CHAPTER 1
<<THE SECOND BOOK OF SĂM‑́Ū‑ĔL, OTHERWISE CALLED, THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS>> Now it came to pass after the death of Sa᷍ul, when Dā‑́vĭd was returned from the slaughter of the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes, and Dā‑́vĭd had abode two days in Zĭk‑́lăg;
2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Sa᷍ul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and [so] it was, when he came to Dā‑́vĭd, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl am I escaped.
4 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son are dead also.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son be dead?
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gĭl‑bō‑́ă, behold, Sa᷍ul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horse­men followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here [am] I.
8 And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him, I [am] an Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑īte.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life [is] yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11 Then Dā‑́vĭd took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that [were] with him:
12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Sa᷍ul, and for Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; because they were fallen by the sword.
13 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said unto the young man that told him, Whence [art] thou? And he answered, I [am] the son of a stranger, an Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑īte.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?
15 And Dā‑́vĭd called one of the young men, and said, Go near, [and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.
17 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd lamented with this lamentation over Sa᷍ul and over Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son:
18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Jûd‑́ăh [the use of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jăsh‑́ĕr.)
19 The beauty of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell [it] not in Găth, publish [it] not in the streets of Ăs‑́kĕ‑lo̱n; lest the daughters of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gĭl‑bō‑́ă, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Sa᷍ul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn turned not back, and the sword of Sa᷍ul returned not empty.
23 Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn [were] lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24 Ye daughters of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, weep over Sa᷍ul, who clothed you in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
CHAPTER 2
And it came to pass after this, that Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Jûd‑́ăh? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And Dā‑́vĭd said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hē‑́brŏn.
2 So Dā‑́vĭd went up thither, and his two wives also, Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm the Jĕz‑re᷍el‑ī‑́tĕss, and Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il Nā‑́băl’s wife the Cär‑́mĕl‑īte.
3 And his men that [were] with him did Dā‑́vĭd bring up, every man with his house­hold: and they dwelt in the cities of Hē‑́brŏn.
4 And the men of Jûd‑́ăh came, and there they anointed Dā‑́vĭd king over the house of Jûd‑́ăh. And they told Dā‑́vĭd, saying, [That] the men of Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd [were they] that buried Sa᷍ul.
5 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd sent messengers unto the men of Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd, and said unto them, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Sa᷍ul, and have buried him.
6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Sa᷍ul is dead, and also the house of Jûd‑́ăh have anointed me king over them.
8 ¶ But Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr, captain of Sa᷍ul’s host, took Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth the son of Sa᷍ul, and brought him over to Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm;
9 And made him king over Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd, and over the Ăsh‑́ū‑rītes, and over Jĕz‑́re᷍el, and over Ē‑́phră‑ĭm, and over Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn, and over all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
10 Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth Sa᷍ul’s son [was] forty years old when he began to reign over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and reigned two years. But the house of Jûd‑́ăh followed Dā‑́vĭd.
11 And the time that Dā‑́vĭd was king in Hē‑́brŏn over the house of Jûd‑́ăh was seven years and six months.
12 ¶ And Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr, and the servants of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth the son of Sa᷍ul, went out from Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n.
13 And Jō‑́ăb the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh, and the servants of Dā‑́vĭd, went out, and met together by the pool of Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
14 And Ăb‑́nĕr said to Jō‑́ăb, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Jō‑́ăb said, Let them arise.
15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn, which [pertained] to Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth the son of Sa᷍ul, and twelve of the servants of Dā‑́vĭd.
16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Hĕl‑́kăth–hăz‑zū‑́rĭm, which [is] in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n.
17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Ăb‑́nĕr was beaten, and the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, before the servants of Dā‑́vĭd.
18 ¶ And there were three sons of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh there, Jō‑́ăb, and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, and Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl: and Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl [was as] light of foot as a wild roe.
19 And Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl pursued after Ăb‑́nĕr; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Ăb‑́nĕr.
20 Then Ăb‑́nĕr looked behind him, and said, [Art] thou Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl? And he answered, I [am].
21 And Ăb‑́nĕr said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl would not turn aside from following of him.
22 And Ăb‑́nĕr said again to Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Jō‑́ăb thy brother?
23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Ăb‑́nĕr with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth [rib], that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, [that] as many as came to the place where Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl fell down and died stood still.
24 Jō‑́ăb also and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i pursued after Ăb‑́nĕr: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ăm‑́măh, that [lieth] before Gī‑́ăh by the way of the wilderness of Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n.
25 ¶ And the children of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn gathered them­selves together after Ăb‑́nĕr, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26 Then Ăb‑́nĕr called to Jō‑́ăb, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27 And Jō‑́ăb said, [As] God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28 So Jō‑́ăb blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl no more, neither fought they any more.
29 And Ăb‑́nĕr and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jôr‑́dăn, and went through all Bĭth‑́rŏn, and they came to Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm.
30 And Jō‑́ăb returned from following Ăb‑́nĕr: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Dā‑́vĭd’s servants nineteen men and Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl.
31 But the servants of Dā‑́vĭd had smitten of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn, and of Ăb‑́nĕr’s men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.
32 ¶ And they took up Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which [was in] Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm. And Jō‑́ăb and his men went all night, and they came to Hē‑́brŏn at break of day.
CHAPTER 3
Now there was long war between the house of Sa᷍ul and the house of Dā‑́vĭd: but Dā‑́vĭd waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Sa᷍ul waxed weaker and weaker.
2 ¶ And unto Dā‑́vĭd were sons born in Hē‑́brŏn: and his first­born was Ăm‑́nŏn, of Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm the Jĕz‑re᷍el‑ī‑́tĕss;
3 And his second, C͟hī‑́lĕ‑ăb, of Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il the wife of Nā‑́băl the Cär‑́mĕl‑īte; and the third, Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m the son of Mā‑́ă‑cäh the daughter of Tăl‑́ma᷍i king of Gē‑́shu̇r;
4 And the fourth, Ăd‑ō‑nī‑́jăh the son of Hăg‑́gĭth; and the fifth, Shĕph‑ă‑tī‑́ăh the son of Ă‑bī‑́tăl;
5 And the sixth, Ĭth‑́rĕ‑ăm, by Ĕg‑́lăh Dā‑́vĭd’s wife. These were born to Dā‑́vĭd in Hē‑́brŏn.
6 ¶ And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Sa᷍ul and the house of Dā‑́vĭd, that Ăb‑́nĕr made him­self strong for the house of Sa᷍ul.
7 And Sa᷍ul had a concubine, whose name [was] Rĭz‑́păh, the daughter of A᷍i‑́ăh: and [Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth] said to Ăb‑́nĕr, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?
8 Then was Ăb‑́nĕr very wroth for the words of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth, and said, [Am] I a dog’s head, which against Jûd‑́ăh do shew kindness this day unto the house of Sa᷍ul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of Dā‑́vĭd, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9 So do God to Ăb‑́nĕr, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to Dā‑́vĭd, even so I do to him;
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Sa᷍ul, and to set up the throne of Dā‑́vĭd over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and over Jûd‑́ăh, from Dăn even to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă.
11 And he could not answer Ăb‑́nĕr a word again, because he feared him.
12 ¶ And Ăb‑́nĕr sent messengers to Dā‑́vĭd on his behalf, saying, Whose [is] the land? saying [also], Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand [shall be] with thee, to bring about all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl unto thee.
