1   Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from ^note the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2   It came even to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3   And David said to him, From whence comest thou? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped.

4   And David said to him, ^note How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen, and are dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5   And David said to the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

6   And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7   And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered ^note Here am I.

8   And he said to me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9   He said to me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for ^note anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10   So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live

Before CHRIST, 1056. after that he had fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to my lord.

11   Then David took hold on his clothes, and ^note rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12   And they mourned and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword.

13   ¶2; And David said to the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14   And David said to him, ^note How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15   And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16   And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed.

17   ¶2; And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son:

18   (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written ^note in the book of ^note Jasher.)

19   The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20    ^noteTell 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.

21   Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither 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.

22   From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23   Saul and Jonathan were lovely and ^note pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24   Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25   How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan thou wast slain in thy high places.

26   I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27   How have the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! CHAP. II. 1 David by God's direction, with his company, goeth up to Hebron, where he is made king of Judah: 5 He commendeth them of Jabesh-gilead for their kindness to Saul. 8 Abner maketh Ishbosheth king of Israel. 12 A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men. 18 Asahel is slain. 25 At Abner's motion Joab soundeth a retreat. 32 Asahel's burial.

1   And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, To Hebron.

2   So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

3   And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4   And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That ^note the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.

5   ¶2; And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

6   And now the Lord show kindness and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

7   Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and ^note be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

8   ¶2; But Abner the son of Ner, captain of ^note Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

9   And he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10   Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years: but the house of Judah followed David.

11   And the ^note time that David was king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, was seven years and six months.

12   ¶2; And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13   And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David went out, and met ^note 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.

14   And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

15   Then there arose, and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, who pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16   And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side: so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called ^note Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

Before CHRIST, 1056.

17   And there was a very severe battle that day; and Abner was defeated, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18   ¶2; And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light ^note of foot ^note as a wild roe.

19   And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from ^note following Abner.

20   Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21   And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay hold on one of the young men, and take to thee his ^note armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

22   And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: Why should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

23   But 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.

24   Joab also, and Abishai pursued Abner: and the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25   ¶2; And the children of Benjamin assembled themselves after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.

26   Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou wilt bid the people return from following their brethren?

27   And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then ^note in the morning the people had ^note gone up every one from following his brother.

28   So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29   And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30   And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had assembled all the people, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men, and Asahel.

31   But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.

32   ¶2; And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulcher of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. CHAP. III. 1 During the war David still groweth stronger. 2 Six sons were born to him in Hebron. 6 Abner displeased with Ish-bosheth, 12 revolteth to David. 13 David requireth a condition to bring him his wife Michal. 17 Abner having communed with the Israelites, is feasted by David, and dismissed. 22 Joab returning from battle, is displeased with the king, and killeth Abner. 28 David curseth Joab, 31 and mourneth for Abner.

1   Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2   ¶2; And to David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3   And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4   And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5   And the sixth Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6   ¶2; 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.

7   And Saul had a concubine, whose name was ^note Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?

8   Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, who against Judah do show kindness this day to 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?

9   So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10   To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

11   And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12   And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel to thee.

13   ¶2; And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, ^note that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou shalt first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14   And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver to me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me ^note for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15   And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from ^note Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16   And her husband went with her,

Before CHRIST, 1048. ^note weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.

17   ¶2; And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David ^note in times past to be king over you:

18   Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.

19   And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamim.

20   So Abner came to David in Hebron, and twenty men with him: and David made Abner and the men that were with him, a feast.

21   And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22   ¶2; 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 had gone in peace.

23   When Joab and all the host that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he hath gone in peace.

24   Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came to thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25   Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going-out and thy coming-in, and to know all that thou doest.

26   And when Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27   And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab ^note took him aside in the gate to speak with him ^note quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib that he died, for the blood of ^note Asahel his brother.

28   ¶2; And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guilt-less before the Lord for ever from the ^note blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29   Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not ^note 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.

30   So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother ^note Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31   ¶2; And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sack-cloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the ^note bier.

32   And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33   And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34   Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before ^note wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.

