2SA-1:1  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David

was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had

abode two days in Ziklag;

2SA-1:2  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a

man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and

earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to David,

that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

2SA-1:3  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And

he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

2SA-1:4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray

thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from

the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and

Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

2SA-1:5  And David said unto the young man that told him, How

knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

2SA-1:6  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by

chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear;

and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

2SA-1:7  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called

unto me. And I answered, Here [am] I.

2SA-1:8  And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him,

 I [am] an Amalekite.

2SA-1:9  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and

slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life [is] yet

whole in me.

2SA-1:10  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure

that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the

crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on

his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

2SA-1:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them;

and likewise all the men that [were] with him:

2SA-1:12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for

Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD,

and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the

sword.

2SA-1:13  And David said unto the young man that told him,

Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger,

 an Amalekite.

2SA-1:14  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to

stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

2SA-1:15  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go

near, [and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

2SA-1:16  And David said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head;

for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain

the LORD'S anointed.

2SA-1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and

over Jonathan his son:

2SA-1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah [the

use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)

2SA-1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places:

how are the mighty fallen!

2SA-1:20  Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets

of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest

the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

2SA-1:21  Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither

[let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for

there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield

of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

2SA-1:22  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the

mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of

Saul returned not empty.

2SA-1:23  Saul and Jonathan [were] lovely and pleasant in their

lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were

swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

2SA-1:24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed

you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of

gold upon your apparel.

2SA-1:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.

2SA-1:26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very

pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful,

passing the love of women.

2SA-1:27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war

perished!

*2SA-2:1  And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of

the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?

And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall

I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

2SA-2:2  So David went up thither, and his two wives also,

Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

2SA-2:3  And his men that [were] with him did David bring up,

every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of

Hebron.

2SA-2:4  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed

David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying,

[That] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they] that buried Saul.

2SA-2:5  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead,

and said unto them, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD, that ye have

showed this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Saul, and have

buried him.

2SA-2:6  And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and

I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this

thing.

2SA-2:7  Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye

valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of

Judah have anointed me king over them.

2SA-2:8  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took

Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

2SA-2:9  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites,

and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over

all Israel.

2SA-2:10  Ishbosheth Saul's son [was] forty years old when he

began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house

of Judah followed David.

2SA-2:11  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the

house of Judah was seven years and six months.

2SA-2:12  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of

Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

2SA-2:13  And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David,

 went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat

down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the

other side of the pool.

2SA-2:14  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise,

and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

2SA-2:15  Then there arose and went over by number twelve of

Benjamin, which [pertained] to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and

twelve of the servants of David.

2SA-2:16  And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and

[thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down

together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which

[is] in Gibeon.

2SA-2:17  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner

was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

2SA-2:18  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and

Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild

roe.

2SA-2:19  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned

not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

2SA-2:20  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, [Art] thou

Asahel? And he answered, I [am].

2SA-2:21  And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right

hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men,

and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from

following of him.

2SA-2:22  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from

following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how

then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

2SA-2:23  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with

the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth [rib],

that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and

died in the same place: and it came to pass, [that] as many as

came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

2SA-2:24  Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun

went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that [lieth]

before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

2SA-2:25  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves

together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top

of an hill.

2SA-2:26  Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword

devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in

the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the

people return from following their brethren?

2SA-2:27  And Joab said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst

spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every

one from following his brother.

2SA-2:28  So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still,

 and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

2SA-2:29  And Abner and his men walked all that night through

the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron,

and they came to Mahanaim.

2SA-2:30  And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he

had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's

servants nineteen men and Asahel.

2SA-2:31  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and

of Abner's men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.

2SA-2:32  And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the

sepulchre of his father, which [was in] Bethlehem. And Joab and

his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

*2SA-3:1  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and

the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and

the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2SA-3:2  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his

firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2SA-3:3  And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal

the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the

daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

2SA-3:4  And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the

fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

2SA-3:5  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These

were born to David in Hebron.

2SA-3:6  And it came to pass, while there was war between the

house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself

strong for the house of Saul.

2SA-3:7  And Saul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rizpah, the

daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast

thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

2SA-3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth,

and said, [Am] I a dog's head, which against Judah do show

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?

2SA-3:9  So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD

hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

2SA-3:10  To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and

to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from

Dan even to Beersheba.

2SA-3:11  And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he

feared him.

2SA-3:12  And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,

saying, Whose [is] the land? saying [also], Make thy league with

me, and, behold, my hand [shall be] with thee, to bring about

all Israel unto thee.

2SA-3:13  And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but

one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face,

 except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou

comest to see my face.

2SA-3:14  And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son,

saying, Deliver [me] my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for

an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

2SA-3:15  And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband,

[even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

2SA-3:16  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her

to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he

returned.

2SA-3:17  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel,

saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

2SA-3:18  Now then do [it]: for the LORD hath spoken of David,

saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people

Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand

of all their enemies.

2SA-3:19  And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and

Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that

seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house

of Benjamin.

2SA-3:20  So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with

him. And David made Abner and the men that [were] with him a

feast.

2SA-3:21  And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and

will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make

a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that

thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in

peace.

2SA-3:22  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from

[pursuing] a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but

Abner [was] not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away,

and he was gone in peace.

2SA-3:23  When Joab and all the host that [was] with him were

come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the

king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

2SA-3:24  Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou

done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast

sent him away, and he is quite gone?

2SA-3:25  Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to

deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and

to know all that thou doest.

2SA-3:26  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent

messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of

Sirah: but David knew [it] not.

2SA-3:27  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him

aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there

under the fifth [rib], that he died, for the blood of Asahel his

brother.

