\NormalFont\ShortTitle{2 Samuel}
{\MT The Second Book of Samuel

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
the
death
of
Saul,
when
David
had
returned
from
the
slaughter
of
the
Amalekites,
and
David
had
stayed
two
days
in
Ziklag,
\VS{2}on
the
third
day,
behold,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:2 }
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.}
a
man
came
out
of
the
camp
from
Saul,
with
his
clothes
torn
and
earth
on
his
head.
When
he
came
to
David,
he
fell
to
the
earth
and showed
respect.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}David
said
to
him, “Where
do
you
come
from?”
\par }{\PP He
said
to
him, “I
have
escaped
out
of
the
camp
of
Israel.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}David
said
to
him, “How
did
it
go?
Please
tell
me.”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “The
people
have
fled
from
the
battle,
and
many
of
the
people
also
have
fallen
and
are
dead.
Saul
and
Jonathan
his
son
are
dead
also.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}David
said
to
the
young
man
who
told
him, “How do
you
know
that
Saul
and
Jonathan
his
son
are
dead?”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}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
close behind
him.
\VS{7}When
he
looked
behind
him,
he
saw
me
and
called
to
me.
I
answered, ‘Here
I
am.’
\VS{8}He
said
to
me, ‘Who
are
you?’
I
answered
him, ‘I
am
an
Amalekite.’
\VS{9}He
said
to
me, ‘Please
stand
beside
me,
and
kill
me,
for anguish
has
taken
hold
of
me
because
my
life lingers
in
me.’
\VS{10}So
I
stood
beside
him
and
killed
him,
because
I
was
sure
that
he could
not
live
after
he
had
fallen.
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.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then
David
took
hold
on
his
clothes
and
tore
them;
and
all
the
men
who
were
with
him
did
likewise.
\VS{12}They
mourned,
wept,
and
fasted
until
evening
for
Saul
and
for
Jonathan
his
son,
and
for
the
people
of
Yahweh,\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:12 }
“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.}
and
for
the
house
of
Israel,
because
they
had
fallen
by
the
sword.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}David
said
to
the
young
man
who
told
him, “Where
are
you
from?”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “I
am
the
son
of
a
foreigner,
an
Amalekite.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}David
said
to
him, “Why
were
you
not
afraid
to
stretch
out
your
hand
to
destroy
Yahweh’s
anointed?”
\VS{15}David
called
one
of
the
young
men
and
said, “Go
near,
and
cut
him
down!”
He
struck
him
so
that
he
died.
\VS{16}David
said
to
him, “Your
blood
be
on
your
head,
for
your
mouth
has testified
against
you,
saying, ‘I
have slain
Yahweh’s
anointed.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{17}David lamented
with
this
lamentation
over
Saul
and
over
Jonathan
his
son
\VS{18}(and
he
commanded
them
to
teach
the
children
of
Judah
the song
of
the
bow;
behold,
it
is
written
in
the
book
of
Jashar):
\par }{\Q \VS{19}“Your glory,
Israel,
was
slain
on
your
high
places!
\par }{\QB How
the
mighty
have
fallen!
\par }{\Q \VS{20}Don’t
tell
it
in
Gath.
\par }{\QB Don’t publish
it
in
the
streets
of
Ashkelon,
\par }{\Q lest
the
daughters
of
the
Philistines
rejoice,
\par }{\QB lest
the
daughters
of
the
uncircumcised triumph.
\par }{\Q \VS{21}You
mountains
of
Gilboa,
\par }{\QB let
there
be
no
dew
or
rain
on
you,
and
no
fields
of
offerings;
\par }{\QB for
there
the
shield
of
the
mighty
was
defiled
and cast away,
\par }{\QB the
shield
of
Saul
was
not
anointed
with
oil.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}From
the
blood
of
the
slain,
\par }{\QB from
the
fat
of
the
mighty,
\par }{\QB Jonathan’s
bow
didn’t
turn
back.
\par }{\QB Saul’s
sword
didn’t
return
empty.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}Saul
and
Jonathan
were lovely
and
pleasant
in
their
lives.
\par }{\QB In
their
death,
they
were
not
divided.
\par }{\Q They
were
swifter
than
eagles.
\par }{\QB They
were
stronger
than
lions.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}You
daughters
of
Israel,
weep
over
Saul,
\par }{\QB who
clothed
you delicately
in
scarlet,
\par }{\QB who
put
ornaments
of
gold
on
your
clothing.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}How
the
mighty
have
fallen
in
the
middle
of
the
battle!
\par }{\QB Jonathan
was
slain
on
your
high
places.
\par }{\Q \VS{26}I am distressed
for
you,
my
brother
Jonathan.
\par }{\QB You
have been
very
pleasant
to
me.
\par }{\QB Your
love
to
me
was
wonderful,
\par }{\QB surpassing
the
love
of
women.
\par }{\Q \VS{27}How
the
mighty have
fallen,
\par }{\QB and
the
weapons
of
war have
perished!”

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
David
inquired
of
Yahweh,
saying, “Shall
I
go
up
into
any
of
the
cities
of
Judah?”
\par }{\PP Yahweh
said
to
him, “Go
up.”
\par }{\PP David
said, “Where
shall
I
go
up?”
\par }{\PP He
said, “To
Hebron.”
\par }{\PP \VS{2}So
David
went
up
there
with
his
two
wives,
Ahinoam
the
Jezreelitess,
and
Abigail
the
wife
of
Nabal
the
Carmelite.
\VS{3}David
brought
up
his
men
who
were
with
him,
every
man
with
his
household.
They
lived
in
the
cities
of
Hebron.
\VS{4}The
men
of
Judah
came,
and
there
they
anointed
David
king
over
the
house
of
Judah.
They
told
David, “The
men
of
Jabesh
Gilead
were
those
who
buried
Saul.”
\VS{5}David
sent
messengers
to
the
men
of
Jabesh
Gilead,
and
said
to
them, “Blessed
are
you
by
Yahweh,
that
you
have
shown
this
kindness
to
your
lord,
even
to
Saul,
and
have
buried
him.
\VS{6}Now
may
Yahweh
show loving
kindness
and
truth
to
you.
I
also
will reward
you
for
this
kindness,
because
you
have
done
this
thing.
\VS{7}Now
therefore
let
your
hands
be
strong,
and
be
valiant;
for
Saul
your
lord
is
dead,
and
also
the
house
of
Judah
have
anointed
me
king
over
them.”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Now
Abner
the
son
of
Ner,
captain
of
Saul’s
army,
had
taken Ishbosheth
the
son
of
Saul
and
brought
him
over
to
Mahanaim.
\VS{9}He
made
him
king
over
Gilead,
over
the Ashurites,
over
Jezreel,
over
Ephraim,
over
Benjamin,
and
over
all
Israel.
\VS{10}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.
\VS{11}The
time
that
David
was
king
in
Hebron
over
the
house
of
Judah
was
seven
years
and
six
months.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Abner
the
son
of
Ner,
and
the
servants
of Ishbosheth
the
son
of
Saul,
went
out
from
Mahanaim
to
Gibeon.
\VS{13}Joab
the
son
of
Zeruiah
and
David’s
servants
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.
\VS{14}Abner
said
to
Joab, “Please
let
the
young
men
arise
and compete
before
us!”
\par }{\PP Joab
said, “Let
them
arise!”
\VS{15}Then
they
arose
and
went
over
by
number:
twelve
for
Benjamin
and
for Ishbosheth
the
son
of
Saul,
and
twelve
of
David’s
servants.
\VS{16}They
each
caught
his
opponent
by
the
head
and thrust
his
sword
in
his fellow’s
side;
so
they
fell
down
together.
Therefore
that
place
in
Gibeon
was
called Helkath Hazzurim.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:16 }
“Helkath Hazzurim” means “field of daggers”.}
\VS{17}The
battle
was
very
severe
that
day;
and
Abner
was
beaten,
and
the
men
of
Israel,
before
David’s
servants.
\VS{18}The
three
sons
of
Zeruiah
were
there:
Joab,
Abishai,
and
Asahel.
Asahel
was
as light
of
foot
as
a
wild gazelle.
\VS{19}Asahel
pursued
Abner.
He
didn’t
turn
to
the
right
hand
or
to
the
left
from
following
Abner.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then
Abner
looked
behind
him
and
said, “Is
that
you,
Asahel?”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “It
is.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}Abner
said
to
him, “Turn
away
to
your
right
hand
or
to
your
left,
and grab
one
of
the
young
men,
and
take
his armor.”
But
Asahel
would
not
turn
away
from
following
him.
\VS{22}Abner
said
again
to
Asahel, “Turn
away
from
following
me.
Why
should
I
strike
you
to
the
ground?
How
then
could
I
look
Joab
your
brother
in
the
face?”
\VS{23}However,
he
refused
to
turn
away.
Therefore
Abner
with
the
back
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.
As many
as
came
to
the
place
where
Asahel
fell
down
and
died
stood
still.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}But
Joab
and
Abishai
pursued
Abner.
The
sun
went
down
when
they
had
come
to
the
hill
of Ammah,
that
lies
before
Giah
by
the
way
of
the
wilderness
of
Gibeon.
\VS{25}The
children
of
Benjamin
gathered
themselves
together
after
Abner
and
became
one
band,
and
stood
on
the
top
of
a
hill.
\VS{26}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
will
it
be
then,
before
you
ask
the
people
to
return
from
following
their
brothers?”
\par }{\PP \VS{27}Joab
said, “As
God\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:27 }
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).}
lives,
if
you
had
not
spoken,
surely
then
in
the
morning
the
people
would
have
gone
away,
and
not
each
followed
his
brother.”
\VS{28}So
Joab
blew
the
trumpet;
and
all
the
people
stood
still
and
pursued
Israel
no
more,
and
they
fought
no
more.
\VS{29}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{30}Joab
returned
from
following
Abner;
and
when
he
had
gathered
all
the
people
together,
nineteen
men
of
David’s
and
Asahel
were
missing.
\VS{31}But
David’s
servants
had
struck
Benjamin
Abner’s
men
so
that
three
hundred
sixty
men
died.
\VS{32}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.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
there
was
long
war
between
Saul’s
house
and
David’s
house.
David
grew
stronger
and
stronger,
but
Saul’s
house
grew
weaker
and
weaker.
\VS{2}Sons
were
born
to
David
in
Hebron.
His
firstborn
was
Amnon,
of
Ahinoam
the
Jezreelitess;
\VS{3}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;
\VS{4}and
the
fourth,
Adonijah
the
son
of
Haggith;
and
the
fifth,
Shephatiah
the
son
of
Abital;
\VS{5}and
the
sixth,
Ithream,
of
Eglah,
David’s
wife.
These
were
born
to
David
in
Hebron.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}While
there
was
war
between
Saul’s
house
and
David’s
house,
Abner
made
himself
strong
in
Saul’s
house.
\VS{7}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?”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then
Abner
was
very
angry
about Ishbosheth’s
words,
and
said, “Am
I
a
dog’s
head
that belongs
to
Judah?
Today
I
show
kindness
to
your
father
Saul’s
house,
to
his
brothers,
and
to
his
friends,
and
have
not
delivered
you
into
the
hand
of
David;
and
yet
you
charge
me
today
with
a
fault
concerning
this
woman!
\VS{9}God
do
so
to
Abner,
and
more
also,
if,
as
Yahweh
has
sworn
to
David,
I don’t
do
even
so
to
him:
\VS{10}to
transfer
the
kingdom
from
Saul’s
house,
and
to
set
up
David’s
throne
over
Israel
and
over
Judah,
from
Dan
even
to
Beersheba.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}He
could
not
answer
Abner
another
word,
because
he
was
afraid
of
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Abner
sent
messengers
to
David
on
his
behalf,
saying, “Whose
is
the
land?”
and
saying, “Make
your alliance
with
me,
and
behold,
my
hand
will
be
with
you
to
bring
all
Israel
around
to
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{13}David
said, “Good.
I
will
make
a
treaty
with
you,
but
one
thing
I
require
of
you.
That
is,
you
will
not
see
my
face
unless
you
first
bring
Michal,
Saul’s
daughter,
when
you
come
to
see
my
face.”
\VS{14}David
sent
messengers
to Ishbosheth,
Saul’s
son,
saying, “Deliver
me
my
wife
Michal,
whom
I
was
given
to
marry
for
one
hundred
foreskins
of
the
Philistines.”
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Ishbosheth
sent
and
took
her
from
her
husband,
Paltiel
the
son
of Laish.
\VS{16}Her
husband
went
with
her,
weeping
as
he
went,
and
followed
her
to
Bahurim.
Then
Abner
said
to
him, “Go!
Return!”
and
he
returned.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}Abner
had communication
with
the
elders
of
Israel,
saying, “In times
past,
you
sought
for
David
to
be
king
over
you.
\VS{18}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.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{19}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.
\VS{20}So
Abner
came
to
David
to
Hebron,
and
twenty
men
with
him.
David
made
Abner
and
the
men
who
were
with
him
a
feast.
\VS{21}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Behold,
David’s
servants
and
Joab
came
from
a
raid
and
brought
in
a
great
plunder
with
them;
but
Abner
was
not
with
David
in
Hebron,
for
he
had
sent
him
away,
and
he
had
gone
in
peace.
\VS{23}When
Joab
and
all
the
army
who
was
with
him
had
come,
they
told
Joab, “Abner
the
son
of
Ner
came
to
the
king,
and
he
has
sent
him
away,
and
he
has
gone
in
peace.”
\par }{\PP \VS{24}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
already
gone?
\VS{25}You
know
Abner
the
son
of
Ner.
He
came
to deceive
you,
and
to
know
your
going
out
and
your
coming
in,
and
to
know
all
that
you
do.”
\par }{\PP \VS{26}When
Joab
had
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.
\VS{27}When
Abner
had
returned
to
Hebron,
Joab
took
him
aside
into
the
middle
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.
\VS{28}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.
\VS{29}Let
it
fall
on
the
head
of
Joab
and
on
all
his
father’s
house.
Let
there
not
fail
from
the
house
of
Joab
one
who
has
a
discharge,
or
who
is
a
leper,
or
who leans
on
a staff,
or
who
falls
by
the
sword,
or
who
lacks
bread.”
\VS{30}So
Joab
and
Abishai
his
brother
killed
Abner,
because
he
had
killed
their
brother
Asahel
at
Gibeon
in
the
battle.
\par }{\PP \VS{31}David
said
to
Joab
and
to
all
the
people
who
were
with
him, “Tear
your
clothes,
and clothe
yourselves
with
sackcloth,
and
mourn
in
front
of
Abner.”
King
David
followed
the
bier.
\VS{32}They
buried
Abner
in
Hebron;
and
the
king
lifted
up
his
voice
and
wept
at
Abner’s
grave;
and
all
the
people
wept.
\VS{33}The
king lamented
for
Abner,
and
said, “Should
Abner
die
as
a
fool
dies?
\VS{34}Your
hands weren’t
bound,
and
your
feet weren’t
put
into
fetters.
As
a
man
falls
before
the
children
of
iniquity,
so
you
fell.”
\par }{\PP All
the
people
wept
again
over
him.
\VS{35}All
the
people
came
to urge
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
goes
down.”
\par }{\PP \VS{36}All
the
people
took
notice
of
it,
and
it
pleased
them,
as
whatever
the
king
did
pleased
all
the
people.
\VS{37}So
all
the
people
and
all
Israel
understood
that
day
that
it
was
not
of
the
king
to
kill
Abner
the
son
of
Ner.
\VS{38}The
king
said
to
his
servants, “Don’t
you
know
that
a
prince
and
a
great
man
has
fallen
today
in
Israel?
\VS{39}I
am
weak
today, though
anointed
king.
These
men,
the
sons
of
Zeruiah
are
too
hard
for
me.
May
Yahweh
reward
the evildoer
according
to
his
wickedness.”

