25In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26Whenever he cut the hair of his head†—he used to cut his hair from time to time when it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels[42] by the royal standard.
27Three sons† and a daughter were born to Absalom. The daughter’s name was Tamar,† and she became a beautiful woman.
28Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face. 29Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. 30Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley† there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?†”
32Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur?† It would be better for me if I were still there!” ’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”†
33So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed† Absalom.
Absalom’s Conspiracy
1In the course of time,† Absalom provided himself with a chariot† and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.† Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”† 4And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land!† Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice.”
5Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts† of the men of Israel.
7At the end of four[43] years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD. 8While your servant was living at Geshur† in Aram, I made this vow:† ‘If the LORD takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.[44] ’ ”
9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.
10Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,† then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’ ” 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel† the Gilonite, David’s counselor,† to come from Giloh,† his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.†
David Flees
13A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,† or none of us will escape from Absalom.† We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword.”
15The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”
16The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines† to take care of the palace. 17So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at a place some distance away. 18All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites† and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.
19The king said to Ittai† the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,† an exile from your homeland. 20You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander† about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your countrymen. May kindness and faithfulness† be with you.”
21But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”†
22David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
23The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,† and all the people moved on toward the desert.
24Zadok† was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark† of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar† offered sacrifices[45] until all the people had finished leaving the city.
25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place† again. 26But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.†”
27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer?† Go back to the city in peace, with your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan† son of Abiathar. You and Abiathar take your two sons with you. 28I will wait at the fords† in the desert until word comes from you to inform me.” 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.
30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping† as he went; his head† was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31Now David had been told, “Ahithophel† is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O LORD, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
32When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite† was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust† on his head. 33David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden† to me. 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’† then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice. 35Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.† 36Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan† son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”
37So David’s friend Hushai† arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom† was entering the city.
David and Ziba
1When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba,† the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.†
2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh† those who become exhausted in the desert.”
3The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”†
Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”
4Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”
“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
Shimei Curses David
5As King David approached Bahurim,† a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei† son of Gera, and he cursed† as he came out. 6He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! 8The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.† The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!”
9Then Abishai† son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”†
10But the king said, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah?† If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ ”†
11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,† who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.† 12It may be that the LORD will see my distress† and repay me with good† for the cursing I am receiving today.†”
13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted.† And there he refreshed himself.
The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai
15Meanwhile, Absalom† and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel† was with him. 16Then Hushai† the Arkite, David’s friend, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17Absalom asked Hushai, “Is this the love you show your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”†
18Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the LORD, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”†
20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”
21Ahithophel answered, “Lie with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father’s nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he lay with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.†
23Now in those days the advice† Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David† and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.
1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would[46] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2I would[47] attack him while he is weary and weak.† I would[48] strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would[49] strike down only the king† 3and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
Siege Warfare
2 Samuel 17 Siege warfare was a military strategy in which an attacking force would encircle a fortified position, generally a walled city, in order to defeat the inhabiting population. The strategy was employed either to gain control of a city (Dt 20:10–14) or to regain control of a rebellious city (2Ki 17:1–6). An attacking force would encamp near the target city, block off all roads leading in and out of the city and cut off access to supply channels, most notably those involving water. Once these preliminaries had been achieved, several strategies could be implemented. (These approaches were not mutually exclusive; often a force would combine two or more tactics during a siege.)
Masada siege ramp
Photograph: © Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com
• A show of force could intimidate the inhabitants to the point of surrender. This line of attack had obvious advantages in that it would prevent a prolonged and potentially costly siege. Sennacherib’s representative employed this strategy—unsuccessfully—against Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (2Ki 18:19–19:35).1
• Sometimes an army relied upon a ruse, such as in the story of the Trojan horse. During the siege of Ai (see “Map 3”), Joshua divided his troops as a means of enticing the defenders of Ai to leave their defensive positions in order to pursue a portion of Joshua’s forces. Once this had been accomplished, Joshua and his remaining troops were able to enter and destroy the defenseless city (Jos 8:10–23).2
• All other approaches failing, a besieging army was compelled to resort to direct assault on a city’s wall. The fastest but most dangerous method of taking a defensive wall was to scale it, a tactic commonly involving the use of assault ladders. An Egyptian tomb relief dating to the Fifth Dynasty of the Early Bronze Age3 depicts warriors raising ladders against a besieged city wall. Depending upon the height of the walls and the tenacity of the defenders, the attackers could suffer extraordinarily high casualties.