35   And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, If I taste bread or aught else, till the sun is down.

36   And all the people took notice of it, and it ^note pleased them: as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37   For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38   And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that there hath a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39   And I am this day ^note weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. The Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. CHAP. IV. 1 The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner, 2 Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-bosheth, and bring his head to Hebron. 9 David causeth them to be slain, and Ish-bosheth's head to be buried.

1   And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2   And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the ^note other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (For Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:

3   And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day.)

4   And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet: he was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5   And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

6   And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7   For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and

Before CHRIST, 1048. beheaded him, and took his head, and went away through the plain all night.

8   And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thy enemy, who sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.

9   ¶2; And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10   When ^note one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, ( ^note thinking to have brought good tidings,) I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, ^note who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

11   How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12   And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the ^note sepulcher of Abner in Hebron. CHAP. V. 1 The tribes come to Hebron to anoint David over Israel. 4 David's age: 6 He taking Zion from the Jebusites, dwelleth in it. 11 Hiram sendeth to David. 13 Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem. 17 David directed by God, smiteth the Philistines at Baal-perazim, 22 and again at the mulberry-trees.

1   Then ^note came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2   Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, ^note Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

3   So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4   ¶2; David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5   In Hebron he reigned over Judah ^note seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

6   ¶2; And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: who spoke to David, saying, Except thou shalt take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: ^note thinking, David cannot come in hither.

7   Nevertheless, David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8   And David said on that day, Whoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated by David's soul, ^note he shall be chief and captain: ^note Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9   So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built around from Millo and inward.

10   And David ^note went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11   ¶2; And ^note Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and ^note masons: and they built David a house.

12   And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13   ¶2; And ^note David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

14   And ^note these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15   Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16   And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17   ¶2; ^note 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.

18   The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19   And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

20   And David came to ^note Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon my enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place ^note Baal-perazim.

21   And there they left their images, and David and his men ^{note note} burned them.

22   ¶2; And the Philistines came yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23   And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up: but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.

24   And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25   And David did so as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou comest to Gazer.

Before CHRIST, 1042. CHAP. VI. 1 David fetcheth the ark from Kirjath-jearim on a new cart. 6 Uzzah is smitten at Perez-uzzah. 11 God blesseth Obed-edom for the ark. 12 David bringing the ark into Zion with sacrifices, danceth before it, for which Michal despiseth him; 17 He placeth it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting. 20 Michal reproving David for his religious joy, is childless to her death.

1   Again, David assembled all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand,

2   And ^note 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, ^note whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubim.

3   And they ^note set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in ^note Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart.

4   And they brought it out of ^note the house of Abinadab, which was at Gibeah, ^note accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5   And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6   ¶2; And ^note when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: for the oxen ^note shook it.

7   And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his ^note error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8   And David was displeased, because the Lord had ^note made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place ^note Perez-uzzah to this day.

9   And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

10   So David would not remove the ark of the Lord to him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

11   And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

12   ¶2; And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth to him, because of the ark of God. ^noteSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.

13   And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14   And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15   So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16   And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17   ¶2; And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had ^note pitched for it: and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord.

18   And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, ^note he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19   And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20   ¶2; 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 today, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows ^note shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21   And David said to Michal, It was before the Lord, who 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.

22   And I shall yet be more vile than thus, and shall be base in my own sight: and ^note by the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, by them shall I be had in honor.

23   Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death. CHAP. VII. 1 Nathan first approving the purpose of David to build God a house, 4 after, by the word of God, forbiddeth him. 12 He promiseth him benefits and blessings in his seed. 18 David's prayer and thanksgiving.

1   And it came to pass, ^note when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest around from all his enemies;

2   That the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

3   And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart: for the Lord is with thee.

4   ¶2; And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

5   Go and tell ^note my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Wilt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?

6   Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent, and in a tabernacle.

7   In all the places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel have I spoken a word with ^note any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my

Before CHRIST, 1042. people Israel, saying, Why do ye not build me a house of cedar?

8   Now therefore so shalt thou say to my servant David, thus saith the Lord of hosts, ^note I took thee from the sheep-cote, ^note from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

9   And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thy enemies ^note out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like to the name of the great men that are in the earth.

10   Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as formerly.

11   And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thy enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee a house.

12   ¶2; And ^note when thy days shall 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.

13    ^noteHe shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14    ^noteI will be his father, and he shall be my son. ^noteIf he shall commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15   But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

16   And thy house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

17   According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

18   ¶2; Then king David went 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;

19   And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the ^note manner of man, O Lord God?

20   And what can David say more to thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.

21   For thy word's sake, and according to thy own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

22   Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23   And ^note 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?

24   For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people to thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.

25   And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

26   And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

27   For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast ^note revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.

28   And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and ^note thy words are true, and thou hast promised this goodness to thy servant:

29   Therefore now ^note 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. CHAP. VIII. 1 David subdueth the Philistines and the Moabites. 3 He smiteth Hadadezer and the Syrians. 9 Toi sendeth Joram with presents to bless him. 11 The presents and the spoil David dedicateth to God. 14 He putteth garrisons in Edom. 16 David's officers.

1   And ^note after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took ^note Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2   And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines he measured to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3   ¶2; David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of ^note Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

4   And David took ^note from him a thousand ^note chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot-horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.

5   And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6   Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

7   And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8   And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took very much brass.

9   ¶2; When Toi king of Hamath heard

Before CHRIST, 1040. that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

10   Then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to ^note salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: (for Hadadezer ^note had wars with Toi) and Joram ^note brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

11   Which also king David dedicated to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

12   Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13   And David made him a name when he returned from ^note smiting of the Syrians in the valley of Salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14   ¶2; And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

15   And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his people.

16   And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was ^note recorder;

17   And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and ^note Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests: and Seraiah was the ^note scribe;

18    ^noteAnd Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were ^note chief rulers. CHAP. IX. 1 David by Ziba sendeth for Mephibosheth. 7 For Jonathan's sake he entertaineth him at his table, and restoreth to him all that was Saul's: 9 He maketh Ziba his farmer.

1   And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2   And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3   And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? and Ziba said to the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is ^note lame in his feet.

4   And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

5   ¶2; Then king David sent, and brought him from the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6   Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

7   ¶2; And David said to him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for the sake of Jonathan thy father, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

8   And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9   ¶2; Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given to thy master's son all that pertained to Saul, and to all his house.

10   Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11   Then said Ziba to 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.

12   And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micah. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13   So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he ate continually at the king's table; and was lame in both his feet. CHAP. X. 1 David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villainously treated. 6 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai. 15 Shobach making a new supply of the Syrians at Helam, is slain by David.

1   And it came to pass after this, that the ^note king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2   Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to 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.

3   And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, ^note Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters to thee? hath not David rather sent his servants to thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

4   Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5   When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.

6   ¶2; And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious 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 Ish-tob twelve thousand men.

Before CHRIST, 1037.

7   And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

8   And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9   When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he selected of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

10   And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11   And he said, If the Syrians shall be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon shall be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

12   Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.

13   And Joab and the people that were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14   And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled they also before Abashai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15   ¶2; And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they assembled themselves.

16   And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

17   And when it was told David, he assembled all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

18   And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

19   And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. CHAP. XI. 1 While Joab besiegeth Rabbah, David committeth adultery with Bath-sheba. 6 Uriah, sent for by David to cover the adultery, would not go home neither sober nor drunken. 14 He carrieth to Joab the letter of his death. 18 Joab sendeth the news of it to David. 26 David taketh Bath-sheba to wife.

1   And it came to pass, ^note after the year had expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that ^note 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.

2   ¶2; And it came to pass in an evening, 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.

3   And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4   And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her; ^note for she was ^note purified from her uncleanness: and she returned to her house.

5   And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

6   ¶2; And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7   And when Uriah had come to him, David inquired of him ^note how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

8   And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there ^note followed him a mess of meat from the king.

9   But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

10   And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down to his house, David said to Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down to thy house?

11   And Uriah said to 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 my 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.

12   And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow.

13   And when David had called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk: and at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

14   ¶2; And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15   And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the front of the ^note hottest battle, and retire ye ^note from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

16   And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17   And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18   ¶2; Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

19   And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king,

Before CHRIST, 1035.

20   And if the king's wrath shall rise, and he shall say to thee, Why approached ye so nigh to the city for the fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

21   Who smote ^note Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a mill-stone 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.

22   ¶2; So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.

23   And the messenger said to David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were upon them even to the entrance of the gate.

24   And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants: and some of the king's servants are dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

25   Then David said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab, Let not this thing ^note displease thee, for the sword devoureth ^note one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

26   ¶2; And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27   And when the mourning was past, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done ^note displeased the Lord. CHAP. XII. 1 Nathan's parable of the ewe-lamb, causeth David to be his own judge. 7 David reproved by Nathan, confesseth his sin, and is pardoned. 15 David mourneth and prayeth for the child, while it lived. 24 Solomon is born, and named Jedidiah. 26 David taketh Rabbah, and tortureth the people thereof.

1   And the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2   The rich man had very numerous flocks and herds:

3   But the poor man had nothing save one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought and nourished: and it grew up together with him, and with his children: it fed of his own ^note meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.

4   And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the way-faring man that had come to him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.

5   And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing ^note shall surely die:

6   And he shall restore the lamb ^note fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

7   ¶2; And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I ^note anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee from the hand of Saul;

8   And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to thee such and such things.

9   Why 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.

10   Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11   Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thy own house, and I will ^note take thy wives before thy eyes, and give them to thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12   For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13   And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14   But, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to thee shall surely die.

15   ¶2; And Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

16   David therefore besought God for the child; and David ^note fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

17   And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18   And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to our voice: how will he then ^note be grieved, if we tell him that the child is dead?

19   But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20   Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.

21   Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but after the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22   And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted, and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

Before CHRIST, 1033.

23   But now he is dead, Why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

24   ¶2; And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and ^note she bore a son, and ^note he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.

25   And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name ^note Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

26   ¶2; And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27   And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

28   Now therefore collect the rest of the people, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and ^note it be called after my name.

29   And David collected all the people, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

30    ^noteAnd he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight of which 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 ^note in great abundance.

31   And he brought forth the people that were in it, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus he did to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. CHAP. XIII. 1 Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab's counsel feigning himself sick, ravisheth her: 15 He hateth her, and shamefully turneth her away. 19 Absalom entertaineth her, and concealeth his purpose. 23 At a sheep-shearing, among all the king's sons, he killeth Amnon. 30 David grieving at the news, is comforted by Jonadab. 37 Absalom fleeth to Talmai at Geshur.

1   And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2   And Amnon was so afflicted, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and ^note Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

3   But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

4   And he said to him, Why art thou, being the king's son, ^note pining ^note from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

5   And Jonadab said to him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say to him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

6   ¶2; So Amnon lay down and made himself sick: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make for me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7   Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress meat for him.

8   So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took ^note flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9   And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

10   And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11   And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

12   And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not ^note force me; for ^{note note} no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

13   And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

14   Howbeit, he would not hearken to her voice: but being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15   ¶2; Then Amnon hated her ^note exceedingly; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.

16   And she said to him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her.

17   Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18   And she had a garment of divers colors upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19   ¶2; And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

20   And Absalom her brother said to her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; ^note regard not this thing. So Tamar remained ^note desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21   ¶2; But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

Before CHRIST, 1030.

22   And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23   ¶2; And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24   And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

25   And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable to thee. And he pressed him: yet he would not go, but blessed him.

26   Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?

27   But Absalom pressed him that he should let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28   ¶2; Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: ^note have I not commanded you? be courageous, and be ^note valiant.

29   And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man rode upon his mule, and fled.

30   ¶2; And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that information came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

31   Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

32   And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the ^note appointment of Absalom this hath been ^note determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33   Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

34   But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35   And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king's sons come; ^note as thy servant said, so it is.

36   And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept ^note exceedingly.

37   ¶2; But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of ^note Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38   So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39   And the soul of king David ^note longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. CHAP. XIV. 1 Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah by a parable to incline the king's heart to bring home Absalom, bringeth him to Jerusalem. 25 Absalom's beauty, hair, and children. 28 After two years, Absalom by Joab is brought into the king's presence.

1   Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom.

2   And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought thence a wise woman, and said to 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:

3   And come to the king, and speak in this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4   ¶2; And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, ^note Help, O king.

5   And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.

6   And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was ^note none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.

7   And behold, the whole family hath risen against thy 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 will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder ^note upon the earth.

8   And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9   And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.

10   And the king said, Whoever saith aught to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

11   Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, ^note 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.

12   Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

13   And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty, in

Before CHRIST, 1027. that the king doth not bring home again his banished.

14   For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; ^note neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

15   Now therefore that I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

16   For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid from the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.

17   Then thy handmaid said, The word of my lord the king, will now be ^note comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king ^note to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.

18   Then the king answered and said to 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.

19   And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid:

20   To bring 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 on the earth.

21   ¶2; And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

22   And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and ^note 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 ^note his servant.

23   So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24   And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

25   ¶2; ^note 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.

26   And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

27   And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28   ¶2; So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.

29   Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, that he might send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

30   Therefore he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is ^note near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31   Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my field on fire?

32   And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me had I been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

33   So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. CHAP. XV. 1 Absalom by fair speeches and courtesies, stealeth the hearts of Israel. 7 Under pretense of a vow, he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron. 10 He maketh there a great conspiracy. 13 David upon the news fleeth from Jerusalem. 19 Ittai would not leave him. 24 Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark. 30 David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping. 31 He curseth Ahithophel's counsel. 32 Hushai is sent back with instructions.

1   And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2   And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy ^note came to the king for judgement, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel.

3   And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but ^note there is no man deputed by the king to hear thee.

4   Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

5   And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6   And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7   ¶2; And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.

Before CHRIST, 1023.

8   For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.

9   And the king said to him, Go in peace, So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10   But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11   And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12   And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13   ¶2; And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14   And David said to 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 should overtake us suddenly, and ^note bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15   And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall ^note appoint.

16   And the king went forth, and all his household ^note after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep the house.

17   And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18   And all his servants passed on by his side; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19   ¶2; Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20   Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day ^note 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.

21   And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

22   And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23   And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook ^note Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.

24   ¶2; And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him bearingthe 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.

25   And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

26   But if he shall thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.

27   The king said also to Zadok the priest, Art not thou a ^note seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28   See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until word shall come from you to certify me.

29   Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30   ¶2; And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, ^note and wept as he went, and had his head covered, and he went bare-foot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went.

31   ¶2; 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.

32   ¶2; And it came to pass, that when David had come to the top of the mount, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head;

33   To whom David said, If thou shalt pass on with me, then thou wilt be a burden to me:

34   But if thou shalt return to the city, and say to 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.

35   And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36   Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send to me every thing that ye can hear.

37   So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. CHAP. XVI. 1 Ziba by presents and false suggestions obtaineth his master's inheritance. 5 At Bahurim Shimei curseth David. 9 David with patience abstaineth and restraineth others from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absalom's council. 20 Ahithophel's counsel.

1   And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with

Before CHRIST, 1023. a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2   And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

3   And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.

4   Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, ^note I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

5   And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: ^note he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

6   And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7   And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou ^note bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

8   The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and ^note behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

9   ¶2; Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this ^note dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10   And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Why hast thou done so?

11   And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjaminite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

12   It may be that the Lord will look on my ^{note note} affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

13   And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and ^note cast dust.

14   And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15   ¶2; And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16   And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, ^note God save the king, God save the king.

17   And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18   And Hushai said to 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.

19   And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20   ¶2; Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21   And Aphithophel said to Absalom, Go in to thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred by thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

22   So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23   And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the ^note oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. CHAP. XVII. 1 Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's, according to God's appointment. 15 Secret intelligence is sent to David. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himself. 25 Amasa is made captain. 27 David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions.

1   Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;

2   And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

3   And I will bring back all the people to thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

4   And the saying, ^note pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5   Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise ^note what he saith.

6   And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his ^note saying? if not, speak thou.

7   And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath ^note given, is not good at this time.

8   For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are ^note 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.

9   Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are ^note overthrown

Before CHRIST, 1023. at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10   And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they who are with him are valiant men.

11   Therefore I counsel that all Israel should be generally gathered to thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and ^note that thou shouldst go to battle in thy own person.

12   So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

13   Moreover, if he shall have entered into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.

14   And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had ^note appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.

15   ¶2; Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.

16   Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17   Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a maid servant went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18   Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; into which they descended.

19   And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn upon it; and the thing was not known.

20   And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, they have gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21   And it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you.

22   Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that had not gone over Jordan.

23   ¶2; And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not ^note followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and ^note put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.

24   Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25   ¶2; 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.

26   So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27   ¶2; And it came to pass, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

28   Brought beds, and ^note basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,

29   And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of cows, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. CHAP. XVIII. 1 David viewing the armies in their march, giveth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are severely smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom hanging in an oak, is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absalom's place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring news to David. 33 David mourneth for Absalom.

1   And David numbered the people that were with him, and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

2   And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

3   But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not ^note care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art ^note worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou shouldst ^note succor us out of the city.

4   And the king said to them, What seemeth to you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5   And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

Before CHRIST, 1023.

6   ¶2; So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

7   Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

8   For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood ^note devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9   ¶2; 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 suspended between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10   And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.

11   And Joab said to 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.

12   And the man said to Joab, Though I should ^note receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ^note Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

13   Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldst have set thyself against me.

14   Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus ^note 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 ^note midst of the oak.

15   And ten young men that bore Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16   And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel: for Joab restrained the people.

17   And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

18   ¶2; Now Absalom in his life-time had taken and raised for himself a pillar, which is in ^note 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 to this day, Absalom's place.

19   ¶2; Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and inform the king, how the Lord hath ^note avenged himself of his enemies.

20   And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not ^note 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.

21   Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab, and ran.

22   Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But ^note however, let me also, I pray thee, run after Cushi. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ^note ready?

23   But however, said he, let me run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran Cushi.

24   And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

25   And the watchman called, and told the king. And the king said, If he is alone there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

26   And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

27   And the watchman said, ^note I think 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 news.

28   And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, ^{note note} All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath ^note delivered up the men that raised their hand against my lord the king.

29   And the king said, ^note 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.

30   And the king said to him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31   And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, ^note Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32   And the king said to Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, May the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

33   ¶2; 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! O that I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! CHAP. XIX. 1 Joab causeth the king to cease his mourning. 9 The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back. 11 David sendeth to the priests to incite them of Judah. 18 Shimei is pardoned. 21 Mephibosheth excused. 32 Harzillai dismissed, Chimham his son is taken into the king's family. 41 The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them.

1   And it was told to Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2   And the ^note victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people: for the people heard it said that day how the king was grieved for his son.

Before CHRIST, 1023.

3   And the people withdrew by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4   But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

5   And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who 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;

6    ^noteIn that thou lovest thy enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, ^note 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.

7   Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak ^note comfortably to thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou shalt not go forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse to thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.

8   Then the king rose, and sat in the gate. And they told to 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.

9   ¶2; And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines; and now he hath fled out of the land for Absalom.

10   And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why ^note speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

11   ¶2; And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to 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.

12   Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: why then are ye the last to bring back the king?

13   And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

14   And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word to the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

15   So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

16   ¶2; And ^note Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjaminite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

17   And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and ^note 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.

18   And there went over a ferry-boat to carry over the king's household, and to do ^note what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he came over Jordan;

19   And said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do thou remember ^note 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.

20   For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore behold, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

21   But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?

22   And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries to 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?

23   Therefore the king said to Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king swore to him.

24   ¶2; 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.

25   And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?

26   And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride on it, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

27   And ^note he hath slandered thy servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thy eyes.

28   For all of my father's house were but ^note dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that ate at thy own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more to the king?

29   And the king said to him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

30   And Mephibosheth said to the king, Yes, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king hath come again in peace to his own house.

31   ¶2; And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

32   Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old: and ^note he had

Before CHRIST, 1023. provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim: for he was a very great man.

33   And the king said to Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

34   And Barzillai said to the king, ^note How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35   I am this day eighty 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? why then should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?

36   Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense me with such a reward?

37   Let thy servant, I pray thee, return again, that I may die in my 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 to thee.

38   And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to thee: and whatever thou shalt ^note require of me, that will I do for thee.

39   And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.

40   Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

41   ¶2; And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to him, 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?

42   And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: why then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all at the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

43   And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye ^note 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. CHAP. XX. 1 By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba maketh a party in Israel. 3 David's ten concubines are shut up in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab. 14 Joab pursueth Sheba to Abel. 16 A wise woman saveth the city by Sheba's head. 23 David's officers.

1   And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite: 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.

2   So every man of Israel, withdrawing from David, followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah adhered to their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3   ¶2; And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his ^note concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ^note custody, and fed them, but went not in to them. So they were ^note shut up to the day of their death, ^note living in widowhood.

4   ¶2; Then said the king to Amasa, ^note Assemble to me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

5   So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6   And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue him, lest he get for himself fortified cities, and ^note escape us.

7   And there went out after him Joab's men, and the ^note Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

8   When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded to him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.

9   And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10   But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and ^note struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11   And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12   And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13   When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14   ¶2; And he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were assembled, and went also after him.

15   And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and ^note it stood in

Before CHRIST, 1021. the trench: and all the people that were with Joab ^note battered the wall, to throw it down.

16   ¶2; Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

17   And when he was come near to her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said to him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

18   Then she spoke, saying, ^note They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They will surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

19   I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

20   And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21   The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri ^note 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 to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

22   Then the woman went to 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 ^note retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

23   ¶2; Now ^note Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

24   And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was ^note recorder:

25   And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

26   And Ira also the Jairite was ^note a chief ruler about David. CHAP. XXI. 1 The three years' famine for the Gibeonites cease, by hanging seven of Saul's sons. 10 Rizpah's kindness to the dead. 12 David burieth the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father's sepulcher. 15 Four battles against the Philistines, in which four valiant men of David slay four giants.

1   Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David ^note inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

2   And the king called the Gibeonites, and said to them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but ^note of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

3   Wherefore David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and with what shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?

4   And the Gibeonites said to him, ^note 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.

5   And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that ^note devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining within the borders of Israel,

6   Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, ^note whom the Lord chose. And the king said, I will give them.

7   But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of ^note the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8   But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of ^note Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she ^note brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

9   And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on 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.

10   And ^note 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.

11   And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah the concubine of Saul had done.

12   ¶2; And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the ^note Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

13   And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

14   And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son they buried in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulcher of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

15   ¶2; 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 became faint.

16   And Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of ^note the giant, the weight of whose ^note spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

Before CHRIST, 1018.

17   But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, Thou shalt go out no more with us to battle, that thou mayest not extinguish the ^note light of Israel.

18    ^noteAnd it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the ^note giant.

19   And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Beth-lehemite. slew ^note the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

20   And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to ^note the giant.

21   And when he ^note defied Israel, Jonathan the son of ^note Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

22   These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. CHAP. XXII. A psalm of thanksgiving for God's powerful deliverance, and manifold blessings.

1   And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul:

2   And he said, ^note The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3   The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my preserver; thou savest me from violence.

4   I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies.

5   When the ^note waves of death compassed me, the floods of ^note ungodly-men made me afraid;

6   The ^note sorrows of ^note hell encompassed me; the snares of death seized me;

7   In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he heared my voice out of his temple, and my cry entered into his ears.

8   Then the earth shook and trembled: the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9   There went up a smoke ^note out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10   He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

11   And he rode upon a cherub, and flew: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12   And he made darkness pavilions around him, ^note dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13   Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14   The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15   And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16   And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid open, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17   He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of ^note many waters;

18   He delivered me from my strong enemy, from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19   They fell upon me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my support.

20   He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21   The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22   For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23   For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24   I was also upright ^note before him, and have kept myself from my iniquity.

