THE SECOND BOOKE OF SAMVEL, WHICH WE CAL THE SECOND OF KINGES. Chap. I. Dauid hearing that Saul and Ionathas are slaine, 11. mourneth with al his familie, weeping and fasting. 13. causeth him to be slaine who affirmed that he had killed king Saul. 18. He traineth vp archers. 19. and inuiteth also al Israel to mourne.

1   And it came to passe, after that Saul was dead, that Dauid returned from the slaughter of Amalec, and taryed in Siceleg two dayes.

2   And in the third day there appeared a man coming out of Sauls campe, his garments torne, and sprinkled on the head with dust, and as he came to Dauid, he fel vpon his face, and adored.

3   And Dauid said vnto him: Whence comest thou: Who said to him: I fledde out of the campe of Israel.

4   And Dauid said vnto him: What is the matter that is done? tel me. Who said: The people is fled out of the battel, and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead: yea Saul also and Ionathas his sonne are dead.

5   And Dauid said to the yong man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul is dead, and Ionathas his sonne?

6   And the young man that told him, sayd: ^note By chance I came into mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned vpon his speare: moreouer the chariots and horsemen approched vnto him,

7   and turning backward, and seing me he called. To whom when I had answered, here I am:

8   he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite,

9   And he said to me: Stand vpon me, and kil me: because anguishes hold me, and as yet al my life is in me.

10   And standing vpon him, I killed him: for I knewe that he could not liue after the fal: and I tooke the Diademe that was on his head, & the bracelette from his arme, and haue brought to thee my lord hither.

11   And Dauid taking his garments rent them, and al the men that were with him,

12   and they ^note mourned, and wept, and fasted vntil euening vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne, and vpon the people

Dauid. of our Lord, and vpon the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

13   And Dauid said to the yong man that had told him: Whence art thou? Who answered: I am the sonne of a man a stranger of Amalec.

14   Dauid said to him: Why didst thou not feare to put to thy hand, to kil the annointed of our Lord?

15   And Dauid calling one of his seruants, said: Goe runne vpon him. Who stroke him, and he died.

16   And Dauid said to him: Thy bloud be vpon thine owne head: for thyn owne mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I haue slaine the annointed of our Lord.

17   And Dauid mourned this kind of mourning vpon Saul, and vpon Ionathas his sonne,

18   (and he commanded that they should ^note teach the children of Iuda the bowe, as it is written in the Booke of the iust.) And he said: Consider, o Israel for them that be dead wounded vpon thy high places.

19   The Nobles, ô Israel, are slayne vpon thy mountaynes: how are the valiants fallen?

20   Tel it not in Geth, neither tel ye it in the high waies of Ascalon: lest perhaps the daughters of the Philisthijms be gladde, lest the daughters of the vncircumcised reioice.

21   Mountaines of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rayne come vpon you, neither be they fields of the first fruits: because there was the shield of the valiantes cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he were not annointed with oyle.

22   From the bloud of the slaine, from the fatte of the valiants, the arrowe of Ionathas neuer returned backward, and the sword of Saul did not returne emptie.

23   Saul and Ionathas amiable, and comely in their life, in death also were not diuided: swifter then eagles, stronger then lyons.

24   Yee daughters of Israel weepe vpon Saul, who clothed you with scarlet in delicaces, who gaue golden ornaments to your attyre.

25   How haue the valiantes fallen in battel? Ionathas bene slayne in thy high places?

26   I am sorie for thee my brother Ionathas exceeding beautiful, and amiable aboue the loue of wemen. As the mother loueth her onlie sonne, so did I loue thee.

27   How haue the strong fallen, and the weapons of warre perished? Chap. II. Dauid is receiued and annointed King of Iuda. 5. He commendeth those of Iabes Galaad, which buried Saul. 8. Isboseth the sonne of Saul reigneth ouer the rest of Israel. 12. whereby riseth sharpe warre betwen Abner and Ioab, chief captaines of the two kinges. 30. Manie more are slaine of Abners partie then of Ioabs.

Dauid.

1   Therefore after these thinges Dauid consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp into one of the cities of Iuda? And our Lord said to him: Goe vp. And Dauid said: Whither shal I goe vp? And he answered him: Into Hebron.

2   Dauid therefore went vp, and his two wiues, Achinoam the Iezrahelite, and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel:

3   yea and the men also that were with him, Dauid brought euery one with his houshould: and they abode in the townes of Hebron.

4   And the men of Iuda came, and ^note annoynted Dauid there, to reigne ouer the house of Iuda. And it was told Dauid, that the men of Iabes Galaad had buried Saul.

5   Dauid therefore sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Galaad, and sayd vnto them: Blessed be you to our Lord, which haue done this mercie with your lord Saul, and haue buried him.

6   And now our Lord certes wil render you mercie and truth: but I also wil require you the good turne, for that you haue done this thing.

7   Let your handes be strengthned, and be yee stout men: for although your lord Saul be dead, yet the house of Iuda hath annointed me to be their king.

8   But Abner the sonne of Ner prince of Sauls armie, tooke Isboseth the sonne of Saul, & led him about through the campe,

9   and ordained him king ouer Galaad, and ouer Gessuri, and ouer Iezrahel, & ouer Ephraim, and ouer Beniamin, and ouer al Israel.

10   Fourtie yeares old was Isboseth the sonne of Saul when he began to reigne ouer Israel, and he reigned ^note two yeares: and only the house of Iuda folowed Dauid.

11   And the number of the daies, that Dauid abode, reigning in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda, was seuen yeares and six monethes.

12   And Abner the sonne of Ner went forth, and the seruantes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul, out of the campe into Gabaon.

13   Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia, and the seruants of Dauid went forth, and mette them beside the poole of Gabaon, and when they were come together into one place, they sate one ouer against an other: these on the one side of the poole, and they on the other.

14   And Abner said to Ioab: Let the yong men rise, and ^note play before vs. And Ioab answered: Let them rise.

15   There rose therefore and passed twelue in number, of Beniamin, of Isboseths part the sonne of Saul, and twelue of the seruantes of Dauid.

16   And euery one taking the head of his mate, sticked his sword into the side of his aduersarie, and they fel together:

Dauid. & the name of the place was called: The field of the valiantes, in Gabaon.

17   And there rose a very sore battel in that day: and Abner was put to flight, & the men of Israel, by the seruantes of Dauid.

18   And there were there the three sonnes of Saruia, Ioab, and Abisai, and Asael: moreouer Asael was a most swift runner, as it were one of the roes, that abide in the wooddes.

19   And Asael pursued Abner, and declined not to the right hand nor to the left omitting to pursue Abner.

20   Abner therefore looked backe behind him, and said: Art thou Asael? Who answered: I am.

21   And Abner said to him: Goe to the right hand, or to the left, and apprehend one of the youug men, and take to thee his spoyles. But Asael would not leaue but vrged him.

22   And againe Abner said to Asael: Retyre, and do not folowe me, left I be compelled to sticke thee to the ground, and I shal not be able to lift vp my face to Ioab thy brother.

23   Who contemned to heare, and would not goe aside: Abner therefore stroke him, with his speare turned backe in the priuy partes, and thrust him through, and he dyed in the same place: and al that passed by that place, wherein Asael fel and dyed, did stay.

24   But whiles Ioab and Abisai pursued Abner fleeing, the sunne went downe: and they came as farre as the hil of the water conduit, that is ouer against the valley the way of the desert in Gabaon.

25   And the children of Beniamin were assembled together to Abner: and being gathered in a plumpe into one troupe, they stoode in the toppe of one hil.

26   And Abner cried out to Ioab, and said: Shal thy sword rage vnto vtter destruction? knowest thou not that desperation is dangerous? how long differest thou to say to the people, that they leaue to pursue their brethren?

27   And Ioab said: Our Lord liueth, if thou hadest spoken, in the morning had the people retyred, from pursuing their brethren.

28   Ioab therefore sounded the trumpette, and al the armie stood, neither did they pursue Israel any further, nor enter into fight.

29   And Abner and his men went through the champaine country, al that night: and they passed Iordan, and hauing viewed al Beth horon, came to the campe.

30   Moreouer Ioab returning, after he had leift Abner, assembled al the people: and there wanted of Dauids seruantes nintene men, beside Asael.

31   But the seruantes of Dauid stroke of Beniamin, and of the men, that were with Abner three hundred three score, who also died.

32   And they tooke Asael, & buried

Dauid. him in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem: and Ioab, and the men that were with him, walked al the night, and in the very twilight they came into Hebron. Chap. III. Isboseths forces daily decay, Dauid increaseth in powre, and hath manie sonnes. 7. Abner vpon occasion of a sclander breaketh from Isboseth, and serueth Dauid, bringing Michol to him, and much people of Israel. 23. Ioab of emulation and reuenge killeth Abner. 28. for which Dauid is offended with Ioab, 31. and mourneth for Abner.

1   There was made therefore long strife betwen the house of Saul, and betwen the house of Dauid: Dauid prospering and alwaies stronger then himself, but the house of Saul decreasing daily.

2   And there were sonnes borne to Dauid in Hebron: and his first begotten was Amnon of Achinoam the Iezrahelite.

3   And after him Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: moreouer the third Absalom the sonne of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur.

4   And the fourth Adonias, the sonne of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia, the sonne of Abital.

5   The sixt also Iethraam of Egla the wife of Dauid. these were borne to Dauid in Hebron

6   Therefore when there was battel betwen the house of Saul and house of Dauid, Abner the sonne of Ner ruled the house of Saul.

7   And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:

8   Why diddest thou go in to my fathers concubine? Who being wrath exceedingly for the wordes of Isboseth, said: What ^note am I a dogges head against Iuda this day, which haue done mercie vpon the house of Saul thy father, and vpon his brethren and neerest freinds, & haue not deliuered thee into the hands of Dauid, & hast thou sought against me that thou mightest charge me for a woman to day?

9   These things do God to Abner, and these things adde he to him, vnlesse as our Lord hath sworne to Dauid, so I doe truth to him.

10   That the kingdom be transferred from the house of Saul, and the throne of Dauid be exalted ouer Israel, and ouer Iuda, from Dan to Bersabee.

11   And he could not answer him any thing, because he feared him.

12   Abner therefore sent messengers to Dauid for himself saying: Whose is the land? And that they should say: Make amitie with me, & my hand shal be with thee: and I wil reduce vnto thee al Israel.

13   Who said: Very wel: I wil make amitie

Dauid. with thee: but one thing I desire of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.

14   And Dauid sent messengers to Isboseth the sonne of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, which I betrothed to me for an hundred prepuces of the Philisthijms.

15   Isboseth therefore sent, and tooke her from her husband Phaltiel, the sonne of Lais.

16   And her husband folowed her, weeping as farre as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Goe, and returne. Who returned.

17   Abner also spake to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought Dauid that he might reigne ouer you.

18   Now therefore do so: because our Lord hath spoken to Dauid, saying: In the hand of my seruant Dauid I wil saue my people Israel from the hands of the Philistijms, and of al their enemies.

19   And Abner spake also to Beniamin. And he went to speake vnto Dauid in Hebron al things which pleased Israel, and al Beniamin.

20   And he came to Dauid into Hebron with twentie men: and Dauid made a feast to Abner, and to his men that came with him.

21   And Abner sayd to Dauid: I wil rise, that I may gather vnto thee my lord king al Israel, and may enter a league with thee, and thou mayst reigne ouer al, as thy soule desireth. When Dauid therefore had brought Abner on the way, and he was gone in peace,

22   forthwith Dauids seruantes and Ioab came, hauing slayne the robbers, with a praye exceding great: and Abner was not with Dauid in Hebron, Because he had now dismissed him, and he was departed in peace.

23   And Ioab, and al the armie which were with him, came afterward: it was therefore told Ioab, that Abner the sonne of Ner came to the king, and he dismissed him, and he departed in peace.

24   And Ioab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold Abner came to thee: why didst thou dismisse him and he is gone and departed?

25   knowest thou not Abner the sonne of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceiue thee, and might know thy going out, and thy coming in, and vnderstand al things that thou doest?

26   Ioab therfore being gone from Dauid, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him backe from the cesterne Sira, Dauid being ignorant therof.

27   And when Abner was returned into Hebron, Ioab brought him aside to the middes of the gate, to spake vnto him in guile: and stroke him there in the priuie

Dauid. partes, and he died, in reuenge of the bloud of Asael his brother.

28   Which when Dauid had heard, that the thing was now done, he said: I am innocent, and my kingdom before God for euer from the bloud of Abner the sonne of Ner,

29   and come it vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon al his fathers house: neither let there fayle of the house of Ioab one hauing a fluxe of seede, and a leper, and houlding the distaffe, and falling by the sword, lacking bread.

30   Ioab therefore and Abisai his brother slewe Abner, because he had killed Asael their brother in Gabaon in the battel.

31   And Dauid said to Ioab, and to al the people, that were with him: Rent your garmentes, and be girded with sacke clothes, and mourne before the funeral of Abner. Moreouer king Dauid folowed the beere.

