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Lamsa OT - 2Samuel

"1 ¶ NOW it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had abode two days in Zinklag; 2 It came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes torn and earth upon his head; and so it was that when he came to David, he fell to the earth and did obeisance. 3 And David said to him, Where do you come from? And he replied, Out of the camp of Israel have I escaped. 4 And David said to him, What is the news? Tell me. And he answered, The people fled from the battle, and many of them also have fallen; and Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead. 5 And David said to the young man, Tell me, how did Saul and Jonathan his son die? 6 And the young man said to him, I happened by chance to be on mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen overtook him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, Here am I. 8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 Then he said to me, Stand over me and slay me; for anguish has seized me because my life is still whole in me. 10 So I stood over him and slew him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."

"11 ¶ Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and likewise all 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 Then David said to the young man who told him, Where do you come from? And he answered, I am the son of a proselyte, an Amalekite. 14 And David said to him. How was it that you were not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men and said to him, Go near and fall upon him. And he drew near and fell upon him, and he smote him so that he died. 16 And David said to him, Your blood be upon your head; for your mouth has testified against you, for you have said, I have slain the LORD’S anointed."

"17 ¶ And David lamented with this song of mourning over Saul and over Jonathan his son 18 (Also he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the use of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Asher): 19 Israel was swift like a gazelle, and is slain upon her proud hills! How are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 21 O you mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor upon the choicest fields; for there the shield of the mighty was broken, the shield of Saul, who was anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. 24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and dyed garments, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, upon her high places are many slain. 26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished!"

"2:1 ¶ AND it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said to him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, To Hebron. 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal’s wife, the Carmelite. 3 And David and his men who were with him went up together, every man with his household; and they dwelt in Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul. 5 And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, Blessed be you of the LORD, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now may the LORD show kindness and truth to you; and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and the house of Judah have anointed me king over them."

"8 ¶ But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ashbashul, the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead and over Geshur and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all Israel. 10 Ashbashul Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ashbashul the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zoriah and the men of David went out and met the young men together in Gibeon; and they sat down, these young men on the one side and the other young men on the other. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of the men of Benjamin, who belonged to Ashbashul the son of Saul and twelve of the men of David. 16 And every man caught his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in the other’s side; so they fell down together; therefore they called that place Haklath-zadan, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very fierce battle that day; and Abner was defeated, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David."

"18 ¶ And there were three sons of Zoriah there, Joab, Abishai, and Ashael; and Ashael was as swift of foot as a desert gazelle. 19 And Ashael pursued Abner; and he turned not to the right hand nor to the left as he followed Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, Is that you, Ashael? And he answered, It is I. 21 And Abner said to him, Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take for yourself his armor. But Ashael would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner spoke again to Ashael, to turn from following him, saying, Turn from following me, lest I smite you and throw you on the ground; how then could I lift up my face and look at Joab your brother. 23 But he refused to turn; therefore Abner smote him with the end of the spear upon his breast, and the spear came out at his back; and he fell down there and died in the same place; and all who came to the place where Ashael fell down and died stood still. 24 Then Joab and Abishai arose and pursued Abner; and the sun went down when they came to lake Giboath which lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon."

"25 ¶ And the Benjamites gathered themselves together behind Abner, and became one company, and stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that there will be bitterness in the end? How long will it be then before you bid the people return from following their brethren? 27 And Joab said, As the LORD lives, unless you had spoken, surely in the morning I would have let the people give up every one from pursuing his brother. 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no more, neither did they fight any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night in the desert, and crossed the Jordan, and went toward Geshur, and they came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together and they were numbered, there were twelve wounded of David’s men, and Ashael was dead. 31 But the men of David had slain of Benjamin and of Abner, three hundred and sixty men. 32 And they took Ashael and buried him in the sepulchre of his father in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day dawned upon them at Hebron."

"3:1 ¶ NOW there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and impoverished. 2 And sons were born to David in Hebron; and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 And his second, Caleb, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom, the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 4 And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul."