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}When
Saul’s
son
heard
that
Abner
was
dead
in
Hebron,
his
hands became
feeble,
and
all
the
Israelites
were troubled.
\VS{2}Saul’s
son
had
two
men
who
were
captains
of raiding
bands.
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
Beeroth
also
is
considered
a
part
of
Benjamin;
\VS{3}and
the
Beerothites
fled
to
Gittaim,
and
have
lived
as
foreigners
there
until
today).
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Now
Jonathan,
Saul’s
son,
had
a
son
who
was lame
in
his
feet.
He
was
five
years
old
when
the
news
came
about
Saul
and
Jonathan
out
of
Jezreel;
and
his
nurse
picked
him
up
and
fled.
As she
hurried
to
flee,
he
fell
and
became lame.
His
name
was
Mephibosheth.
\par }{\PP \VS{5}The
sons
of
Rimmon
the
Beerothite,
Rechab
and
Baanah,
went
out
and
came
at
about
the
heat
of
the
day
to
the
house
of Ishbosheth
as
he
took
his
rest
at
noon.
\VS{6}They
came
there
into
the
middle
of
the
house
as though
they would
have fetched
wheat,
and
they
struck
him
in
the body;
and
Rechab
and
Baanah
his
brother
escaped.
\VS{7}Now
when
they
came
into
the
house
as
he
lay
on
his
bed
in
his
bedroom,
they
struck
him,
killed
him, beheaded
him,
and
took
his
head,
and
went
by
the
way
of
the
Arabah
all
night.
\VS{8}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!
Yahweh
has
avenged
my
lord
the
king
today
of
Saul
and
of
his
offspring.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 4:8 }
or, seed}”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}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,
\VS{10}when
someone
told
me, ‘Behold,
Saul
is
dead,’
thinking
that
he
brought
good
news,
I
seized
him
and
killed
him
in
Ziklag,
which
was
the
reward
I
gave
him
for
his
news.
\VS{11}How
much
more,
when
wicked
men
have
slain
a
righteous
person
in
his
own
house
on
his
bed,
should
I
not
now
require
his
blood
from
your
hand,
and rid
the
earth
of
you?”
\VS{12}David
commanded
his
young
men,
and
they
killed
them,
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
Abner’s
grave
in
Hebron.

\par }\Chap{5}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then
all
the
tribes
of
Israel
came
to
David
at
Hebron
and
spoke,
saying, “Behold,
we
are
your
bone
and
your
flesh.
\VS{2}In times past,
when
Saul
was
king
over
us,
it
was
you
who
led
Israel
out
and
in.
Yahweh
said
to
you, ‘You
will
be
shepherd
of
my
people
Israel,
and
you
will
be
prince
over
Israel.’ ”
\VS{3}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}David
was
thirty
years
old
when
he began
to
reign,
and
he
reigned
forty
years.
\VS{5}In
Hebron
he
reigned
over
Judah
seven
years
and
six
months,
and
in
Jerusalem
he
reigned
thirty-three
years
over
all
Israel
and
Judah.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}The
king
and
his
men
went
to
Jerusalem
against
the
Jebusites,
the
inhabitants
of
the
land,
who
spoke
to
David,
saying, “The
blind
and
the lame
will
keep
you
out
of
here,”
thinking, “David
can’t
come
in
here.”
\VS{7}Nevertheless
David
took
the stronghold
of
Zion.
This
is
David’s
city.
\VS{8}David
said
on
that
day, “Whoever
strikes
the
Jebusites,
let
him
go
up
to
the watercourse
and
strike
those
lame
and
blind,
who
are
hated
by
David’s
soul.”
Therefore
they
say, “The
blind
and
the
lame
can’t
come
into
the
house.”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}David
lived
in
the stronghold,
and
called
it
David’s
city.
David
built
around
from
Millo
and
inward.
\VS{10}David
grew
greater
and
greater,
for
Yahweh,
the
God
of
Armies,
was
with
him.
\VS{11}Hiram
king
of
Tyre
sent
messengers
to
David,
with
cedar
trees,
carpenters,
and
masons;
and
they
built
David
a
house.
\VS{12}David
perceived
that
Yahweh
had
established
him
king
over
Israel,
and
that
he
had
exalted
his
kingdom
for
his
people
Israel’s
sake.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}David
took
more
concubines
and
wives
for himself
out
of
Jerusalem,
after
he
had
come
from
Hebron;
and
more
sons
and
daughters
were
born
to
David.
\VS{14}These
are
the
names
of
those
who
were
born
to
him
in
Jerusalem:
Shammua,
Shobab,
Nathan,
Solomon,
\VS{15}Ibhar,
Elishua,
Nepheg,
Japhia,
\VS{16}Elishama,
Eliada,
and
Eliphelet.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}When
the
Philistines
heard
that
they
had
anointed
David
king
over
Israel,
all
the
Philistines
went
up
to
seek
David,
but
David
heard
about
it
and
went
down
to
the stronghold.
\VS{18}Now
the
Philistines
had
come
and
spread themselves
in
the
valley
of
Rephaim.
\VS{19}David
inquired
of
Yahweh,
saying, “Shall
I
go
up
against
the
Philistines?
Will
you
deliver
them
into
my
hand?”
\par }{\PP Yahweh
said
to
David, “Go
up;
for
I
will
certainly
deliver
the
Philistines
into
your
hand.”
\par }{\PP \VS{20}David
came
to Baal Perazim,
and
David
struck
them
there.
Then
he
said, “Yahweh
has
broken
my
enemies
before
me,
like
the
breach
of
waters.”
Therefore
he
called
the
name
of
that
place Baal Perazim.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 5:20 }
“Baal Perazim” means “Lord who breaks out”.}
\VS{21}They
left
their
images
there,
and
David
and
his
men
took
them
away.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}The
Philistines
came
up
yet
again
and
spread themselves
in
the
valley
of
Rephaim.
\VS{23}When
David
inquired
of
Yahweh,
he
said, “You
shall
not
go
up.
Circle
around
behind
them,
and
attack
them
in
front
of
the mulberry
trees.
\VS{24}When
you
hear
the
sound
of marching
in
the
tops
of
the mulberry
trees,
then stir yourself
up;
for
then
Yahweh
has
gone
out
before
you
to
strike
the
army
of
the
Philistines.”
\par }{\PP \VS{25}David
did
so,
as
Yahweh
commanded
him,
and
struck
the
Philistines
all
the
way
from
Geba
to
Gezer.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}David
again gathered together
all
the chosen
men
of
Israel,
thirty
thousand.
\VS{2}David
arose
and
went
with
all
the
people
who
were
with
him
from Baale Judah,
to
bring
up
from
there
God’s
ark,
which
is
called
by
the
Name,
even
the
name
of
Yahweh
of
Armies
who
sits
above
the
cherubim.
\VS{3}They
set
God’s
ark
on
a
new
cart,
and
brought
it
out
of Abinadab’s
house
that
was
on
the
hill;
and
Uzzah
and
Ahio,
the
sons
of
Abinadab,
drove
the
new
cart.
\VS{4}They
brought
it
out
of Abinadab’s
house
which
was
in
the
hill,
with
God’s
ark;
and
Ahio
went
before
the
ark.
\VS{5}David
and
all
the
house
of
Israel
played
before
Yahweh
with
all
kinds
of instruments
made
of
cypress
wood,
with
harps,
with stringed instruments,
with
tambourines,
with
castanets,
and
with
cymbals.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}When
they
came
to
the
threshing
floor
of Nacon,
Uzzah
reached
for
God’s
ark
and
took
hold
of
it,
for
the
cattle
stumbled.
\VS{7}Yahweh’s
anger
burned
against
Uzzah,
and
God
struck
him
there
for
his error;
and
he
died
there
by
God’s
ark.
\VS{8}David
was displeased
because
Yahweh
had
broken
out
against
Uzzah;
and
he
called
that
place Perez
Uzzah\FTNT{*}{{\FR 6:8 }
“Perez Uzzah” means “outbreak against Uzzah”.}
to
this
day.
\VS{9}David
was
afraid
of
Yahweh
that
day;
and
he
said, “How could
Yahweh’s
ark
come
to
me?”
\VS{10}So
David
would
not
move
Yahweh’s
ark
to
be
with
him
in
David’s
city;
but
David
carried
it
aside
into
Obed-Edom
the Gittite’s
house.
\VS{11}Yahweh’s
ark
remained
in
Obed-Edom
the Gittite’s
house
three
months;
and
Yahweh
blessed
Obed-Edom
and
all
his
house.
\VS{12}King
David
was
told, “Yahweh
has
blessed
the
house
of
Obed-Edom,
and
all
that belongs
to
him,
because
of
God’s
ark.”
\par }{\PP So
David
went
and
brought
up
God’s
ark
from
the
house
of
Obed-Edom
into
David’s
city
with
joy.
\VS{13}When
those
who
bore
Yahweh’s
ark
had
gone
six
paces,
he
sacrificed
an
ox
and
a fattened calf.
\VS{14}David danced
before
Yahweh
with
all
his
might;
and
David
was
clothed
in
a
linen
ephod.
\VS{15}So
David
and
all
the
house
of
Israel
brought
up
Yahweh’s
ark
with
shouting
and
with
the
sound
of
the
trumpet.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}As
Yahweh’s
ark
came
into
David’s
city,
Michal
the
daughter
of
Saul
looked
out
through
the
window
and
saw
King
David
leaping
and
dancing
before
Yahweh;
and
she
despised
him
in
her
heart.
\VS{17}They
brought
in
Yahweh’s
ark,
and
set
it
in
its
place
in
the
middle
of
the
tent
that
David
had
pitched
for
it;
and
David
offered
burnt
offerings
and
peace
offerings
before
Yahweh.
\VS{18}When
David
had
finished
offering
the
burnt
offering
and
the
peace
offerings,
he
blessed
the
people
in
the
name
of
Yahweh
of
Armies.
\VS{19}He gave
to
all
the
people,
even
among
the
whole
multitude
of
Israel,
both
to
men
and
women,
to
everyone
a
portion
of
bread,
dates,
and
raisins.
So
all
the
people departed,
each
to
his
own
house.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then
David
returned
to
bless
his
household.
Michal
the
daughter
of
Saul
came
out
to
meet
David,
and
said, “How
glorious
the
king
of
Israel
was
today,
who
uncovered
himself
today
in
the
eyes
of
his
servants’
maids,
as
one
of
the vain fellows
shamelessly
uncovers
himself!”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}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
I
will
celebrate
before
Yahweh.
\VS{22}I
will
be
yet
more undignified
than
this,
and
will
be worthless
in
my
own
sight.
But
the
maids
of
whom
you
have
spoken
will
honor
me.”
\par }{\PP \VS{23}Michal
the
daughter
of
Saul
had
no
child
to
the
day
of
her
death.

