Book 10 2 Samuel 001:001 It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 001:002 it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 001:003 David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 001:004 David said to him, How went the matter? Please tell me. He answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 001:005 David said to the young man who told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? 001:006 The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him. 001:007 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I. 001:008 He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 001:009 He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me. 001:010 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was 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. 001:011 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him: 001:012 and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 001:013 David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you? He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite. 001:014 David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed? 001:015 David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died. 001:016 David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed. 001:017 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son 001:018 (and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar): 001:019 Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 001:020 Don't tell it in Gath. Don't publish it in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 001:021 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not anointed with oil. 001:022 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, Jonathan's bow didn't turn back. Saul's sword didn't return empty. 001:023 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions. 001:024 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing. 001:025 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places. 001:026 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 001:027 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! 002:001 It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? Yahweh said to him, Go up. David said, Where shall I go up? He said, To Hebron. 002:002 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 002:003 His men who were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they lived in the cities of Hebron. 002:004 The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul. 002:005 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be you of Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. 002:006 Now Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 002:007 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 002:008 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 002:009 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 002:010 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 002:011 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 002:012 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 002:013 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 002:014 Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise. 002:015 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 002:016 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 002:017 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 002:018 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 002:019 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn't turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 002:020 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it you, Asahel? He answered, It is I. 002:021 Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 002:022 Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother? 002:023 However he refused to turn aside: therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 002:024 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 002:025 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 002:026 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?" 002:027 Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother. 002:028 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 002:029 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim. 002:030 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. 002:031 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, [so that] three hundred sixty men died. 002:032 They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron. 003:001 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 003:002 To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 003:003 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 003:004 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 003:005 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 003:006 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. 003:007 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father's concubine? 003:008 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show kindness 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 yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman. 003:009 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don't do even so to him; 003:010 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 003:011 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 003:012 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make your league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you. 003:013 He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face. 003:014 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 003:015 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish. 003:016 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return: and he returned. 003:017 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you: 003:018 now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. 003:019 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin. 003:020 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast. 003:021 Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 003:022 Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 003:023 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 003:024 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone? 003:025 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do. 003:026 When Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David didn't know it. 003:027 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 003:028 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 003:029 let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread. 003:030 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 003:031 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. 003:032 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 003:033 The king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies? 003:034 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell. All the people wept again over him. 003:035 All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun be down. 003:036 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people. 003:037 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner. 003:038 The king said to his servants, "Don't you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 003:039 I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness." 004:001 When [Ishbosheth], Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 004:002 [Ishbosheth], Saul's son, [had] two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin: 004:003 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have lived as foreigners there until this day). 004:004 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of 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 Mephibosheth. 004:005 The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, as he took his rest at noon. 004:006 They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 004:007 Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night. 004:008 They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; and Yahweh has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 004:009 David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 004:010 when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 004:011 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 004:012 David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron. 005:001 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 005:002 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel. 005:003 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh: and they anointed David king over Israel. 005:004 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 005:005 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 005:006 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here; thinking, David can't come in here. 005:007 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 005:008 David said on that day, Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [strike] the lame and the blind, who are hated of David's soul. Therefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he can't come into the house. 005:009 David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built round about from Millo and inward. 005:010 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him. 005:011 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. 005:012 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 005:013 David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 005:014 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 005:015 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 005:016 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet. 005:017 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 005:018 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 005:019 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? will you deliver them into my hand? Yahweh said to David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand. 005:020 David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 005:021 They left their images there; and David and his men took them away. 005:022 The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 005:023 When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, You shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees. 005:024 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall bestir yourself; for then is Yahweh gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines. 005:025 David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer. 006:001 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 006:002 David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Armies who sits [above] the cherubim. 006:003 They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 006:004 They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 006:005 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals. 006:006 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. 006:007 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 006:008 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day. 006:009 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Yahweh come to me? 006:010 So David would not remove the ark of Yahweh to him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 006:011 The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, and all his house. 006:012 It was told king David, saying, Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God. David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy. 006:013 It was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 006:014 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 006:015 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 006:016 It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart. 006:017 They brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. 006:018 When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies. 006:019 He dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house. 006:020 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! 006:021 David said to Michal, [It was] before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel: therefore will I play before Yahweh. 006:022 I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight: but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honor me. 006:023 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. 007:001 It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest from all his enemies round about, 007:002 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains. 007:003 Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you. 007:004 It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying, 007:005 Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in? 007:006 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle. 007:007 In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 007:008 Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Armies, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel; 007:009 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 007:010 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 007:011 and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house. 007:012 When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 007:013 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 007:014 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 007:015 but my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you. 007:016 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever. 007:017 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. 007:018 Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 007:019 This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come; and this [too] after the manner of men, Lord Yahweh! 