32   And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king Dauid lifted vp his voice, and wept vpon the graue of Abner: and al the people also wept.

33   And the king mourning and lamenting Abner, sayd: Not as cowardes are wont to die, hath Abner died.

34   Thy handes were not bound, and thy feete were not loden with fetters: but as men are wont to fal before the children of iniquitie, so art thou fallen. And al the people dubling it wept vpon him.

35   And when al the multitude was come to take meate with Dauid, when it was yet cleere day Dauid sware, saying: These thinges do God to me, and these adde he, if before sunne set I shal tast bread or any thing els.

36   And al the people heard, and al thinges pleased them which the king did in the sight of al the people.

37   And al the people knewe, and al Israel in that day that it was not the kinges doing, that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne.

38   The king also said to his seruantes: Are you ignorant that a prince and the greatest is slayne this day in Israel?

39   But I as yet ^note delicate, and annointed king: moreouer the the sonnes of Saruia are hard to me: our Lord reward him that doth euil according to his malice. Chap. IIII. Baana and Rechab secretly kil Isboseth: 8. bring his head to Dauid. 9. who condemning their fact, putteth them to death.

1   And Isboseth the sonne of Saul heard that Abner was slaine in Hebron: and his handes were weakened, and al Israel was trubled.

2   And the sonne of Saul had two men captaynes of robbers, the name of one Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite

Dauid. of the sonnes of Beniamin: for Beroth also was accounted in Beniamin.

3   And the Berothites fled into Gethaim, and were there strangers vntil that time.

4   And Ionathas the sonne of Saul had a sonne lame in his feete: for he was fiue yeares old, when the tydinges came of Saul and Ionathas from Iezrahel. his nurse therefore taking him, fled: and when she made hast to flee, he fel, and was made lame: and he was called Miphiboseth.

5   Therefore the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite, Rachab and Baana coming, entered into the house of Isboseth in the heat of the day: who slept vpon his bed at noone.

6   And they entered into the house secretely taking eares of corne, and Rechab and Baana his brother, stroke him in priuy partes and fled.

7   And when they were entred into the house, he slept vpon his bed in a parler, and striking they killed him: and taking away his head they went by the way of the desert al night.

8   And brought the head of Isboseth to Dauid into Hebron: and they said to the king: Behold the head of Isboseth the sonne of Saul thine enemie who sought thy life: and our Lord hath geuen my lord the king this day reuenge of Saul, and of his seede.

9   But Dauid answering Rechab, and Baana his brother, the sonnes of Rhemmon the Berothite, and sayd to them: our Lord liueth, which hath deliuered my soule out of al distresse,

10   for so much as him that told me, and said: Saul is dead, who thought that he told prosperous thinges, I apprehended, and slewe him in Siceleg, to whom I should haue geuen a reward for his tydinges.

11   How much more now when wicked men haue slaine an innocent man in his owne house, vpon his bed, shal I not require his bloud of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12   Dauid therefore commanded his seruantes, and they slew them, and cutting of their hands and feete, hanged them ouer the poole in Hebron: but the head of Isboseth they tooke, and buried in the sepulcher of Abner in Hebron. Chap. V. VVith general consent Dauid is annointed king of al Israel. 7. He taketh the towre of Sion in Ierusalem, destroying the Icbuseites. 9. buildeth there a new house: 13 marieth more wiues, and hath more children. 17. The Philistijm; rising against him are ouerthrowen: 22. also the second time.

1   And al the tribes of Israel came to Dauid in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2   Yea and yesterday also and the day before when Saul was king ouer vs.

Dauid. thou wast he that didst leade vs forth and bring backe Israel: and our Lord sayd to thee: Thou shalt feede my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince ouer Israel.

3   The ancientes also of Israel came to the king into Hebron, and king Dauid made a league with them in Hebron before our Lord: and they ^note annointed Dauid to be king ouer Israel.

4   Thirtie yeares old was Dauid when he began to reigne, and he reigned fourtie yeares.

5   In Hebron he reigned ouer Iuda seuen yeares and six monethes: and in Ierusalem he reigned three and thirtie yeares ouer al Israel & Iuda.

6   And the king went, & al the men that were with him, into Ierusalem to the Iebuseite the inhabiter of the land: & they said to Dauid. Thou shalt not come in hither, vnlesse thou take away the blind and the lame, saying: Dauid shal not come in hither.

7   But ^note Dauid tooke the towre of Sion, this is the citie of Dauid.

8   For Dauid had proposed in that day a reward to whosoeuer should strike the Iebuseite, and touch the gutters of the house toppes, and take away the blind and the lame that hated the soule of Dauid: therefore it is sayd in the prouerbe: ^note The blind and the lame shal not enter into the temple.

9   And Dauid dwelt in the towre, and called it, The citie of Dauid: & built round about from Mello and inwards.

10   And he went prospering and growing vp, and our Lord the God of hostes was with him.

11   Hiram also the king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid, and ceder trees, and carpenters, and masons for walles: and they built a house for Dauid.

12   And Dauid knew that our Lord had confirmed him king ouer Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdome ouer his people Israel.

13   Dauid therefore tooke yet concubines and wiues of Ierusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were borne to Dauid other sonnes also and daughters:

14   And these be the names of them, that were borne to him in Ierusalem, Samua, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Salomon,

15   and Iebahar, and Elisua, and Nepheg,

16   and Iaphia, and Elisama, and Elioda, and Eliphaleth.

17   The Philistijms therefore heard that they had annointed Dauid to be king ouer Israel: and they went vp al to seeke Dauid: which when Dauid had heard, he went downe into a hold.

18   And the Philistijms coming were spred in the Vale Raphaim.

19   And Dauid consulted our Lord, saying: Shal I goe vp to the Philistijms? and wilt thou geue them into my hand? And our Lord sayd to Dauid: Goe vp, because deliuering I wil geue the Philistjims

Dauid. in thy hand.

20   Dauid therefore came into Baal Pharasim: and stroke them there, and said: Our Lord hath diuided mine enemies before me, as waters are diuided, therefore the name of the place was called Baal Pharasim.

21   And they leift there their ^note grauen goddes: which Dauid, and his men tooke.

22   And the Philistians added yet to go vp, and spred them selues in the Vale Raphaim.

23   And Dauid consulted our Lord: Shal I goe vp against the Philistijms, and wilt thou deliuer them into my handes? Who answered: Goe not vp against them, but fetch a compasse behind their backe, and thou shalt come to them ouer against the peare trees.

24   And when thou shalt heare the sound of one going in the toppe of the peare-trees, then shalt thou enter battel: because then wil our Lord goe forth before thy face, to strike the campe of the Philistijms.

25   Dauid therefore did as our Lord had commanded him, and he stroke the Philistijms from Gabaa, vntil thou come to Gezer. Chap. VI. VVith great solemnitie Dauid bringeth the Arke of God from Abinadabs house. 6. Oza for touching it is sodenly slaine. 9. whereupon Dauid fearing to bring it to his owne house, leaueth it in the house of obededom three monethes, 12. then fetcheth it, dancing before it, though Michol scorne his deuotion. 17. He offereth sacrifices, distributeth giftes, blesseth the people. 23. And Michol is barren.

1   And Dauid againe gathered together al the chosen of Israel, thirtie thousand.

2   And Dauid arose, and went, and al the people that was with him of the men of Iuda, to bring the arke of God, vpon which was inuocated the name of the Lord of hostes, which sitteth in the Cherubins vpon it.

3   And they layd the arke of God vpon a new wayne: and tooke it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa: and Oza, and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab, did driue the new wayne.

4   And when they had taken it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, Ahio keeping the arke of God went before the arke.

5   But Dauid, and al Israel played before our Lord in al wrought wood, both on harpes, and lutes and timbrels and sitterns and cymbals.

6   And after they came to the Floore of Nachon, Oza put forth his hand to the arke of God, and held it: because the oxen spurned, and made it leane aside.

7   And our Lord was wrath with indignation

Dauid. against Oza, and stroke him for the ^note rashenes: who died there before the arke of God.

8   And Dauid was strooken sad, for that our Lord had strooken Oza, and the name of that place was called: The striking of Oza vntil this day.

9   And Dauid feared our Lord in that day, saying: How shal the arke of our Lord come vnto me?

10   And he would not haue the arke of our Lord turne in to himself into the citie of Dauid: but he caused it to turne in vnto the house of Obededom the Getheite.

11   And the arke of our Lord dwelt in the house of Obededom the Getheite three monethes: and our Lord blessed Obededom, and al his house.

12   And it was told king Dauid, that our Lord had blessed Obededom, and al that he had for the arke of God. Dauid therefore went, and brought away the arke of God out of the house of Obededom, into the citie of Dauid with ioy.

13   And when they had passed, that caried the arke of our Lord, six passes, he immolated an oxe and a ramme.

14   And Dauid danced with al his might before our Lord. moreouer Dauid was girded with a linnen ephod.

15   And Dauid, and al the house of Israel brought the arke of testament of our Lord in iubilation, and in sounde of trumpet.

16   And when the arke of our Lord was entred into the citie of Dauid, Michol the daughter of Saul looking forth through a window, sawe king Dauid leaping, and dancing ^note before our Lord: and she despised him in her hart.

17   And they brought in the arke of our Lord, and sette it in his place in the middes of the tabernacle, which Dauid had pitched for it: and Dauid offered holocaustes, and pacifiques before our Lord.

18   And when he had accomplished offering holocaustes and pacifiques, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hostes.

19   And he distributed to al the multitude of Israel as wel man as woman, to euerie one, one cake of bread, and one roasted peece of beefe, and flowre fryed with oyle: and al the people went, euerie man into his house.

20   And Dauid returned to blesse his owne house: and Michol the daughter of Saul coming forth to meete Dauid, sayd: How glorious was the king of Israel to day vncouering himself before the handmaydes of his seruantes, and was naked, as if one of the ribbaldes should be naked.

21   And Dauid sayd vnto Michol: Before our Lord, which hath chosen me rather then thy father, and then al his house, and commanded me that I should be duke ouer the people of our Lord in

Dauid. Israel,

22   both wil I play, & wil become more vile then I haue beene: and I wil be humble in mine eies, and with the handmaydes, of whom thou speakest, I wil appeare more glorious.

23   Therefore vnto Michol the daughter of Saul was there no child borne vnto the day of her death. Chap. VII. Dauids good purpose to build a Temple is differred by Gods appointment. 12. with promise that his sonne shal performe it, and be established in the kingdom. 18. For al which her rendereth thankes to God.

1   And it came to passe when the king sate in his house, and our Lord had geuen him rest on euery side from al his enemies,

2   he sayd to Nathan the prophet: Doest thou see that I dwel in a house of cedar, and the arke of God is sette ^note in the middes skinnes?

3   And Nathan sayd to the king: Al that is in thy hart, goe doe, because our Lord is with thee.

4   And it came to passe in that night: and behold the word of our Lord to Nathan, saying:

5   Goe, and speake to my seruant Dauid: Thus sayth our Lord: Shalt thou build me a house to dwel in?

6   For neither haue I dwelt in house from the day that I brought the children of Israel out of the Land of Ægypt, vntil this day: but I walked in tabernacle, and in tent.

7   Through out al the places, that I haue passed with al the children of Israel, speaking did I speake to one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to feede my people Israel, saying: Why did you not build me a house of cedar?

8   And now these thinges shalt thou say to my seruant Dauid: Thus sayth the Lord of hostes: I tooke thee out of the pastures folowing the flockes, that thou shouldest be prince ouer my people Israel:

9   and I haue beene with thee wheresoeuer thou hast walked, and haue slayne al thine enemies from thy face: and haue made thee a great name, according to the name of the great ones, that are in the earth.

10   And I wil appoint a place for my people Israel, and wil plant it, and they shal dwel vnder it, and shal be trubled no more: neither shal the children of iniquitie adde to afflict them as before.

11   From the day that I appointed Iudges ouer my people Israel: and I wil geue thee rest from al thine enemies. and our Lord foretelleth thee, that our Lord wil make thee a house.

12   And when thy daies shal be accomplished, and thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers, I wil rayse vp thy seede after thee,

Dauid. which shal come forth of thy wombe, and ^note I wil establish his kingdom.

13   He shal build a house to my name, and I wil establish the throne of his kingedome for euer.

14    ^noteI wil be to him for a father, and he shal be to me for a sonne: who if ^note he shal do any thing vniustly, I wil rebuke him in the rod of men, and in the plagues of the sonnes of men.

15   But my mercie I wil not take away from him, as I tooke from Saul, whom I remoued from thy face.

16   And thy house shal be faithful, and ^note thy kingdom for euer before thy face, and thy throne shal be firme continually.

17   According to al these wordes, and according to al this vision, so did Nathan speake to Dauid.

18   And Dauid went in, and sate before our Lord, and said: Who am I ô Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus farre?

19   But this also hath semed litle in thy sight ô Lord God, vnles thou didst speake also of the house of thy seruant for a long time: for this is the law of Adam, Lord God.

20   What can Dauid therefore adde yet, to speake vnto thee? for thou knowest thy seruant ô Lord God.

21   For thy word, and according to thy hart thou hast done al these great thinges, so that thou wouldest notifie it to thy seruant.