2SA-3:28  And afterward when David heard [it], he said, I and my

kingdom [are] guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood

of Abner the son of Ner:

2SA-3:29  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his

father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab

one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a

staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

2SA-3:30  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he

had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

2SA-3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that

[were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth,

and mourn before Abner. And king David [himself] followed the

bier.

2SA-3:32  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted

up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people

wept.

2SA-3:33  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner

as a fool dieth?

2SA-3:34  Thy hands [were] not bound. nor thy feet put into

fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, [so] fellest thou.

And all the people wept again over him.

2SA-3:35  And when all the people came to cause David to eat

meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me,

and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be

down.

2SA-3:36  And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased

them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

2SA-3:37  For all the people and all Israel understood that day

that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

2SA-3:38  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that

there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

2SA-3:39  And I [am] this day weak, though anointed king; and

these men the sons of Zeruiah [be] too hard for me: the LORD

shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

*2SA-4:1  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in

Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were

troubled.

2SA-4:2  And Saul's son had two men [that were] captains of

bands: the name of the one [was] Baanah, and the name of the

other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children

of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.

2SA-4:3  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were

sojourners there until this day.)

2SA-4:4  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son [that was] lame of

[his] feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul

and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled:

 and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell,

and became lame. And his name [was] Mephibosheth.

2SA-4:5  And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and

Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of

Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

2SA-4:6  And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as

though] they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under

the fifth [rib]: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

2SA-4:7  For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in

his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded

him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all

night.

2SA-4:8  And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to

Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the

son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD

hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

2SA-4:9  And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the

sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, [As] the LORD

liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

2SA-4:10  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead,

thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and

slew him in Ziklag, who [thought] that I would have given him a

reward for his tidings:

2SA-4:11  How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous

person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now

require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

2SA-4:12  And David commanded his young men, and they slew them,

and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up

over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth,

and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

*2SA-5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto

Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy

flesh.

2SA-5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou

wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD

said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt

be a captain over Israel.

2SA-5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron;

and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD:

 and they anointed David king over Israel.

2SA-5:4  David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign,

[and] he reigned forty years.

2SA-5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six

months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over

all Israel and Judah.

2SA-5:6  And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the

Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David,

saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt

not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

2SA-5:7  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the

same [is] the city of David.

2SA-5:8  And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the

gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind,

[that are] hated of David's soul, [he shall be chief and

captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not

come into the house.

2SA-5:9  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of

David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

2SA-5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of

hosts [was] with him.

2SA-5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and

cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an

house.

2SA-5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him

king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his

people Israel's sake.

2SA-5:13  And David took [him] more concubines and wives out of

Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet

sons and daughters born to David.

2SA-5:14  And these [be] the names of those that were born unto

him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

2SA-5:15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

2SA-5:16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

2SA-5:17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed

David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek

David; and David heard [of it], and went down to the hold.

2SA-5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the

valley of Rephaim.

2SA-5:19  And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up

to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And

the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver

the Philistines into thine hand.

2SA-5:20  And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them

there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies

before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name

of that place Baalperazim.

2SA-5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his

men burned them.

2SA-5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread

themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

2SA-5:23  And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou

shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come

upon them over against the mulberry trees.

2SA-5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going

in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir

thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite

the host of the Philistines.

2SA-5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and

smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

*2SA-6:1  Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men]

of Israel, thirty thousand.

2SA-6:2  And David arose, and went with all the people that

[were] with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the

ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of

hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubims.

2SA-6:3  And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and

brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in Gibeah:

and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

2SA-6:4  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which

[was] at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went

before the ark.

2SA-6:5  And David and all the house of Israel played before the

LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on

harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and

on cymbals.

2SA-6:6  And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah

put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for

the oxen shook [it].

2SA-6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah;

and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by

the ark of God.

2SA-6:8  And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a

breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place

Perezuzzah to this day.

2SA-6:9  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said,

How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

2SA-6:10  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him

into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the

house of Obededom the Gittite.

2SA-6:11  And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of

Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom,

 and all his household.

2SA-6:12  And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath

blessed the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto

him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the

ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David

with gladness.

2SA-6:13  And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of

the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

2SA-6:14  And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might;

and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.

2SA-6:15  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the

ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

2SA-6:16  And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David,

 Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king

David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him

in her heart.

2SA-6:17  And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in

his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched

for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings

before the LORD.

2SA-6:18  And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt

offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name

of the LORD of hosts.

2SA-6:19  And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the

whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every

one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon

[of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.

2SA-6:20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal

the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How

glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to

day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the

vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

2SA-6:21  And David said unto Michal, [It was] before the LORD,

which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to

appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:

therefore will I play before the LORD.

2SA-6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be

base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast

spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

2SA-6:23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child

unto the day of her death.

*2SA-7:1  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house,

and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

2SA-7:2  That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I

dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within

curtains.

2SA-7:3  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that [is] in

thine heart; for the LORD [is] with thee.

2SA-7:4  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the

LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

2SA-7:5  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD,

Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

2SA-7:6  Whereas I have not dwelt in [any] house since the time

that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to

this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

2SA-7:7  In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the

children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of

Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why

build ye not me an house of cedar?

2SA-7:8  Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David,

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote,

from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over

Israel:

2SA-7:9  And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and

have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made

thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that

[are] in the earth.

2SA-7:10  Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel,

and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own,

 and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness

afflict them any more, as beforetime,

2SA-7:11  And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be]

over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all

thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee

an house.

2SA-7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep

with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall

proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2SA-7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will

stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

2SA-7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he

commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and

with the stripes of the children of men:

2SA-7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took

[it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

2SA-7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established

for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

2SA-7:17  According to all these words, and according to all

this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2SA-7:18  Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and

he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that

thou hast brought me hitherto?

2SA-7:19  And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord

GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a

great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

2SA-7:20  And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord

GOD, knowest thy servant.

