1   
Now it came to passe after þe; death of Saul, when Dauid was returned from ^note the slaughter of the Amalekites, and Dauid had abode two daies in Ziklag,

2   
It came euen to passe on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the campe from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth vpon his head: and so it was when he came to Dauid, that hee fell to the earth, and did obeysance.

3   
And Dauid said vnto him, From whence commest thou? And he said vnto him, Out of the campe of Israel am I escaped.

4   
And Dauid said vnto him, ^note How went the matter? I pray thee, tell mee. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battell, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead also.

5   
And Dauid said vnto the yong man that told him, How knowest thou Dauid heareth of Sauls death. that Saul and Ionathan his sonne be dead?

6   
And the yong man that told him, said, As I happened by chance vpon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned vpon his speare: and loe, the charets and horsemen followed hard after him.

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

8   
And hee said vnto mee, Who art thou? and I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9   
He said vnto me againe, Stand, I pray thee, vpon me, and slay me: for ^note anguish is come vpon mee, because my life is yet whole in me.

10   
So I stood vpon him, and slew him, because I was sure that hee could not liue after that hee was fallen: And I tooke the crowne that was vpon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arme, and haue brought them hither vnto my lord.

11   
Then Dauid tooke 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 vntill Euen, for Saul and for Ionathan his sonne, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

13   
¶ And Dauid said vnto the yong man that told him, Whence art thou?

Dauid lamenteth. And he answered, I am the sonne of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14   
And Dauid said vnto him, ^note How wast thou not afraid to stretch foorth thine hand, to destroy the Lords Anointed?

15   
And Dauid called one of the yong men, and sayd, Goe neere, and fall vpon him. And hee smote him, that hee dyed.

16   
And Dauid said vnto him, Thy blood be vpon thy head: for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I haue slaine the Lords Annoynted.

17   
¶ And Dauid lamented with this lamentation ouer Saul, and ouer Ionathan his sonne:

18   
(Also hee bade them teach the children of Iudah the vse of the bow: behold, it is written ^note in the booke ^note of Iasher.)

19   
The beauty of Israel is slaine vpon thy high places: how are the mightie fallen!

20   
^noteTell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streetes of Askelon: lest the daughters of the Philistines reioyce, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised triumph.

21   
Yee mountaines of Gilboa, let there bee no dewe, neither let there be raine vpon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mightie is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though hee had not beene annointed with oile.

22   
From the blood of the slaine, from the fat of the mightie, the bow of Ionathan turned not backe, and the sword of Saul returned not emptie.

23   
Saul and Ionathan were louely and ^note pleasant in their liues, and in their death they were not diuided: they were swifter then Eagles, they were stronger then Lions.

24   
Yee daughters of Israel, weepe ouer Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of golde vpon your apparell.

25   
How are the mightie fallen in the midst of the battell! O Ionathan, thou wast slaine in thine high places.

26   
I am distressed for thee, my brother Ionathan, very pleasant hast thou beene vnto mee: thy loue to mee was wonderfull, passing the loue of women.

27   
How are the mightie fallen, and the weapons of warre perished! Saul buried. 269 CHAP. II. 1 Dauid by Gods direction, with his companie goeth vp to Hebron, where he is made King of Iudah. 5 He commendeth them of Iabesh Gilead, for their kindnesse to Saul. 8 Abner maketh Ishbosheth king of Israel. 12 A mortall skirmish betweene twelue of Abners, and twelue of Ioabs men. 18 Asahel is slaine. 25 At Abners motion Ioab soundeth a retreat. 32 Asahels buriall.

1   
And it came to passe after this, that Dauid enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I goe vp into any of the Cities of Iudah? And the Lord said vnto him, Goe vp. And Dauid said, Whither shall I goe vp? And he said, Unto Hebron.

2   
So Dauid went vp thither, and his two wiues also, Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse, and Abigail Nabals wife the Carmelite.

3   
And his men that were with him, did Dauid bring vp, euery man with his houshold: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4   
And ^note the men of Iudah came, and there they anointed Dauid king ouer the house of Iudah: and they tolde Dauid, saying; That ^note the men of Iabesh Gilead were they that buried Saul.

5   
¶ And Dauid sent messengers vnto the men of Iabesh Gilead, and said vnto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye haue shewed this kindnesse vnto your lord, euen vnto Saul, and haue buried him.

6   
And now the Lord shewe kindnesse and trueth vnto you: and I also will requite you this kindnesse, because ye haue done this thing.

7   
Therefore now let your handes be strengthened, and ^note be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Iudah haue anointed me king ouer them.

8   
¶ But Abner the sonne of Ner, captaine of ^note Sauls hoste, tooke Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, and brought him ouer to Mahanaim.

9   
And hee made him king ouer Gilead, and ouer the Ashurites, and ouer Iezreel, and ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer all Israel.

10   
Ishbosheth Sauls sonne was fortie yeeres olde when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and reigned two yeres: but the house of Iudah followed Dauid.

Dauids warre with Ishbosheth.

11   
(And the ^note time that Dauid was King in Hebron ouer the house of Iudah, was seuen yeeres, and sixe moneths)

12   
¶ And Abner the sonne of Ner, and the seruants of Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, went out from Mahanaim, to Gibeon.

13   
And Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, and the seruants of Dauid went out, and met ^note together by the poole of Gibeon: and they sate downe, the one on the one side of the poole, and the other on the other side of the poole.

14   
And Abner said to Ioab, Let the yong men now arise, and play before vs: and Ioab saide, Let them arise.

15   
Then there arose and went ouer by number twelue of Beniamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruants of Dauid.

16   
And they caught euery one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellowes side, so they fell downe together: Wherfore that place was called ^note Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17   
And there was a very sore battell that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the seruants of Dauid.

18   
¶ And there were three sonnes of Zeruiah there, Ioab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light ^note of foot ^note as a wilde 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, Turne thee aside to thy right hand, or to thy left, and lay thee holde on one of the yong men, and take thee his ^note armour. But Asahel would not turne aside from following of him.

22   
And Abner said againe to Asahel, Turne thee aside from following me: Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I holde vp my face to Ioab thy brother?

23   
Howbeit he refused to turne aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder ende of the speare smote him vnder the fift ribbe, that the speare came out behinde him, and hee fell downe there, and died Dauids warre with Ishbosheth. in the same place: and it came to passe, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell downe and died, stood still.

24   
Ioab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the Sunne went downe when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wildernesse of Gibeon.

25   
¶ And the children of Beniamin gathered themselues together after Abner, and became one troupe, and stood on the top of an hill.

26   
Then Abner called to Ioab, and said, Shall the sword deuoure for euer? Knowest thou not that it wil be bitternesse in the latter end? How long shall it bee then, yer thou bid the people returne from following their brethren?

27   
And Ioab said, As God liueth, vnlesse thou hadst spoken, surely then ^note in the morning the people had ^note gone vp euery one from following his brother.

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

29   
And Abner and his men walked all that night thorow the plaine, and passed ouer Iordane, and went thorow all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30   
And Ioab returned from folowing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dauids seruants nineteene men, and Asahel.

31   
But the seruants of Dauid had smitten of Beniamin and of Abners men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32   
¶ And they tooke vp Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father which was in Bethlehem: and Ioab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at breake of day. 270 CHAP. III. 1 During the warre Dauid still waxeth stronger. 2 Sixe sonnes were borne to him in Hebron. 6 Abner displeased with Ishbosheth, 12 reuolteth to Dauid. 13 Dauid requireth a condition to bring him his wife Michal. 17 Abner hauing communed with the Israelites, is feasted by Dauid, and dismissed. 22 Ioab returning from battell, is displeased with the king, and killeth Abner. 28 Dauid curseth Ioab, 31 and mourneth for Abner.

Abner reuolteth to Dauid.

1   
Now there was long war betweene the house of Saul, and the house of Dauid: but Dauid waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

2   
¶ And vnto Dauid were sonnes borne in Hebron: and his first borne was Ammon, of Ahinoam the Iezreelitesse.

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

4   
And the fourth, Adoniiah the son of Haggith: and the fifth, Shephatiah the sonne of Abital;

5   
And the sixth, Ithream by Eglah Dauids wife: these were borne to Dauid in Hebron.

6   
¶ And it came to passe while there was warre between the house of Saul and the house of Dauid, that Abner made himselfe strong for the house of Saul.

7   
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was ^note Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth saide to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in vnto my fathers concubine?

8   
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dogs head, which against Iudah doe shew kindnesse this day vnto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and haue not deliuered thee into the hand of Dauid, that thou chargest mee to day with a fault concerning this woman?

9   
So doe God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworne to Dauid, euen so I doe to him:

10   
To translate the kingdome from the house of Saul, and to set vp the throne of Dauid ouer Israel, and ouer Iudah, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba.

11   
And he could not answere Abner a word againe, because he feared him.

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

13   
¶ 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 first bring Michal Abner reuolteth to Dauid. Sauls daughter, when thou commest to see my face.

14   
And Dauid sent messengers to Ishbosheth Sauls sonne, saying, Deliuer mee my wife Michal, which I espoused to mee for ^note an hundred foreskinnes of the Philistines.

15   
And Ishbosheth sent, and tooke her from her husband, euen from ^note Phaltiel the sonne of Laish.

16   
And her husband went with her ^note along weeping behinde her to Bahurim: then said Abner vnto him, Goe, returne. And he returned.

17   
¶ And Abner had communication with the Elders of Israel, saying, Yee sought for Dauid ^note in times past, to be king ouer you.

18   
Now then doe it, for the Lord hath spoken of Dauid, saying; By the hand of my seruant Dauid I will saue my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19   
And Abner also spake in the eares of Beniamin: and Abner went also to speake in the eares of Dauid in Hebron, all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Beniamin.

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

21   
And Abner said vnto Dauid, I will arise, and goe, and will gather all Israel vnto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest raigne ouer all that thine heart desireth. And Dauid sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22   
¶ And behold, the seruants of Dauid, and Ioab came from pursuing a troupe, and brought in a great spoile with them: (but Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.)

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

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

25   
Thou knowest Abner the sonne of Ner, that he came to deceiue thee, and to know thy going out, and thy comming

Ioab slayeth Abner. in, ∧ to know all that thou doest.

26   
And when Ioab was come out from Dauid, hee sent messengers after Abner, which brought him againe from the well of Siriah; but Dauid knew it not.

27   
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, ^note Ioab tooke him aside in the gate to speake with him ^note quietly: and smote him there vnder the fift ribbe, that he died, for the blood of ^note Asahel his brother.

28   
¶ And afterward when Dauid heard it, hee said, I and my kingdome are guiltlesse before the Lord for euer, from the ^note blood of Abner the sonne of Ner:

29   
Let it rest on the head of Ioab, and on all his fathers house, ∧ let there not ^note faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

30   
So Ioab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slaine their brother ^note Asahel at Gibeon in the battell.

