The Report of Saul’s Death
1Now it came to pass after the adeath of Saul, when David had returned from bthe slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2on the third day, behold, it happened that ca man came from Saul’s camp dwith his clothes 1torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he efell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4Then David said to him, f“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and gJonathan his son are dead also.”
5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on hMount Gilboa, there was iSaul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7“Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8“And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9“He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for 2anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’
10“So I stood over him and jkilled him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and ktore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
12And they lmourned and wept and mfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the npeople of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14So David said to him, “How owas it you were not pafraid to qput forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15Then rDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.
16So David said to him, s“Your blood is on your own head, for tyour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”
The Song of the Bow
17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18uand he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written vin the Book 3of Jasher:
19“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
wHow the mighty have fallen!
Proclaim it not in the streets of yAshkelon—
Lest zthe daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of athe uncircumcised triumph.
cLet there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is 4cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not danointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
eThe bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23“Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their fdeath they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were gstronger than lions.
24“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
hYour love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.
27“Howi the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
David Anointed King of Judah
1It happened after this that David ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To bHebron.”
2So David went up there, and his ctwo wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
3And David brought up dthe men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4eThen the men of Judah came, and there they fanointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, g“The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, h“You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.
6“And now may ithe LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
7“Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
Ishbosheth Made King of Israel
8But jAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took 1Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to kMahanaim;
9and he made him king over lGilead, over the mAshurites, over nJezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.
11And othe 2time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Israel and Judah at War
12Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to pGibeon.
13And qJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by rthe pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
15So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
16And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called 3the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.
17So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18Now the sthree sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was tas fleet of foot uas a wild gazelle.
19So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”
21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
22So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”
23However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him vin the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood wstill.
24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.
25Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became 4a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill.
26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
27And Joab said, “As God lives, 5unless xyou had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
28So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.
29Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.
30So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.
32Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in yBethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.
1Now there was a long awar between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Sons of David
2Sons were born bto David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon cby Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3his second, 1Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, dAbsalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king eof Geshur;
4the fourth, fAdonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins Forces with David
6Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was gRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you hgone in to my father’s concubine?”
8Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I ia dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
9j“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David kas the LORD has sworn to him—
10“to transfer the kingdom from the 2house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, lfrom Dan to Beersheba.”
11And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”
13And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: myou shall not see my face unless you first bring nMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14So David sent messengers to oIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself pfor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 3Paltiel the son of Laish.
16Then her husband went along with her to qBahurim, 4weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.
17Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
18“Now then, do it! rFor the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, 5I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”
19And Abner also spoke in the hearing of sBenjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and tgather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ureign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much 6spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?
25“Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know vyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
26And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.
27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab wtook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there 7stabbed him xin the stomach, so that he died for the blood of yAsahel his brother.
28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are 8guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29z“Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the 9house of Joab one awho has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother bAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David’s Mourning for Abner
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, c“Tear your clothes, dgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
32So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:
“Should Abner die as a efool dies?
34Your hands were not bound
Nor your feet put into fetters;
As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”
Then all the people wept over him again.
35And when all the people came fto persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, g“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else htill the sun goes down!”
36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39“And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, iare too harsh for me. jThe LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Ishbosheth Is Murdered
1When Saul’s 1son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, ahe2 lost heart, and all Israel was btroubled.
2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For cBeeroth also was 3part of Benjamin,
3because the Beerothites fled to dGittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
4eJonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came ffrom Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was gMephibosheth.4
5Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the hhouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.
6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they 5stabbed him iin the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.
8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, jwho sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, kwho has redeemed my life from all adversity,
10“when lsomeone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
11“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now mrequire his 6blood at your hand and 7remove you from the earth?”
12So David ncommanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the otomb of Abner in Hebron.
David Reigns over All Israel
1Then all the tribes of Israel acame to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed bwe are your bone and your flesh. David’s Conquests
2“Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, cyou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, d‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”
3eTherefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, fand King David made a covenant with them at Hebron gbefore the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was hthirty years old when he began to reign, and ihe reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah jseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
6kAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against lthe Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion m(that is, the City of David).
8Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), nhe shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it othe City of David. And David built all around from 1the Millo and inward.
10So David went on and became great, and pthe LORD God of hosts was with qhim.
11Then rHiram sking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.
12So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had texalted His kingdom ufor the sake of His people Israel.
13And vDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
14Now wthese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: 2Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, xSolomon,
15Ibhar, 3Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated
17yNow when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it zand went down to the stronghold.
18The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in athe Valley of Rephaim.
19So David binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20So David went to cBaal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place 4Baal Perazim.
21And they left their 5images there, and David and his men dcarried them away.
22eThen the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23Therefore fDavid inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
24“And it shall be, when you ghear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then hthe LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from iGeba6 as far as jGezer.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2And aDavid arose and went with all the people who were with him from 1Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called 2by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, bwho dwells between the cherubim.
3So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on cthe hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new 3cart.
4And they brought it out of dthe house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
5Then David and all the house of Israel eplayed music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. Music and Musicians
6And when they came to fNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his ghand to the ark of God and 4took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his 5error; and he died there by the ark of God.
8And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place 6Perez Uzzah to this day.
9hDavid was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
10So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the iCity of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the jGittite.
11kThe ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD lblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” mSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13And so it was, when nthose bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed ooxen and fatted sheep.
14Then David pdanced7 before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing qa linen ephod.
15rSo David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, sMichal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17So tthey brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in uits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David voffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, whe blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19xThen he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
20yThen 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, zuncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the abase fellows 8shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, bwho chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the cpeople of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD.
22“And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children dto the day of her death.
God’s Covenant with David
1Now it came to pass awhen the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ba house of cedar, cbut the ark of God dwells inside tent dcurtains.”
3Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your eheart, for the LORD is with you.”
4But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: f“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
6“For I have not dwelt in a house gsince the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in ha tent and in a tabernacle.
7“Wherever I have imoved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded jto shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
8“Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: k“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9“And lI have been with you wherever you have gone, mand have 1cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
10“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will nplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; onor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11p“since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD 2tells you qthat He will make you a 3house.
12r“When your days are fulfilled and you srest with your fathers, tI will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13u“He shall build a house for My name, and I will vestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14w“I will be his Father, and he shall be xMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the 4blows of the sons of men.
15“But My mercy shall not depart from him, yas I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16“And zyour house and your kingdom shall be established forever before 5you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Thanksgiving to God
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: a“Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
19“And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. bIs this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20“Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, cknow Your servant.
21“For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
22“Therefore dYou are great, 6O Lord GOD. For ethere is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our fears.
23“And who is like Your people, like Israel, gthe one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before hYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
24“For iYou have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; jand You, LORD, have become their God.
25“Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.
26“So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27“For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and kYour words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
29“Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed lforever.”
David’s Further Conquests
1After this it came to pass that David 1attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took 2Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. David’s “Empire”
2Then ahe defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s bservants, and cbrought tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of dZobah, as he went to recover ehis territory at the River Euphrates.
4David took from him one thousand chariots, 3seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David fhamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5gWhen the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So hthe LORD preserved David wherever he went.
7And David took ithe shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8Also from 4Betah and from jBerothai,5 cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9When 6Toi king of kHamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10then Toi sent 7Joram his son to King David, to 8greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.
11King David also ldedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—
12from 9Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the mPhilistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13And David made himself a nname when he returned from killing oeighteen thousand 10Syrians in pthe Valley of Salt.
14He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and qall the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
David’s Administration
15So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
16rJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17tZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; 11Seraiah was the 12scribe;
18uBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the vCherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were 13chief ministers.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may ashow him 1kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was bZiba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
3Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show cthe kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is dlame in his feet.”
4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of eMachir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6Now when fMephibosheth2 the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such ga dead dog as I?”
9And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, h“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
10“You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son ishall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had jfifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at 3my table like one of the king’s sons.”
12Mephibosheth had a young son kwhose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, lfor he ate continually at the king’s table. And he mwas lame in both his feet.
