abner and his men went all that
night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went
through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 2:30Joab
returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people
together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. 2:31But the servants of David had
struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred sixty
men died. 2:32They took up Asahel, and buried
him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men
went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
3:1Now there was long war between the
house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and
stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 3:2To David were sons born in Hebron:
and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3:3and 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; 3:4and the
fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of
Abital; 3:5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah,
David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 3:6It happened,
while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that
Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. 3:7Now Saul had
a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and
Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's
concubine? 3:8Then was Abner very angry for the
words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah?
This day do I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his
brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of
David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.
3:9God do so to Abner, and more also,
if, as THE LORD has sworn to David, I don't do even so to him; 3:10to transfer 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. 3:11He could
not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 3:12Abner sent messengers to David on
his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make your
league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all
Israel to you. 3:13He said, Well; I will make a
league with you; but one thing I require of you: that is, you shall not
see my face, except you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come
to see my face. 3:14David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged
to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 3:15Ish-bosheth sent, and took her
from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 3:16Her husband went with her,
weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him,
Go, return: and he returned. 3:17Abner had communication with the
elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king
over you: 3:18now then do it; for THE LORD has
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. 3:19Abner also spoke 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 to the whole house of Benjamin. 3:20So Abner came to David to Hebron,
and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a
feast. 3:21Abner said to David, I will arise
and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make
a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul
desires. David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 3:22Behold, the servants of David and
Joab came from a foray, 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. 3:23When Joab and all the host who
was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came
to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 3:24Then Joab came to the king, and
said, What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you
have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 3:25You know
Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going
out and your coming in, and to know all that you do. 3:26When Joab
was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought
him back from the well of Sirah: but David didn't know it. 3:27When Abner was returned to
Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him
quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood
of Asahel his brother. 3:28Afterward, when David heard it,
he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before THE LORD forever of the blood
of Abner the son of Ner: 3:29let it fall on the head of Joab,
and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of
Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or
who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread. 3:30So Joab and
Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother
Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 3:31David said
to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and
gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the
bier. 3:32They buried Abner in Hebron: and
the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the
people wept. 3:33The king lamented for Abner, and
said,
Should Abner die as a fool dies?
3:34Your hands were not bound, nor
your feet put into fetters:
As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall.
All the people wept again over him. 3:35All the
people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David
swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or
anything else, until the sun be down. 3:36All the
people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did
pleased all the people. 3:37So all the people and all Israel
understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of
Ner. 3:38The king said to his servants,
"Don't you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this
day in Israel? 3:39I am this day weak, though
anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May
THE LORD reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness."
4:1When Ish-bosheth, Saul's
son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all
the Israelites were troubled. 4:2Ish-bosheth, Saul's son,
had two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was
Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the
Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to
Benjamin: 4:3and the Beerothites fled to
Gittaim, and have lived as foreigners there until this day). 4:4Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a
son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of
Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and
it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. His
name was Mephibosheth. 4:5The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,
Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house
of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon. 4:6They came
there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched
wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother
escaped. 4:7Now when they came into the house,
as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him,
and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all
night. 4:8They brought the head of
Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of
Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; and THE LORD
has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 4:9David answered Rechab and Baanah
his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As
THE LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 4:10when one told me, saying, Behold,
Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and
killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 4:11How much more, when wicked men
have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now
require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 4:12David commanded his young men,
and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged
them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth,
and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
5:1Then came all the tribes of Israel
to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your
flesh. 5:2In times past, when Saul was king
over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and THE LORD said to
you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince
over Israel. 5:3So all the elders of Israel came
to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron
before THE LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 5:4David was thirty years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5:5In Hebron he
reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned
thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 5:6The king and
his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the
land, who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the
lame, you shall not come in here; thinking, David can't come in here. 5:7Nevertheless David took the
stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 5:8David said
on that day, Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the
watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated of
David's soul. Therefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he
can't come into the house. 5:9David lived in the stronghold, and
called it the city of David. David built round about from Millo and
inward. 5:10David grew greater and greater;
for THE LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. 5:11Hiram king
of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and
masons; and they built David a house. 5:12David
perceived that THE LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he
had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 5:13David 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. 5:14These are
the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab,
and Nathan, and Solomon, 5:15and Ibhar, and Elishua, and
Nepheg, and Japhia, 5:16and Elishama, and Eliada, and
Eliphelet. 5:17When the Philistines heard that
they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to
seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 5:18Now the Philistines had come and
spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19David
inquired of THE LORD, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? will
you deliver them into my hand? THE LORD said to David, Go up; for I will
certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand. 5:20David came
to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, THE LORD has
broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he
called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 5:21They left
their images there; and David and his men took them away. 5:22The Philistines came up yet
again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 5:23When David inquired of THE LORD, he
said, You shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come on them
over against the mulberry trees. 5:24It shall
be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees,
that then you shall bestir yourself; for then is THE LORD gone out before
you to strike the host of the Philistines. 5:25David did
so, as THE LORD commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until
you come to Gezer.
