Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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2Samuel
2Samuel 1
¶1. And it came to pass, after Saul’s death, that David returned from slaying the Amalekites. And David stayed in Ziklag two days.
2. And it came to pass on the third day that, behold, a man came from the camp, from being with Saul, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And it came to pass, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth and prostrated himself.
3. And David said to him, “From where have you come?” And he said to him, “I escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4. Then David said to him, “What is the report? Tell me, I pray you.” And he said, “The people fled from the battle, and many of the people have also fallen and died. And Saul and Jonathan his son also died.”
5. And David said to the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?”
6. And the young man who brought him the report said, “I had an unexpected encounter on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariotry and horsemen were closing in on him.
7.And he turned around and saw me, and he called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8.And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9.And he said to me, ‘Stand over me, I beg you, and kill me, for agony has taken hold of me, but my life is yet in me.’
10.So I stood over him, and I killed him, for I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and a bracelet that was on his arm, and I brought them here to my lord.”
11. Then David took hold of his garment and tore them apart, and likewise did all of the men who were with him.
12. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword.
¶13. Now, David had said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where were you from?” And he said, “I am an Amalekite, son of a sojourner.”
14. And David said to him, “How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
15. Then David called to one of the young men and said, “Come here! Fall upon him!” So he struck him down, and he died.
16. And David said to him, “Your blood be upon your own head, for your mouth testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the anointed of the Lord.’”
¶17. Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son,
18.and he said to teach “The Bow” to the sons of Judah (behold, it is written in the book of Jasher):
19.“The beauty of Israel is slain upon your high places. How the mighty are fallen!
20.Do not tell it in Gath. Do not publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21.O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, nor rain upon you, nor fields for offerings! For there the shield of mighty men was cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22.From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan’s bow did not turn back, neither did Saul’s sword return empty.
23.Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24.O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, who adorned your apparel with ornaments of gold.
25.Oh, how the mighty are fallen in the midst of battle! O Jonathan! You were slain on your high places!
26.I am in anguish over you, Jonathan my brother! You were very delightful to me. Your love for me was more wondrous than the love of women.
27.Oh, how the mighty are fallen! Yea, the vessels of war have perished!”
2Samuel 2
¶1. And it came to pass after this that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And Jehovah said to him, “Go up.” And David said, “To where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”
2. So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
3. And David brought up the men who were with him, each with his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David as king over the house of Judah.
¶Then they told David, “The men of Jabesh-Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5. So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, “Blessed be you of Jehovah, that you showed this kindness toward your lord, toward Saul, and buried him.
6.And now, may Jehovah show kindness and truth to you, and I also will do the same good to you because you have done this thing.
7.So let your hands be strengthened now, and be as men of might, for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me to be king over them.”
¶8. But Abner ben-Ner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth ben-Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim,
9.and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
¶10. Ish-bosheth ben-Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years; however, the house of Judah followed after David.
11. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
¶12. And Abner ben-Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth ben-Saul came out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13. And Joab ben-Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met together with them by the pool of Gibeon, and they sat down, these on this side of the pool, and those on the other side of the pool.
14. And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men, I pray you, arise and make sport before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
15. Then they arose and passed over by number: twelve for Benjamin and for Ish-boseth ben-Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
16. And they took hold of each other by the head, and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side. So they fell together. And that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,[1] which is in Gibeon.
17. And the battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18. And the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was light on his feet, like one of the gazelles in the field.
19. And Asahel pursued after Abner, and he did not turn from following Abner, to go either to the right or the left.
20. Then Abner turned to look behind him, and he said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is.”
21. And Abner said to him, “Turn for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
22. And Abner said yet again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me! Why should I strike you down to the ground? How then could I hold up my face to Joab your brother?”
23. But he refused to turn aside; so, Abner struck him with the back end of the spear into his belly, and the spear came out his back side, and he fell there and died in that place. And it came to pass that all who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stood still there.
24. And Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner. And the sun was setting as they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah, by way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25. And the sons of Benjamin were gathered together behind Abner, and they became one unit and stood on top of a hill as one.
26. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword consume forever? Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the end? How long will it be before you tell the people to turn back from following after their brothers?”
27. And Joab said, “As God lives, indeed, if you had not spoken, then surely the people would have withdrawn in the morning, each one from following his brother.”
28. So Joab blew the shofar, and all the people stood still and did not pursue after Israel any more, neither did they any longer continue to fight.
29. And Abner and his men marched through the plain all that night, and they crossed over the Jordan, and they went through all of the Bithron[2] and came to Mahanaim.
30. And when Joab returned from following Abner, he gathered all the company, and nineteen servants of David were lacking, and Asahel.
31. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and of Abner’s men three hundred and sixty men who died.
32. And they carried Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which is in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and day broke upon them at Hebron.
2Samuel 3
¶1. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, but David waxed stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
¶2. And sons were born to David at Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3.his second was Chileab, by Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; the third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4.the fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital;
5.and the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David at Hebron.
¶6. And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul.
7. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why did you go in to my father’s concubine?”
8. And Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head who is for Judah? Today, I showed kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his kin, and to his companions, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David, yet you have charged me today with a fault concerning this woman!
9.God do thus to Abner, and more than that to him, unless as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do so for him,
10.to take the kingdom away from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11. And he could not answer Abner anything more because he was afraid of him.
¶12. Then Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?”, saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to turn all Israel over to you.”
13. And he said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. Only, one thing will I require of you: you shall not see my face until you bring Michal, the daughter of Saul, when you come to see my face.”
14. And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth ben-Saul, saying, “Give me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15. And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Phaltiel ben-Lush.
16. And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, “Go! Go back!” And so, he went back.
¶17. And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “Even before, in times past, you were seeking for David to be king over you.
18.Do so now, then, for Jehovah spoke of David, saying, ‘By the hand of David, my servant, will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”
19. And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the ears of David at Hebron all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of the whole house of Benjamin.
20. And Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
21. And Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22. And, behold, servants of David, with Joab, came from a raid, and they had brought much spoil with them. However, Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had left in peace.
23. When Joab and all the host who were with him had come, then they reported to Joab, saying, “Abner ben-Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he left in peace.”
24. Then Joab came to the king, and he said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he’s getting away!
25.You know Abner ben-Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
26. And when Joab went out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back again from the well of Sirah. But David did not know.
27. And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him privately. But he struck him there in the stomach so that he died, on account of the blood of Asahel his brother.
28. But after David heard of this, then he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner ben-Ner.
29.Let these things fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house: yea, let there not fail to be in the house of Joab one with an issue of blood, or that is a leper, or that holds a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!”
30. Now Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had slain Asahel their brother in the battle at Gibeon.
31. And David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” But King David followed the bier.
32. And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, “Should Abner have died the death of a fool?
34.Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters. As one falls before wicked men have you fallen.” Then all the people wept again over him.
35. And when all the people came to encourage David to eat bread while it was yet day, David swore, saying, “Let God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else until the sun goes down!”
36. And all the people took note of it, and it was good in their eyes, as everything that the king did was good in the eyes of all the people.