22   Therefore art thou magnified ô lord God, because there is none like to thee, neither is there a God besides thee, in al thinges that we haue heard with our eares.

23   And what nation is there in the earth, as thy people Israel, for the which ^note God hath gone, that he might ^note redeme it to be his people, and might make him selfe a name & doe for them great wonders, and horrible thinges vpon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redemedst to thy self out of Ægypt, from the nations and from their goddes.

24   For thou hast confirmed thy people Israel to be an euerlasting people: and thou Lord God art become their God.

25   Now therefore ô Lord God, raise vp for euer the word, that thou hast spoken vpon thy seruant, and vpon his house: and doe as thou hast spoken,

26   that thy name may be magnified for euer, and it may be said: The Lord of hostes is God ouer Israel. And the house of thy seruant Dauid shal be established before our Lord,

27   because thou ô Lord of hostes God of Israel hast reueled the eare of thy seruant, saying: A house I build thee: therefore hath thy seruant found his hart to pray thee with this prayer.

28   Now therefore ô Lord God, thou art God, and thy wordes shal be true: for thou hast spoken to thy seruant

Dauid. these good thinges.

29   Beginne therefore, and blesse the house of thy seruant, that it may be for euer before thee: because thou Lord God hast spoken, by thy blessing shal the house of thy seruant be blessed for euer. Chap. VIII. Diuers nations and countries to which Israel payed tribute, are subdued by Dauid, and pay tribute to Israel. 16. Chief officers are mentioned.

1   And it came to passe after these thinges Dauid stroke the Philistijms, and humbled them, and Dauid tooke the Bridle of tribute out of the hand of the Philistijms

2   And he stroke Moab, and measured them with ^note a corde, making them euen with the earth: and he measured two cordes, one to kil, and one to saue aliue: and Moab became seruing Dauid vnder tribute.

3   And Dauid stroke Adarezer the sonne of Rohob king of Soba, when he went forth to haue dominion ouer the riuer Euphrates.

4   And Dauid hauing taken of his part a thousand seuen hundred horsemen, and twentie thousand footemen, hogh sinewed al the chariot horses: and he leift of them a hundred chariotes.

5   There came also Syria of Domascus, to bring ayde vnto Adar ezer the king of Soba: and Dauid stroke of Syria two and twentie thousand men.

6   And Dauid put a garrison in Syria of Damascus: and Syria became seruing Dauid vnder tribute: and our Lord preserued Dauid in al thinges to whatsoeuer he went forth.

7   And Dauid tooke the golden armour, which the seruantes of Adarezer had, and brought them into Ierusalem.

8   And out of Bete, and out of Beroth the cities of Adar-ezer king Dauid tooke brasse exceding much.

9   And Tou the king of Emath heard, that Dauid had striken al the force of Adar-ezer,

10   And Tou sent Ioram his sonne to king Dauid, to salute him congratulating, and to geue thankes: for that he had ouerthrowen Adarezer, and striken him. For Tou was enemie to Adarezer, and in his hand were vessels of gold, and vessels of siluer, and vessels of brasse:

11   which also king Dauid sanctified to our Lord with the siluer and gold, that he had sanctified of al the nations, which he had subdewed

12   of Syria, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, and the Philistijms, and Amalec, and of the spoiles of Adarezer the sonne of Rohob king of Soba.

13   Dauid also ^note made himselfe a name, when he returned hauing taken Syria in the Vaile of Salt-pittes, eightene thousand being slayne:

14   and he put

Dauid. souldiours in Idumea, and placed a garrison: and al Idumea was made to serue Dauid: and our Lord preserued Dauid in al thinges to whatsoeuer he proceeded.

15   And Dauid reigned ouer al Israel: Dauid also did iudgement and iustice to al his people.

16   And Ioab the sonne of Seruia was ouer the armie: moreouer Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was ^note recorder:

17   and Sadoc the sonne of Achitob, and Achimelech the sonne of Abiathar, were priestes: and Saraias, scribe:

18   And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada was ouer ^note the Cerethi and Phelethi: and the sonnes of Dauid ^note princes. Chap. IX. Miphiboseth a lame sonne of Ionathas is piously releeued by Dauid: 9. geuing to his vse the particuar inheritance of Saul.

1   And Dauid sayd: Is there any thinke you that is remaining of the house of Saul, that I may do mercie with him for Ionathas sake?

2   And there was of the house of Saul, a seruant named Siba: whom when the king had called vnto him, he said to him: art thou Siba? And he answered: I am so thy seruant.

3   And the king said: Is there anie remaining of the house of Saul, that I may doe with him the mercie of God? And Siba said to the king: There is yet liuing a sonne of Ionathas, lame of his feete.

4   Where is he? quoth he. And Siba sayd to the king: Behold he is in the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel in Lodabar.

5   King Dauid therefore sent, and tooke him out of the house of Machir the sonne of Ammiel of Lodabar.

6   And when Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul was come to Dauid, he fel on his face, and adored. And Dauid said: Miphiboseth? Who answered: Here I am thy seruant.

7   And Dauid said to him: Feare not, because doing I wil do mercie on thee for Ionathas thy father, & I wil restore ^note the landes of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eate bread vpon my table al waies.

8   Who adoring him, said: Who am I thy seruant, that thou hast respect vpon a dead dogge like vnto me?

9   The king therefore called Siba the seruant of Saul, and said to him: Al thinges whatsoeuer were Sauls, and al his house, I haue geuen to thy masters sonne,

10   Til for him therefore the land, thou and thy sonnes, and thy seruants: and thou shalt bring in meates for thy masters sonne, that he may be maintained: and Miphiboseth the sonne of thy lord shal eate alwaies bread ^note vpon

Dauid. my table. And Siba had fiftene sonnes, and twentie seruants.

11   and Siba said to the king: As thou my lord king hast commanded thy seruant, so wil thy seruant doe: and Miphiboseth shal eate vpon my table, as one of the sonnes of the king.

12   And Miphiboseth had a little sonne called Micha: and al the kinred of the house of Siba serued Miphiboseth.

13   Moreouer Miphiboseth dwelt in Ierusalem: because he did eate alwaies of the kings table: and he was lame on both feete. Chap. X. Hanon king of Ammon for euil entreating Dauids men, sent vnto him of curtesie, 7. is iustly plagued, with his confederates. 15. Also the second time they are ouerthrowen by Dauid.

1   And it came to passe after these thinges, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his sonne reigned for him.

2   And Dauid said: I wil doe mercie with Hanon the sonne of Naas, as ^note his father hath done mercie with me. Dauid therefore sent, conforting him by his seruants vpon his fathers death. But when the seruantes of Dauid were come into the land of the children of Ammon,

3   the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon their lord: Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father Dauid hath sent comforters vnto thee, and not rather that he might search, and spy into the citie, and ouerthrow it, hath Dauid sent his seruants vnto thee?

4   Hanon therefore tooke the seruants of Dauid, and shaued the one half of their breard, and cutte away halfe their garments vnto the buttockes, and sent them away.

5   Which when it was told Dauid, he sent to meete them: for the men were counfounded very fowly, and Dauid commanded them: Tary in Iericho, til your beard be growen, and then returne.

6   And the children of Ammon seing that they had done iniurie to Dauid, sent, and hyred for wages the Syrian of Rohob, and the Syrian of Soba, twentie thousand footemen, and of the king Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelue thousand men.

7   Which when Dauid had heard, he sent Ioab and the whole armie of warryers.

8   The children therefore of Ammon issued forth, and sette their men in aray before the verie entrance of the gate: but the Syrian of Soba, and Rohab, and Istob, and Maacha were by themselues in the fielde.

9   Ioab therefore seing, that

Dauid. there was battel prepared against him, both before him and behind him, he piked out of al the chosen of Israel, and directed his armie agaynst the Sytian:

10   and the rest of the people he deliuered to Abisai his brother, who directed his armie against the children of Ammon.

11   And Ioab sayd: If the Syrian shal preuayle against me, thou shalt ayde me: and if the children of Ammon shal preuayle agaynst thee, I wil ayde thee.

12   Play the man, and let vs fight for our people, and the citie of our God: and our Lord wil doe that which is good in his sight.

13   Ioab therefore and the people that were with him, began to fight against the Syrians: Who immediatly fled from his face.

14   And the children of Ammon seing that the Syrians were fled, they also fled from the face of Abisai, and entred into the citie: and Ioab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Ierusalem.

15   Therefore the Syrians seing that they were fallen before Israel, they gathered them selues together.

16   And Adar-ezer sent, and fetched out the Syrians, that were beyond the riuer, and brought their armie: and Sobach the maister of Adar-ezers warre, was their chief captaine.

17   Which when it was told Dauid, he gathered together al Israel, and passed ouer Iordan, and came into Helam: & the Syrians put them selues in aray against Dauid, & fought against him.

18   And the Syrians fled from the face of Israel, and Dauid slewe of the Syrians seuen hundred chariotes, and fourtie thousand horsemen: and Sobach the prince of the warre he stroke: who forthwith died.

19   And al the kinges, that were to ayde Adarezer, seing them selues ouercome of Israel, were afrayd and fled eight & fiftie thousand before Israel. And they made peace with Israel: and serued them, and the Syrians were afrayd any more to ayde the children of Ammon. Chap. XI. Dauid ouercome with concupiscence committeth adulterie with Bethsabee: 6. not finding other meanes to hide the crime, causeth her husband Vrias to be slaine. 27. Then marieth her, she beareth a sonne, and God is offended.

1   And it came to passe the yeare turning about, at such time when kinges are wont to procede to battels, Dauid sent Ioab, and his seruantes with him, and al Israel, and they spoyled the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabba: but Dauid remayned in Ierusalem.

2   Whiles these thinges were in doing, it chanced that Dauid arose from his bed after

Dauid. noone, and walked in the toppe of the kinges house: and he saw a woman washing her self, ouer against the roofe of his house: and the woman was very beautiful.

3   The king therefore sent, and inquired what woman it was. And it was told him, that she was Bethsabee the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Vrias the Hetheitc.

4   Dauid therefore sending messengers, ^note tooke her, who when she was entered in to him, he slept with her: and forthwith she was sanctified from her vnclennes:

5   and she returned into her house hauing conceiued a childe. And sending she told Dauid, and sayd: I haue conceiued.

6   And Dauid sent to Ioab, saying: Send me Vrias the Hetheite. And Ioab sent Vrias to Dauid.

7   And Vrias came to Dauid. And Dauid asked how wel Ioab did, & the people, and how the warre was ordered.

8   And Dauid sayd to Vrias: Goe into thy house, and wash thy feete. And Vrias went forth out of the kinges house, and the kinges meate folowed him.

9   But Vrias slept before the gate of the kinges house, with the other seruantes of his lord, and went not downe to his owne house.

10   And it was told Dauid of them that sayd: Vrias went not into his house. And Dauid sayd to Vrias: didst thou not come from thy iourney? Why didst thou not goe downe into thy house?

11   And Vrias sayd to Dauid: The Arke of God and Israel and Iuda dwel in pauilions, & my lord Ioab and the seruantes of my lord abide vpon the face of the earth: and shal I enter into my house, to eate and to drinke, and sleepe with my wife? by thy health, and by the health of thy soule I wil not do this thing.

12   Dauid therefore sayd to Vrias: Tarie here also this day, and to mo row I wil dismisse thee. Vrias taried in Ierusalem that day and the next:

13   and Dauid called him to eate before him and to drinke, and he made him drunke: who going out at euen, slept on his couche with the seruantes of his lord, and went not downe into his house.

14   The morning therefore was come, and Dauid wrote a letter to Ioab: and sent it by the hand of Vrias,

15   writing in the letter: Sette ye Vrias in the front of the battel, where the fight is strongest: and leaue him, that being striken he may die.

16   Therefore when Ioab besieged the citie, he put Vrias in the place where he knew the strongest men were.

17   And the men issuing out of the citie, fought against Ioab, and there fel of the people of the seruantes of Dauid, and Vrias also the Hetheite died.

18   Ioab therefore sent, and told Dauid

Dauid. al the story of the battel:

19   and he commanded the messenger, saying: When thou hast told al the story of the battel to the king,

20   if thou see him to be angrie, and he say: Why approched you to the wal, to fight? Knew you not that manie weapons are throwen from aboue of the wal?

21   Who stroke Abimelec the sonne of Ierobaal? did not a woman cast vpon him a peece of a milstone from the wal, and slew him in Thebes? Why approched you nere the wal? Thou shalt say: Also thy seruant Vrias the Hetheite is slayne.

22   The messenger therefore departed, and came, and told Dauid al thinges that Ioab had commanded him.

23   And the messenger sayd to Dauid: The men haue preuailed against vs, and they issued forth to vs into the field: and we violently pursewed them euen to the gate of the citie.

24   And the archers shot arrowes at thy seruantes from of the wal aboue: and there died of the kinges seruantes, yea and thy seruant Vrias the Hetheite is dead.