6:1David again gathered together all
the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 6:2David arose,
and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring
up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name
of THE LORD of Hosts who sits above the cherubim. 6:3They set the ark of God on a new
cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill:
and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 6:4They brought it out of the house
of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went
before the ark. 6:5David and all the house of Israel
played before THE LORD with all manner of instruments made of
fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with tambourines, and
with castanets, and with cymbals. 6:6When they
came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to
the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. 6:7The anger of THE LORD was kindled
against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died
by the ark of God. 6:8David was displeased, because
THE LORD had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to
this day. 6:9David was afraid of THE LORD that
day; and he said, How shall the ark of THE LORD come to me? 6:10So David would not remove the ark
of THE LORD to him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into
the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 6:11The ark of
THE LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and
THE LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his house. 6:12It was told
king David, saying, THE LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all
that pertains to him, because of the ark of God. David went and brought up
the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with
joy. 6:13It was so, that, when those who
bore the ark of THE LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a
fattened calf. 6:14David danced before THE LORD with
all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 6:15So David and all the house of
Israel brought up the ark of THE LORD with shouting, and with the sound of
the trumpet. 6:16It was so, as the ark of THE LORD
came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out
at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before THE LORD; and
she despised him in her heart. 6:17They brought in the ark of
THE LORD, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had
pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings
before THE LORD. 6:18When David had made an end of
offering the burnt offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people
in the name of THE LORD of Hosts. 6:19He dealt
among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to
men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, and a portion of flesh,
and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house.
6:20Then David returned to bless his
household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said,
How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in
the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows
shamelessly uncovers himself! 6:21David said to Michal, It
was before THE LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his
house, to appoint me prince over the people of THE LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before THE LORD. 6:22I will be
yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight: but of the
handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honor me. 6:23Michal the daughter of Saul had
no child to the day of her death.
7:1It happened, when the king lived
in his house, and THE LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round
about, 7:2that the king said to Nathan the
prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells
within curtains. 7:3Nathan said to the king, Go, do
all that is in your heart; for THE LORD is with you. 7:4It happened
the same night, that the word of THE LORD came to Nathan, saying, 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus
says THE LORD, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? 7:6for I have not lived in a house
since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even
to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tent. 7:7In all
places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a
word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of
my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 7:8Now therefore thus shall you tell
my servant David, Thus says THE LORD of Hosts, I took you from the sheep
pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people,
over Israel; 7:9and I have been with you wherever
you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will
make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the
earth. 7:10I will appoint a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own
place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness
afflict them any more, as at the first, 7:11and
as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people
Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover
THE LORD tells you that THE LORD will make you a house. 7:12When your
days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up
your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will
establish his kingdom. 7:13He shall build a house for my
name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 7:14I 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; 7:15but my
loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I
put away before you. 7:16Your house and your kingdom shall
be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established
forever. 7:17According to all these words, and
according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. 7:18Then David the king went in, and
sat before THE LORD; and he said, Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my
house, that you have brought me thus far? 7:19This was
yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD; but you have spoken also of
your servant's house for a great while to come; and this too after
the manner of men, Lord GOD! 7:20What can
David say more to you? for you know your servant, Lord GOD. 7:21For your word's sake, and
according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make
your servant know it. 7:22Therefore you are great, THE LORD
God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you,
according to all that we have heard with our ears. 7:23What one
nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went
to redeem to himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great
things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom
you redeem to you out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 7:24You did establish to yourself
your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, THE LORD, became
their God. 7:25Now, THE LORD God, the word that
you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm
you it forever, and do as you have spoken. 7:26Let your
name be magnified forever, saying, THE LORD of hosts is God over Israel; and
the house of your servant David shall be established before you. 7:27For you, THE LORD of Hosts, the
God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a
house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer
to you. 7:28Now, O Lord GOD, you are God,
and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your
servant: 7:29now therefore let it please you
to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before
you; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the
house of your servant be blessed forever.
8:1After this it happened that David
struck the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the
mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. 8:2He struck
Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the
ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to
keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. 8:3David struck also Hadadezer the
son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the
River. 8:4David took from him one thousand
seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hamstrung
all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots. 8:5When the Syrians of Damascus came
to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians two and
twenty thousand men. 8:6Then David put garrisons in Syria
of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought
tribute. THE LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. 8:7David took the shields of gold
that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8:8From Betah and from Berothai,
cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 8:9When Toi king of Hamath heard that
David had struck all the host of Hadadezer, 8:10then Toi
sent Joram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because
he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him: for Hadadezer had wars
with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of
gold, and vessels of brass: 8:11These also did king David
dedicate to THE LORD, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the
nations which he subdued; 8:12of 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. 8:13David got
him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of
Salt, even eighteen thousand men. 8:14He put
garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the
Edomites became servants to David. THE LORD gave victory to David wherever
he went. 8:15David reigned over all Israel;
and David executed justice and righteousness to all his people. 8:16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over
the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 8:17and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and
Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe; 8:18and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were
chief ministers.
9:1David said, Is there yet any who
is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's
sake? 9:2There was of the house of Saul a
servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king
said to him, Are you Ziba? He said, Your servant is he. 9:3The king said, Is there not yet
any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? Ziba
said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet. 9:4The king said to him, Where is he?
Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of
Ammiel, in Lo Debar. 9:5Then king David sent, and fetched
him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 9:6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan,
the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance.
David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant! 9:7David said to him, "Don't be
afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your
father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and
you shall eat bread at my table continually." 9:8He did
obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on
such a dead dog as I am?" 9:9Then the king called to Ziba,
Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that pertained to Saul and to
all his house have I given to your master's son. 9:10You shall
till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you
shall bring in the fruits, that your master's son may have bread to
eat: but Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread always at my
table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 9:11Then said Ziba to the king,
According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your
servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my
table, as one of the king's sons. 9:12Mephibosheth had a young son,
whose name was Mica. All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to
Mephibosheth. 9:13So Mephibosheth lived in
Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was lame in both
his feet.