2SA-7:21  For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart,

hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know

[them].

2SA-7:22  Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for [there is]

none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee,

according to all that we have heard with our ears.

2SA-7:23  And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people,

[even] like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to

himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things

and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou

redeemedst to thee from Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?

2SA-7:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel

[to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become

their God.

2SA-7:25  And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken

concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it]

for ever, and do as thou hast said.

2SA-7:26  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The

LORD of hosts [is] the God over Israel: and let the house of thy

servant David be established before thee.

2SA-7:27  For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast

revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house:

therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this

prayer unto thee.

2SA-7:28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy

words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy

servant:

2SA-7:29  Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of

thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou,

 O Lord GOD, hast spoken [it]: and with thy blessing let the

house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

*2SA-8:1  And after this it came to pass, that David smote the

Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of

the hand of the Philistines.

2SA-8:2  And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line,

casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he

to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so]

the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.

2SA-8:3  David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of

Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

2SA-8:4  And David took from him a thousand [chariots], and

seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David

hocked all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an

hundred chariots.

2SA-8:5  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour

Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and

twenty thousand men.

2SA-8:6  Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the

Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts. And the

LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2SA-8:7  And David took the shields of gold that were on the

servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

2SA-8:8  And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer,

king David took exceeding much brass.

2SA-8:9  When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten

all the host of Hadadezer,

2SA-8:10  Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute

him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer,

and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram]

brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and

vessels of brass:

2SA-8:11  Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with

the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which

he subdued;

2SA-8:12  Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon,

and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of

Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2SA-8:13  And David gat [him] a name when he returned from

smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen

thousand [men].

2SA-8:14  And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put

he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And

the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2SA-8:15  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed

judgment and justice unto all his people.

2SA-8:16  And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host; and

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder;

2SA-8:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of

Abiathar, [were] the priests; and Seraiah [was] the scribe;

2SA-8:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the

Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief

rulers.

*2SA-9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the

house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2SA-9:2  And [there was] of the house of Saul a servant whose

name [was] Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the

king said unto him, [Art] thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant

[is he].

2SA-9:3  And the king said, [Is] there not yet any of the house

of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba

said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, [which is] lame on

[his] feet.

2SA-9:4  And the king said unto him, Where [is] he? And Ziba

said unto the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the

son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

2SA-9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house

of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

2SA-9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of

Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did

reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold

thy servant!

2SA-9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely

show 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.

2SA-9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant,

that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

2SA-9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said

unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained

to Saul and to all his house.

2SA-9:10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall

till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits],

that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy

master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had

fifteen sons and twenty servants.

2SA-9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my

lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant

do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my

table, as one of the king's sons.

2SA-9:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was]

Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants

unto Mephibosheth.

2SA-9:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat

continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

*2SA-10:1  And it came to pass after this, that the king of the

children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2SA-10:2  Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the

son of Nahash, as his father showed 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.

2SA-10:3  And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto

Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy

father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David

[rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to

spy it out, and to overthrow it?

2SA-10:4  Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off

the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the

middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.

2SA-10:5  When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them,

because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry

at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

2SA-10:6  And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank

before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians

of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen,

and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand

men.

2SA-10:7  And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all

the host of the mighty men.

2SA-10:8  And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle

in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,

 and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in

the field.

2SA-10:9  When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against

him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of

Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians:

2SA-10:10  And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand

of Abishai his brother, that he might put [them] in array

against the children of Ammon.

2SA-10:11  And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me,

then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too

strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

2SA-10:12  Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our

people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that

which seemeth him good.

2SA-10:13  And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with

him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before

him.

2SA-10:14  And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians

were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into

the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came

to Jerusalem.

2SA-10:15  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten

before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

2SA-10:16  And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that

[were] beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the

captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

2SA-10:17  And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel

together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the

Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with

him.

2SA-10:18  And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew

[the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty

thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host,

who died there.

2SA-10:19  And when all the kings [that were] servants to

Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made

peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to

help the children of Ammon any more.

*2SA-11:1  And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at

the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab,

and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed

the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried

still at Jerusalem.

2SA-11:2  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David

arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's

house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the

woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.

2SA-11:3  And David sent and inquired after the woman. And [one]

said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife

of Uriah the Hittite?

2SA-11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came

in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her

uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

2SA-11:5  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and

said, I [am] with child.

2SA-11:6  And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the

Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

2SA-11:7  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded [of

him] how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war

prospered.

2SA-11:8  And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and

wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and

there followed him a mess [of meat] from the king.

2SA-11:9  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with

all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

2SA-11:10  And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not

down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from

[thy] journey? why [then] didst thou not go down unto thine

house?

2SA-11:11  And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and

Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my

lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine

house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? [as] thou

livest, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

2SA-11:12  And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and

to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem

that day, and the morrow.

2SA-11:13  And when David had called him, he did eat and drink

before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to

lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down

to his house.

2SA-11:14  And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote

a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah.

2SA-11:15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in

the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him,

that he may be smitten, and die.

2SA-11:16  And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city,

that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant

men [were].

2SA-11:17  And the men of the city went out, and fought with

Joab: and there fell [some] of the people of the servants of

David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

2SA-11:18  Then Joab sent and told David all the things

concerning the war;

2SA-11:19  And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast

made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

2SA-11:20  And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say

unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye

did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

2SA-11:21  Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not

a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that

he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy

servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

2SA-11:22  So the messenger went, and came and showed David all

that Joab had sent him for.

2SA-11:23  And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men

prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and

we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

2SA-11:24  And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy

servants; and [some] of the king's servants be dead, and thy

servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

2SA-11:25  Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou

say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword

devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong

against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

2SA-11:26  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her

husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

2SA-11:27  And when the mourning was past, David sent and

fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him

a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

*2SA-12:1  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto

him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one

rich, and the other poor.