13 ¶ And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Mī‑́c͟hăl Sa᷍ul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd sent messengers to Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth Sa᷍ul’s son, saying, Deliver [me] my wife Mī‑́c͟hăl, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
15 And Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth sent, and took her from [her] husband, [even] from Phăl‑́tĭ‑ĕl the son of Lā‑́ĭsh.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bă‑hū‑́rĭm. Then said Ăb‑́nĕr unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
17 ¶ And Ăb‑́nĕr had communication with the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, saying, Ye sought for Dā‑́vĭd in times past [to be] king over you:
18 Now then do [it]: for the LORD hath spoken of Dā‑́vĭd, saying, By the hand of my servant Dā‑́vĭd I will save my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl out of the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19 And Ăb‑́nĕr also spake in the ears of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn: and Ăb‑́nĕr went also to speak in the ears of Dā‑́vĭd in Hē‑́brŏn all that seemed good to Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and that seemed good to the whole house of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn.
20 So Ăb‑́nĕr came to Dā‑́vĭd to Hē‑́brŏn, and twenty men with him. And Dā‑́vĭd made Ăb‑́nĕr and the men that [were] with him a feast.
21 And Ăb‑́nĕr said unto Dā‑́vĭd, I will arise and go, and will gather all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And Dā‑́vĭd sent Ăb‑́nĕr away; and he went in peace.
22 ¶ And, behold, the servants of Dā‑́vĭd and Jō‑́ăb came from [pursuing] a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Ăb‑́nĕr [was] not with Dā‑́vĭd in Hē‑́brŏn; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23 When Jō‑́ăb and all the host that [was] with him were come, they told Jō‑́ăb, saying, Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24 Then Jō‑́ăb came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Ăb‑́nĕr came unto thee; why [is] it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25 Thou knowest Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26 And when Jō‑́ăb was come out from Dā‑́vĭd, he sent messengers after Ăb‑́nĕr, which brought him again from the well of Sī‑́răh: but Dā‑́vĭd knew [it] not.
27 And when Ăb‑́nĕr was returned to Hē‑́brŏn, Jō‑́ăb took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth [rib], that he died, for the blood of Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl his brother.
28 ¶ And after­ward when Dā‑́vĭd heard [it], he said, I and my kingdom [are] guilt­less before the LORD for ever from the blood of Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr:
29 Let it rest on the head of Jō‑́ăb, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Jō‑́ăb one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30 So Jō‑́ăb and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i his brother slew Ăb‑́nĕr, because he had slain their brother Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl at Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n in the battle.
31 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said to Jō‑́ăb, and to all the people that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sack­cloth, and mourn before Ăb‑́nĕr. And king Dā‑́vĭd [him­self] followed the bier.
32 And they buried Ăb‑́nĕr in Hē‑́brŏn: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Ăb‑́nĕr; and all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented over Ăb‑́nĕr, and said, Died Ăb‑́nĕr as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands [were] not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, [so] fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35 And when all the people came to cause Dā‑́vĭd to eat meat while it was yet day, Dā‑́vĭd sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36 And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased them: as what­soever the king did pleased all the people.
37 For all the people and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl under­stood that day that it was not of the king to slay Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl?
39 And I [am] this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh [be] too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
CHAPTER 4
And when Sa᷍ul’s son heard that Ăb‑́nĕr was dead in Hē‑́brŏn, his hands were feeble, and all the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes were troubled.
2 And Sa᷍ul’s son had two men [that were] captains of bands: the name of the one [was] Bā‑́ă‑năh, and the name of the other Rē‑́c͟hăb, the sons of Rĭm‑́mo̱n a Be᷍er‑́ō‑thīte, of the children of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn: (for Be᷍er‑́ōth also was reckoned to Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn:
3 And the Be᷍er‑́ō‑thītes fled to Gĭt‑tā‑́ĭm, and were sojourners there until this day.)
4 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, Sa᷍ul’s son, had a son [that was] lame of [his] feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn out of Jĕz‑́re᷍el, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name [was] Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth.
5 And the sons of Rĭm‑́mo̱n the Be᷍er‑́ō‑thīte, Rē‑́c͟hăb and Bā‑́ă‑năh, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, [as though] they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth [rib]: and Rē‑́c͟hăb and Bā‑́ă‑năh his brother escaped.
7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bed­chamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
8 And they brought the head of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth unto Dā‑́vĭd to Hē‑́brŏn, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth the son of Sa᷍ul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Sa᷍ul, and of his seed.
9 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd answered Rē‑́c͟hăb and Bā‑́ă‑năh his brother, the sons of Rĭm‑́mo̱n the Be᷍er‑́ō‑thīte, and said unto them, [As] the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Sa᷍ul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Zĭk‑́lăg, who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
12 And Dā‑́vĭd commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged [them] up over the pool in Hē‑́brŏn. But they took the head of Ĭsh–bŏsh‑́ĕth, and buried [it] in the sepulchre of Ăb‑́nĕr in Hē‑́brŏn.
CHAPTER 5
Then came all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl to Dā‑́vĭd unto Hē‑́brŏn, and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.
2 Also in time past, when Sa᷍ul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and thou shalt be a captain over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
3 So all the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl came to the king to Hē‑́brŏn; and king Dā‑́vĭd made a league with them in Hē‑́brŏn before the LORD: and they anointed Dā‑́vĭd king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
4 ¶ Dā‑́vĭd [was] thirty years old when he began to reign, [and] he reigned forty years.
5 In Hē‑́brŏn he reigned over Jûd‑́ăh seven years and six months: and in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm he reigned thirty and three years over all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and Jûd‑́ăh.
6 ¶ And the king and his men went to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm unto the Jĕb‑́ū‑ṡītes, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, Dā‑́vĭd cannot come in hither.
7 Nevertheless Dā‑́vĭd took the strong hold of Zī‑́o̱n: the same [is] the city of Dā‑́vĭd.
8 And Dā‑́vĭd said on that day, Who­soever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jĕb‑́ū‑ṡītes, and the lame and the blind, [that are] hated of Dā‑́vĭd’s soul, [he shall be chief and captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9 So Dā‑́vĭd dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of Dā‑́vĭd. And Dā‑́vĭd built round about from Mĭl‑́lō and inward.
10 And Dā‑́vĭd went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts [was] with him.
11 ¶ And Hī‑́răm king of Tȳre sent messengers to Dā‑́vĭd, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built Dā‑́vĭd an house.
12 And Dā‑́vĭd perceived that the LORD had established him king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl’s sake.
13 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd took [him] more concubines and wives out of Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, after he was come from Hē‑́brŏn: and there were yet sons and daughters born to Dā‑́vĭd.
14 And these [be] the names of those that were born unto him in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm; Shăm‑́mū‑ă, and Shō‑́băb, and Nā‑́thăn, and Sŏl‑́ŏ‑mo̱n,
15 Ĭb‑́här also, and Ē‑lī‑́shû‑ă, and Nĕph‑́ĕg, and Jă‑phī‑́ă,
16 And Ē‑lī‑́shă‑mă, and Ē‑lī‑́ă‑dă, and Ē‑lĭph‑́ă‑lĕt.
17 ¶ But when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ heard that they had anointed Dā‑́vĭd king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, all the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ came up to seek Dā‑́vĭd; and Dā‑́vĭd heard [of it], and went down to the hold.
18 The Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ also came and spread them­selves in the valley of Rĕph‑́ā‑ĭm.
19 And Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Go up: for I will doubt­less deliver the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ into thine hand.
20 And Dā‑́vĭd came to Bā‑́ăl–pĕ‑rā‑́zĭm, and Dā‑́vĭd smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Bā‑́ăl–pĕ‑rā‑́zĭm.
21 And there they left their images, and Dā‑́vĭd and his men burned them.
22 ¶ And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ came up yet again, and spread them­selves in the valley of Rĕph‑́ā‑ĭm.
23 And when Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; [but] fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thy­self: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
25 And Dā‑́vĭd did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ from Gē‑́bă until thou come to Gā‑́zĕr.
CHAPTER 6
Again, Dā‑́vĭd gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, thirty thousand.