\par }\Chap{7}{\PP \VerseOne{1}When
the
king
lived
in
his
house,
and
Yahweh
had
given
him
rest
from
all
his
enemies
all
around,
\VS{2}the
king
said
to
Nathan
the
prophet, “See
now,
I
dwell
in
a
house
of
cedar,
but
God’s
ark
dwells
within
curtains.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Nathan
said
to
the
king, “Go,
do
all
that
is
in
your
heart,
for
Yahweh
is
with
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}That
same
night,
Yahweh’s
word
came
to
Nathan,
saying,
\VS{5}“Go
and
tell
my
servant
David, ‘Yahweh
says, “Should
you
build
me
a
house
for
me
to
dwell
in?
\VS{6}For
I
have
not
lived
in
a
house
since
the
day
that
I
brought
the
children
of
Israel
up
out
of
Egypt,
even
to
this
day,
but
have
moved
around
in
a
tent
and
in
a
tabernacle.
\VS{7}In
all
places
in
which
I
have
walked
with
all
the
children
of
Israel,
did
I
say
a
word
to
anyone
from
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?’ ” ’
\VS{8}Now
therefore
tell
my
servant
David
this: ‘Yahweh
of
Armies
says, “I
took
you
from
the
sheep pen,
from
following
the
sheep,
to
be
prince
over
my
people,
over
Israel.
\VS{9}I
have
been
with
you
wherever
you
went,
and
have
cut
off
all
your
enemies
from
before
you.
I
will
make
you
a
great
name,
like
the
name
of
the
great
ones
who
are
in
the
earth.
\VS{10}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.
The
children
of
wickedness
will
not
afflict
them
any
more,
as
at
the
first,
\VS{11}and
as
from
the
day
that
I
commanded
judges
to
be
over
my
people
Israel.
I
will cause
you
to
rest
from
all
your
enemies. Moreover
Yahweh
tells
you
that
Yahweh
will
make
you
a
house.
\VS{12}When
your
days
are
fulfilled
and
you
sleep
with
your
fathers,
I
will
set
up
your
offspring
after
you,
who
will
proceed
out
of
your
body,
and
I
will
establish
his
kingdom.
\VS{13}He
will
build
a
house
for
my
name,
and
I
will
establish
the
throne
of
his
kingdom
forever.
\VS{14}I
will
be
his
father,
and
he
will
be
my
son.
If
he commits iniquity,
I
will chasten
him
with
the
rod
of
men
and
with
the
stripes
of
the
children
of
men;
\VS{15}but
my loving
kindness
will
not
depart
from
him,
as
I
took
it
from
Saul,
whom
I
put
away
before
you.
\VS{16}Your
house
and
your
kingdom
will
be
made
sure
forever
before
you.
Your
throne
will
be
established
forever.” ’ ”
\VS{17}Nathan
spoke
to
David
all
these
words,
and
according
to
all
this
vision.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then
David
the
king
went
in
and
sat
before
Yahweh;
and
he
said, “Who
am
I,
Lord\FTNT{*}{{\FR 7:18 }
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”}
Yahweh,
and
what
is
my
house,
that
you
have
brought
me
this
far?
\VS{19}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
among
men,
Lord Yahweh!
\VS{20}What
more
can
David
say
to
you?
For
you
know
your
servant,
Lord Yahweh.
\VS{21}For
your word’s
sake,
and according
to
your own
heart,
you
have
worked
all
this
greatness,
to
make
your
servant
know
it.
\VS{22}Therefore
you
are
great, Yahweh
God.
For
there
is
no
one
like
you,
neither
is
there
any
God
besides
you,
according
to
all
that
we
have
heard
with
our
ears.
\VS{23}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
himself
a
name,
and
to
do
great
things
for
you,
and
awesome
things
for
your
land,
before
your
people,
whom
you
redeemed
to yourself
out
of
Egypt,
from
the
nations
and
their
gods?
\VS{24}You
established
for
yourself
your
people
Israel
to
be
your
people
forever;
and
you,
Yahweh,
became
their
God.
\par }{\PP \VS{25}“Now,
Yahweh
God,
the
word
that
you
have
spoken
concerning
your
servant,
and
concerning
his
house,
confirm
it
forever,
and
do
as
you
have
spoken.
\VS{26}Let
your
name
be
magnified
forever,
saying, ‘Yahweh
of
Armies
is
God
over
Israel;
and
the
house
of
your
servant
David
will
be
established
before
you.’
\VS{27}For
you,
Yahweh
of
Armies,
the
God
of
Israel,
have
revealed
to
your
servant,
saying, ‘I
will
build
you
a
house.’
Therefore
your
servant
has
found
in
his
heart
to
pray
this
prayer
to
you.
\par }{\PP \VS{28}“Now,
O
Lord Yahweh,
you
are
God,
and
your
words
are
truth,
and
you
have
promised
this
good
thing
to
your
servant.
\VS{29}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.
Let
the
house
of
your
servant
be
blessed
forever
with
your
blessing.”

\par }\Chap{8}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
David
struck
the
Philistines
and
subdued
them;
and
David
took
the bridle
of
the mother city
out
of
the
hand
of
the
Philistines.
\VS{2}He
defeated
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.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}David
also
struck
Hadadezer
the
son
of
Rehob,
king
of
Zobah,
as
he
went
to recover
his dominion
at
the
River.
\VS{4}David
took
from
him
one
thousand
seven
hundred
horsemen
and
twenty
thousand
footmen.
David hamstrung
the
chariot
horses,
but
reserved
enough
of
them
for
one
hundred
chariots.
\VS{5}When
the Syrians
of
Damascus
came
to
help
Hadadezer
king
of
Zobah,
David
struck
twenty
two
thousand
men
of
the Syrians.
\VS{6}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.
\VS{7}David
took
the
shields
of
gold
that
were
on
the
servants
of
Hadadezer,
and
brought
them
to
Jerusalem.
\VS{8}From
Betah
and
from Berothai,
cities
of
Hadadezer,
King
David
took
a
great quantity
of
bronze.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}When
Toi
king
of
Hamath
heard
that
David
had
struck
all
the
army
of
Hadadezer,
\VS{10}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,
vessels
of
gold,
and
vessels
of
bronze.
\VS{11}King
David
also
dedicated
these
to
Yahweh,
with
the
silver
and
gold
that
he
dedicated
of
all
the
nations
which
he
subdued—
\VS{12}of
Syria,
of
Moab,
of
the
children
of
Ammon,
of
the
Philistines,
of
Amalek,
and
of
the
plunder
of
Hadadezer,
son
of
Rehob,
king
of
Zobah.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}David earned
a
reputation
when
he
returned
from
striking
down
eighteen
thousand
men
of
the Syrians
in
the
Valley
of
Salt.
\VS{14}He
put
garrisons
in
Edom.
Throughout
all
Edom,
he
put
garrisons,
and
all
the
Edomites
became
servants
to
David.
Yahweh
gave
victory
to
David
wherever
he
went.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}David
reigned
over
all
Israel;
and
David executed
justice
and
righteousness
for
all
his
people.
\VS{16}Joab
the
son
of
Zeruiah
was
over
the
army,
Jehoshaphat
the
son
of
Ahilud
was
recorder,
\VS{17}Zadok
the
son
of
Ahitub
and
Ahimelech
the
son
of
Abiathar
were
priests,
Seraiah
was
scribe,
\VS{18}Benaiah
the
son
of
Jehoiada
was over
the
Cherethites
and
the
Pelethites;
and
David’s
sons
were
chief
ministers.

\par }\Chap{9}{\PP \VerseOne{1}David
said, “Is
there
yet
any
who
is
left
of
Saul’s
house,
that
I
may
show
him
kindness
for
Jonathan’s
sake?”
\VS{2}There
was
of
Saul’s
house
a
servant
whose
name
was
Ziba,
and
they
called
him
to
David;
and
the
king
said
to
him, “Are
you
Ziba?”
\par }{\PP He
said, “I am
your
servant.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}The
king
said, “Is
there
not
yet
any
of
Saul’s
house,
that
I
may
show
the
kindness
of
God
to
him?”
\par }{\PP Ziba
said
to
the
king, “Jonathan
still
has
a
son,
who
is lame
in
his
feet.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}The
king
said
to
him, “Where
is
he?”
\par }{\PP Ziba
said
to
the
king, “Behold,
he
is
in
the
house
of
Machir
the
son
of
Ammiel,
in
Lo Debar.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Then
King
David
sent
and
brought
him
out
of
the
house
of
Machir
the
son
of
Ammiel,
from Lo Debar.
\VS{6}Mephibosheth,
the
son
of
Jonathan,
the
son
of
Saul,
came
to
David,
fell
on
his
face,
and showed
respect.
David
said, “Mephibosheth?”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “Behold,
your
servant!”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}David
said
to
him, “Don’t
be
afraid,
for
I
will
surely
show
you
kindness
for
Jonathan
your
father’s
sake,
and
will
restore
to
you
all
the
land
of
Saul
your
father.
You
will
eat
bread
at
my
table
continually.”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}He
bowed
down,
and
said, “What
is
your
servant,
that
you
should
look
at
such
a
dead
dog
as
I am?”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Then
the
king
called
to
Ziba,
Saul’s
servant,
and
said
to
him, “All
that
belonged
to
Saul
and
to
all
his
house
I
have
given
to
your
master’s
son.
\VS{10}Till
the
land
for
him—you,
your
sons,
and
your
servants.
Bring
in
the
harvest,
that
your
master’s
son
may
have
bread
to
eat;
but
Mephibosheth
your
master’s
son
will
always
eat
bread
at
my
table.”
\par }{\PP Now
Ziba
had
fifteen
sons
and
twenty
servants.
\VS{11}Then
Ziba
said
to
the
king, “According
to
all
that
my
lord
the
king
commands
his
servant,
so
your
servant
will
do.”
So
Mephibosheth
ate
at
the
king’s
table
like
one
of
the
king’s
sons.
\VS{12}Mephibosheth
had
a
young
son,
whose
name
was
Mica.
All
who
lived
in Ziba’s
house
were
servants
to
Mephibosheth.
\VS{13}So
Mephibosheth
lived
in
Jerusalem,
for
he
ate
continually
at
the
king’s
table.
He
was
lame
in
both
his
feet.