"7 ¶ And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ana; and Ashbashul said to Abner, Why are you going in unto my father’s concubine? 8 Then Abner was exceedingly displeased at the words of Ashbashul, and Abner said, Am I the leader of vicious men in Judah? This day I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, and yet you charge me today with this iniquity concerning a woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, if I do not perform what the LORD has spoken to David, even so will I do, 10 To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba. 11 And Ashbashul could not reply to Abner, because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David, saying, Whose is the land? Now make your covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel to you. 13 And David said, Well, I will make a covenant with you; but one thing I require of you, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Malchel, Saul’s daughter with you. 14 Then David sent messengers to Ashbashul Saul’s son, saying, Deliver to me my wife, Malchel, whom I espoused for two hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Ashbashul sent, and took her from her husband, Palti, the son of Laish of Gallim. 16 And her husband went along with her weeping as far as Beth-hurim. Then Abner said to him, Return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying. You have sought for David in times past to be king over you; 18 Now then do so; for the LORD has spoken of David, saying. By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies. 19 And Abner also spoke in the presence of the Benjamites; and Abner went also to speak in the presence of David in Hebron. And when it seemed good in the sight of all Israel and in the sight of the whole house of Benjamin, 20 Then Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men who were with him a great feast. 21 And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace."

"22 ¶ And behold, the men of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a great spoil with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he bad sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the people who were with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to King David, and he has sent him away and he has gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to King David, and said to him, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why have you sent him away, and he is gone from you? 25 Do you not know that Abner the son of Ner 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 was come out from the presence of David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew it not. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to a secret place within the gate to speak with him quietly, and he smote him there in his abdomen, and he died, for the blood of Ashael his brother. 28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner; 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on the head of all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or who is a leper or who is a beggar holding a bowl or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Ashael at Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn for Abner. And King David himself and all the people 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, Abner died like Nabal. 34 Your hands were not bound nor were your feet put into fetters; as one falls before the wicked men, so have you fallen. And all the people wept again over him. 35 And all the people tried to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; whatever the king did pleased all the people; 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king had no hand in the slaying of Abner, the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to the people, Do you not know that there is a great prince fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day troubled, and as king I see that the sons of Zoriah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the evil doer according to his wickedness."

"4:1 ¶ WHEN Ashbashul Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, he trembled, and all Israel was troubled. 2 And Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to the Benjamites; 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and are sojourners there until this day). 4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled; and, as she made haste to flee, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baana, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ashbashul as he was taking his noontide rest. 6 And behold, they came into the midst of the house; then those sons of wickedness took and smote him in his abdomen; and Rechab and Banna his brother escaped. 7 For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him and slew him and beheaded him, and took his head and fled by the way of the plain all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ashbashul to David at Hebron, and said to King David, Behold the head of Ashbashul the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged our lord the king this day of Saul and of his offspring."

"9 ¶ And David answered Rechab and Baana his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As the LORD lives, who has saved my life out of every adversity, 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought me good tidings, I seized him and slew him in Zinklag, instead of giving him a reward for his tidings; 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a man in his own house upon his bed? Now I will avenge his blood at your hands and destroy you from the earth. 12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them on the hill in Hebron. But they took the head of Ashbashul and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron."

"5:1 ¶ THEN all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him, Behold, we are your flesh and your bone. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a ruler over my people Israel. 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah."

"6 ¶ And King David and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, You shall not come in here, except you destroy both the blind and the lame; and they said, David cannot come in here. 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, Whosoever smites a Jebusite and whosoever strikes with a weapon the blind and the lame, he is a hater of David’s soul. Therefore they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the temple. 9 So David dwelt in the fort, that is, Zion; and he called it the city of David. And David built round about the fort from within. 10 And David continued to become greater, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."

"11 ¶ And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees and carpenters and masons; and they built David a house. 12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were more sons and daughters born to David. 14 And these are the names of the sons who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah, Shachab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Jocabar, Elisha, Nepheg, Naphia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphalet."

"17 ¶ But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the fort. 18 The Philistines also came and encamped in the Valley of Giants. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into my hands? And the LORD said to David, Go up; for I will deliver them into your hands. 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there, and David said, The LORD has made a breach through my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 21 And they left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again and encamped in the Valley of the Giants. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, the LORD said to him, You shall not go up; but circle behind them, and come upon them opposite Bachim. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching on the top of the mountain of Bachim, then you shall become strong; for then shall the LORD go out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. 25 And David did as the LORD had commanded him; and he smote the Philistines from Geba to the entrance of Gadar."