007:020 What can David say more to you? for you know your servant, Lord Yahweh. 007:021 For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 007:022 Therefore you are great, Yahweh God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 007:023 What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods? 007:024 You did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God. 007:025 Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it forever, and do as you have spoken. 007:026 Let your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before you. 007:027 For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you. 007:028 Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant: 007:029 now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever. 008:001 After this it happened that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. 008:002 He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. 008:003 David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. 008:004 David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots. 008:005 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 008:006 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. 008:007 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 008:008 From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 008:009 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, 008:010 then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. [Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 008:011 These also did king David dedicate to Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; 008:012 of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 008:013 David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men. 008:014 He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. 008:015 David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness to all his people. 008:016 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 008:017 and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe; 008:018 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers. 009:001 David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 009:002 There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, Are you Ziba? He said, Your servant is he. 009:003 The king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet. 009:004 The king said to him, Where is he? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar. 009:005 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar. 009:006 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant! 009:007 David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually." 009:008 He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?" 009:009 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given to your master's son. 009:010 You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in [the fruits], that your master's son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread always at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 009:011 Then said Ziba to the king, According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 009:012 Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 009:013 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was lame in both his feet. 010:001 It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 010:002 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shown kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 010:003 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 010:004 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 010:005 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 010:006 When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men. 010:007 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men. 010:008 The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 010:009 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 010:010 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. 010:011 He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 010:012 Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good. 010:013 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 010:014 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. 010:015 When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 010:016 Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer at their head. 010:017 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 010:018 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there. 010:019 When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. 011:001 It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. 011:002 It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look on. 011:003 David send and inquired after the woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 011:004 David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house. 011:005 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child. 011:006 David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. Joab sent Uriah to David. 011:007 When Uriah was come to him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered. 011:008 David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess [of food] from the king. 011:009 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house. 011:010 When they had told David, saying, Uriah didn't go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Haven't you come from a journey? why did you not go down to your house? 011:011 Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing. 011:012 David said to Uriah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the next day. 011:013 When David had called him, he ate and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn't go down to his house. 011:014 It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 011:015 He wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be struck, and die. 011:016 It happened, when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were. 011:017 The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 011:018 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 011:019 and he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king, 011:020 it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he tells you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn't you know that they would shoot from the wall? 011:021 who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then shall you say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'" 011:022 So the messenger went, and came and shown David all that Joab had sent him for. 011:023 The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate. 011:024 The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 011:025 Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Joab, Don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him. 011:026 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. 011:027 When the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh. 012:001 Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 012:002 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 012:003 but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter. 012:004 A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him." 012:005 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die! 012:006 He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!" 012:007 Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 012:008 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things. 012:009 Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 012:010 Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 012:011 This is what Yahweh says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 012:012 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'" 012:013 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die. 012:014 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." 012:015 Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. 012:016 David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth. 012:017 The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 012:018 It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead! 012:019 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead. 012:020 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate. 012:021 Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread. 012:022 He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? 012:023 But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. 012:024 David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him; 012:025 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake. 012:026 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 012:027 Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters. 012:028 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. 012:029 David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 012:030 He took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. 012:031 He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 013:001 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 013:002 Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her. 013:003 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 013:004 He said to him, Why, son of the king, are you thus lean from day to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 013:005 Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand. 013:006 So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let her sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand. 013:007 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon's house, and dress him food. 013:008 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 013:009 She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from me. They went out every man from him. 013:010 Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 013:011 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister. 013:012 She answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly. 013:013 I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you. 013:014 However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her. 013:015 Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone. 013:016 She said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her. 013:017 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 013:018 She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 013:019 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went. 013:020 Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; don't take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 013:021 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry. 013:022 Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. 013:023 It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 013:024 Absalom came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has sheepshearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant. 013:025 The king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him: however he would not go, but blessed him. 013:026 Then said Absalom, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. The king said to him, Why should he go with you? 013:027 But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 013:028 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; don't be afraid; haven't I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. 013:029 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled. 013:030 It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. 013:031 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 013:032 Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered, Don't let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. 013:033 Now therefore don't let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead. 013:034 But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him. 013:035 Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as your servant said, so it is. 013:036 It happened, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. 013:037 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. [David] mourned for his son every day. 013:038 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 013:039 [the soul of] king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. 014:001 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. 014:002 Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, Please, and don't anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has a long time mourned for the dead: 014:003 and go in to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. 014:004 When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. 014:005 The king said to her, What ails you? She answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. 014:006 Your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him. 014:007 Behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth. 014:008 The king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you. 014:009 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless. 014:010 The king said, Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more. 014:011 Then said she, Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth. 014:012 Then the woman said, Please let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king. He said, Say on. 014:013 The woman said, Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one. 014:014 For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which can't be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him. 014:015 Now therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. 