2SA-12:2  The rich [man] had exceeding many flocks and herds:

2SA-12:3  But the poor [man] had nothing, save one little ewe

lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up

together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own

meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was

unto him as a daughter.

2SA-12:4  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he

spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress

for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor

man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

2SA-12:5  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man;

and he said to Nathan, [As] the LORD liveth, the man that hath

done this [thing] shall surely die:

2SA-12:6  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did

this thing, and because he had no pity.

2SA-12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus

saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel,

and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2SA-12:8  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's

wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of

Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have

given unto thee such and such things.

2SA-12:9  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the

LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the

Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife,

 and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

2SA-12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine

house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of

Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

2SA-12:11  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil

against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives

before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he

shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

2SA-12:12  For thou didst [it] secretly: but I will do this

thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

2SA-12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the

LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away

thy sin; thou shalt not die.

2SA-12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great

occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also

[that is] born unto thee shall surely die.

2SA-12:15  And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD

struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was

very sick.

2SA-12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David

fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

2SA-12:17  And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him,

to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he

eat bread with them.

2SA-12:18  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the

child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that

the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was

yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our

voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the

child is dead?

2SA-12:19  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David

perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his

servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

2SA-12:20  Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and

anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the

house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house;

 and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

2SA-12:21  Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this

that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child,

[while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst

rise and eat bread.

2SA-12:22  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted

and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be

gracious to me, that the child may live?

2SA-12:23  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I

bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return

to me.

2SA-12:24  And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in

unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called

his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

2SA-12:25  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he

called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

2SA-12:26  And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of

Ammon, and took the royal city.

2SA-12:27  And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have

fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

2SA-12:28  Now therefore gather the rest of the people together,

and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city,

and it be called after my name.

2SA-12:29  And David gathered all the people together, and went

to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

2SA-12:30  And he took their king's crown from off his head, the

weight whereof [was] a talent of gold with the precious stones:

and it was [set] on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil

of the city in great abundance.

2SA-12:31  And he brought forth the people that [were] therein,

and put [them] under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under

axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus

did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David

and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

*2SA-13:1  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son

of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon

the son of David loved her.

2SA-13:2  And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his

sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard

for him to do any thing to her.

2SA-13:3  But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the

son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtle

man.

2SA-13:4  And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the

king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And

Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

2SA-13:5  And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed,

and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee,

say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me

meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and

eat [it] at her hand.

2SA-13:6  So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the

king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee,

let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my

sight, that I may eat at her hand.

2SA-13:7  Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy

brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

2SA-13:8  So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was

laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes

in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

2SA-13:9  And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him;

but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me.

And they went out every man from him.

2SA-13:10  And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the

chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes

which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon

her brother.

2SA-13:11  And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he

took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

2SA-13:12  And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force

me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou

this folly.

2SA-13:13  And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as

for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now

therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not

withhold me from thee.

2SA-13:14  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but,

being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2SA-13:15  Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred

wherewith he hated her [was] greater than the love wherewith he

had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

2SA-13:16  And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil

in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst

unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

2SA-13:17  Then he called his servant that ministered unto him,

and said, Put now this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door

after her.

2SA-13:18  And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her:

for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were]

virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted

the door after her.

2SA-13:19  And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment

of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her

head, and went on crying.

2SA-13:20  And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy

brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he

[is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained

desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

2SA-13:21  But when king David heard of all these things, he was

very wroth.

2SA-13:22  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good

nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his

sister Tamar.

2SA-13:23  And it came to pass after two full years, that

Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside

Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

2SA-13:24  And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now,

thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee,

and his servants go with thy servant.

2SA-13:25  And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not

all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:

howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

2SA-13:26  Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my

brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should

he go with thee?

2SA-13:27  But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all

the king's sons go with him.

2SA-13:28  Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark

ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say

unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I

commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

2SA-13:29  And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom

had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat

him up upon his mule, and fled.

2SA-13:30  And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that

tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's

sons, and there is not one of them left.

2SA-13:31  Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay

on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes

rent.

2SA-13:32  And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother,

answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have

slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead:

for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from

the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

2SA-13:33  Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing

to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for

Amnon only is dead.

2SA-13:34  But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the

watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came

much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

2SA-13:35  And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's

sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

2SA-13:36  And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of

speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up

their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants

wept very sore.

2SA-13:37  But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of

Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every

day.

2SA-13:38  So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there

three years.

2SA-13:39  And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto

Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was

dead.

*2SA-14:1  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's

heart [was] toward Absalom.

2SA-14:2  And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise

woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a

mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself

with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the

dead:

2SA-14:3  And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto

him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2SA-14:4  And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she

fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said,

Help, O king.

2SA-14:5  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she

answered, I [am] indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

2SA-14:6  And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove

together in the field, and [there was] none to part them, but

the one smote the other, and slew him.

2SA-14:7  And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine

handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother,

that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew;

and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my

coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband [neither]

name nor remainder upon the earth.

2SA-14:8  And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house,

and I will give charge concerning thee.

2SA-14:9  And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O

king, the iniquity [be] on me, and on my father's house: and the

king and his throne [be] guiltless.

2SA-14:10  And the king said, Whosoever saith [ought] unto thee,

bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

2SA-14:11  Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the

LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of

blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said,

 [As] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall

to the earth.

2SA-14:12  Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee,

speak [one] word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

2SA-14:13  And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought

such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak

this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not

fetch home again his banished.

2SA-14:14  For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilled 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.

2SA-14:15  Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing

unto my lord the king, [it is] because the people have made me

afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king;

it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

2SA-14:16  For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out

of the hand of the man [that would] destroy me and my son

together out of the inheritance of God.

2SA-14:17  Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the

king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so [is]

my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy

God will be with thee.

