The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

  Second Samuel

1 And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the A-mal-ek-ites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; ²it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. ³And David said unto him, From where come you? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. ⁴And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. ⁵And David said unto the young man that told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? ⁶And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gil-bo-a, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. ⁷And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. ⁸And he said unto me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an A-mal-ek-ite. ⁹And he said unto me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and slay me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me. ¹⁰So I stood beside 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.

¹¹Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: ¹²and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. ¹³And David said unto the young man that told him, where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite. ¹⁴And David said unto him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Jehovah’s anointed? ¹⁵And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he struck him, so that he died. ¹⁶And David said unto him, your blood be upon your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Jehovah’s anointed.

¹⁷And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son ¹⁸(and he said them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): ¹⁹Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon your high places! How are the mighty fallen! ²⁰Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; unless the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, unless the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. ²¹Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. ²²From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty. ²³Saul and Jonathan 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. ²⁴Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. ²⁵How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon your high places. ²⁶I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant has you been unto me: your love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. ²⁷How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!

2 And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up. And David said, where shall I go up? And he said, Unto He-bron. ²So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. ³And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of He-bron. ⁴And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Ja-besh-gil-e-ad were they that buried Saul. ⁵And David sent messengers unto the men of Ja-besh-gil-e-ad, and said unto them, Blessed be you of Jehovah, that you have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. ⁶And now Jehovah show lovingkindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing. ⁷Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

⁸Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Ma-ha-na-im; ⁹and he made him king over Gil-e-ad, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over E-phra-im, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. ¹⁰Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. ¹¹And the time that David was king in He-bron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. ¹²And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Ma-ha-na-im to Gibeon. ¹³And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. ¹⁴And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray you, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. ¹⁵Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. ¹⁶And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: why that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. ¹⁷And the battle was very greatly that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

¹⁸And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. ¹⁹And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. ²⁰Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it you, Asahel? And he answered, It is I. ²¹And Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. ²²And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother? ²³Howbeit he refused to turn aside: why Abner with the hinder end of the spear struck him in the body, so 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 Asahel fell down and died stood still. ²⁴But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. ²⁶Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? know you not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere you bid the people return from following their brethren? ²⁷And Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother. ²⁸So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. ²⁹And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Ma-ha-na-im. ³⁰And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. ³¹But the servants of David had crushed of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. ³²And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day brake upon them at He-bron.

3 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. ²And unto David were sons born in He-bron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; ³and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Ma-a-chah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; ⁴and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; ⁵and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in He-bron. ⁶And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.

⁷Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of A-jah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, why has you gone in unto my father’s concubine? ⁸Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman. ⁹God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not even so to him; ¹⁰to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-She-ba. ¹¹And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. ¹²And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel unto you. ¹³And he said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face. ¹⁴And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. ¹⁵And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. ¹⁶And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned. ¹⁷And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you: ¹⁸now then do it; for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. ¹⁹And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in He-bron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. ²⁰So Abner came to David to He-bron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. ²¹And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

²²And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in He-bron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. ²³When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. ²⁴Then Joab came to the king, and said, What has you done? behold, Abner came unto you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? ²⁵Thou know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you does. ²⁶And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. ²⁷And when Abner was returned to He-bron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. ²⁸And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner: ²⁹let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread. ³⁰So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. ³¹And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier. ³²And they buried Abner in He-bron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. ³³And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies? ³⁴Thy hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall. And all the people wept again over him. ³⁵And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, till the sun be down. ³⁶And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. ³⁷So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. ³⁸And the king said unto his servants, Know you not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

4 And when Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead in He-bron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. ²And Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin: ³and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day). ⁴Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made hurry to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. ⁵And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon. ⁶And they came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have brought wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. ⁷Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night. ⁸And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to He-bron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; and Jehovah has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

⁹And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Jehovah lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, ¹⁰when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings. ¹¹How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? ¹²And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hung them up beside the pool in He-bron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in He-bron.