The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated
1It happened after this that the aking of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2Then David said, “I will show bkindness to Hanun the son of cNahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.
3And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
4Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, dat their buttocks, and sent them away.
5When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly 1ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6When the people of Ammon saw that they ehad made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired fthe Syrians of gBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of hMaacah one thousand men, and from iIsh-Tob twelve thousand men.
7Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of jthe mighty men.
8Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And kthe Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.
10And the rest of the people he put under the command of lAbishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.
11Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12m“Be of good courage, and let us nbe strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may othe LORD do what is good in His sight.”
13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to pJerusalem.
15When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.
16Then 2Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond 3the River, and they came to Helam. And 4Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
17When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.
18Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand qhorsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
19And when all the kings who were servants to 5Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and rserved them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.
David, Bathsheba, and Uriah
1It happened in the spring of the year, at the atime when kings go out to battle, that bDavid sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged cRabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed dand walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he esaw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. Image
3So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not 1Bathsheba, the daughter of 2Eliam, the wife fof Uriah the gHittite?”
4Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and hhe lay with her, for she was icleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
6Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.
8And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and jwash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.
9But Uriah slept at the kdoor of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11And Uriah said to David, l“The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and mmy lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
12Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him ndrunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed owith the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14In the morning it happened that David pwrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the 3hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may qbe struck down and die.”
16So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.
17Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,
19and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,
20“if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
21‘Who struck rAbimelech the son of 4Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
22So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him.
23And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate.
24“The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing 5displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
26When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she sbecame his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done tdispleased6 the LORD.
Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession
1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And ahe came to him, and bsaid to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
2“The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.
3“But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
4“And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
5So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this 1shall surely die!
6“And he shall restore cfourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I danointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8‘I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!
9e‘Why have you fdespised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? gYou have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
10‘Now therefore, hthe sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
11“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will itake your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12‘For you did it secretly, jbut I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
13kSo David said to Nathan, l“I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has mput away your sin; you shall not die.
14“However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD nto blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
15Then Nathan departed to his house.
The Death of David’s Son
And the oLORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.
16David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and play all night on the ground.
17So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
18Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”
19When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
20So David arose from the ground, washed and qanointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and rworshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.
21Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; sfor I said, ‘Who can tell whether 2the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
23“But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go tto him, but uhe shall not return to me.”
Solomon Is Born
24Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So vshe bore a son, and whe3 called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him,
25and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So 4he called his name 5Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
Rabbah Is Captured
26Now xJoab fought against yRabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply.
28“Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”
29So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.
30zThen he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the 6spoil of the city in great abundance.
31And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Amnon and Tamar
1After this aAbsalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was bTamar; and cAmnon the son of David loved her.
2Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
3But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab dthe son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”
6Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and emake a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, f“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.
10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.
11Now when she had brought them to him to eat, ghe took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not 1force me, for hno such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this idisgraceful thing!
13“And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; jfor he will not withhold me from you.”
14However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he kforced her and lay with her.
15Then Amnon hated her 2exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”
16So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”
18Now she had on la robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.
19Then Tamar put mashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and nlaid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
20And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon oneither good nor bad. For Absalom phated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
Absalom Murders Amnon
23And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom qhad sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.
26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s rheart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and 3valiant.”
29So the servants of Absalom sdid to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on this mule and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”
31So the king arose and utore his garments and vlay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32Then wJonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33“Now therefore, xlet not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
Absalom Flees to Geshur
34yThen Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind 4him.
35And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”
36So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37But Absalom fled and went to zTalmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38So Absalom fled and went to aGeshur, and was there three years.
39And 5King David 6longed to go to Absalom. For he had been bcomforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
1So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned aabout Absalom.
2And Joab sent to bTekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, cand put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.
3“Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab dput the words in her mouth.
4And when the woman of Tekoa 1spoke to the king, she efell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, f“Help, O king!”
5Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” And she answered, g“Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.
6“Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.
7“And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him hfor the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth.”
8Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, let ithe 2iniquity be on me and on my father’s house, jand the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10So the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”
11Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit kthe avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, l“As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Say on.”