10:1It happened after this, that the
king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his
place. 10:2David said, I will show kindness
to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shown kindness to me. So David
sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's
servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 10:3But the princes of the children
of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your
father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his
servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow
it? 10:4So 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. 10:5When they told it to David, he
sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait
at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 10:6When the children of Ammon saw
that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and
hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand
footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob
twelve thousand men. 10:7When David heard of it, he sent
Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 10:8The
children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of
the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and
Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 10:9Now when
Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose
of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the
Syrians: 10:10The rest of the people he
committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array
against the children of Ammon. 10:11He said,
If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the
children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 10:12Be of good courage, and let us
play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and THE LORD do
that which seems him good. 10:13So Joab and the people who were
with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before
him. 10:14When the children of Ammon saw
that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered
into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to
Jerusalem. 10:15When the Syrians saw that they
were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 10:16Hadarezer sent, and brought out
the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with
Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head. 10:17It was told David; and he
gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to
Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with
him. 10:18The Syrians fled before Israel;
and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots,
and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host,
so that he died there. 10:19When all the kings who were
servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel,
they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to
help the children of Ammon any more.
11:1It happened, at the return of the
year, at the time when kings go out 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 stayed at Jerusalem. 11:2It happened at evening, that
David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house:
and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful
to look on. 11:3David send and inquired after the
woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of
Uriah the Hittite? 11:4David sent messengers, and took
her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified
from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house. 11:5The woman conceived; and she sent
and told David, and said, I am with child. 11:6David sent
to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. Joab sent Uriah to
David. 11:7When Uriah was come to him, David
asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war
prospered. 11:8David said to Uriah, Go down to
your house, and wash your feet. Uriah departed out of the king's house,
and there followed him a mess of food from the king. 11:9But Uriah slept at the door of
the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to
his house. 11:10When they had told David,
saying, Uriah didn't go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Haven't
you come from a journey? why did you not go down to your house? 11:11Uriah said to David, The ark,
and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants
of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house,
to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live, and as your
soul lives, I will not do this thing. 11:12David said
to Uriah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart. So
Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the next day. 11:13When David had called him, he
ate 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 didn't go down to his
house. 11:14It happened in the morning, that
David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 11:15He wrote in the letter, saying,
Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him,
that he may be struck, and die. 11:16It
happened, when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned Uriah to the
place where he knew that valiant men were. 11:17The men of
the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the
people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 11:18Then Joab sent and told David
all the things concerning the war; 11:19and he
charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling
all the things concerning the war to the king, 11:20it shall
be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he tells you, 'Why did you go so
near to the city to fight? Didn't you know that they would shoot from the
wall? 11:21who struck Abimelech the son of
Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall,
so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then shall
you say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"
11:22So the messenger went, and came
and shown David all that Joab had sent him for. 11:23The
messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us
into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate. 11:24The shooters shot at your
servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and
your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 11:25Then David
said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Joab, Don't let this thing
displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your
battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you
him. 11:26When the wife of Uriah heard
that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. 11:27When the mourning was past,
David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and
bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased THE LORD.
12:1THE LORD sent Nathan to David. He
came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the
one rich, and the other poor. 12:2The rich man had very many flocks
and herds, 12:3but the poor man had nothing,
except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up
together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of
his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter. 12:4A traveler came to the rich man,
and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for
the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and
dressed it for the man who had come to him."
12:5David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As THE LORD lives, the man who
has done this is worthy to die! 12:6He shall
restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had
no pity!"
12:7Nathan said to David, "You
are the man. This is what THE LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you
king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 12:8I gave you your master's house,
and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel
and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added
to you many more such things. 12:9Why have you despised the word of
THE LORD, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the
Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have
slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 12:10Now
therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have
despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your
wife.' 12:11This is what THE LORD says:
'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I
will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and
he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12:12For you did it secretly, but I
will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"
12:13David said to Nathan, "I
have sinned against THE LORD."
Nathan said to David, "THE LORD also has put away your sin. You will
not die. 12:14However, because by this deed
you have given great occasion to THE LORD's enemies to blaspheme, the child
also who is born to you shall surely die." 12:15Nathan
departed to his house.
THE LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was
very sick. 12:16David therefore begged God for
the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.
12:17The elders of his house arose,
and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would
not, neither did he eat bread with them. 12:18It
happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David
feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while
the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our
voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is
dead! 12:19But when David saw that his
servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was
dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is
dead. 12:20Then David arose from the earth,
and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came
into the house of THE LORD, and worshiped: then he came to his own house;
and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate. 12:21Then said his servants to him,
What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the
child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and
eat bread. 12:22He said, While the child was yet
alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether THE LORD will not be
gracious to me, that the child may live? 12:23But now he
is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him,
but he will not return to me. 12:24David comforted Bathsheba his
wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he
called his name Solomon. THE LORD loved him; 12:25and he
sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for
THE LORD's sake. 12:26Now Joab fought against Rabbah
of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 12:27Joab sent
messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have
taken the city of waters. 12:28Now 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. 12:29David
gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against
it, and took it. 12:30He took the crown of their king
from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it
were precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought forth
the spoil of the city, exceeding much. 12:31He brought
forth the people who 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 to all the cities of the children of Ammon.
David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
13:1It happened after this, that
Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and
Amnon the son of David loved her. 13:2Amnon was
so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a
virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 13:3But Amnon had a friend, whose
name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a
very subtle man. 13:4He said to him, Why, son of the
king, are you thus lean from day to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to
him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 13:5Jonadab
said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when
your father comes to see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come
and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see
it, and eat it from her hand. 13:6So Amnon lay down, and feigned
himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the
king, Please let her sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in
my sight, that I may eat from her hand. 13:7Then David
sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and
dress him food. 13:8So Tamar went to her brother
Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and
made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 13:9She took
the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon
said, Have out all men from me. They went out every man from him. 13:10Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the
food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes
which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her
brother. 13:11When she had brought them near
to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my
sister. 13:12She answered him, No, my
brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel.