The nineteenth century B.C. saw the development of effective battering rams, perhaps the greatest invention of siege warfare. These weapons consisted of a long pole, often metal-tipped, that hung from a covered framework (offering protection to the attackers). It would be hurled repeatedly against the wall or gate in a pendulum motion.
Many cities were surrounded by defensive fosses or dry moats, but would-be attackers would frequently surround such a city with trenches of their own. A process of two opposing armies digging trenches and counter-trenches took place at the Athenian siege of Syracuse in 414 B.C.4
Sometimes earthen ramps were constructed against a city’s wall. Remnants of the siege mound constructed by Sennacherib during the siege of Lachish (“Map 4”) in 701 B.C. are still visible,5 as is the siege mound used by the Romans during the siege of Masada in A.D. 736 (“Map 9”).
Sometimes attackers attempted to compromise a wall by tunneling beneath it. This was achieved by “sappers,” or tunnel engineers. The annals of Sennacherib describe such a strategy during the siege of Hezekiah’s Judean cities.
• Siege warfare was also a strategy of attrition, demanding commitment and often patience. (Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Tyre, e.g., lasted for 13 years.) It sought to defeat the enemy not primarily by sword but by starvation and thirst. Defenses against a siege included the stockpiling of food and water (2Ki 25:3), the construction of tall walls and fosses and the reinforcement of city gates with strong bars (Am 1:5). The city walls themselves could be quite sophisticated in design as well. For example, one technique was to use an offset-inset wall, in which the surface of the city wall was not flat but protruded at intervals. Defending inhabitants would also send out sorties in counterattacks in the hope of breaking a siege (2Sa 11:17; 1Ki 20:15–21). A defending force’s greatest advantage was its superior height. This allowed defenders to hurl down stones, arrows, javelins, hot oil or water and even millstones (Jdg 9:53).
For other war-related issues, see “Horses and Chariots in Ancient Warfare”, “Technological Supremacy of the Philistines’ Iron Weapons”, “Herem, Holy War”, “Songs of Warriors” and “Warfare in the Ancient World.”
1. See “Hezekiah Against the Assyrians.”
3. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.
4. See “Greece: From Independent City-states Through Alexander the Great.”
5. See “The Lachish Reliefs.”
5But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai† the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say.” 6When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”
7Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. 8You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.† Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;† he will not spend the night with the troops. 9Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.† If he should attack your troops first,[50] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 10Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,† will melt† with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.†
11“So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba†—as numerous as the sand† on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. 12Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. 13If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley† until not even a piece of it can be found.”
14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice† of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”† For the LORD had determined to frustrate† the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster† on Absalom.†
15Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so. 16Now send a message immediately and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert;† cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.†’ ”
17Jonathan† and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel.† A servant girl was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city. 18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim.† He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 19His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.†
20When Absalom’s men came to the woman† at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
The woman answered them, “They crossed over the brook.”[51] The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.
21After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, “Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you.” 22So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
23When Ahithophel saw that his advice† had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order† and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
24David went to Mahanaim,† and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25Absalom had appointed Amasa† over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether,[52] † an Israelite[53] who had married Abigail,[54] the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 26The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash† from Rabbah† of the Ammonites, and Makir† son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai† the Gileadite† from Rogelim 28brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,[55] 29honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.† For they said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.†”
Absalom’s Death
1David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2David sent the troops out†—a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai† son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai† the Gittite. The king told the troops, “I myself will surely march out with you.”
3But the men said, “You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten† thousand of us.[56] It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.”†
4The king answered, “I will do whatever seems best to you.”
So the king stood beside the gate while all the men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. 5The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, “Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders.