\par }\Chap{10}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
the
king
of
the
children
of
Ammon
died,
and
Hanun
his
son
reigned
in
his
place.
\VS{2}David
said, “I
will
show
kindness
to
Hanun
the
son
of
Nahash,
as
his
father showed
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.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}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,
to
spy
it
out,
and
to
overthrow
it?”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}So
Hanun
took
David’s
servants,
shaved
off one
half
of
their
beards,
and
cut
off
their
garments
in
the
middle,
even
to
their buttocks,
and
sent
them
away.
\VS{5}When
they
told
David
this,
he
sent
to
meet
them,
for
the
men
were
greatly
ashamed.
The
king
said, “Wait
at
Jericho
until
your
beards
have
grown,
and
then
return.”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}When
the
children
of
Ammon
saw
that
they
had
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.
\VS{7}When
David
heard
of
it,
he
sent
Joab
and
all
the
army
of
the
mighty
men.
\VS{8}The
children
of
Ammon
came
out,
and
put
the
battle
in
array
at
the
entrance
of
the
gate.
The Syrians
of
Zobah
and
of
Rehob
and
the
men
of
Tob
and
Maacah
were
by
themselves
in
the
field.
\VS{9}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.
\VS{10}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.
\VS{11}He
said, “If
the Syrians
are
too
strong
for
me,
then
you
shall
help
me;
but
if
the
children
of
Ammon
are
too
strong
for
you,
then
I
will
come
and
help
you.
\VS{12}Be
courageous,
and let’s
be
strong
for
our
people
and
for
the
cities
of
our
God;
and
may
Yahweh
do
what
seems
good
to
him.”
\VS{13}So
Joab
and
the
people
who
were
with
him
came
near
to
the
battle
against
the Syrians,
and
they
fled
before
him.
\VS{14}When
the
children
of
Ammon
saw
that
the Syrians
had
fled,
they likewise
fled
before
Abishai,
and
entered
into
the
city.
Then
Joab
returned
from
the
children
of
Ammon
and
came
to
Jerusalem.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}When
the Syrians
saw
that
they
were
defeated
by
Israel,
they
gathered
themselves
together.
\VS{16}Hadadezer
sent
and
brought
out
the Syrians
who
were
beyond
the
River;
and
they
came
to
Helam,
with
Shobach
the
captain
of
the
army
of
Hadadezer
at
their
head.
\VS{17}David
was
told
that;
and
he
gathered
all
Israel
together,
passed
over
the
Jordan,
and
came
to
Helam.
The Syrians
set
themselves
in array
against
David
and
fought
with
him.
\VS{18}The Syrians
fled
before
Israel;
and
David
killed
seven
hundred
charioteers
of
the Syrians
and
forty
thousand
horsemen,
and
struck
Shobach
the
captain
of
their
army,
so
that
he
died
there.
\VS{19}When
all
the
kings
who
were
servants
to
Hadadezer
saw
that
they
were
defeated
before
Israel,
they
made peace
with
Israel
and
served
them.
So
the Syrians
were
afraid
to
help
the
children
of
Ammon
any
more.

\par }\Chap{11}{\PP \VerseOne{1}At
the
return
of
the
year,
at
the
time
when
kings
go
out,
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.
\VS{2}At
evening,
David
arose
from
his
bed
and
walked
on
the
roof
of
the
king’s
house.
From
the
roof,
he
saw
a
woman
bathing,
and
the
woman
was
very
beautiful
to
look
at.
\VS{3}David
sent
and
inquired
after
the
woman.
One
said, “Isn’t
this
Bathsheba,
the
daughter
of
Eliam,
Uriah
the Hittite’s
wife?”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}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.
\VS{5}The
woman
conceived;
and she
sent
and
told
David,
and
said, “I
am
with
child.”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}David
sent
to
Joab, “Send
me
Uriah
the
Hittite.”
Joab
sent
Uriah
to
David.
\VS{7}When
Uriah
had
come
to
him,
David
asked
him
how
Joab did,
and
how
the
people fared,
and
how
the
war prospered.
\VS{8}David
said
to
Uriah, “Go
down
to
your
house
and
wash
your
feet.”
Uriah
departed
out
of
the
king’s
house,
and
a
gift
from
the
king
was
sent
after
him.
\VS{9}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.
\VS{10}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
didn’t
you
go
down
to
your
house?”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Uriah
said
to
David, “The
ark,
Israel,
and
Judah,
are
staying
in tents;
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!”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}David
said
to
Uriah, “Stay
here
today
also,
and
tomorrow
I
will
let
you depart.”
So
Uriah
stayed
in
Jerusalem
that
day
and
the
next
day.
\VS{13}When
David
had
called
him,
he
ate
and
drank
before
him;
and
he
made
him
drunk.
At
evening,
he
went
out
to
lie
on
his
bed
with
the
servants
of
his
lord,
but
didn’t
go
down
to
his
house.
\VS{14}In
the
morning,
David
wrote
a
letter
to
Joab
and
sent
it
by
the
hand
of
Uriah.
\VS{15}He
wrote
in
the
letter,
saying, “Send
Uriah
to
the forefront
of
the hottest
battle,
and
retreat
from
him,
that
he
may
be
struck
and
die.”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}When
Joab
kept
watch
on
the
city,
he
assigned
Uriah
to
the
place
where
he
knew
that
valiant
men
were.
\VS{17}The
men
of
the
city
went
out
and
fought
with
Joab.
Some
of
the
people
fell,
even
of
David’s
servants;
and
Uriah
the
Hittite
died
also.
\VS{18}Then
Joab
sent
and
told
David
all
the
things
concerning
the
war;
\VS{19}and
he
commanded
the
messenger,
saying, “When
you
have
finished
telling
all
the
things
concerning
the
war
to
the
king,
\VS{20}it
shall
be
that,
if
the
king’s
wrath
arise,
and
he
asks
you, ‘Why
did
you
go
so
near
to
the
city
to
fight?
Didn’t
you
know
that
they
would
shoot
from
the
wall?
\VS{21}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
you
shall
say, ‘Your
servant
Uriah
the
Hittite
is
also
dead.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}So
the
messenger
went,
and
came
and showed
David
all
that
Joab
had
sent
him
for.
\VS{23}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.
\VS{24}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
also
dead.”
\par }{\PP \VS{25}Then
David
said
to
the
messenger, “Tell
Joab, ‘Don’t
let
this
thing displease
you,
for
the
sword
devours
one
as well
as
another.
Make
your
battle
stronger
against
the
city,
and
overthrow
it.’
Encourage
him.”
\par }{\PP \VS{26}When
Uriah’s
wife
heard
that
Uriah
her
husband
was
dead,
she
mourned
for
her
husband.
\VS{27}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.

\par }\Chap{12}{\PP \VerseOne{1}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.
\VS{2}The
rich
man
had
very
many
flocks
and
herds,
\VS{3}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
like
a
daughter
to
him.
\VS{4}A
traveler
came
to
the
rich
man,
and
he didn’t want
to
take
of
his
own
flock
and
of
his
own
herd
to
prepare
for
the wayfaring
man
who
had
come
to
him,
but
took
the
poor
man’s
lamb
and
prepared
it
for
the
man
who
had
come
to
him.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}David’s
anger
burned hot
against
the
man,
and
he
said
to
Nathan, “As
Yahweh
lives,
the
man
who
has
done
this
deserves
to
die!
\VS{6}He
must restore
the
lamb
fourfold,
because
he
did
this
thing
and
because
he
had
no
pity!”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}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.
\VS{8}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.
\VS{9}Why
have
you
despised
Yahweh’s
word,
to
do
that
which
is
evil
in
his
sight?
You
have
struck
Uriah
the
Hittite
with
the
sword,
have
taken
his
wife
to
be
your
wife,
and
have
slain
him
with
the
sword
of
the
children
of
Ammon.
\VS{10}Now
therefore
the
sword
will
never
depart
from
your
house,
because
you
have
despised
me
and
have
taken
Uriah
the Hittite’s
wife
to
be
your
wife.’
\par }{\PP \VS{11}“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.
\VS{12}For
you
did
this secretly,
but
I
will
do
this
thing
before
all
Israel,
and
before
the
sun.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{13}David
said
to
Nathan, “I
have
sinned
against
Yahweh.”
\par }{\PP Nathan
said
to
David, “Yahweh
also
has
put
away
your
sin.
You
will
not
die.
\VS{14}However,
because
by
this
deed
you
have
given great occasion
to
Yahweh’s
enemies
to
blaspheme,
the
child
also
who
is
born
to
you
will
surely
die.”
\VS{15}Then
Nathan departed
to
his
house.
\par }{\PP Yahweh
struck
the
child
that
Uriah’s
wife
bore
to
David,
and
he
was very
sick.
\VS{16}David
therefore begged
God
for
the
child;
and
David
fasted,
and
went
in
and
lay
all night
on
the
ground.
\VS{17}The
elders
of
his
house
arose
beside
him,
to
raise
him
up
from
the
earth;
but
he
would
not,
and
he
didn’t eat
bread
with
them.
\VS{18}On
the
seventh
day,
the
child
died.
David’s
servants
were
afraid
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
harm
himself
if
we
tell
him
that
the
child
is
dead?”
\par }{\PP \VS{19}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?”
\par }{\PP They
said, “He
is
dead.”
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then
David
arose
from
the
earth,
and
washed
and anointed
himself,
and
changed
his
clothing;
and
he
came
into
Yahweh’s
house,
and
worshiped.
Then
he
came
to
his own
house;
and
when
he
requested,
they
set
bread
before
him
and
he
ate.
\VS{21}Then
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
was
dead,
you
rose
up
and
ate
bread.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}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?’
\VS{23}But
now
he
is
dead.
Why
should
I
fast?
Can
I
bring
him
back
again?
I
will
go
to
him,
but
he
will
not
return
to
me.”
\par }{\PP \VS{24}David
comforted
Bathsheba
his
wife,
and
went
in
to
her,
and
lay
with
her.
She
bore
a
son,
and
he
called
his
name
Solomon.
Yahweh
loved
him;
\VS{25}and
he
sent
by
the
hand
of
Nathan
the
prophet,
and
he
named
him
Jedidiah,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 12:25 }
“Jedidiah” means “loved by Yahweh”.}
for
Yahweh’s
sake.
\par }{\PP \VS{26}Now
Joab
fought
against
Rabbah
of
the
children
of
Ammon,
and
took
the
royal
city.
\VS{27}Joab
sent
messengers
to
David,
and
said, “I
have
fought
against
Rabbah.
Yes,
I
have
taken
the
city
of
waters.
\VS{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
by
my
name.”
\par }{\PP \VS{29}David
gathered
all
the
people
together
and went
to
Rabbah,
and
fought
against
it
and
took
it.
\VS{30}He
took
the
crown
of
their
king
from
off
his
head;
and
its
weight
was
a
talent\FTNT{†}{{\FR 12:30 }
A talent is about 30 kilograms or 66 pounds or 965 Troy ounces}
of
gold,
and
in
it
were
precious
stones;
and
it
was
set
on
David’s
head.
He
brought
a
great quantity
of
plunder
out
of
the
city.
\VS{31}He
brought
out
the
people
who
were
in
it,
and
put
them
to
work
under
saws,
under
iron
picks,
under
axes
of
iron,
and
made
them
go
to
the
brick kiln;
and
he
did
so
to
all
the
cities
of
the
children
of
Ammon.
Then
David
and
all
the
people
returned
to
Jerusalem.