2 And Dā‑́vĭd arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from Bā‑́ă‑lē of Jûd‑́ăh, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the chĕr‑́ū‑bĭms.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb that [was] in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh: and Ŭz‑́zăh and Ă‑hī‑́ō, the sons of Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb, drave the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb which [was] at Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh, accompanying the ark of God: and Ă‑hī‑́ō went before the ark.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd and all the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 ¶ And when they came to Nā‑́c͟hŏn’s threshing­floor, Ŭz‑́zăh put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it].
7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Ŭz‑́zăh; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 And Dā‑́vĭd was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Ŭz‑́zăh: and he called the name of the place Pē‑́rĕz–ŭz‑́zăh to this day.
9 And Dā‑́vĭd was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10 So Dā‑́vĭd would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of Dā‑́vĭd: but Dā‑́vĭd carried it aside into the house of Ō‑́bĕd–ē‑́do̱m the Gĭt‑́tīte.
11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Ō‑́bĕd–ē‑́do̱m the Gĭt‑́tīte three months: and the LORD blessed Ō‑́bĕd–ē‑́do̱m, and all his house­hold.
12 ¶ And it was told king Dā‑́vĭd, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Ō‑́bĕd–ē‑́do̱m, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark of God. So Dā‑́vĭd went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Ō‑́bĕd–ē‑́do̱m into the city of Dā‑́vĭd with gladness.
13 And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and Dā‑́vĭd [was] girded with a linen ē‑́phŏd.
15 So Dā‑́vĭd and all the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl 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 into the city of Dā‑́vĭd, Mī‑́c͟hăl Sa᷍ul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king Dā‑́vĭd leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 ¶ And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that Dā‑́vĭd had pitched for it: and Dā‑́vĭd offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And as soon as Dā‑́vĭd had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, [even] among the whole multitude of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece [of flesh], and a flagon [of wine]. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 ¶ Then Dā‑́vĭd returned to bless his house­hold. And Mī‑́c͟hăl the daughter of Sa᷍ul came out to meet Dā‑́vĭd, and said, How glorious was the king of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl to day, who uncovered him­self to day in the eyes of the hand­maids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth him­self!
21 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Mī‑́c͟hăl, [It was] before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maid­servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Mī‑́c͟hăl the daughter of Sa᷍ul had no child unto the day of her death.
CHAPTER 7
And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2 That the king said unto Nā‑́thăn the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.
3 And Nā‑́thăn said to the king, Go, do all that [is] in thine heart; for the LORD [is] with thee.
4 ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nā‑́thăn, saying,
5 Go and tell my servant Dā‑́vĭd, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
6 Whereas I have not dwelt in [any] house since the time that I brought up the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl out of Ē‑́ġy̆pt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7 In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl spake I a word with any of the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, whom I commanded to feed my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant Dā‑́vĭd, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl:
9 And I was with thee whither­soever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth.
10 More­over I will appoint a place for my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as before­time,
11 And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12 ¶ And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Sa᷍ul, whom I put away before thee.
16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nā‑́thăn speak unto Dā‑́vĭd.
18 ¶ Then went king Dā‑́vĭd in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 And what can Dā‑́vĭd say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
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 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for [there is] none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23 And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people, [even] like Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, whom God went to redeem for a people to him­self, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Ē‑́ġy̆pt, [from] the nations and their gods?
24 For thou hast confirmed to thy­self thy people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and let the house of thy servant Dā‑́vĭd be established before thee.
27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words be true, and 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.
CHAPTER 8
And after this it came to pass, that Dā‑́vĭd smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and subdued them: and Dā‑́vĭd took Mĕth‑́ĕg–ăm‑́măh out of the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
2 And he smote Mō‑́ăb, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the Mō‑́ăb‑ītes became Dā‑́vĭd’s servants, [and] brought gifts.
3 ¶ Dā‑́vĭd smote also Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr, the son of Rē‑́hŏb, king of Zō‑́băh, as he went to recover his border at the river E᷍u‑phrā‑́tēṡ.
4 And Dā‑́vĭd took from him a thousand [chariots], and seven hundred horse­men, and twenty thousand foot­men: and Dā‑́vĭd houghed all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns of Dă‑măs‑́cŭs came to succour Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr king of Zō‑́băh, Dā‑́vĭd slew of the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then Dā‑́vĭd put garrisons in Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ă of Dă‑măs‑́cŭs: and the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns became servants to Dā‑́vĭd, [and] brought gifts. And the LORD preserved Dā‑́vĭd whither­soever he went.
7 And Dā‑́vĭd took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr, and brought them to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
8 And from Bē‑́tăh, and from Bĕ‑rō‑́tha᷍i, cities of Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr, king Dā‑́vĭd took exceeding much brass.
9 ¶ When Tō‑́ī king of Hā‑́măth heard that Dā‑́vĭd had smitten all the host of Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr,
10 Then Tō‑́ī sent Jôr‑́ăm his son unto king Dā‑́vĭd, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr, and smitten him: for Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr had wars with Tō‑́ī. And [Jôr‑́ăm] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
11 Which also king Dā‑́vĭd did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
12 Of Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ă, and of Mō‑́ăb, and of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and of Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk, and of the spoil of Hăd‑ă‑dē‑́zĕr, son of Rē‑́hŏb, king of Zō‑́băh.
13 And Dā‑́vĭd gat [him] a name when he returned from smiting of the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen thousand [men].
14 ¶ And he put garrisons in Ē‑́do̱m; through­out all Ē‑́do̱m put he garrisons, and all they of Ē‑́do̱m became Dā‑́vĭd’s servants. And the LORD preserved Dā‑́vĭd whither­soever he went.
15 And Dā‑́vĭd reigned over all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and Dā‑́vĭd executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
16 And Jō‑́ăb the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh [was] over the host; and Jĕ‑hŏsh‑́ă‑phăt the son of Ă‑hī‑́lŭd [was] recorder;
17 And Zā‑́dŏk the son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb, and Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the son of Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär, [were] the priests; and Sĕ‑ra᷍i‑́ăh [was] the scribe;
18 And Bĕ‑na᷍i‑́ăh the son of Jĕ‑ho᷍i‑́ă‑dă [was over] both the C͟hĕr‑́ĕ‑thītes and the Pĕl‑́ĕ‑thītes; and Dā‑́vĭd’s sons were chief rulers.
CHAPTER 9
And Dā‑́vĭd said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Sa᷍ul, that I may shew him kindness for Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn’s sake?
2 And [there was] of the house of Sa᷍ul a servant whose name [was] Zī‑́bă. And when they had called him unto Dā‑́vĭd, the king said unto him, [Art] thou Zī‑́bă? And he said, Thy servant [is he].
3 And the king said, [Is] there not yet any of the house of Sa᷍ul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Zī‑́bă said unto the king, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn hath yet a son, [which is] lame on [his] feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where [is] he? And Zī‑́bă said unto the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Mā‑́c͟hĭr, the son of Ăm‑́mĭ‑ĕl, in Lō–́dĕ‑bär.
5 ¶ Then king Dā‑́vĭd sent, and fetched him out of the house of Mā‑́c͟hĭr, the son of Ăm‑́mĭ‑ĕl, from Lō–́dĕ‑bär.
6 Now when Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth, the son of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, the son of Sa᷍ul, was come unto Dā‑́vĭd, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And Dā‑́vĭd said, Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Sa᷍ul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed him­self, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?
9 ¶ Then the king called to Zī‑́bă, Sa᷍ul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Sa᷍ul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Zī‑́bă had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Zī‑́bă unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
12 And Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth had a young son, whose name [was] Mī‑́c͟hă. And all that dwelt in the house of Zī‑́bă [were] servants unto Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth.
13 So Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth dwelt in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.
CHAPTER 10
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n died, and Hā‑́nŭn his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then said Dā‑́vĭd, I will shew kindness unto Hā‑́nŭn the son of Nā‑́hăsh, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And Dā‑́vĭd sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And Dā‑́vĭd’s servants came into the land of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n.