014:016 For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 014:017 Then your handmaid said, Please let the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Yahweh your God be with you. 014:018 Then the king answered the woman, Please don't hide anything from me that I shall ask you. The woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. 014:019 The king said, Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? The woman answered, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid; 014:020 to change the face of the matter has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 014:021 The king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back. 014:022 Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant. 014:023 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 014:024 The king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and didn't see the king's face. 014:025 Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 014:026 When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight. 014:027 To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful face. 014:028 Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem; and he didn't see the king's face. 014:029 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come. 014:030 Therefore he said to his servants, Behold, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 014:031 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire? 014:032 Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me. 014:033 So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. 015:001 It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 015:002 Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? He said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 015:003 Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you. 015:004 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice! 015:005 It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 015:006 In this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 015:007 It happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron. 015:008 For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh. 015:009 The king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 015:010 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron. 015:011 With Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn't know anything. 015:012 Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 015:013 There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 015:014 David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword. 015:015 The king's servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose. 015:016 The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house. 015:017 The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak. 015:018 All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 015:019 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place. 015:020 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you. 015:021 Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be. 015:022 David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him. 015:023 All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 015:024 Behold, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 015:025 The king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 015:026 but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him. 015:027 The king said also to Zadok the priest, "Aren't you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 015:028 Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me." 015:029 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there. 015:030 David went up by the ascent of the [Mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 015:031 One told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 015:032 It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head. 015:033 David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me: 015:034 but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 015:035 Don't you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 015:036 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear. 015:037 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem. 016:001 When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 016:002 The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink. 016:003 The king said, Where is your master's son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 016:004 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king. 016:005 When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came. 016:006 He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 016:007 Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow: 016:008 Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood. 016:009 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head." 016:010 The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so? 016:011 David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him. 016:012 It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day. 016:013 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. 016:014 The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there. 016:015 Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 016:016 It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, [Long] live the king, [Long] live the king. 016:017 Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend? 016:018 Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 016:019 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence. 016:020 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do. 016:021 Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your father: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong. 016:022 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 016:023 The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. 017:001 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 017:002 and I will come on him while he is weary and exhausted, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only; 017:003 and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace. 017:004 The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 017:005 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says. 017:006 When Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not, speak up. 017:007 Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good. 017:008 Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 017:009 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom. 017:010 Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 017:011 But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person. 017:012 So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one. 017:013 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there. 017:014 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom. 017:015 Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled. 017:016 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don't lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him. 017:017 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city. 017:018 But a boy saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. 017:019 The woman took and spread the covering over the well's mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known. 017:020 Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 017:021 It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you. 017:022 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan. 017:023 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father. 017:024 Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 017:025 Absalom set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 017:026 Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 017:027 It happened, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 017:028 brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched [grain], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse], 017:029 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. 018:001 David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 018:002 David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. 018:003 But the people said, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city. 018:004 The king said to them, What seems you best I will do. The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands. 018:005 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. All the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 018:006 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim. 018:007 The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. 018:008 For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. 018:009 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on. 018:010 A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. 018:011 Joab said to the man who told him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn't you strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces of] silver, and a sash. 018:012 The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, I still wouldn't put forth my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. 018:013 Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against [me]. 018:014 Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 018:015 Ten young men who bore Joab's armor compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him. 018:016 Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people. 018:017 They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent. 018:018 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king's dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom's monument, to this day. 018:019 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies. 018:020 Joab said to him, You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day; but this day you shall bear no news, because the king's son is dead. 018:021 Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran. 018:022 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news? 018:023 But come what may, [said he], I will run. He said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite. 018:024 Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone. 018:025 The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and drew near. 018:026 The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold, [another] man running alone. The king said, He also brings news. 018:027 The watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. The king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news. 018:028 Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. 018:029 The king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don't know what it was. 018:030 The king said, Turn aside, and stand here. He turned aside, and stood still. 018:031 Behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you. 018:032 The king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is. 018:033 The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son! 019:001 It was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom. 019:002 The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son. 019:003 The people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 019:004 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, my son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son! 019:005 Joab came into the house to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines; 019:006 in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well. 019:007 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by Yahweh, if you don't go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth until now. 019:008 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent. 019:009 All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom. 019:010 Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don't you speak a word of bringing the king back? 019:011 King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house. 019:012 You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king? 019:013 Say you to Amasa, Aren't you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren't captain of the army before me continually in the room of Joab. 019:014 He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants. 019:015 So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan. 019:016 Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. 019:017 There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king. 019:018 A ferry boat went to bring over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he was come over the Jordan. 019:019 He said to the king, Don't let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. 019:020 For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 019:021 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed? 019:022 David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for don't I know that I am this day king over Israel? 019:023 The king said to Shimei, You shall not die. The king swore to him. 019:024 Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 019:025 It happened, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth? 019:026 He answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because your servant is lame. 019:027 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes. 019:028 For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king? 019:029 The king said to him, Why speak you any more of your matters? I say, You and Ziba divide the land. 019:030 Mephibosheth said to the king, yes, let him take all, because my lord the king is come in peace to his own house. 019:031 Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan. 019:032 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man. 019:033 The king said to Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem. 019:034 Barzillai said to