\par }\Chap{13}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
Absalom
the
son
of
David
had
a
beautiful
sister,
whose
name
was
Tamar;
and
Amnon
the
son
of
David
loved
her.
\VS{2}Amnon
was
so troubled
that
he became
sick
because
of
his
sister
Tamar,
for
she
was
a
virgin,
and
it
seemed
hard
to
Amnon
to
do
anything
to
her.
\VS{3}But
Amnon
had
a
friend
whose
name
was
Jonadab
the
son
of
Shimeah,
David’s
brother;
and
Jonadab
was
a
very subtle
man.
\VS{4}He
said
to
him, “Why,
son
of
the
king,
are
you
so sad
from
day
to
day?
Won’t
you
tell
me?”
\par }{\PP Amnon
said
to
him, “I
love
Tamar,
my
brother
Absalom’s
sister.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Jonadab
said
to
him, “Lay
down
on
your
bed
and pretend
to
be
sick.
When
your
father
comes
to
see
you,
tell
him, ‘Please
let
my
sister
Tamar
come
and
give
me
bread
to
eat,
and
prepare
the
food
in
my
sight,
that
I
may
see
it
and
eat
it
from
her
hand.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}So
Amnon
lay
down
and faked being
sick.
When
the
king
came
to
see
him,
Amnon
said
to
the
king, “Please
let
my
sister
Tamar
come
and
make
me
a
couple
of
cakes
in
my
sight,
that
I
may
eat
from
her
hand.”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Then
David
sent
home
to
Tamar,
saying, “Go
now
to
your
brother
Amnon’s
house,
and
prepare
food
for
him.”
\VS{8}So
Tamar
went
to
her
brother
Amnon’s
house;
and
he
was
lying
down.
She
took
dough,
kneaded
it,
made
cakes
in
his
sight,
and
baked
the
cakes.
\VS{9}She
took
the
pan
and
poured
them
out
before
him,
but
he
refused
to
eat.
Amnon
said, “Have
all
men
leave
me.”
Then
every
man
went
out
from
him.
\VS{10}Amnon
said
to
Tamar, “Bring
the
food
into
the
room,
that
I
may
eat
from
your
hand.”
Tamar
took
the
cakes
which
she
had
made,
and
brought
them
into
the
room
to
Amnon
her
brother.
\VS{11}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!”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}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!
\VS{13}As
for
me,
where
would
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.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}However,
he
would
not
listen
to
her
voice;
but being
stronger
than
she,
he forced
her
and
lay
with
her.
\VS{15}Then
Amnon
hated
her
with
exceedingly
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!”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}She
said
to
him, “Not
so,
because
this
great
wrong
in
sending
me
away
is
worse
than
the
other
that
you
did
to
me!”
\par }{\PP But
he
would
not
listen
to
her.
\VS{17}Then
he
called
his
servant
who
ministered
to
him,
and
said, “Now
put
this woman
out
from
me,
and bolt
the
door
after
her.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}She
had
a
garment
of various colors
on
her,
for
the
king’s
daughters
who
were
virgins
dressed
in
such
robes.
Then
his
servant
brought
her
out
and bolted
the
door
after
her.
\VS{19}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.
\VS{20}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.”
\par }{\PP So
Tamar
remained
desolate
in
her
brother
Absalom’s
house.
\VS{21}But
when
King
David
heard
of
all
these
things,
he
was
very
angry.
\VS{22}Absalom
spoke
to
Amnon
neither
good
nor
bad;
for
Absalom
hated
Amnon,
because
he
had forced
his
sister
Tamar.
\par }{\PP \VS{23}After two
full
years,
Absalom
had sheep
shearers
in Baal Hazor,
which
is
beside
Ephraim;
and
Absalom
invited
all
the
king’s
sons.
\VS{24}Absalom
came
to
the
king
and
said, “See
now,
your
servant
has sheep
shearers.
Please
let
the
king
and
his
servants
go
with
your
servant.”
\par }{\PP \VS{25}The
king
said
to
Absalom, “No,
my
son,
let’s
not
all
go, lest
we
be
burdensome
to
you.”
He
pressed
him; however
he
would
not
go,
but
blessed
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{26}Then
Absalom
said, “If
not,
please
let
my
brother
Amnon
go
with
us.”
\par }{\PP The
king
said
to
him, “Why
should
he
go
with
you?”
\par }{\PP \VS{27}But
Absalom
pressed
him,
and
he
let
Amnon
and
all
the
king’s
sons
go
with
him.
\VS{28}Absalom
commanded
his
servants,
saying, “Mark
now,
when
Amnon’s
heart
is merry
with
wine;
and
when
I
tell
you, ‘Strike
Amnon,’
then
kill
him.
Don’t
be
afraid.
Haven’t
I
commanded
you?
Be
courageous,
and
be
valiant!”
\par }{\PP \VS{29}The
servants
of
Absalom
did
to
Amnon
as
Absalom
had
commanded.
Then
all
the
king’s
sons
arose,
and
every
man
got
up
on
his
mule
and
fled.
\par }{\PP \VS{30}While
they
were
on
the
way,
the
news
came
to
David,
saying, “Absalom
has
slain
all
the
king’s
sons,
and
there
is
not
one
of
them
left!”
\par }{\PP \VS{31}Then
the
king
arose,
and
tore
his
garments,
and
lay
on
the
earth;
and
all
his
servants
stood
by
with
their
clothes
torn.
\VS{32}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.
\VS{33}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
only
Amnon
is
dead.”
\VS{34}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.
\VS{35}Jonadab
said
to
the
king, “Behold,
the
king’s
sons
are
coming!
It
is
as
your
servant
said.”
\VS{36}As soon
as
he
had
finished
speaking,
behold,
the
king’s
sons
came,
and
lifted
up
their
voices
and
wept.
The
king
also
and
all
his
servants
wept
bitterly.
\par }{\PP \VS{37}But
Absalom
fled
and
went
to
Talmai
the
son
of Ammihur,
king
of
Geshur.
David
mourned
for
his
son
every
day.
\VS{38}So
Absalom
fled
and
went
to
Geshur,
and
was
there
three
years.
\VS{39}King
David
longed
to
go
out
to
Absalom,
for
he
was
comforted
concerning
Amnon,
since
he
was
dead.

\par }\Chap{14}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
Joab
the
son
of
Zeruiah
perceived
that
the
king’s
heart
was
toward
Absalom.
\VS{2}Joab
sent
to
Tekoa
and
brought
a
wise
woman
from
there,
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
mourned
a
long
time
for
the
dead.
\VS{3}Go
in
to
the
king
and
speak
like
this
to
him.”
So
Joab
put
the
words
in
her
mouth.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}When
the
woman
of
Tekoa
spoke
to
the
king, she
fell
on
her
face
to
the
ground, showed
respect,
and
said, “Help, O
king!”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}The
king
said
to
her, “What ails
you?”
\par }{\PP She
answered, “Truly
I
am
a
widow,
and
my
husband
is
dead.
\VS{6}Your
servant
had
two
sons;
and
they
both fought
together
in
the
field,
and
there
was
no
one
to part
them,
but
the
one
struck
the
other
and
killed
him.
\VS{7}Behold,
the
whole
family
has
risen
against
your
servant,
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
they
would
quench
my
coal
which
is
left,
and
would
leave
to
my
husband
neither
name
nor remainder
on
the
surface
of
the
earth.”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}The
king
said
to
the
woman, “Go
to
your
house,
and
I
will
give
a
command
concerning
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}The
woman
of
Tekoa
said
to
the
king, “My
lord,
O
king,
may
the
iniquity
be
on
me,
and
on
my
father’s
house;
and
may
the
king
and
his
throne
be guiltless.”
\par }{\PP \VS{10}The
king
said, “Whoever
says
anything
to
you,
bring
him
to
me,
and
he
will
not
bother
you
any
more.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Then
she
said, “Please
let
the
king
remember
Yahweh
your
God,
that
the
avenger
of
blood
destroy
not
any
more, lest
they
destroy
my
son.”
\par }{\PP He
said, “As
Yahweh
lives,
not
one
hair
of
your
son
shall
fall
to
the
earth.”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Then
the
woman
said, “Please
let
your
servant
speak
a
word
to
my
lord
the
king.”
\par }{\PP He
said, “Say
on.”
\par }{\PP \VS{13}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.
\VS{14}For
we
must
die,
and
are
like
water
spilled
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.
\VS{15}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.
Your
servant
said, ‘I
will
now
speak
to
the
king;
it
may
be
that
the
king
will
perform
the
request
of
his
servant.’
\VS{16}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.
\VS{17}Then
your
servant
said, ‘Please
let
the
word
of
my
lord
the
king
bring
rest;
for
as
an
angel
of
God,
so
is
my
lord
the
king
to
discern
good
and
bad.
May
Yahweh,
your
God,
be
with
you.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then
the
king
answered
the
woman, “Please
don’t
hide
anything
from
me
that
I
ask
you.”
\par }{\PP The
woman
said, “Let
my
lord
the
king
now
speak.”
\par }{\PP \VS{19}The
king
said, “Is
the
hand
of
Joab
with
you
in
all
this?”
\par }{\PP The
woman
answered, “As
your
soul
lives,
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 urged
me,
and
he
put
all
these
words
in
the
mouth
of
your
servant.
\VS{20}Your
servant
Joab
has
done
this
thing
to
change
the
face
of
the
matter.
My
lord
is
wise, according
to
the
wisdom
of
an
angel
of
God,
to
know
all
things
that
are
in
the
earth.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}The
king
said
to
Joab, “Behold
now,
I
have granted
this
thing.
Go therefore,
and
bring
the
young
man
Absalom
back.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Joab
fell
to
the
ground
on
his
face, showed
respect,
and
blessed
the
king.
Joab
said, “Today
your
servant
knows
that
I
have
found
favor
in
your
sight,
my
lord, O
king,
in
that
the
king
has performed
the
request
of
his
servant.”
\par }{\PP \VS{23}So
Joab
arose
and
went
to
Geshur,
and
brought
Absalom
to
Jerusalem.
\VS{24}The
king
said, “Let
him return
to
his
own
house,
but
let
him
not
see
my
face.”
So
Absalom
returned
to
his
own
house,
and
didn’t
see
the
king’s
face.
\VS{25}Now
in
all
Israel
there
was
no
one
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
defect
in
him.
\VS{26}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,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 14:26 }
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 200 shekels is about 2 kilograms or about 4.4 pounds.}
after
the
king’s
weight.
\VS{27}Three
sons
were
born
to
Absalom,
and
one
daughter,
whose
name
was
Tamar.
She
was
a
woman
with
a
beautiful
face.
\VS{28}Absalom
lived
two
full
years
in
Jerusalem,
and
he
didn’t
see
the
king’s
face.
\VS{29}Then
Absalom
sent
for
Joab,
to
send
him
to
the
king,
but
he
would
not
come
to
him.
Then
he
sent
again
a
second
time,
but
he
would
not
come.
\VS{30}Therefore
he
said
to
his
servants, “Behold,
Joab’s
field
is
near mine,
and
he
has
barley
there. Go
and
set
it
on
fire.”
So
Absalom’s
servants
set
the
field
on
fire.
\par }{\PP \VS{31}Then
Joab
arose
and
came
to
Absalom
to
his
house,
and
said
to
him, “Why
have
your
servants
set
my
field
on
fire?”
\par }{\PP \VS{32}Absalom
answered
Joab, “Behold,
I
sent
to
you,
saying, ‘Come
here,
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;
and
if
there
is
iniquity
in
me,
let
him
kill
me.” ’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{33}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.