25   Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness ^note in his eye-sight.

26   With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

27   With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt ^note contend.

28   And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thy eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29   For thou art my ^note lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

30   For by thee I have ^note run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31   As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is ^note tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

32   For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

33   God is my strength and power: and he ^note maketh my way perfect.

34   He ^note maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35   He teacheth my hands ^note to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.

36   Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath ^note made me great.

37   Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my ^note feet have not slipped.

38   I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39   And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they have fallen under my feet.

Before CHRIST, 1018.

40   For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou ^note subdued under me.

41   Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42   They looked, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but he answered them not.

43   Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I stamped them as the mire of the street, and spread them abroad.

44   Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45    ^noteStrangers shall ^{note note} submit themselves to me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient to me.

46   Strangers shall fade away, and they shall tremble from their close places.

47   The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the ^note God of the rock of my salvation.

48   It is God that ^note avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,

49   And that bringeth me forth from my enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

50   Therefore I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among ^note the heathen, and I will sing praises to thy name.

51   He is the tower of salvation for his king: and he showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and ^note to his seed for evermore. CHAP. XXIII. 1 David in his last words professeth his faith in God's promises to be beyond sense or experience. 6 The different state of the wicked. 8 A catalogue of David's mighty men.

1   Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2   The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and his word was on my tongue.

3   The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ^note He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4   And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

5   Although my house is 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 ^note maketh it not to grow.

6   ¶2; But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

7   But the man that shall touch them must be ^note fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

8   ¶2; These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: ^note The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: ^note he lifted up his spear against eight hundred, ^note whom he slew at one time.

9   And after him was ^note Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there assembled to battle, and the men of Israel had gone away:

10   He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand adhered to the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

11   And after him was ^note Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were collected ^note into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12   But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

13   And ^note three of the thirty chiefs went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

14   And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

15   And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

16   And the three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord.

17   And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

18   And ^note Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, ^note and slew them, and had the name among three.

19   Was he not most honorable of three? therefore he was their captain: yet he attained not to the first three.

20   And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, ^note who had done many acts, he slew two ^note lion-like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

21   And he slew an Egyptian, ^note 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

Before CHRIST, 1017. out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

22   These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among three mighty men.

23   He was ^note more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his ^{note note} guard.

24    ^noteAsahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,

25   Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26   Helez the ^note Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite.

27   Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite.

28   Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29   Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30   Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the ^note brooks of Gaash,

31   Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32   Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33   Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34   Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35   Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36   Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani, the Gadite,

37   Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38   Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39   Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. CHAP. XXIV. 1 David tempted by Satan, commandeth Joab to number the people. 5 The captains in nine months and twenty days, bring the muster of thirteen hundred thousand fighting men. 10 David having three plagues propounded by Gad, repenteth, and chooseth the three days pestilence. 15 After the death of seventy thousand, David by repentance preventeth the destruction of Jerusalem. 18 David by Gad's direction purchaseth Araunah's threshing floor; where, having sacrificed, the plague is checked.

1   And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and ^note he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah.

2   For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, ^note Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3   And Joab said to the king, Now the Lord thy God add to the people, how many soever they may be, a hundred-fold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4   Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5   ¶2; And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the ^note river of Gad, and towards Jazer:

6   Then they came to Gilead, and to the ^note land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,

7   And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba.

8   So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9   And Joab presented the sum of the number of the people to 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.

10   ¶2; And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly in what I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

11   For when David had risen in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

12   Go and say to David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it to thee.

13   So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come upon thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thy enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? Now consider, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

14   And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are ^note great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

15   So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.

16   And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, ^note the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thy hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing-place of Araunah the Jebusite.

17   And David spoke to 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 thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

18   ¶2; And Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to

Before CHRIST, 1015. the Lord in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

19   And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded.

20   And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming towards him: And Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

21   And Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

22   And Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good to him: behold, here are oxen for burnt-sacrifice, and threshing-instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

23   All these things did Araunah, as a king, give to the king. And Araunah said to the king, The Lord thy God accept thee.

24   And the king said to Araunah, No; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt-offerings to the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25   And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

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