Don't you do this folly. 13:13I, where shall I carry my shame?
and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore,
please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you. 13:14However he would not listen to
her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
13:15Then Amnon hated her with
exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater
than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be
gone. 13:16She said to him, Not so, because
this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that
you did to me. But he would not listen to her. 13:17Then he
called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out
from me, and bolt the door after her. 13:18She had a
garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king's
daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and
bolted the door after her. 13:19Tamar put ashes on her head, and
tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand
on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 13:20Absalom her brother said to her,
Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister:
he is your brother; don't take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained
desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 13:21But when
king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 13:22Absalom spoke to Amnon neither
good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar. 13:23It happened after two full
years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside
Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 13:24Absalom
came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has sheep-shearers; let
the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant. 13:25The king said to Absalom, No, my
son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him:
however he would not go, but blessed him. 13:26Then said
Absalom, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. The king said to
him, Why should he go with you? 13:27But
Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
13:28Absalom commanded his servants,
saying, Mark you now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I
tell you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; don't be afraid; haven't I commanded
you? be courageous, and be valiant. 13:29The
servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the
king's sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled. 13:30It happened, while they were in
the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the
king's sons, and there is not one of them left. 13:31Then the
king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his
servants stood by with their clothes torn. 13:32Jonadab,
the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, Don't let my lord suppose
that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is
dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the
day that he forced his sister Tamar. 13:33Now
therefore don't let 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. 13:34But Absalom fled. The young man
who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came
much people by the way of the hill-side behind him. 13:35Jonadab
said to the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as your servant said,
so it is. 13:36It happened, 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. 13:37But Absalom fled, and went to
Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his
son every day. 13:38So Absalom fled, and went to
Geshur, and was there three years. 13:39the
soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted
concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
14:1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah
perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. 14:2Joab sent
to Tekoa, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, please act like
a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, Please, and don't anoint yourself
with oil, but be as a woman who has a long time mourned for the dead: 14:3and go in to the king, and speak
on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. 14:4When the woman of Tekoa spoke to
the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said,
Help, O king. 14:5The king said to her, What ails
you? She answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. 14:6Your handmaid had two sons, and
they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them,
but the one struck the other, and killed him. 14:7Behold, the
whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who
struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom
he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal
which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on
the surface of the earth. 14:8The king said to the woman, Go to
your house, and I will give charge concerning you. 14:9The woman
of Tekoa said to 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. 14:10The king said, Whoever says
anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more. 14:11Then said she, Please let the
king remember THE LORD your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any
more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As THE LORD lives, there shall not
one hair of your son fall to the earth. 14:12Then the
woman said, Please let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king. He
said, Say on. 14:13The woman said, Why then have
you devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this
word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring
home again his banished one. 14:14For we must needs die, and are
as water split on the ground, which can't be gathered up again; neither
does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be
an outcast from him. 14:15Now therefore seeing that I have
come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have
made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it
may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 14:16For the king will hear, to
deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my
son together out of the inheritance of God. 14:17Then your
handmaid said, Please let the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for
as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and
THE LORD your God be with you. 14:18Then the king answered the
woman, Please don't hide anything from me that I shall ask you. The woman
said, Let my lord the king now speak. 14:19The king
said, Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? The woman answered, As
your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to
the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant
Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your
handmaid; 14:20to change the face of the matter
has your 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.
14:21The king said to Joab, Behold
now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom
back. 14:22Joab fell to the ground on his
face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today your
servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in
that the king has performed the request of his servant. 14:23So Joab arose and went to
Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 14:24The king
said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So
Absalom turned to his own house, and didn't see the king's face. 14:25Now 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. 14:26When he cut the hair of his head
(now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on
him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred
shekels, after the king's weight. 14:27To Absalom
there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she
was a woman of a beautiful face. 14:28Absalom
lived two full years in Jerusalem; and he didn't see the king's face. 14:29Then Absalom sent for Joab, to
send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a
second time, but he would not come. 14:30Therefore
he said to his servants, Behold, Joab's field is near mine, and he has
barley there; go and set it on fire. Absalom's servants set the field on
fire. 14:31Then Joab arose, and came to
Absalom to his house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field
on fire? 14:32Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I
sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say,
Why am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now
therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let
him kill me. 14:33So 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.
15:1It happened after this, that
Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before
him. 15:2Absalom rose up early, and stood
beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit
which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him,
and said, Of what city are you? He said, Your servant is of one of the
tribes of Israel. 15:3Absalom said to him, Behold, your
matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to
hear you. 15:4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I
were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause
might come to me, and I would do him justice! 15:5It was so,
that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand,
and took hold of him, and kissed him. 15:6In this
manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so
Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 15:7It happened
at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, please let me go
and pay my vow, which I have vowed to THE LORD, in Hebron. 15:8For your servant vowed a vow
while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If THE LORD shall indeed bring me
again to Jerusalem, then I will serve THE LORD. 15:9The king
said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 15:10But Absalom sent spies
throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound
of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron. 15:11With Absalom went two hundred
men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and
they didn't know anything. 15:12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the
Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was
offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom. 15:13There came
a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom. 15:14David said to all his servants
who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of
us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us
quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of
the sword. 15:15The king's servants said to the
king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king
shall choose. 15:16The king went forth, and all his
household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep
the house. 15:17The king went forth, and all the
people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 15:18All his
servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the
Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from
Gath, passed on before the king. 15:19Then said
the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide
with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; return
to your own place. 15:20Whereas you came but yesterday,
should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I
may? return you, and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you.
