11  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  .

12  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  .

13  And David said unto him From whence comest thou And he said

unto him Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped  .

14  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  .

15  And David said unto the young man that told him How knowest

thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead  .

16  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  .

17  And when he looked behind him he saw me and called unto me

And I answered Here am I  .

18  And he said unto me Who art thou And I answered him I am an

Amalekite  .

19  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  .

110  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  .

111  Then David took hold on his clothes and rent them and

likewise all the men that were with him  .

112  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  .

113  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  .

114  And David said unto him How wast thou not afraid to stretch

forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed  .

115  And David called one of the young men and said Go near and

fall upon him And he smote him that he died  .

116  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  .

117  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over

Jonathan his son  .

118  Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of

the bow behold it is written in the book of Jasher  .

119  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places how are

the mighty fallen  .

120  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  .

121  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  .

122  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  .

123  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  .

124  Ye daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in

scarlet with other delights who put on ornaments of gold upon

your apparel  .

125  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle O

Jonathan thou wast slain in thine high places  .

126  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  .

127  How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished  .

* 21  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  .

22  So David went up thither and his two wives also Ahinoam the

Jezreelitess and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite  .

23  And his men that were with him did David bring up every man

with his household and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron  .

24  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  .

25  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  

.

26  And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you and I also

will requite you this kindness because ye have done this thing  .

27  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  .

28  But Abner the son of Ner captain of Saul's host took

Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim  .

29  And made him king over Gilead and over the Ashurites and

over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all

Israel  .

210  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  .

211  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house

of Judah was seven years and six months  .

212  And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ishbosheth the

son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon  .

213  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  .

214  And Abner said to Joab Let the young men now arise and play

before us And Joab said Let them arise  .

215  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  .

216  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  .

217  And there was a very sore battle that day and Abner was

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

218  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there Joab and Abishai

and Asahel and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe  .

219  And Asahel pursued after Abner and in going he turned not

to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner  .

220  Then Abner looked behind him and said Art thou Asahel And

he answered I am  .

221  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  .

222  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  .

223  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  .

224  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  .

225  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together

after Abner and became one troop and stood on the top of an hill

 .

226  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  .

227  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  .

228  So Joab blew a trumpet and all the people stood still and

pursued after Israel no more neither fought they any more  .

229  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  .

230  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  .

231  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and of

Abner's men so that three hundred and threescore men died  .

232  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  .

* 31  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  .

32  And unto David were sons born in Hebron and his firstborn

was Amnon of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess  .

33  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  .

34  And the fourth Adonijah the son of Haggith and the fifth

Shephatiah the son of Abital  .

35  And the sixth Ithream by Eglah David's wife These were born

to David in Hebron  .

36  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  .

37  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  .

38  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  .

39  So do God to Abner and more also except as the LORD hath

sworn to David even so I do to him  .

310  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  .

311  And he could not answer Abner a word again because he

feared him  .

312  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  .

313  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  .

314  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  .

315  And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband even from

Phaltiel the son of Laish  .

316  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to

Bahurim Then said Abner unto him Go return And he returned  .

317  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel

saying Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you  .

318  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  .

319  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  .

320  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  .

321  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  .

322  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  .

323  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  .

324  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  .

325  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  .

326  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  .

327  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  .

328  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  .

329  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  .

330  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had

slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle  .

331  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  .

332  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  .

333  And the king lamented over Abner and said Died Abner as a

fool dieth  .

334  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  .

335  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  .

336  And all the people took notice of it and it pleased them as

whatsoever the king did pleased all the people  .

337  For all the people and all Israel understood that day that

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

338  And the king said unto his servants Know ye not that there

is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel  .

339  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  .

* 41  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron

his hands were feeble and all the Israelites were troubled  .

42  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  .

43  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and were sojourners

there until this day  .

44  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  .

45  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  .

46  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  .

47  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  .

48  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  .

49  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  .

410  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  .

411  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  .

412  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  .

* 51  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron

and spake saying Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh  .

52  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  .

53  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  .

54  David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he

reigned forty years  .

55  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  .

56  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  .

57  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion the same is

the city of David  .

58  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  .

59  So David dwelt in the fort and called it the city of David

And David built round about from Millo and inward  .