2SA-14:18  Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide

not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And

the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

2SA-14:19  And the king said, [Is not] the hand of Joab with

thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] thy soul

liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to

the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy

servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the

mouth of thine handmaid:

2SA-14:20  To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant

Joab done this thing: and my lord [is] wise, according to the

wisdom of an angel of God, to know all [things] that [are] in

the earth.

2SA-14:21  And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done

this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

2SA-14:22  And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed

himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant

knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king,

in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.

2SA-14:23  So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom

to Jerusalem.

2SA-14:24  And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and

let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house,

and saw not the king's face.

2SA-14:25  But in all Israel there was none to be so much

praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot

even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

2SA-14:26  And when he polled his head, (for it was at every

year's end that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on

him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at

two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

2SA-14:27  And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one

daughter, whose name [was] Tamar: she was a woman of a fair

countenance.

2SA-14:28  So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw

not the king's face.

2SA-14:29  Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to

the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again

the second time, he would not come.

2SA-14:30  Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's

field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on

fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

2SA-14:31  Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto [his] house,

 and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on

fire?

2SA-14:32  And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee,

saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say,

Wherefore am I come from Geshur? [it had been] good for me [to

have been] there still: now therefore let me see the king's face;

 and if there be [any] iniquity in me, let him kill me.

2SA-14:33  So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he

had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself

on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed

Absalom.

*2SA-15:1  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared

him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2SA-15:2  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of

the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a

controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called

unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy

servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

2SA-15:3  And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters [are] good

and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear

thee.

2SA-15:4  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in

the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come

unto me, and I would do him justice!

2SA-15:5  And it was [so], that when any man came night [to him]

to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and

kissed him.

2SA-15:6  And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came

to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men

of Israel.

2SA-15:7  And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom

said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which

I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

2SA-15:8  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in

Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to

Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

2SA-15:9  And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose,

and went to Hebron.

2SA-15:10  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of

Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet,

then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

2SA-15:11  And with Absalom went two hundred men out of

Jerusalem, [that were] called; and they went in their simplicity,

 and they knew not any thing.

2SA-15:12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's

counsellor, from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered

sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people

increased continually with Absalom.

2SA-15:13  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The

hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2SA-15:14  And David said unto all his servants that [were] with

him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not

[else] escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he

overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city

with the edge of the sword.

2SA-15:15  And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold,

thy servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my lord the king shall

appoint.

2SA-15:16  And the king went forth, and all his household after

him. And the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to

keep the house.

2SA-15:17  And the king went forth, and all the people after him,

 and tarried in a place that was far off.

2SA-15:18  And all his servants passed on beside him; and all

the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites,

six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before

the king.

2SA-15:19  Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore

goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the

king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.

2SA-15:20  Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this

day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may,

return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth [be]

with thee.

2SA-15:21  And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD

liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place

my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there

also will thy servant be.

2SA-15:22  And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai

the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little

ones that [were] with him.

2SA-15:23  And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all

the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the

brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of

the wilderness.

2SA-15:24  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] with

him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down

the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had

done passing out of the city.

2SA-15:25  And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of

God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the

LORD, he will bring me again, and show me [both] it, and his

habitation:

2SA-15:26  But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold,

 [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

2SA-15:27  The king said also unto Zadok the priest, [Art not]

thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons

with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

2SA-15:28  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness,

until there come word from you to certify me.

2SA-15:29  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God

again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

2SA-15:30  And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet,

and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went

barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every

man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

2SA-15:31  And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among

the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray

thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2SA-15:32  And it came to pass, that [when] David was come to

the top [of the mount], where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai

the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon

his head:

2SA-15:33  Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me,

then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

2SA-15:34  But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom,

I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's

servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then

mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2SA-15:35  And [hast thou] not there with thee Zadok and

Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, [that] what thing

soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell

[it] to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

2SA-15:36  Behold, [they have] there with them their two sons,

Ahimaaz Zadok's [son], and Jonathan Abiathar's [son]; and by

them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

2SA-15:37  So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and

Absalom came into Jerusalem.

*2SA-16:1  And when David was a little past the top [of the

hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a

couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of

bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of

summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2SA-16:2  And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by

these? And Ziba said, The asses [be] for the king's household to

ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat;

 and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

2SA-16:3  And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son?

And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem:

for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the

kingdom of my father.

2SA-16:4  Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all

that [pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly

beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O

king.

2SA-16:5  And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence

came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name

[was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still

as he came.

2SA-16:6  And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants

of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men [were]

on his right hand and on his left.

2SA-16:7  And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come

out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

2SA-16:8  The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the

house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD

hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and,

 behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a

bloody man.

2SA-16:9  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king,

Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over,

I pray thee, and take off his head.

2SA-16:10  And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye

sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said

unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou

done so?

2SA-16:11  And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants,

Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life:

how much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone,

and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

2SA-16:12  It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction,

and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

2SA-16:13  And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went

along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went,

 and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

2SA-16:14  And the king, and all the people that [were] with him,

 came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

2SA-16:15  And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel,

came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

2SA-16:16  And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's

friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom,

God save the king, God save the king.

2SA-16:17  And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to

thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

2SA-16:18  And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD,

and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I

be, and with him will I abide.

2SA-16:19  And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not

[serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy

father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

2SA-16:20  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among

you what we shall do.

2SA-16:21  And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy

father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and

all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then

shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

2SA-16:22  So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the

house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the

sight of all Israel.

2SA-16:23  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in

those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God:

so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with

Absalom.

*2SA-17:1  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now

choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue

after David this night:

2SA-17:2  And I will come upon him while he [is] weary and weak

handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that [are]

with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

2SA-17:3  And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the

man whom thou seekest [is] as if all returned: [so] all the

people shall be in peace.