5 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto He-bron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. ²In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you that led out and brought in Israel: and Jehovah said to you, you shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel. ³So all the elders of Israel came to the king to He-bron; and king David made a covenant with them in He-bron before Jehovah: and they anointed David king over Israel. ⁴David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ⁵In He-bron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

⁶And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke unto David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither. ⁷Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. ⁸And David said on that day, whoever ever smite the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul. Why they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house. ⁹And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. ¹⁰And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him.

¹¹And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. ¹²And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. ¹³And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from He-bron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. ¹⁴And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, ¹⁵and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Neph-eg, and Japhia, ¹⁶and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁷And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Reph-a-im. ¹⁹And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? will you deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand. ²⁰And David came to Baal-perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, Jehovah has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. ²¹And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away. ²²And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Reph-a-im. ²³And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, you shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. ²⁴And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then you shall bestir yourself; for then is Jehovah gone out before you to strike the host of the Philistines. ²⁵And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.

6 And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. ²And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sits above the cherubim. ³And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of A-bin-a-dab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of A-bin-a-dab, drove the new cart. ⁴And they brought it out of the house of A-bin-a-dab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. ⁵And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.

⁶And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. ⁷And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. ⁸And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-uzzah, unto this day. ⁹And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come unto me? ¹⁰So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-E-dom the Gittite. ¹¹And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-E-dom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-E-dom, and all his house.

¹²And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah has blessed the house of Obed-E-dom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-E-dom into the city of David with joy. ¹³And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. ¹⁴And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. ¹⁶And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah. ¹⁸And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. ¹⁹And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house.

²⁰Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! ²¹And David said unto Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Jehovah. ²²And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight: but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, of them shall I be had in honor. ²³And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

7 And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about, ²that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. ³And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Jehovah is with you.

⁴And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying, ⁵Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Jehovah, shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? ⁶for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. ⁷In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? ⁸Now therefore thus shall you say unto my servant David, Thus says Jehovah of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, ¹¹and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Jehovah tells you that Jehovah will make you a house. ¹²When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, that shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. ¹⁴I 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; ¹⁵but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. ¹⁶And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established for ever. ¹⁷According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

¹⁸Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ¹⁹And this was yet a small thing in your eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah! ²⁰And what can David say more unto you? for you know your servant, O Lord Jehovah. ²¹For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, has you worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it. ²²why you are great, O Jehovah God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²³And what one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for your land, before your people, whom you redeeme to you out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? ²⁴And you did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people unto you for ever; and you, Jehovah, became their God. ²⁵And now, O Jehovah God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it for ever, and do as you have spoken. ²⁶And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before you. ²⁷For you, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, has revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto you. ²⁸And now, O Lord Jehovah, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing unto your servant: ²⁹now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you; for you, O Lord Jehovah, has spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed for ever.

8 And after this it came to pass, that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. ²And he struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. ³David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. ⁴And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. ⁵And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. ⁶Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went. ⁷And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

⁹And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had crushed all the host of Hadadezer, ¹⁰then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and crushed him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: ¹¹These also did king David dedicate unto Jehovah, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; ¹²of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Am-a-lek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. ¹³And David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men. ¹⁴And he put garrisons in E-dom; throughout all E-dom put he garrisons, and all the E-dom-ites became servants to David. And Jehovah gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁵And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness unto all his people. ¹⁶And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁷and Zadok the son of A-hi-tub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe; ¹⁸and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

9 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? ²And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, are you Ziba? And he said, your servant is he. ³And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet. ⁴And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Ma-chir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. ⁵Then king David sent, and brought him out of the house of Ma-chir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. ⁶And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, your servant! ⁷And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually. ⁸And he did obeisance, and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am?