6The army marched into the field to fight Israel, and the battle took place in the forest† of Ephraim. 7There the army of Israel was defeated by David’s men, and the casualties that day were great—twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread out over the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword.
9Now Absalom happened to meet David’s men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head† got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
10When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.”
11Joab said to the man who had told him this, “What! You saw him? Why didn’t you strike† him to the ground right there? Then I would have had to give you ten shekels[57] of silver and a warrior’s belt.†”
12But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels[58] were weighed out into my hands, I would not lift my hand against the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.[59] ’ 13And if I had put my life in jeopardy[60]—and nothing is hidden from the king†—you would have kept your distance from me.”
14Joab† said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. 15And ten of Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.†
16Then Joab† sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. 17They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up† a large heap of rocks† over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled to their homes.
18During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley† as a monument† to himself, for he thought, “I have no son† to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Mourns
19Now Ahimaaz† son of Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.†”
20“You are not the one to take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.
22Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”
But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”
23He said, “Come what may, I want to run.”
So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain[61] and outran the Cushite.
24While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, the watchman† went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone. 25The watchman called out to the king and reported it.
The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the man came closer and closer.
26Then the watchman saw another man running, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news,† too.”
27The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like† Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”
“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.”
28Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise be to the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
29The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.”
30The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
31Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has delivered you today from all who rose up against you.”
32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”†
33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died† instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”†
1Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. 7Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now.”†
8So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,†” they all came before him.
David Returns to Jerusalem
Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. 9Throughout the tribes of Israel, the people were all arguing with each other, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines.† But now he has fled the country because of Absalom;† 10and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”
Ambitious Princes Among the Hittites
2 Samuel 19 Expunging the bloodline of one’s opponent was common practice in ancient monarchies. The decree of the Hittite king Telipinu describes the political upheaval that often ensued as a throne changed hands. This document provides a historical account of the succession of Hittite kings from the seventeenth—fourteenth centuries B.C.1 At the outset succession was orderly, and the land prospered. Soon, however, the princes’ servants (often family members), in a lust for power, began to conspire against their lords. A series of palace intrigues ensued, during which a relative of the king would rise up, kill his master and assume control. He would exterminate all of the former king’s descendants so that no threat to his rule remained. Eventually one of his family members, sometimes his own son, would rebel against him, and a new cycle of regicide would begin.
Telipinu was the first Hittite king to attempt to end such bloodshed. Having exiled the monarch who had tried to eliminate him, Telipinu himself became king, but he treated the family of his predecessor kindly. He then established rules of succession and proclaimed that future kings were to unite the royal family rather than to splinter it by murderous intent. Finally, he decreed that anyone conspiring to kill members of the royal family would be executed, even if that individual were a prince himself.
The problem of palace intrigues and dynastic succession had its parallels in Israelite society. Like Telipinu, the Biblical David demonstrated that he would not condone the murder of his rival’s family. When a young man claimed to have slain King Saul (2Sa 1:1–15) and two others reported that they had killed Saul’s son (4:1–12), David had them executed for their purported treacherous deeds. He went on to seek out Saul’s living relatives for the purpose of showing them kindness, to the extent of providing personal care and protection to Saul’s lame grandson, Mephibosheth (9:1–13). David’s own family, however, was not immune from the pattern of the surrounding cultures. His son Absalom attempted to usurp the throne and to kill his father in battle. When Absalom himself was killed, David grieved so profoundly that the victory celebration was overshadowed by his mourning.2
1. See “Anatolia and the Hittites.”
11King David sent this message to Zadok† and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 12You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’ 13And say to Amasa,† ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood?† May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,† if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab.†’ ”
14He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.” 15Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan.
Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal† to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. 16Shimei† son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. 17With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba,† the steward of Saul’s household,† and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. 18They crossed at the ford to take the king’s household over and to do whatever he wished.
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king 19and said to him, “May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.† May the king put it out of his mind. 20For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.”
21Then Abishai† son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed† the LORD’s anointed.”†
22David replied, “What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah?† This day you have become my adversaries! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today?† Do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king promised him on oath.†
24Mephibosheth,† Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,† Mephibosheth?”