2SA-17:4  And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the

elders of Israel.

2SA-17:5  Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also,

and let us hear likewise what he saith.

2SA-17:6  And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake

unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner:

shall we do [after] his saying? if not; speak thou.

2SA-17:7  And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that

Ahithophel hath given [is] not good at this time.

2SA-17:8  For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men,

that they [be] mighty men, and they [be] chafed in their minds,

as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father [is]

a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

2SA-17:9  Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other]

place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown

at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a

slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

2SA-17:10  And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as

the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth

that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with

him [are] valiant men.

2SA-17:11  Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally

gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that

[is] by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in

thine own person.

2SA-17:12  So shall we come upon him in some place where he

shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on

the ground: and of him and of all the men that [are] with him

there shall not be left so much as one.

2SA-17:13  Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all

Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the

river, until there be not one small stone found there.

2SA-17:14  And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The

counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of

Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good

counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring

evil upon Absalom.

2SA-17:15  Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the

priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the

elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

2SA-17:16  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying,

Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but

speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the

people that [are] with him.

2SA-17:17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they

might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and

told them; and they went and told king David.

2SA-17:18  Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but

they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house

in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went

down.

2SA-17:19  And the woman took and spread a covering over the

well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was

not known.

2SA-17:20  And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the

house, they said, Where [is] Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman

said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when

they had sought and could not find [them], they returned to

Jerusalem.

2SA-17:21  And it came to pass, after they were departed, that

they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and

said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for

thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

2SA-17:22  Then David arose, and all the people that [were] with

him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there

lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

2SA-17:23  And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not

followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to

his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and

hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his

father.

2SA-17:24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over

Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

2SA-17:25  And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of

Joab: which Amasa [was] a man's son, whose name [was] Ithra an

Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash,

sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

2SA-17:26  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

2SA-17:27  And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim,

that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon,

and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the

Gileadite of Rogelim,

2SA-17:28  Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and

wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and

lentiles, and parched [pulse],

2SA-17:29  And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine,

for David, and for the people that [were] with him, to eat: for

they said, The people [is] hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in

the wilderness.

*2SA-18:1  And David numbered the people that [were] with him,

and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2SA-18:2  And David sent forth a third part of the people under

the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the

son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand

of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will

surely go forth with you myself also.

2SA-18:3  But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for

if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of

us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten

thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour

us out of the city.

2SA-18:4  And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I

will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people

came out by hundreds and by thousands.

2SA-18:5  And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai,

saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even]

with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all

the captains charge concerning Absalom.

2SA-18:6  So the people went out into the field against Israel:

and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

2SA-18:7  Where the people of Israel were slain before the

servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that

day of twenty thousand [men].

2SA-18:8  For the battle was there scattered over the face of

all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than

the sword devoured.

2SA-18:9  And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom

rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a

great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken

up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was]

under him went away.

2SA-18:10  And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said,

Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

2SA-18:11  And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold,

 thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to

the ground? And I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver,

and a girdle.

2SA-18:12  And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a

thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put

forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the

king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that

none [touch] the young man Absalom.

2SA-18:13  Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against

mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and

thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me].

2SA-18:14  Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And

he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the

heart of Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the

oak.

2SA-18:15  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed

about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

2SA-18:16  And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned

from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

2SA-18:17  And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit

in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and

all Israel fled every one to his tent.

2SA-18:18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up

for himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he said,

 I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the

pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day,

Absalom's place.

2SA-18:19  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run,

and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of

his enemies.

2SA-18:20  And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings

this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day

thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

2SA-18:21  Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou

hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

2SA-18:22  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab,

But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And

Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou

hast no tidings ready?

2SA-18:23  But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said

unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and

overran Cushi.

2SA-18:24  And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman

went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up

his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

2SA-18:25  And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the

king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth.

And he came apace, and drew near.

2SA-18:26  And the watchman saw another man running: and the

watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man

running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

2SA-18:27  And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the

foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And

the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

2SA-18:28  And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is

well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the

king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath

delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord

the king.

2SA-18:29  And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And

Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and [me]

thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].

2SA-18:30  And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand

here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

2SA-18:31  And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my

lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all

them that rose up against thee.

2SA-18:32  And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man

Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the

king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as

[that] young man [is].

2SA-18:33  And the king was much moved, and went up to the

chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O

my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for

thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

*2SA-19:1  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and

mourneth for Absalom.

2SA-19:2  And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning

unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the

king was grieved for his son.

2SA-19:3  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the

city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in

battle.

2SA-19:4  But the king covered his face, and the king cried with

a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

2SA-19:5  And Joab came into the house to the king, and said,

Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which

this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of

thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy

concubines;

2SA-19:6  In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy

friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest

neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if

Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had

pleased thee well.

2SA-19:7  Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably

unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth,

 there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be

worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy

youth until now.

2SA-19:8  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they

told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in

the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel

had fled every man to his tent.

2SA-19:9  And all the people were at strife throughout all the

tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of

our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the

Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

2SA-19:10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in

battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the

king back?

2SA-19:11  And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the

priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are

ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the

speech of all Israel is come to the king, [even] to his house.

2SA-19:12  Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh:

wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

2SA-19:13  And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and

of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not

captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

2SA-19:14  And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even

as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] unto

the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

2SA-19:15  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah

came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over

Jordan.

2SA-19:16  And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which [was]

of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet

king David.

2SA-19:17  And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin with him,

and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons

and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan

before the king.

2SA-19:18  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the

king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the

son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over

Jordan;

2SA-19:19  And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute

iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy

servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of

Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

2SA-19:20  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned:

therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house

of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

2SA-19:21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said,

Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the

LORD'S anointed?

2SA-19:22  And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons

of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me?

shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do

not I know that I [am] this day king over Israel?

