cheese of kine, for David, and for the people 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thing A 15 And ten young men that bare Joab's and captains of hundreds over them. lom, and slew him." 2 And David sent forth a third part of the 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people under the band of Joab, and a third people returned from pursuing after Israel : part under the hand of Abishai the son of Ze-for Joab held back the people. ruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under 17 And they took Absalom, and cast him the band of Ittai the Gittite. And the king into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very said unto the people, I will surely go forth great heap of stones upon him: and all Iswith you myself also. rael fled every one to his tent. 3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not 18 Now Absalom in his life time had tago forth: for if we flee away, they will not ken and reared up for himself a pillar, which. care for us; neither if half of us die, will is in the king's dale for he said, I have no they care for us: but now thou art worth ten son to keep my name in remembrance; and thousand of us; therefore now it is better he called the pillar after his own name : and that thou succour us out of the city. it is called unto this day Absalom's Place. 19¶ Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his 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. enemies. 5 And the king commanded Joab, and 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear timy sake with the young man, even with Ab-dings another day, but this day thou shalt salom. And all the people heard when the bear no tidings, because the king's son is king gave all the captains charge concerning dead. Absalom. 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the 61 So the people went out into the field king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowagainst Israel and the battle was in the fed himself unto Joab, and ran. wood of Ephraim; 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok 7 Where the people of Israel were slain yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I before the servants of David: and there was pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab there a great slaughter that day of twenty said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seethousand men. ing that thou hast no tidings ready? 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and over-ran Cushi. 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. 9¶ And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the bea- 25 And the watchman cried, and told the ven and the earth; and the mule that was king. And the king said, If he be alone, there under him went away. is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, 10 And a certain man saw it, and told Jo-and drew nçar. ab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hang- 26 And the watchman saw another man ed in an oak. running and the watchman called unto the 11 And Joab said unto the man that told porter, and said, Behold another man runhim, And behold, thou sawest him; and ning alone. And the king said, He also why didst thou not smite him there to the bringeth tidings. ground? and I would have given thee ten 27 And the watchman said, Methinketh shekels of silver, and a girdle. the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath 13 Otherwise I should have wrought false-delivered up the men that lifted up their hood against mine own life: for there is no hand against my lord the king. matter hid from the king; and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. 29 And the king said, Is the young m Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz ans 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. When Joab sent the king's servant, and me Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last not what it was. to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 30 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 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, Ó my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son ! AN CHAP. XIX. ND it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 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 Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15 So the king returned, and came to Jor dan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted, and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand men of Ben2 And the victory that day was turned in- jamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the to mourning unto all the people: for the peo-house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his ple heard say that day, how the king was twenty servants with him; and they went grieved for his son. over Jordan before the king. 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 Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son! 18 And there went over a ferry-boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my 5 And Joab came into the house to the lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day thou remember that which thy servant did the faces of all thy servants, which this day perversely the day that my lord the king went have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons out of Jerusalem, that the king should take and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy it to his heart. wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 20 For thy servant doth know that I have 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and sinned; therefore, behold, I am come the first hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this this day of all the house of Joseph to go down day, that thou regardest neither princes nor to meet my lord the king. servants: for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed? Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak 22 And David said, What have I to do comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will this day be adversaries unto me? Shall there not tarry one with thee this night; and that any man be put to death this day in Israel? will be worse unto thee than all the evil that for do not I know that I am this day king befell thee from thy youth until now. over Israel? 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 Israel had fled every man to his tent. 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the king sware unto him. 24 1 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had nei9 And all the people were at strife through-ther dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, out all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king nor washed his clothes, from the day the saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and king departed until the day he came again he delivered us out of the hand of the Philis-in peace. tines, and now he is fled out of the land for 25 And it came to pass, when he was come Absalom. to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou us, is dead in battle: now therefore why with me, Mephibosheth? speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, 11 And king David sent to Zadok and to I will saddie me an ass, that I may ride there on, and go to the king; because thy servant to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this is lame. matter? have we eaten at all of the king's 27 And he hath slandered thy servant un-cost? or hath he given us any gift? to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes. 43 And the men of Israel answered the men 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? of Judah, and said. We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye; why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. 