510  And David went on and grew great and the LORD God of hosts

was with him  .

511  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David and cedar

trees and carpenters and masons and they built David an house  .

512  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  .

513  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  .

514  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in

Jerusalem Shammuah and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon  .

515  Ibhar also and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia  .

516  And Elishama and Eliada and Eliphalet  .

517  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  .

518  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the

valley of Rephaim  .

519  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  .

520  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  .

521  And there they left their images and David and his men

burned them  .

522  And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves

in the valley of Rephaim  .

523  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  .

524  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  .

525  And David did so as the LORD had commanded him and smote

the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer  .

* 61  Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel

thirty thousand  .

62  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  .

63  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  .

64  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  .

65  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  .

66  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  .

67  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  .

68  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  .

69  And David was afraid of the LORD that day and said How shall

the ark of the LORD come to me  .

610  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  .

611  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  .

612  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  .

613  And it was so that when they that bare the ark of the LORD

had gone six paces he sacrificed oxen and fatlings  .

614  And David danced before the LORD with all his might and

David was girded with a linen ephod  .

615  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of

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

616  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  .

617  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  .

618  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  .

619  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  .

620  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  .

621  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  .

622  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  .

623  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the

day of her death  .

* 71  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  .

72  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

 .

73  And Nathan said to the king Go do all that is in thine heart

for the LORD is with thee  .

74  And it came to pass that night that the word of the LORD

came unto Nathan saying  .

75  Go and tell my servant David Thus saith the LORD Shalt thou

build me an house for me to dwell in  .

76  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  .

77  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  .

78  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  .

79  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  .

710  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  .

711  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  .

712  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  .

713  He shall build an house for my name and I will stablish the

throne of his kingdom for ever  .

714  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  .

715  But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I took it

from Saul whom I put away before thee  .

716  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for

ever before thee thy throne shall be established for ever  .

717  According to all these words and according to all this

vision so did Nathan speak unto David  .

718  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  .

719  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  .

720  And what can David say more unto thee for thou Lord GOD

knowest thy servant  .

721  For thy word's sake and according to thine own heart hast

thou done all these great things to make thy servant know them  .

722  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  .

723  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  .

724  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be

a people unto thee for ever and thou LORD art become their God  .

725  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  .

726  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  .

727  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  .

728  And now O Lord GOD thou art that God and thy words be true

and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant  .

729  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  .

* 81  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  .

82  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  .

83  David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah as

he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates  .

84  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  .

85  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer

king of Zobah David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand

men  .

86  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  .

87  And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants

of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem  .

88  And from Betah and from Berothai cities of Hadadezer king

David took exceeding much brass  .

89  When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the

host of Hadadezer  .

810  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  .

811  Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD with the

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

subdued  .

812  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  .

813  And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of

the Syrians in the valley of salt being eighteen thousand men  .

814  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  .

815  And David reigned over all Israel and David executed

judgment and justice unto all his people  .

816  And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host and

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder  .

817  And Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of

Abiathar were the priests and Seraiah was the scribe  .

818  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the

Cherethites and the Pelethites and David's sons were chief

rulers  .

* 91  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  .

92  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  .

93  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  .

94  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  .

95  Then king David sent and fetched him out of the house of

Machir the son of Ammiel from Lodebar  .

96  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  .

97  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  .

98  And he bowed himself and said What is thy servant that thou

shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am  .

99  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  .

910  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  .

911  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  .

912  And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha And

all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto

Mephibosheth  .

913  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem for he did eat

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

* 101  And it came to pass after this that the king of the

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

102  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  .

103  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  .

104  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  .

105  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  .

106  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  .

107  And when David heard of it he sent Joab and all the host of

the mighty men  .

108  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  .

109  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  .

1010  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  .

1011  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  .

1012  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  .

1013  And Joab drew nigh and the people that were with him unto

the battle against the Syrians and they fled before him  .

1014  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  .

1015  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before

Israel they gathered themselves together  .

1016  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  .

1017  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  .

1018  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  .

1019  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  .

* 111  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  .

112  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  .

113  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  .

114  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  .

115  And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said I

am with child  .