25   And Dauid sayd to the messenger: Thus shalt thou say to Ioab: Let not this thing discomfort thee: for the euent of warre is diuerse: now this man, and now that man the sword consumeth: encourage thy warryers against the citie, that thou mayst destroy it, and exhort them.

26   Also the wife of Vrias heard, that Vrias her husband was dead, & she mourned for him.

27   And the mourning being past Dauid sent, and brought her in into his house, and she became his wife, and she bare him a sonne: and this thing which Dauid had done, was displeasant before our Lord. Chap. XII. Nathan the prophet by a parable induceth Dauid to condemne him self of great sinne, 7. blameth and threatneth him for the same. 13. But vpon his confession denounceth remission of his sinne, with reseruation of temporal punishment, 15. the death of the childe. 24. Bethsabee beareth an other sonne, who is called Salomon. 26. The citie of Rabbath is taken, and a rich crowne with other praye.

1   Ovr Lord therfore sent Nathan to Dauid: Who when he was come to him, he sayd vnto him: There were two men in one citie, one riche, and the other poore.

2   The rich man had sheepe, and oxen axceding manie.

3   But the poore man had nothing at al, beside one litle ewe, which he had bought and nourished, and which had growen in his house together with his children, eating of his bread, and drinking

Dauid. of his cuppe, and sleping in his bosome: and it was to him as a daughter.

4   And when a certayne stranger was come to the riche man, he sparing to take of his owne sheepe and oxen, to make a feast for that stranger, which was come to him, tooke the poore mans ewe, and made meates therof for the man that was come to him.

5   And Dauid being excedingly wrath with indignation against that man, sayd to Nathan: Our Lord liueth, the man that hath done this is the childe of death.

6   He shal render the ewe fourefold, because he hath done this thing, and hath not spared.

7   And Nathan sayd to Dauid: Thou art that man. Thus sayth our Lord the God of Isaael: I annointed thee to be king ouer Israel, and I deliuered thee from the hand of Saul,

8   and gaue thee the house of thy lord, and the wiues of thy lord in thy bosome, and haue geuen thee the house of Isrtel and Iuda: and if these thinges be litle, I wil adde farre greater thinges vnto thee.

9   Why therefore hast thou contemned the word of the lord, that thou wouldest doe euil in my sight? Vrias the Hetheite thou hast smitten with the sword, & his wife thou hast taken to thy wife, and hast slayne him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10   For which thing the sword shal not depart from thy house ^note for euer, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Vrias the Hetheite, to be thy wife.

11   Therfore thus sayth our Lord: Behold, I wil rayse vpon thee euil out of thine owne house, and wil take thy wiues before thine eies, and geue them to thy neighbour, and he shal slepe with thy wiues in the sight of this Sunne.

12   For thou hast done it secretly: but I wil doe this word in the sight of al Israel, and in the sight of the Sunne.

13   And Dauid sayd to Nathan: I haue sinned to our Lord. And Nathan sayd to Dauid: Our Lord also hath taken away thy sinne: thou shalt not die.

14   Neuertheles, because thou hast made the enemies of our Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the sonne that is borne to thee, dying shal dye.

15   And Nathan returned into his house. Our Lord also stroke the child, which the wife of Vrias had borne to Dauid, and he was past hope.

16   And Dauid besought our Lord for the child: and Dauid fasted a fast, and going in aside, lay vpon the ground.

17   And the ancientes of his house came, being earnest with him, that he would rise from the ground: who would not, neither did he eate meate with them.

18   And it chanced the seuenth day

Dauid. that the infant died: and the seruantes of Dauid feared to tel him, that the child was dead. For they sayd: Behold when the child yet liued, we spake to him, and he heard not our voice: how much more if we shal say: The child is dead, wil he afflict him self?

19   When Dauid therfore sawe his seruantes muttering, he vnderstood that the infant was dead: and he sayd to his seruantes: Is the child dead? Who answered him: He is dead.

20   Dauid therfore rose from the ground; and was washed and annoynted: and when he had changed his garment, he entered into the house of our Lord: and adored, and came into his owne house, and he called for bread, and he did eate.

21   And his seruantes sayd vnto him: What thing is this, that thou hast done? for the infant, when he yet liued, thou didst fast and weepe: but the child being dead, thou didst rise vp, and hast eaten bread.

22   Who sayd: For the infant, whiles he yet liued, I fasted and wept: for I sayd: Who knoweth if perhaps our Lord wil geue him to me, and the infant may liue?

23   But now because he is dead, why do I fast? Shal I be able to cal him againe any more? I shal go to him rather: but he shal not returne to me.

24   And Dauid comforted Bethsabee his wife, and going in vnto her, slept with her: Who bare a sonne, and he called his name Salomon, and our Lord loued him.

25   And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophete, and called his name, Amiable to our Lord, because our Lord loued him.

26   Ioab therfore fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and wonne the kinges citie.

27   And Ioab sent messengers to Dauid, saying: I haue fought against Rabbath, and the Citie of waters is to be taken.

28   Now therfore gather the rest of the people, and besiege the citie, & take it: lest when the citie shal be wasted of me, the victorie be ascribed to my name.

29   Dauid therfore gathered al the people, and went forth against Rabbath: and when he had fought, he tooke it.

30   And he tooke the crowne of their king from his head in weight a talent of gold, hauing most pretious stones, and it was put vpon Dauids head. Yea & the praye of the citie he caryed away exceding much:

31   bringing forth also the people therof sawed them, and drewe round about ouer them chariotes shod with yron: and he diuided them with kniues, and drew them through in forme of brikes: so did he to al the cities of the children of Ammon: and Dauid returned, and al the armie into Ierusalem.

Dauid. Chap. XIII. Amnon rauisheth Thamar. 20. For which Absalom killeth him. 37. and flyeth into Ge&esset;ur.

1   And it came to passe after these thinges, that Amnon the sonne of Dauid loued the sister of Absalom the sonne of Dauid, being very beautiful, called Thamar,

2   and was fond on her excedingly, so that for the loue of her he was sicke: because wheras she was a virgin, it semed vnto him had hard to doe any thing vnhonestly with her.

3   But Amnon a freind, named Ionadab the sonne of Semmaa Dauids brother, a very wise man:

4   Who sayd to him: Why art thou so worne away with leanenes the kinges sonne, day by day? Why doest thou not tel me? And Amnon sayd to him: I loue Thamar the sister of my brother Absalom.

5   To whom Ionadab answered: Lye vpon thy bed, and fayne sickenes: and when thy father shal come to visite thee, say to him: Let my sister Thamar, I pray, come to me, to geue me meate, and to make me broth, that I may eate of her hand.

6   Amnon therefore lay downe, and began as it were to be sicke: and when the king came to visite him, Amnon sayd to the king: Let Thamar my sister come, I besech you, that she may make in my sight two litle suppinges, and I may take meate of her hand.

7   Dauid therfore sent home to Thamar, saying: Come into the house of Amnon thy brother, & make him broth.

8   And Thamar came into the house of Amnon her brother: and he lay, who taking meale tempered it: and resoluing it in his sight she made suppinges.

9   And taking that which she had boyled, she powred it out, and set it before him, and he would nor eate: and Amnon sayd: Put forth al from me. And when they had put forth al,

10   Amnon sayd to Thamar: Bring in the meate into the parler, that I may eate of thy hand Thamar therfore tooke the suppinges, which she had made, and caryed it in to Amnon her brother in the parler.

11   And when she had offered him the meate, he caught her, and sayd: Come, lie with me my sister.

12   Who answered him: Doe not so my brother, doe not rauish me: for this is not lawful in Israel. Doe not this folie.

13   For I shal not be able to beare my reproch, and thou shalt be as one of the foolish in Israel: but rather speake to the king, and he wil not denie me to thee.

14   But he would not rest at her petitions, but preuayling by

Dauid. force rauished her, and lay with her.

15   And Amnon hated her with exceding great hatred: so that the hatred was greater, wherewith he hated her, then the loue with the which before he loued her. And Amnon said to her: Arise; and goe.

16   Who answered him: This euil, which now thou doest against me expelling me, is greater then that which thou didst before. And he would not heare her:

17   but calling the seruant, that ministred to him, he said: Thrust this woman out from me: and shut the doore after her.

18   Who was clothed with a garment downe to the foote: for the kinges daughters that were virgins, vsed such kinde of garmentes. His seruant therfore thrust her out: and shut the doore after her.

19   Who sprinkling ashes on her head, renting her long garment, and her handes vpon her head, went going on, and crying.

20   And Absolon her brother sayd to her: hath Amnon thy brother lyen with thee? but now sister hold thy peace, he is thy brother: neither afflict thou thy hart for this thing. Thamar therefore taryed pyning in the house of Absalom her brother.

21   And when Dauid the king had heard these wordes, he was greeued excedingly.

22   Moreouer Absalom spake not to Amnon neitheir good nor euil: for Absalom hated Amnon because he had rauished Thamar his sister.

23   And it came to passe after the space of two yeares, that the sheepe of Absalom were shorne in Baalhasor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom called al the kinges sonnes,

24   and he came to the king, and said to him: Behold thy seruantes sheepe are to be shorne: Let the king, I pray, with his seruantes come to his seruant.

25   And the king said to Absalom: Doe not so my sonne, request not that we come al, & charge thee. And when he was earnest with him, & he would not goe, he blessed him.

26   And Absalom said: If thou wilt not come, at the least let Amnon my brother, I besech thee, come with vs. And the king said to him: It is not necessary that he goe with thee.

27   Absalom therefore was earnest with him, and he let Amnon and al the kinges sonnes goe with him. And Absalom made a feast as it were the feast of a king.

28   And Absalom had commanded his seruantes, saying: Marke when Amnon shal be drunke with wine, and I shal say to you: Strike him, and kil him, feare not: for it is I that command you: take courage, and play the valiant men.

29   Therefore the seruantes of Absalom did against Amnon, as Absalom had commanded them.

Dauid. And al the kinges sonnes rysing gatte vp euery one vpon their mules, and fled.

30   And when they yet went on in their way, a rumour came to Dauid, saying: Absalom hath stricken al the kinges sonnes, and there is not leift of them so much as one.

31   The king therfore rose vp, and rent his garmentes: and fel vpon the ground, and al his seruantes, that stood about him, rent their garmentes.

32   But Ionadab the sonne of Semmaa Dauids brother answering, sayd: Let not my lord the king thinke, that al the kinges sonnes be slayne: Amnon only is dead, because he was put in the mouth of Absalom since the day that he rauished Thamar his sister.

33   Now therefore let not my lord the king put this word vpon his hart, saying: Al the kinges sonnes are slayne: because Amnon only is dead. And Absalom fled: and the seruant that was the scoute watch, lifted vp his eies, and looked: and behold much people came by a byway on the side of the mountayne.

35   And Ionadab sayd to the king: Loe the kinges sonnes be come: according to the wordes of thy seruant so is it done.

36   And when he had ceased to speake, the kinges sonnes also appeared: & entring in they lifted vp their voice, and wept: yea the king also and al his seruantes bewailed with an exceding great weeping.

37   Moreouer Absalom fleing, went to Tholomai the sonne of Ammiud the king of Gessur, Dauid therefore mourned for his sonne al daies. And Absalom when he was fled, and come into Gessur, was there three yeares.

38   And king Dauid ceased to pursew Absalom, because he was comforted vpon the death of Amnon. Chap. XIIII. Ioab suborning a woman first to propose the suite by a parable, 21. obtayneth pardon for Absalom. 24. but so that he appeareth not in the kinges presence. 25. He is exceding fayre, hath three sonnes and one daughter. 29. Ioab refusing to deale further for his free release, Absalom burneth his corne. 31. Then Ioab procureth his accesse to the king.

1   And Ioab the sonne of Saruia, vnderstanding that the kinges hart was turned to Absalom,

2   he sent to Thecua, and tooke thence a prudent woman: and he sayd to her: Feyn e that thou mournest, and put on a mourning garment, and be not annoynted with oyle, that thou mayst be as a wom an now a long tyme mourning for one dead.

Dauid.

3   And thou shalt goe in vnto the king, and shalt speake to him these maner of wordes. And Ioab put the wordes in her mouth.

4   Therefore when the woman of Thecua was gone in to the king, she fel before him vpon the ground, and adored and said: Saue me ô king.

5   And the king sayd to her: What matter hast thou? Who answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead.

6   And thy handmaide had two sonnes: who fel at wordes against eche other in the field, and there was none to stay them: and the one stroke the other, and slew him.

7   And behold the whole kinred rysing against thy handmaide, saith: Deliuer him that hath striken his brother that we may kil him for the life of his brother, whom he hath slayne, and may cleane destroy the heire: and they seeke to extingnish my sparkle, which is leift, that there may no name remaine to my husband, nor reliques vpon the earth.

8   And the king said to the woman: Goe into thy house, and I wil geue commandement for thee.

9   And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Vpon me, my lord, be the iniquitie, and vpon the house of my father: but be the king and his throne innocent.

10   And the king said: He that shal gaynesay thee bring him to me, & he shal adde no more to touch thee.

11   Who sayd: Let the king remember our Lord his God, that the next of bloud be not multiplied to reuenge, and that they kil not my sonne. Who sayd: Our Lord liueth, there shal not fal of the heares of thy sonne vpon the earth.