31   
¶ And Dauid said to Ioab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, and girde you with sackecloth, and mourne before Abner. And king Dauid himselfe followed the ^note biere.

32   
And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lift vp his voice, and wept at the graue of Abner; and all the people wept.

33   
And the king lamented ouer Abner, and said, Died Abner as a foole dieth?

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

35   
And when all the people came to cause Dauid to eate meate while it was yet day, Dauid sware, saying, So doe God to mee, and more also, if I taste bread or ought else, till the Sunne be downe.

36   
And all the people tooke notice of it, and it ^note pleased them: as whatsoeuer the King did, pleased all the people.

37   
For all the people, and all Israel vnderstood that day, that it was not of the King to slay Abner the sonne of Ner.

38   
And the King said vnto his seruants, Ishbosheth slaine. Knowe yee not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39   
And I am this day ^note weake, though anointed King, and these men the sonnes of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of euill, according to his wickednesse. 271 CHAP. IIII. 1 The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner, 2 Baanah and Rechab slay Ishbosheth, and bring his head to Hebron. 9 Dauid causeth them to be slaine, and Ishbosheths head to be buried.

1   
And when Sauls sonne heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2   
And Sauls sonne had two men that were captaines of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the ^note other Rechab, the sonnes of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Beniamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Beniamin:

3   
And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were soiourners there vntill this day.)

4   
And Ionathan, Sauls sonne, had a sonne that was lame of his feete, and was fiue yeeres olde when the tidings came of Saul and Ionathan out of Iezreel, and his nource tooke him vp, and fled: and it came to passe as she made haste to flee, that hee fell, and became lame, and his name was Mephibosheth.

5   
And the sonnes of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noone.

6   
And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would haue fetched wheat, and they smote him vnder the fift rib, and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7   
For when they came into the house, hee lay on his bedde in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and tooke his head, and gate them away thorow the plaine all night.

8   
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth vnto Dauid to Hebron, and said to the King, Behold the head

Rechab &c, slaine. of Ishbosheth the sonne of Saul, thine enemie, which sought thy life, and the Lord hath auenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.

9   
¶ And Dauid answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sonnes of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said vnto them, As the Lord liueth, who hath redeemed my soule out of all aduersitie,

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

11   
How much more, when wicked men haue slaine a righteous person, in his owne house, vpon his bed? Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12   
And Dauid commanded his yong men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feete, and hanged them vp ouer the poole in Hebron: but they tooke the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the ^note sepulchre of Abner, in Hebron. 272 CHAP. V. 1 The tribes come to Hebron to annoint Dauid ouer Israel. 4 Dauids age. 6 Hee taking Zion from the Iebusites dwelleth in it. 11 Hiram sendeth to Dauid. 13 Eleuen sonnes are borne to him in Ierusalem. 17 Dauid directed by God smiteth the Philistines at Baal Perazim, 22 and againe at the Mulberie trees.

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

2   
Also in time past when Saul was king ouer vs, thou wast hee that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, ^note Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt bee a captaine ouer Israel.

3   
So all the Elders of Israel came to the King to Hebron, and King Dauid made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed Dauid King ouer Israel.

4   
¶ Dauid was thirtie yeeres old when he began to reigne, and he reigned fourtie yeeres.

5   
In Hebron he reigned ouer Iudah ^note seuen yeeres, and sixe moneths: and in Ierusalem he reigned thirty and Dauids children. three yeres ouer all Israel and Iudah.

6   
¶ And the king and his men went to Ierusalem, vnto the Iebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake vnto Dauid, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: ^note Thinking, Dauid cannot come in hither.

7   
Neuerthelesse, Dauid tooke the strong hold of Zion: the same is the citie of Dauid.

8   
And Dauid said on that day, Whosoeuer getteth vp to the gutter, and smiteth the Iebusites, and the lame, and the blind, that are hated of Dauids soule, ^note he shall be chiefe and captaine: ^note Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9   
So Dauid dwelt in the fort, and called it the citie of Dauid, and Dauid built round about, from Millo and inward.

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

11   
¶ And ^note Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, and Cedar trees, and carpenters, and ^note Masons: and they built Dauid an house.

12   
And Dauid perceiued that the Lord had established him King ouer Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdome for his people Israels sake.

13   
¶ And ^note Dauid tooke him mo concubines and wiues out of Ierusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet sonnes and daughters borne to Dauid.

14   
And ^note these be the names of those that were borne vnto him in Ierusalem, Shammua, ∧ Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon:

15   
Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Iaphia,

16   
And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17   
¶ ^note But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed Dauid King ouer Israel, all the Philistines came vp to seeke Dauid, and Dauid heard of it, and went downe to the hold.

18   
The Philistines also came, and spred themselues in the valley of Rephaim.

19   
And Dauid enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I goe vp to the Philistines? wilt thou deliuer them into mine hand? And the Lord said vnto Dauid, Goe vp: for I will doubtlesse

The Arke remoued. deliuer the Philistines into thine hand.

20   
And ^note Dauid came to Baal-Perazim, and Dauid smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken foorth vpon mine 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 Dauid and his men ^{note note} burnt them.

22   
¶ And the Philistines came vp yet againe, and spread themselues in the valley of Rephaim.

23   
And when Dauid enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not goe vp: but fetch a compasse behinde them, and come vpon them ouer against the Mulbery trees.

24   
And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulbery trees, that then thou shalt bestirre thy selfe: for then shal the Lord goe out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25   
And Dauid did so, as the Lord had commaunded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba, vntil thou come to Gazer. 273 CHAP. VI. 1 Dauid fetcheth the Arke from Kiriath-iearim on a new cart. 6 Vzzah is smitten at Perez-Vzzah. 9 God blesseth Obed-Edom for the Arke. 12 Dauid bringing the Arke into Zion with sacrifices, daunceth before it, for which Michol despiseth him. 17 Hee placeth it in a tabernacle with great ioy and feasting. 20 Michal reproouing Dauid for his religious ioy, is childlesse to her death.

1   
Againe, Dauid gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirtie thousand:

2   
And ^note Dauid arose and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale of Iudah, to bring vp from thence the Arke of God, ^note whose Name is called by the Name of the Lord of hostes, that dwelleth betweene the Cherubims.

3   
And they ^note set the Arke of God vpon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in ^note Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab, draue the new cart.

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

5   
And Dauid and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of Firrewood, euen on harpes, and on Psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cimbals.

6   
¶ And ^note when they came to Nachons threshing floore, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Arke of God, and tooke hold of it, for the oxen ^note shooke it.

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

8   
And Dauid was displeased, because the Lord had ^note made a breach vpon Uzzah: And hee called the name of the place, ^note Perez-Uzzah to this day.

9   
And Dauid was afraide of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the Arke of the Lord come to me?

10   
So Dauid would not remoue the Arke of the Lord vnto him into the citie of Dauid: but Dauid caried it aside into the house of Obed Edom, the Gittite.

11   
And the Arke of the Lord continued in the house of Obed Edom the Gittite, three moneths: and the Lord blessed Obed Edom, and all his household.

12   
¶ And it was told king Dauid, saying, ^note The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed Edom, and all that pertained vnto him, because of the Arke of God. So Dauid went, and brought vp the Arke of God, from the house of Obed Edom, into the citie of Dauid, with gladnesse.

13   
And it was so, that when they that bare the Arke of the Lord, had gone sixe paces, hee sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14   
And Dauid daunced before the Lord with all his might, and Dauid was girded with a linnen Ephod.

15   
So Dauid and all the house of Israel brought vp the Arke of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16   
And as the Arke of the Lord came into the citie of Dauid, Michal Sauls daughter looked through a window, and saw king Dauid leaping and dauncing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

Michal childlesse.

17   
¶ And they brought in the Arke of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the Tabernacle that Dauid had ^note pitched for it: and Dauid offered burnt offerings, and peace offrings before the Lord.

18   
And assoone as Dauid had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, ^note hee blessed the people in the Name of the Lord of hostes.

19   
And hee dealt among all the people, euen among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to euery one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine: so all the people departed euery one to his house.

20   
¶ Then Dauid returned to blesse his houshold: and Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meete Dauid, and said, How glorious was the King of Israel to day, who vncouered himselfe to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his seruants, as one of the vaine fellowes ^note shamelessely vncouereth himselfe!

21   
And Dauid said vnto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, ∧ before all his house, to appoint me ruler ouer the people of the Lord, ouer Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.

22   
And I will yet be more vile then thus, and will be base in mine owne sight: and ^note of the maid seruants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

23   
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no childe vnto the day of her death. 274 CHAP. VII. 1 Nathan first approouing the purpose of Dauid to build God an house, 4 after by the word of God forbiddeth him. 12 He promiseth him benefites and blessings in his seede. 18 Dauids prayer and thankesgiuing.

1   
And it came to passe, ^note when the King sate in his house, and the Lord had giuen him rest round about fr&obar; all his enemies;

2   
That the king said vnto Nathan the Prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of Cedar, but the Arke of God dwelleth within curtaines.

3   
And Nathan sayde to the King, Gods promise. Go, doe all that is in thine heart: for the Lord is with thee.

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

5   
Goe and tell ^note my seruant Dauid, Thus sayth the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

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

7   
In all the places wherein I haue walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with ^note any of the tribes of Israel, whome I commanded to feede my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of Cedar?

8   
Now therefore so shalt thou say vnto my seruant Dauid; Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, ^note I tooke thee from the sheepe-cote, ^note from following the sheepe, to be ruler ouer my people, ouer Israel.

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

10   
(Moreouer I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their owne, and mooue no more: neither shall the children of wickednesse afflict them any more, as beforetime,

11   
And as since the time that I commanded Iudges to bee ouer my people Israel, and haue caused thee to rest from all thine enemies:) Also the Lord telleth thee, that he will make thee an house.

12   
¶ And ^note when thy dayes be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, I will set vp thy seede after thee, which shall proceede out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdome.

13   
^noteHee shall build an house for my Name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdome for euer.

14   
^noteI will be his father, and he shall be my sonne: ^note if hee commit iniquitie, I will chasten him with the rodde of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

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

Dauids thankes, and prayer.

16   
And thine house, and thy kingdome shall be stablished for euer before thee: thy throne shall be stablished for euer.

17   
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speake vnto Dauid.

18   
¶ Then went king Dauid in, and sate before the Lord, and hee 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 seruants house for a great while to come, and is this the ^note maner of man, O Lord God?

20   
And what can Dauid say more vnto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy seruant.

21   
For thy words sake, and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things, to make thy seruant know them.

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

23   
And ^note what one nation in the earth is like thy people, euen like Israel, whom God went to redeeme for a people to himselfe, ∧ to make him a name, and to doe for you great things, and terrible, for thy lande, before thy people which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations, and their gods?

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

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

26   
And let thy name bee magnified for euer, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God ouer Israel: and let the house of thy seruant Dauid bee established before thee.