"6:1 ¶ AGAIN David gathered together all the young men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose with all the people who were with him of the men of Judah and went to Geba to bring up from thence the ark of God, for at that place was invoked the name of the LORD of hosts, who dwells upon the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah; and Uzzah and Ahia, the sons of Abinadab, drove the cart, walking behind it. 4 And they brought the ark of God out of the house of Abinadab which was in Gibeah, and Ahia went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel danced before the LORD waving branches of cedar trees and cypress, and played upon harps and lyres and timbrels and cornets and cymbals."

"6 ¶ And when they came to the threshing floors, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of the LORD, and took hold of it; for the oxen broke loose from the harness. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and the LORD smote him there because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased because the LORD had stricken Uzzah; and he called the name of that place Toraetha-uzzah, and so it is called even to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, How shall I bring in the ark of the LORD to me? 10 So David was unwilling to bring the ark of God with him into the city of David; but David took it aside into the house of Ober-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Ober-edom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed Ober-edom the Gittite, and all his household because of the ark of the LORD."

"12 ¶ And it was told King David, saying, The LORD has blessed Ober-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of the LORD. So David went and brought up the ark of the LORD from the house of Ober-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so that when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, David sacrificed fat oxen. 14 And David sang praises before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the LORD came past the house of David, Malchel Saul’s daughter looked through a window and saw King David rejoicing and dancing before the ark of the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 land they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he distributed among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a fine white loaf of bread. So all the people departed everyone to his house."

"20 ¶ Then David returned to go to his house. And Malchel the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, for he appeared publicly before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, for he surely conducted himself as a vain man! 21 And David said to Malchel, It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father and rather than all his house, and appointed me to be a ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; it was because of him that I danced before the LORD. 22 And I will abase myself still more than this, and will humble myself in my own eyes; and the maidservants of whom you have spoken shall yet honor me. 23 Therefore Malchel the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death."

"7:1 ¶ WHEN the king dwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies, 2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you."

"4 ¶ And it came to pass that very night, the word of the LORD came to Nathan, the prophet, saying. 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus says the LORD, You shall not build me a house for me to dwell in; 6 Because I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, to this day, but I have moved in tents. 7 In all the places where I have walked with all the children of Israel, have I spoken to any of those whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 8 Now therefore shall you say to my servant David, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep. to be the ruler over my people Israel; 9 And I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies from before you, and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great men that are on the earth. 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them and make them to dwell in their own place in peace and be disturbed no more; neither shall wicked men enslave them any more, as formerly. 11 From the day that I commanded you to be a judge over my people Israel, I have given you rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD declares to you that he will make you a house. 12 And when your days are fulfilled and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come out of your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be like a father to him and he shall be like a son to me. If he commit folly, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men; 15 But my mercy I will not take from him, as I took it from Saul who was king before you, and whom I put away from before me. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan the prophet speak to David."

"18 ¶ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that thou hast elevated me to this place? 19 And is this yet a small thing in thy sight, O LORD God, that thou hast spoken also concerning thy servant’s descendants for a great while to come? Is this for the guidance of men, O LORD God? 20 And what more can thy servant David say to thee? For thou knowest thy servant, O LORD God. 21 For thy word’s sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. 22 Therefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And is there a nation on the earth like thy people Israel, whom God saved to be a people for himself and to make him a name and to do for him great and notable deeds upon the earth, as he had done in former days for thy people whom thou savedst for thyself out of Egypt, a people whose God thou art? 24 For thou hast established for thyself thy people Israel to be a people to thee for ever; and thou, O LORD, hast become their God. 25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house, confirm it for ever, and do as thou hast said. 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, and let everything be as thou hast said, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee for ever. 27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build you a house; therefore thy servant has purposed in his heart to pray this prayer before thee. 28 And now, O LORD God, thou art God and thy words are true, for thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant; 29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O LORD God, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever."

"8:1 ¶ AND it came to pass after this that David smote the Philistines and defeated them; and David took Ramath-gema from the Philistines. 2 And he defeated the Moabites, making them tie down on the ground, and measured them with a line; and he measured two lines to be put to death and one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute. 3 Then David defeated Hadarezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to have dominion at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him one thousand and seven hundred chariots and twenty thousand footmen; and David destroyed all the chariots, but reserved of them one hundred chariots. 5 And when the Edomites and the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Edomites twenty-two thousand men. 6 Then David put governors in Edom and in Damascus; and the Edomites became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer; 8 And from Tebah and from Berothai, cities of Hadarezer, King David took a great quantity of brass and brought it to Jerusalem."

