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