12   The woman therefore sayd: Let thy handmayde speake to my lord the king a word.

13   And he sayd: Speake. And the woman sayd: Why hast thou thought such a thing agaynst the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, that he would sinne, and not bring againe his banished one?

14   We doe al dye, and as waters that returne not, we fal downe on the earth: neither wil God haue a soule to perish, but reuoketh, meaning that he perish not altogether that is cast of.

15   Now therefore I come, that I may speake to my lord the king this word, the people being present. And thy handmayd sayd: I wil speake to the king, if by any meanes the king may doe the word of his handmaide.

16   And the king hath heard, to deliuer his handmaide out of the hand of al, that would destroy me out of the inheritance of our Lord, and my sonne together.

17   Let thy handmaide therefore say, that the word of my lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For euen as an

Dauid. Angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is moued neither with blessing nor cursing: Wherefore our Lord also thy God is with thee.

18   And the king answering, sayd to the woman: Hide not from me the thing that I aske thee. And the woman sayd to him: Speake my lord king.

19   And the king sayd: Is the hand of Ioab with thee in al these thinges? The woman answered, and sayd: By the health of thy soule, my lord king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right of al these thinges, which my lord the king hath spokeu: for thy seruant Ioab, he commanded me, and he put al these wordes into the mouth of thy handmayde.

20   That I should change the forme of this speach, thy seruant Ioab commanded this: and thou my lord king, art wise, as an Angel of God hath wisdom, that thou vnderstandest al thinges vpon the earth.

21   And the king sayd to Ioab: Behold I being pacified haue done thy word: Goe therefore, and cal agayne the boy Absalom.

22   And Ioab falling vpon his face vnto the earth, adored, and ^note blessed the king: and Ioab sayd: This day thy seruant hath vnderstood, that I haue found grace in thy sight my lord king: for thou hast done the word of thy seruant.

23   Ioab therefore arose and went into Gessur, and brought Absalom into Ierusalem.

24   But the king sayd: Let him returne into his house, and not see my face. Absalom therefore returned into his house, and the kings face he saw not.

25   Moreouer like as Absalom, there was not a man in al Israel so beautiful, and exceding comelie: from the sole of the foote to the crowne there was no blemish in him.

26   And when he powled his heare (once a yeare he was powled, because his bush did burden him) he weighed the heare of his head at two hundred sicles, of the common weight.

27   And there were borne to Absalom ^note three sonnes: and one daughter, named Thamar, of a goodly beautie.

28   And Absalom abode in Ierusalem two yeares, and saw not the kinges face.

29   He therefore sent to Ioab, to send him to the king: who would not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him,

30   he sayd to his seruantes: You know the filde of Ioab beside my filde, that hath barley haruest: goe therefore and burne it with fyre. The seruantes therefore of Absalom burnt the corne with fyre. And Ioabs seruantes coming, renting their garmentes, sayd: The seruantes of Absalom haue burnt part of the filde with fyre.

31   And Ioab arose, & came to Absalom

Dauid. in his house, & sayd: Why haue thy seruantes burnt my corne with fire?

32   And Absalom answered Ioab: I sent to thee beseching thee that thou wouldest come vnto me, and I might send thee to the king, and thou shouldest say to him: Wherefore came I out of Gessur? It was better for me to be there: I besech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: & if he be mindeful of mine iniquitie, let him kil me.

33   Ioab therefore entring in to the king, told him al thinges: and Absalom was called, and he entered in to the king: and adored vpon the face of the earth before him: and the king kissed Absalom. Chap. XV. Absalom getteth fauour of the people, 7. and conspireth in Hebron agaynst his father. 14. VVho fleeing, 19. with difficultie permitteth Ethai a stranger to goe with him: 24. but sendeth Sadoc, and other priestes and leuites with the arke back into the citie. 31. Sendeth Chusai to defeate Achitophels counsel.

1   Therefore after these thinges Absalom made him self chariotes, and horsemen, and fiftie men, that should goe before him.

2   And Absalom rising early, stoode beside the entrance of the gate, and euerie man that had busines to the kinges iudgement, did Absalom cal to him, and sayd: Of what citie art thou? Who answering sayd: Of such a tribe of Israel am I thy seruant.

3   And Absalom answered him: Thy wordes seeme vnto me good and iust. But there is none to heare thee appointed of the king. And Absalom sayd:

4   Oh who would appoint me iudge ouer the land, that al might come to me which haue busines, and I might iudge iustly?

5   Yea and when a man came vnto him to salute him, he put forth his hand, and taking him, kyssed him.

6   And this did he to al Israel coming for iudgement, to be heard of the king, and he intised the hartes of the men of Israel.

7   And after fourtie yeares, Absalom sayd to king Dauid: Let me goe, and pay my vowes which I haue vowed to our Lord in Hebron.

8   For thy seruant vowing did vow, when he was in Gessur of Syria, saying: If our Lord wil bring me againe into Ierusalem, I wil sacrifice to our Lord.

9   And king Dauid sayd to him: Goe in peace. And he arose, and went into Hebron.

10   And Absalom sent spies into al the tribes of Israel, saying: forthwith as you shal heare the sound of the trumpet, say ye:

Dauid. Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11   Moreouer with Absalom there went two hundred men out of Ierusalem being called, going with a simple hart, and vtterly ignorant of the cause.

12   Absalom also sent for Achitophel the Gilonite, Dauids counseler, from his citie Gilo. And when he immolated victimes, there was made a strong conspiracie, and the people running together increased with Absalom.

13   A messenger therefore came to Dauid, saying: Al Israel with al their hart foloweth Absalom.

14   And Dauid said to his seruantes, that were with him in Ierusalem: Arise let vs flee: for there wil be no escape for vs from the face of Absolom: make hast to goe out, lest coming perhaps he ouertake vs, and force ruine vpon vs, and strike the citie in the edge of the sword.

15   And the kinges seruantes said to him: al thinges whatsoeuer our lord the king shal command, we thy seruantes wil gladly execute.

16   The king therefore went forth, and al his house on foote: & the king leift ten wemen his ^note concubines to keepe the house.

17   And the king going forth & al Israel on their feete, stoode farre from the house:

18   and al his seruantes walked by him, and the legions Cerethi, and Phelethi and al the Getheites, valiant warriers, six hundred men which had folowed him from Geth footemen, went before the king.

19   And the king said to Ethai the Getheite: Why comest thou with vs? returne and dwel with the king, because thou art a stranger, and art come forth out of thy place.

20   Yesterday thou camest, and to day shalt thou be forced to goe forth with vs? but I wil goe whither I shal goe: returne, and leade backe thy brethren with thee, and our Lord wil doe with thee mercie, and veritie, because thou hast shewed grace and fidelitie.

21   And Ethai answered the king, saying: The Lord liueth, and my lord the king liueth: for that in what place soeuer thou shalt be, my lord king, either in death, or in life, there wil thy seruant be.

22   And Dauid said to Ethai: Come, and passe. And Ethai the Getheite passed, and al the men that were with him, and the rest of the multitude.

23   And they al wept with a lowd voice, and al the people passed: the king also went ouer the Torrent Cedron, and al the people marched against the way, that looketh to the desert.

24   And Sadoc also the priest came, and al the Leuites with him carying the arke of the couenant of God, and they sette downe the arke of God: & Abiathar ascended, til al the people was fully

Dauid. passed, which was come forth of the citie.

25   And the king sayd to Sadoc: Cary backe the Arke of God into the citie: if I shal finde grace in the sight of my Lord, he wil bring me agayne, and wil show me it, and his tabernacle.

26   But if he shal say to me: Thou pleasest me not: I am readie, let him doe that which is good before him.

27   And the king sayd to Sadoc the priest: O seer returne into the citie in peace: and Achimaas thy sonne, and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar, your two sonnes let them be with you.

28   Behold I wil be hid in the champayne of the desert, til there come word from you aduertising me.

29   Sadoc therefore and Abiathar caryed backe the Arke of God into Ierusalem: and they taried there.

30   Moreouer Dauid went vp mount Oliuet, climbing & weeping, going bare foote, and his head ^note couered, yea and al the people which was with him, their head couered went vp weeping.

31   And it was told Dauid that Achitophel also was in the conspiracie with Absalom, and Dauid sayd: Infatuate o Lord I besech thee, the counsel of Achitophel.

32   And when Dauid went vp to the toppe of the mount, wherein he would adore our Lord, behold there mette him Chusai the Arachite, his garment rent and his head ful of earth.

33   And Dauid sayd to him: If thou come with me, thou shalt be a burden to me:

34   but if thou returne into the citie, and wilt say to Absalom: I am thy seruant, o king: as I haue beene thy fathers seruant, so I wil be thy seruant: thou shalt defeate the counsel of Achitophel.

35   And thou hast with thee Sadoch, and Abiathar the priests: and euery word whatsoeuer thou shalt heare from out of the kinges house, thou shalt tel Sadoc, and Abiathar the priestes.

36   And there are with them their two sonnes Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc, and Ionathas the sonne of Abiathar: and you shal send by them vnto me euery word whatsoeuer you shal heare.

37   Chusai therefore the frend of Dauid coming into the citie, Absalom also entred into Ierusalem. Chap. XVI. Siba bringing victuals obtaineth (by false suggestion) his maister Miphiboseths enheritance. 5. Semei curseth, and throweth stones at the king, who neuertheles forbiddeth to kil him. 15. Absalom entreth into Hierusalem, 16. intertayneth Chusai, 20. and by Achitophels aduise lieth with his fathers concubines.

Dauid.

1   And when Dauid had passed a litle the toppe of the Mount, Siba the seruant of Miphiboseth appeared coming to meete him, with two asses, which were loden with two hundred loaues, and a hundred bunches of raysens, an hundred masses of figges, and a bottel of wine.

2   And the king said to Siba: What meane these thinges? And Siba answered: The asses are for the kinges houshould to sitte on: and the loaues and the figges to eate for thy seruantes, and the wine to drinke if any man shal fainte in the desert.

3   And the king said: Where is thy masters sonne? And Siba answered the king: He hath remained in Ierusalem, saying: This day wil the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

4   And the king said to Siba: ^note Let al thinges be thine that were Miphiboseths. And Siba said: I besech thee let me find grace before thee, my lord king.

5   King Dauid therefore came as farre as Bahurim: & behold there came forth thence a man of the kinred of the house of Saul named Semei, the sonne of Sera, and he proceded going forth, & cursed.

6   And he threw stones against Dauid, & against al the seruantes of king Dauid & the whole people, & al the warriers went on the right, and the left side of the king.

7   And thus spake Semei when he cursed the king: Come forth, come forth thou man of bloud, and man of Belial.

8   Our Lord hath repayed thee al the bloud of the house of Saul: because thou hast inuaded the kingdom for him, and our Lord hath geuen the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy sonne: and behold thyne euiles presse thee, because thou art a man of bloud.

9   And Abisai the sonne of Seruia said to the king: Why curseth this dead dogge my lord the king? I wil goe, and strike of his head.

10   And the king said: What is it to me and you, ye sonnes of Saruia? Let him alone that he may curse: for our Lord hath ^note commanded him to curse Dauid: and who is he that dare say, why hath he so done?

11   And the king said to Abisai, and to al his seruantes: Behold my sonne, that came out of my wombe, seeketh my life: how much more the sonne of Iemini? let him alone that he may curse according to the precept of our Lord:

12   if perhaps our Lord may respect mine affliction, and our Lord may render me good for this dayes cursing.

13   Dauid therefore walked and his companie in the way with him. And Semei by the banke on the hils side, went ouer against him, cursing, and casting stones against him, and sprinkling

Dauid. earth.

14   The king therefore came, and al the people with him wearie, and they were refreshed there.

15   But Absalom and al his people entered into Ierusalem, yea and Achitophel with him.

16   And when Chusai the Arachite Dauids frend was come to Absalom, he said to him: God saue thee ô king, God saue thee ô king.

17   To whom Absalom, is this, quoth he, thy kindenes toward thy frend? why wentest thou not with thy frend?

18   And Chusai answered Absalom: Not so: because I wil be his, whom our Lord hath chosen, and al this people, and al Israel, and with him wil tarie.

19   Yea that I may adde this also, whom shal I serue? not the kinges sonne? as I haue serued thy father, so wil I serue thee also.

20   And Absalom said to Achitophel: Consult what we ought to doe.

21   And Achitophel said to Absalom: Goe in to the concubines of thy father, which he hath left to keepe the house: ^note that when al Israel shal heare that thou hast defiled thy father, their handes may be strengthened with thee.

22   They pitched therefore a tent for Absalom in the house toppe, and he went in to his fathers concubines before al Israel.

23   And the counsel of Achitophel, which he gaue in those dayes, as if a man should consult God: so was al the counsel of Achitophel, both when he was with Dauid, and when he was with Absalom. Chap. XVII. Achitophel counselleth Absolom: presenly to a&esset;ault his father with forces, 7. Chusai perswadeth the contrarie, 15. and secretly aduertiseth the king therof. 23. Achitophel hangeth him self. 25. Absolom appointeth Amasa general of his armie. 27. Other freindes bring victuals to the kinges campe.