"9 ¶ And when Toa king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadarezer, 10 Then Toa sent Joram his son to King David to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and defeated him; for Hadarezer was a warlike man. And Joram the son of Toa took with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass; and brought them to David; 11 These also King David dedicated to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued, 12 From Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and from the dominion of Hadarezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David fought there when he returned, after he had defeated Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing eighteen thousand men. 14 And David appointed governors throughout all Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went."

"15 ¶ And David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice to all his people. 16 And Joab the son of Zoriah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, the Gelionite, and Abiathar the son of Ahimeleck were priests, and Seraiah was the scribe; 18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the nobles and the laborers, and David’s sons were the princes."

"9:1 ¶ AND David said, Is there yet any one left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan’s sake? 2 Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, Are you Ziba? And he said, I am your servant. 3 And the king said to him, Is there any one still left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for the sake of God? And Ziba said to the king, There is yet a son left to Jonathan, who is lame in his feet. 4 And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Gammir, in Lo-debar. 5 Then King David sent and took him from the house of Machir, the son of Gammir, from Lo-debar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said to him, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold your servant! 7 And David said to him, Fear not; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon me? For I am like a dead dog."

"9 ¶ Then the king called to Ziba and said to him, All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son. 10 You therefore and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in food for your master’s son, that he may eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, Whatever my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your servant do. So Mephibosheth ate bread at the king’s table, as one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a little son, whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table; and he was lame in both his feet."

"10:1 ¶ AFTER this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him for his father. And David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites. 3 And the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David is honoring your father, that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David rather sent his servants to you to spy out the city and to explore it and to overthrow it? 4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off the one-half of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed; and the king said to them, Tarry at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return."

"6 ¶ And when the Ammonites saw that they had acted foolishly toward David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of the son of Rehob and the Arameans of the son of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacah a thousand men and of Ish-tob twelve thousand footmen. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and set their men in battle array at the entrance of the gate of Edom the son of Rehob; and the forces of Aram the son of Zobah and Ish-tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in the front and in the rear, he selected the choice men of Israel and put them in array against Aram; 10 And the rest of the people he placed in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the Ammonites. 11 And he said to Abishai his brother, If the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us fight for the sake of our people and for the sake of the cities of our God: and the LORD will do what is good in his sight. 13 And Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, then they fled also before Abishai and entered into the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem."

"15 ¶ And when the Arameans saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Arameans that were beyond the river Euphrates; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the general of Hadarezer’s army went before them. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Arameans set themselves in array against David, and David fought against them. 18 And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David destroyed one thousand and seven hundred chariots of the Arameans and slew four thousand horsemen and a great many of the people, and he smote Shobach the general of their army, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the Ammonites any more."

"11:1 ¶ AFTER the year expired, at the time when the king leaves the palace, David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel; and they besieged Rabbath. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in the evening that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; and he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Ahinam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. 4 So David sent a messenger and took her; and she came in to him and he lay with her; and that very day she had cleansed herself after her menstruation; and she returned and went to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David and said to him, I am with child."

"6 ¶ And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah came to him, David asked of Uriah about Joab and about the people and about the war. 8 Then David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and wash your feet. And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house beside all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 And when they told David that Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Behold, you have come from a journey, why then did you not go down to your house? 11 And Uriah said to David, The ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Israel, and Judah dwell in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? No. As you live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing. 12 And David said to Uriah, Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you away. So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. 13 And the next day David called him and ate before him, and he did drink, and got drunk: and in the evening he went out and slept beside the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house."