\par }\Chap{15}{\PP \VerseOne{1}After
this,
Absalom
prepared
a
chariot
and
horses
for
himself,
and
fifty
men
to
run
before
him.
\VS{2}Absalom
rose
up
early,
and
stood
beside
the
way
of
the
gate.
When
any
man
had
a
suit
which
should
come
to
the
king
for
judgment,
then
Absalom
called
to
him,
and
said, “What
city
are
you
from?”
\par }{\PP He
said, “Your
servant
is
of
one
of
the
tribes
of
Israel.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Absalom
said
to
him, “Behold,
your
matters
are
good
and
right;
but
there
is
no
man deputized
by
the
king
to
hear
you.”
\VS{4}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!”
\VS{5}It
was
so,
that
when
any
man
came
near
to
bow
down
to
him,
he
stretched
out
his
hand,
took
hold
of
him,
and
kissed
him.
\VS{6}Absalom
did
this sort
of
thing
to
all
Israel
who
came
to
the
king
for
judgment.
So
Absalom
stole
the
hearts
of
the
men
of
Israel.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}At
the
end
of
forty
years,
Absalom
said
to
the
king, “Please
let
me
go
and
pay
my
vow,
which
I
have
vowed
to
Yahweh,
in
Hebron.
\VS{8}For
your
servant
vowed
a
vow
while
I
stayed
at
Geshur
in
Syria,
saying, ‘If
Yahweh
shall
indeed
bring
me
again
to
Jerusalem,
then
I
will
serve
Yahweh.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}The
king
said
to
him, “Go
in
peace.”
\par }{\PP So
he
arose
and
went
to
Hebron.
\VS{10}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!’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Two
hundred
men
went
with
Absalom
out
of
Jerusalem,
who
were
invited,
and
went
in
their simplicity;
and
they
didn’t
know
anything.
\VS{12}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.
\VS{13}A
messenger
came
to
David,
saying, “The
hearts
of
the
men
of
Israel
are
after
Absalom.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}David
said
to
all
his
servants
who
were
with
him
at
Jerusalem, “Arise!
Let’s
flee,
or
else
none
of
us
will
escape
from
Absalom.
Hurry
to depart,
lest
he
overtake
us
quickly
and
bring
down
evil
on
us,
and
strike
the
city
with
the
edge
of
the
sword.”
\par }{\PP \VS{15}The
king’s
servants
said
to
the
king, “Behold,
your
servants
are ready
to
do
whatever
my
lord
the
king
chooses.”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}The
king
went
out,
and
all
his
household
after
him.
The
king
left
ten
women,
who
were
concubines,
to
keep
the
house.
\VS{17}The
king
went
out,
and
all
the
people
after
him;
and
they
stayed
in Beth Merhak.
\VS{18}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}Then
the
king
said
to
Ittai
the
Gittite, “Why
do
you
also
go
with
us?
Return,
and
stay
with
the
king;
for
you
are
a
foreigner
and
also
an
exile.
Return
to
your
own
place.
\VS{20}Whereas
you
came
but
yesterday,
should
I
today
make
you
go
up
and
down
with
us,
since
I
go
where
I
may?
Return,
and
take
back
your
brothers. Mercy
and
truth
be
with
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}Ittai
answered
the
king
and
said, “As
Yahweh
lives,
and
as
my
lord
the
king
lives,
surely
in
what
place
my
lord
the
king
is,
whether
for
death
or
for
life,
your
servant
will
be
there
also.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}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.
\VS{23}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.
\VS{24}Behold,
Zadok
also
came,
and
all
the
Levites
with
him,
bearing
the
ark
of
the
covenant
of
God;
and
they
set
down
God’s
ark;
and
Abiathar
went
up
until
all
the
people
finished
passing
out
of
the
city.
\VS{25}The
king
said
to
Zadok, “Carry
God’s
ark
back
into
the
city.
If
I
find
favor
in
Yahweh’s
eyes,
he
will
bring
me
again,
and
show
me both
it
and
his habitation;
\VS{26}but
if
he
says, ‘I
have
no
delight
in
you,’
behold,
here
I
am.
Let
him
do
to
me
as
seems
good
to
him.”
\VS{27}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.
\VS{28}Behold,
I
will stay
at
the
fords
of
the
wilderness
until
word
comes
from
you
to
inform
me.”
\VS{29}Zadok therefore
and
Abiathar carried
God’s
ark
to
Jerusalem
again;
and
they
stayed
there.
\VS{30}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.
All
the
people
who
were
with
him
each
covered
his
head,
and
they
went
up,
weeping
as
they
went
up.
\par }{\PP \VS{31}Someone
told
David,
saying, “Ahithophel
is
among
the
conspirators
with
Absalom.”
\par }{\PP David
said, “Yahweh,
please turn
the
counsel
of
Ahithophel into
foolishness.”
\par }{\PP \VS{32}When
David
had
come
to
the
top,
where
God
was
worshiped,
behold,
Hushai
the
Archite
came
to
meet
him
with
his
tunic
torn
and
earth
on
his
head.
\VS{33}David
said
to
him, “If
you
pass
on
with
me,
then
you
will
be
a
burden
to
me;
\VS{34}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
I
will
now
be
your
servant;
then
will
you defeat
for
me
the
counsel
of
Ahithophel.’
\VS{35}Don’t
you
have
Zadok
and
Abiathar
the
priests
there
with
you?
Therefore
whatever
you
hear
out
of
the
king’s
house,
tell
it
to
Zadok
and
Abiathar
the
priests.
\VS{36}Behold,
they
have
there
with
them
their
two
sons,
Ahimaaz,
Zadok’s
son,
and
Jonathan,
Abiathar’s
son.
Send
to
me
everything
that
you
shall
hear
by
them.”
\par }{\PP \VS{37}So
Hushai,
David’s
friend,
came
into
the
city;
and
Absalom
came
into
Jerusalem.

\par }\Chap{16}{\PP \VerseOne{1}When
David
was
a
little past
the
top,
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 container
of
wine.
\VS{2}The
king
said
to
Ziba, “What
do
you mean
by
these?”
\par }{\PP 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
those
who
are
faint
in
the
wilderness
may
drink.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}The
king
said, “Where
is
your
master’s
son?”
\par }{\PP Ziba
said
to
the
king, “Behold,
he
is
staying
in
Jerusalem;
for
he
said, ‘Today
the
house
of
Israel
will
restore
me
the
kingdom
of
my
father.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then
the
king
said
to
Ziba, “Behold,
all
that belongs
to
Mephibosheth
is yours.”
\par }{\PP Ziba
said, “I
bow
down. Let
me
find
favor
in
your
sight,
my
lord, O
king.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}When
King
David
came
to
Bahurim,
behold,
a
man
of
the
family
of
Saul’s
house
came
out,
whose
name
was
Shimei,
the
son
of
Gera.
He
came
out
and
cursed
as
he
came.
\VS{6}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.
\VS{7}Shimei
said
when
he
cursed, “Be
gone,
be
gone,
you
man
of
blood,
and
wicked
fellow!
\VS{8}Yahweh
has
returned
on
you
all
the
blood
of
Saul’s
house,
in
whose
place
you
have
reigned!
Yahweh
has
delivered
the
kingdom
into
the
hand
of
Absalom
your
son!
Behold,
you
are caught
by
your
own mischief,
because
you
are
a
man
of
blood!”
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Then
Abishai
the
son
of
Zeruiah
said
to
the
king, “Why
should
this
dead
dog
curse
my
lord
the
king?
Please
let
me
go
over
and
take
off
his
head.”
\VS{10}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?’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}David
said
to
Abishai
and
to
all
his
servants, “Behold,
my
son,
who
came
out
of
my
bowels,
seeks
my
life.
How
much
more
this
Benjamite,
now?
Leave
him alone,
and
let
him
curse;
for
Yahweh
has invited
him.
\VS{12}It
may
be
that
Yahweh
will
look
on
the
wrong done
to
me,
and
that
Yahweh
will
repay
me
good
for
the
cursing
of
me
today.”
\VS{13}So
David
and
his
men
went
by
the
way;
and
Shimei
went
along
on
the hillside opposite
him
and
cursed
as
he
went,
threw
stones
at
him,
and
threw
dust.
\VS{14}The
king
and
all
the
people
who
were
with
him
arrived
weary;
and
he
refreshed
himself
there.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Absalom
and
all
the
people,
the
men
of
Israel,
came
to
Jerusalem,
and
Ahithophel
with
him.
\VS{16}When
Hushai
the
Archite,
David’s
friend,
had
come
to
Absalom,
Hushai
said
to
Absalom, “Long
live
the
king!
Long
live
the
king!”
\par }{\PP \VS{17}Absalom
said
to
Hushai, “Is
this
your
kindness
to
your
friend?
Why
didn’t
you
go
with
your
friend?”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Hushai
said
to
Absalom, “No;
but
whomever
Yahweh
and
this
people
and
all
the
men
of
Israel
have
chosen,
I
will
be
his,
and
I
will
stay
with
him.
\VS{19}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
I
will
be
in
your
presence.”
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Then
Absalom
said
to
Ahithophel, “Give
your
counsel
what
we
shall
do.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}Ahithophel
said
to
Absalom, “Go
in
to
your
father’s
concubines
that
he
has
left
to
keep
the
house.
Then
all
Israel
will
hear
that
you
are abhorred
by
your
father.
Then
the
hands
of
all
who
are
with
you
will
be
strong.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}So
they
spread
a
tent
for
Absalom
on
the
top
of
the house,
and
Absalom
went
in
to
his
father’s
concubines
in
the
sight
of
all
Israel.
\par }{\PP \VS{23}The
counsel
of
Ahithophel,
which
he
gave
in
those
days,
was
as
if
a
man
inquired
at
the inner sanctuary
of
God.
All
the
counsel
of
Ahithophel
was
like
this
both
with
David
and
with
Absalom.

\par }\Chap{17}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Moreover
Ahithophel
said
to
Absalom, “Let
me
now
choose
twelve
thousand
men,
and
I
will
arise
and
pursue
after
David
tonight.
\VS{2}I
will
come
on
him
while
he
is
weary
and exhausted,
and
will
make
him
afraid.
All
the
people
who
are
with
him
will
flee.
I
will
strike
the
king
only,
\VS{3}and
I
will
bring
back
all
the
people
to
you.
The
man
whom
you
seek
is
as
if
all
returned.
All
the
people
shall
be
in
peace.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}The
saying
pleased
Absalom well,
and
all
the
elders
of
Israel.
\VS{5}Then
Absalom
said, “Now
call
Hushai
the
Archite
also,
and
let’s
hear
likewise
what
he
says.”
\par }{\PP \VS{6}When
Hushai
had
come
to
Absalom,
Absalom
spoke
to
him,
saying, “Ahithophel
has
spoken
like
this.
Shall
we
do
what
he
says?
If
not,
speak
up.”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Hushai
said
to
Absalom, “The
counsel
that
Ahithophel
has
given
this
time
is
not
good.”
\VS{8}Hushai
said moreover, “You
know
your
father
and
his
men,
that
they
are
mighty
men,
and
they
are
fierce
in
their minds,
like
a
bear robbed
of
her cubs
in
the
field.
Your
father
is
a
man
of
war,
and
will
not lodge
with
the
people.
\VS{9}Behold,
he
is
now
hidden
in
some
pit,
or
in
some
other
place.
It
will
happen,
when
some
of
them
have
fallen
at
the
first,
that
whoever
hears
it
will
say, ‘There
is
a
slaughter among
the
people
who
follow
Absalom!’
\VS{10}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.
\VS{11}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.
\VS{12}So
we
will
come
on
him
in
some
place
where
he
will
be
found,
and
we
will light
on
him
as
the
dew
falls
on
the
ground,
then
we
will
not
leave
so
much
as
one
of
him
and
of
all
the
men
who
are
with
him.
\VS{13}Moreover,
if
he
has
gone
into
a
city,
then
all
Israel
will
bring
ropes
to
that
city,
and
we
will draw
it
into
the
river,
until
there
isn’t
one small
stone
found
there.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}Then
Hushai
said
to
Zadok
and
to
Abiathar
the
priests, “Ahithophel
counseled
Absalom
and
the
elders
of
Israel
that
way;
and
I
have
counseled
this
way.
\VS{16}Now
therefore
send
quickly,
and
tell
David,
saying, ‘Don’t lodge
tonight
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.’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{17}Now
Jonathan
and
Ahimaaz
were
staying
by En Rogel;
and
a
female
servant used
to
go
and
report
to
them,
and
they
went
and
told
King
David;
for
they
couldn’t risk being
seen
coming
into
the
city.
\VS{18}But
a
boy
saw
them,
and
told
Absalom.
Then
they
both
went
away
quickly
and
came
to
the
house
of
a
man
in
Bahurim,
who
had
a
well
in
his
court;
and
they
went
down
there.
\VS{19}The
woman
took
and
spread
the
covering
over
the
well’s
mouth,
and
spread
out
crushed
grain
on
it;
and
nothing
was
known.
\VS{20}Absalom’s
servants
came
to
the
woman
to
the
house;
and
they
said, “Where
are
Ahimaaz
and
Jonathan?”
\par }{\PP The
woman
said
to
them, “They
have
gone
over
the
brook
of
water.”
\par }{\PP When
they
had
sought
and could
not
find
them,
they
returned
to
Jerusalem.
\VS{21}After
they
had departed,
they
came
up
out
of
the
well
and
went
and
told
King
David;
and
they
said
to
David, “Arise
and
pass
quickly
over
the
water;
for
thus
has
Ahithophel
counseled
against
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{23}When
Ahithophel
saw
that
his
counsel
was
not followed,
he
saddled
his
donkey,
arose,
and
went
home
to
his
city,
set
his
house
in
order,
and hanged
himself;
and
he
died,
and
was
buried
in
the
tomb
of
his
father.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}Then
David
came
to
Mahanaim.
Absalom
passed
over
the
Jordan,
he
and
all
the
men
of
Israel
with
him.
\VS{25}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.
\VS{26}Israel
and
Absalom
encamped
in
the
land
of
Gilead.
\par }{\PP \VS{27}When
David
had
come
to
Mahanaim,
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,
\VS{28}brought
beds,
basins, earthen
vessels,
wheat,
barley,
meal,
parched
grain,
beans,
lentils,
roasted
grain,
\VS{29}honey,
butter,
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,
weary,
and
thirsty
in
the
wilderness.”