13So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against mthe people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring nhis banished one home again.
14“For we owill surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not ptake away a life; but He qdevises means, so that His banished ones are not 3expelled from Him.
15“Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.
16‘For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the rinheritance of God.’
17“Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for sas the angel of God, so is my lord the king in tdiscerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ ”
18Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Please, let my lord the king speak.”
19So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and uhe put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.
20“To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, vaccording to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
21And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”
22Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and 4thanked 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 fulfilled the request of his servant.”
23So Joab arose wand went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but xdo not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.
David Forgives Absalom
25Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. yFrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.
27zTo Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, abut did not see the king’s face.
29Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
30So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, 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’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but bif there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”
33So Joab went 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. Then the king ckissed Absalom.
Absalom’s Treason
1After this ait happened that Absalom bprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a clawsuit1 came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”
3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your 2case is good and right; but there is no 3deputy of the king to hear you.”
4Moreover Absalom would say, d“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
5And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and ekiss him.
6In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. fSo Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7Now it came to pass gafter 4forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to hHebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.
8i“For your servant jtook a vow kwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”
9And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10Then 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 lreigns in Hebron!’ ”
11And with Absalom went two hundred men minvited from Jerusalem, and they nwent along innocently and did not know anything.
12Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, oDavid’s counselor, from his city—from pGiloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom qcontinually increased in number.
David Escapes from Jerusalem
13Now a messenger came to David, saying, r“The hearts of the men of Israel are 5with Absalom.” Rebellions Against David
14So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us sflee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”
16Then tthe king went out with all his household after him. But the king left uten women, concubines, to keep the house.
17And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.
18Then all his servants passed 6before him; vand all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, wsix hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.
19Then the king said to xIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
20“In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go yI know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21But Ittai answered the king and said, z“As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
22So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.
23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the awilderness.
24There was bZadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the cark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and dAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.
25Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He ewill bring me back and show me both it and fHis dwelling place.
26“But if He says thus: ‘I have no gdelight in you,’ here I am, hlet Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a iseer?7 Return to the city in peace, and jyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28“See, kI will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
30So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he lhad his head covered and went mbarefoot. And all the people who were with him ncovered their heads and went up, oweeping as they went up.
31Then someone told David, saying, p“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, qturn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the rArchite coming to meet him swith his robe torn and dust on his head.
33David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become ta burden to me.
34“But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, u‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35“And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to vZadok and Abiathar the priests.
36“Indeed they have there wwith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
37So Hushai, xDavid’s friend, went into the city. yAnd Absalom came into Jerusalem.
Mephibosheth’s Servant
1Whena David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for cthose who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”
3Then the king said, “And where is your dmaster’s son?” eAnd Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”
4So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”
Shimei Curses David
5Now when King David came to fBahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was gShimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
6And he threw 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.
7Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You 1bloodthirsty man, hyou 2rogue!
8“The LORD has ibrought upon you all jthe blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a 3bloodthirsty man!”
9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this kdead dog lcurse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”
10But the king said, m“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because nthe LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ oWho then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how pmy son who qcame from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him.
12“It may be that the LORD will look on 4my affliction, and that the LORD will rrepay me with sgood for his cursing this day.”
13And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and 5kicked up dust.
14Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
The Advice of Ahithophel
15Meanwhile tAbsalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.
16And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, uDavid’s friend, came to Absalom, that vHushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? wWhy did you not go with your friend?”
18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19“Furthermore, xwhom 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 Absalom said to yAhithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
21And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s zconcubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you aare abhorred by your father. Then bthe hands of all who are with you will be strong.”
22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines cin the sight of all Israel.
23Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel dboth with David and with Absalom.
1Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2“I will come upon him while he is aweary and weak, and make him 1afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will bstrike only the king.
3“Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”
4And the saying pleased Absalom and all the celders of Israel.
The Advice of Hushai
5Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he dsays too.”
6And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8“For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like ea bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.
9“Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
10“And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will fmelt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
11“Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, gfrom Dan to Beersheba, hlike the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.