"14 ¶ And in the morning. David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, Set Uriah in the forefront of the battle, and then retire from him that he may be smitten and die. 16 So when Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all that took place in the battle: 19 And Joab charged the messenger, saying, When you have finished telling everything which took place in the battle to the king, 20 And if the king’s wrath rise and he say to you, Why did you approach so near to the city to fight against it? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimeleck the son of Nedo-baal? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died? Why did you go near the wall? Now if he should say these things to you, then you shall say to him, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 22 So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had charged him to say. 23 And the messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us and came out against us into the field, and we chased them back to the entrance of the city. 24 And the archers shot from the wall; and some of your servants died, O king! And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 25 Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you say to Joab, Let not this thing displease you, for things happen this way or that way in the battle; make the battle more vigorous against the city, and take it and destroy it. 26 And when the wife of Uriah the Hittite heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the days of her mourning were over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD."

"12:1 ¶ AND the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to David. And he came to him and said to him, There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds; 3 But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought; and it lived together with him and with his children; it did eat of his food and drink from his cup and lie in his bosom, and it was to him like a daughter. 4 And there came a guest to the rich man, and he refused to take of his own herds or flocks to make a banquet for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the guest who had come to him. 5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said, As the LORD lives, the man who has done this thing is worthy of death; 6 And he shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, You are the man. Thus says the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over my people Israel and I delivered you out of the hands of Saul, 8 And I gave you your master’s daughters and your master’s wives into your bosom, and I also gave you the daughters of Israel and of Judah; and if they were too few you should have told me, and I would have added to you twice that many. 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD and have done that which is evil in the sight of the LORD? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall not depart from your house for ever; because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11 Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with them in the broad daylight. 12 For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, in the daytime. 13 And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your transgression; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have made the enemies of the LORD to boast, the son also that is born to you shall surely die."

"15 ¶ Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah the Hittite bore to David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the eiders of his household arose and tried to raise him up from the ground, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us; how then shall we tell him now that the child is dead? He may react violently. 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead; therefore he said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his garments and went into the house of the LORD and worshipped; then he came to his own house and asked for food, and they set it before him and he did eat. 21 Then his servants said to him, What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you were fasting and praying, but when he was dead, you did rise up and eat food. 22 David said to them, While the child was still alive, I fasted and prayed; for I said, Who knows whether God will be gracious to me, and let the child live? 23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he cannot return to me. 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon; and the LORD loved the child. 25 Then he sent for Nathan the prophet; and he named the child Jedidah because the LORD loved him."

"26 ¶ And Joab fought against Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, I have fought against Rabbath and I have also taken the royal city. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and come and encamp against the city and take it; lest I take the city, and it shall be called after my name. 29 So David gathered all the people together and went against Rabbath, and fought against it and took it. 30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought forth the people who were in it, and put them in iron bands and in chains, and made them pass through the measuring line; and thus did he to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem."

"13:1 ¶ AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a sister whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was much grieved on account of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon felt unable to say anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very wise man. 4 And he said to Amnon, O son of the king why are you so losing weight from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister. 5 And Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed and pretend that you are sick; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, Let my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand. 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat from her hand. 7 Then David sent for Tamar, and said to her, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and baked cakes. 9 And she took the cakes and placed them before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Let every one go out from the house. And they went out every man from the house. 10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber that I may eat from your hands. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, No, my brother, do not treat me shamefully; for no such folly ought to be done in Israel; 13 And as for me, where shall I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be reckoned as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you. 14 But he would not listen to her; but, being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her and disgraced her. 15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone. 16 And she said to him, So now, since you have done this great evil to me, you send me away? But he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said to him, Put now this woman out of my house, and bolt the door after her. 18 And Tamar took ashes and put them on her head, 19 And she tore the embroidered garment which she wore; then she laid her hands on her head, and went away crying mournfully. 20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother lain with you? But hold now your peace, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this deed to your heart. So Tamar remained horrified in the house of Absalom her brother."

"21 ¶ But when King David heard all these things, he was exceedingly displeased. 22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar. 23 Now from season to season, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said to him, Behold now your servant has sheepshearers; let the king and his servants go with your servant. 25 And the king said to him, No, my son, let us not all now go lest we be burdensome to you. And he pressed him, but he would not go with him, but he blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, Why should not my brother Amnon go with me? The king said to him, Why should he go with you? 27 But Absalom pressed him that he should let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon and kill him, fear not; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant. 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded them. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man mounted his mule and fled."