1   Achitophel therefore said to Absolom: I wil choose me twelue thousand men, and rysing I wil pursew Dauid this night.

2   And falling vpon him (for as much as he is weary, and of weakened handes) I wil strike him: and when al the people is fled, that is with him, I shal strike the king being desolate.

3   And I shal reduce al the people, as one man is wont to returne: for thou seekest one man: and al the people shal be in peace.

4   And his saying pleased Absalom, and al the ancientes of Israel.

5   But Absalom sayd: Cal Chusai the Arachite, and let vs heare what he also sayeth.

6   And when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom sayd to him: This maner of speache spake Achitophel: shal we doe it or no? What counsel geuest thou?

7   And Chusai sayd to Absalom:

Dauid. It is not good counsel, that Achitophel hath geuen this time.

8   And agayne Chusai inferred: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, to be verie valiant, and of fel courage, as if a beare in the wood her whelpes being taken away should rage: yea and thy father is a man of warre, neither wil he abyde with the people.

9   Perhaps he lyeth now hid secretely in caues, or in some one place where he list: and when any one shal fal in the beginning, there shal one heare whosoeuer shal heare it, & say: There is made a slaughter in the people that folowed Absalom.

10   And euerie one of the most valiant whose hart is as it were a lyons, shal fainte for feare: for al the people of Israel knowe thy father to be a valiant man, and that al be strong which are with him.

11   But this semeth vnto me to be good counsel: Let al Israel be gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea innumerable: and thou shalt be in the middes of them.

12   And we shal sette vpon them in what place soeuer they shal be found: and we shal couer them, as dew is wont to fal vpon the earth: and we shal not leaue of the men, that are with him, not so much as one.

13   And if he shal enter into any citie, al Israel shal cast ropes vpon that citie round about, and we wil drawe it into the torrent, that there be not found therof not so much as a litle stone.

14   And Absalom sayd, and al the children of Israel: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better then the counsel of Achitophel: and by the wil of our Lord was the profitable counsel of Achitophel defeated, that our Lord might bring in euil vpon Absalom.

15   And Chusai sayd to Sadoc and Abiathat the priestes: In this and this maner gaue Achitophel counsel to Absalom, and to the Ancientes of Israel: and I gaue such and such counsel.

16   Now therfore send quickly, and tel Dauid, saying: Tarie not this night in the champayne of the desert, but without delay passe ouer: lest perhaps the king be swalowed vp, and al the people that is with him.

17   And Ionathas & Achimaas stood by the Fountayne rogel: there went a maide and told them: and they went forward, to report the message to king Dauid: for they could not be seene, nor enter into the citie.

18   And a certayne boy saw them, and told Absalom: but they making hast entered into the house of a certayne man in Bahurim, who had a wel in his court, and they went downe into it.

19   And a woman tooke, and spred a couering

Dauid. ouer the mouth of the wel, as it were drying sodde barley: and so the thing was not knowen.

20   And when Absaloms seruantes were come into the house, they sayd to the woman: Where is Achimaas, and Ionathas? And the woman answered them: They passed in hast, hauing tasted a litle water. But they that sought, when they had not found, returned into Ierusalem.

21   And when these were gone, they went vp out of the wel, and going on told king Dauid, and sayd: Aryse ye, and passe quickly the riuer: because this maner of counsel hath Achitophel geuen against you.

22   Dauid therfore arose, and al the people that was with him, and they passed ouer Iordan, vntil it waxed light, and not one at al was remayning, which did not passe the riuer.

23   Moreouer Achitophel seing that his counsel was not executed, sadled his asse, and rose and went into his house and into his citie: and taking order with his house, ^note hanged him self, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

24   But Dauid came into the Campe, and Absalom passed ouer Iordan, he and al the men of Israel with him.

25   But Absalom appoynted Amasa for Ioab ouer the armie: and Amasa was the sonne of a man, which was called Iethra of Iezrael, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Naas, the sister of Saruia which was the mother of Ioab.

26   And Israel camped with Absalom in the Land of Galaad.

27   And when Dauid was come into the Campe, Sobi the sonne of Naas of Rabbath the sonnes of Ammon, and Machir the sonne of Amihel of Lodabar, & Berzellai the Galaadite of Rogelim,

28   presented vnto him hanginges, and tapestrie, and earthen vessels, wheate, and barley, and meale, and polent, and beanes, and rishe, and fryed pease,

29   and honie, and butter, sheepe, & fatte calues. and they gaue to Dauid and the people, that was with him, to eate: for they suspected that the people with hunger and thyrst was faynte in the desert. Chap. XVIII. King Dauid disposeth his armie in three partes, geuing special charge to saue Absalom aliue. 9. VVhom neuertheles (hanging by the heares of his head in an oke) Ioab killeth: 16. and saueth the common people. 19. VVhich Dauid vnderstanding greatly bewayleth Absalom.

1   David therfore hauing viewed his people, appointed ouer them tribunes & centurions,

2   and gaue the third part of the people vnder the hand of Ioab, and the third part

Dauid. vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Seruia the brother of Ioab, and the third part vnder the hand of Ethai, who was of Geth: and the king said to the people: I also wil goe forth with you.

3   And the people answered: Thou shalt not goe forth: for whether we shal flee, it wil be no great importance to them of vs: or whether the halfe part of vs shal fal, they wil not greatly care: because thou alone art accounted for ten thousandes: it is better therefore that thou be in the citie to ayde vs.

4   To whom the king said: What seemeth good to you, that wil I doe. The king therfore stoode beside the gate: and al the people went forth by their troupes, by hundredes and by thousandes.

5   And the King commanded Ioab, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: ^note Saue me the child Absalom. And al the people heard the King commanding al the princes for Absalom.

6   The people therfore went out into the filde against Israel, & the battel was fought in the forest of Ephraim.

7   And the people of Israel was slayne there of Dauids armie, and there was made a great slaughter in that day, of twentie thousand.

8   And the battel there was dispersed vpon the face of al the earth, and there were manie moe, whom the forest had consumed of the people, then they whom the sword deuoured in that day.

9   And it chanced that Absalom mette the seruantes of Dauid, sitting on a mule: and when the mule was gone in vnder a thicke oke and a great, his head stucke to the oke: and he hanging betwen heauen and earth, the mule that he rode vpon passed through.

10   And one sawe this & told Ioab: saying: I saw Absolom hang vpon an oke.

11   And Ioab sayd to the man that told him: If thou sawest him, why didst thou not nayle him to the earth, and I had geuen thee ten sicles of siluer, and one belt?

12   Who sayd to Ioab: If thou wouldest pay downe in my handes a thousand peeces of siluer, I would not lay my handes vpon the kinges sonne: for in our hearing the king commanded thee, and Abisai, and Ethai, saying: Keepe me the child Absalom.

13   Yea and if I had done agaynst my life boldly, this could not haue beene hid from the king, and thou wouldest haue stand agaynst it?

14   And Ioab sayd: Not as thou wilt, but I wil set vpon him before thee. He tooke therefore three lances in his hand, and thrust them in the hart of Absalom: and when as yet he panted for life sticking on the oke,

15   there ranne ten yong men the squyers of Ioab, and striking they killed him.

Dauid.

16   And Ioab sounded the trumpet, and stayed the people, that they should not pursew Israel fleeing, willing to spare the multitude.

17   And they tooke Absalom, and cast him in the forrest, into a great pitte, and they heaped vpon him an exceding great heape of stones: but al Israel fled into their tabernacles.

18   Moreouer Absalom had erected to himself, whiles he yet liued, a title which is in the kinges Valley: for he said: I haue ^note no sonne, and this shal be a monument of my name. And he called the title by his name, and it is called The hand of Absalom, vntil this present day.

19   And Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said: I wil runne, and tel the king, that our Lord hath done him iudgement of the hand of his enemies.

20   To whom Ioab said: Thou shalt not be messenger this day, but thou shalt carie the message an other day: to day I wil not haue thee carie the message, for the kinges sonne is dead.

21   And Ioab said to Chusai: Goe, and tel the king what thou hast seene. Chusai adored Ioab, and ranne.

22   And againe Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc said to Ioab: What letteth if I also runne after Chusai? And Ioab sayd to him: Why wilt thou runne my sonne? thou shalt not be caryer of good tydinges.

23   Who answered: But what if I runne? And he said to him: Runne. Achimaas therfore running a nere way out went Chusai.

24   And Dauid sate betwen the two gates: and the watchman that was in the toppe of the gate vpon the wal, lifting vp his eies, saw a man running alone.

25   And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tydinges in his mouth. And he making hast, and coming neerer,

26   the watchman saw an other man running, and crying alowde in the toppe, he said: There appeareth vnto me an other man running alone. And the king said: And this is a good messenger.

27   And the watchman, I behold, said he, the running of the former, as it were the running of Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man: and cometh bringing good newes.

28   And Achimaas crying, sayd to the king: God saue thee ô king. And adoring the king before him flatte to the earth, he said: Blessed be our Lord thy God, who hath shut vp the men that haue lifted vp their handes against my lord the king.

29   And the king said: Is the child Absalom safe? And Achimaas sayd? I saw a great tumult, when thy seruant Ioab sent, ô king, me thy seruant: other thing I know not.

30   To whom

Dauid. the king, Passe, sayd he, and stand here.

31   And when he had passed, and stood,

31   Chusai appeared: and coming he sayd: I bring good tydinges my lord king: for our Lord hath iudged for thee this day of the hand of al that haue rysen against thee.

32   And the king sayd to Chusai: Is the child Absalom safe? To whom Chusai answering, sayd: Let the enemies of my lord the king become, as the child, and al that ryse against him vnto euil.

33   The king therfore being made sorie, went vp into the high chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he spake, going: My sonne Absalom, Absalom my sonne: who would graunt me that I might die for thee, Absalom my sonne, my sonne Absalom. Chap. XIX. Dauid moued by Ioabs admonition, 8. ceaseth mourning for Absalom, and reconcileth the rebels. 19. Semei is pardoned. 24. Mipbiboseth clereth him self of his seruantes false accusation, yet recouereth not his whole right. 32. Berzellai is courteously intreated. 40. The other tribes contend with Iuda for their affection to the king.

1   And it was told Ioab, that the king wept, and mourned for his sonne:

2   And the victorie was turned into mourning that day to al the people: for the people heard it sayd in that day: The king soroweth vpon his sonne.

3   And the people shunned that day to enter into the citie, as a people turned, & fleing out of battel is wont to shrinke aside.

4   Moreouer the king couered his head, and cried with a lowd voice: O my sonne Absalom, o Absal&obar; my sonne, o my sonne.

5   Ioab therfore entring in to the king, into his house, sayd: Thou hast co&obar;founded this day the countenances of al thy seruantes, that haue saued thy life, and the life of thy sonnes, and thy daughters, and the life of thy wiues, and the life of thy concubines.

6   Thou louest them that hate thee, and thou hatest them that loue thee: and thou hast shewed this day that thou carest not for thy nobles, and for thy seruantes: and in deede I knowe now, that if Absalom liued, and al we had beene slayne, then it would please thee.

7   Now therfore arise, and come forth, and speaking vnto them satisfie thy seruantes: for I sweare to thee by our Lord, that if thou wilt not goe forth, not one verely wil remayne with thee this night: and this shal be worse for thee, then al the euils, which haue come vpon thee from thy youth vntil this present.

8   The king

Dauid. therfore arose and sate in the gate: and it was told al the people that the king sate in the gate: and al the multitude came forth before the king, but Israel fled into their tabernacles.

9   Al the people also stroue in al the tribes of Israel, saying: The king hath deliuered vs out of the hand of our enemies, he hath saued vs from the head of the Philistianes: and now he fled out of the land for Absalom.

10   But Absalom whom we annoynted ouer vs, is dead in the battel: how long are you stil, and reduce not the king?

11   But king Dauid sent to Sadoc, and Abiathar the priestes, saying: Speake to the Ancientes of Iuda, saying: Why come you last to bring backe the king into his house? (And the saying of al Israel was come to the king in his house.)

12   You are my brethren, you my bone, and my flesh, why do you last bring backe the king?

13   And say ye to Amasa: Art not thou my bone, and my flesh? These thinges do God to me, and these adde he, if thou be not the chiefe captayne of warfare before me alwayes for Ioab.

14   And he inclined the hart of al the men of Iuda, as it were of one man: and they sent to the king, saying: Returne thou, and al thy seruantes.

15   And the king returned, and came as far as Iordan, and al Iuda came as far as Galgal to meete the king, and to bring him ouer Iordan.

16   And Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim made hast, and went downe with the men of Iuda to meete king Dauid

17   with a thousand men of Benjamin, and Siba the seruant of the house of Saul: and his fiftene sonnes, and twentie seruantes were with him: and rushing into Iordan,

18   passed the fordes before the king, that they might helpe ouer the kinges houshould, and doe according to his commandement. And Semei the sonne of Gera prostrate before the king, when he had now passed Iordan,

19   sayd to him: Impute not to me my lord the iniquitie, nor remember the iniuries of thy seruant in the day that thou my lord king wentest out of Ierusalem, nor put it in thy hart o king.