⁹Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto your master’s son. ¹⁰And you shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in the fruits, that your master’s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons. ¹²And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. ¹³So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

10 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. ²And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. ³But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, think you that David does honor your father, in that he has sent comforters unto you? have not David sent his servants unto you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? ⁴So Hanun took David’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. ⁵When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

⁶And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Ma-a-chah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men. ⁷And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. ⁸And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Ma-a-chah, were by themselves in the field. ⁹Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: ¹⁰And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. ¹¹And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. ¹²Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seems him good. ¹³So Joab and the people that were with him drew near unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. ¹⁴And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

11 And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. ²And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. ³And David send and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-She-ba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? ⁴And David 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. ⁵And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

⁶And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. ⁷And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered. ⁸And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of food from the king. ⁹But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. ¹⁰And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, are you not come from a journey? why did you not go down unto your house? ¹¹And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are camped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you livest, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing. ¹²And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and to-morrow I will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the next day. ¹³And when David 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.

¹⁴And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ¹⁵And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set you Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be crushed, and die. ¹⁶And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were. ¹⁷And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. ¹⁸Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; ¹⁹and he charged the messenger, saying, When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king, ²⁰it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto you, why went you so near unto the city to fight? knew you not that they would shoot from the wall? ²¹who struck A-bim-e-lech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went you so near the wall? then shall you say, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. ²²So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for. ²³And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entrance of the gate. ²⁴And the shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. ²⁵Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shall you say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him. ²⁶And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. ²⁷And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Jehovah.

12 And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. ²The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; ³but 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 morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. ⁴And there came a traveler 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. ⁵And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah lives, the man that has done this is worthy to die: ⁶and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. ⁷And Nathan said to David, you are the man. Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; ⁸and I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto you such and such things. ⁹why has you despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? you have crushed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and has taken his wife to be your wife, and has slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. ¹⁰Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and has taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. ¹¹Thus says Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them unto your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. ¹²For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. ¹³And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also has put away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴Howbeit, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto you shall surely die.

¹⁵And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. ¹⁶David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. ¹⁷And the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. ¹⁸And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he listened not unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead! ¹⁹But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. ²⁰Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. ²¹Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread. ²²And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? ²³But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. ²⁴And David comforted Bath-She-ba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him; ²⁵and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah’s sake.

²⁶Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. ²⁷And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters. ²⁸Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and camp against the city, and take it; unless I take the city, and it be called after my name. ²⁹And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. ³⁰And he took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. ³¹And 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 brick kiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

13 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Ta-mar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. ²And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Ta-mar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her. ³But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. ⁴And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, are you thus lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Ta-mar, my brother Absalom’s sister. ⁵And Jonadab said unto him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, say unto him, Let my sister Ta-mar come, I pray you, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand. ⁶So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let her sister Ta-mar come, I pray you, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand. ⁷Then David sent home to Ta-mar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food. ⁸So Ta-mar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. ⁹And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. ¹⁰And Amnon said unto Ta-mar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. And Ta-mar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. ¹¹And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister. ¹²And she answered him, no, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly. ¹³And I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from you. ¹⁴Howbeit he would not listen unto her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. ¹⁵Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. ¹⁶And she said unto him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that you did unto me. But he would not listen unto her. ¹⁷Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. ¹⁸And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. ¹⁹And Ta-mar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. ²⁰And Absalom her brother said unto her, has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; take not this thing to heart. So Ta-mar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

²¹But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. ²²And Absalom spoke unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Ta-mar. ²³And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-Ha-zor, which is beside E-phra-im: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. ²⁴And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant. ²⁵And the king said to Absalom, no, my son, let us not all go, unless we be burdensome unto you. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. ²⁶Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with you? ²⁷But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. ²⁸And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, strike Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. ²⁹And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled.