2SA-19:23  Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not

die. And the king sware unto him.

2SA-19:24  And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet

the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his

beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed

until the day he came [again] in peace.

2SA-19:25  And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to

meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest

not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

2SA-19:26  And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived

me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may

ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.

2SA-19:27  And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the

king; but my lord the king [is] as an angel of God: do therefore

[what is] good in thine eyes.

2SA-19:28  For all [of] my father's house were but dead men

before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among

them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have

I yet to cry any more unto the king?

2SA-19:29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any

more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

2SA-19:30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him

take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace

unto his own house.

2SA-19:31  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim,

and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

2SA-19:32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even] fourscore

years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he

lay at Mahanaim; for he [was] a very great man.

2SA-19:33  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with

me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

2SA-19:34  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to

live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

2SA-19:35  I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I

discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat

or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men

and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a

burden unto my lord the king?

2SA-19:36  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the

king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a

reward?

2SA-19:37  Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I

may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my

father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him

go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem

good unto thee.

2SA-19:38  And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me,

and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and

whatsoever thou shalt require of me, [that] will I do for thee.

2SA-19:39  And all the people went over Jordan. And when the

king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him;

and he returned unto his own place.

2SA-19:40  Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on

with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and

also half the people of Israel.

2SA-19:41  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king,

and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah

stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household,

and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

2SA-19:42  And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,

Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye

angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's

[cost]? or hath he given us any gift?

2SA-19:43  And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and

said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more

[right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our

advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And

the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the

men of Israel.

*2SA-20:1  And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose

name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a

trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we

inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O

Israel.

2SA-20:2  So every man of Israel went up from after David, [and]

followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave

unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

2SA-20:3  And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king

took the ten women [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep

the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in

unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death,

living in widowhood.

2SA-20:4  Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of

Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

2SA-20:5  So Amasa went to assemble [the men of] Judah: but he

tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

2SA-20:6  And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of

Bichri do us more harm than [did] Absalom: take thou thy lord's

servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities,

and escape us.

2SA-20:7  And there went out after him Joab's men, and the

Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and

they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of

Bichri.

2SA-20:8  When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in

Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had

put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword

fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went

forth it fell out.

2SA-20:9  And Joab said to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my

brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to

kiss him.

2SA-20:10  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in

Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and

shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and

he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the

son of Bichri.

2SA-20:11  And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that

favoureth Joab, and he that [is] for David, [let him go] after

Joab.

2SA-20:12  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the

highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still,

he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a

cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him

stood still.

2SA-20:13  When he was removed out of the highway, all the

people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of

Bichri.

2SA-20:14  And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto

Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were

gathered together, and went also after him.

2SA-20:15  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah,

 and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the

trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab battered the

wall, to throw it down.

2SA-20:16  Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear;

say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak

with thee.

2SA-20:17  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said,

[Art] thou Joab? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto

him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do

hear.

2SA-20:18  Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in

old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and

so they ended [the matter].

2SA-20:19  I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful

in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel:

 why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

2SA-20:20  And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from

me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

2SA-20:21  The matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ephraim,

Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against

the king, [even] against David: deliver him only, and I will

depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his

head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

2SA-20:22  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom.

 And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast

[it] out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from

the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem

unto the king.

2SA-20:23  Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over

the Pelethites:

2SA-20:24  And Adoram [was] over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat

the son of Ahilud [was] recorder:

2SA-20:25  And Sheva [was] scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar [were]

the priests:

2SA-20:26  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about

David.

*2SA-21:1  Then there was a famine in the days of David three

years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the

LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house,

because he slew the Gibeonites.

2SA-21:2  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them;

 (now the Gibeonites [were] not of the children of Israel, but

of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had

sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the

children of Israel and Judah.)

2SA-21:3  Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I

do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye

may bless the inheritance of the LORD?

2SA-21:4  And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no

silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt

thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say,

[that] will I do for you.

2SA-21:5  And they answered the king, The man that consumed us,

and that devised against us [that] we should be destroyed from

remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

2SA-21:6  Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we

will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the

LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

2SA-21:7  But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan

the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that [was] between

them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

2SA-21:8  But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter

of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and

the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought

up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

2SA-21:9  And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites,

 and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell

[all] seven together, and were put to death in the days of

harvest, in the first [days], in the beginning of barley harvest.

2SA-21:10  And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and

spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest

until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered

neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the

beasts of the field by night.

2SA-21:11  And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of

Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

2SA-21:12  And David went and took the bones of Saul and the

bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which

had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the

Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul

in Gilboa:

2SA-21:13  And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and

the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of

them that were hanged.

2SA-21:14  And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried

they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of

Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded.

And after that God was entreated for the land.

2SA-21:15  Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with

Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and

fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

2SA-21:16  And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant,

the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of

brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to

have slain David.

2SA-21:17  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and

smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David

sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to

battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

2SA-21:18  And it came to pass after this, that there was again

a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the

Hushathite slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

2SA-21:19  And there was again a battle in Gob with the

Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a

Bethlehemite, slew [the brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the

staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver's beam.

2SA-21:20  And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man

of [great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on

every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was

born to the giant.

2SA-21:21  And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of

Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

2SA-21:22  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell

by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

*2SA-22:1  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song

in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of

all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2SA-22:2  And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress,

and my deliverer;

2SA-22:3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my

shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my

refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2SA-22:4  I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised:

 so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

2SA-22:5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of

ungodly men made me afraid;

2SA-22:6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of

death prevented me;

2SA-22:7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my

God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry [did

enter] into his ears.

2SA-22:8  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of

heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

2SA-22:9  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire

out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

2SA-22:10  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and

darkness [was] under his feet.

2SA-22:11  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was

seen upon the wings of the wind.