20   For I thy seruant acknowledge my sinne: and therefore this day I am first come of al ^note the house of Ioseph, and am descended to meete my lord the king.

21   But Abisai the sonne of Saruia answering, sayd: What shal Semei for these wordes not be slayne, because he reuiled the annoynted of our Lord?

22   And Dauid sayd: What is to me and you ye sonnes of Saruia? Why are you made this day as satan to me? Shal there a man be

Dauid. killed in Israel to day? Doe I not know that this day I am made king ouer Israel?

23   And the king sayd to Semei: Thou shalt not die. And he sware to him.

24   Miphiboseth also the sonne of Saul came downe to meete the king, his feete vnwashed, and his beard not pouled: and he had not washed his garmentes from the day that the king went forth, vntil the day of his returne in peace.

25   And when he had mette the king at Ierusalem, the king sayd to him: Why camest thou not with me Miphiboseth?

26   And he answering, sayd: My lord king, my seruant contemned me: and I thy seruant spake to him that he should fadle me an asse, that getting on I might goe with the king: for I thy seruant am lame.

27   Moreouer he hath also accused me thy seruant to thee my lord king: but thou my lord king art as an Angel of God, doe what pleaseth thee.

28   For neither was my fathers house ought els, but guiltie of death to my lord king: and thou hast put me thy seruant among the guestes of thy table? What iust complaynt therfore haue I? or what can I further crie out to the king?

29   The king therfore sayd to him: What speakest thou any more? That is determined which I haue spoken: Thou, and Siba diuide the possessions.

30   And Miphiboseth answered the the king: Yea let him take al, for so much as my lord king is returned peaceably into his house.

31   Berzellai also the Galaadite, coming downe from Rogelim, brought the king ouer Iordan, being readie also to attend on him beyond the riuer.

32   And Berzellai the Galaadite was verie old, that is to say, of foure score yeares, and he gaue the king victuals, when he abode in the Fild: for he was an exceding rich man.

33   The king therfore sayd to Berzellai: Come with me, that thou mayst rest secure with me in Ierusalem.

34   And Berzellai sayd to the king: How manie are the daies of the yeares of my life, that I should goe vp with the king into Ierusalem?

35   I am this day foure score yeares old, are my senses quicke to discerne sweete, or sowre? or can meate or drinke delight thy seruant? or can I heare more the voyce of singing men and singing wemen? Why should thy seruant be a burden to my lord the king?

36   I thy seruant wil goe forward a litle from Iordan with thee: I neede not this recompense,

37   but I besech thee that I thy seruant may returne, and die in my citie, and be buried by the sepulchre of my father, and my mother. But there is thy seruant Chamaam, let him goe with thee, my lord

Dauid. king, and doe to him whatsoeuer semeth good to thee.

38   The king therfore sayd to him: Let Chamaam passe on with me, and I wil doe for him whatsoeuer shal please thee, and al, that thou shalt aske of me, thou shalt obtayne.

39   And when al the people and the king had passed Iordan, the king kissed Berzellai, and blessed him: and he returned into his place.

40   The king therfore passed into Galgal, and Chamaam with him, and al the people of Iuda had brought ouer the king, and the halfe part onlie of the people of Israel were present.

41   Therfore al the men of Israel concurring to the king, sayd to him: Why haue our brethren the men of Iuda stolen thee, and brought the king and his houshould ouer Iordan, and al the men of Dauid with him?

42   And euerie man of Iuda answered the men of Israel. Because the king is neerer to me: why art thou angrie for this matter? haue we eaten any thing of the kinges, or were there giftes geuen vs?

43   And a certayne man of Israel answered the men of Iuda, and sayd: I am greater by ten partes with the king, & to me pertayneth Dauid more then to thee: Why hast thou done me wrong, and it was not told me first, that I might bring backe my king? And the men of Iuda answered more sharply then the men of Israel. Chap. XX. Seba raiseth rebellion, is pursued by Ioab, (10. VVho in the way trecherously killeth Amasa,) 13. Abela is besieged, because Seba saueth him self there. 20. but his head being cut of and cast ouer the wal to Ioab, the armie departeth. 23. Chief men in office are mentioned.

1   It chanced also that there was there a man of Belial, named Seba, the sonne of Bochri, a man of Iemini: and he sounded the trumpet, and sayd: We haue no part in Dauid, nor inheritance in the sonne of Isai: Returne into thy tabernacles Israel.

2   And al Israel was separated from Dauid, and folowed Seba the sonne of Bochri: but the men of Iuda stucke to their king from Iordan vnto Ierusalem.

3   And when the king was come into his house to Ierusalem, he tooke the ten wemen his concubines, which he had leift to keepe the house, and he deliuered them into custodie, allowing them victuals: and he went not in vnto them, but they were shut vp vntil the day of their death liuing in widowhood.

4   And the king sayd to Amasa: Cal me together al the

Dauid. men of Iuda agaynst the third day, and be thou present.

5   Amasa therfore went to cal together Iuda, and taryed beyond the time appoynted which the king had assigned him.

6   And Dauid sayd to Abisai: Now wil Seba the sonne of Bochri more afflict vs, then Absalom: take therefore the seruantes of thy Lord, and pursew him, lest perhaps he finde fensed cities, & escape vs.

7   There went forth therfore with him Ioabs men, Cerethi also and Phelethi: and al the strong men yssued forth of Ierusalem to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri.

8   And when they were beside the great stone, which is in Gabaon, Amasa coming mette them. Moreouer Ioab was clothed with a strayte cote according to the measure of his stature, and vpon it girded with a sword hanging downe to the flanke, in a scabbarde, which being made for the purpose could with light mouing come forth and strike.

9   Ioab therfore sayd to Amasa: God saue thee my brother. And he held with his right hand the chinne of Amasa, as it were kissing him.

10   But Amasa marked not the sword, which Ioab had, who strick him in the side, and powred out his bowels on the ground, neither added he the second wound, and he dyed. And Ioab, and Abisai his brother pursewed Seba the sonne of Bochri.

11   In the meane time certayne men, when they stoode by the carcasse of Amasa, Ioabs company, sayd: Loe he that would haue beene for Ioab the companion of Dauid.

12   And Amasa embrewed with bloud, lay in the middes of the way. A certayne man saw this that al the people stayed to see him, and he remoued Amasa out of the way into the filde, and couered him with a garment, that they which passed might not stay because of him.

13   He therefore being remoued out of the way, euery man passed folowing Ioab to pursew Seba the sonne of Bochri.

14   Moreouer he had passed through al the tribes of Israel vnto Abela, and Bethmaaca: and al the chosen men were gathered together vnto him.

15   They therfore came, and assaulted him in Abela, and in Bethmaaca, and they compassed the citie with munitions, and the citie was besieged: and al the multitude, that was with Ioab, laboured to destroy the walles.

16   And a wise woman cryed out from the citie: Heare ye, heare ye, tel Ioab: Approche hither, and I wil speake with thee.

17   Who when he was come to her, she sayd to him: Art thou Ioab? And he answered, I am. To whom she spake thus: Heare the wordes

Dauid. of thy handmayd. Who answered: I doe heare.

18   And she agayne sayd: A saying was vsed in the old prouerbe: They that aske, let them aske in Abela: and so they prospered.

19   Am not I she that answer truth in Israel, and thou seekest to subuert the citie, & to ouerthrowe a mother citie in Israel? Why throwest thou downe hedlong the inheritance of our Lord?

20   And Ioab answering, sayd: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw downe, nor destroy.

21   The matter is not so, but a man of mount Ephraim, Seba the sonne of Bochri by name, hath lifted vp his hand agaynst king Dauid: Deliuer him onlie, and we wil depart from the citie. And the woman sayd to Ioab: Behold his head shal be throwen to thee of the wal.

22   She therfore went to al the people, and spake to them wisely: who threw the head of Seba the sonne of Bochri being cut of, to Ioab. And he sounded the trumpet, and they departed from the citie, euery one into their tabernacles: and Ioab returned to Ierusalem vnto the king.

23   Ioab therfore was ouer al the armie of Israel: and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada ouer the Cheretheites and Phelethcites.

24   But Aduram ouer the tributes: moreouer Iosaphat the sonne of Ahilud, was register.

25   And Siua, a scribe: and Sadoc and Abiathar, priestes.

26   And Ira the Iaitite was the ^note priest of Dauid. Chap. XXI. ^note Famine oppre&esset;ing Israel three yeares, for the sinne of Saul agaynst the Gabaonites, 6. seuen of Sauls race (7. Miphiboseth saued) are crucified. 12. Their bones with Sauls and Ionathas are buried in the Land of Beniamin. 15. Dauid hath foure great battels and victories against the Philistians.

1   And there came a famine in the daies of Dauid three yeares continually: and Dauid consulted the oracle of our Lord. And our Lord sayd: For Saul, and his bloudy house, because he slewe the Gabaonites.

2   The king therfore calling the Gabaonites, sayd to them. (Moreouer the Gabaonites were not of the children of Israel, but the reliques of the Amorrheites: For the children of Israel had sworne to them, and Saul would strike them of zeale, as it were for the children of Israel and Iuda.)

3   Dauid therfore sayd to the Gabaonites: What shal I do for you? And what shal be the expiation for you, that you may blesse the inheritance of our Lord?

4   And the Gabaonites sayd to him: We haue no

Dauid. question vpon siluer and gold, but agaynst Saul, and agaynst his house: neither wil we that a man be slayne of Israel. To whom the king sayd: What wil you then that I do for you?

5   Who sayd to the king? The man, that hath wasted vs and oppressed vs vniustly, we must so destroy, that there be not so much as one leift of his stocke in al the coastes of Israel.

6   Let there be geuen vs seuen men of his children, that we may crucifie them to our Lord in Gabaa of Saul, once the chosen of our Lord. And the king sayd: I wil geue them.

7   And the king spared Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas the sonne of Saul, for the oth of our Lord, that had beene betwen Dauid, and betwen Ionathas the sonne of Saul.

8   The king therfore tooke the two sonnes of Respha the daughter of Aia, whom she bare to Saul, Armoni, and Miphiboseth: and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul, which she bare to Hadriel the sonne of Berzellai, that was of Molathi,

9   and gaue them into the handes of the Gabaonites: Who crucified them on a hil before our Lord: and these seuen dyed together in the first dayes of haruest, when the reaping of barley began.

10   And Respha the daughter of Aia taking a heare cloth, spred it vnder her vpon the rocke from the beginning of haruest, til water dropped vpon them from heauen: and she suffered not the birdes to teare them by day, nor the beastes by night.

11   And the thinges were told Dauid, which Respha had done, the daughter of Aia, the concubine of Saul.

12   And Dauid went, and tooke the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathas his sonne from the men of Iabees Galaad, who had stolen them out of the streate of Bethsan, in the which the Philistijms hanged them when they had killed Saul in Gelboe.

13   And he caried thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Ionathas his sonne: and gathering the bones of them, that were crucified,

14   they buried them with the bones of Saul, and of Ionathas his sonne in the Land of Beniamin, in the side, in the sepulchre of Cis his father: and they did al thinges that the king had commanded, and God was made propitious agayne to the land after these thinges.

15   And there was a battel made agayne of the Philistianes against Israel, and Dauid went downe, and his seruantes with him, and fought agaynst the Philisthijms. And Dauid faynting,

16   Iesbibenob, which was of the kinred of Arapha, the yron of whose speare weyed three hundred

Dauid. ounces, and he was girded with a new sword, assayed to strike Dauid.

17   And Abisai the sonne of Saruia reskewed him, and striking the Philistian killed him. Then sware Dauids men, saying: Thou shalt no more goe forth with vs into battel, lest thou put out the lampe of Israel.

18   There was also a second battel in Gob against the Philistians: then stroke Sobochai of Husathi, Saph of the stocke of Arapha of the kinred of the gyantes.

19   There was also a third battel in Gob agaynst the Philistians, in the which Adeodatus the sonne of the Forest a broderer the Bethlehemite stroke Goliath the Getheite, the shaft of whose speare was as it were a weauers beame.

20   The fourth battel was in Geth: in the which was a tal man, that had six fingers and six toes on eche hand and foote, that is fowre and twentie, and he was of the race of Arapha.

21   And he blasphemed Israel: and Ionathan the sonne of Samaa the brother of Dauid stroke him.

22   These foure were borne of Arapha in Geth, and they fel by the hand of Dauid, and of his seruantes. Chap. XXII. King Dauids Canticle of thankesgeuing, for his deliuerie from al enemies: 44. VVith a prophecie of the reiection of the Iewes, and vocation of the Gentiles.

1   And Dauid spake to our Lord the wordes of this song, in ^note the day that our Lord deliuered him out of the hand of al his enemies, and out of the hand of ^note Saul.