\par }\Chap{18}{\PP \VerseOne{1}David
counted
the
people
who
were
with
him,
and
set
captains
of
thousands
and
captains
of
hundreds
over
them.
\VS{2}David
sent
the
people
out,
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
also
surely
go
out
with
you
myself.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}But
the
people
said, “You
shall
not
go
out,
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.”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}The
king
said
to
them, “I
will
do
what
seems
best
to
you.”
\par }{\PP The
king
stood
beside
the
gate,
and
all
the
people
went
out
by
hundreds
and
by
thousands.
\VS{5}The
king
commanded
Joab
and
Abishai
and
Ittai,
saying, “Deal
gently
for
my
sake
with
the
young
man
Absalom.”
All
the
people
heard
when
the
king
commanded
all
the
captains
concerning
Absalom.
\par }{\PP \VS{6}So
the
people
went
out
into
the
field
against
Israel;
and
the
battle
was
in
the
forest
of
Ephraim.
\VS{7}The
people
of
Israel
were
struck
there
before
David’s
servants,
and
there
was
a
great
slaughter
there
that
day
of
twenty
thousand
men.
\VS{8}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.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}Absalom
happened
to
meet
David’s
servants.
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
hanging
between
the
sky
and
earth;
and
the
mule
that
was
under
him
went
on.
\VS{10}A
certain
man
saw
it,
and
told
Joab,
and
said, “Behold,
I
saw
Absalom
hanging
in
an
oak.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Joab
said
to
the
man
who
told
him, “Behold,
you
saw
it,
and
why
didn’t
you
strike
him
there
to
the
ground?
I
would
have
given
you
ten pieces
of
silver
and
a sash.”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}The
man
said
to
Joab, “Though
I
should
receive
a
thousand pieces
of
silver
in
my
hand,
I
still wouldn’t
stretch
out
my
hand
against
the
king’s
son;
for
in
our
hearing
the
king
commanded
you
and
Abishai
and
Ittai,
saying, ‘Beware
that
no
one touch
the
young
man
Absalom.’
\VS{13}Otherwise,
if
I
had dealt
falsely
against
his
life (and
there
is
no
matter
hidden
from
the
king),
then
you
yourself
would
have
set
yourself
against
me.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}Then
Joab
said, “I’m
not going
to
wait
like
this
with
you.”
He
took
three darts
in
his
hand
and
thrust
them
through
Absalom’s
heart
while
he
was
still
alive
in
the
middle
of
the
oak.
\VS{15}Ten
young
men
who
bore
Joab’s
armor
surrounded
and
struck
Absalom,
and
killed
him.
\VS{16}Joab
blew
the
trumpet,
and
the
people
returned
from
pursuing
after
Israel;
for
Joab held
the
people
back.
\VS{17}They
took
Absalom
and
cast
him
into
a
great
pit
in
the
forest,
and raised
over
him
a
very
great
heap
of
stones.
Then
all
Israel
fled,
each
to
his
own
tent.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Now
Absalom
in
his
lifetime
had
taken
and reared
up
for
himself
the
pillar
which
is
in
the
king’s
valley,
for
he
said, “I
have
no
son
to
keep
my
name
in
memory.”
He
called
the
pillar
after
his own
name.
It
is
called
Absalom’s
monument,
to
this
day.
\par }{\PP \VS{19}Then
Ahimaaz
the
son
of
Zadok
said, “Let
me
now
run
and
carry
the
king
news,
how
Yahweh
has avenged
him
of
his
enemies.”
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Joab
said
to
him, “You
must
not
be
the
bearer
of
news
today,
but
you
must
carry
news
another
day.
But
today
you
must
carry
no
news,
because
the
king’s
son
is
dead.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}Then
Joab
said
to
the
Cushite, “Go,
tell
the
king
what
you
have
seen!”
The
Cushite
bowed
himself
to
Joab,
and
ran.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Then
Ahimaaz
the
son
of
Zadok
said
yet
again
to
Joab, “But
come
what
may,
please
let
me
also
run
after
the
Cushite.”
\par }{\PP Joab
said, “Why
do
you
want
to
run,
my
son,
since
you
will
have
no
reward
for
the
news?”
\par }{\PP \VS{23}“But
come
what
may,”
he
said, “I
will
run.”
\par }{\PP He
said
to
him, “Run!”
Then
Ahimaaz
ran
by
the
way
of
the
Plain,
and outran
the
Cushite.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}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.
\VS{25}The
watchman
shouted
and
told
the
king.
The
king
said, “If
he
is
alone, there
is
news
in
his
mouth.”
He
came closer
and closer.
\par }{\PP \VS{26}The
watchman
saw
another
man
running;
and
the
watchman
called
to
the
gatekeeper
and
said, “Behold,
a
man
running
alone!”
\par }{\PP The
king
said, “He
also
brings
news.”
\par }{\PP \VS{27}The
watchman
said, “I
think
the
running
of
the
first
one
is
like
the
running
of
Ahimaaz
the
son
of
Zadok.”
\par }{\PP The
king
said, “He
is
a
good
man,
and
comes
with
good
news.”
\par }{\PP \VS{28}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
is
Yahweh
your
God,
who
has
delivered
up
the
men
who
lifted
up
their
hand
against
my
lord
the
king!”
\par }{\PP \VS{29}The
king
said, “Is
it
well
with
the
young
man
Absalom?”
\par }{\PP 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.”
\par }{\PP \VS{30}The
king
said, “Come
and
stand
here.”
He
came
and
stood
still.
\par }{\PP \VS{31}Behold,
the
Cushite
came.
The
Cushite
said, “Good
news
for
my
lord
the
king,
for
Yahweh
has avenged
you
today
of
all
those
who
rose
up
against
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{32}The
king
said
to
the
Cushite, “Is
it
well
with
the
young
man
Absalom?”
\par }{\PP The
Cushite
answered, “May
the
enemies
of
my
lord
the
king,
and
all
who
rise
up
against
you
to
do
you
harm,
be
as
that
young
man
is.”
\par }{\PP \VS{33}The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

\par }\Chap{19}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Joab
was
told, “Behold,
the
king
weeps
and mourns
for
Absalom.”
\VS{2}The victory
that day
was turned
into
mourning
among
all
the people,
for
the people
heard
it said
that day, “The
king grieves
for
his son.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}The
people sneaked
into
the
city
that
day,
as
people
who
are ashamed steal
away
when
they flee
in
battle.
\VS{4}The king covered
his face,
and
the king cried
with
a loud voice, “My son Absalom, Absalom,
my son,
my son!”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}Joab came into
the house
to
the
king,
and said, “Today
you
have shamed
the
faces
of
all
your servants
who today
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;
\VS{6}in
that
you love
those
who hate
you
and hate
those
who love
you.
For
you
have
declared
today
that princes
and
servants
are
nothing
to
you.
For
today
I perceive
that
if Absalom
had
lived
and
we
had
all died
today,
then
it
would
have pleased
you well.
\VS{7}Now
therefore arise, go
out
and speak
to comfort
your
servants;
for
I
swear
by Yahweh,
if
you
don’t go
out,
not
a
man
will stay
with
you
this night.
That
would
be worse
to
you
than
all
the evil
that
has happened
to
you
from
your youth until
now.”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Then
the
king
arose
and sat
in
the gate.
The
people
were
all
told, “Behold,
the
king
is sitting
in
the gate.”
All
the
people
came
before
the
king.
Now Israel
had fled
every
man
to
his tent.
\VS{9}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
has
fled
out
of
the
land
from Absalom.
\VS{10}Absalom, whom
we anointed
over
us,
is dead
in battle.
Now
therefore why don’t
you
speak
a
word
of bringing
the
king back?”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}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,
since
the speech
of all
Israel
has
come
to
the
king,
to
return
him
to
his house?
\VS{12}You
are
my brothers.
You
are
my bone
and
my flesh.
Why
then
are
you
the
last
to
bring
back
the
king?’
\VS{13}Say
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 instead
of Joab.’ ”
\VS{14}He bowed
the heart
of
all
the
men
of Judah,
even
as
one
man,
so
that
they
sent
to
the king,
saying, “Return,
you
and
all
your servants.”
\par }{\PP \VS{15}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.
\VS{16}Shimei
the son
of Gera,
the Benjamite,
who
was
of Bahurim, hurried
and
came down
with
the men
of
Judah
to
meet
King David.
\VS{17}There
were
a thousand
men
of Benjamin
with
him,
and Ziba
the servant
of Saul’s house,
and
his fifteen
sons
and
his twenty
servants
with
him;
and
they
went through
the Jordan
in
the
presence
of
the
king.
\VS{18}A ferry boat
went
to bring
over
the
king’s
household,
and
to do what
he thought good.
\par }{\PP Shimei
the
son
of Gera fell
down
before
the
king
when
he
had come
over
the
Jordan.
\VS{19}He said
to
the
king, “Don’t let
my lord impute iniquity
to
me,
or 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.
\VS{20}For
your
servant knows
that
I
have sinned.
Therefore behold,
I
have
come
today
as
the
first
of
all
the house
of
Joseph
to
go
down
to
meet
my
lord
the
king.”
\par }{\PP \VS{21}But Abishai
the son
of Zeruiah
answered, “Shouldn’t Shimei
be
put
to death
for
this,
because
he cursed Yahweh’s anointed?”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}David
said, “What
have
I
to do
with
you,
you
sons
of
Zeruiah,
that
you
should
be adversaries
to
me today?
Shall
any
man
be
put
to
death today
in Israel?
For
don’t
I know
that
I
am king
over Israel today?”
\VS{23}The
king
said
to Shimei, “You
will
not
die.”
The
king swore
to
him.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}Mephibosheth
the son
of
Saul
came down
to meet
the
king;
and
he
had
neither groomed
his feet,
nor trimmed
his beard,
nor washed
his clothes,
from
the day
the
king departed until
the day
he
came home
in peace.
\VS{25}When
he
had
come
to Jerusalem
to
meet
the
king,
the
king said
to
him, “Why
didn’t
you
go
with
me,
Mephibosheth?”
\par }{\PP \VS{26}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
with
the
king,’
because
your servant
is lame.
\VS{27}He
has slandered
your
servant
to
my
lord
the
king,
but
my
lord
the
king
is
as
an angel
of
God.
Therefore do
what
is good
in
your eyes.
\VS{28}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 appeal any more
to
the
king?”
\par }{\PP \VS{29}The
king
said
to
him, “Why
do
you speak
any
more
of
your matters?
I say,
you
and Ziba divide
the land.”
\par }{\PP \VS{30}Mephibosheth
said
to
the
king, “Yes, let
him take
all,
because
my lord
the
king
has come
in peace
to
his own house.”
\par }{\PP \VS{31}Barzillai
the Gileadite
came down
from Rogelim;
and
he
went
over
the Jordan
with
the
king
to conduct
him
over
the Jordan.
\VS{32}Now
Barzillai
was
a very aged man,
even eighty years old.
He
had provided
the
king
with sustenance
while
he stayed
at Mahanaim,
for
he
was
a very great man.
\VS{33}The
king said
to
Barzillai, “Come
over
with
me,
and
I
will
sustain
you
with
me
in Jerusalem.”
\par }{\PP \VS{34}Barzillai
said
to
the
king, “How many
are
the days
of
the years
of
my life,
that
I
should
go
up
with
the
king
to
Jerusalem?
\VS{35}I am eighty
years old,
today.
Can
I discern between good
and bad?
Can
your servant taste
what
I eat
or
what
I drink?
Can
I hear
the voice
of singing
men
and singing women
any
more?
Why
then
should
your servant
be
a
burden
to
my lord
the
king?
\VS{36}Your
servant
will
just
go
over
the Jordan
with
the
king.
Why
should
the
king repay
me
with
such
a reward?
\VS{37}Please let
your
servant
turn back again,
that
I
may die
in
my own city,
by
the grave
of
my father
and
my mother.
But behold,
your
servant Chimham; let
him
go
over
with
my lord
the
king;
and
do
to
him
what
shall seem good
to
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{38}The
king
answered, “Chimham
shall
go
over
with
me,
and
I
will
do
to
him
that
which
shall
seem
good
to
you.
Whatever
you request
of
me,
that
I
will
do
for
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{39}All
the
people went
over
the Jordan,
and
the
king went
over.
Then
the
king kissed Barzillai
and blessed
him;
and
he returned
to
his
own
place.
\VS{40}So
the
king
went
over
to Gilgal,
and Chimham
went
over
with
him.
All
the
people
of Judah
brought
the
king
over,
and
also half
the
people
of
Israel.
\VS{41}Behold,
all
the
men
of
Israel came
to
the
king,
and said
to
the
king, “Why
have
our brothers
the
men
of
Judah stolen
you
away,
and brought
the
king
and
his household,
over
the Jordan,
and
all David’s
men
with
him?”
\par }{\PP \VS{42}All
the
men
of
Judah
answered
the
men
of
Israel, “Because
the
king
is
a
close
relative
to
us.
Why
then
are
you angry
about
this matter?
Have
we eaten
at
all
at
the
king’s cost?
Or
has
he given
us
any gift?”
\par }{\PP \VS{43}The
men
of
Israel
answered
the
men
of
Judah,
and
said, “We
have ten
parts
in
the
king,
and
we
have
also
more claim
to David
than
you.
Why
then
did
you despise
us,
that
our
advice
should
not
be
first
had
in
bringing
back
our
king?”
The
words
of
the
men
of
Judah
were fiercer
than
the
words
of
the
men
of
Israel.