12“So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13“Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will ipull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For jthe LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.
Hushai Warns David to Escape
15kThen Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.
16“Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night lin the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”
17mNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz nstayed at oEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.
18Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house pin Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.
19qThen the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.
20And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So rthe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, s“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”
22So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.
23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to this house, to his city. Then he 2put his uhousehold in order, and vhanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
24Then David went to wMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25And Absalom made xAmasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man whose name was 3Jithra, an 4Israelite, who had gone in to yAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
27Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that zShobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, aMachir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and bBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
28brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds,
29honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty cin the wilderness.”
Absalom’s Defeat and Death
1And David 1numbered the people who were with him, and aset captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, bone third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of cIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”
3dBut the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”
4Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” eAnd all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in the fwoods of Ephraim.
7The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.
8For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and ghis head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on.
10Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”
11So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just saw him! And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”
12But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. hFor in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 2‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’
13“Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
14Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree.
15And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.
16So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.
17And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and ilaid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel jfled, everyone to his tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a 3pillar for himself, which is in kthe King’s Valley. For he said, l“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.
David Hears of Absalom’s Death
19Then mAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has 4avenged him of his enemies.”
20And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
22And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But 5whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”
23“But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24Now David was sitting between the ntwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.
25Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
26Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.”
27So the watchman said, 6“I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with ogood news.”
28So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, 7“All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, p“Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”
29The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”
30And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”
32And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”
David’s Mourning for Absalom
33Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: q“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, rmy son!”
1And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and amourning for Absalom.”
2So the victory that day was turned into bmourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”
3And the people 1stole back cinto the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4But the king dcovered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, e“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then fJoab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
6“in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you 2regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7“Now therefore, arise, go out and speak 3comfort to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
8Then the king arose and sat in the ggate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had hfled to his tent.
David Returns to Jerusalem
9Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our ienemies, he delivered us from the hand of the jPhilistines, and now he has kfled from the land because of Absalom.
10“But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11So King David sent to lZadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
12‘You are my brethren, you are mmy bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13n“And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? oGod do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me 4continually in place of Joab.’ ”
14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, pjust as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”
15Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to qGilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king racross the Jordan.
16And sShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
17There were a thousand men of tBenjamin with him, and uZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.
18Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.
David’s Mercy to Shimei
Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.
19Then he said to the king, v“Do not let my lord 5impute iniquity to me, or remember what wwrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should xtake it to heart.
20“For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all ythe house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, zbecause he acursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22And David said, b“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? cShall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”
23Therefore dthe king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
David and Mephibosheth Meet
24Now eMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.
25So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, f“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27“And ghe has slandered your servant to my lord the king, hbut my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
28“For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. iYet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to 6cry out anymore to the king?”
29So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”
30Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31And jBarzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.
32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And khe had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.
33And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
34But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35“I am today leighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
36“Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward?
37“Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant mChimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”
38And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”
39Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king nkissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
The Quarrel About the King
40Now the king went on to Gilgal, and 7Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
41Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and obrought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”
42So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is pa close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have qten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” Yet rthe words of the men of Judah were 8fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
The Rebellion of Sheba
1And there happened to be there a 1rebel, whose name was Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:
a“We have no share in David,
Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;
bEvery man to his tents, O Israel!”
2So every man of Israel deserted David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the cmen of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.
3Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women, dhis concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4And the king said to Amasa, e“Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”
5So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.
6And David said to fAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take gyour lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.”
7So Joab’s men, with the hCherethites, the Pelethites, and iall the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
8When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a belt with a sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out.
9Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” jAnd Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
10But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. And khe struck him with it lin the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did not strike him again. Thus he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.
11Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David—follow Joab!”
12But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.
13When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.
14And he went through all the tribes of Israel to mAbel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went after 2Sheba.
15Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and they ncast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
16Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ”
17When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” He answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.”
18So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,’ and so they would end disputes.
19“I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up othe inheritance of the LORD?”
20And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!