2   And he sayd:

2   Our Lord is my rocke, and my strength, and my sauiour.

3   God is my strong one, I wil hope in him: my shilde, and the horne of my saluation: my lifter vp, and my refuge: my sauiour, from iniquitie thou wilt deliuer me.

4   Our Lord prayse worthie wil I inuocate: and from mine enemies I shal be saued.

5   Because the pangues of death haue compassed me: the streames of Belial haue terrified me.

6   The ropes of hel haue compassed me: the snares of death haue preuented me.

7   In my tribulation I wil inuocate our Lord, and I wil crie my God: and he wil heare my voice out of his holie temple, and my crie shal come to his eares.

8   The earth quaked and trembled, the fundations of the

Dauid. mountaynes were strycken, and shaken, because he was angrie with them.

9   A smoke arose out of his nosethrels, and a fyre from his mouth shal deuoure: coles were kindled from him.

10   And he bowed the heauens, and descended: and miste vnder his feete.

11   And he ascended vpon the Cherubins, and flew: and slidde ouer the winges of the winde.

12   He put darkenes round about him a couer: stilling waters out of the clowdes of heauen.

13   By the shyning in his presence: the coles of fire were kindled.

14   Our Lord wil thunder from heauen: and the high one wil geue his voice.

15   He shot his arrowes and dispersed them: lightning, and consumed them.

16   And the ouerflowinges of the sea appeared, and the fundations of the world were discouered at the rebuking of our Lord, at the breathing of the spirit of his furie.

17   He sent from hygh heauen, and tooke me, and drewe me out of manie waters.

18   He deliuered me from my most mightie enemie, and from them that hated me: because they were stronger then I.

19   He preuented me in the day of my affliction, and our Lord became my stay.

20   And he brought me forth into latitude, he deliuered me, because I wel pleased him.

21   Our Lord wil reward me according to my iustice: and according to the cleannes of my handes wil he render to me.

22   Because I haue kept the wayes of our Lord, and haue not done impiously, from my God.

23   For al his iudgementes are in my sight: and his preceptes I haue not remoued from me.

24   And I shal be perfect with him: and shal keepe my self from myne iniquitie.

25   And our Lord wil restore vnto me according to my iustice: and according to the cleannes of my handes in the sight of his eyes.

26   With the holie one thou shalt be holie: and with the strong perfect.

27   With the elect thou shalt be elect: and with the peruerse thou shalt be peruerted.

Dauid.

28   And the poore people thou wilt saue: and the hautie in thyne eies thou wilt humble.

29   Because thou art my lampe o Lord: and thou wilt illuminate my darkenes.

30   For in thee I wil runne girded: in my God I wil leape ouer the wal.

31   God, his way immaculate, the word of our Lord is examined by fyre: he is the shield of al that trust in him.

32   Who is God beside our Lord: and who is strong beside our God?

33   God who hath girded me with strength: and made euen my perfect way.

34   Making my feete equal with the hartes, and setting me vpon my high places.

35   Teaching my handes vnto battel: and framing myne armes as it were a brasen bow.

36   Thou hast geuen me the shield of thy saluation: and thy mildenes hath multiplied me.

37   Thou shalt enlarge my steppes vnder me: and myne ankles shal not fayle.

38   I wil pursew myne enemies, and bruise them: and wil not returne til I consume them.

39   I wil consume and breake them, that they rise not: they shal fal vnder my feete.

40   Thou hast girded me with strength to battel: thou hast bowed vnder me them that resist me.

41   Myne enemies thou hast made to turne to me the backe: them that hated me, and I shal destroy them.

42   They shal crie, and there shal not be to saue, to our Lord, and he wil not heare them.

43   I will destroy them as the dust of the earth: as the myre of the streates wil I bruise and breake them.

44   Thou wilt saue me from the contrcdictions of my people: thou wilt keepe me to be ^note the head of the Gentiles: the people which I knowe not, wil serue me.

45   The children alienes wil resist me, with the hearing of the eare they wil obey me.

46   The children alienes are fallen away, and shal be straytened in their distresses.

47   Our lord liueth, and my God is blessed: and the strong God of my saluation shal be exalted.

Dauid.

48   God which geuest me reuenges, and throwest downe peoples vnder me.

49   Which bringest me out from myne enemies, and from them that resist me dost lift me vp: from the wicked man thou shalt deliuer me.

50   Therfore wil I confesse vnto thee o Lord among the Gentiles, and wil sing to thy name.

51   Magnifying the saluations of his king, and doing mercie to his Christ Dauid, and to his seede for euer. Chap. XXIII. The last wordes of Dauid concerning reward of the good, 6. and punishment of the bad. 8. A Catalogue of Dauids valiant men.

1   And these are Dauides last wordes. Dauid the sonne of Isai sayd: The man sayd, to whom it was appointed concerning the Christ of the God of Iacob, the excellent Psalmist of Israel:

2   The Spirit of our Lord hath spoken by me, and his wordes by my tongue.

3   The God of Israel sayd to me, the Strong one of Israel hath spoken, the Dominatour of men, the iust ruler in the feare of God.

4   As the light of the mourning when the sunne ryseth, early without cloudes glistereth, and as by rayne grasse springeth out of the earth.

5    ^noteNeither is my house so great with God, that he should enter with me an eternal couenant firme in al thinges & assured. For al my saluation, and al my wil: neither is there ought therof that springeth not.

6   And transgressors shal be plucked vp as thornes euery one: which are not taken with handes.

7   And if a man wil touch them, he shal be armed with yron and a lance staffe, and kindled with fyre they shal be burnt vnto nothing.

8   These be the names of the valiantes of Dauid. Sitting in his chaire the wisest prince amongest three, he is as it were the most tender litle worme of the wood, which killed eight hundred at one brunt.

9   After him, Eleazar the sonne of his vncle the Ahohite among the three valiantes, that were with Dauid when they defyed the Philisthijms, and were gathered thither into battel.

10   And when the men of Israel were gone vp, he stood and stroke the Philistians til his hand faynted, and waxed stiffe with the sword: and our Lord made a great victorie that day: and the people, that was fled, returned to take away of the spoyles of them that were slayne.

11   And after him Semma the sonne of

Dauid. Age of Arari. And the Philisthijms were gathered together in their ward: for there was there a filde ful of rice. And when the people was fled from the face of the Philisthijms.

12   he stood in the middes of the filde, and defended it, and stroke the Philisthians: and our Lord gaue great saluation.

13   Moreouer also before there went downe three which were princes among thirtie, and came to Dauid in the haruest time into the caue of Odollam: and the campe of the Philistianes was placed in the Vale of the giantes.

14   And Dauid was in a hold: moreouer the ward of the Philisthianes was then in Bethlehem.

15   Dauid ^note therfore desyred, & sayd: O that some man would geue me drinke of the water out of the cesterne, that is in Bethlehem beside the gate.

16   Three valiantes therfore brake into the campe of the Philistianes, and drew water out of the cesterne of Bethlehem, that was beside the gate, and brought it to Dauid: but he would not drinke, but ^note offered it to our Lord,

17   saying: Our Lord be merciful to me, that I doe not this thing: shal I drinke the bloud of these men that went, & the peril of their liues? Therfore he would not drinke. These thinges did the three strongest.

18   Abisai also the brother of Ioab the sonne of Saruia, was prince of three, it is he that lifted vp his speare agaynst three hundred, whom he slewe, renowned among three,

19   and the noblest of three, and he was the chiefe of them, but to the three first he raught not.

20   And Banaias the sonne of Ioiada the most valiant man of great workes, of Cabseel: he stroke the two lions of Moab, and he went downe, and stroke the lyon in the middes of the cesterne in the dayes of snow.

21   He also stroke the Ægyptian, a man worthie to be a spectacle, hauing in his hand a speare: therfore when he came downe to him with a rod, by force he wrested the speare out of the hand of the Ægyptian, and slewe him with his owne speare.

22   These thinges did Banaias the sonne of Ioiada.

23   And he renowmed among the three valiantes, which were the nobler among thirtie: but vnto the three he raught not: and Dauid made him of his secrete counsel.

24   Asael the brother of Ioab among the thirtie, Elahanan the sonne of his vncle of Bethlehem.

25   Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harori,

26   Heles of Phalti, Hira the sonne of Acces of Thecua,

27   Abiezer of Anathoth, Mobonnai of Husati,

28   Selmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29   Heled the sonne of Baana, he also a

Dauid. Netophathite, Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin,

30   Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the Torrent Gaas,

31   Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaueth of Beromi,

32   Eliaba of Salaboni: The sonnes of Iassen, Ionathan,

33   Semma of Orori, Ahiam the sonne of Sarar the Ararite,

34   Eliphelet the sonne of Aasbai the sonne of Machati, Eliam the sonne of Achitophel the Gelonite,

35   Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi,

36   Igaal the sonne of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi,

37   Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite the squyer of Ioab the sonne of Saruia,

38   Ira the Iethrite, Gareb he also a Iethrite,

39   Vrias the Hetheire. Al thirtie seuen. Chap. XXIIII. For Dauids sinne in numbring the people, 11. three sortes of punishments are proposed to his election: 14. of which he chooseth the plague, and seuentie thousand die in three dayes. 16. God sheweth mercie. 17. Dauid prayeth. 18. buildeth an altar, 25. and the plague ceaseth.

1   And ^note the furie of our Lord added to be angrie agaynst Israel, and stirred vp Dauid among them saying: Goe, number Israel and Iuda. ^note

2   And the king sayd to Ioab the General of his armie: Walke through al the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people, that I may know the number therof.

3   And Ioab sayd to the king: Our Lord thy God increase thy people, as much more as now it is, and agayne multiplie it an hundred fold in the sight of my lord the king: but what meaneth my lord the king by this kind of thing?

4   Howbeit the kinges word more preuailed then the wordes of Ioab, and of the chiefe of the armie: and Ioab went forth, and the captaynes of the souldiars from the face of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5   And when they had passed Iordan, they came into Aroer to the right hand of the citie, which is in the Vale of Gad.

6   And by Iazer they passed into Galaad, and into the lower countrie of Hodsi, and they came into the wooddie countrie of Dan. And going about neere Sidon,

7   they passed nigh to the walles of Tyre, and al the land of the Heueite, and the Chananeite, and they came to the south of Iuda into Bersabee:

8   and hauing viewed the whole land, after nine monethes and twentie dayes, they were come to Ierusalem.

9   Ioab therfore gaue the number of the description of the people to the king, and

Dauid. there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand strong men, that could drawe sword: and of Iuda fiue hundred thousand fighting men.

10   But Dauids ^note hart strooke him, after the people was numbred: and Dauid sayd to our Lord: ^note I haue sinned very much in this fact: but I pray thee Lord to transferre the iniquitie of thy seruant, because I haue done exceding folishly.

11   Dauid therfore arose in the morning, and the word of our Lord was made to Gad the prophete and Seer of Dauid, saying:

12   Goe, and speake to Dauid: Thus sayth our Lord: ^note Choyse is geuen thee of three thinges, choose one of them which thou wilt, that I may do it to thee.

13   And when Gad was come to Dauid, he told him, saying: Either famine shal come to thee seuen yeares in thy land: or three monethes thou shalt flee thy aduersaries, and they shal pursew thee: or certes three dayes the pestilence shal be in thy land. Now therfore deliberate, and see what word I shal answer to him that sent me.

14   And Dauid sayd to Gad: I am distressed excedingly: but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord (for his mercies be manie) then into the handes of men.

15   And our Lord sent the pestilence in Israel, from morning vnto the time appoynted, and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seuentie thousand men. ^note

16   And when the Angel of Our Lord had stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem to destroy it, our Lord had pitie vpon the affliction, and sayd to the Angel that stroke the people: ^note It is sufficient: now hold thy hand: and the Angel of our Lord was beside the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite.

17   And Dauid sayd to our Lord when he saw the Angel striking the people: I am he that haue sinned, I haue done wickedly: these that are the sheepe, what haue they done? let thy hand, I beseche thee be turned agaynst me, and agaynst my fathers house.

18   And Gad came to Dauid in that day, and sayd to him: Goe vp, and build an altar to our Lord in the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite.

19   And Dauid went vp according to the word of Gad, which our Lord had c&obar;manded him.

20   And Areuna looking, perceiued the king and his seruantes to come towards him

21   And going forth he adored the king with his face bowing to the earth, and sayd: What is the cause that my lord the king cometh to his seruant? To whom Dauid sayd: That I may bye of thee the floore, and build an altar to our Lord, and the slaughter may cease which rageth among the people.

Dauid.

22   And Areuna sayd to Dauid: Let my lord the king take, and offer, as it pleaseth him: thou hast the oxen for holocauste, and the wayne, and the yokes of the oxen for prouision of wood.

23   Areuna gaue al thinges to the king: and Areuna sayd to the king: The Lord thy God receiue thy vowe.

24   To whom the king answering, sayd: Not so as thou wilt, but I wil bye it of thee at a price, and I wil not offer to our Lord my God holocaustes ^note geuen gratis. Dauid therfore bought the floore, and the oxen, for fiftie sicles of siluer:

25   and Dauid built there an altar to our Lord, & offered holocaustes and pacifiques: and our Lord became merciful to the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

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