³⁰And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left. ³¹Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. ³²And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Ta-mar. ³³Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead. ³⁴But Absalom 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. ³⁵And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons are come: as your servant said, so it is. ³⁶And 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 greatly. ³⁷But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ³⁸So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. ³⁹And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom. ²And Joab sent to Tekoa, and brought there a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray you, feign yourself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray you, and anoint not yourself with oil, but be as a woman that has a long time mourned for the dead: ³and go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. ⁴And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. ⁵And the king said unto her, What ails you? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. ⁶And your handmaid had two sons, and they two argued together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him. ⁷And, behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth. ⁸And the king said unto the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you. ⁹And the woman of Tekoa 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. ¹⁰And the king said, whoever says anything unto you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more. ¹¹Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember Jehovah your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, unless they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth. ¹²Then the woman said, Let your handmaid, I pray you, speak a word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. ¹³And the woman said, why then has you devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one. ¹⁴For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him. ¹⁵Now therefore seeing that I am come to speak this word unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. ¹⁶For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. ¹⁷Then your handmaid said, Let, I pray you, the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Jehovah your God be with you. ¹⁸Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray you, anything that I shall ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. ¹⁹And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman answered and said, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab, he said me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid; ²⁰to change the face of the matter has your servant Joab 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.

²¹And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back. ²²And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant. ²³So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ²⁴And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face. ²⁵Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. ²⁶And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight. ²⁷And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Ta-mar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

²⁸And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king’s face. ²⁹Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come. ³⁰Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near my, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. ³¹Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, why have your servants set my field on fire? ³²And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto you, saying, Come hither, that I may send you to the king, to say, why am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me. ³³So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

15 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. ²And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. ³And Absalom said unto him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you. ⁴Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! ⁵And it was so, that, when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. ⁶And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in He-bron. ⁸For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah. ⁹And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to He-bron. ¹⁰But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in He-bron. ¹¹And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything. ¹²And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

¹³And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. ¹⁴And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, unless he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword. ¹⁵And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose. ¹⁶And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house. ¹⁷And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak. ¹⁸And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. ¹⁹Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; return to your own place. ²⁰Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brethren; mercy and truth be with you. ²¹And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be. ²²And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. ²³And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

²⁴And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. ²⁵And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: ²⁶but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good unto him. ²⁷The king said also unto Zadok the priest, are you not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. ²⁹Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there. ³⁰And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

³¹And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. ³²And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head. ³³And David said unto him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden unto me: ³⁴but if you return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. ³⁵And has you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send unto me everything that you shall hear. ³⁷So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

16 And when David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. ²And the king said unto Ziba, What mean you by these? And Ziba said, The asses are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink. ³And the king said, And where is your master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. ⁴Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, your is all that pertain unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.

⁵And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out there a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim-i, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came. ⁶And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. ⁷And thus said Shim-i when he cursed, Begone, begone, you man of blood, and base fellow: ⁸Jehovah has returned upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and Jehovah has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you are taken in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood. ⁹Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head. ¹⁰And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Jehovah has said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, why has you done so? ¹¹And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah has bidden him. ¹²It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing of me this day. ¹³So David and his men went by the way; and Shim-i went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. ¹⁴And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

¹⁵And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king. ¹⁷And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? why went you not with your friend? ¹⁸And Hushai said unto Absalom, no; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide. ¹⁹And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence. ²⁰Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do. ²¹And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto your father’s concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your father: then will the hands of all that are with you be strong. ²²So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. ²³And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

17 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: ²and 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 strike the king only; ³and I will bring back all the people unto you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. ⁴And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. ⁵Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says. ⁶And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke unto him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not, speak you. ⁷And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good. ⁸Hushai said moreover, you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. ⁹Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. ¹⁰And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men. ¹¹But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto you, from Dan even to Beer-She-ba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. ¹²So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men that are with him we will not leave so much as one. ¹³Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there. ¹⁴And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.

¹⁵Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. ¹⁶Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; unless the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. ¹⁷Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city. ¹⁸But a lad saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. ¹⁹And the woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known. ²⁰And Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. ²¹And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus