Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from
the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; It
came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the
camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was,
when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. And
David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out
of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the
matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from
the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and
Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told
him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the
young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa,
behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen
followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and
called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art
thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I
pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my
life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure
that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was
upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them
hither unto my lord.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men
that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for
Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the
house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he
answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him,
How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's
anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall
upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy
blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I
have slain the LORD's anointed.
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his
son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:
behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon
thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in
the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the
daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be
no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there
the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had
not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the
mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned
not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in
their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were
stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you
in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your
apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou
wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing
the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war
perished!
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I
go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And
David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. So David went
up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail
Nabal's wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring
up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And
the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of
Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they
that buried Saul.
And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto
them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your
lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD shew kindness
and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have
done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye
valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have
anointed me king over them.
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of
Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead,
and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over
Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when
he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah
followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house
of Judah was seven years and six months.
And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul,
went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the
servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and
they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the
other side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise,
and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went
over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son
of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. And they caught every one his
fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down
together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in
Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten,
and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel:
and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner;
and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following
Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he
answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or
to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his
armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner
said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I
smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy
brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder
end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out
behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came
to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died
stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down
when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way
of the wilderness of Gibeon.
And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and
became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab,
and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be
bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people
return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless
thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every
one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people
stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed
over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And
Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the
people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so
that three hundred and threescore men died.
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which
was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to
Hebron at break of day.
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:
but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker
and weaker.
And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal
the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of
Talmai king of Geshur; And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the
fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's
wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the
house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah:
and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's
concubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and
said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto
the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not
delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a
fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as
the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; To translate the kingdom
from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over
Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. And he could not answer Abner a word
again, because he feared him.
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land?
saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with
thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of
thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's
daughter, when thou comest to see my face. And David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused
to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and
took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her
husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said
Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for
David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the LORD hath
spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my
people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all
their enemies. And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went
also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel,
and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. So Abner came to
David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the
men that were with him a feast. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go,
and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league
with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And
David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and
brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron;
for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the
host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of
Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner
came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to
know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. And
when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which
brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when
Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with
him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the
blood of Asahel his brother.
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless
before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: Let it rest on
the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the
house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a
staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. So Joab and Abishai
his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon
in the battle.
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your
clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king
David himself followed the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the
king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people
wept. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool
dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man
falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over
him. And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was
yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread,
or ought else, till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it
pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the
people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay
Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that
there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day
weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard
for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were
feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul's son had two men that
were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of
the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of
Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: And the Beerothites
fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) And Jonathan, Saul's
son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the
tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up,
and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and
became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimmon the
Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to
the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. And they came thither
into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and
they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother
escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his
bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and
took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. And they
brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king,
Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought
thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of
his seed.
And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon
the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed
my soul out of all adversity, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead,
thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in
Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How
much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own
house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand,
and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men,
and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them
up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and
buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying,
Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king
over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD
said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain
over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king
David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they
anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in
Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take
away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David
cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the
same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up
to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are
hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The
blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort,
and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and
inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was
with him.
And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and
carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived
that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted
his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he
was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to
David. And these be the names of those that were born unto him in
Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and
Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel,
all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went
down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto
David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And
David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The
LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of
waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. And there
they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of
Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go
up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the
mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the
tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall
the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David
did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from
Geba until thou come to Gazer.
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale
of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the
name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set
the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab
that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new
cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and
all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments
made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on
cornets, and on cymbals.
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to
the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the
LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and
there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because the LORD
had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah
to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How
shall the ark of the LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of
the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the
house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the
house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom,
and all his household.
And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom,
and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David
went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the
city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of
the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David
danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen
ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD
with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD
came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window,
and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised
him in her heart.
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of
the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had
made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the
people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people,
even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to
every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So
all the people departed every one to his house.
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul
came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day,
who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants,
as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said
unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and
before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over
Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than
thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou
hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the
daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given
him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan
the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God
dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in
thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan,
saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me
an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the
time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but
have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have
walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of
Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not
me an house of cedar? Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant
David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from
following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with
thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of
thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great
men that are in the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel,
and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no
more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as
beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my
people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the
LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set
up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will
establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will
stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall
be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and
with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away
from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine
house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne
shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to
all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O
Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And
this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also
of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of
man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord
GOD, knowest thy servant. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own
heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is
there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom
God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to
do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which
thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For
thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for
ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word
that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house,
establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified
for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of
thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts, God
of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house:
therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou
hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Therefore now let it please
thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before
thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house
of thy servant be blessed for ever.
And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued
them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And
he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the
ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full
line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought
gifts.
David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to
recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a
thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand
footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for
an hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour
Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand
men. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became
servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the
servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and
from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of
Hadadezer, Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to
bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for
Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver,
and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: Which also king David did dedicate
unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations
which he subdued; Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and
of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob,
king of Zobah. And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of
the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all
they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went.
And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice
unto all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; And Zadok the son of Ahitub,
and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the
scribe; And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and
the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may
shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a
servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the
king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king
said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of
God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is
lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto
the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of
Ammiel, from Lo-debar. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the
son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And
David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father;
and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and
said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I
am?
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given
unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. Thou
therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou
shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but
Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba
had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According
to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant
do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the
king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha.
And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So
Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's
table; and was lame on both his feet.
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died,
and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. Then said David, I will shew kindness
unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And
David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And
David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. And the
princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou
that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee?
hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to
spy it out, and to overthrow it? Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and
shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the
middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told it unto
David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and
the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the
children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians
of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and
of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab,
and all the host of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out,
and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of
Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the
field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and
behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against
the Syrians: And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai
his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but
if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help
thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the
cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. And Joab
drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the
Syrians: and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that
the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the
city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered
themselves together. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that
were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of
the host of Hadarezer went before them. And when it was told David, he
gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And
the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. And
the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred
chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach
the captain of their host, who died there. And when all the kings that were
servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made
peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children
of Ammon any more.
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go
forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel;
and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David
tarried still at Jerusalem.
And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and
walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman
washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David
sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the
daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers,
and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was
purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the
woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah
to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how
Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David
said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed
out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his
lord, and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, saying,
Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not
from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And
Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my
lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall
I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as
thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to
Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah
abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called
him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even
he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down
to his house.
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and
sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in
the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be
smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he
assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. And the
men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the
people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; And charged
the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of
the war unto the king, And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say
unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight?
knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? Who smote Abimelech the
son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him
from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say
thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent
him for. And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed
against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even
unto the entering of the gate. And the shooters shot from off the wall upon
thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah
the Hittite is dead also. Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou
say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one
as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and
overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she
mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and
fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But
the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto
him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The
rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had
nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up:
and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own
meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a
daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to
take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that
was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the
man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the
man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this
thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did
this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of
Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of
Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy
bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been
too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in
his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his
wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of
Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;
because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite
to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out
of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them
unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For
thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the
sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan
said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies
of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely
die.
And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that
Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought
God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the
earth. And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up
from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And it
came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of
David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while
the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto
our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the
child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And
they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and
anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the
LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he
required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants
unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for
the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and
eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I
shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with
her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved
him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name
Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the
royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against
Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of
the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the
city, and it be called after my name. And David gathered all the people
together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. And he took
their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold
with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought
forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. And he brought forth the
people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of
iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and
thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the
people returned unto Jerusalem.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister,
whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. And Amnon
was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and
Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. But Amnon had a
friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and
Jonadab was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the
king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto
him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. And Jonadab said unto him,
Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father
cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and
give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at
her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to
see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come,
and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. Then
David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house,
and dress him meat. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he
was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his
sight, and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan, and poured them out
before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from
me. And they went out every man from him. And Amnon said unto Tamar,
Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar
took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to
Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he
took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she
answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to
be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame
to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now
therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from
thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than
she, forced her, and lay with her.
Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated
her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said
unto her, Arise, be gone. And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in
sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he
would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto
him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were
the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought
her out, and bolted the door after her.
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours
that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. And
Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee?
but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So
Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And
Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom
hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in
Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath
sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy
servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest
we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go,
but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon
go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But
Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when
Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon;
then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be
valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon
his mule, and fled.
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David,
saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them
left. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all
his servants stood by with their clothes rent. And Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that
they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for
by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that
he forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the
thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is
dead. But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill
side behind him. And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons
come: as thy servant said, so it is. And it came to pass, as soon as he had
made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up
their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.
And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled, and went to
Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of king David longed to go
forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was
dead.
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward
Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and
said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now
mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that
had a long time mourned for the dead: And come to the king, and speak on
this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the
ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. And the king said unto her,
What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine
husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove
together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the
other, and slew him. And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine
handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill
him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir
also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my
husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. And the king said unto
the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. And
the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on
me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless. And
the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall
not touch thee any more. Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember
the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to
destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth,
there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. Then the woman said, Let
thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he
said, Say on. And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a
thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one
which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. For
we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be
gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise
means, that his banished be not expelled from him. Now therefore that I am
come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people
have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king;
it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. For the king
will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would
destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. Then thine
handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as
an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the
LORD thy God will be with thee. Then the king answered and said unto the
woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the
woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. And the king said, Is not the
hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy
soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left
from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade
me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: To fetch
about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord
is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that
are in the earth.