27   
For thou, O Lord of hostes, God of Israel, hast ^note reuealed to thy seruant, saying, I will build thee an house: therfore hath thy seruant found in his heart to pray this prayer vnto thee.

28   
And now, O Lord GOD, (thou art that God, and ^note thy words be true, Dauids thankes, and prayer. and thou hast promised this goodnesse vnto thy seruant.)

29   
Therefore now ^note let it please thee to blesse the house of thy seruant, that it may continue for euer before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy seruant be blessed for euer. 275 CHAP. VIII. 1 Dauid subdueth the Philistines and the Moabites. 3 He smiteth Hadadezer, and the Syrians. 9 Toi sendeth Ioram with Presents to blesse him. 11 The Presents and the spoile Dauid dedicateth to God. 14 He putteth garisons in Edom. 16 Dauids officers.

1   
And ^note after this it came to passe, that Dauid smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and Dauid tooke ^note Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2   
And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them downe to the ground: euen with two lines measured he, to put to death, and with one full line to keepe aliue: and so the Moabites became Dauids seruants, and brought gifts.

3   
¶ Dauid smote also Hadadezer the sonne of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recouer his border at the riuer Euphrates.

4   
And Dauid tooke ^note from him a thousand ^note charets, and seuen hundred horsemen, and twentie thousand footemen: and Dauid houghed all the charet horses, but reserued of them for an hundred charets.

5   
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, Dauid slew of the Syrians two and twentie thousand men.

6   
Then Dauid put garisons in Syria of Damascus: And the Syrians became seruants to Dauid, and brought gifts: and the Lord preserued Dauid whithersoeuer he went.

7   
And Dauid tooke the shields of gold that were on the seruants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Ierusalem.

8   
And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King Dauid tooke exceeding much brasse.

9   
¶ When Toi king of Hamath heard that Dauid had smitten all the hoste of Hadadezer,

Dauids kindnesse to Mephibosheth.

10   
Then Toi sent Ioram his sonne vnto king Dauid to ^note salute him, and to blesse him, because hee had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: (for Hadadezer ^note had warres with Toi) and Ioram ^note brought with him vessels of siluer, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brasse;

11   
Which also king Dauid did dedicate vnto the Lord, with the siluer and gold that he had dedicate of all nations which he subdued:

12   
Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, ∧ of Amalek, and of the spoile of Hadadezer sonne of Rehob king of Zobah.

13   
And Dauid gate him a name when he returned from ^note smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteene thousand men.

14   
¶ And he put garrisons in Edom; thorowout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became Dauids seruants: and the Lord preserued Dauid whithersoeuer he went.

15   
And Dauid reigned ouer all Israel, and Dauid executed iudgement and iustice vnto all his people.

16   
And Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah was ouer the host, and Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud was ^note Recorder.

17   
And Zadok the sonne of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar, were the Priests, and Seraiah was the ^note scribe.

18   
^noteAnd Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer both the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and Dauids sonnes were ^note chiefe rulers. 276 CHAP. IX. 1 Dauid by Ziba, sendeth for Mephibosheth. 7 For Ionathans sake he intertaineth him at his table, and restoreth him all that was Sauls. 9 He maketh Ziba his farmour.

1   
And Dauid said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindnesse for Ionathans sake?

2   
And there was of the house of Saul, a seruant whose name was Ziba: and when they had called him vnto Dauid, the king said vnto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy seruant is he.

3   
And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I Dauids kindnesse to Mephibosheth. may shew the kindnesse of God vnto him? and Ziba said vnto the king, Ionathan hath yet a sonne, which is ^note lame on his feete.

4   
And the king saide vnto him, Where is hee? and Ziba said vnto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

5   
¶ Then king Dauid sent, and fet him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

6   
Now when Mephibosheth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, was come vnto Dauid, hee fell on his face, and did reuerence: and Dauid said, Mephibosheth! And he answered, Behold thy seruant.

7   
¶ And Dauid saide vnto him, Feare not; for I will surely shew thee kindnesse, for Ionathan thy fathers sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eate bread at my table continually.

8   
And hee bowed himselfe, and saide, What is thy seruant, that thou shouldest looke vpon such a dead dogge as I am?

9   
¶ Then the king called to Ziba Sauls seruant, and said vnto him, I haue giuen vnto thy masters sonne all that pertained to Saul, and to all his house.

10   
Thou therefore and thy sonnes, and thy seruants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy masters sonne may haue food to eate: but Mephibosheth thy masters sonne shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteene sonnes, and twenty seruants.

11   
Then saide Ziba vnto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his seruant, so shall thy seruant doe: as for Mephibosheth, said the King, he shall eate at my table, as one of the kings sonnes.

12   
And Mephibosheth had a yong sonne whose name was Micha: and all that dwelt in the house of Ziba, were seruants vnto Mephibosheth.

13   
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Ierusalem: for hee did eate continually at the kings table, and was lame on both his feete. 277 CHAP. X. 1 Dauids messengers sent to comfort Hanun the sonne of Nahash, are villenously intreated. 6 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are ouercome by Ioab and Abishai. 15 Shobach making a new supply of the Syrians at Helam, is slaine by Dauid.

Hanuns villenie is reuenged.

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

2   
Then said Dauid, I will shewe kindnes vnto Hanun the sonne of Nahash, as his father shewed kindnes vnto me. And Dauid sent to comfort him by the hand of his seruants, for his father: and Dauids seruants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3   
And the princes of the children of Ammon saide vnto Hanun their lord, ^note Thinkest thou that Dauid doeth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters vnto thee? Hath not Dauid rather sent his seruants vnto thee, to search the citie, and to spie it out, and to ouerthrow it?

4   
Wherefore Hanun tooke Dauids seruants, and shaued off the one halfe of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, euen to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5   
When they told it vnto Dauid, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the King saide, Tarie at Iericho vntill your beards be growen, and then returne.

6   
¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stanke before Dauid, the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twentie thousand footmen, and of king Maacah, a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelue thousand men.

7   
And when Dauid heard of it, he sent Ioab, and all the hoste of the mightie men.

8   
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battell in aray at the entring in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselues in the field.

9   
When Ioab saw that the front of the battell was against him, before and behind, he chose of all the choise men of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians.

10   
And the rest of the people he deliuered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in aray against the children of Ammon. Hanuns villenie is reuenged.

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

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

13   
And Ioab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, vnto the battell against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14   
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fledde, then fled they also before Abishai, and entred into the citie: so Ioab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Ierusalem.

15   
¶ And when the Syrians sawe that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselues together.

16   
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the riuer, and they came to Helam, and Shobach the captaine of the hoste of Hadarezer went before them.

17   
And when it was told Dauid, he gathered all Israel together, and passed ouer Iordane, and came to Helam: and the Syrians set themselues in aray against Dauid, and fought with him.

18   
And the Syrians fled before Israel, and Dauid slew the men of seuen hundred charets of the Syrians, and fourtie thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captaine of their hoste, who died there.

19   
And when all the kings that were seruants to Hadarezer sawe, that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and serued them: so the Syrians feared to helpe the children of Ammon any more. 278 CHAP. XI. 1 While Ioab besieged Rabbah, Dauid committeth adulterie with Bath-sheba. 6 Vriah sent for by Dauid to couer the adulterie, would not goe home neither sober nor drunken. 14 Hee carieth to Ioab the letter of his death. 18 Ioab sendeth the newes thereof to Dauid. 26 Dauid taketh Bath-sheba to wife.

1   
And it came to passe, that ^note after the yeere was expired, at the time when kings goe foorth to battell, that ^note Dauid sent Ioab and his seruants with him, and all Israel;

Dauids adulterie, and murder. and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah: but Dauid taried still at Ierusalem.

2   
¶ And it came to passe in an euening tide, that Dauid arose from off his bed, and walked vpon the roofe of the kings house: and from the roofe he saw a woman washing her selfe; and the woman was very beautifull to looke vpon.

3   
And Dauid sent and enquired after the woman: and one said, Is not this Bath-sheba the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4   
And Dauid sent messengers, and tooke her, and shee came in vnto him, and he lay with her, ( ^note for she was ^note purified from her vncleannesse) and shee returned vnto her house.

5   
And the woman conceiued, and sent and tolde Dauid, and said, I am with childe.

6   
¶ And Dauid sent to Ioab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Ioab sent Uriah to Dauid.

7   
And when Uriah was come vnto him, Dauid demanded of him ^note how Ioab did, and how the people did, and how the warre prospered.

8   
And Dauid said to Uriah, Goe downe to thy house, and wash thy feete. And Uriah departed out of the Kings house, and there ^note followed him a messe of meat from the king.

9   
But Uriah slept at the doore of the kings house, with all the seruants of his lord, and went not downe to his house.

10   
And when they had tolde Dauid, saying, Uriah went not downe vnto his house, Dauid said vnto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy iourney? why then diddest thou not goe downe vnto thine house?

11   
And Uriah said vnto Dauid, The Arke, and Israel, and Iudah abide in tents, and my lord Ioab, and the seruants of my lord are encamped in the open fields; shall I then goe into mine house, to eate and to drinke, and to lie with my wife? As thou liuest, and as thy soule liueth, I will not doe this thing.

12   
And Dauid said to Uriah, Tary here to day also, and to morow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Ierusalem that day, and the morrow.

13   
And when Dauid had called him, hee did eate and drinke before him, and Dauids adulterie, and murder. he made him drunke: and at euen hee went out to lie on his bed with the seruants of his lord, but went not downe to his house.

14   
¶ And it came to passe in the morning, that Dauid wrote a letter to Ioab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

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

16   
And it came to passe when Ioab obserued the citie, that he assigned Uriah vnto a place where hee knewe that valiant men were.

17   
And the men of the city went out, and fought with Ioab: and there fell some of the people of the seruants of Dauid, and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18   
¶ Then Ioab sent, and tolde Dauid all the things concerning the warre:

19   
And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an ende of telling the matters of the warre vnto the King;

20   
And if so be that the kings wrath arise, and hee say vnto thee, Wherefore approched ye so nigh vnto the city when yee did fight? Knew yee not that they would shoot from the wall?

21   
Who smote ^note Abimelech the sonne of Ierubesheth? Did not a woman cast a piece of a milstone vpon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? Then say thou, Thy seruant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

22   
¶ So the messenger went, and came and shewed Dauid all that Ioab had sent him for.

23   
And the messenger said vnto Dauid, Surely the men preuailed against vs, and came out vnto vs into the field, and we were vpon them euen vnto the entring of the gate.

24   
And the shooters shot from off the wall vpon thy seruants, and some of the Kings seruants be dead, and thy seruant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

25   
Then Dauid said vnto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say vnto Ioab, Let not this thing ^note displease thee: for the sword deuoureth ^note one as well as another: Make thy battell more strong against the citie, and ouerthrow it; and encourage thou him.

26   
¶ And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was

Nathans parable dead, she mourned for her husband.