2SA-22:12  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark

waters, [and] thick clouds of the skies.

2SA-22:13  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire

kindled.

2SA-22:14  The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High

uttered his voice.

2SA-22:15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning,

 and discomfited them.

2SA-22:16  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations

of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at

the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

2SA-22:17  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of

many waters;

2SA-22:18  He delivered me from my strong enemy, [and] from them

that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

2SA-22:19  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the

LORD was my stay.

2SA-22:20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he

delivered me, because he delighted in me.

2SA-22:21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness:

according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

2SA-22:22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not

wickedly departed from my God.

2SA-22:23  For all his judgments [were] before me: and [as for]

his statutes, I did not depart from them.

2SA-22:24  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself

from mine iniquity.

2SA-22:25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to

my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

2SA-22:26  With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful,

[and] with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

2SA-22:27  With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with

the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury.

2SA-22:28  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine

eyes [are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them]

down.

2SA-22:29  For thou [art] my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will

lighten my darkness.

2SA-22:30  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God

have I leaped over a wall.

2SA-22:31  [As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the

LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him.

2SA-22:32  For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock,

save our God?

2SA-22:33  God [is] my strength [and] power: And he maketh my

way perfect.

2SA-22:34  He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet]: and setteth me

upon my high places.

2SA-22:35  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel

is broken by mine arms.

2SA-22:36  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:

and thy gentleness hath made me great.

2SA-22:37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet

did not slip.

2SA-22:38  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and

turned not again until I had consumed them.

2SA-22:39  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they

could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

2SA-22:40  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them

that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

2SA-22:41  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,

that I might destroy them that hate me.

2SA-22:42  They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even]

unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

2SA-22:43  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the

earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, [and] did

spread them abroad.

2SA-22:44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my

people, thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people

[which] I knew not shall serve me.

2SA-22:45  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as

they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

2SA-22:46  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid

out of their close places.

2SA-22:47  The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and

exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

2SA-22:48  It [is] God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down

the people under me,

2SA-22:49  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou

also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against

me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

2SA-22:50  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among

the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

2SA-22:51  [He is] the tower of salvation for his king: and

showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for

evermore.

*2SA-23:1  Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son

of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the

anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel,

said,

2SA-23:2  The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was]

in my tongue.

2SA-23:3  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me,

 He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of

God.

2SA-23:4  And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when]

the sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender

grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

2SA-23:5  Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath

made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things],

and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire,

although he make [it] not to grow.

2SA-23:6  But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as

thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

2SA-23:7  But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced

with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly

burned with fire in the [same] place.

2SA-23:8  These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had:

The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains;

the same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against

eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

2SA-23:9  And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the

Ahohite, [one] of the three mighty men with David, when they

defied the Philistines [that] were there gathered together to

battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

2SA-23:10  He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand

was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD

wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after

him only to spoil.

2SA-23:11  And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the

Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a

troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the

people fled from the Philistines.

2SA-23:12  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended

it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great

victory.

2SA-23:13  And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to

David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the

troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

2SA-23:14  And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of

the Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.

2SA-23:15  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me

drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the

gate!

2SA-23:16  And the three mighty men brake through the host of

the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem,

that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to David:

 nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto

the LORD.

2SA-23:17  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should

do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in

jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These

things did these three mighty men.

2SA-23:18  And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,

was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three

hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.

2SA-23:19  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was

their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.

2SA-23:20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant

man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike

men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a

pit in time of snow:

2SA-23:21  And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the

Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a

staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and

slew him with his own spear.

2SA-23:22  These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and

had the name among three mighty men.

2SA-23:23  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he

attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his

guard.

2SA-23:24  Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty;

Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

2SA-23:25  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

2SA-23:26  Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

2SA-23:27  Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

2SA-23:28  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

2SA-23:29  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the

son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

2SA-23:30  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of

Gaash,

2SA-23:31  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

2SA-23:32  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan,

2SA-23:33  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the

Hararite,

2SA-23:34  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the

Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2SA-23:35  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

2SA-23:36  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

2SA-23:37  Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite,

armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

2SA-23:38  Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

2SA-23:39  Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

*2SA-24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against

Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number

Israel and Judah.

2SA-24:2  For the king said to Joab the captain of the host,

which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel,

from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may

know the number of the people.

2SA-24:3  And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add

unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and

that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my

lord the king delight in this thing?

2SA-24:4  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab,

 and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains

of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number

the people of Israel.

2SA-24:5  And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on

the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the

river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

2SA-24:6  Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of

Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

2SA-24:7  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the

cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out

to the south of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.

2SA-24:8  So when they had gone through all the land, they came

to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

2SA-24:9  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people

unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand

valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were]

five hundred thousand men.

2SA-24:10  And David's heart smote him after that he had

numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned

greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD,

take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very

foolishly.

2SA-24:11  For when David was up in the morning, the word of the

LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

2SA-24:12  Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer

thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it]

unto thee.

2SA-24:13  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him,

 Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt

thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue

thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now

advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

2SA-24:14  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let

us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are]

great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

2SA-24:15  So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the

morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people

from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

2SA-24:16  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon

Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and

said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay

now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the

threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

2SA-24:17  And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel

that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have

done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine

hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

2SA-24:18  And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go

up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah

the Jebusite.

2SA-24:19  And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as

the LORD commanded.

2SA-24:20  And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants

coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself

before the king on his face upon the ground.

2SA-24:21  And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come

to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of

thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be

stayed from the people.

2SA-24:22  And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king

take and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here

be] oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and

[other] instruments of the oxen for wood.

2SA-24:23  All these [things] did Araunah, [as] a king, give

unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God

accept thee.

2SA-24:24  And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will

surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt

offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me

nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for

fifty shekels of silver.

2SA-24:25  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and

offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was

entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.



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