116  And David sent to Joab saying Send me Uriah the Hittite And

Joab sent Uriah to David  .

117  And when Uriah was come unto him David demanded of him how

Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered  .

118  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  .

119  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  .

1110  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  .

1111  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  .

1112  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  .

1113  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

 .

1114  And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a

letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah  .

1115  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  .

1116  And it came to pass when Joab observed the city that he

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

.

1117  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  .

1118  Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning

the war  .

1119  And charged the messenger saying When thou hast made an

end of telling the matters of the war unto the king  .

1120  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  .

1121  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  .

1122  So the messenger went and came and showed David all that

Joab had sent him for  .

1123  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  .

1124  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  .

1125  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  .

1126  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband

was dead she mourned for her husband  .

1127  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  .

* 121  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  .

122  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds  .

123  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  

.

124  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  .

125  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  .

126  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this

thing and because he had no pity  .

127  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  .

128  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  .

129  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  .

1210  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  .

1211  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  .

1212  For thou didst it secretly but I will do this thing before

all Israel and before the sun  .

1213  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  .

1214  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  .

1215  And Nathan departed unto his house And the LORD struck the

child that Uriah's wife bare unto David and it was very sick  .

1216  David therefore besought God for the child and David

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

1217  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  .

1218  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  .

1219  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  .

1220  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  .

1221  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  .

1222  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  .

1223  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  .

1224  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  .

1225  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet and he

called his name Jedidiah because of the LORD  .

1226  And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon

and took the royal city  .

1227  And Joab sent messengers to David and said I have fought

against Rabbah and have taken the city of waters  .

1228  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  .

1229  And David gathered all the people together and went to

Rabbah and fought against it and took it  .

1230  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  .

1231  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  .

* 131  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  .

132  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  .

133  But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of

Shimeah David's brother and Jonadab was a very subtle man  .

134  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  .

135  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  .

136  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  .

137  Then David sent home to Tamar saying Go now to thy brother

Amnon's house and dress him meat  .

138  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  .

139  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  .

1310  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  

.

1311  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  .

1312  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  .

1313  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  .

1314  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice but being

stronger than she forced her and lay with her  .

1315  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  .

1316  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  .

1317  Then he called his servant that ministered unto him and

said Put now this woman out from me and bolt the door after her  

.

1318  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  .

1319  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  .

1320  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  .

1321  But when king David heard of all these things he was very

wroth  .

1322  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor

bad for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister

Tamar  .

1323  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  .

1324  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  .

1325  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  .

1326  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

 .

1327  But Absalom pressed him that he let Amnon and all the

king's sons go with him  .

1328  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  .

1329  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  .

1330  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  .

1331  Then the king arose and tare his garments and lay on the

earth and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent  .

1332  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  .

1333  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  .

1334  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  .

1335  And Jonadab said unto the king Behold the king's sons come

as thy servant said so it is  .

1336  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  .

1337  But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud

king of Geshur And David mourned for his son every day  .

1338  So Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three

years  .

1339  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom

for he was comforted concerning Amnon seeing he was dead  .

* 141  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's

heart was toward Absalom  .

142  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  .

143  And come to the king and speak on this manner unto him So

Joab put the words in her mouth  .

144  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  .

145  And the king said unto her What aileth thee And she

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

146  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  .

147  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  .

148  And the king said unto the woman Go to thine house and I

will give charge concerning thee  .

149  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  .

1410  And the king said Whosoever saith ought unto thee bring

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

1411  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  .

1412  Then the woman said Let thine handmaid I pray thee speak

one word unto my lord the king And he said Say on  .

1413  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  .

1414  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  .

1415  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  .

1416  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  .

1417  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  .

1418  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  .

1419  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  .

1420  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  .

1421  And the king said unto Joab Behold now I have done this

thing go therefore bring the young man Absalom again  .

1422  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  .

1423  So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to

Jerusalem  .

1424  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  .

1425  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  .

1426  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  .

1427  And unto Absalom there were born three sons and one

daughter whose name was Tamar she was a woman of a fair

countenance  .

1428  So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem and saw not

the king's face  .

1429  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  .

1430  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  .

1431  Then Joab arose and came to Absalom unto his house and

said unto him Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire  .