"30 ¶ And while they were on the way, the news came to David that Absalom had murdered all the king’s sons and there was not one of them left. 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, said to him, Let not my lord the king think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead: for Absalom had been determined to do this from the day that Amnon forced his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead. 34 But Absalom fled. And the watchman lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by the way on the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons come; as your servant said, so it is. 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept bitterly. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai. the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son many days. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And King David longed to go forth after Absalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead."

"14:1 ¶ NOW Joab the son of, Zoriah perceived that the kings heart was reconciled toward Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched from thence a wise woman and said to her, Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning apparel, and do not anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead; 3 And come to the king and speak in this manner to him. So Joab prepared the words and put them in her mouth. 4 And when the woman of Tekoah came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance and said, Deliver me, O my lord the king. 5 And the king said to her, What ails you? And she answered, I am indeed a widow, my husband is dead. 6 And your handmaid had two sons, and they two quarrelled together in the field, and there was none to part them, and one was stronger than the other and slew him. 7 And behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver to us the man who slew his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew; so they want to destroy the heir also; moreover they want to quench the spark of life which is left for me, that they may not leave to his father either name or family upon the earth. 8 And the king said to her, Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you. 9 But the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, let this iniquity be on me and on my father’s house; and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king said to her, Whosoever says anything to you, bring him to me and he shall not touch you any more. 11 Then she said, Let my lord the king remember that the LORD your God would not suffer the avengers of blood to destroy any more, wherefore let them not destroy my son. And the king said to her, As the LORD God lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth. 12 Then the woman said, Let your handmaid speak a word to the king, and he said to her, Speak. 13 And the woman said to him, Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? And why do you speak, O king, as one who is guilty, in that, O king, you do not bring back your lost one? 14 For we will all surely die, and we are as water that is poured upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God destroy a soul, but devises means that no man should go astray from him. 15 Now therefore if I have spoken this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid; and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will deliver his handmaid from the hand of men, 16 That they may not destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God. 17 Then your handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be confirmed and shall be like an offering; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and evil; therefore the LORD your God will be with you. 18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, Do not hide from me anything that I ask you. And the woman said to him, Let my lord the king now speak. 19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said to him, As your soul lives, my lord the king, I have not turned to the right hand or to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken; for it was your servant Joab who bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid, 20 Because he wanted to do it through me, that is why your servant Joab has done this thing; and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth."

"21 ¶ And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done as you have said; go therefore, bring me the young man Absalom again. 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground and did obeisance and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant. 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, Let him go to his own house, but let him not be seen in my presence. So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the king’s face. 25 Now in all Israel there was no man so much praised for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he had his hair shorn (he used to cut it once a year because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), the hair of his head weighed two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. 27 And there were born to Absalom three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar; she was a beautiful woman."

"28 ¶ So Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face. 29 Therefore Absalom summoned Joab to send him to the king; but he would not come to him; and he sent a second time, but he would not come. 30 Then Absalom said to his servants, See, there is a field belonging to Joab near mine; whether it be of wheat or barley, go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set Joab’s field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house and said to Absalom, Why have your servants set my field on fire? 32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask why I have come from Geshur. It was better for me while I was there; now I want to appear before the king and if there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me. 33 So Joab came to the king and told him the words of Absalom; and he called for Absalom, and Absalom came in before the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom."

"15:1 ¶ AND after this, Absalom prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the king’s gate; and it was so that when any man had a case to be tried before the king, then Absalom called him to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said to him, I see your arguments are good and just; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made a judge in the land, that every man who has a lawsuit or a cause might come to me, and I would do him justice! 5 And whenever a man arose to do him obeisance, he held him by his hand and kissed him. 6 And in this manner did Absalom to all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel."

"7 ¶ And it came to pass after four years Absalom said to the king, Let me go and fulfil my vow which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron; 8 For your servant made a vow while I abode at Geshur and in Aram, saying. If the LORD will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, but they went innocently, not knowing anything of the plot. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, and brought him from his city, from Giloh, while he was offering sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong; and the people increased continually on the side of Absalom."

"13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom. 14 And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom; make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king wants to do. 16 So the king went forth and all his household after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep his house. 17 And the king went forth and all the people after him, and they halted in a place at a distance from the city. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all his noblemen and all his army and all the Gittites who had followed him from Gath passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you also go with us? Depart from the king; for you are a stranger, and also you were brought captive from your country. 20 You came but yesterday, and shall I trouble you today to go with us, seeing I go wherever I may? Return, and make your brethren to settle down; it will be well with you. 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, As the LORD lives and as the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there will your servant be also. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. So Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over; then the king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness."