15:21Ittai answered the king, and
said, As THE LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place
my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also
will your servant be. 15:22David said to Ittai, Go and pass
over. Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little
ones who were with him. 15:23All 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. 15:24Behold, Zadok also came,
and all the Levites 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. 15:25The king
said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find
favor in the eyes of THE LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it,
and his habitation: 15:26but if he say thus, I have no
delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.
15:27The king said also to Zadok the
priest, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your
two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 15:28Behold, I will stay at the fords
of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me." 15:29Zadok therefore and Abiathar
carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there. 15:30David went up by the ascent of
the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head
covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered
every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 15:31One told David, saying,
Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, THE LORD,
please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 15:32It happened that when David had
come to the top of the ascent, where God was worshiped, behold,
Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his
head. 15:33David said to him, If you pass
on with me, then you will be a burden to me: 15:34but if you
return to the city, and tell Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I
have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your
servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 15:35Don't you have Zadok and
Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever
thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok
and Abiathar the priests. 15:36Behold, they have there with
them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son;
and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear. 15:37So Hushai, David's friend, came
into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
16:1When David was a little past the
top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met
him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of
bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits,
and a bottle of wine. 16:2The king said to Ziba, What do
you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink. 16:3The king said, Where is your
master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for
he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my
father. 16:4Then said the king to Ziba,
Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do
obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king. 16:5When king David came to Bahurim,
behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was
Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came. 16:6He 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. 16:7Thus said
Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base
fellow: 16:8THE LORD has returned on you all
the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and
THE LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and,
behold, you are taken in your own mischief, because you are a man
of blood. 16:9Then said Abishai the son of
Zeruiah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the
king? Please let me go over and take off his head." 16:10The king said, What have I to do
with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because THE LORD has
said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so? 16:11David said to Abishai, and to
all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my
life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him
alone, and let him curse; for THE LORD has invited him. 16:12It may be that THE LORD will look
on the wrong done to me, and that THE LORD will requite me good for
his cursing of me this day. 16:13So David
and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over
against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast
dust. 16:14The king, and all the people who
were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there. 16:15Absalom, and all the people, the
men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16:16It happened, when Hushai the
Archite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom,
Long live the king, Long live the king. 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, Is this
your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend? 16:18Hushai said to Absalom, No; but
whom THE LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his
will I be, and with him will I abide. 16:19Again,
whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? as I
have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence. 16:20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel,
Give your counsel what we shall do. 16:21Ahithophel
said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to
keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your
father: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong. 16:22So they spread Absalom a tent on
the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in
the sight of all Israel. 16:23The counsel of Ahithophel, which
he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so
was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
17:1Moreover Ahithophel said to
Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and
pursue after David this night: 17:2and I will come on him while he
is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who
are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only; 17:3and I will bring back all the
people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: so all
the people shall be in peace. 17:4The saying pleased Absalom well,
and all the elders of Israel. 17:5Then said Absalom, Call now
Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says. 17:6When Hushai was come to Absalom,
Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner:
shall we do after his saying? if not, speak up. 17:7Hushai said to Absalom, The
counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good. 17:8Hushai said moreover, You know
your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in
their minds, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is
a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 17:9Behold, he
is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will happen,
when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say,
There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom. 17:10Even he who is valiant, whose
heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows
that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant
men. 17:11But I counsel that all Israel be
gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is
by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. 17:12So shall we come on him in some
place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls
on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not
leave so much as one. 17:13Moreover, 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 not be one small stone found there. 17:14Absalom and all the men of
Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel
of Ahithophel. For THE LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of
Ahithophel, to the intent that THE LORD might bring evil on Absalom. 17:15Then said Hushai to Zadok and to
Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the
elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled. 17:16Now therefore send quickly, and
tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness,
but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the
people who are with him. 17:17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were
staying by En Rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they
went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the
city. 17:18But a boy saw them, and told
Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of
a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.
17:19The woman took and spread the
covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and
nothing was known. 17:20Absalom's servants came to the
woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The
woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had
sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 17:21It happened, after they had
departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David;
and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for
thus has Ahithophel counseled against you. 17:22Then David
arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the
Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone
over the Jordan. 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his
counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him
home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he
died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 17:24Then David
came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of
Israel with him. 17:25Absalom set Amasa over the host
instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the
Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to
Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 17:26Israel and Absalom encamped in
the land of Gilead. 17:27It happened, 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, 17:28brought beds, and basins, and
earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched
grain, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse, 17:29and honey, and butter, and
sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with
him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty,
in the wilderness.
18:1David numbered the people who
were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over
them. 18:2David sent forth the people, a
third part 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. The king said to the people, I will surely go
forth with you myself also. 18:3But the people said, You shall
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 you are worth ten thousand of
us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the
city. 18:4The king said to them, What seems
you best I will do. The king stood by the gate-side, and all the people
went out by hundreds and by thousands. 18:5The king
commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with
the young man, even with Absalom. All the people heard when the king gave
all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 18:6So the
people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the
forest of Ephraim. 18:7The people of Israel were struck
there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there
that day of twenty thousand men. 18:8For the
battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the
forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 18:9Absalom happened to meet the
servants of David. Absalom was riding on his 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 sky and earth; and the mule that was under him
went on. 18:10A certain man saw it, and told
Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 18:11Joab said to the man who told
him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn't you strike him there to the
ground? and I would have given you ten pieces of silver, and a
sash. 18:12The man said to Joab, Though I
should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still
wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the
king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the
young man Absalom. 18:13Otherwise if I had dealt falsely
against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you
yourself would have set yourself against me. 18:14Then said
Joab, I may not wait thus with you. 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. 18:15Ten young men who bore Joab's
armor compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him. 18:16Joab blew the trumpet, and the
people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.