1432  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  .

1433  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  .

* 151  And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared him

chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him  .

152  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  .

153  And Absalom said unto him See thy matters are good and

right but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee  .

154  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  .

155  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  .

156  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  .

157  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  .

158  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  .

159  And the king said unto him Go in peace So he arose and went

to Hebron  .

1510  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  .

1511  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  .

1512  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  .

1513  And there came a messenger to David saying The hearts of

the men of Israel are after Absalom  .

1514  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  .

1515  And the king's servants said unto the king Behold thy

servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall

appoint  .

1516  And the king went forth and all his household after him

And the king left ten women which were concubines to keep the

house  .

1517  And the king went forth and all the people after him and

tarried in a place that was far off  .

1518  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  .

1519  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  .

1520  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  .

1521  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  .

1522  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  .

1523  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  .

1524  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  .

1525  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  .

1526  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  .

1527  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  .

1528  See I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until

there come word from you to certify me  .

1529  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again

to Jerusalem and they tarried there  .

1530  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  .

1531  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  .

1532  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  .

1533  Unto whom David said If thou passest on with me then thou

shalt be a burden unto me  .

1534  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  .

1535  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  .

1536  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  .

1537  So Hushai David's friend came into the city and Absalom

came into Jerusalem  .

* 161  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  .

162  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  .

163  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  .

164  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  .

165  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  .

166  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  .

167  And thus said Shimei when he cursed Come out come out thou

bloody man and thou man of Belial  .

168  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  .

169  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  .

1610  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  .

1611  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  .

1612  It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction and

that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day  .

1613  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  .

1614  And the king and all the people that were with him came

weary and refreshed themselves there  .

1615  And Absalom and all the people the men of Israel came to

Jerusalem and Ahithophel with him  .

1616  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  .

1617  And Absalom said to Hushai Is this thy kindness to thy

friend why wentest thou not with thy friend  .

1618  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  .

1619  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  .

1620  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel Give counsel among you

what we shall do  .

1621  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  .

1622  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  .

1623  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  .

* 171  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom Let me now choose

out twelve thousand men and I will arise and pursue after David

this night  .

172  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  .

173  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  .

174  And the saying pleased Absalom well and all the elders of

Israel  .

175  Then said Absalom Call now Hushai the Archite also and let

us hear likewise what he saith  .

176  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  .

177  And Hushai said unto Absalom The counsel that Ahithophel

hath given is not good at this time  .

178  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  .

179  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  .

1710  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  .

1711  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

 .

1712  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  .

1713  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  .

1714  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  .

1715  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  .

1716  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  .

1717  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  .

1718  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  .

1719  And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's

mouth and spread ground corn thereon and the thing was not known

 .

1720  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  .

1721  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  .

1722  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  .

1723  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  .

1724  Then David came to Mahanaim And Absalom passed over Jordan

he and all the men of Israel with him  .

1725  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  .

1726  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead  .

1727  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  .

1728  Brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and

barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentiles and

parched pulse  .

1729  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  .

* 181  And David numbered the people that were with him and set

captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them  .

182  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  .

183  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  

.

184  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  .

185  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  .

186  So the people went out into the field against Israel and

the battle was in the wood of Ephraim  .

187  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  .

188  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  .

189  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  .

1810  And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said Behold I

saw Absalom hanged in an oak  .

1811  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  .

1812  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  .

1813  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  .

1814  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  .

1815  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about

and smote Absalom and slew him  .

1816  And Joab blew the trumpet and the people returned from

pursuing after Israel for Joab held back the people  .

1817  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  .

1818  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  .

1819  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  .

1820  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  .

1821  Then said Joab to Cushi Go tell the king what thou hast

seen And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab and ran  .

1822  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  .

1823  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  .

1824  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  .

1825  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  .

1826  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  .

1827  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  .

1828  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  .

1829  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  .

1830  And the king said unto him Turn aside and stand here And

he turned aside and stood still  .

1831  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  .

1832  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  .

1833  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  .

* 191  And it was told Joab Behold the king weepeth and mourneth

for Absalom  .

192  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  .

193  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city

as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle  .

194  But the king covered his face and the king cried with a

loud voice O my son Absalom O Absalom my son my son  .

195  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  .

196  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

 .

197  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

 .

198  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  .

199  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  .

1910  And Absalom whom we anointed over us is dead in battle Now

therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back  .

1911  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  .

1912  Ye are my brethren ye are my bones and my flesh wherefore

then are ye the last to bring back the king  .

1913  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  .

1914  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  .

1915  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  .

1916  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  .

1917  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  .

1918  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  .

1919  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  .

1920  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  .

1921  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  .

1922  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  .

1923  Therefore the king said unto Shimei Thou shalt not die And

the king sware unto him  .

1924  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  .

1925  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  .

1926  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  .

1927  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  .

1928  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  .

1929  And the king said unto him Why speakest thou any more of

thy matters I have said Thou and Ziba divide the land  .

1930  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  .

1931  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and

went over Jordan with the king to conduct him over Jordan  .

1932  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  .

1933  And the king said unto Barzillai Come thou over with me

and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem  .

1934  And Barzillai said unto the king How long have I to live

that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem  .

1935  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  .

1936  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king

and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward  .

1937  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  .

1938  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  .

1939  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  .

1940  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  .

1941  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  .

1942  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  .

1943  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  .

* 201  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  .

202  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  .

203  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  .

204  Then said the king to Amasa Assemble me the men of Judah

within three days and be thou here present  .

205  So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried

longer than the set time which he had appointed him  .

206  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

 .

207  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  .

208  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

 .

209  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  .

2010  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  .

2011  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  .

2012  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  .

2013  When he was removed out of the highway all the people went

on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri  .

2014  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  .

2015  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  .

2016  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  .

2017  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  .

2018  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  .

2019  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  .

2020  And Joab answered and said Far be it far be it from me

that I should swallow up or destroy  .

2021  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  .

2022  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  .

2023  Now Joab was over all the host of Israel and Benaiah the

son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites

 .

2024  And Adoram was over the tribute and Jehoshaphat the son of

Ahilud was recorder  .

2025  And Sheva was scribe and Zadok and Abiathar were the

priests  .

2026  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David  .

* 211  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  .

212  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  .

213  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  .

214  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  .

215  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  .

216  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  .

217  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  .

218  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  .

219  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  .

2110  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  .

2111  And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah the

concubine of Saul had done  .

2112  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  .

2113  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  .

2114  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  .

2115  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  .

2116  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  .

2117  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  .

2118  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  .

2119  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  .

2120  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  .

2121  And when he defied Israel Jonathan the son of Shimeah the

brother of David slew him  .

2122  These four were born to the giant in Gath and fell by the

hand of David and by the hand of his servants  .

* 221  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  .

222  And he said The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my

deliverer  .

223  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  .

224  I will call on the LORD who is worthy to be praised so

shall I be saved from mine enemies  .

225  When the waves of death compassed me the floods of ungodly

men made me afraid  .

226  The sorrows of hell compassed me about the snares of death

prevented me  .

227  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  .

228  Then the earth shook and trembled the foundations of heaven

moved and shook because he was wroth  .

229  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils and fire out of

his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it  .

2210  He bowed the heavens also and came down and darkness was

under his feet  .

2211  And he rode upon a cherub and did fly and he was seen upon

the wings of the wind  .

2212  And he made darkness pavilions round about him dark waters

and thick clouds of the skies  .

2213  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire

kindled  .

2214  The LORD thundered from heaven and the most High uttered

his voice  .

2215  And he sent out arrows and scattered them lightning and

discomfited them  .

2216  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  .

2217  He sent from above he took me he drew me out of many

waters  .

2218  He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them that

hated me for they were too strong for me  .

2219  They prevented me in the day of my calamity but the LORD

was my stay  .

2220  He brought me forth also into a large place he delivered

me because he delighted in me  .

2221  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness

according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me  .

2222  For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly

departed from my God  .

2223  For all his judgments were before me and as for his

statutes I did not depart from them  .

2224  I was also upright before him and have kept myself from

mine iniquity  .

2225  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my

righteousness according to my cleanness in his eye sight  .

2226  With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful and with

the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright  .

2227  With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure and with the

froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury  .

2228  And the afflicted people thou wilt save but thine eyes are

upon the haughty that thou mayest bring them down  .

2229  For thou art my lamp O LORD and the LORD will lighten my

darkness  .

2230  For by thee I have run through a troop by my God have I

leaped over a wall  .

2231  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  .

2232  For who is God save the LORD and who is a rock save our

God  .

2233  God is my strength and power And he maketh my way perfect  

.

2234  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon my

high places  .

2235  He teacheth my hands to war so that a bow of steel is

broken by mine arms  .

2236  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation and

thy gentleness hath made me great  .

2237  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me so that my feet did

not slip  .

2238  I have pursued mine enemies and destroyed them and turned

not again until I had consumed them  .

2239  And I have consumed them and wounded them that they could

not arise yea they are fallen under my feet  .

2240  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle them that

rose up against me hast thou subdued under me  .

2241  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies that I

might destroy them that hate me  .

2242  They looked but there was none to save even unto the LORD

but he answered them not  .

2243  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  .

2244  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  .

2245  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me as soon as they

hear they shall be obedient unto me  .

2246  Strangers shall fade away and they shall be afraid out of

their close places  .

2247  The LORD liveth and blessed be my rock and exalted be the

God of the rock of my salvation  .

2248  It is God that avengeth me and that bringeth down the

people under me  .

2249  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  .

2250  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee O LORD among the

heathen and I will sing praises unto thy name  .

2251  He is the tower of salvation for his king and showeth

mercy to his anointed unto David and to his seed for evermore  .

* 231  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  .

232  The spirit of the LORD spake by me and his word was in my

tongue  .

233  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  .

234  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  .

235  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  .

236  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns

thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands  .

237  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  .

238  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  .

239  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  .

2310  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  .

2311  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  .

2312  But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it

and slew the Philistines and the LORD wrought a great victory  .

2313  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  .

2314  And David was then in an hold and the garrison of the

Philistines was then in Bethlehem  .

2315  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  .

2316  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  .

2317  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  .

2318  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  .

2319  Was he not most honourable of three therefore he was their

captain howbeit he attained not unto the first three  .

2320  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  .

2321  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  .

2322  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and had the

name among three mighty men  .

2323  He was more honourable than the thirty but he attained not

to the first three And David set him over his guard  .

2324  Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty Elhanan

the son of Dodo of Bethlehem  .

2325  Shammah the Harodite Elika the Harodite  .

2326  Helez the Paltite Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite  .

2327  Abiezer the Anethothite Mebunnai the Hushathite  .

2328  Zalmon the Ahohite Maharai the Netophathite  .

2329  Heleb the son of Baanah a Netophathite Ittai the son of

Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin  .

2330  Benaiah the Pirathonite Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash  .

2331  Abialbon the Arbathite Azmaveth the Barhumite  .

2332  Eliahba the Shaalbonite of the sons of Jashen Jonathan  .

2333  Shammah the Hararite Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite  

.

2334  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai the son of the Maachathite

Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite  .

2335  Hezrai the Carmelite Paarai the Arbite  .

2336  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah Bani the Gadite  .

2337  Zelek the Ammonite Nahari the Beerothite armourbearer to

Joab the son of Zeruiah  .

2338  Ira an Ithrite Gareb an Ithrite  .

2339  Uriah the Hittite thirty and seven in all  .

* 241  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against

Israel and he moved David against them to say Go number Israel

and Judah  .

242  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  .

243  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  .

244  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  .

245  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  .

246  Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtimhodshi

and they came to Danjaan and about to Zidon  .

247  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  .

248  So when they had gone through all the land they came to

Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days  .

249  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  .

2410  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  .

2411  For when David was up in the morning the word of the LORD

came unto the prophet Gad David's seer saying  .

2412  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  

.

2413  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  .

2414  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  .

2415  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  .

2416  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  .

2417  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  .

2418  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  .

2419  And David according to the saying of Gad went up as the

LORD commanded  .

2420  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  .

2421  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  .

2422  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  .

2423  All these things did Araunah as a king give unto the king

And Araunah said unto the king The LORD thy God accept thee  .

2424  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  .

2425  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  

~~~~~~