27   
And when the mourning was past, Dauid sent, and fet her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a sonne: but the thing that Dauid had done, ^note displeased the Lord. 279 CHAP. XII. 1 Nathans parable of the Ewe lambe, causeth Dauid to be his owne Iudge. 7 Dauid, reproued by Nathan, confesseth his sinne and is pardoned. 15 Dauid mourneth and prayeth for the childe, while it liued. 24 Salomon is borne and named Iedidiah. 26 Dauid taketh Rabbah, and tortureth the people thereof.

1   
And the Lord sent Nathan vnto Dauid: and he came vnto him, and said vnto him, There were two men in one citie; the one rich, and the other poore.

2   
The rich man had exceeding many flockes and herds.

3   
But the poore man had nothing saue one litle ewe lambe, which he had bought and nourished vp: and it grew vp together with him, and with his children, it did eate of his owne ^note meate, and dranke of his owne cup, and lay in his bosome, and was vnto him as a daughter.

4   
And there came a traueller vnto the rich man, and he spared to take of his owne flocke, and of his owne herd, to dresse for the wayfaring man that was come vnto him, but tooke the poore mans lambe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5   
And Dauids anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liueth, the man that hath done this thing, ^note shall surely die.

6   
And he shall restore the Lambe ^note fourefold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pittie.

7   
¶ And Nathan said to Dauid, Thou art the man: thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I ^note anointed thee king ouer Israel, and I deliuered thee out of the hand of Saul,

8   
And I gaue thee thy Masters house, and thy Masters wiues into thy bosome, and gaue thee the house of Israel and of Iudah, and if that had bene too litle, I would moreouer haue giuen vnto thee such and such things. Dauid repenteth.

9   
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandement of the Lord, to doe euill in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slaine him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10   
Now therefore the sword shall neuer depart from thine 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 vp euill against thee out of thine owne house, and I will ^note take thy wiues before thine eyes, and giue them vnto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wiues in the sight of this Sunne.

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

13   
And Dauid saide vnto Nathan, ^note I haue sinned against the Lord. And Nathan saide vnto Dauid, The Lord also hath put away thy sinne, thou shalt not die.

14   
Howbeit, because by this deede thou hast giuen great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the childe also that is borne vnto thee, shall surely die.

15   
¶ And Nathan departed vnto his house: and the Lord strake the childe that Uriahs wife bare vnto Dauid, and it was very sicke.

16   
Dauid therfore besought God for the childe, and Dauid ^note fasted, and went in, and lay all night vpon the earth.

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

18   
And it came to passe on the seuenth day, that the childe died: and the seruants of Dauid feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they saide, Behold, while the childe was yet aliue, we spake vnto him, and he would not hearken vnto our voice: how will he then ^note vexe himselfe, if we tell him that the childe is dead?

19   
But when Dauid saw that his seruants whispered, Dauid perceiued that the childe was dead: therefore Dauid said vnto his seruants, Is the child dead? and they said, He is dead.

20   
Then Dauid arose from the earth and washed, and anointed himselfe, and

Solomon borne. changed his apparell, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then hee came to his owne house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eate.

21   
Then said his seruants vnto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weepe for the childe, while it was aliue, but when the childe was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

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

23   
But now hee is dead, Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him backe againe? I shall goe to him, but he shall not returne to me.

24   
¶ And Dauid comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in vnto her, and lay with her: and ^note she bare a sonne, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loued him.

25   
And hee sent by the hand of Nathan the Prophet, and ^note hee called his name ^note Iedidiah, because of the Lord.

26   
¶ And Ioab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and tooke the royall citie.

27   
And Ioab sent messengers to Dauid, and said, I haue fought against Rabbah, and haue taken the citie of waters.

28   
Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together, and encampe against the citie, and take it: lest I take the citie, and ^note it be called after my name.

29   
And Dauid gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and tooke it.

30   
^noteAnd he tooke their kings crowne from off his head (the weight whereof was a talent of gold, with the precious stones) and it was set on Dauids head, and he brought forth the spoile of the citie ^note in great abundance.

31   
And he brought foorth the people that were therein, and put them vnder sawes, and vnder harrowes of yron, and vnder axes of yron, and made them passe through the bricke-kilne: And thus did he vnto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So Dauid and all the people returned vnto Ierusalem. 280 CHAP. XIII. 1 Amnon louing Tamar, by Ionadabs counsell faining himselfe sicke, rauisheth her. 15 Hee hateth her, and shamefully turneth her away. 19 Absalom entertaineth her, and concealeth his purpose. 23 At a sheepeshearing, among all the Kings sonnes, hee killeth Amnon. 30 Dauid grieuing at the newes is comforted by Ionadab. 37 Absalom flieth to Talmai at Geshur. Amnons lust.

1   
And it came to passe after this, that Absalom the sonne of Dauid had a faire sister, whose name was Tamar: and Amnon the sonne of Dauid loued her.

2   
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sicke for his sister Tamar: for she was a virgine, and ^note Amnon thought it hard for him to doe any thing to her.

3   
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Ionadab, the sonne of Shimeah, Dauids brother: and Ionadab was a very subtill man.

4   
And he saide vnto him, Why art thou, being the Kings sonne, ^note leane ^note from day to day? Wilt thou not tel me? and Amnon said vnto him, I loue Tamar my brother Absaloms sister.

5   
And Ionadab said vnto him, Lay thee downe on thy bed, and make thy selfe sicke: and when thy father commeth to see thee, say vnto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and giue me meat, and dresse the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eate it at her hand.

6   
¶ So Amnon lay downe, and made himselfe sicke: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said vnto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, ∧ make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7   
Then Dauid sent home to Tamar, saying, Goe now to thy brother Amnons house, and dresse him meat.

8   
So Tamar went to her brother Amnons house (and hee was laide downe) and she tooke ^note flowre, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

9   
And she tooke a pan, and powred them out before him, but hee refused to eate: and Amnon said, Haue out all men from mee: And they went out euery man from him.

10   
And Amnon saide vnto Tamar, Bring the meate into the chamber, that I may eate of thine hand. And Tamar tooke the cakes which shee had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11   
And when shee had brought them

Tamar rauished. vnto him to eate, hee tooke hold of her, and said vnto her, Come lye with mee, my sister.

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

13   
And I, whither shall I cause my shame to goe? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, speake vnto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.

14   
Howbeit hee would not hearken vnto her voice, but being stronger then shee, forced her, and lay with her.

15   
¶ Then Amnon hated her ^note exceedingly, so that the hatred wherwith he hated her, was greater then the loue wherewith hee had loued her: And Amnon said vnto her, Arise, be gone.

16   
And she said vnto him, There is no cause: this euill in sending me away, is greater then the other that thou diddest vnto me: But he would not hearken vnto her.

17   
Then hee called his seruant that ministred vnto him, and said, Put now this woman out from mee, and bolt the doore after her.

18   
And shee had a garment of diuers colours vpon her: for with such robes were the Kings daughters, that were virgins, apparelled. Then his seruant brought her out, and bolted the doore after her.

19   
¶ And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of diuers colours that was on her, and layde her hand on her head, and went on, crying.

20   
And Absalom her brother sayde vnto her, Hath Amnon thy brother beene with thee? But holde nowe thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother, ^note regard not this thing. So Tamar remained ^note desolate in her brother Absaloms house.

21   
¶ But when King Dauid heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

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

23   
¶ And it came to passe after two full yeeres, that Absalom had sheepeshearers in Baal-Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom inuited all the kings sonnes.

24   
And Absalom came to the King, Amnon murdered. and said, Behold now, thy seruant hath sheepe-shearers, Let the King, I beseech thee, and his seruants, goe with thy seruant.

25   
And the King sayde to Absalom, Nay, my sonne, let vs not all now goe, lest we be chargeable vnto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not goe, but blessed him.

26   
Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon goe with vs. And the King said vnto him, Why should he goe with thee?

27   
But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the kings sonnes goe with him.

28   
¶ Now Absalom had commanded his seruants, saying, Marke yee now when Amnons heart is merrie with wine, and when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, feare not: ^note haue not I commanded you? be couragious, and be ^note valiant.

29   
And the seruants of Absalom did vnto Amnon as Absalom had commanded: then all the Kings sonnes arose, and euery man ^note gate him vp vpon his mule, and fled.

30   
¶ And it came to passe while they were in the way, that tidings came to Dauid, saying, Absalom hath slaine all the Kings sonnes, and there is not one of them left.

31   
Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth: and all his seruants stoode by with their clothes rent.

32   
And Ionadab the sonne of Shimeah Dauids brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they haue slaine all the yong men the Kings sonnes; for Amnon onely is dead: for by the ^note appointment of Absalom this hath beene ^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 thinke that all the Kings sonnes are dead: for Amnon onely is dead.

34   
But Absalom fled: and the yong man that kept the watch, lift vp his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35   
And Ionadab said vnto the king, Behold, the kings sonnes come: ^note as thy seruant said, so it is.

36   
And it came to passe assoone as hee had made an ende of speaking, that

The widow of Tekoahs parable. behold, the kings sonnes came, and lift vp their voice, and wept; and the King also and all his seruants wept ^note very sore.

37   
¶ But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the sonne of ^note Ammihud king of Geshur: and Dauid mourned for his sonne euery day.

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

39   
And the soule of king Dauid ^note longed to goe foorth vnto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. 281 CHAP. XIIII. 1 Ioab, suborning a widow of Tekoah, by a parable to incline the Kings heart to fetch home Absalom, bringeth him to Hierusalem. 25 Absaloms beautie, haire, and children. 28 After two yeres, Absalom by Ioab is brought into the Kings presence.

1   
Now Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, perceiued that the kings heart was toward Absalom.

2   
And Ioab sent to Tekoah, and fetcht thence a wise woman, and said vnto her, I pray thee, faine thy selfe to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thy selfe with oile, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

3   
And come to the king, and speake on this maner vnto him: so Ioab put the words in her mouth.

4   
¶ And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, shee fell on her face to the ground, and did obeysance, and said, ^note Helpe, O king.

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

6   
And thy handmayd had two sonnes, and they two stroue 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 is risen against thine handmayd, and they said, Deliuer him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew, and we will destroy the heire also: and so they shall quench my cole which is left, and shall not leaue to my husband neither name The widow of Tekoahs parable. nor remainder ^note vpon the earth.

8   
And the king saide vnto the woman, Goe to thine house, and I will giue charge concerning thee.

9   
And the woman of Tekoah said vnto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquitie bee on mee, and on my fathers house: and the king and his throne bee guiltlesse.

10   
And the king said, Whosoeuer saith ought vnto thee, bring him to mee, 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 reuengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my sonne. And he said, As the Lord liueth, there shall not one haire of thy sonne fall to the earth.

12   
Then the woman said, Let thine handmayd, I pray thee, speake one word vnto my lord the king. And hee said, Say on.

13   
And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king doeth speake this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doeth not fetch home againe his banished.

14   
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot bee gathered vp againe: ^note neither doeth God respect any person, yet doeth he deuise meanes, that his banished bee not expelled from him.