"24 ¶ And behold, Zadok the priest went also and all the Levites who were with him, bearing the ark of God; and Abiathar went up and stood until all the people had finished passing over from the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city; perhaps I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, and he will bring me back again and show me both it and his habitation; 26 But if he shall say, I have no delight in you; behold, here I am, let him do to me as seems good in his sight. 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, Return, go to the city in peace, you and your sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Nathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait in the plain of the wilderness until there come a man from you to inform me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they remained there. 30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet and wept as he went up and had his head covered and all the people who were with him also covered their heads, and they went up on foot, weeping as they went."

"31 ¶ And they told David, saying, Ahithophel has conspired with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, nullify the counsel of Ahithophel. 32 And when David came to a place where he used to worship God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth upon his head; 33 And David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me; 34 But if you return to the city, say to Absalom, I am your servant, O king, as I was your father’s servant hitherto. And now, I the king, want you to go and defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Behold, there are with you in the city Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Therefore it shall be that every word you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons Ahimaaz Zadok’s son and Nathan Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you can hear. 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came to the city, just as Absalom entered Jerusalem."

"16:1 ¶ AND when David had passed a little beyond the place where he used to worship, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came to meet him, with a couple of asses, laden with two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred bunches of raisins and a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, Where did you get these? Ziba said to him, The asses are to carry the burden of the king’s household; and the bread and fig cakes are for the young men to eat, and the wine, that those who faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said to him, Where is your master’s son? Ziba said to him, Behold he remains at Jerusalem; for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of Saul my father. 4 Then David said to Ziba, Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is given to you. And Ziba said to him, I have plenty, and I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king."

"5 ¶ And when King David came to Beth-hurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came forth and cursed David; 6 And he threw stones at him and at all his servants and at all his people and at all his servants who were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And thus said Shimei to David when he cursed him, Get out, get out, you bloody man, you wicked man; 8 The LORD has requited upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you have been requited for your evil, because you are a bloody man. 9 Then Abishai the son of Zoriah said to David, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head. 10 And King David said to him, What is it to me and to you, O sons of Zoriah? Let him curse, it is the LORD who has told him to curse David. Therefore who can say to me, Why has this happened? 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my own son, who came forth from my loins, seeks my life; so now let this Benjamite alone, let him curse; for God has bidden him. 12 It may be the LORD will look on my affliction and requite me good for his cursing this day. 13 And as David and his servants went on the way, Shimei walked along the mountain side opposite him and cursed him as he went and threw stones at him and cast dust at him. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived at their destination weary, and they refreshed themselves there."

"15 ¶ And Absalom and all the people who were with him and all Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, Long live the king! long live the king! 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this 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 Israel have chosen, with him will I dwell, and his will I be. 19 And again, whom should I serve? I have no choice. As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I serve before you. 20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give me counsel, as to what we shall do. 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep his house; and when all Israel shall hear that you have gone in to your father’s concubines, then shall the hands of all who are with you be strengthened. 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel which he gave in those days was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom."

"17:1 ¶ MOREOVER Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David this night; 2 And I will overtake him while he is weary and weak, and I will throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will kill the king only; 3 And I will bring back all the people to you, just as those whom you sought have come back; so all the people shall be in peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then Absalom said, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us likewise hear what he has to say. 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner; shall we do what he has said? If not, you speak. 7 And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time. 8 For said Hushai to Absalom. You know well that your father and his servants are mighty men, and they are furious as a bear that devours the prey in the field; moreover, your father is a man of war, and will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold now, he has hidden in one of the countries or in some other place; and when we attack them according to the first counsel, then the rumor will spread that there has been a great slaughter among the people who follow Absalom. 10 Even though he is valiant and his heart is as the heart of a lion, he shall utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and that those who are with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I counsel that when all Israel is gathered to you from Dan to Beer-sheba, then you yourself march in their midst. 12 So we shall go against him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him there shall not be left even one. 13 Moreover, if he should enter into a city, then all Israel shall cast ropes on it, and we will drag it into the valley, and they shall leave there not even a cricket. 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had decreed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel so that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom."