29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou Ziba divide the land. 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. 311 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 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 Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 37 Let thy servant, Ipray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother: but behold thy servant Chimham let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. 38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee. 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 1 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king and his household, and all David's men with him over Jordan? 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin CHAP. XX. AND there happened to be there a man of whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel. 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba, the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem. 31 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them: so they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. 4¶ Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him. 6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. 7 And there went out after him Joab's men. and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusa lem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 3 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them: and Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof: and as he went forth it fell out. 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again, and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. 11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway: and when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. 13 When he was removed out of the way, all the people went on after Joab, to pur-4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We sue after Sheba the son of Bichri. will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of 14 T And he went through all the tribes of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall all the Berites: and they were gathered to- say, that will I do for you. gether, and went also after him. 5 And they answered the king, The man 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel that consumed us, and that devised against of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank us, that we should be destroyed from remainagainst the city, and it stood in the trenching in any of the coasts of Israel, them. and all the people that were with Joab bat- 6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered tered the wall, to throw it down. unto us, and we will hang them up unto the 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, did choose. And the king said, I will give Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. 17 And when he was come near unto her, 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he an- son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of swered, I am he. Then she said unto him, the LORD's oath that was between them, beHear the words of thine handmaid. And he tween David and Jonathan the son of Saul. answered, I do hear. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah 18 Then she spake, saying, They were the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they end-sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom ed the matter. she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzil19 I am one of them that are peaceable and lai the Meholathite: faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a 9 And he delivered them into the hands of city and a mother in Israel; why wilt thou the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? hill before the LORD; and they fell all seven 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, together, and were put to death in the days far be it from me, that I should swallow up of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning or destroy. of barley-harvest. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the name, hath lifted up his hand against the rock, from the beginning of harvest until waking, even against David: deliver him only, ter dropped upon them out of heaven, and sufand I will depart from the city. And the fered neither the birds of the air to rest on woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head them by day, nor the beasts of the field by shall be thrown to thee over the wall. night. 22 Then the woman went unto all the peo11 And it was told David what Rizpah the ple in her wisdom: and they cut off the head daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to done. Joab: and he blew a trumpet, and they reti- 12 And David went and took the bones of red from the city, every man to his tent. And Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king. the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen 23¶ Now Joab was over all the host of Is-them from the street of Beth-shan, where the rael and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was Philistines had hanged them, when the Phiover the Cherethites and over the Pelethites; listines had slain Saul in Gilboa : 24 And Adoram was over the tribute; and 13 And he brought up from thence the Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan 25 And Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and his son; and they gathered the bones of Abiathar were the priests; them that were hanged. 26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. CHAP. XXI. HEN there was a famine in the days of three years, year after 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded: David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD 15 ¶ Moreover, the Philistines had yet war answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody again with Israel; and David went down, house, because he slew the Gibeonites. and his servants with him, and fought a 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and gainst the Philistines: and David waxed faint. said unto them: (now the Gibeonites were not 16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of of the giant, (the weight of whose spear the Amorites; and the children of Israel had weighed three hundred shekels of brass in sworn unto them; and Saul sought to slay them weight,) he, being girded with a new sword, in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah:) thought to have slain David. 3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeon 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured ites, What shall I do for you? and where- him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. with shall I make the atonement, that ye Then the men of David sware unto him, saymay bless the inheritance of the LORD? ling, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. 18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah, the brother of David, slew him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. CHAP. XXII. AND David spake unto the LORD the words of this song, in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 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. 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 bath be 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, ! did not depart from them. 17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters; 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 thy self 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. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, 42 They looked, but there was none to save; the foundations of the world were discovered, even unto the LORD, but he answered them at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire the street, and did spread them abroad! |