15   
Now therefore that I am come to speake of this thing vnto my lord the king, it is because the people haue made me afraid: and thy handmayd said, I will now speake vnto the king; it may bee that the king will performe the request of his handmayd.

16   
For the king wil heare, to deliuer his handmayd out of the hand of the man that would destroy mee, and my sonne together out of the inheritance of God:

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

18   
Then the king answered and said vnto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall aske thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speake.

19   
And the king said, Is not the

Absaloms beautie. hand of Ioab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soule liueth, my lord the king, none can turne to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy seruant Ioab, hee bade me, and he put all these wordes in the mouth of thine handmaid:

20   
To fetch about this forme of speech hath thy seruant Ioab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisedome of an Angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.

21   
¶ And the king said vnto Ioab, Behold now, I haue done this thing: goe therefore, bring the yong man Absalom againe.

22   
And Ioab fell to the ground on his face, ∧ bowed himselfe, and ^note thanked the king: and Ioab said, To day thy seruant knoweth that I haue found grace in thy sight, my lord O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of ^note his seruant.

23   
So Ioab arose, and went to Geshur, ∧ brought Absalom to Ierusalem.

24   
And the king said, Let him turne to his owne house, ∧ let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his owne house, and sawe not the kings face.

25   
¶ ^note But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom, for his beautie: from the sole of his foot euen to the crowne of his head, there was no blemish in him.

26   
And when he polled his head, (for it was at euery yeres end that he polled it: because the haire was heauy on him, therefore he polled it) hee weighed the haire of his head at two hundred shekels after the kings weight.

27   
And vnto Absalom there were borne three sonnes, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: shee was a woman of a faire countenance.

28   
¶ So Absalom dwelt two full yeeres in Ierusalem, and saw not the kings face.

29   
Therefore Absalom sent for Ioab, to haue sent him to the king, but hee would not come to him: and when hee sent againe the second time, hee would not come.

30   
Therefore hee said vnto his seruants, See, Ioabs field is ^note neere mine, and he hath barley there: goe, and set it on fire: and Absaloms seruants set the field on fire.

31   
Then Ioab arose, and came to His flatterie. Absalom vnto his house, and said vnto him, Wherefore haue thy seruants set my field on fire?

32   
And Absalom answered Ioab, Behold, I sent vnto thee, saying, come hither, that I may send thee to the king to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? It had bene good for mee to haue bene there still: now therefore let me see the kings face: and if there bee any iniquitie in me, let him kill me.

33   
So Ioab came to the King, and told him: and when hee had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himselfe on his face to the ground before the king, and the King kissed Absalom. 282 CHAP. XV. 1 Absalom, by faire speeches and courtesies, stealeth the hearts of Israel. 7 Vnder pretence of a vow he obtaineth leaue to go to Hebron. 10 He maketh there a great conspiracie. 13 Dauid vpon the newes fleeth from Ierusalem. 19 Ittai would not leaue him. 24 Zadok and Abiathar are sent backe with the Arke. 30 Dauid and his companie go vp mount Oliuet weeping. 31 He curseth Ahithophels counsel. 32 Hushai is sent backe with instructions.

1   
And it came to passe after this, that Absalom prepared him charets and horses, and fiftie men to runne before him.

2   
And Absalom rose vp earely, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controuersie, ^note came to the king for iudgment, then Absalom called vnto him, and said, Of what citie art thou? And he said, Thy seruant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3   
And Absalom said vnto him, See, thy matters are good ∧ right, but there is ^note no man deputed of the king to heare thee.

4   
Absalom said moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the land, that euery man which hath any suit or cause, might come vnto me, and I would do him iustice.

5   
And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him, to doe him obeisance, he put foorth his hand, and tooke him, and kissed him.

6   
And on this maner did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the King for iudgement: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absaloms treason.

7   
¶ And it came to passe after fourtie yeeres, that Absalom said vnto the king, I pray thee, let mee goe and pay my vow which I haue vowed vnto the Lord in Hebron.

8   
For thy seruant vowed a vowe while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring mee againe in deed to Ierusalem, then I will serue the Lord.

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

10   
¶ But Absalom sent spies thorowout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soone as yee heare the sound of the trumpet, then yee shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11   
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Ierusalem, that were called, and they went in their simplicitie, and they knew not any thing.

12   
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Dauids counseller, from his citie, euen from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices: and the conspiracie was strong, for the people encreased continually with Absalom.

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

14   
And Dauid said vnto all his seruants that were with him at Ierusalem, Arise, and let vs flee; for wee shall not else escape from Absalom: make speede to depart, lest hee ouertake vs suddenly, and ^note bring euill vpon vs, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15   
And the kings seruants said vnto the king, Behold, thy seruants are readie to doe whatsoeuer my lord the king shall ^note appoint.

16   
And the king went foorth, and all his houshold ^note after him: and the King left tenne women, which were concubines, to keepe the house.

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

18   
And all his seruants passed on beside him: and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, sixe hundred men, which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19   
¶ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with vs? Returne to thy place, and abide with the King: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. Dauid fleeth.

20   
Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day ^note make thee goe vp and downe with vs? Seeing I goe whither I may, returne thou, and take backe thy brethren: mercie and trueth be with thee.

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

22   
And Dauid said to Ittai, Goe, and passe ouer. And Ittai the Gittite passed ouer, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23   
And all the countrey wept with a loude voice, and all the people passed ouer: the King also himselfe passed ouer the brooke ^note Kidron, and all the people passed ouer, toward the way of the wildernesse.

24   
¶ And loe, Zadok also, and all the Leuites were with him, bearing the Arke of the Couenant of God, and they set downe the Arke of God; and Abiathar went vp, vntill all the people had done passing out of the citie.

25   
And the King said vnto Zadok, Cary backe the Arke of God into the citie: if I shall finde fauour in the eyes of the Lord, he wil bring me againe, and shew me both it, and his habitation.

26   
But if he thus say, I haue no delight in thee: beholde, here am I, let him doe to me, as seemeth good vnto him.

27   
The king said also vnto Zadok the Priest, ^note Art not thou a Seer? Returne into the citie in peace, and your two sonnes with you, Ahimaaz thy sonne, and Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar.

28   
See, I will tarie in the plaine of the wildernesse, vntill there come word from you to certifie me.

29   
Zadok therefore and Abiathar caried the Arke of God againe to Ierusalem; and they taried there.

30   
¶ And Dauid went vp by the ascent of mount Oliuet, ^note and wept as he went vp, and had his head couered, and he went barefoote, and all the people that was with him, couered euery man his head, and they went vp, weeping as they went vp.

31   
¶ And one tolde Dauid, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And Dauid sayde, O Lord, I pray thee turne the counsell

Hushais friendship. of Ahithophel into foolishnesse.

32   
¶ And it came to passe, that when Dauid was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth vpon his head:

33   
Unto whom Dauid said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden vnto me.

34   
But if thou returne to the citie, and say vnto Absalom, I wil be thy seruant, O king: as I haue bene thy fathers seruant hitherto, so will I now also be thy seruant: then mayest thou for mee defeat the counsell of Ahithophel.

35   
And hast thou not there with thee Zadok, and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soeuer thou shalt heare out of the kings house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.

36   
Behold, they haue there with them their two sonnes, Ahimaaz Zadoks sonne, and Ionathan Abiathars sonne: and by them ye shall send vnto me euery thing that ye can heare.

37   
So Hushai Dauids friend came into the citie, and Absalom came into Ierusalem. 283 CHAP. XVI. 1 Ziba by presents and false suggestions, obtaineth his masters inheritance. 5 At Bahurim Shimei curseth Dauid. 9 Dauid with patience abstaineth, and restraineth others from reuenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himselfe into Absaloms counsaile. 20 Ahithophels counsaile.

1   
And when Dauid was a little past the top of the hill, Beholde, Ziba the seruant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of asses sadled, and vpon them two hundred loaues of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottell of wine.

2   
And the King saide vnto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba saide, The asses bee for the kings houshold to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the yong men to eate, and the wine, that such as be faint in the wildernesse, may drinke.

3   
And the king said, And where is thy masters sonne? and Ziba said vnto the king, Behold, he abideth at Ierusalem: for hee said, To day shall the Shimei curseth. house of Israel restore mee the kingdome of my father.

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

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

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

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

8   
The Lord hath returned vpon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast raigned, and the Lord hath deliuered the kingdome into the hand of Absalom thy sonne: and ^note behold, thou art taken to thy mischiefe, because thou art a bloody man.

9   
¶ Then said Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah vnto the king, Why should this ^note dead dogge curse my lord the king? let mee goe ouer, I pray thee, and take off his head.

10   
And the king said, What haue I to doe with you, ye sonnes of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord hath said vnto him, Curse Dauid. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11   
And Dauid said to Abishai, and to all his seruants, Beholde, my sonne which came foorth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Beniamite doe it? let him alone, and let him curse: for the Lord hath bidden him.

12   
It may bee that the Lord will looke on mine ^note affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his cursing this day.

13   
And as Dauid and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hilles side ouer against him, and cursed as hee 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 themselues there.

15   
¶ And Absalom and al the people

Ahithophels and Hushais counsel. the men of Israel, came to Ierusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16   
And it came to passe when Hushai the Archite, Dauids friend, was come vnto Absalom, that Hushai said vnto Absalom, ^note God saue the king, God saue the king.

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

18   
And Hushai said vnto Absalom, Nay, but whom the Lord and this people, and all the men of Israel chuse, his will I bee, and with him will I abide.

19   
And againe, whom should I serue? should I not serue in the presence of his sonne? as I haue serued in thy fathers presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20   
¶ Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Giue counsell among you what we shall doe.

21   
And Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Goe in vnto thy fathers concubines, which he hath left to keepe the house, and all Israel shall heare that thou art abhorred of thy father, then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

22   
So they spread Absalom a tent vpon the top of the house, and Absalom went in vnto his fathers concubines, in the sight of all Israel.

23   
And the counsell of Ahithophel which he counselled in those dayes, was as if a man had enquired at the ^note Oracle of God: so was all the counsell of Ahithophel, both with Dauid and with Absalom. 284 CHAP. XVII. 1 Ahithophels counsell is ouerthrowen by Hushais, according to Gods appointment. 15 Secret intelligence is sent vnto Dauid. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himselfe. 25 Amasa is made captaine. 27 Dauid at Mahanaim is furnished with prouision.

1   
Moreouer Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Let mee nowe chuse out twelue thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after Dauid this night.

2   
And I wil come vpon him while hee is wearie and weake handed, and wil make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king onely. Ahithophels and Hushais counsel.

3   
And I wil bring backe all the people vnto 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 vs heare likewise ^note what he saith.

6   
And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake vnto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this maner: shall we doe after his ^note saying? if not, speake thou.