"15 ¶ Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and all the men of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, saying, Do not spend the night in the plain of the wilderness, but pass over, lest you and all the people who are with you be destroyed. 17 Now Nathan and Ahimaaz were standing by the side of the fountain of the palace, so they might not be seen to enter the city; and a maidservant went and told them; and they went and told King David. 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom; but they both went away, and came into the house of a man of Beth-hurim who had a well in his courtyard; and they went down into it. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and put barley upon it; and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Nathan? And the woman said to them, They have gone from here, for they wanted water; but when they could not find any, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And after Absalom’s servants had gone, they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to him, Arise and cross quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counselled against you."

"22 ¶ Then David arose and all the people who were with him and they crossed the Jordan; by early morning there was not one left who had not crossed the Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass and arose and went home to his city; and he put his household in order and hanged himself and died and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. 24 And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 And Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of an Israelite whose name was Ithra, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zoriah Joab’s mother. 26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 When David came to Mahanaim. Abishai, the son of Nahash of Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Gamil of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Dobelin 28 Brought beds and carpets and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and parched wheat and flour and beans and lentils 29 And honey and butter and sheep and cheese of cows, and offered them to David, and to the people who were with him, to eat; for they said, The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."

"18:1 ¶ AND David numbered the people who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds. 2 And David placed a third part of the people under the command of Joab, and a third part under the command of Abishai the son of Zoriah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the command of Ittai the Gittite. 3 And the king said to the people, If we surely should flee, the enemy will not care about us; now therefore ten thousand men are enough for us; for it is better for us to receive help from the cities. 4 And the servants of David said to him, We will go forth quickly to fight against them. And the king said to them, Whatever seems good to you, do it. Then the king stood by the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Capture for me the young man Absalom alive. And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all commanders concerning Absalom. 6 So the people went out into the field against Israel; 7 And there was a battle, and the people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter on that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For there was a great battle which spread over the face of the country; and the wild beasts of the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured."

"9 ¶ And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and Absalom’s head caught fast in the great oak, and he was hanging between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 10 And a certain man saw it and told Joab and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 11 And Joab said to the man who told him, When you saw him, why then did you not smite him there and throw him to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a garment. 12 And the man said to Joab, Though you should count to me a thousand shekels of silver, 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, Be careful not to harm the young man Absalom for my sake. 13 And if I should have done it, then I would have been guilty; and nothing would have been hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood against me. 14 Then Joab said to him, That is not true, I will do it now myself. Then Joab took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive and hanging from the oak. 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor circled about and smote Absalom and slew him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel; for Joab had held back the people. 17 And they took Absalom’s body and cast it into a great pit, and raised over it a great heap of large stones; and all Israel fled every man to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a monument in the valley of the kings; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the monument by his own name; and it is called the work of Absalom to this day."

"19 ¶ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run and bring the good tidings to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies. 20 And Joab said to him, It is not proper that you bear tidings this day, but you may bear tidings another day; this day you shall bear no tidings because the king’s son is dead. 21 Then Joab said to Cushi, Go tell the king what you have seen; and he ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, Why should not I too run after Cushi? And Joab said to him, Why will you run, my son, seeing no one will give you a reward for the tidings? 23 He said to him, What is the difference? Let me run. And he said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and passed Cushi. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw a man running alone. 25 And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, if he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. 26 And the watchman drew near toward the gate, and said, Behold, another man is running alone; 27 Moreover the watchman said, I see the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said. He is a good man and comes with good tidings. 28 And the king called to Ahimaaz, and said to him, Have you come in peace? And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be the LORD your God, who delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king. 29 Then the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, I saw a great army arrayed against Joab the servant of my lord the king, but I your servant knew not what was the outcome. 30 And the king said to him, Turn aside and stand here. And he turned aside and stood still. 31 And, behold, Cushi came; and he said, Tidings, my lord the king! for the LORD has avenged you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you. 32 And the king said to Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, Let your enemies, my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil be as that young man is. 33 And the king was overcome, and went up to his bedchamber and wept; and as he wept, he said, O my son Absalom. my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son!"

"19:1 ¶ AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 And there was mourning that day among all the people; for the people heard that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people concealed themselves as they ent