Joab purfueth Abner.

II. SAMUEL. but David waxed ftronger and fronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 2¶ And unto David were fons born in Hebron and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahi noam the Jezreelitefs;

3 And his fecond, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Abfalom the fon of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Gethur;

4 And the fourth, Adonijah the fon of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 And the fixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 And it came to pafs, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and b-boBeth faid to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone In unto my father's concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ifh-botheth, and faid, Am I a dog's head, which againft Judah do fhew kindness this day unto the houfe of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargeft me to-day with a fault con cerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more alfo, except as the LORD hath fworn to David, even fo I do to him;

10 To tranflate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to fet up the throne of David over Ifrael and over Judah, from Dan even to Beerfheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12 And Abner fent meffengers to David on his behalf, faying, Whofe is the land? faying alfo, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Ifrael unto thee.

13 And he faid, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing 1 require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not fee my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou cumeft to fee my face.

14 And David fent meffengers to Ith-botheth Saul's fon, faying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I efpouted to me for an hundred foretkins of the Philistines.

15 And Ith-botheth fent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the fon of Laish.

16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then faid Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Ifrael, faying, Ye fought for David in times pait to be king over you:

18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath ipo ken of David, faying, By the hand of my fervant David I will fave my people Ifrael out of the hand of the Philiftines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 And Abner alfo fpake in the ears of BenJamin and Abner went alio to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that feemed good to Ifrael, and that feemed good to the whole houfe of Benjamin.

25 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Ab. ner and the men that were with him a feat.

Abner revolteth to David. 21 And Abner faid unto David, I will arife and go, and will gather all Ifrael unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayeft reign over all that thine heart defireth. And David fent Ab. ner away; and he went in peace.

22 And, behold, the fervants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them : (but Ab ner was not with David in Hebron; for he had fent him away, and he was gone in peace.)

23 When Joab and all the hot that was with him were come, they told Joab, faying, Abner the fon of Ner came to the king, and he hath fent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 Then Jaob came to the king, and faid, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou haft fent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knowest Abner the fon of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy go. ing out, and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doeft,"

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he fent meffengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27 And when Abner was returned to Heb. ron, Joab took him afide in the gate to fpeak with him quietly, and frote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Afa. hel his brother.

28 And afterward when David heard it, he faid, I and my kingdom are guiltless be fore the LORD for ever from the blood of Ab

ner the son of Ner:

29 Let it ret on the head of Joab, and on all his father's houfe; and let there not fail from the houfe of Joab one that hath an iffue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the fword, or that lacketh bread.

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother flew Abner, because he had flain their brother Afahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David faid to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with fackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself fol. lowed the bier.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner, and faid, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters; as a man falleth before wicked men, fo felleft thou. And all the peo ple wept again over him.

35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David fware, faying, So do God to me, and more alfo, if I tafte bread, or aught elfe, till the fun be down.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleafed all the people.

37 For all the people and all Ifrael underflood that day that it was not of the king to day Abner the fon of Ner.

38 And the king faid unto his fervants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Ifrael?

39 And I am this day weak, though andint

If-bofbeth flain.

Chap. ed king; and thefe men the fons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD thall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

CHAP. IV.

The Ifraelites being troubled at the death of
Abner, 2 Baanab and Rechab flay Ib-bo
foeth. 9 David caufeth them to be flain,
and 1fb-bafbeth's bead to be buried.

ND when Saul's fon heard that Abner was

iv, v.
David anointed king.
thee, Thou shalt feed my people Ifrael, and
thou shalt be a captain over Ifrael.

3. So all the elders of Ifrael came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD and they anointed David king over Ifrael.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah feven

A dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, years and fix months: and in Jerufalem he

and all the Ifraelites were troubled.

2 And Saul's fon had two men that were captains of bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the fons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the chil. dren of Benjamin: (for Beeroth alfo was reckoned to Benjamin:

3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were fojourners there until this day.)

4 And Jonathan, Saul's fon, had a fon that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurfe took him up, and fled and it came to pafs, as the made hafte to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibotheth.

5 And the fons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ifh-botheth, 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 fmote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they fmote him, and flew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

8 And they brought the head of Ifh-boTheth unto David to Hebron, and faid to the king, Behold the head of Ith-botheth the fan of Saul thine enemy, which fought thy Life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his feed.

9 And David anfwered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the fons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and faid unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my foul out of all adverfity,

To When one told me, faying, Behold, Saul is dead, (thinking to have brought good tidings,) I took hold of him, and flew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

11 How much more, when wicked men have flain a righteous perfon in his own houfe upon his bed Shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12 And David commanded his young men, and they flew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Jih-botheth, and buried it in the fepulchre of

Abner in Hebron.

CHAP. V. The tribes anoint David king over Ifrael: 6 he taketh Zion from the Jebufites. Tvidusto Hebron, and fake, faying, BeHEN came all the tribes of Ifrael to Dahold, we are thy bone and thy fleth.

2 Alfo in time paft, when Saul was king over us, thou waft he that leddeft out and broughteft in Ifrael: and the LORD faid to

and Judah.
reigned thirty and three years over all Ifrael

rufalem unto the Jebufites, the inhabitants
6And the king and his men went to Je-
of the land: which fpake unto David, fay
ing, Except thou take away the blind and
the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:
thinking, David cannot come in hither.

of Zion: the fame is the city of David.
7 Nevertheless, David took the strong hold

getteth up to the gutter, and fmiteth the
8 And David faid on that day, Whosoever
Jebufites, and the lame and the blind, that
and captain. Wherefore they faid, The blind
are hated of David's foul, he fall be chief
and the lame fhall not come into the house.

it the city of David. And David built round
9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called
about from Millo and inward.

and the LORD God of hofts was with him.
10 And David went on, and grew great;

fengers to David, and cedar trees, and car.
II And Hiram king of Tyre fent mef
an houre.
penters, and mafons: and they built David

established him king over Ifrael, and that
12 And David perceived that the LORD had
he had exalted his kingdom for his people
liraei's fake.

binés and wives out of Jerufalem, after he
13 And David took him more concu-
was come from Hebron: and there were
yet fons and daughters born to David.