And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore,
bring the young man Absalom again. And Joab fell to the ground on his face,
and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant
knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king
hath fulfilled the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur,
and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own
house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house,
and saw not the king's face.
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his
beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no
blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end
that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:)
he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's
weight. And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter,
whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would
not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not
come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and
he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the
field on fire. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said
unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom
answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send
thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good
for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if
there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. So Joab came to the king, and told
him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed
himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed
Absalom.
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and
horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and
stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a
controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him,
and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes
of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but
there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh
that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or
cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that
when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand,
and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel
that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men
of Israel.
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray
thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in
Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying,
If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the
LORD. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to
Hebron.
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as
ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in
Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that
were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his
city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was
strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel
are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom:
make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us,
and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said
unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the
king shall appoint. And the king went forth, and all his household after him.
And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. And
the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that
was far off. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the
Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which
came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us?
return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also
an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go
up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back
thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. And Ittai answered the king, and
said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my
lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant
be. And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over,
and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. And all the country
wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself
passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the
way of the wilderness.
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the
covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up,
until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto
Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes
of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to
me as seemeth good unto him. The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art
not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will tarry in the
plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. Zadok
therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they
tarried there.
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up,
and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was
with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they
went up.
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness.
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount,
where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him
with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: Unto whom David said, If thou
passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: But if thou return
to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been
thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest
thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with
thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing
soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and
Abiathar the priests. Behold, they have there with them their two sons,
Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send
unto me every thing that ye can hear. So Hushai David's friend came into the
city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of
Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two
hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred
of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto Ziba, What
meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household
to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the
wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, And
where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at
Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the
kingdom of my father. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that
pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I
may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of
the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he
came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at
all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were
on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come
out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath
returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou
hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of
Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art
a bloody man.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog
curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And
the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse,
because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say,
Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his
servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life:
how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him
curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine
affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And
as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side
over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast
dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and
refreshed themselves there.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and
Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's
friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the
king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to
thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto
Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel,
choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I
serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy
father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which
he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred
of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they
spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto
his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of
Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired
at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and
with Absalom.
Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve
thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will
come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him
afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king
only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou
seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying
pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. Then said Absalom, Call
now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. And when
Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel
hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak
thou. And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given
is not good at this time. For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his
men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear
robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not
lodge with the people. Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other
place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first,
that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people
that follow Absalom. And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of
a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man,
and they which be with him are valiant men. Therefore I counsel that all Israel
be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand
that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own
person. So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found,
and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and
of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that
city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone
found there. And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of
Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had
appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the
LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.
Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did
Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have
I counselled. Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not
this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king
be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. Now Jonathan and
Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city:
and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them
away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his
court; whither they went down. And the woman took and spread a covering
over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was
not known. And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house,
they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them,
They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could
not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, after they
were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king
David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus
hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed
over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not
gone over Jordan.
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his
ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his
household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the
sepulchre of his father. Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed
over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa
was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail
the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. So Israel and
Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son
of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of
Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, Brought beds, and
basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched
corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, And honey, and butter, and
sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him,
to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the
wilderness.
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of
thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third
part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of
Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of
Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with
you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we
flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for
us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that
thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth
you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people
came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and
Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even
with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains
charge concerning Absalom.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the
wood of Ephraim; Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants
of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand
men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and
the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and
the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught
hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and
the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told
Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. And Joab said unto
the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not
smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of
silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a
thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand
against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai
and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise
I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter
hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his
hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in
the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed
about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the
people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a
very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar,
which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called
unto this day, Absalom's place.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king
tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said
unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings
another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is
dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And
Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok
yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And
Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings
ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. And David sat
between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate
unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running
alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be
alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And
the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the
porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He
also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the
foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said,
He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And Ahimaaz called, and
said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face
before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered
up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king
said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab
sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew
not what it was. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And
he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said,
Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them
that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man
Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all
that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate,
and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son
Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the
people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the
people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed
steal away when they flee in battle. But the king covered his face, and the
king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this
day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the
lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives
of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends.
For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor
servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died
this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and
speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not
forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto
thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. Then the king
arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold,
the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for
Israel had fled every man to his tent.
And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The
king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the
hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. And
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why
speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto
the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his
house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the
last to bring back the king? And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone,
and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of
the host before me continually in the room of Joab. And he bowed the heart
of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this
word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. So the king returned,
and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to
conduct the king over Jordan.
And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and
came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. And there were a
thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of
Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went
over Jordan before the king. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over
the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of
Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; And said unto
the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember
that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out
of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. For thy servant doth
know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all
the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. But Abishai the son
of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this,
because he cursed the LORD's anointed? And David said, What have I to do
with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me?
shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I
am this day king over Israel? Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt
not die. And the king sware unto him.
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had
neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from
the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace. And it came
to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said
unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth? And he
answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will
saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy
servant is lame. And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but
my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine
eyes. For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king:
yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table.
What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? And the king
said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou
and Ziba divide the land. And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him
take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own
house.
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan
with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man,
even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while
he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. And the king said unto
Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up
with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old: and can I
discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I
drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women?
wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the
king recompense it me with such a reward? Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn
back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my
father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over
with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. And
the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that
which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me,
that will I do for thee. And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king
was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned
unto his own place.
Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the
people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king,
Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought
the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? And
all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of
kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of
the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? And the men of Israel answered
the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also
more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice
should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men
of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the
son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part
in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his
tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed
Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from
Jordan even to Jerusalem.
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women
his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward,
and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day
of their death, living in widowhood.
Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three
days, and be thou here present. So Amasa went to assemble the men of
Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more
harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him,
lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. And there went out after him
Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men:
and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before
them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon
it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as
he went forth it fell out. And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my
brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote
him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and
struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued
after Sheba the son of Bichri. And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said,
He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. And
Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man
saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into
the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came
by him stood still. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people
went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah,
and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up
a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were
with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto
Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. And when he was come
near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he.
Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he
answered, I do hear. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old
time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the
matter. I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest
to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the
inheritance of the LORD? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from
me, that I should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so: but a man of
mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand
against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from
the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to
thee over the wall. Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom.
And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab.
And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent.
And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was
over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites: And Adoram was over the
tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder: And Sheva was
scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests: And Ira also the Jairite was a
chief ruler about David.
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and
David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his
bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. And the king called the
Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children
of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had
sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of
Israel and Judah.) Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do
for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the
inheritance of the LORD? And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no
silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man
in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they
answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us
that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let
seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto
the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will
give them. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of
Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and
Jonathan the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the
daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and
the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel
the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: And he delivered them into the hands of
the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they
fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the
first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon
the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out
of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day,
nor the beasts of the field by night. And it was told David what Rizpah the
daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his
son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of
Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had
slain Saul in Gilboa: And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and
the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that
were hanged. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the
country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they
performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for
the land.
Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down,
and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David
waxed faint. And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight
of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being
girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. But Abishai the son of
Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the
men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to
battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. And it came to pass after this,
that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the
Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. And there was
again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim,
a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of
whose spear was like a weaver's beam. And there was yet a battle in Gath,
where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on
every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the
giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of
David slew him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the
hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the
man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the
sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his
word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me,
He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be
as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without
clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after
rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an
everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my
salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they
cannot be taken with hands: But the man that shall touch them must be
fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned
with fire in the same place.
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite
that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite:
he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. And
after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty
men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered
together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and
smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the
sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people
returned after him only to spoil. And after him was Shammah the son of Agee
the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where
was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the
Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. And three of the thirty chief
went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam:
and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. And David
was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the
water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty
men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well
of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David:
nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the
blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not
drink it. These things did these three mighty men. And Abishai, the brother of
Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear
against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. Was
he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he
attained not unto the first three. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of
a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men
of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of
snow: And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear
in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out
of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. He
was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three.
And David set him over his guard. Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the
thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika
the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the
Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the
Netophathite, Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai
out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of
the brooks of Gaash, Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, Shammah the
Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai,
the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezrai
the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the
Gadite, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab
the son of Zeruiah, Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite: thirty and
seven in all.
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved
David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. For the king said to
Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the
tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people,
that I may know the number of the people. And Joab said unto the king, Now
the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an
hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth
my lord the king delight in this thing? Notwithstanding the king's word
prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the
captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the
people of Israel.
And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the
city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: Then they
came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan,
and about to Zidon, And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the
cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of
Judah, even to Beer-sheba. So when they had gone through all the land, they
came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. And Joab gave
up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in
Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men
of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And
David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I
beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done
very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD
came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, Go and say unto David,
Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I
may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him,
Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee
three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be
three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall
return to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let
us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not
fall into the hand of man.
So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time
appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba
seventy thousand men. And when the angel stretched out his hand upon
Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the
angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the
angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. And
David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and
said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have
they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's
house.
And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto
the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. And David, according
to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. And Araunah looked,
and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went
out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And
Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David
said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that
the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah said unto David, Let
my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here
be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments
of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the
king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. And the
king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither
will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me
nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of
silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the
plague was stayed from Israel.