37. And all the people, even all Israel, understood on that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner ben-Ner.
38. And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince, and a great one, has fallen this day in Israel?
39.And this day, I am weak, even though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
2Samuel 4
¶1. Now Saul’s son heard that Abner had died at Hebron, and his strength failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
2. And Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties; the name of the first was Baanah, and the name of the second was Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin,
3. but the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and they are sojourners there to this day).
4. And Jonathan ben-Saul had a son crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel about Saul and Jonathan, and his nurse picked him up and fled. But it came to pass, as she hurried to flee that he fell and was made lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
5. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, came, and about the heat of the day, they entered into the house of Ishbosheth, and he was lying down on a bed at noon.
6. And, behold, they entered into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the stomach. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7. For when they entered the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedchamber, and they struck and killed him. They also beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
8. And they brought Ishbosheth’s head to David at Hebron, and they said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ishbosheth ben-Saul, your enemy who sought your life. But Jehovah has this day given to my lord the king vengeance upon Saul and his seed.”
9. And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As Jehovah lives, who has redeemed my soul from all distress,
10.when one told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead’, it being in his eyes good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was my gift for his good news.
11.How much more, when evil men have killed a righteous man in his house on his own bed! Shall I not now require his blood of your hands, and remove you from the earth?”
12. And David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and their feet, and they hanged them over the pool at Hebron. And they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.
2Samuel 5
¶1. Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2.Also, in times past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. And Jehovah said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.’”
3. And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before Jehovah, and they anointed David as king over Israel.
¶4. David was thirty years old when he began to reign. He reigned forty years.
5. At Hebron, he reigned seven years and six months over Judah, and at Jerusalem, he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6. And the king, with his men, went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And they spoke to David, saying, “You will not enter here. For even the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David will not enter here.”
7. But David took the stronghold of Zion, which is the city of David.
8. And David said on that day, “Let everyone strike down a Jebusite!” And by way of the water shaft, he reached “the lame and the blind”, who were hated by David’s soul. For this reason, they say, “The blind and the lame shall not enter into the house.”
9. Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and he called it the City of David. And David built all around from Millo and within.
10. And David became greater and greater, and Jehovah the God of Hosts was with him.
¶11. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons for stone walls, and they built a house for David.
12. And David understood that Jehovah had established him as king over Israel and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
13. And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14. And these are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15.and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16.and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
¶17. But the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel. Then all the Philistines came up to look for David. And when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.
18. And the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19. And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” And Jehovah said to David, “Go up! I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20. So, David went to Baal-Perazim. And there, David struck them down, and he said, “Jehovah has burst forth upon my enemies before me, like a bursting out of waters.” Therefore, he named that place Baal-Perazim.[3]
21. And they abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
¶22. And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23. Then David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up. Go around to their rear and come at them opposite the mulberry trees.
24.And it shall be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, move quickly, for then the Lord has gone forth before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
25. And David did so, just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.
2Samuel 6
¶1. And David again gathered all the chosen men in Israel, thirty thousand.
2. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, who is called by name, the name of the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim which are over it.
3. And they loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it away from the house of Abinadab which was in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.
4. And they carried it from the house of Abinadab which was in Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
5. And David and all the house of Israel were playing before the Lord with all kinds of instruments of cypress, and on lyres, and on harps, and on timbrels, and on sistra, and on cymbals.
6. But when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put his hand on the ark of God, and he took hold of it because the oxen stumbled.
7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him there for the error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
8. And David was angry because the Lord made a breach against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-Uzzah to this day.
9. And David feared Jehovah that day, and he said, “How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?”
10. And David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to himself, into the city of David. So, David took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
12. And it was reported to King David, saying, “Jehovah has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that is his because of the ark of God. Then David went and brought up the ark of God with gladness from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David.
13. And it came to pass, when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, that he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
14. And David was whirling before Jehovah with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15. And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with a shout of joy and the sound of the shofar.
16. And so it was that the ark of the Lord entered the city of David. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before Jehovah, and she despised him in her heart.
17. And they brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place in the midst of the tent which David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18. And when David finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts.
19. And he distributed to all the people, to the whole multitude of Israel, to the men and the women, to each a cake of bread, and a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20. And David returned to bless his household, and Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David. She said, “How the King of Israel was glorified today! who exposed himself today in the eyes of handmaids of his slaves, like one of the worthless men who shamelessly expose themselves.”
21. And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord who chose me instead of your father, and instead of all his house, to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people, over Israel! Yes, I played before the Lord!
22.And I will be more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes, and as for the handmaids of whom you have spoken, by them, I will be glorified!”
23. And so, Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child to the day of her death.
2Samuel 7
¶1. And it came to pass that the king sat in his house, for Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies about him.
2. And the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Consider this, if you will. I am sitting in a house of cedar, but the ark of God sits within a curtain.”
3. And Nathan said to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for Jehovah is with you.”
4. But it came to pass that night that the word of Jehovah came to Nathan, saying,
5.“Go and say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Will you build a house for me to dwell in?
6.For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt until this day, but I have gone about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
7.In any place I went about among all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to one of the rulers[4] of Israel whom I had commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built a house of cedar for me?”’
8.Yet say this now to my servant, to David: ‘Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I took you out of the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over my people, over Israel.
9.And I have been with you everywhere you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies before you, and I have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who have been on the earth.
10.And I appointed a place for my people, for Israel, and I planted them, that they might dwell in it, and that they be troubled no more, and that unjust men would not again abuse them as before,
11.even from the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I have given you rest from all your enemies. Furthermore, Jehovah declares to you that Jehovah will make you a house!
12.For when your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who will come from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom.
13.He will be the one who builds a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14.I will be his Father, and he will be my son, whom if he do iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with stripes of the children of men,
15.but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him as I took it from Saul, whom I took away before you.
16.And your house and your kingdom will be established forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”
17. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, thus did Nathan speak to David.
¶18. Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me to this place?
19.And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God, for you spoke also of your servant’s house for a long while to come. And this is the law of the Man, O Lord God!
20.And what else can David add to say to you? Yea, you know your servant, O Lord God.
21.For your word’s sake and according to your heart have you determined all this greatness, and caused your servant to know it.
22.Therefore, you are great, O Lord God! Yea, there is none like you! Yea, there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23.And what one nation in the earth is like your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem as a people for Himself, and to make for Himself a name, and to do great and dreadful things for you, for your land before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from the Egyptian nation and its gods?
24.And you have established for yourself your people Israel, as a people for you forever. And you, Jehovah, have become their God.
25.And now, O Lord God, establish forever the word which you have spoken concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have said.
26.And let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel!’ And let the house of your servant David be established before you.
27.For you, O Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed it in the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore, your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
28.And now, O Lord Jehovah, you are He, O God! Yea, your words are true, and you have spoken this good thing to your servant!
29.So let it be pleasing to you now and bless the house of your servant, that it may forever be before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken. And with your blessing may the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
2Samuel 8
¶1. And it came to pass after this, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2. He also struck Moab, and measured them with a line, causing them to lie down on the ground. And he measured two lines to put to death, and a full line to keep alive. And Moab became David’s servants, bringing tribute.
3. David also struck Hadadezer ben-Rehob, the king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power to the Euphrates River.
4. And David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but kept for himself one hundred for chariots.
5. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, David also struck down twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.
6. Then David put garrisons in Syria, in Damascus, and Syria became David’s servants, bringing tribute. And Jehovah brought David victory wherever he went.
7. And David took the gold shields of the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very great quantity of bronze.
9. And when Toi, the king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer,
10.then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to beg peace of him, and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down, for Hadadezer had been a man at war with Toi. And in his hand were vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze.
11. These King David also dedicated to Jehovah, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all the nations he subdued:
12.of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer ben-Rehob, the king of Zobah.
13. David also gained a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.
14. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom, he set up garrisons. And all of Edom became David’s servants. And Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.
¶15. And David reigned over all Israel, and David executed judgment and righteousness for all his people.
16. And Joab ben-Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat ben-Ahilud was the recorder.
17. And Zadok ben-Ahitub and Ahimelech ben-Abiathar[5] were the priests, and Seraiah was the scribe.
18. And Benaiah ben-Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chief ministers.
2Samuel 9
¶1. And David said, “Is there yet anyone who remains of the house of Saul, that I might show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2. Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. And they summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.”
3. And the king said, “Is there not still one man of the house of Saul, that I might show him the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is yet a son of Jonathan, crippled in his feet.”
4. And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir ben-Ammiel, in Lo-debar.”
5. Then King David sent and took him from the house of Machir ben-Ammiel at Lo-debar.
6. And Mephibosheth ben-Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he said, “Behold, your servant.”
7. And David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will truly show you kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. And you will eat bread at my table continually.”
8. And he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”
9. Then the king called for Ziba, Saul’s servant, and he said to him, “All that was Saul’s and all his house have I given to your master’s son.
10.And you shall work the land for him, you and your sons, and your servants, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s son may have bread and eat it. But Mephibosheth, your master’s son, shall eat bread continually at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11. And Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do, but ‘Mephibosheth shall eat at my table as one of the king’s sons.’”
12. And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in Ziba’s house were servants of Mephibosheth.
13. And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both of his feet.
2Samuel 10
¶1. And it came to pass, after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun, his son, became king in his place.
2. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun ben-Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So, by the hand of his servants, David sent to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants went into the land of the children of Ammon.
3. But the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord: “Do you think David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, and spy it out, and overthrow it?”
4. And so, Hanun took David’s servants, and he shaved off half of their beards, and cut off half of their garments up to their buttocks, and then sent them away.
5. And they told David, and he sent messengers to meet them because the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow and then return.”
6. And the children of Ammon saw that they had become a stench to David, and the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and one thousand men of King Maacah, and men of Tob, twelve thousand men.
7. And David heard of it, and he sent Joab and all the host of mighty men.
8. And the children of Ammon came out and set the battle in order at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba and Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9. And Joab saw that the battle lines against him were in front and behind, so he chose from all the choice men of Israel and set them in array against the Syrians.
10. And the rest of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the children of Ammon.
11. And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12.Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and Jehovah do what is good in His eyes.”
13. And Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle with the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14. When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they fled from before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15. But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16. And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river, and they came to Helam. And Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, went before them.
17. And it was reported to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set the battle in order against David, and they fought with him.
18. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred Syrian chariot men and forty thousand horsemen, and he struck down Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, and he died there.
19. And all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon again.
2Samuel 11
¶1. And it came to pass at the turn of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they spoiled the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
2. And it came to pass in the evening that David arose from his bed and walked about on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful.
3. And David sent and inquired about the woman, and one said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
4. And David sent messengers and brought her, and she came in to him, and he lay with her, for she had cleansed herself from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house.
5. And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David. And she said, “I am pregnant.”
6. Then David sent word to Joab, “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” So, Joab sent Uriah to David.
7. And Uriah came to him, and David asked about Joab’s welfare, and the people’s welfare, and the state of the war.
8. And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out from the king’s house, and a portion from the king followed him.
9. But Uriah lay at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord and did not go down to his house.
10. And they reported to David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house.” Then David said to Uriah, “Haven’t you come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11. And Uriah said to David, “The ark, and Israel, and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open field, and am I to go to my house to eat, and to drink, and lie with my wife? By your life, even your soul’s life, I will not do this thing!”
12. And David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will send you away.” So, Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13. And David called him, and he ate with him, and he drank, and he made him drunk. And in the evening, he went out to lie down on his bed with the servants of his lord and did not go down to his house.
14. And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and he sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15. And in the letter he wrote, saying, “You are to put Uriah at the forefront of the fiercest battle, then fall back from him so that he may be struck down and die.”
16. And it came to pass that when Joab considered the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that there were mighty men.
17. And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the people among David’s servants fell. And Uriah the Hittite died also.
18. Then Joab sent and reported to David all the details of the war.
19. And he charged the messenger, saying, “When you finish telling the king all the details of the war,
20.then, if it be that the king’s fury rise and he say to you, ‘Why did you come so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from on the wall?’
21.Who struck down Abimelech ben-Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who threw an upper millstone on him from the wall, and he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near to the wall?’ Then you shall say, ‘Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”
22. So, the messenger departed, and he went and reported to David all that Joab had sent him for.
23. And the messenger said to David, “Truly, the men were prevailing against us. They even came out to us in the field, but then, we were upon them to the entrance of the gate.
24.But the archers were shooting at your servants from on the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”
25. Then David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing be grievous in your eyes, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and destroy it.’ And so, encourage him.”
26. And when the wife of Uriah heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for her husband.
27. And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her into his house. And she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
2Samuel 12
¶1. And Jehovah sent Nathan to David, and he went in to him and said to him, “There were two men in one city, one was rich, and one was poor.
2.The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3.but the poor man had nothing but one small ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished, and it grew up with him, together with his children. It ate of his bread and drank from his cup, and would lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
4.And a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or his cattle to prepare it for the journeying man who had come to him. But he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
5. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall die!
6.Moreover, he shall restore fourfold for the lamb because he has done this thing, and because he had no pity.”
7. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man. Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘I anointed you as king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8.And I gave you your lord’s house, and your lord’s wives into your bosom, and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this was too little, then I would have added to you more such things.
9.Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do this evil in His sight? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your wife; yea, you killed him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10.Therefore, the sword shall now never depart from your house because you have despised me, and you took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
11.Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am raising up evil against you from your own house, and before your eyes will I take your wives and give them to someone close to you, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12.For you did it in secret, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”
13. And David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!” Moreover, Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
14.Nevertheless, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, also the son that is born to you shall surely die.”
15. And Nathan went to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
16. Then David sought God for the boy. Yea, David began to fast, and he went in and spent the night lying on the ground.
17. And the elders of his house stood over him to get him up from the ground, but he would not, nor would he eat bread with them.
18. And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And David’s servants feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, when the child was alive, we spoke to him and he would not listen to our voice. How shall we tell him that the child is dead, for he might do some harm?”
19. But David saw that his servants were whispering among themselves, and David perceived that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
20. Then David arose from the earth, and he washed, and anointed himself, and changed his garment. And he went to the house of the Lord and worshipped, and then came to his house. And when he asked, they set food before him and he ate.
21. And his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? For you fasted and wept for the child’s life, but when the child died, you rose up and ate food.”
22. And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I thought, ‘Who knows if the Lord will be gracious to me and the child live?’
23.But he is dead now. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back again? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me.”
24. And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and he went in to her and lay with her. And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him,
25. and He sent by the hand of the prophet Nathan, and he called his name Jedidiah[6] because of Jehovah.
¶26. Now, Joab was fighting at Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and he took the royal city.
27. And Joab sent messengers to David, and he said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city of waters.
28.Therefore, gather now the rest of the people, and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.”
29. So, David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah. And he fought against it and took it.
30. And he took their king’s crown off his head (and its weight was a talent of gold and precious stone), and it was placed on David’s head. And he took a great abundance of spoil from the city.
31. And he brought forth the people who were in it, and put them to work under the saw, and iron harrows, and axes of iron, and made them pass over to labor in the brickkiln. And he did thus to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David returned with all the people to Jerusalem.
2Samuel 13
¶1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom ben-David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon ben-David loved her.
2. And it distressed Amnon so that he made himself sick because of Tamar his sister, for she was a virgin, and it seemed difficult in Amnon’s eyes for him to do anything concerning her.
3. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, and Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4. And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, miserable like this from morning to morning? Won’t you tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5. And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be ill, and your father will come to see you. Then say to him, ‘Let, I pray, my sister Tamar come and feed me food, food that she has prepared in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”
6. So, Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Let, I pray, my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat them from her hand.”
7. And David sent to the house to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8. And Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it and made the cakes in his sight, and then she baked the cakes.
9. And she took the pan and set them before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone leave me!” And everyone went out from him.
10. And Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedchamber, that I may eat it from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedchamber to Amnon her brother.
11. And she brought them to him to eat, but he took hold of her, and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”
12. And she said to him, “No, my brother, do not humble me! No such thing should be done in Israel! Do not do this disgraceful thing!
13.And I, where could I take my shame? And you, you will be like one of the fools in Israel. I pray you, speak now to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”
14. But he would not take heed to her voice, and as he was stronger than she, he then forced her and lay with her.
15. Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, for greater was the hate with which he hated her than the love with which he had loved her, and Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!”
16. And she said to him, “No! For this, to send me away, is a greater evil than the other that you have done to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17. And he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Put this woman out, away from me, and bar the door after her!”
18. (Now she had on a long-sleeved tunic,[7] for with such robes were the virgin daughters of the king clothed.) Then his attendant took her outside and barred the door after her.
19. And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved tunic that she had on, and she put her hand on her head and went on, walking and crying out.
20. And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Then keep silent now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained, but desolate, in her brother Absalom’s house.
21. But when King David heard of all these matters, it angered him greatly.
22. And Absalom spoke with Amnon neither for evil or good, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had humbled Tamar his sister.
¶23. And it came to pass after two full years that they were shearing sheep for Absalom at Baal-hazor, which is in Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24. Absalom even came to the king and said, “Behold, they are shearing now for your servant. I pray you, let the king and his servants come with your servant.”
25. But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. If you please, let us not all go, lest we be a burden to you.” And though he pressed him, he would not go, but he gave him his blessing.
26. Then Absalom said, “If not, I pray let Amnon my brother go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27. But Absalom pressed him, so he sent Amnon, and all the king’s sons, with him.
28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “See, now. When Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down’, then kill him. Do not be afraid, for have I not commanded you? Be strong and be valiant.”
29. And Absalom’s servants did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. And all the king’s sons arose and rode, each on his mule, and fled.
30. And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them remains.”
31. Then the king arose and tore his garments, and he lay on the ground. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments.
32. But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, answered and said, “Let not my lord think that they killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon only did he kill. Yea, by the word of Absalom has it been appointed since the day that he forced Tamar his sister.
33.Therefore, let not my lord the king take anything to his heart now, to think that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead.”
34. And Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him, from the side of the mountain.
35. And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming. Just as your servant said has it happened.
36. And it came to pass when he finished speaking, that behold, the king’s sons came in and lifted up their voices and wept. And the king also, with all his servants, wept very bitterly.
37. But Absalom had fled, and he went to Talmai ben-Ammihur, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day.
38. So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and he was there for three years.
39. And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
2Samuel 14
¶1. Now Joab ben-Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart went out to Absalom.
2. So Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought from there a wise woman, and he said to her, “Mourn now, I pray you, and put on mourning clothes. And do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has mourned many days for the dead.
3.And come to the king and speak to him like this. . . .” And Joab put the words in her mouth.
4. When the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, then she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and she said, “Help, O king!”
5. And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she said, “Truly, I am a widowed woman, for my husband is dead.
6.And your maidservant had two sons. But the two of them struggled in the field, and there was no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
7.Now, behold, the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they are saying, ‘Deliver him who struck down his brother, and we will kill him for the life of his brother whom he murdered. Yea, we will destroy the heir also.’ Thus will they put out my coal who is left, so as to not leave to my husband name or remnant on the face of the land.”
8. And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9. But the woman of Tekoah said to the king, “Upon me, my lord the king, and upon my father’s house may the iniquity be, and the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10. And the king said, “If any speak against you, then have him come to me, and he will never again touch you.”
11. Then she said, “I pray you, let the king invoke the Lord your God, that the avenger of blood not destroy any more, and that they do not destroy my son.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, let me be damned if a single hair of your son falls to the ground.”
12. Then the woman said, “Let, I pray, your maidservant say something to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.”
13. And the woman said, “Why have you made such a determination against the people of God? For in declaring this judgment, the king is as one who is guilty, inasmuch as the king has not brought back his outcast.
14.For we must die, and become like water poured out on the earth, which cannot be recovered. Yet, God does not take someone away without devising means, that he who is banished might not remain banished from Him.
15.So, I have come now to speak this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your maidservant said, ‘I will speak now to the king. Perhaps the king will do the bidding of his handmaid.
16.For the king will consent to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of him who would destroy both me and my son from the inheritance of God.’
17.And your maidservant said, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest,’ for my lord the king is as an angel of God to discern good and evil. And may the Lord your God be with you.”
18. And the king answered and said to the woman, “I pray, do not hide this thing from me that I shall ask you.” And the woman said, “If he will, let my lord the king speak.”
19. And the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king says, for Joab your servant, he commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.
20.In order to turn about the course of the matter, your servant Joab did this thing, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of an angel of God to know everything that is in the earth.”
21. Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Now go, and bring back the young man Absalom.”
22. And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and he did obeisance and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today, your servant knows that I have found grace in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of his servant.”
23. And Joab arose, and he went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24. But the king said, “Let him turn aside to his house and not see my face.” So Absalom turned aside to his house and did not see the king’s face.
¶25. Now, in all Israel, there was no man so highly acclaimed for beauty as was Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.
26. And when he cut the hair of his head (for it was at the end of every year that he cut it, as it was heavy on him, and so, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head to be two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
27. And to Absalom three sons were born, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman to look at.
¶28. And Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem two full years, but he did not see the king’s face.
29. So Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he did not want to come to him. And he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
30. Then he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab’s field is beside mine, and he has barley there. Go, and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set his field on fire.
31. Then Joab arose, and he came to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
32. And Absalom said to Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here so that I may send you to the king to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to still be there.” ’ Let me see the face of the king now, and if there be iniquity in me, then let him kill me.”
33. So Joab went to the king and told him. And he summoned Absalom, and he came to the king and did obeisance to him with his face on the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
2Samuel 15
¶1. And it came to pass after this that Absalom provided for himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2. And Absalom rose early and stood beside the way of the gate, and when any man who had a controversy came to the King for judgment, then Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such-and-such place in the tribes of Israel.”
3. Then Absalom would say to him, “See now, your claims are good and right, but there is no man appointed by the King to hear you.”
4. And Absalom would say, “Oh, that I was judge over the land! Then any man who had a suit or cause would come up to me, and I would do him right.”
5. And it came to pass that when any man drew near to do him obeisance that he would reach out and take hold of him, and kiss him.
6. And Absalom did thus to all in Israel who came to the King for judgment, and Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.
7. And it came to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, “I pray you, let me go and pay my vow that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron.
8.For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt in Geshur, in Syria, saying, ‘If Jehovah does indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.’”
9. And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So, he arose and went to Hebron.
10. But Absalom had sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
11. And with Absalom went two hundred men of Jerusalem whom he had summoned, and they went in their innocence and did not know anything.
12. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, and the people going over to Absalom were many.
13. And the report came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are gone after Absalom.”
14. Then David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Get up! And let us flee; otherwise, escape from Absalom will not be possible for us. Go quickly, lest he come swiftly and overtake us, and bring evil upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword!”
15. And the king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides, behold, we are your servants.”
16. Then the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women behind, concubines, to keep the house.
17. So, the king went forth, and all the people after him, and they stopped at a distant house.
18. And all his servants passed on by him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19. Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your home as well.
20.You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about, going with us? As for me, I am going wherever I must go. Return, and take your brothers back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21. And Ittai answered the king and said, “As Jehovah lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or in life, there shall your servant be.”
22. So, David said to Ittai, “Come on, and cross over.” So, Ittai the Gittite crossed over, and all his men, and all his little ones who were with him.
23. And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people crossed over, and the king crossed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on by way of the road to the wilderness,
24.and behold, Zadok also, and all the Levites with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God. (Abiathar also went up.) And they set the ark of God down until all the people had finished passing out of the city.
25. And the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back, too, and show me both it and His dwelling place.
26.But if He says thus, ‘I have no pleasure in you’, behold, here I am; let Him do to me whatever is good in His sight.”
27. The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return in peace to the city with Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan ben-Abiathar. Let your two sons be with you.
28.See, I will tarry in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you, informing me.”
29. So, Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they remained there.
30. Then David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, going up and weeping, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered each his head, and they went up, going up and weeping.
31. And one reported to David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, turn, I pray, the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32. And it happened that when David came to the top of the mount that he worshipped God there, and behold, Hushai the Archite met him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.
33. And David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will be to me a burden.
34.But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I am your servant, O king. As I was your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant,’ then you may frustrate Ahithophel’s counsel for me.
35.Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? And it shall be that anything you hear from the king’s house, you will report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36.Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son, and by their hand, you shall send to me everything that you hear.”
37. So, Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. Then Absalom entered Jerusalem.
2Samuel 16
¶1. And David passed on a little beyond the top of the mount, and behold, Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met him, with a pair of saddled asses, and on them two hundred loaves, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2. And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” And Ziba said, “The asses are for the king’s household to ride on, and the bread and the summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for the weary to drink in the wilderness.”
3. And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my father’s kingdom to me.’”
4. Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that was Mephibosheth’s is yours.” And Ziba said, “I am humbled. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
¶5. And king David came to Bahurim, and behold, from there a man from the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei ben-Gera. He came forth, cursing as he came.
6. And he threw stones at David and all the servants of king David; and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and on his left.
7. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, “Come out, come out, you man of bloodshed, and you man of Belial!
8.Jehovah has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you reigned, and Jehovah has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. Just look at you in your misery! Yea, you are a man of bloodshed.”
9. Then Abishai ben-Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray, and take off his head!”
10. But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? For he is cursing only because Jehovah has said to him, ‘Curse David’. Then, who can say, ‘Why are you doing so?’”
11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came forth from my bowels is seeking my life; how much more then this Benjaminite. Leave him alone, and let him curse, for so Jehovah has bid him.
12.It may be that Jehovah will look upon my affliction and that Jehovah will repay me good for his cursing this day.”
13. And as David and his men went along the way, so Shimei went along the side of the mount, going parallel with him, and he cursed and threw stones at him, and threw dirt.
14. And the king and all the people with him arrived weary and were refreshed there.
¶15. And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16. And it came to pass when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “May the king live! May the king live!”
17. And Absalom said to Hushai, “This is your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. And Hushai said to Absalom, “No! But whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I remain.”
19.And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be in the presence of his son? Just as I served in the presence of your father, so will I serve in your presence.”
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?”
21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go into your father’s concubines whom he left to keep the house. And all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all those with you will be strengthened.”
22. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went into his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23. And the counsel of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if one had inquired in the oracle of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel to both David and Absalom.
2Samuel 17
¶1. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I pray, let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2.For I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and I will throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. And I will strike down the king only.
3.Then I will bring all the people back to you; when everyone returns except the man whom you are seeking, all the people will be at peace.”
4. And the thing was right in the eyes of Absalom, and in the eyes of all the elders of Israel.
5. But Absalom said, “Call now also for Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what is in his mouth also.”
6. And Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Should we do according to his word? If not, speak.”
7. And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good, at this time.”
8. And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they will be bitter in spirit, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is a man of war; he will not lodge with the people.
9.Behold, he is hidden now in one of the pits or in some other place, and it will come to pass, when some of them fall at first, that one will hear the report and say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
10.And even one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those with him are valiant men.
11.Therefore, I counsel that all Israel be completely gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and they will go before you into battle.
12.And we shall come upon him in one of the places where he may be found and fall upon him as the dew falls upon the ground. Then, of him and all his men with him, none shall remain, not even one.
13.And should he have withdrawn into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it to the valley until not even a pebble is found there!”
14. And Absalom, with all the men of Israel, said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel!” For Jehovah had determined to frustrate the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that Jehovah might bring destruction upon Absalom.
¶15. Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus have I counseled them.
16.So, send quickly now and report to David, saying, ‘Do not lodge in the plains of the wilderness tonight, but by all means, cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’”
17. Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel (for they could not be seen to enter the city), so a maidservant went and told them, and they went and told King David.
18. And a young man saw them and told Absalom, but they both went quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim. And the man had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.
19. And the wife took and spread out a covering over the mouth of the well and scattered grain on it; and nothing was known of it.
20. And Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have passed over the brook of water.” And they looked, but did not find them, and so, they returned to Jerusalem.
21. And it came to pass after they were gone, that they came up out of the well, and went and told King David. And they said to David, “Arise, and cross the water quickly! For such and such has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
22. So David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed over the Jordan. By daybreak, not one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.
¶23. When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and went to his house, to his city, and set his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.
¶24. And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25. And Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. (Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra, the Israelite who went into Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.)
26. And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27. And it came to pass, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi ben-Nahash from Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir ben-Ammiel from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
28.brought beds, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched pulse,
29.and honey, butter, sheep, and cheese from cows to David and the people who were with him to eat, for they had said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”
2Samuel 18
¶1. And David numbered the people who were with him and set over them rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds.
2. And David sent one third of the people under the command of Joab, and one third under the command of Abishai ben-Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will surely also be going forth with you.”
3. But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we all flee, they will not care about us. Even if half of us die, they will not care about us. For you are worth ten thousand of us now. So, it is better, for now, that you be a support for us from the city.”
4. And the king said to them, “What seems best in your eyes I will do.” And the king stood at the side of the gate while all the people went forth by hundreds and thousands.
5. And the king commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “For my sake, deal gently with the young man, with Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders in the matter of Absalom.
6. So the people went out into the field to confront Israel; and the battle was joined in the forest of Ephraim.
7. And the people of Israel were struck down before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day, twenty thousand men.
8. And the battle there was spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more of the people than the sword devoured that day.
¶9. And Absalom encountered the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on a mule, and the mule went under the boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head was caught in the terebinth so that he was hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule that was under him went away.
10. And a certain man saw it, and he told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree.”
11. And Joab said to the man who told him, “So, behold, you saw him. Then why did you not strike him to the ground there? For I would have gladly given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
12. But the man said to Joab, “Even if I received a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put forth my hand against the king’s son, for in our hearing, the king charged you, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Save for me the young man, Absalom,’
13. and if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and no matter is hidden from the king), then you would have set yourself against me.”
14. And Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth.
15. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, gathered around, and struck Absalom and killed him.
16. Then Joab blew the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
17. And they took Absalom and threw him into a deep pit in the forest, and they raised a very large heap of stones over him. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
18. Now, during his life, Absalom had taken and set up for himself a pillar which was in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son so that my name will be remembered.” So, he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called to this day, “The pillar of Absalom.”
¶19. And Ahimaaz ben-Zadok said, “Let me run, I pray you, and bring the king the news that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.”
20. And Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry the news this day; you may carry news on another day, but this day, you shall not carry the news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21. Then Joab said to Cushi, “Go! Report to the king what you have seen.” And Cushi bowed to Joab, and then he ran.
22. But Ahimaaz ben-Zadok spoke again, and he said to Joab, “Nevertheless, I pray you, let me also run after Cushi.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son? For you, there will be no reward for the news.”
23. But he said, “Nevertheless, I would run.” So, he said to him, “Run.” And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and he passed Cushi.
24. Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman had gone up to the roof of the gate on the wall, and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was running alone.
25. And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he kept on coming and drew near.
26. Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” And the king said, “He also has news.”
27. And the watchman said, “I see the running of the first man is like the running of Ahimaaz ben-Zadok.” And the king said, “This is a good man, and he brings good news.”
28. And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he prostrated himself to the king with his face on the ground. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king!”
29. And the king said, “Is it well with the young man, with Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great commotion when Joab sent the king’s servant, even your servant, but I did not know what it was.”
30. And the king said, “Turn aside. Stand here.” So, he turned aside, and stood still.
31. Then, behold, Cushi came, and Cushi said, “There is news, my lord the king, for the Lord has avenged you this day of those who rose against you.”
32. And the king said to Cushi, “Is it well with the young man, with Absalom?” And Cushi said, “May it happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who would rise up against you for harm as it has happened to that young man!”
33. And the king began to tremble, and he went up to an upper chamber of the gate, and wept. And thus he said as he went: “Oh, my son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! Would God that I had died instead of you! Oh, Absalom, my son! My son!”
2Samuel 19
¶1. And it was reported to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
2. And the victory of that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved because of his son.”
3. And the people stole into the city that day, just as people who are ashamed steal in when they have fled in battle.
4. But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “My son, Absalom! O Absalom, my son! My son!”
5. Then Joab came into the king’s house, and he said, “You have covered with shame the faces of all your servants who this day saved your life, and the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines.
6.For you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have declared today that your princes and servants are nothing to you, for I perceive this day that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then you would have been pleased.
7.So, get up right now! Go out and speak to the hearts of your servants, for I swear by the Lord that if you do not go out not a man will remain with you tonight, and this will be worse for you than all the evil which has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8. Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.
¶ Now, Israel had fled, each man to his tent,
9. and all the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
10.But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Then why do you now keep silent about bringing back the king?”
11. And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? For the words of all the house of Israel have come to the king in his house.
12.My brothers, you are my bones and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13.And say you to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more so if you shall not be commander of the army before me from now on instead of Joab.’”
14. And he turned the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”
15. So, the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, going to meet the king to escort the king over the Jordan.
16. And Shimei ben-Gera, the Benjaminite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17. And a thousand men of Benjamin were with him, and Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, and fifteen of his sons and twenty of his servants with him. And they rushed to the Jordan before the king
18.so as to escort the king’s household across the ford, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei ben-Gera fell down before the king as he was crossing the Jordan.
19. And he said to the king, “Let my lord not impute iniquity to me, and do not remember what your servant did perversely on the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem. Let not the king take it to heart.
20.For your servant knows that I have sinned, so behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
21. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Should not Shimei rather be put to death for this? He cursed the Lord’s anointed!”
22. Then David said, “What is there between you sons of Zeruiah and me, that you should act like Satan on my behalf, that a man in Israel should be put to death today? Do I not know that I am king today over Israel?”
23. And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
24. And Mephibosheth ben-Saul came down to meet the king. Now he had not cared for his feet, or trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day that he came in peace.
25. And it came to pass when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26. And he said, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, ‘I will saddle myself a donkey so I can ride on it and go to the king,’ for your servant is lame.
27.And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Do, therefore, whatever is good in your eyes.
28.Surely all my father’s house were nothing but dead men to my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So, what further right do I have to cry out any more to the king?”
29. And the king said to him, “Why are you still speaking of your affairs? I have said that you and Ziba shall divide the land.”
30. And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take everything, since my lord the king has come to his house in peace.”
¶31. Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and escorted the king to the Jordan, to send him over the Jordan.
32. Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old, and he had provided for the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
33. And the king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem with me.”
34. But Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
35.I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
36.Your servant will pass on just a little way over the Jordan with the king. For why should the king recompense me with this reward?
37.I pray you, let your servant return, that I may die in my city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold your servant Chimham. Let him pass over with my lord the king, and do with him whatever is good in your sight.”
38. And the king said, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight. And anything that you require of me I will do for you.”
39. And all the people crossed over the Jordan, and when the king had crossed over, then the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then he returned to his place.
40. And the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him, and all the people of Judah, and half the people of Israel went on with the king.
41. Then, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and they said to the king, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and escorted the king over the Jordan, with his household and all David’s men with him?”
42. And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry on account of this matter? Have we at all eaten of the king’s food, or has anything been given to us?”
43. And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, so in David we have more share than you. Then why did you treat us with contempt for were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
2Samuel 20
¶1. Now a man of Belial happened to be there, and his name was Sheba ben-Bichri, a Benjaminite, and he blew on a shofar, and said, “We have no portion in David! Yea, we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
2. And every man of Israel left off following David to follow Sheba ben-Bichri, but the men of Judah clung to their king from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3. And David came to his house in Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left behind to keep the house, and he put them in a house under guard and provided for them, but he did not go into them. And they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
4. Then the king said to Amasa, “Call together the men of Judah to me in three days and be here yourself.”
5. And Amasa went to call Judah, but he delayed beyond the time that had been appointed for him.
6. And David said to Abishai, “Sheba ben-Bichri will do us more harm now than Absalom. You take your lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he find himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”
7. And Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men went out after him. And they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba ben-Bichri.
8. They were at the great stone which is in Gibeon when Amasa came in before them. And Joab was girded with a garment, and over it was a belt with a sword fastened on his side in its sheath. And as he went forward, it fell out.
9. And Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10. And Amasa took no notice of the sword that was in Joab’s hand, but he struck him in the belly with it so that his bowels spilled to the ground, and he did not strike him a second time. And he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba ben-Bichri.
11. And one of Joab’s young men stood by him, and he said, “Whoever favors Joab, yea, whoever is for David, follow Joab!”
12. Now Amasa lay wallowing in the blood in the middle of the highway, and the man saw that all the people stood still. So, he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone coming upon him stood still.
13. When he was removed from the highway, each man passed on, following Joab, to pursue after Sheba ben-Bichri.
14. And he passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maachah, with all the Berites. And they assembled and went after him also.
15. And they came and besieged him in Abel, Beth-maachah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it was raised against the wall. And all the people who were with Joab were battering the wall to throw it down.
16. Then a wise woman from the city called, “Hear, hear! Say, I pray, to Joab, ‘Come here and let me speak to you.’”
17. And when he came close to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he said, “I am.” And she said to him, “Hear the words of your handmaid.” And he said, “I am listening.”
18. Then she spoke, saying, “They spoke often in former times, saying, ‘They will surely ask counsel at Abel,’ and thus would end the matter.
19.I am one who is peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to put a city to death, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”
20. And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21.But such is not the case. For a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba ben-Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. You deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22. Then the woman went to all the people with her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba ben-Bichri, and they threw it to Joab. Then he blew the shofar, and they dispersed from the city, each man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem, to the king.
¶23. Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah ben-Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
24. And Adoram was over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat ben-Ahilud was the recorder.
25. And Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
26. And also, Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
2Samuel 21
¶1. And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is blood-guilt on Saul and on his house because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
2. And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the children of Israel has sworn to them, but Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.)
3. And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, so that you will bless the inheritance of the Lord?”
4. And the Gibeonites said to him, “We would have no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor is it our place to put a man to death in Israel.” And he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5. And they said to the king, “The man who consumed us, and who intended for us to be destroyed from our place in all the territory of Israel,
6.let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them up to the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
7. Now, the king had pity on Mephibosheth ben-Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath to the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan ben-Saul.
8. But the king took two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel ben-Barzillai the Meholathite.
9. And he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the Lord, and the seven of them fell together. And they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
¶10. And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of the harvest until water poured down on them from heaven. And she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11. And it was told to David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12. Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh-Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-Shean where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboah.
13. And he brought up from there the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of those that had been hanged.
14. And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the territory of Benjamin, in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king had commanded. And after that, God was entreated for the land.
¶15. And the Philistines made war again with Israel, and David went down and his servants with him, and they fought with the Philistines; and David became weary.
16. And Ishbo-benob, who was of the children of the giant, and the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was girded with a new sword, thought that he might even strike David.
17. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, for he struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “You shall not go out any more with us to war, that you not put out the lamp of Israel.”
¶18. And it came to pass after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then, Sibbechai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was of the children of the giant.
19. And there was another battle at Gob with the Philistines, and Elhanan ben-Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20. And there was yet another battle at Gath, and there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet, twenty-four in number, and he also was born of the giant.
21. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan ben-Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down.
22. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
2Samuel 22
¶1. And David spoke to Jehovah the words of this song on the day when Jehovah had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2. And he said: Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,
3.my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; you will save me from violence.
4. I called on Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised, and I was delivered from my enemies.
5. For the waves of death encompassed me; floods of Belial overwhelmed me.
6. Cords of Sheol enveloped me; snares of death confronted me.
7. In my distress, I called on Jehovah; yea, I called to my God, and He heard my voice from His temple; yea, my plea came into His ears.
8. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the heavens moved; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
9. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.
10. He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet.
11. Yea, He rode upon a cherub and flew; He was seen on the wings of the wind.
12. He made darkness His pavilions all about Him – a mass of water-laden, heavy clouds.
13. Because of the brightness of His presence, coals of fire burned.
14. Jehovah thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice.
15. Then He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and vexed them.
16. At that, channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were revealed at Jehovah’s rebuke, by a puff of air from His nostrils.
17. He sent from on high and took me; He drew me out of many waters;
18. He delivered me from my mighty enemy, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I.
19. They came upon me in the day of my distress, but Jehovah was my stay.
20. He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
21. Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands has He repaid me.
22. For I had kept Jehovah’s ways, and I had not acted wickedly against my God,
23.for all His judgments were before me, and His statutes, I did not turn away from them.
24. Yea, I was perfect toward Him, and I kept myself from my sin,
25.and Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.
26. With one who is merciful, you will prove yourself merciful; with the perfect man, you will prove yourself perfect;
27.with the man who is pure, you will prove yourself pure; and with the one who is crooked, you will make yourself convoluted.
28. And you will deliver the humble people, but your eyes are upon the haughty; you will bring them down.
29. For you are my lamp, O Jehovah! Yea, Jehovah brings light to my darkness.
30. For by you, I ran through a troop! By my God, I leaped over a wall.
31. This God, His way is perfect; what the Lord says is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
32. Who but Jehovah is God? And who is a Rock but our God?
33. This God is my strong refuge, and He makes my way[8] perfect,
34.making my feet like hinds’ feet and setting me upon my high places,
35.training my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bronze bow.
36. Yea, you have given me your salvation as a shield, and your gentleness makes me great.
37. You will make a wide place beneath me for my step, so that my feet will not slip.
38. I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not turn back until they are destroyed.
39. And I will consume them and strike them through so that they do not rise. They will fall under my feet.
40. Yea, you have girded me with strength for war; you will make them bow before me who rise up against me;
41.and you have given me the neck of my enemies. Those who hate me will I also utterly destroy.
42. They will look, but there will be no one to save them, even to Jehovah, but He will not answer them.
43. But I will beat them until they are like the dust of the earth. Like dirt in the streets will I crush them; I will trample them.
44. Yea, you delivered me from the contentions of my people. You have made me the head of the Gentiles; a people I have not known shall serve me.
45. Foreigners will come and grovel before me. As soon as they hear, they will obey me.
46. The foreigners will lose heart and come quaking out of their strongholds.
47. Jehovah is alive! Blessed be my Rock! And let God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
48. God avenged me, and subdued peoples under me,
49.and brought me out from my enemies. Yea, you exalted me above those who rose up against me. You delivered me from violent men.
50. Therefore will I confess you among the Gentiles, O Jehovah, and I will sing praises to your name.
51. He has magnified the victories of His King, and has shown lovingkindness to His Messiah, to David, and to his seed forever.
2Samuel 23
¶1. Now these are the last words of David. The oracle of David ben-Jesse, even the oracle of the man who was raised up high, the anointed one of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2.“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.
3.The God of Israel spoke to me, the Rock of Israel said, ‘He who rules among men righteously rules in the fear of God,
4.and is like the morning light of the sun rising on a cloudless morning, or the glistening of rain on the grass of the earth.’
5.Truly, my house is not so with God; yet, He has established an everlasting covenant for me, ordered in every way and sure, even all my salvation and every delight, though He has not caused it to sprout.
6.But wicked men, like thorns, will be thrust away – all of them – because they cannot be taken by hand.
7.But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and a spear’s shaft, and so, they will be utterly burned up with fire in their place.”
¶8. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: the Tachmonite who sat in the seat,[9] chief among the three;[10] he was Adino the Eznite. He killed over eight hundred at one time.
9. And after him was Eleazar ben-Dodo, the son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who had gathered for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated.
10. He arose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave to the sword. And Jehovah brought about a great victory on that day, and the people returned afterward only to spoil.
11. And after him was Shamma ben-Agee the Hararite. For the Philistines were gathered into a company where there was a portion of ground filled with lentils, and the people had fled from before the Philistines.
12.But he took his stand in the middle of the portion, and defended it, and struck down the Philistines, and Jehovah brought about a great victory.
¶13. Now, three of the thirty chief men went down, and they came at harvest-time to David at a cave in Adullam. And the company of the Philistines were camped in the Valley of the Rephaim.
14. And at that time, David was in the stronghold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Bethlehem.
15. And David had a longing, and he said, “Oh, who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate‽”
16. And the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate, and they carried it and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, and he poured it out to Jehovah.
17. And he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Is this not the blood of the men who went at risk of their lives?” Therefore, he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
¶18. And Abishai, the brother of Joab ben-Zeruiah, was a chief among three. And he lifted his spear against three hundred whom he killed; so, he had a name among three.
19. Was he not most honored among three? Yea, he became their captain, but he did not attain to the first three.
20. And Benaiah ben-Jehoida, the son of Ish-hai, from Kabzeel did many deeds. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab, and he went down into the midst of a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day.
21. Moreover, he killed a man, an Egyptian of striking appearance. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a staff and wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
22. These things did Benaiah ben-Jehoiada, and he had a name among three mighty men.
23. He was honored above the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
24. Asahel, Joab’s brother was among the thirty, and Elhanan ben-Dodo of Bethlehem,
25.Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
26.Helez the Paltite, Ira ben-Ikkesh the Tekoite,
27.Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
28.Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
29.Heleb ben-Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai ben-Ribai from Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
30.Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of Nahale-Gaash,
31.Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
32.Eliahba the Shaalbonite, Jonathan of the sons of Jashen,
33.Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam ben-Sharar the Ararite,
34.Eliphelet ben-Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam ben-Ahithophel the Gilonite,
35.Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
36.Igal ben-Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
37.Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor bearer of Joab ben-Zeruiah,
38.Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
39.Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
2Samuel 24
¶1. And again, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He provoked David against them, to say, “Go! Number Israel and Judah.”
2. And the king said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, “Go now throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
3. Then Joab said to the king, “May Jehovah your God add to the people, as many as they are, a hundredfold, so that the eyes of my lord the king may see it! But why does my lord the king want to do this thing?”
4. But the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the army. So, Joab and the captains of the army went out from the king’s presence to number the people of Israel.
5. And they crossed over the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the right of the city that is in the midst of the valley of Gad and toward Jazer.
6. Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and they came to Dan-jaan and round about to Zidon.
7. And they came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites, and went out to the south of Judah to Beersheba.
8. And when they had gone throughout all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9. And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king. And there were eight hundred thousand men of war who drew the sword in Israel, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.
10. But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I did. Yet, pass over now, I pray you, O Lord, the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
11. And David arose in the morning. Then the word of the Lord came to Gad the prophet, David’s seer, saying,
12.“Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, I offer three things to you. You choose one of them, and I will do it to you.’”
13. So Gad came to David and told him, and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come upon you in your land, or shall you flee from the presence of your enemies for three months while one pursues you, or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Consider now, and see what word I shall bring back to Him who sent me.”
14. And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are abundant, but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
15. So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning to the appointed time, and from Dan to Beersheba, seventy thousand men of the people died.
16. And the angel stretched out his hand to Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord repented of the evil, and He said to the angel, the destroyer of the people, “Enough! Stay your hand now.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17. And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and he said, “Behold, I am the one who sinned, and I am the one who did wickedly, but these sheep, what did they do? Let, I pray, your hand be against me, and against my father’s house.”
18. Then Gad came in to David that day, and he said to him, “Go up! Raise an altar to Jehovah on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
19. So, David went up according to the word of Gad, just as Jehovah commanded.
20. And Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants coming to him. And Araunah went out and did obeisance to the king, his face to the ground.
21. And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy this threshing floor from you, to build an altar to Jehovah so that the plague may be stayed from the people.”
22. And Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his eyes. Behold, here are the oxen for the burnt offering. And for the wood, here are threshing sledges and instruments of the oxen.
23.All these, O king, does Araunah give to the king.” And then Araunah said to the king, “May Jehovah your God accept you!”
24. But the king said to Araunah, “No. I must buy it from you for a price. I will not offer to Jehovah my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
25. And there David built an altar to Jehovah, and he offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings. And Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
Footnotes
[1] That is, “Field of Swords”.
[2] Hebrew obscure.
[3] That is, “Lord of the breaches”.
[4] Literally, “tribes” or “rods”.
[5] This should read, “Abiathar ben-Ahimelech”.
[6] “Beloved of the Lord.”
[7] Some translations: “a tunic of many colors”.
[8] MSS, “His way”.
[9] Or, “Josheb-bashebeth the Tachmonite”.
[10] Possibly, “chief of the officers”.