3 And the princes of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n said unto Hā‑́nŭn their lord, Thinkest thou that Dā‑́vĭd doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not Dā‑́vĭd [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to over­throw it?
4 Wherefore Hā‑́nŭn took Dā‑́vĭd’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When they told [it] unto Dā‑́vĭd, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jĕr‑́ĭ‑c͟hō until your beards be grown, and [then] return.
6 ¶ And when the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n saw that they stank before Dā‑́vĭd, the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n sent and hired the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns of Bĕth–rē‑́hŏb, and the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns of Zō‑́bă, twenty thousand foot­men, and of king Mā‑́ă‑cäh a thousand men, and of Ĭsh–́tŏb twelve thousand men.
7 And when Dā‑́vĭd heard of [it], he sent Jō‑́ăb, and all the host of the mighty men.
8 And the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns of Zō‑́bă, and of Rē‑́hŏb, and Ĭsh–́tŏb, and Mā‑́ă‑cäh, [were] by them­selves in the field.
9 When Jō‑́ăb saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and put [them] in array against the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns:
10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i his brother, that he might put [them] in array against the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n.
11 And he said, If the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
13 And Jō‑́ăb drew nigh, and the people that [were] with him, unto the battle against the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns: and they fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n saw that the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns were fled, then fled they also before Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, and entered into the city. So Jō‑́ăb returned from the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and came to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
15 ¶ And when the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns saw that they were smitten before Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, they gathered them­selves together.
16 And Hăd‑ă‑rē‑́zĕr sent, and brought out the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns that [were] beyond the river: and they came to Hē‑́lăm; and Shō‑́băc͟h the captain of the host of Hăd‑ă‑rē‑́zĕr [went] before them.
17 And when it was told Dā‑́vĭd, he gathered all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl together, and passed over Jôr‑́dăn, and came to Hē‑́lăm. And the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns set them­selves in array against Dā‑́vĭd, and fought with him.
18 And the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns fled before Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and Dā‑́vĭd slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns, and forty thousand horse­men, and smote Shō‑́băc͟h the captain of their host, who died there.
19 And when all the kings [that were] servants to Hăd‑ă‑rē‑́zĕr saw that they were smitten before Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, they made peace with Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and served them. So the Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ăns feared to help the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n any more.
CHAPTER 11
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that Dā‑́vĭd sent Jō‑́ăb, and his servants with him, and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and they destroyed the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and besieged Răb‑́băh. But Dā‑́vĭd tarried still at Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
2 ¶ And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that Dā‑́vĭd arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing her­self; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
3 And Dā‑́vĭd sent and inquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Băth–́shĕ‑bă, the daughter of Ē‑lī‑́ăm, the wife of Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte?
4 And Dā‑́vĭd sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told Dā‑́vĭd, and said, I [am] with child.
6 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd sent to Jō‑́ăb, [saying], Send me Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte. And Jō‑́ăb sent Ū‑rī‑́ăh to Dā‑́vĭd.
7 And when Ū‑rī‑́ăh was come unto him, Dā‑́vĭd demanded [of him] how Jō‑́ăb did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ū‑rī‑́ăh, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Ū‑rī‑́ăh departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess [of meat] from the king.
9 But Ū‑rī‑́ăh slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10 And when they had told Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Ū‑rī‑́ăh went not down unto his house, Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ū‑rī‑́ăh, Camest thou not from [thy] journey? why [then] didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11 And Ū‑rī‑́ăh said unto Dā‑́vĭd, The ark, and Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and Jûd‑́ăh, abide in tents; and my lord Jō‑́ăb, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? [as] thou livest, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ū‑rī‑́ăh, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Ū‑rī‑́ăh abode in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm that day, and the morrow.
13 And when Dā‑́vĭd had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14 ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Dā‑́vĭd wrote a letter to Jō‑́ăb, and sent [it] by the hand of Ū‑rī‑́ăh.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Ū‑rī‑́ăh in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16 And it came to pass, when Jō‑́ăb observed the city, that he assigned Ū‑rī‑́ăh unto a place where he knew that valiant men [were].
17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Jō‑́ăb: and there fell [some] of the people of the servants of Dā‑́vĭd; and Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte died also.
18 ¶ Then Jō‑́ăb sent and told Dā‑́vĭd all the things concerning the war;
19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21 Who smote Ă‑bĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the son of Jĕ‑rŭb‑́bĕ‑shĕth? did not a woman cast a piece of a mill­stone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thē‑́bĕz? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte is dead also.
22 ¶ So the messenger went, and came and shewed Dā‑́vĭd all that Jō‑́ăb had sent him for.
23 And the messenger said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and [some] of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte is dead also.
25 Then Dā‑́vĭd said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Jō‑́ăb, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and over­throw it: and encourage thou him.
26 ¶ And when the wife of Ū‑rī‑́ăh heard that Ū‑rī‑́ăh her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when the mourning was past, Dā‑́vĭd sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that Dā‑́vĭd had done displeased the LORD.
CHAPTER 12
And the LORD sent Nā‑́thăn unto Dā‑́vĭd. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich [man] had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor [man] had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nā‑́thăn, [As] the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this [thing] shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb four­fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 ¶ And Nā‑́thăn said to Dā‑́vĭd, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, I anointed thee king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Sa᷍ul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and of Jûd‑́ăh; and if [that had been] too little, I would more­over have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst [it] secretly: but I will do this thing before all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and before the sun.
13 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Nā‑́thăn, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nā‑́thăn said unto Dā‑́vĭd, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also [that is] born unto thee shall surely die.
15 ¶ And Nā‑́thăn departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Ū‑rī‑́ăh’s wife bare unto Dā‑́vĭd, and it was very sick.
16 Dā‑́vĭd therefore besought God for the child; and Dā‑́vĭd fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of Dā‑́vĭd feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex him­self, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19 But when Dā‑́vĭd saw that his servants whispered, Dā‑́vĭd perceived that the child was dead: therefore Dā‑́vĭd said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then Dā‑́vĭd arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [him­self], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
24 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd comforted Băth–́shĕ‑bă his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Sŏl‑́ŏ‑mo̱n: and the LORD loved him.
25 And he sent by the hand of Nā‑́thăn the prophet; and he called his name Jĕd‑ĭ‑dī‑́ăh, because of the LORD.
26 ¶ And Jō‑́ăb fought against Răb‑́băh of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and took the royal city.
27 And Jō‑́ăb sent messengers to Dā‑́vĭd, and said, I have fought against Răb‑́băh, and have taken the city of waters.
28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
29 And Dā‑́vĭd gathered all the people together, and went to Răb‑́băh, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof [was] a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was [set] on Dā‑́vĭd’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
31 And he brought forth the people that [were] therein, and put [them] under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n. So Dā‑́vĭd and all the people returned unto Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
CHAPTER 13
And it came to pass after this, that Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m the son of Dā‑́vĭd had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tā‑́mär; and Ăm‑́nŏn the son of Dā‑́vĭd loved her.
2 And Ăm‑́nŏn was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tā‑́mär; for she [was] a virgin; and Ăm‑́nŏn thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.
3 But Ăm‑́nŏn had a friend, whose name [was] Jŏn‑́ă‑dăb, the son of Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ăh Dā‑́vĭd’s brother: and Jŏn‑́ă‑dăb [was] a very subtil man.
4 And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Ăm‑́nŏn said unto him, I love Tā‑́mär, my brother Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m’s sister.
5 And Jŏn‑́ă‑dăb said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thy­self sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tā‑́mär come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at her hand.
6 ¶ So Ăm‑́nŏn lay down, and made him­self sick: and when the king was come to see him, Ăm‑́nŏn said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tā‑́mär my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
7 Then Dā‑́vĭd sent home to Tā‑́mär, saying, Go now to thy brother Ăm‑́nŏn’s house, and dress him meat.
8 So Tā‑́mär went to her brother Ăm‑́nŏn’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
9 And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Ăm‑́nŏn said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
10 And Ăm‑́nŏn said unto Tā‑́mär, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tā‑́mär took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Ăm‑́nŏn her brother.
11 And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: do not thou this folly.
13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not with­hold me from thee.
14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
15 ¶ Then Ăm‑́nŏn hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred where­with he hated her [was] greater than the love where­with he had loved her. And Ăm‑́nŏn said unto her, Arise, be gone.
16 And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her.
18 And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters [that were] virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
19 ¶ And Tā‑́mär put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
20 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m her brother said unto her, Hath Ăm‑́nŏn thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tā‑́mär remained desolate in her brother Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m’s house.
21 ¶ But when king Dā‑́vĭd heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m spake unto his brother Ăm‑́nŏn neither good nor bad: for Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m hated Ăm‑́nŏn, because he had forced his sister Tā‑́mär.
23 ¶ And it came to pass after two full years, that Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m had sheep­shearers in Bā‑́ăl–hā‑́zôr, which [is] beside Ē‑́phră‑ĭm: and Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m invited all the king’s sons.
24 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep­shearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
25 And the king said to Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then said Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Ăm‑́nŏn go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
27 But Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m pressed him, that he let Ăm‑́nŏn and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 ¶ Now Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Ăm‑́nŏn’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Ăm‑́nŏn; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
29 And the servants of Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m did unto Ăm‑́nŏn as Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
30 ¶ And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
32 And Jŏn‑́ă‑dăb, the son of Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ăh Dā‑́vĭd’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Ăm‑́nŏn only is dead: for by the appointment of Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tā‑́mär.
33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Ăm‑́nŏn only is dead.
34 But Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jŏn‑́ă‑dăb said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
37 ¶ But Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m fled, and went to Tăl‑́ma᷍i, the son of Ăm‑́mĭ‑hŭd, king of Gē‑́shu̇r. And [Dā‑́vĭd] mourned for his son every day.
38 So Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m fled, and went to Gē‑́shu̇r, and was there three years.
39 And [the soul of] king Dā‑́vĭd longed to go forth unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m: for he was comforted concerning Ăm‑́nŏn, seeing he was dead.
CHAPTER 14
Now Jō‑́ăb the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh perceived that the king’s heart [was] toward Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
2 And Jō‑́ăb sent to Tĕ‑kō‑́ăh, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thy­self to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thy­self with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Jō‑́ăb put the words in her mouth.
4 ¶ And when the woman of Tĕ‑kō‑́ăh spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I [am] indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
6 And thy hand­maid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and [there was] none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine hand­maid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband [neither] name nor remainder upon the earth.
8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
9 And the woman of Tĕ‑kō‑́ăh said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity [be] on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne [be] guilt­less.
10 And the king said, Who­soever saith [ought] unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
12 Then the woman said, Let thine hand­maid, I pray thee, speak [one] word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
14 For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, [it is] because the people have made me afraid: and thy hand­maid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his hand­maid.
16 For the king will hear, to deliver his hand­maid out of the hand of the man [that would] destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
17 Then thine hand­maid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so [is] my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
19 And the king said, [Is not] the hand of Jō‑́ăb with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Jō‑́ăb, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine hand­maid:
20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Jō‑́ăb done this thing: and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all [things] that [are] in the earth.
21 ¶ And the king said unto Jō‑́ăb, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m again.
22 And Jō‑́ăb fell to the ground on his face, and bowed him­self, and thanked the king: and Jō‑́ăb said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
23 So Jō‑́ăb arose and went to Gē‑́shu̇r, and brought Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
25 ¶ But in all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl there was none to be so much praised as Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shē‑́kĕls after the king’s weight.
27 And unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name [was] Tā‑́mär: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
28 ¶ So Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m dwelt two full years in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, and saw not the king’s face.
29 Therefore Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m sent for Jō‑́ăb, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Jō‑́ăb’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Jō‑́ăb arose, and came to Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m unto [his] house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
32 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m answered Jō‑́ăb, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Gē‑́shu̇r? [it had been] good for me [to have been] there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be [any] iniquity in me, let him kill me.
33 So Jō‑́ăb came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, he came to the king, and bowed him­self on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
CHAPTER 15
And it came to pass after this, that Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m called unto him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one of the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
3 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m said unto him, See, thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee.
4 Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m said more­over, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5 And it was [so], that when any man came nigh [to him] to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6 And on this manner did Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m to all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl that came to the king for judgment: so Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m stole the hearts of the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
7 ¶ And it came to pass after forty years, that Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hē‑́brŏn.
8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Gē‑́shu̇r in Sy̆r‑́ĭ‑ă, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, then I will serve the LORD.
9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hē‑́brŏn.
10 ¶ But Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m sent spies through­out all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m reigneth in Hē‑́brŏn.
11 And with Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m went two hundred men out of Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, [that were] called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m sent for Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl the Gī‑́lō‑nīte, Dā‑́vĭd’s counseller, from his city, [even] from Gī‑́lōh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
13 ¶ And there came a messenger to Dā‑́vĭd, saying, The hearts of the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl are after Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto all his servants that [were] with him at Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m: make speed 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 unto the king, Behold, thy servants [are ready to do] what­soever my lord the king shall appoint.
16 And the king went forth, and all his house­hold after him. And the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the C͟hĕr‑́ĕ‑thītes, and all the Pĕl‑́ĕ‑thītes, and all the Gĭt‑́tītes, six hundred men which came after him from Găth, passed on before the king.
19 ¶ Then said the king to Ĭt‑tā‑́ī the Gĭt‑́tīte, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.
20 Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth [be] with thee.
21 And Ĭt‑tā‑́ī answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ĭt‑tā‑́ī, Go and pass over. And Ĭt‑tā‑́ī the Gĭt‑́tīte 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: the king also him­self passed over the brook Kī‑́drŏn, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24 ¶ And lo Zā‑́dŏk also, and all the Lē‑́vītes [were] with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zā‑́dŏk, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me [both] it, and his habitation:
26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27 The king said also unto Zā‑́dŏk the priest, [Art not] thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz thy son, and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn the son of Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29 Zā‑́dŏk therefore and Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär carried the ark of God again to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm: and they tarried there.
30 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd went up by the ascent of [mount] Ŏl‑́ĭ‑vĕt, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went bare­foot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31 ¶ And [one] told Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl [is] among the conspirators with Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m. And Dā‑́vĭd said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl into foolishness.
32 ¶ And it came to pass, that [when] Dā‑́vĭd was come to the top [of the mount], where he worshipped God, behold, Hū‑́sha᷍i the Är‑́c͟hīte came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33 Unto whom Dā‑́vĭd said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father’s servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl.
35 And [hast thou] not there with thee Zā‑́dŏk and Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priests? therefore it shall be, [that] what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell [it] to Zā‑́dŏk and Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priests.
36 Behold, [they have] there with them their two sons, Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz Zā‑́dŏk’s [son], and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär’s [son]; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37 So Hū‑́sha᷍i Dā‑́vĭd’s friend came into the city, and Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m came into Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
CHAPTER 16
And when Dā‑́vĭd was a little past the top [of the hill], behold, Zī‑́bă the servant of Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 And the king said unto Zī‑́bă, What meanest thou by these? And Zī‑́bă said, The asses [be] for the king’s house­hold to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3 And the king said, And where [is] thy master’s son? And Zī‑́bă said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm: for he said, To day shall the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl restore me the kingdom of my father.
4 Then said the king to Zī‑́bă, Behold, thine [are] all that [pertained] unto Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth. And Zī‑́bă said, I humbly beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5 ¶ And when king Dā‑́vĭd came to Bă‑hū‑́rĭm, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Sa᷍ul, whose name [was] Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī, the son of Gē‑́ră: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
6 And he cast stones at Dā‑́vĭd, and at all the servants of king Dā‑́vĭd: and all the people and all the mighty men [were] on his right hand and on his left.
7 And thus said Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl:
8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Sa᷍ul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.
9 ¶ Then said Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse Dā‑́vĭd. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now [may this] Bĕn‑́jă‑mīte [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13 And as Dā‑́vĭd and his men went by the way, Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14 And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed them­selves there.
15 ¶ And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, and all the people the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, came to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, and Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl with him.
16 And it came to pass, when Hū‑́sha᷍i the Är‑́c͟hīte, Dā‑́vĭd’s friend, was come unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, that Hū‑́sha᷍i said unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, God save the king, God save the king.
17 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m said to Hū‑́sha᷍i, [Is] this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18 And Hū‑́sha᷍i said unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19 And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
20 ¶ Then said Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m to Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21 And Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl said unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.
22 So they spread Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m a tent upon the top of the house; and Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
23 And the counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl both with Dā‑́vĭd and with Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
CHAPTER 17
More­over Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl said unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after Dā‑́vĭd this night:
2 And I will come upon him while he [is] weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that [are] with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest [is] as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.
4 And the saying pleased Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m well, and all the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
5 Then said Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Call now Hū‑́sha᷍i the Är‑́c͟hīte also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
6 And when Hū‑́sha᷍i was come to Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m spake unto him, saying, Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl hath spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not; speak thou.
7 And Hū‑́sha᷍i said unto Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, The counsel that Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl hath given [is] not good at this time.
8 For, said Hū‑́sha᷍i, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they [be] mighty men, and they [be] chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father [is] a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be over­thrown at the first, that who­soever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
10 And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl knoweth that thy father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are] valiant men.
11 Therefore I counsel that all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl be generally gathered unto thee, from Dăn even to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă, as the sand that [is] by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 More­over, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
14 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m and all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl said, The counsel of Hū‑́sha᷍i the Är‑́c͟hīte [is] better than the counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
15 ¶ Then said Hū‑́sha᷍i unto Zā‑́dŏk and to Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priests, Thus and thus did Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl counsel Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m and the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and thus and thus have I counselled.
16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that [are] with him.
17 Now Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz stayed by Ĕn–rō‑́gĕl; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king Dā‑́vĭd.
18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bă‑hū‑́rĭm, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20 And when Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where [is] Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find [them], they returned to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king Dā‑́vĭd, and said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl counselled against you.
22 Then Dā‑́vĭd arose, and all the people that [were] with him, and they passed over Jôr‑́dăn: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jôr‑́dăn.
23 ¶ And when Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his house­hold in order, and hanged him­self, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24 Then Dā‑́vĭd came to Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm. And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m passed over Jôr‑́dăn, he and all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl with him.
25 ¶ And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m made Ă‑mā‑́să captain of the host instead of Jō‑́ăb: which Ă‑mā‑́să [was] a man’s son, whose name [was] Ĭth‑́ră an Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑īte, that went in to Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il the daughter of Nā‑́hăsh, sister to Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh Jō‑́ăb’s mother.
26 So Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m pitched in the land of Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd.
27 ¶ And it came to pass, when Dā‑́vĭd was come to Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm, that Shō‑́bī the son of Nā‑́hăsh of Răb‑́băh of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and Mā‑́c͟hĭr the son of Ăm‑́mĭ‑ĕl of Lō–́dĕ‑bär, and Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī the Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd‑īte of Rō‑́gĕ‑lĭm,
28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentiles, and parched [pulse],
29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for Dā‑́vĭd, and for the people that [were] with him, to eat: for they said, The people [is] hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
CHAPTER 18
And Dā‑́vĭd numbered the people that [were] with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2 And Dā‑́vĭd sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Jō‑́ăb, and a third part under the hand of Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh, Jō‑́ăb’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ĭt‑tā‑́ī the Gĭt‑́tīte. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.
4 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5 And the king commanded Jō‑́ăb and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i and Ĭt‑tā‑́ī, saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
6 ¶ So the people went out into the field against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and the battle was in the wood of Ē‑́phră‑ĭm;
7 Where the people of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were slain before the servants of Dā‑́vĭd, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men].
8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 ¶ And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m met the servants of Dā‑́vĭd. And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him went away.
10 And a certain man saw [it], and told Jō‑́ăb, and said, Behold, I saw Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m hanged in an oak.
11 And Jō‑́ăb said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten [shē‑́kĕls] of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Jō‑́ăb, Though I should receive a thousand [shē‑́kĕls] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i and Ĭt‑tā‑́ī, saying, Beware that none [touch] the young man Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thy­self wouldest have set thy­self against [me].
14 Then said Jō‑́ăb, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten young men that bare Jō‑́ăb’s armour compassed about and smote Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, and slew him.
16 And Jō‑́ăb blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: for Jō‑́ăb held back the people.
17 And they took Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl fled every one to his tent.
18 ¶ Now Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m in his life­time had taken and reared up for him­self a pillar, which [is] in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m’s place.
19 ¶ Then said Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz the son of Zā‑́dŏk, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
20 And Jō‑́ăb said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21 Then said Jō‑́ăb to Cū‑́shī, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cū‑́shī bowed him­self unto Jō‑́ăb, and ran.
22 Then said Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz the son of Zā‑́dŏk yet again to Jō‑́ăb, But how­soever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cū‑́shī. And Jō‑́ăb said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23 But how­soever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz ran by the way of the plain, and over­ran Cū‑́shī.
24 And Dā‑́vĭd sat between the two gates: and the watch­man went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25 And the watch­man cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26 And the watch­man saw another man running: and the watch­man called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watch­man said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz the son of Zā‑́dŏk. And the king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28 And Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, [Is] the young man Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m safe? And Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz answered, When Jō‑́ăb sent the king’s servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].
30 And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31 And, behold, Cū‑́shī came; and Cū‑́shī said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32 And the king said unto Cū‑́shī, [Is] the young man Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m safe? And Cū‑́shī answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].
33 ¶ And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, my son, my son Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m! would God I had died for thee, O Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, my son, my son!
CHAPTER 19
And it was told Jō‑́ăb, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
2 And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, O Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, my son, my son!
5 And Jō‑́ăb came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl had fled every man to his tent.
9 ¶ And all the people were at strife through­out all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ; and now he is fled out of the land for Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m.
10 And Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11 ¶ And king Dā‑́vĭd sent to Zā‑́dŏk and to Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Jûd‑́ăh, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl is come to the king, [even] to his house.
12 Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13 And say ye to Ă‑mā‑́să, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Jō‑́ăb.
14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Jûd‑́ăh, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
15 So the king returned, and came to Jôr‑́dăn. And Jûd‑́ăh came to Gĭl‑́găl, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jôr‑́dăn.
16 ¶ And Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī the son of Gē‑́ră, a Bĕn‑́jă‑mīte, which [was] of Bă‑hū‑́rĭm, hasted and came down with the men of Jûd‑́ăh to meet king Dā‑́vĭd.
17 And [there were] a thousand men of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn with him, and Zī‑́bă the servant of the house of Sa᷍ul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jôr‑́dăn before the king.
18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s house­hold, and to do what he thought good. And Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī the son of Gē‑́ră fell down before the king, as he was come over Jôr‑́dăn;
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, that the king should take it to his heart.
20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Jō‑́ṡĕph to go down to meet my lord the king.
21 But Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh answered and said, Shall not Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’S anointed?
22 And Dā‑́vĭd said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? for do not I know that I [am] this day king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl?
23 Therefore the king said unto Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ī, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
24 ¶ And Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth the son of Sa᷍ul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace.
25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth?
26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.
27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king [is] as an angel of God: do therefore [what is] good in thine eyes.
28 For all [of] my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Zī‑́bă divide the land.
30 And Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
31 ¶ And Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī the Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd‑īte came down from Rō‑́gĕ‑lĭm, and went over Jôr‑́dăn with the king, to conduct him over Jôr‑́dăn.
32 Now Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī was a very aged man, [even] fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mā‑hă‑nā‑́ĭm; for he [was] a very great man.
33 And the king said unto Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
34 And Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm?
35 I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jôr‑́dăn with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chĭm‑́hăm; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
38 And the king answered, Chĭm‑́hăm shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and what­soever thou shalt require of me, [that] will I do for thee.
39 And all the people went over Jôr‑́dăn. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
40 Then the king went on to Gĭl‑́găl, and Chĭm‑́hăm went on with him: and all the people of Jûd‑́ăh conducted the king, and also half the people of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
41 ¶ And, behold, all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Jûd‑́ăh stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his house­hold, and all Dā‑́vĭd’s men with him, over Jôr‑́dăn?
42 And all the men of Jûd‑́ăh answered the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s [cost]? or hath he given us any gift?
43 And the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl answered the men of Jûd‑́ăh, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in Dā‑́vĭd than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Jûd‑́ăh were fiercer than the words of the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
CHAPTER 20
And there happened to be there a man of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl, whose name [was] Shē‑́bă, the son of Bĭch‑́rī, a Bĕn‑́jă‑mīte: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in Dā‑́vĭd, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ: every man to his tents, O Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
2 So every man of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl went up from after Dā‑́vĭd, [and] followed Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī: but the men of Jûd‑́ăh clave unto their king, from Jôr‑́dăn even to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm.
3 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd came to his house at Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm; and the king took the ten women [his] concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 ¶ Then said the king to Ă‑mā‑́să, Assemble me the men of Jûd‑́ăh within three days, and be thou here present.
5 So Ă‑mā‑́să went to assemble [the men of] Jûd‑́ăh: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, Now shall Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī do us more harm than [did] Ăb‑́să‑lo̱m: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
7 And there went out after him Jō‑́ăb’s men, and the C͟hĕr‑́ĕ‑thītes, and the Pĕl‑́ĕ‑thītes, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm, to pursue after Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī.
8 When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n, Ă‑mā‑́să went before them. And Jō‑́ăb’s garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle [with] a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9 And Jō‑́ăb said to Ă‑mā‑́să, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Jō‑́ăb took Ă‑mā‑́să by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10 But Ă‑mā‑́să took no heed to the sword that [was] in Jō‑́ăb’s hand: so he smote him there­with in the fifth [rib], and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Jō‑́ăb and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i his brother pursued after Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī.
11 And one of Jō‑́ăb’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Jō‑́ăb, and he that [is] for Dā‑́vĭd, [let him go] after Jō‑́ăb.
12 And Ă‑mā‑́să wallowed in blood in the midst of the high­way. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Ă‑mā‑́să out of the high­way into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the high­way, all the people went on after Jō‑́ăb, to pursue after Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī.
14 ¶ And he went through all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl unto Ā‑́bĕl, and to Bĕth–mā‑́ă‑chăh, and all the Bē‑́rītes: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Ā‑́bĕl of Bĕth–mā‑́ă‑chăh, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that [were] with Jō‑́ăb battered the wall, to throw it down.
16 ¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Jō‑́ăb, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, [Art] thou Jō‑́ăb? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine hand­maid. And he answered, I do hear.
18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Ā‑́bĕl: and so they ended [the matter].
19 I [am one of them that are] peaceable [and] faithful in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
20 And Jō‑́ăb answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21 The matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ē‑́phră‑ĭm, Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, [even] against Dā‑́vĭd: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Jō‑́ăb, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Shē‑́bă the son of Bĭch‑́rī, and cast [it] out to Jō‑́ăb. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Jō‑́ăb returned to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm unto the king.
23 ¶ Now Jō‑́ăb [was] over all the host of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and Bĕ‑na᷍i‑́ăh the son of Jĕ‑ho᷍i‑́ă‑dă [was] over the C͟hĕr‑́ĕ‑thītes and over the Pĕl‑́ĕ‑thītes:
24 And Ă‑dôr‑ăm [was] over the tribute: and Jĕ‑hŏsh‑́ă‑phăt the son of Ă‑hī‑́lŭd [was] recorder:
25 And Shē‑́vă [was] scribe: and Zā‑́dŏk and Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär [were] the priests:
26 And Ī‑́ră also the Jā‑́ĭr‑īte was a chief ruler about Dā‑́vĭd.
CHAPTER 21
Then there was a famine in the days of Dā‑́vĭd three years, year after year; and Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Sa᷍ul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes.
2 And the king called the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes, and said unto them; (now the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes [were] not of the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, but of the remnant of the Ăm‑́ō‑rītes; and the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl had sworn unto them: and Sa᷍ul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and Jûd‑́ăh.)
3 Wherefore Dā‑́vĭd said unto the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes, What shall I do for you? and where­with shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
4 And the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Sa᷍ul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl. And he said, What ye shall say, [that] will I do for you.
5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us [that] we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl,
6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Sa᷍ul, [whom] the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].
7 But the king spared Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth, the son of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn the son of Sa᷍ul, because of the LORD’S oath that [was] between them, between Dā‑́vĭd and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn the son of Sa᷍ul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rĭz‑́păh the daughter of A᷍i‑́ăh, whom she bare unto Sa᷍ul, Är‑mō‑́nī and Mĕ‑phĭb‑́ŏ‑shĕth; and the five sons of Mī‑́c͟hăl the daughter of Sa᷍ul, whom she brought up for Ā‑́drĭ‑ĕl the son of Bär‑zĭl‑lā‑́ī the Mĕ‑hō‑́lă‑thīte:
9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gĭb‑́ĕ‑o̱n‑ītes, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell [all] seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first [days], in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 ¶ And Rĭz‑́păh the daughter of A᷍i‑́ăh took sack­cloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told Dā‑́vĭd what Rĭz‑́păh the daughter of A᷍i‑́ăh, the concubine of Sa᷍ul, had done.
12 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd went and took the bones of Sa᷍ul and the bones of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son from the men of Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd, which had stolen them from the street of Bĕth–́shăn, where the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had hanged them, when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had slain Sa᷍ul in Gĭl‑bō‑́ă:
13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Sa᷍ul and the bones of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
14 And the bones of Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son buried they in the country of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn in Zē‑́lăh, in the sepulchre of Kĭsh his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
15 ¶ More­over the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had yet war again with Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and Dā‑́vĭd went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and Dā‑́vĭd waxed faint.
16 And Ĭsh‑́bī–bē‑́nŏb, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shē‑́kĕls] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain Dā‑́vĭd.
17 But Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh succoured him, and smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and killed him. Then the men of Dā‑́vĭd sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ at Gŏb: then Sĭb‑́bĕ‑c͟ha᷍i the Hūsh‑́ă‑thīte slew Săph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again a battle in Gŏb with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, where Ĕl‑hā‑́năn the son of Jā‑́ă‑rë–ôr‑́ĕ‑gĭm, a Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕ‑mīte, slew [the brother of] Gō‑lī‑́ăth the Gĭt‑́tīte, the staff of whose spear [was] like a weaver’s beam.
20 And there was yet a battle in Găth, where was a man of [great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 And when he defied Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn the son of Shĭm‑́ĕ‑ă the brother of Dā‑́vĭd slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Găth, and fell by the hand of Dā‑́vĭd, and by the hand of his servants.
CHAPTER 22
And Dā‑́vĭd spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Sa᷍ul:
2 And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4 I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry [did enter] into his ears.
8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness [was] under his feet.
11 And he rode upon a chĕr‑́ŭb, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, [and] thick clouds of the skies.
13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, [and] from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all his judgments [were] before me: and [as for] his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thy­self merciful, [and] with the upright man thou wilt shew thy­self upright.
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thy­self pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thy­self unsavoury.
28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes [are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down.
29 For thou [art] my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
31 [As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him.
32 For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock, save our God?
33 God [is] my strength [and] power: and he maketh my way perfect.
34 He maketh my feet like hinds’ [feet]: and setteth me upon my high places.
35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42 They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, [and] did spread them abroad.
44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people [which] I knew not shall serve me.
45 Strangers shall submit them­selves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
47 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48 It [is] God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
51 [He is] the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto Dā‑́vĭd, and to his seed for ever­more.
CHAPTER 23
Now these [be] the last words of Dā‑́vĭd. Dā‑́vĭd the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jā‑́co̱b, and the sweet psalmist of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, said,
2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.
3 The God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl said, the Rock of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl spake to me, He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.
4 And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the sun riseth, [even] a morning with­out clouds; [as] the tender grass [springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
5 Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made with me an ever­lasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure: for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he make [it] not to grow.
6 ¶ But [the sons] of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl [shall be] all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
7 But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the [same] place.
8 ¶ These [be] the names of the mighty men whom Dā‑́vĭd had: The Tăc͟h‑́mō‑nīte that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same [was] Ăd‑́ĭ‑nō the Ĕz‑́nīte: [he lift up his spear] against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
9 And after him [was] Ĕl‑ē‑ā‑́zär the son of Dō‑́dō the Ă‑hō‑́hīte, [one] of the three mighty men with Dā‑́vĭd, when they defied the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were gone away:
10 He arose, and smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
11 And after him [was] Shăm‑́măh the son of Ā‑́ġe᷍e the Hâr‑́ă‑rīte. And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to Dā‑́vĭd in the harvest time unto the cave of Ă‑dŭl‑́lăm: and the troop of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ pitched in the valley of Rĕph‑́ā‑ĭm.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ [was] then [in] Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm.
15 And Dā‑́vĭd longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm, which [is] by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and drew water out of the well of Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm, that [was] by the gate, and took [it], and brought [it] to Dā‑́vĭd: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
18 And Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, the brother of Jō‑́ăb, the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, [and] slew [them], and had the name among three.
19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.
20 And Bĕ‑na᷍i‑́ăh the son of Jĕ‑ho᷍i‑́ă‑dă, the son of a valiant man, of Kăb‑́ze᷍el, who had done many acts, he slew two lion­like men of Mō‑́ăb: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 And he slew an Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăn, a goodly man: and the Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăn had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăn’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
22 These [things] did Bĕ‑na᷍i‑́ăh the son of Jĕ‑ho᷍i‑́ă‑dă, and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And Dā‑́vĭd set him over his guard.
24 Ăs‑́ă‑hĕl the brother of Jō‑́ăb [was] one of the thirty; Ĕl‑hā‑́năn the son of Dō‑́dō of Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm,
25 Shăm‑́măh the Hâr‑́ŏ‑dīte, Ē‑lī‑́kă the Hâr‑́ŏ‑dīte,
26 Hē‑́lĕz the Păl‑́tīte, Ī‑́ră the son of Ĭk‑́kĕsh the Tĕ‑kō‑́īte,
27 Ā‑bī‑ē‑́zĕr the Ăn‑ĕ‑thō‑́thīte, Mĕ‑bŭn‑́na᷍i the Hūsh‑́ă‑thīte,
28 Zăl‑́mŏn the Ă‑hō‑́hīte, Mā‑́hă‑ra᷍i the Nĕ‑tŏph‑́ă‑thīte,
29 Hē‑́lĕb the son of Bā‑́ă‑năh, a Nĕ‑tŏph‑́ă‑thīte, Ĭt‑tā‑́ī the son of Rī‑bā‑́ī out of Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of the children of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn,
30 Bĕ‑na᷍i‑́ăh the Pī‑rā‑́thŏn‑īte, Hĭd‑dā‑́ī of the brooks of Gā‑́ăsh,
31 Ā‑́bī–ăl‑́bŏn the Är‑́bă‑thīte, Ăz‑mā‑́vĕth the Bär‑hū‑́mīte,
32 Ē‑lī‑äh‑́bă the Shā‑ăl‑bō‑́nīte, of the sons of Jăsh‑́ĕn, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn,
33 Shăm‑́măh the Hâr‑́ă‑rīte, Ă‑hī‑́ăm the son of Shâr‑́är the Hâr‑́ă‑rīte,
34 Ē‑lĭph‑́ĕ‑lĕt the son of Ă‑hăṡ‑́ba᷍i, the son of the Mā‑ăc͟h‑́ă‑thīte, Ē‑lī‑́ăm the son of Ă‑hĭth‑́ŏ‑phĕl the Gī‑́lō‑nīte,
35 Hĕz‑́rā‑ī the Cär‑́mĕl‑īte, Pā‑́ă‑ra᷍i the Är‑́bīte,
36 Ī‑́găl the son of Nā‑́thăn of Zō‑́băh, Bā‑́nī the Găd‑́īte,
37 Zē‑́lĕk the Ăm‑́mo̱n‑īte, Nā‑́hă‑ra᷍i the Be᷍er‑́ō‑thīte, armourbearer to Jō‑́ăb the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh,
38 Ī‑́ră an Ĭth‑́rīte, Gâr‑́ĕb an Ĭth‑́rīte,
39 Ū‑rī‑́ăh the Hĭt‑́tīte: thirty and seven in all.
CHAPTER 24
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and he moved Dā‑́vĭd against them to say, Go, number Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and Jûd‑́ăh.
2 For the king said to Jō‑́ăb the captain of the host, which [was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, from Dăn even to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
3 And Jō‑́ăb said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundred­fold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
4 Notwith­standing the king’s word prevailed against Jō‑́ăb, and against the captains of the host. And Jō‑́ăb and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
5 ¶ And they passed over Jôr‑́dăn, and pitched in Ă‑rō‑́ĕr, on the right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river of Găd, and toward Jā‑́zĕr:
6 Then they came to Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd, and to the land of Täh‑́tĭm–hŏd‑́shī; and they came to Dăn–jā‑́ăn, and about to Zī‑́dŏn,
7 And came to the strong hold of Tȳre, and to all the cities of the Hī‑́vītes, and of the Cā‑́nă‑ăn‑ītes: and they went out to the south of Jûd‑́ăh, [even] to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă.
8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9 And Jō‑́ăb gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Jûd‑́ăh [were] five hundred thousand men.
10 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And Dā‑́vĭd said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
11 For when Dā‑́vĭd was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Găd, Dā‑́vĭd’s seer, saying,
12 Go and say unto Dā‑́vĭd, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee.
13 So Găd came to Dā‑́vĭd, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Găd, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are] great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
15 ¶ So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dăn even to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă seventy thousand men.
16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing­place of Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh the Jĕb‑́ū‑ṡīte.
17 And Dā‑́vĭd spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
18 ¶ And Găd came that day to Dā‑́vĭd, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshing­floor of Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh the Jĕb‑́ū‑ṡīte.
19 And Dā‑́vĭd, according to the saying of Găd, went up as the LORD commanded.
20 And Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh went out, and bowed him­self before the king on his face upon the ground.
21 And Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And Dā‑́vĭd said, To buy the threshing­floor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
22 And Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Let my lord the king take and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here be] oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other] instruments of the oxen for wood.
23 All these [things] did Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh, [as] a king, give unto the king. And Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
24 And the king said unto Ă‑ra᷍u‑́năh, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So Dā‑́vĭd bought the threshing­floor and the oxen for fifty shē‑́kĕls of silver.
25 And Dā‑́vĭd built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.