26He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame,† I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba† my servant betrayed me. 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel† of God; so do whatever pleases you. 28All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death† from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.† So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”
29The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the fields.”
30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has arrived home safely.”
31Barzillai† the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. 32Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy† man. 33The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”
34But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 35I am now eighty† years old. Can I tell the difference between what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singers?† Why should your servant be an added† burden to my lord the king? 36Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? 37Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father† and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.† Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you.”
38The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”
39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing,† and Barzillai returned to his home.
40When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.
41Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?”†
42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king’s provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?”
43Then the men of Israel† answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king; and besides, we have a greater claim on David than you have. So why do you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?”
But the men of Judah responded even more harshly than the men of Israel.
Sheba Rebels Against David
1Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,
no part in Jesse’s son!†
Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
2So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
3When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines† he had left to take care of the palace and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but did not lie with them. They were kept in confinement till the day of their death, living as widows.
4Then the king said to Amasa,† “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” 5But when Amasa went to summon Judah, he took longer than the time the king had set for him.
6David said to Abishai,† “Now Sheba son of Bicri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.” 7So Joab’s men and the Kerethites† and Pelethites and all the mighty warriors went out under the command of Abishai. They marched out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
8While they were at the great rock in Gibeon,† Amasa came to meet them. Joab† was wearing his military tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped forward, it dropped out of its sheath.
9Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger† in Joab’s† hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.
11One of Joab’s men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 12Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road, and the man saw that all the troops came to a halt† there. When he realized that everyone who came up to Amasa stopped, he dragged him from the road into a field and threw a garment over him. 13After Amasa had been removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.
14Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah[62] and through the entire region of the Berites,† who gathered together and followed him. 15All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah.† They built a siege ramp† up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications. While they were battering the wall to bring it down, 16a wise woman† called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 17He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”
“I am,” he answered.
She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”
“I’m listening,” he said.
18She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19We are the peaceful† and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”†
20“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 21That is not the case. A man named Sheba son of Bicri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.”
The woman said to Joab, “His head† will be thrown to you from the wall.”
22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice,† and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri and threw it to Joab. So he sounded the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each returning to his home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.
23Joab† was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; 24Adoniram[63] † was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat† son of Ahilud was recorder; 25Sheva was secretary; Zadok† and Abiathar were priests; 26and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
The Gibeonites Avenged
1During the reign of David, there was a famine† for three successive years; so David sought† the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
2The king summoned the Gibeonites† and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to [spare] them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD’s inheritance?”†
4The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”†
“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.
5They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed† before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul—the LORD’s chosen† one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
7The king spared Mephibosheth† son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath† before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,† whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[64] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.† 9He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death† during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.†
10Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.† 11When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12he went and took the bones of Saul† and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan,† where the Philistines had hung† them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela† in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,† God answered prayer† in behalf of the land.
Wars Against the Philistines
15Once again there was a battle between the Philistines† and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels[65] and who was armed with a new [sword], said he would kill David. 17But Abishai† son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp† of Israel will not be extinguished.†”
18In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai† the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
19In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim[66] the Bethlehemite killed Goliath[67] the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.†
20In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,† David’s brother, killed him.
22These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
David’s Song of Praise
1David sang† to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said:
Songs of Warriors
2 Samuel 22 The Bible attests to the fact that ancient warriors often celebrated their achievements in song. Indeed, the first song recorded in the Bible is that of Lamech (Ge 4:23–24), a fighter who boasted of killing a man who had wounded him. Songs by or about warriors have surfaced in several varieties:
• In what may be called the “victory song,” a warrior sang of his triumphs in battle. Such a song could be blatantly boastful, like Lamech’s, or could give thanks to God, as did David’s in 2 Samuel 22. This song praises God but is clearly military in orientation: “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (v. 35). There are pagan analogies for such songs; an Akkadian hymn celebrating the military campaigns of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II (r. 883–859 B.C.) begins with the king claiming that he would sing in praise of his god, Enlil, but quickly moves on to a boastful account of Ashurnasirpal’s triumphs. The Greeks somewhat transformed this genre and composed songs in honor of athletes, as in the odes of Pindar (fifth century B.C.), who celebrated the victors in the Olympic and other games.