18:17They took Absalom, and cast him
into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of
stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent. 18:18Now
Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar,
which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in
memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called
Absalom's monument, to this day. 18:19Then said
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that
THE LORD has avenged him of his enemies. 18:20Joab said
to him, You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear
news another day; but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's
son is dead. 18:21Then said Joab to the Cushite,
Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed himself to Joab,
and ran. 18:22Then said Ahimaaz the son of
Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after
the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will
have no reward for the news? 18:23But come what may, said
he, I will run. He said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of
the Plain, and outran the Cushite. 18:24Now David
was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of
the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a
man running alone. 18:25The watchman cried, and told the
king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came
apace, and drew near. 18:26The watchman saw another man
running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold,
another man running alone. The king said, He also brings news. 18:27The watchman said, I think the
running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.
The king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news. 18:28Ahimaaz called, and said to the
king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his face to the
earth, and said, Blessed be THE LORD your God, who has delivered up the men
who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 18:29The king
said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab
sent the king's servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I
don't know what it was. 18:30The king said, Turn aside, and
stand here. He turned aside, and stood still. 18:31Behold,
the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, News for my lord the king; for
THE LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you. 18:32The king said to the Cushite, Is
it well with the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of
my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as
that young man is. 18:33The king was much moved, and
went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he
said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for you,
Absalom, my son, my son!
19:1It was told Joab, Behold, the
king weeps and mourns for Absalom. 19:2The victory
that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard
say that day, The king grieves for his son. 19:3The people
got them by stealth that day into the city, as people who are ashamed
steal away when they flee in battle. 19:4The king
covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, my son Absalom,
Absalom, my son, my son! 19:5Joab came into the house to the
king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants,
who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your
daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;
19:6in that you love those who hate
you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that
princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if
Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you
well. 19:7Now therefore arise, go forth,
and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by THE LORD, if you
don't go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that
will be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your
youth until now. 19:8Then the king arose, and sat in
the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting
in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled
every man to his tent. 19:9All the people were at strife
throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of
the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the
Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom. 19:10Absalom, whom we anointed over
us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don't you speak a word of
bringing the king back? 19:11King David sent to Zadok and to
Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why
are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of
all Israel is come to the king, to bring him to his house. 19:12You are my brothers, you are my
bone and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king? 19:13Say you to Amasa, Aren't you my
bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain
of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 19:14He bowed the heart of all the
men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent to
the king, saying, Return you, and all your servants. 19:15So the king returned, and came
to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the
king over the Jordan. 19:16Shimei the son of Gera, the
Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah
to meet king David. 19:17There 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 through the
Jordan in the presence of the king. 19:18There went
over a ferry-boat to bring over the king's household, and to do what he
thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he
was come over the Jordan. 19:19He said to the king, Don't let
my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your
servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of
Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 19:20For your servant does know that
I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the
house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 19:21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah
answered, Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed
THE LORD's anointed? 19:22David said, What have I to do
with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to
me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for don't I
know that I am this day king over Israel? 19:23The king
said to Shimei, You shall not die. The king swore to him. 19:24Mephibosheth the son of Saul
came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor
trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed
until the day he came home in peace. 19:25It
happened, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king
said to him, Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth? 19:26He answered, My lord, O king, my
servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey,
that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because your servant is
lame. 19:27He has slandered your servant to
my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore
what is good in your eyes. 19:28For all my father's house were
but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those
who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should
cry any more to the king? 19:29The king said to him, Why speak
you any more of your matters? I say, You and Ziba divide the land. 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king,
yes, let him take all, because my lord the king is come in peace to his
own house. 19:31Barzillai the Gileadite came
down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct
him over the Jordan. 19:32Now Barzillai was a very aged
man, even eighty years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance
while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 19:33The king said to Barzillai, Come
you over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem. 19:34Barzillai said to the king, How
many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the
king to Jerusalem? 19:35I am this day eighty years old:
can I discern between good and bad? can your servant taste what I eat or
what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing
women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?
19:36Your servant would but just go
over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me
with such a reward? 19:37Please let your servant turn
back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and
my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord
the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you. 19:38The king answered, Chimham shall
go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you:
and whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you. 19:39All the people went over the
Jordan, and the king went over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed
him; and he returned to his own place. 19:40So the
king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him: and all the
people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.
19:41Behold, all the men of Israel
came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of
Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the
Jordan, and all David's men with him? 19:42All the
men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is a close
relative to us: why then are you angry for this matter? have we eaten at
all at the king's cost? or has he given us any gift? 19:43The 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 you: why then did you despise us, that our
advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? The words of the
men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
20:1There happened to be there a base
fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew
the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we
inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, Israel. 20:2So all the men of Israel went up
from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of
Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem. 20:3David 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 custody, and provided them with
sustenance, but didn't go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of
their death, living in widowhood. 20:4Then said
the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days,
and be here present. 20:5So Amasa went to call the men
of Judah together; but he stayed longer than the set time which he had
appointed him. 20:6David said to Abishai, Now will
Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take your lord's
servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and
escape out of our sight. 20:7There 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. 20:8When they were at the great stone
which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was girded with his
apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a sash with a sword
fastened on his loins in the sheath of it; and as he went forth it fell
out. 20:9Joab said to Amasa, Is it well
with you, my brother? Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to
kiss him. 20:10But Amasa took no heed to the
sword that was in Joab's hand: so he struck him therewith in the body, and
shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn't strike him again; and he
died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
20:11There stood by him one of Joab's
young men, and said, He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him
follow Joab. 20:12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood
in the midst of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood
still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a
garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
20:13When he was removed out of the
highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son
of Bichri. 20:14He went through all the tribes
of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites: and they were
gathered together, and went also after him. 20:15They came
and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against
the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were
with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. 20:16Then cried
a wise woman out of the city, "Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come
near here, that I may speak with you.'" 20:17He came
near to her; and the woman said, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she
said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I do hear. 20:18Then she spoke, saying, They
were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask
counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. 20:19I am of those who are peaceable
and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel:
why will you swallow up the inheritance of THE LORD? 20:20Joab
answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or
destroy. 20:21The matter is not so: but a man
of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has
lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only,
and I will depart from the city. The woman said to Joab, Behold, his head
shall be thrown to you over the wall. 20:22Then the
woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba
the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they
were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Joab returned to
Jerusalem to the king. 20:23Now Joab was over all the host
of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and
over the Pelethites; 20:24and Adoram was over the men
subject to forced labor; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the
recorder; 20:25and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok
and Abiathar were priests; 20:26and also Ira the Jairite was
chief minister to David.
21:1There was a famine in the days of
David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of THE LORD.
THE LORD said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to
death the Gibeonites. 21:2The king called the Gibeonites,
and said to 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
to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of
Israel and Judah); 21:3and David said to the Gibeonites,
What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you
may bless the inheritance of THE LORD? 21:4The
Gibeonites said to him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and
Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in
Israel. He said, What you shall say, that will I do for you. 21:5They said to the king, The man
who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be
destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 21:6let seven men of his sons be
delivered to us, and we will hang them up to THE LORD in Gibeah of Saul, the
chosen of THE LORD. The king said, I will give them. 21:7But 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. 21:8But the king took the two sons of
Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and
Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she
bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 21:9He
delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in
the mountain before THE LORD, and they fell all seven together. They
were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the
beginning of barley harvest. 21:10Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took
sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of
harvest until water was poured on them from the sky; and she allowed
neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of
the field by night. 21:11It was told David what Rizpah
the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 21:12David went and took the bones of
Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who
had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had
hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 21:13and he brought up from there the
bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the
bones of those who were hanged. 21:14They
buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin
in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the
king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land. 21:15The Philistines had war again
with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought
against the Philistines. David grew faint; 21:16and
Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear
was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with
a new sword, thought to have slain David. 21:17But
Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and
killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You shall go no
more out with us to battle, that you don't quench the lamp of Israel. 21:18It came to pass after this, that
there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the
Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 21:19There was again war with the
Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite
killed Goliath the Gittite's brother, the staff of whose spear was like a
weaver's beam. 21:20There was again war at Gath,
where was a man of great stature, who 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. 21:21When he defied Israel, Jonathan
the son of Shimei, David's brother, killed him. 21:22These four
were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by
the hand of his servants.
22:1David spoke to THE LORD the words
of this song in the day that THE LORD delivered him out of the hand of all
his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 22:2and he said,
THE LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
22:3God, my rock, in him will I take
refuge;
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my
refuge;
My savior, you save me from violence.
22:4I will call on THE LORD, who is
worthy to be praised:
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
22:5For the waves of death compassed
me;
The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:
22:6The cords of Sheol were round
about me;
The snares of death came on me.
22:7In my distress I called on THE LORD;
Yes, I called to my God:
He heard my voice out of his temple,
My cry came into his ears.
22:8Then the earth shook and trembled,
The foundations of heaven quaked
Were shaken, because he was angry.
22:9There went up a smoke out of his
nostrils,
Fire out of his mouth devoured:
Coals were kindled by it.
22:10He bowed the heavens also, and
came down;
Thick darkness was under his feet.
22:11He rode on a cherub, and did fly;
Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
22:12He made darkness pavilions round
about him,
Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
22:13At the brightness before him
Coals of fire were kindled.
22:14THE LORD thundered from heaven,
The Most High uttered his voice.
22:15He sent out arrows, and
scattered them;
Lightning, and confused them.
22:16Then the channels of the sea
appeared,
The foundations of the world were laid bare,
By the rebuke of THE LORD,
At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
22:17He sent from on high, he took me;
He drew me out of many waters;
22:18He delivered me from my strong
enemy,
From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
22:19They came on me in the day of my
calamity;
But THE LORD was my stay.
22:20He brought me forth also into a
large place;
He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
22:21THE LORD rewarded me according to
my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
22:22For I have kept the ways of
THE LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22:23For all his ordinances were
before me;
As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
22:24I was also perfect toward him;
I kept myself from my iniquity.
22:25Therefore has THE LORD recompensed
me according to my righteousness,
According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
22:26With the merciful you will show
yourself merciful;
With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect;
22:27With the pure you will show
yourself pure;
With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
22:28The afflicted people you will
save;
But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
22:29For you are my lamp, THE LORD;
THE LORD will lighten my darkness.
22:30For by you I run on a troop;
By my God do I leap over a wall.
22:31As for God, his way is perfect:
The word of THE LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
22:32For who is God, save THE LORD?
Who is a rock, save our God?
22:33God is my strong fortress;
He guides the perfect in his way.
22:34He makes his feet like hinds'
feet,
Sets me on my high places.
22:35He teaches my hands to war,
So that my arms do bend a bow of brass.
22:36You have also given me the
shield of your salvation;
Your gentleness has made me great.
22:37You have enlarged my steps under
me;
My feet have not slipped.
22:38I have pursued my enemies, and
destroyed them;
Neither did I turn again until they were consumed.
22:39I have consumed them, and struck
them through, so that they can't arise:
Yes, they are fallen under my feet.