21“That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.” So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
22Then the woman pin her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
David’s Government Officers
23And qJoab was over all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
24Adoram was rin charge of revenue; sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
25Sheva was scribe; tZadok and Abiathar were the priests;
David Avenges the Gibeonites
1Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David ainquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his 1bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
2So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but bof the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them cin his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
3Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless dthe inheritance of the LORD?”
4And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel,
6“let seven men of his descendants be delivered eto us, and we will hang them before the LORD fin Gibeah of Saul, gwhom the LORD chose.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
7But the king spared hMephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of ithe LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of jRizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of 2Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she 3brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
9and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill kbefore the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10Now lRizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, mfrom the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of nJabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of 4Beth Shan, where the oPhilistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.
13So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.
14They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in pZelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that qGod heeded the prayer for the land.
Philistine Giants Destroyed
15When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.
16Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of 5the rgiant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.
17But sAbishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, t“You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the ulamp of Israel.”
18vNow it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then wSibbechai the Hushathite killed 6Saph, who was one of the sons of 7the giant.
19Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where xElhanan the son of 8Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed ythe brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20Yet again zthere was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to 9the giant.
21So when he adefied Israel, Jonathan the son of 10Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
22bThese four were born to 11the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Praise for God’s Deliverance
1Then David aspoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had bdelivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
2And he csaid:
d“The LORD is my rock and my efortress and my deliverer;
3The God of my strength, fin whom I will trust;
My gshield and the hhorn1 of my salvation,
My istronghold and my jrefuge;
My Savior, You save me from violence.
4I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5“When the waves of death surrounded me,
The floods of ungodliness 2made me afraid.
6The ksorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
7In my distress lI called upon the LORD,
And cried out to my God;
He mheard my voice from His temple,
And my cry entered His ears.
8“Then nthe earth shook and trembled;
oThe foundations of 3heaven quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
9Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring pfire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
10He qbowed the heavens also, and came down
With rdarkness under His feet.
11He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
And He 4was seen supon the wings of the wind.
12He made tdarkness canopies around Him,
Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
13From the brightness before Him
Coals of fire were kindled.
14“The LORD uthundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice.
15He sent out varrows and scattered them;
Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.
16Then the channels of the sea wwere seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered,
At the xrebuke of the LORD,
At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17“Hey sent from above, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me;
For they were too strong for me.
19They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my zsupport.
20aHe also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He bdelighted in me.
21“Thec LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the dcleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
22For I have ekept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
23For all His fjudgments were before me;
And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.
24I was also gblameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
25Therefore hthe LORD has 5recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to 6my cleanness in His eyes.
26“With ithe merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
27With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And jwith the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
28You will save the khumble7 people;
But Your eyes are on lthe haughty, that You may bring them down.
29“For You are my mlamp, O LORD;
The LORD shall enlighten my darkness.
30For by You I can run against a troop;
By my God I can leap over a nwall.
31As for God, oHis way is perfect;
pThe word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32“For qwho is God, except the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
338God is my rstrength and power,
And He smakes 9my way tperfect.
34He makes 10my feet ulike the feet of deer,
And vsets me on my high places.
35He teaches my hands 11to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your gentleness has made me great.
37You wenlarged my path under me;
So my feet did not slip.
38“I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
39And I have destroyed them and wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen xunder my feet.
40For You have yarmed me with strength for the battle;
You have 12subdued under me zthose who rose against me.
41You have also 13given me the anecks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
42They looked, but there was none to save;
Even bto the LORD, but He did not answer them.
43Then I beat them as fine cas the dust of the earth;
I trod them dlike dirt in the streets,
And I 14spread them out.
44“Youe have also delivered me from the 15strivings of my people;
You have kept me as the fhead of the nations.
gA people I have not known shall serve me.
45The foreigners submit to me;
As soon as they hear, they obey me.
46The foreigners fade away,
And 16come frightened hfrom their hideouts.
47“The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The iRock of my salvation!
48It is God who avenges me,
And jsubdues the peoples under me;
49He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the kviolent man.
50Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among lthe Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your mname.
51“Hen is the tower of salvation to His king,
And shows mercy to His oanointed,
To David and phis descendants forevermore.”