7   
And Hushai said vnto Absalom, The counsell that Ahithophel hath ^note giuen, is not good at this time.

8   
For, (said Hushai,) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they bee mightie men, and they be ^note chafed in their minds, as a beare robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of warre, and will not lodge with the people.

9   
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it wil come to passe when some of them bee ^note ouerthrowen at the first, that whosoeuer heareth it, wil say, There is a slaughter among the people that followe Absalom.

10   
And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a Lyon, shall vtterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mightie man, and they which be with him are valiant men.

11   
Therefore I counsell, that all Israel be generally gathered vnto thee, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and ^note that thou goe to battell in thine owne person.

12   
So shall wee come vpon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light vpon 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   
Moreouer, if hee be gotten into a citie, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the riuer, vntill there be not one small stone found there.

14   
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsell of Hushai the Archite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel: For the Lord had ^note appointed to defeate the good counsell of

Ahithophels death. Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring euill vpon Absalom.

15   
¶ Then said Hushai vnto Zadok and to Abiathar the Priestes, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsell Absalom and the Elders of Israel, and thus and thus haue I counselled.

16   
Now therefore send quickly, and tell Dauid, saying, Lodge not this night in the plaines of the wildernes, but speedily passe ouer, lest the King be swallowed vp, and all the people that are with him.

17   
Now Ionathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel: (for they might not be seene to come into the citie) and a wench went and tolde them: and they went, and tolde king Dauid.

18   
Neuerthelesse, a ladde saw them, and tolde Absalom: but they went both of them away quickely, and came to a mans house in Bahurim, which had a Well in his court, whither they went downe.

19   
And the woman tooke and spread a couering ouer the welles mouth, and spread ground corne thereon; and the thing was not knowen.

20   
And when Absaloms seruants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Ionathan? And the woman said vnto them, They be gone ouer the brooke of water. And when they had sought, and could not finde them, they returned to Ierusalem.

21   
And it came to passe after they were departed, that they came vp out of the Well, and went and tolde king Dauid, and said vnto Dauid, Arise, and passe quickely ouer the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22   
Then Dauid arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed ouer Iordane: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone ouer Iordane.

23   
¶ And when Ahithophel sawe that his counsell was not ^note followed, he sadled his asse, and arose, and gate him home to his house, to his citie, and ^note put his houshold in order, and hanged himselfe, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

24   
Then Dauid came to Mahanaim: and Absalom passed ouer Iordane, he and all the men of Israel with him. Dauid relieued.

25   
¶ And Absalom made Amasa captaine of the hoste in stead of Ioab: which Amasa was a mans sonne whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Ioabs mother.

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

27   
¶ And it came to passe when Dauid was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the sonne of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the sonne of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, of Rogelim,

28   
Brought beds, and ^note basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and floure, and parched corne, ∧ beanes, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

29   
And honie, and butter, and sheepe, and cheese of kine for Dauid, and for the people that were with him, to eate: for they said, The people is hungrie, and wearie, and thirstie in the wildernesse. 285 CHAP. XVIII. 1 Dauid viewing the armies in their march, giueth them charge of Absalom. 6 The Israelites are sore smitten in the wood of Ephraim. 9 Absalom hanging in an Oke, is slaine by Ioab, and cast into a pit. 18 Absaloms place. 19 Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to Dauid. 33 Dauid mourneth for Absalom.

1   
And Dauid numbred the people that were with him, and set captaines of thousands, and captaines of hundreds ouer them.

2   
And Dauid sent forth a third part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and a third part vnder the hand of Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah Ioabs brother, and a third part vnder the hand of Ittai the Gittite: and the king said vnto the people, I will surely goe foorth with you my selfe also.

3   
But the people answered, Thou shalt not goe foorth: for if we flee away, they will not care for vs, neither if halfe of vs die will they ^note care for vs: but now thou art ^note worth ten thousand of vs: therfore now it is better that thou ^note succour vs out of the citie.

4   
And the King sayde vnto them, What seemeth you best, I will doe. And the King stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds, and by thousands.

5   
And the king commanded Ioab,

Absalom slaine. and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deale gently for my sake with the yong man, euen with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gaue all the captaines charge concerning Absalom.

6   
¶ So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battell was in the wood of Ephraim,

7   
Where the people of Israel were slaine before the seruants of Dauid, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

8   
For the battell was there scattered ouer the face of all the countrey: and the wood ^note deuoured more people that day, then the sword deuoured.

9   
¶ And Absalom met the seruants of Dauid; and Absalom rode vpon a mule, and the mule went vnder the thicke boughs of a great Oke, and his head caught hold of the Oke, and hee was taken vp betweene the heauen and the earth, and the mule that was vnder him, went away.

10   
And a certaine man saw it, and told Ioab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an Oke.

11   
And Ioab said vnto the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground, and I would haue giuen thee tenne shekels of siluer, and a girdle?

12   
And the man saide vnto Ioab, Though I should ^note receiue a thousand shekels of siluer in mine hand, yet would I not put foorth mine hand against the Kings sonne: for in our hearing the King charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ^note Beware that none touch the yong man Absalom.

13   
Otherwyse, I should haue wrought falshood against mine owne life: for there is no matter hid from the King, and thou thy selfe wouldest haue set thy selfe against me.

14   
Then said Ioab, I may not tary thus ^note with thee. And hee tooke three darts in his hand, and thrust them thorow the heart of Absalom, while hee was yet aliue in the ^note midst of the Oke.

15   
And ten yong men that bare Ioabs armour, compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16   
And Ioab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Ioab helde backe the people.

17   
And they tooke Absalom, and Absaloms pillar. cast him into a great pit in the wood, and layd a very great heape of stones vpon him: and all Israel fled euery one to his tent.

18   
¶ Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared vp for himselfe a pillar, which is in ^note the Kings dale: for hee said, I haue no sonne to keepe my name in remembrance: And hee called the pillar after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day, Absaloms place.

19   
¶ Then said Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok, Let mee now runne, and beare the King tidings, how that the Lord hath ^note auenged him of his enemies.

20   
And Ioab said vnto him, Thou shalt not ^note beare tidings this day, but thou shalt beare tidings another day: but this day thou shalt beare no tidings, because the Kings sonne is dead.

21   
Then said Ioab to Cushi, Goe tell the King what thou hast seene. And Cushi bowed himselfe vnto Ioab, and ranne.

22   
Then said Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok yet againe to Ioab, But ^note howsoeuer, let mee, I pray thee, also runne after Cushi. And Ioab said, Wherefore wilt thou runne, my sonne, seeing that thou hast no tidings ^note ready?

23   
But howsoeuer, (said he) let mee runne: And hee said vnto him, Runne. Then Ahimaaz ranne by the way of the plaine, and ouerranne Cushi.

24   
And Dauid sate betweene the two gates: and the watchman went vp to the roofe ouer the gate vnto the wall, and lift vp his eyes, and looked, and behold, a man running alone.

25   
And the watchman cried, and told the King. And the king said, If he bee alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew neere.

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

27   
And the watchman said, ^note Mee thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the sonne of Zadok. And the King said, Hee is a good man, and commeth with good tidings.

28   
And Ahimaaz called, and said vnto the King, ^note All is well. And hee fell downe to the earth vpon his face before the King, and saide, Blessed bee the

Dauid mourneth. Lord thy God which hath ^note deliuered vp the men that lift vp their hande against my lord the King.

29   
And the king said, ^note Is the yong man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Ioab sent the kings seruant, and me thy seruant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

30   
And the king said vnto him, Turne aside and stand here. And hee turned aside, and stood still.

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

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

33   
¶ And the king was much moued, and went vp to the chamber ouer the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus hee said, O my sonne Absalom, my sonne, my sonne Absalom: would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my sonne, my sonne. 286 CHAP. XIX. 1 Ioab causeth the king to cease his mourning. 9 The Israelites are earnest to bring the king backe. 11 Dauid sendeth to the Priests to incite them of Iudah. 18 Shimei is pardoned. 24 Mephibosheth excused. 32 Barzillai dismissed, Chimham his sonne is taken into the Kings familie. 41 The Israelites expostulate with Iudah for bringing home the King without them.

1   
And it was told Ioab, Beholde, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

2   
And the ^note victorie that day was turned into mourning vnto all the people: for the people heard say that day, how the king was grieued for his sonne.

3   
And the people gate them by stealth that day into the citie, as people beeing ashamed steale away when they flee in battell.

4   
But the king couered his face, and the king cried with a loud voyce, O my sonne Absalom, O Absalom my sonne, my sonne.

5   
And Ioab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy seruants, Dauid returneth. which this day haue saued thy life, and the liues of thy sonnes, ∧ of thy daughters, and the liues of thy wiues, and the liues of thy concubines,

6   
^noteIn that thou louest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends; for thou hast declared this day, ^note that thou regardest neither princes, nor seruants: for this day I perceiue, that if Absalom had liued, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

7   
Now therefore arise, goe foorth, and speake ^note comfortably vnto thy seruants: for I sweare by the Lord, if thou goe not forth, there wil not tarie one with thee this night, and that will be worse vnto thee then all the euill that befell thee from thy youth vntill now.

8   
Then the King rose, and sate in the gate: and they told vnto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate: and all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled euery man to his tent.

9   
¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saued vs out of the hand of our enemies, and he deliuered vs out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

10   
And Absalom whom wee anointed ouer vs, is dead in battell: nowe therefore why ^note speake ye not a word of bringing the king backe?

11   
¶ And King Dauid sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speake vnto the Elders of Iudah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king backe to his house? (seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, euen to his house.)

12   
Yee are my brethren, Yee are my bones and my flesh: wherfore then are ye the last to bring backe 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 captaine of the hoste before me continually in the roome of Ioab.

14   
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iudah, euen as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word vnto the King, Returne thou and all thy seruants.

15   
So the King returned, and came to Iordan: and Iudah came to Gilgal, to goe to meet the King, to conduct the king ouer Iordane.

16   
¶ And ^note Shimei the sonne of

Shimeis submission. Gera, a Beniamite, which wass of Bahurim, hasted, ∧ came downe with the men of Iudah, to meet King Dauid.

17   
And there were a thousand men of Beniamin with him, and ^note Ziba the seruant of the house of Saul, and his fifteene sonnes and his twenty seruants with him, and they went ouer Iordane before the King.

18   
And there went ouer a ferry-boat to cary ouer the kings houshold, and to doe ^note what he thought good: and Shimei the sonne of Gera fell downe before the king as he was come ouer Iordane;

19   
And said vnto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquitie vnto me, neither do thou remember that which thy seruant did peruersly the day that my lord the king ^note went out of Ierusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

20   
For thy seruant doeth know that I haue sinned: therefore behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Ioseph, to goe downe to meete my lord the king.

21   
But Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah answered, and sayd, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because hee cursed the Lords Anointed?

22   
And Dauid said, What haue I to doe with you, yee sonnes of Zeruiah, that yee should this day be aduersaries vnto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for doe not I know, that I am this day King ouer Israel?

23   
Therfore the king said vnto Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the King sware vnto him.

24   
¶ And Mephibosheth the sonne of Saul came downe to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feete, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the King departed, vntill the day hee came againe in peace.

25   
And it came to passe when he was come to Ierusalem to meete the King, that the King sayd vnto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

26   
And hee answered, My lord O king, my seruant deceiued mee; for thy seruant sayd, I will saddle me an asse that I may ride thereon, and goe to the king, because thy seruant is lame:

27   
And ^note hee hath slandered thy seruant vnto my lord the king, but my lord Barzillai aged. the King is as an Angel of God: doe therefore what is good in thine eyes.

28   
For all of my fathers house were but ^note dead men before my lord the king: yet diddest thou set thy seruant among them that did eate at thine owne table: what right therefore haue I yet to crie any more vnto the king?

29   
And the king said vnto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I haue said, Thou and Ziba diuide the land.

30   
And Mephibosheth said vnto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lorde the king is come againe in peace vnto his owne house.

31   
¶ And Barzillai the Gileadite came downe from Rogelim, and went ouer Iordane with the king, to conduct him ouer Iordane.

32   
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, euen fourescore yeeres olde, and ^note he had prouided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim: for he was a very great man.

33   
And the king said vnto Barzillai, Come thou ouer with me, and I will feede thee with me in Ierusalem.

34   
And Barzillai sayde vnto the king, ^note How long haue I to liue, that I should goe vp with the King vnto Ierusalem?

35   
I am this day fourescore yeeres olde: and can I discerne betweene good and euill? Can thy seruant taste what I eate, or what I drinke? can I heare any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherfore then should thy seruant bee yet a burden vnto my lord the king?

36   
Thy seruant will goe a little way ouer Iordane with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37   
Let thy seruant, I pray thee, turne backe againe, that I may die in mine owne citie, and be buried by the graue of my father, and of my mother: but behold thy seruant Chimham, let him go ouer with my lord the king, and doe to him what shall seeme good vnto thee.

38   
And the king answered, Chimham shal goe ouer with me, and I will doe to him that which shall seeme good vnto thee: and whatsoeuer thou shalt ^note require of me, that will I doe for thee.

39   
And all the people went ouer Iordane: and when the king was come

Sheba rebelleth. ouer, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and he returned vnto his owne place.

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

41   
¶ And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said vnto the king, Why haue our brethren the men of Iudah stollen thee away, and haue brought the King and his houshold, and all Dauids men with him, ouer Iordane?

42   
And all the men of Iudah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is neere of kinne to vs: wherefore then be ye angrie for this matter? Haue we eaten at all of the kings cost? or hath he giuen vs any gift?

43   
And the men of Israel answered the men of Iudah, and said, Wee haue ten parts in the king, and we haue also more right in Dauid then yee: why then did yee ^note despise vs, that our aduice should not be first had in bringing backe our king? And the wordes of the men of Iudah were fiercer then the words of the men of Israel. 287 CHAP. XX. 1 By occasion of the quarrell, Sheba maketh a party in Israel. 3 Dauids ten concubines are shut vp in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa made captaine ouer Iudah, is slaine by Ioab. 14 Ioab pursueth Sheba vnto Abel. 16 A wise woman saueth the citie by Shebaes head. 23 Dauids Officers.

1   
And there happened to bee there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba the sonne of Bichri, a Beniamite, ∧ hee blew a trumpet, and said, Wee haue no part in Dauid, neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Iesse: euery man to his tents, O Israel.

2   
So euery man of Israel went vp from after Dauid, and followed Sheba the sonne of Bichri: but the men of Iudah claue vnto their king, from Iordane euen to Ierusalem.

3   
¶ And Dauid came to his house at Ierusalem, and the king tooke the ten women his ^note concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ^note ward, and fed them, but went not in Amasa slaine. vnto them: so they were ^note shut vp vnto the day of their death, ^note liuing in widowhood.

4   
¶ Then said the king to Amasa, ^note Assemble me the men of Iudah within three dayes, and be thou here present.

5   
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Iudah; but hee taried longer then the set time which he had appointed him.

6   
And Dauid said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the sonne of Bichri doe vs more harme then did Absalom: take thou thy lords seruants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and ^note escape vs.

7   
And there went out after him Ioabs men, and the ^note Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Ierusalem, to pursue after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

8   
When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them: and Ioabs garment that he had put on, was girded vnto him, and vpon it a girdle with a sword fastned vpon his loynes in the sheath thereof, and as hee went forth, it fell out.

9   
And Ioab saide to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Ioab tooke Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kisse him.

10   
But Amasa tooke no heed to the sword that was in Ioabs hand: so hee smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and ^note strake him not againe, and he died: so Ioab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

11   
And one of Ioabs men stood by him, and said, He that fauoureth Ioab, and hee that is for Dauid, let him goe after Ioab.

12   
And Amasa wallowed in blood in the mids of the high way: and when the man saw that all the people stood still, he remoued Amasa out of the high way into the field, and cast a cloth vpon him, when hee saw that euery one that came by him, stood still.

13   
When he was remoued out of the high way, all the people went on after Ioab, to pursue after Sheba the sonne of Bichri.

14   
¶ And hee went thorow all the tribes of Israel vnto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

Sheba beheaded.

15   
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast vp a banke against the citie, and ^note it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Ioab, ^note battered the wall, to throw it downe.

16   
¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the citie, Heare, heare; say, I pray you, vnto Ioab, Come neere hither, that I may speake with thee.

17   
And when he was come neere vnto her, the woman said, Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am he: Then shee said vnto him, Heare the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I doe heare.

18   
Then she spake, saying, ^note They were wont to speake in old time, saying, They shall surely aske counsell at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

19   
I am one of them that are peaceable and faithfull in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a citie, and a mother in Israel: Why wilt thou swallow vp the inheritance of the Lord?

20   
And Ioab answered and saide, Farre be it, farre be it from me, that I should swallow vp or destroy.

21   
The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim (Sheba the sonne of Bichri ^note by name) hath lift vp his hand against the king, euen against Dauid: deliuer him onely, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said vnto Ioab, Behold, his head shall be throwen to thee ouer the wall.

22   
Then the woman went vnto all the people in her wisedome, and they cut off the head of Sheba the sonne of Bichri, and cast it out to Ioab: and hee blew a trumpet, and they ^note retired from the citie, euery man to his tent: ∧ Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king.

23   
¶ Now ^note Ioab was ouer all the hoste of Israel, and Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer the Cherethites, and ouer the Pelethites.

24   
And Adoram was ouer the tribute, and Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud was ^note Recorder.

25   
And Sheua was scribe, and Zadok, and Abiathar were the Priests.

26   
And Ira also the Iairite, was ^note a chiefe ruler about Dauid. 288 CHAP. XXI. 1 The three yeeres famine for the Gibeonites, cease, by hanging seuen of Sauls sonnes. 10 Rizpahs kindnes vnto the dead. 12 Dauid burieth the bones of Saul and Ionathan in his fathers sepulchre. 15 Foure battels against the Philistines, wherein foure valiants of Dauid slay foure gyants. Famine in Israel.

1   
Then there was a famine in the dayes of Dauid three yeeres, yeere after yeere, and Dauid ^note enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloodie house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

2   
And the king called the Gibeonites, and said vnto 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 sworne vnto them: and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeale to the children of Israel and Iudah)

3   
Wherefore Dauid said vnto the Gibeonites, What shall I doe for you? and wherwith shall I make the atonement, that ye may blesse the inheritance of the Lord?

4   
And the Gibeonites saide vnto him, ^note We will haue no siluer nor golde of Saul, nor of his house, neither for vs shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What you shall say, that will I doe for you.

5   
And they answered the king, The man that consumed vs, and that ^note deuised against vs, that we should be destroied from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

6   
Let seuen men of his sonnes bee deliuered vnto vs, and wee will hang them vp vnto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, ^note whome the Lord did chuse. And the king said, I will giue them.

7   
But the king spared Mephibosheth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul, because of the ^note Lords othe that was between them, betweene Dauid, and Ionathan the sonne of Saul.

8   
But the king tooke the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare vnto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the fiue sonnes of ^note Michal the daughter of Saul, whome she ^note brought vp for Adriel the sonne of Barzillai the Meholathite.

9   
And hee deliuered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seuen together, and were put to death in the dayes of haruest,

Sauls bones buried. in the first dayes, in the beginning of barley haruest.

10   
¶ And ^note Rizpah the daughter of Aiah tooke sackecloth, and spread it for her vpon the rocke, from the beginning of haruest, vntill water dropped vpon them out of heauen, and suffered neither the birds of the aire to rest on them by day, nor the beastes of the fielde by night.

11   
And it was tolde Dauid what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah the concubine of Saul had done.

12   
¶ And Dauid went and tooke the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathan his sonne from the men of Iabesh Gilead, which had stollen them from the street of Bethshan where the ^note Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slaine Saul in Gilboa.

13   
And hee brought vp from thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathan his sonne, and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

14   
And the bones of Saul and Ionathan his sonne buried they in the countrey of Beniamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they perfourmed all that the king commanded: and after that, God was entreated for the land.

15   
¶ Moreouer, the Philistines had yet warre againe with Israel, and Dauid went down, and his seruants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and Dauid waxed faint.

16   
And Ishbi-benob which was of the sonnes of ^note the gyant, (the weight of whose ^note speare weighed three hundred shekels of brasse in weight) he being girded with a new sword, thought to haue slaine Dauid.

17   
But Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of Dauid sware vnto him, saying, Thou shalt goe no more out with vs to battell, that thou quench not the ^note light of Israel.

18   
^noteAnd it came to passe after this, that there was againe a battell with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sonnes of ^note the Gyant.

19   
And there was againe a battell in Gob, with the Philistines, where Elhanan the sonne of Iaare-Oregim a Bethlehemite, slewe ^note the brother of Goliath Dauids song. the Gittite, the staffe of whose speare was like a weauers beame.

20   
And there was yet a battell in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on euery hand sixe fingers, and on euery foote sixe toes, foure and twenty in number, and he also was borne to ^note the Gyant.

21   
And when he ^note defied Israel, Ionathan the sonne of ^note Shimea the brother of Dauid, slew him.

22   
These foure were borne to the Gyant in Gath, and fell by the hand of Dauid, and by the hand of his seruants. 289 CHAP. XXII. A Psalme of thankesgiuing for Gods powerfull deliuerance, and manifold blessings.

1   
And Dauid spake vnto the Lord the wordes of this song, in the day that the Lord had deliuered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.

2   
And he said, ^note The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse, and my deliuerer:

3   
The God of my rocke, in him will I trust: hee is my shield, and the horne of my saluation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Sauiour; thou sauest me from violence.

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

5   
When the ^note waues of death compassed me: the floods of ^note vngodly men made me afraid.

6   
The ^note sorowes of Hell compassed me about: the snares of death preuented me.

7   
In my distresse I called vpon the Lord, and cryed to my God, and hee did heare my voice out of his Temple, and my crie did enter into his eares.

8   
Then the earth shooke and trembled: the foundations of heauen mooued and shooke, because hee was wroth.

9   
There went vp a smoake ^note out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth deuoured: coales were kindled by it.

10   
Hee bowed the heauens also and came downe: and darkenesse was vnder his feete.

The song of Dauid.

11   
And he rode vpon a Cherub, and did flie: and hee was seene vpon the wings of the winde.

12   
And hee made darkenesse pauilions round about him, ^note darke waters, and thicke clouds of the skies.

13   
Through the brightnesse before him, were coales of fire kindled.

14   
The Lord thundred from heauen: and the most high vttered his voice.

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

16   
And the channels of the Sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discouered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17   
He sent from aboue, he tooke me: he drew me out of ^note many waters.

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

19   
They preuented me in the day of my calamitie: but the Lord was my stay.

20   
Hee brought me forth also into a large place: he deliuered me, because hee delighted in me.

21   
The Lord rewarded mee according to my righteousnesse: according to the cleannesse of my hands, hath hee recompensed me.

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

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

24   
I was also vpright ^note before him: and haue kept my selfe from mine iniquitie.

25   
Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me, according to my righteousnesse: according to my cleannesse ^note in his eye sight.

26   
With the merciful thou wilt shew thy selfe mercifull, and with the vpright man thou wilt shew thy selfe vpright.

27   
With the pure thou wilt shew thy selfe pure: and with the froward, thou wilt ^note shew thy selfe vnsauoury.

28   
And the afflicted people thou wilt saue: but thine eyes are vpon the hautie, that thou mayest bring them downe.

29   
For thou art my ^note lampe, O Lord: and the Lord wil lighten my darkenesse. The song of Dauid.

30   
For by thee I haue ^note run through a troupe: by my God haue I leaped ouer 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, saue the Lord? and who is a rocke, saue our God?

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

34   
Hee ^note maketh my feet like hindes feet: and setteth mee vpon my high places.

35   
He teacheth my hands ^note to warre: so that a bow of steele is broken by mine armes.

36   
Thou hast also giuen mee the shield of thy saluation: and thy gentlenesse ^note hath made me great.

37   
Thou hast enlarged my steps vnder me: so that my ^note feet did not slip.

38   
I haue pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them: and turned not againe vntill I had consumed them.

39   
And I haue consumed them and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen vnder my feet.

40   
For thou hast girded mee with strength to battel: them that rose vp against me, hast thou ^note subdued vnder me.

41   
Thou hast also giuen mee the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42   
They looked, but there was none to saue: euen vnto the Lord, but he answered them not.

43   
Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth: I did stampe them as the myre of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44   
Thou also hast deliuered mee from the striuings of my people, thou hast kept mee to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not, shall serue me.

45   
^noteStrangers shall ^note submit themselues vnto me: as soone as they heare, they shall be obedient vnto me.

46   
Strangers shall fade away: and they shall bee afraid out of their close places.

47   
The Lord liueth, and blessed be my rocke: and exalted be the God of the rocke of my saluation.

48   
It is God that ^note auengeth mee, and that bringeth downe the people vnder me:

49   
And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted mee

Dauids worthies, and valiant men. vp on high aboue them that rose vp against me: thou hast deliuered me from the violent man.

50   
Therefore I will giue thankes vnto thee, O Lord, among ^note the heathen: and I will sing praises vnto thy Name.

51   
He is the towre of saluation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his Anointed, vnto Dauid, and ^note to his seede for euermore. 290 CHAP. XXIII. 1 Dauid in his last words, professeth his faith in Gods promises to be beyond sence or experience. 6 The different state of the wicked. 8 A catalogue of Dauids mightie men.

1   
Nowe these bee the last words of Dauid: Dauid the sonne of Iesse saide, and the man who was raised vp on high, the Anointed of the God of Iacob, and the sweet Psalmist of Israel, said,

2   
The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3   
The God of Israel said, the Rocke of Israel spake to me: ^note he that ruleth ouer men must be iust, ruling in the feare of God:

4   
And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the Sunne riseth, euen a morning, without cloudes; as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after raine:

5   
Although my house be not so with God: yet he hath made with mee an euerlasting couenant, ordred in al things and sure: for this is all my saluation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

6   
¶ But the sonnes of Belial shall bee all of them as thornes thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands,

7   
But the man that shal touch them, must be ^note fenced with yron, and the staffe of a speare, and they shall bee vtterly burnt with fire in the same place.

8   
¶ These be the names of the mightie men whome Dauid had: ^note The Tachmonite that sate in the seat, chiefe among the captaines, (the same was Adino the Eznite:) ^note hee lift vp his speare against eight hundred, ^note whom he slew at one time.

9   
And after him was ^note Eleazar the sonne of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mightie men with Dauid, when they defied the Philistines that were Dauids worthies, and valiant men. there gathered together to battell, and the men of Israel were gone away.

10   
He arose, and smote the Philistines vntill his hand was wearie, and his hand claue vnto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victorie that day, and the people returned after him onely to spoile.

11   
And after him was ^note Shammah the sonne of Agee the Hararite: and the Philistines were gathered together ^note into a troupe, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12   
But hee stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slewe the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victorie.

13   
And ^note three of the thirtie chiefe went downe and came to Dauid in the haruest time, vnto the caue of Adullam: and the troupe of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

14   
And Dauid was then in an holde, and the garison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15   
And Dauid longed, and said, Oh that one would giue mee drinke of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate.

16   
And the three mightie men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the Well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and tooke it, and brought it to Dauid: neuerthelesse he would not drinke thereof, but powred it out vnto the Lord.

17   
And he said, Be it farre from me, O Lord, that I should doe this: is not this the blood of the men that went in ieopardie of their liues? therefore he would not drinke it. These things did these three mightie men.

18   
And ^note Abishai the brother of Ioab, the sonne of Zeruiah, was chiefe among three, and he lift vp his speare against three hundred, ^note and slew them, and had the name among three.

19   
Was hee not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captaine: howbeit, hee attained not vnto the first three.

20   
And Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada the sonne of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, ^note who had done many actes, he slew two ^note lion-like men of Moab: hee went downe also, and slewe a Lyon in the middest of a pit in time of snow.

Dauids worthies.

21   
And he slew an Egyptian ^note a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a speare in his hand; but he went downe to him with a staffe, and plucked the speare out of the Egyptians hand, and slewe him with his owne speare.

22   
These things did Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada, and had the name among three mightie men.

23   
Hee was ^note more honourable then the thirtie, but hee attained not to the first three: and Dauid set him ouer his ^note guard.

24   
^noteAsahel the brother of Ioab was one of the thirtie: Elhanan the sonne of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25   
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26   
Helez the ^note Paltite, Ira the sonne of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27   
Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28   
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29   
Heleb the sonne of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the sonne of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Beniamin.

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

31   
Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaueth the Barhumite,

32   
Elihaba the Shaalbonite: of the sonnes of Iashen, Ionathan,

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

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

35   
Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

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

37   
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, armour-bearer to Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah,

38   
Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39   
Uriah the Hittite: thirtie and seuen in all. 291 CHAP. XXIIII. 1 Dauid tempted by Satan, forceth Ioab to number the people. 5 The captaines in nine moneths and twentie dayes, bring the muster of eleuen thousand fighting men. 10 Dauid hauing three plagues propounded by Gad, repenteth, and chuseth the three dayes pestilence. 15 After the death of threescore and ten thousand, Dauid by repentance preuenteth the destruction of Ierusalem. 18 Dauid, by Gads direction purchaseth Araunahs threshing-floore, where hauing sacrificed, the plague staveth. Israel numbred.

1   
And againe the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and ^note hee mooued Dauid against them, to say, Goe, number Israel and Iudah.

2   
For the king said to Ioab the captaine of the hoste, which was with him, ^note Goe now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

3   
And Ioab sayde vnto the King, Now the Lord thy God adde vnto the people (how many soeuer they be) an hundred folde, and that the eyes of my lorde the king may see it: but why doeth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4   
Notwithstanding, the kings word preuailed against Ioab, and against the captaines of the hoste: and Ioab and the captaines of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5   
¶ And they passed ouer Iordane, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the citie that lieth in the midst of the ^note riuer of Gad, and toward Iazer.

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

7   
And came to the strong holde of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hiuites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the South of Iudah, euen to Beer-sheba.

8   
So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Ierusalem at the ende of nine moneths, and twentie dayes.

9   
And Ioab gaue vp the summe of the number of the people vnto the king, and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drewe the sword: and the men of Iudah were fiue hundred thousand men.

10   
¶ And Dauids heart smote him, after that hee had numbred the people: and Dauid sayde vnto the Lord, I haue sinned greatly in that I haue done: and nowe I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquitie of

Dauid repenteth, and sacrificeth. thy seruant, for I haue done very foolishly.

11   
For when Dauid was vp in the morning, the word of the Lord came vnto the Prophet Gad Dauids Seer, saying,

12   
Goe and say vnto Dauid, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; chuse thee one of them, that I may doe it vnto thee.

13   
So Gad came to Dauid, and told him, and said vnto him, Shall seuen yeeres of famine come vnto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three moneths before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three dayes pestilence in thy land? Now aduise, and see what answere I shall returne to him that sent me.

14   
And Dauid saide vnto Gad, I am in a great strait: let vs 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 vpon Israel, from the morning, euen to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan euen to Beersheba, seuentie thousand men.

16   
And when the Angel stretched out his hand vpon Ierusalem to destroy it, ^note the Lord repented him of the euill, and said to the Angel that destroyed the people, It is ynough: stay now thine hand. And the Angel of the Lord was by the threshing place of Araunah the Iebusite.

17   
And Dauid spake vnto the Lord when he saw the Angel that smote the people, and said, Loe, I haue sinned, and I haue done wickedly: but these sheepe, what haue they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against mee, Dauid repenteth, and sacrificeth. and against my fathers house.

18   
¶ And Gad came that day to Dauid, and said vnto him, Goe vp, reare an Altar vnto the Lord, in the threshing floore of Araunah the Iebusite.

19   
And Dauid, according to the saying of Gad, went vp, as the Lord commanded.

20   
And Araunah looked, and saw the King and his seruants comming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himselfe before the King on his face vpon the ground.

21   
And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the King come to his seruant? and Dauid saide, To buy the threshing floore of thee, to build an Altar vnto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

22   
And Araunah said vnto Dauid, Let my lord the King take and offer vp what seemeth good vnto him: Beholde, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments, and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

23   
All these things did Araunah, as a king, giue vnto the King: and Araunah saide vnto the King, The Lord thy God accept thee.

24   
And the King said vnto Araunah, Nay, but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings vnto the Lord my God, of that which doeth cost mee nothing. So Dauid bought the threshing floore, and the oxen, for fiftie shekels of siluer.

25   
Aud Dauid built there an Altar vnto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings: so the Lord was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

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