22:40For you have girded me with
strength to the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
22:41You have also made my enemies
turn their backs to me,
That I might cut off those who hate me.
22:42They looked, but there was none
to save;
Even to THE LORD, but he didn't answer them.
22:43Then did I beat them small as
the dust of the earth,
I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them
abroad.
22:44You also have delivered me from
the strivings of my people;
You have kept me to be the head of the nations:
A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
22:45The foreigners shall submit
themselves to me:
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.
22:46The foreigners shall fade away,
Shall come trembling out of their close places.
22:47THE LORD lives; Blessed be my rock;
Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
22:48Even the God who executes
vengeance for me,
Who brings down peoples under me,
22:49Who brings me forth from my
enemies:
Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me;
You deliver me from the violent man.
22:50Therefore I will give thanks to
you, THE LORD, among the nations,
Will sing praises to your name.
22:51Great deliverance gives he to
his king,
Shows loving kindness to his anointed,
To David and to his seed, forevermore.
23:1Now these are the last words of
David.
David the son of Jesse says,
The man who was raised on high says,
The anointed of the God of Jacob,
The sweet psalmist of Israel:
23:2The Spirit of THE LORD spoke by me,
His word was on my tongue.
23:3The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
One who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,
23:4He shall be as the light
of the morning, when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through clear shining after rain.
23:5Most assuredly my house is not so
with God;
Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
Ordered in all things, and sure:
For it is all my salvation, and all my desire,
Although he doesn't make it grow.
23:6But the ungodly shall be all of
them as thorns to be thrust away,
Because they can't be taken with the hand
23:7But the man who touches them
Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear:
They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place
23:8These are the names of the mighty
men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the
captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at
one time. 23:9After him was Eleazar the son of
Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when
they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle,
and the men of Israel were gone away. 23:10He arose,
and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to
the sword; and THE LORD worked a great victory that day; and the people
returned after him only to take spoil. 23:11After him
was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered
together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the
people fled from the Philistines. 23:12But he
stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the
Philistines; and THE LORD worked a great victory. 23:13Three of
the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to
the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the
valley of Rephaim. 23:14David was then in the
stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 23:15David longed, and said, Oh that
one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the
gate! 23:16The three mighty men broke
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: but
he would not drink of it, but poured it out to THE LORD. 23:17He said, Be it far from me,
THE LORD, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of the men
who went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it.
These things did the three mighty men. 23:18Abishai,
the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted
up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among
the three. 23:19Wasn't he most honorable of the
three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn't attain to
the first three. 23:20Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the
son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the
two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in
the midst of a pit in time of snow. 23:21He killed
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 killed him with his own spear. 23:22These
things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three
mighty men. 23:23He was more honorable than the
thirty, but he didn't attain to the first three. David set him over
his guard. 23:24Asahel the brother of Joab was
one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 23:25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the
Harodite, 23:26Helez the Paltite, Ira the son
of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 23:27Abiezer the Anathothite,
Mebunnai the Hushathite, 23:28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the
Netophathite, 23:29Heleb the son of Baanah the
Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of
Benjamin, 23:30Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of
the brooks of Gaash. 23:31Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth
the Barhumite, 23:32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the
sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 23:33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the
son of Sharar the Ararite, 23:34Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai,
the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 23:35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the
Arbite, 23:36Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah,
Bani the Gadite, 23:37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the
Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah, 23:38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the
Ithrite, 23:39Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven
in all.
24:1Again the anger of THE LORD was
kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go,
number Israel and Judah. 24:2The king said to Joab the captain
of the host, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the
tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people,
that I may know the sum of the people. 24:3Joab said
to the king, Now THE LORD your God add to the people, however many they may
be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but
why does my lord the king delight in this thing? 24:4Notwithstanding, the king's word
prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. Joab and the
captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the
people of Israel. 24:5They passed over the Jordan, and
encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of
the valley of Gad, and to Jazer: 24:6then they
came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan
Jaan, and round about to Sidon, 24:7and came to
the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the
Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba. 24:8So when they had gone back and
forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine
months and twenty days. 24:9Joab gave up the sum of the
numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight
hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were
five hundred thousand men. 24:10David's heart struck him after
that he had numbered the people. David said to THE LORD, I have sinned
greatly in that which I have done: but now, THE LORD, put away, I beg you,
the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly. 24:11When David rose up in the
morning, the word of THE LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
24:12Go and speak to David, Thus says
THE LORD, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it
to you. 24:13So Gad came to David, and told
him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to you in your
land? or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue
you? or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? now advise
you, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me. 24:14David said to 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. 24:15So THE LORD
sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the time appointed;
and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand
men. 24:16When the angel stretched out his
hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, THE LORD repented him of the evil, and
said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your
hand. The angel of THE LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the
Jebusite. 24:17David spoke to THE LORD when he
saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned, and
I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let
your hand be against me, and against my father's house. 24:18Gad came that day to David, and
said to him, Go up, rear an altar to THE LORD in the threshing floor of
Araunah the Jebusite. 24:19David went up according to the
saying of Gad, as THE LORD commanded. 24:20Araunah
looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and
Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the
ground. 24:21Araunah said, Why is my lord the
king come to his servant? David said, To buy the threshing floor of you,
to build an altar to THE LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the
people. 24:22Araunah said to David, Let my
lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him: behold, the oxen
for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the
oxen for the wood: 24:23all this, king, does Araunah
give to the king. Araunah said to the king, THE LORD your God accept you. 24:24The king said to Araunah, No;
but I will most assuredly buy it of you at a price. Neither will I offer
burnt-offerings to THE LORD my God which cost me nothing. So David bought
the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 24:25David built there an altar to
THE LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings. So THE LORD was
entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