• A second type of military song was the lament over fallen heroes. A magnificent example is that of David over Jonathan and Saul (1:17–27). The Greek poet Simonides (fifth century B.C.) composed verses for the Greeks who died at the battle of Thermopylae, also commemorating the Greek victory over the Persians at Plataea.
• Epic poetry, which memorializes at length the deeds of great heroes, can be considered a third genre. Examples include the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh1, the Ugaritic epic of Kirta2 and the well-known Greek Iliad and Odyssey by Homer. The Bible, because it focuses on God and his covenant rather than on the exploits of heroic human beings, includes no epic poetry.
Ashurnasirpal II
Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin; permission of The British Museum
1. See “Ecclesiastes and the Epic of Gilgamesh.”
2. See “The Kirta Epic.”
“The LORD is my rock,† my fortress† and my deliverer;†
3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,†
my shield† and the horn[68] † of my salvation.
He is my stronghold,† my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
4I call to the LORD, who is worthy† of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5“The waves† of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6The cords of the grave[69] † coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7In my distress† I called† to the LORD;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8“The earth† trembled and quaked,†
the foundations† of the heavens[70] shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire† came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
10He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds† were under his feet.
11He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared[71] on the wings of the wind.†
12He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark[72] rain clouds of the sky.
13Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning† blazed forth.
14The LORD thundered† from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15He shot arrows† and scattered [the enemies],
bolts of lightning and routed them.
16The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke† of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17“He reached down from on high† and took hold of me;
he drew† me out of deep waters.
18He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.†
20He brought me out into a spacious† place;
he rescued† me because he delighted† in me.†
21 “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;†
according to the cleanness of my hands† he has rewarded me.
22For I have kept† the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23All his laws are before me;†
I have not turned† away from his decrees.
24I have been blameless† before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,†
according to my cleanness[73] in his sight.
26“To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27to the pure† you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.†
28You save the humble,†
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.†
29You are my lamp,† O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30With your help I can advance against a troop[74];
with my God I can scale a wall.
31“As for God, his way is perfect;†
the word of the LORD is flawless.†
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
32 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock† except our God?
33It is God who arms me with strength[75]
and makes my way perfect.
34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;†
he enables me to stand on the heights.†
35He trains my hands† for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36You give me your shield† of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.
37You broaden the path† beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
38“I pursued my enemies and crushed them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
39I crushed† them completely, and they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
40You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.†
41You made my enemies turn their backs† in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
42They cried for help,† but there was no one to save them —†
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
43I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I pounded and trampled† them like mud† in the streets.
44“You have delivered† me from the attacks of my people;
you have preserved† me as the head of nations.
People† I did not know are subject to me,
45and foreigners come cringing† to me;
as soon as they hear me, they obey me.
46They all lose heart;
they come trembling[76] † from their strongholds.
47“The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!†
48He is the God who avenges me,†
who puts the nations under me,
49who sets me free from my enemies.†
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
50Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing praises to your name.†
51He gives his king great victories;†
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,†
to David† and his descendants forever.”†
The Last Words of David
1These are the last words of David:
“The oracle of David son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man exalted† by the Most High,
the man anointed† by the God of Jacob,
Israel’s singer of songs[77]:
2“The Spirit† of the LORD spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock† of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over men in righteousness,†
when he rules in the fear of God,†
4he is like the light of morning at sunrise†
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings the grass from the earth.’
5“Is not my house right with God?
Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant,†
arranged and secured in every part?
Will he not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire?
6But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,†
which are not gathered with the hand.
7Whoever touches thorns
uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie.”
David’s Mighty Men
8These are the names of David’s mighty men:
Josheb-Basshebeth,[78] a Tahkemonite,[79] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[80] in one encounter.
9Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai† the Ahohite.† As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim][81] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, 10but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
11Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 12But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
13During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam,† while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.† 14At that time David was in the stronghold,† and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.† 15David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured† it out before the LORD. 17“Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood† of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.
Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.
18Abishai† the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.[82] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 19Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.
20Benaiah† son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel,† who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 21And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 22Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 23He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
24Among the Thirty were:
Asahel† the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
25Shammah the Harodite,†
Elika the Harodite,
26Helez† the Paltite,
Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,
27Abiezer from Anathoth,†
Mebunnai[83] the Hushathite,
28Zalmon the Ahohite,
29Heled[84] son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah† in Benjamin,
30Benaiah the Pirathonite,†
Hiddai[85] from the ravines of Gaash,†
31Abi-Albon the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,†
32Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan 33son of[86] Shammah the Hararite,
Ahiam son of Sharar[87] the Hararite,
34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite,
Eliam† son of Ahithophel† the Gilonite,
35Hezro the Carmelite,†
Paarai the Arbite,
36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,†
the son of Hagri,[88]
37Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
38Ira the Ithrite,†
Gareb the Ithrite
39and Uriah† the Hittite.
There were thirty-seven in all.
David Counts the Fighting Men
1Again† the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of† Israel and Judah.”
Plague Prayers of Mursilis II
2 Samuel 24 The story recounted in 2 Samuel 24 is unusual on several accounts. First, God is said to have been angry with Israel and to have incited David to sin in order that the Lord might thereby punish the nation (v. 1). Second, the nature of the sin itself—conducting a census—has always been difficult to explain, although many regard it as a sign of pride or of dependence upon wealth and power rather than upon God. Third, it is unusual that the plague stopped specifically at “the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite” (v. 16).
The prayers for deliverance from the plague (vv. 14, 17) are not difficult to understand and have analogies from ancient literature. The act of addressing God in prayer in such a situation (which included confessing sins, seeking an explanation for the divine anger and asking for relief from the plague) was by no means unique to Israel.
• The best known plague of ancient history struck Athens during the years 430–427 B.C. and was described in detail by the Greek historian Thucydides in Book 2 of his history of the Peloponnesian War.1 Thucydides described how supplications were lifted up and rites of divination carried out in an effort to placate the gods and halt the plague.
• A closer analogy to the 2 Samuel 24 story appears in tablets recording the prayers of the Hittite king Mursilis II (r. c. 1321–1298 B.C.). The Hittites had been struck by a widespread, devastating plague. The population of the kingdom had been severely decimated; even Mursilis’s predecessors, his father Suppiluliumas I and his brother Arnuwanda II, had succumbed. In his prayers Mursilis pleaded with the Hittite gods for relief, confessed his sin and even reminded the gods that it was not in their best interest to strike down all the people who served them.2
It is perhaps significant, however, that the Bible variously attributes such events both to divine sovereignty and to human sin (v. 1). Even the fact that this particular plague ceased abruptly at a specific place and time is remarkable (v. 16). Perhaps most significant, however, was David’s willingness in this case to suffer in the place of his people (v. 17). Whereas Mursilis of the Hittites stopped at offering to make restitution to the gods if such was needed, David offered himself to the Lord on his people’s behalf.
2. See “Anatolia and the Hittites.”
2 So the king said to Joab† and the army commanders[89] with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba† and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”
3But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over,† and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”
4The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.
5After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer,† south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer.† 6They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.† 7Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre† and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba† in the Negev† of Judah.
8After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
9Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.†
10David was conscience-stricken† after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned† greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.†”
11Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad† the prophet, David’s seer:† 12“Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’ ”
13So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come upon you three[90] years of famine† in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague† in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
14David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy† is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
15So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.† 16When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved† because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the LORD† was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep.† What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”†
David Builds an Altar
18On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19So David went up, as the LORD had commanded through Gad. 20When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
21Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”†
22Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen† for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23O king, Araunah gives† all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
24But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”†
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels[91] of silver for them. 25David built an altar† to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.[92] Then the LORD answered prayer† in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