14 And these be the names of thofe that
muah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
were born unto him in Jerufalem; Sham.
and Japhia,
15 Ibhar alfo, and Elifhua, and Nepheg,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
had anointed David king over Ifrael, all the
17 Butwhen the Philistines heard that they
Philistines came up to feek David; and Da-
vid heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18 The Philistines alfo came, and spread
themfelves in the valley of Rephaim.

ing, Shall I go up to the Philiftines? Wilt thou
19 And David enquired of the LORD, fay.
deliver them into mine nand? And the LORD
faid unto David, Go up; for I will doubtlefs
deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

David fmote them there, and faid, The LORD
20 And David came to Baal-perazim, 2nd
hath broken forth upon mine enemies before
me, as the breach of waters.
he called the name of that place Baal-pe-

razim.

Therefore

David and his men burned them.
21 And there they left their images, and

of Rephaim.
again, and fpread themselves in the valley
22 And the Philistines came up yet

he laid, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a
23 And when David enquired of the LORD,
compafs behind them, and come upon them
over against the mulberry trees.

8

IT. SAMUEL.

David's thanksgiving.

He fubdueth the Philiflines. haft spoken it, and with thy bleffing let the houfe of thy fervant be blessed for ever. CHAP. VII.

Chap. vill. dnefs afflict them any more as beforetime, II And as fince the time that I commanded judges to be over my people .frael, and have cauled thee to reft from all thine enemies. Alfo the LORD telleth thee, that he will make thee an houfe.

12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and

thou malt fleep with thy fathers, I will fet up thy feed after thee, which thall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He fhall build an houfe for my name, and I will tablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14 I will be his father, and he thall be my fon; if he commit iniquity, I will chaften him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15 But my mercy fhall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away away before thee.

16 And thine houfe and thy kingdom thall he established for ever before thee: thy throne all be established for ever.

17 According to all thefe words, and according to all this vision, fo did Nathan speak

unto David.

18 Then went king David in, and fat before the Lord, and he faid, Who am 1, O Lord GOD! and what is my houfe, that thou haft brought me hitherto !

19 And this was yet a fmall thing in thy fight, O Lord GOD; but thou haft spoken alfo of thy fervant's houfe for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD!

20 And what can David fay more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knoweft thy fervant.

21 For thy word's fake, and according to thine own heart, haft thou done all thefe great things to make thy fervant know them."

22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord GOD: for there is none like thee, neither is there any god befide 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 Ifrael, 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 redeemedft to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24 For thou haft confirmed to thy felf thy people Ifrael, 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 haft spoken concerning thy fervant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou haft faid.

26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, faying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Ifrael: and let the houfe of thy fervant David be established before thee.

27 For thou, O LORD of hofts, God of Ifrael, haft revealed to thy fervant, faying. I will build thee an houfe; therefore hath thy fervant 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 haft promifed this goodnefs unto thy fervant.

29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy fervant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD,

1 David fubdueth the Philiflines, and the Moabites: 3 he fmiteth Hadadezer and the Syrians: 16 his officers.

AND after this it came to pass, that David fmote the Philistines, and fubdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he fmote Moab, and measured them with a line, cafting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive : and fo the Moabites became David's fervants, and brought gifts.

3 David Imote alfo Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and feven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot borfes, but referved of thei for an hundred chariots.

to fuccour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David
5 And when the Syrians of Damaicus came
men.
flew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand

mafcus; and the Syrians became fervants to
6 Then David put garrifons in Syria of Da
preferved David whitherfoever he went.
David, and brought gifts. And the LORD

were on the fervants of Hadadezer, and
7 And David took the fhields of gold that
brought them to Jerufalem.

cities of Hadadczer, king David took exceed8 And from Betah, and from Berothal, ing much brass.

David had fmitten all the host of Hadad9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that ezer,

David to falute him, and to blefs him, becaufe 10 Then Toi fent Joram his fon unto king he had fought againit Hadadezer, and fmitten foram brought with him vetfels of filver, and him: (for Hadadezer had wars with Toi:) and veffels of gold, and veffels of brass;

the LORD, with the filver and gold that he II Which also king David did dedicate unto had dedicated of all nations which he fub dued:

of Ammon, and of the Philiftines, and of Ama 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children lek, and of the fpoil of Hadadezer, son of Re. hob, king of Zobah.

turned from fmiting of the Syrians in the val13 And David gat him a name when he reley of falt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrifons in Edom; all they of Edom became David's fervants. throughout all Edom put he garrifons: and And the LORD preferved David whitherfoever he went.

David executed judgment and juftice unto all 15 And David reigned over all Ifrael; and his people.

the hott; and Jchoshaphat the son of Ahilud 16 And Joab the fon of Zeruiah was over was recorder;

melech the fon of Abiathar, were the priests, 17 And Zadok the fon of Ahitub, and Ahiand Seraiah was the fcribe;

both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and 18 And Benaiah the fon of Jehoida was over David's fons were chief rulers.