\par }\Chap{20}{\PP \VerseOne{1}There
happened
to
be
there
a
wicked
fellow,
whose
name
was
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri,
a Benjamite;
and
he
blew
the
trumpet,
and
said, “We
have
no
portion
in
David,
neither
have
we
inheritance
in
the
son
of
Jesse.
Every
man
to
his
tents,
Israel!”
\par }{\PP \VS{2}So
all
the
men
of
Israel
went
up
from
following
David,
and
followed
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri;
but
the
men
of
Judah
joined
with
their
king,
from
the
Jordan
even
to
Jerusalem.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}David
came
to
his
house
at
Jerusalem;
and
the
king
took
the
ten
women
his
concubines,
whom
he
had
left
to
keep
the
house,
and
put
them
in custody
and
provided
them
with
sustenance,
but
didn’t
go
in
to
them.
So
they
were shut
up
to
the
day
of
their
death,
living
in
widowhood.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Then
the
king
said
to
Amasa, “Call
me
the
men
of
Judah
together
within
three
days,
and
be
here
present.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}So
Amasa went
to
call
the men
of
Judah
together,
but
he stayed longer
than
the
set
time
which
had
been
appointed
to
him.
\VS{6}David
said
to
Abishai, “Now
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri
will do
us
more harm
than
Absalom did.
Take
your
lord’s
servants
and
pursue
after
him,
lest
he
get
himself
fortified
cities,
and
escape
out
of
our
sight.”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Joab’s
men
went
out
after
him
with
the
Cherethites,
the
Pelethites,
and
all
the
mighty
men;
and
they
went
out
of
Jerusalem
to
pursue
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri.
\VS{8}When
they
were
at
the
great
stone
which
is
in
Gibeon,
Amasa
came
to
meet
them.
Joab
was
clothed
in
his
apparel
of
war
that
he
had
put
on,
and
on
it
was
a sash
with
a
sword
fastened
on
his
waist
in
its
sheath;
and
as
he
went
along
it
fell
out.
\VS{9}Joab
said
to
Amasa, “Is
it
well
with
you,
my
brother?”
Joab
took
Amasa
by
the
beard
with
his
right
hand
to kiss
him.
\VS{10}But
Amasa
took
no
heed
to
the
sword
that
was
in
Joab’s
hand.
So
he
struck
him
with
it
in
the
body
and
shed
out
his
bowels
to
the
ground,
and
didn’t
strike
him
again;
and
he
died.
Joab
and
Abishai
his
brother
pursued
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri.
\VS{11}One
of
Joab’s
young
men stood
by
him,
and
said, “He
who favors
Joab,
and
he
who
is
for
David, let
him
follow
Joab!”
\par }{\PP \VS{12}Amasa
lay
wallowing
in
his
blood
in
the
middle
of
the
highway.
When
the
man
saw
that
all
the
people
stood
still,
he
carried
Amasa
out
of
the
highway
into
the
field,
and
cast
a
garment
over
him
when
he
saw
that
everyone
who
came
by
him
stood
still.
\VS{13}When
he
was
removed
out
of
the
highway,
all
the
people
went
on
after
Joab
to
pursue
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri.
\VS{14}He
went
through
all
the
tribes
of
Israel
to
Abel,
to Beth Maacah,
and
all
the
Berites.
They
were gathered together,
and
went
also
after
him.
\VS{15}They
came
and besieged
him
in
Abel
of Beth Maacah,
and
they
cast
up
a mound
against
the
city,
and
it
stood
against
the
rampart;
and
all
the
people
who
were
with
Joab battered
the
wall
to
throw
it
down.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}Then
a
wise
woman
cried
out
of
the
city, “Hear,
hear!
Please
say
to
Joab, ‘Come
near
here,
that
I
may
speak
with
you.’ ”
\VS{17}He
came
near
to
her;
and
the
woman
said, “Are
you
Joab?”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “I
am.”
\par }{\PP Then she
said
to
him, “Hear
the
words
of
your
servant.”
\par }{\PP He
answered, “I’m
listening.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Then
she
spoke,
saying, “They used
to
say
in
old times, ‘They shall
surely
ask counsel
at
Abel,’
and
so
they settled
a matter.
\VS{19}I
am
among those
who
are peaceable
and
faithful
in
Israel.
You
seek
to
destroy
a
city
and
a
mother
in
Israel.
Why
will
you
swallow
up
Yahweh’s
inheritance?”
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Joab
answered, “Far be
it,
far be
it
from
me,
that
I
should
swallow
up
or
destroy.
\VS{21}The
matter
is
not
so.
But
a
man
of
the
hill
country
of
Ephraim,
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri
by
name,
has
lifted
up
his
hand
against
the
king,
even
against
David.
Just
deliver
him,
and
I
will depart
from
the
city.”
\par }{\PP The
woman
said
to
Joab, “Behold,
his
head
will
be
thrown
to
you
over
the
wall.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Then
the
woman
went
to
all
the
people
in
her
wisdom.
They
cut
off
the
head
of
Sheba
the
son
of
Bichri,
and
threw
it
out
to
Joab.
He
blew
the
trumpet,
and
they
were
dispersed
from
the
city,
every
man
to
his
tent.
Then
Joab
returned
to
Jerusalem
to
the
king.
\par }{\PP \VS{23}Now
Joab
was
over
all
the
army
of
Israel,
Benaiah
the
son
of
Jehoiada
was
over
the Cherethites
and
over
the
Pelethites,
\VS{24}Adoram
was
over
the
men subject
to
forced
labor,
Jehoshaphat
the
son
of
Ahilud
was
the
recorder,
\VS{25}Sheva
was
scribe,
Zadok
and
Abiathar
were
priests,
\VS{26}and
Ira
the
Jairite
was
chief minister
to
David.

\par }\Chap{21}{\PP \VerseOne{1}There
was
a
famine
in
the
days
of
David
for
three
years,
year
after
year;
and
David
sought
the
face
of
Yahweh.
Yahweh
said, “It
is
for
Saul,
and
for
his
bloody
house,
because
he
put
the
Gibeonites
to
death.”
\par }{\PP \VS{2}The
king
called
the
Gibeonites
and
said
to
them (now
the
Gibeonites
were
not
of
the
children
of
Israel,
but
of
the remnant
of
the
Amorites,
and
the
children
of
Israel
had
sworn
to
them;
and
Saul
sought
to
kill
them
in
his
zeal
for
the
children
of
Israel
and
Judah);
\VS{3}and
David
said
to
the
Gibeonites, “What
should
I
do
for
you?
And
with
what
should
I
make
atonement,
that
you
may
bless
Yahweh’s
inheritance?”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}The
Gibeonites
said
to
him, “It
is
no matter
of
silver
or
gold
between
us
and
Saul
or
his
house;
neither
is
it
for
us
to
put
any
man
to
death
in
Israel.”
\par }{\PP He
said, “I
will
do
for
you
whatever
you
say.”
\par }{\PP \VS{5}They
said
to
the
king, “The
man
who
consumed
us
and
who
plotted
against
us,
that
we
should
be
destroyed
from
remaining
in
any
of
the
borders
of
Israel,
\VS{6}let
seven
men
of
his
sons
be
delivered
to
us,
and
we
will
hang
them
up
to
Yahweh
in
Gibeah
of
Saul,
the
chosen
of
Yahweh.”
\par }{\PP The
king
said, “I
will
give
them.”
\par }{\PP \VS{7}But
the
king
spared
Mephibosheth
the
son
of
Jonathan
the
son
of
Saul,
because
of
Yahweh’s
oath
that
was
between
them,
between
David
and
Jonathan
the
son
of
Saul.
\VS{8}But
the
king
took
the
two
sons
of
Rizpah
the
daughter
of
Aiah,
whom
she
bore
to
Saul,
Armoni
and
Mephibosheth;
and
the
five
sons
of
Merab
the
daughter
of
Saul,
whom
she
bore
to
Adriel
the
son
of
Barzillai
the
Meholathite.
\VS{9}He
delivered
them
into
the
hands
of
the
Gibeonites;
and
they
hanged
them
on
the
mountain
before
Yahweh,
and
all
seven
of
them
fell
together.
They
were
put
to
death
in
the
days
of
harvest,
in
the
first
days,
at
the
beginning
of
barley
harvest.
\par }{\PP \VS{10}Rizpah
the
daughter
of
Aiah
took
sackcloth
and
spread
it
for
herself
on
the
rock,
from
the
beginning
of
harvest
until
water
poured
on
them
from
the
sky.
She
allowed
neither
the
birds
of
the
sky
to
rest
on
them
by
day,
nor
the
animals
of
the
field
by
night.
\VS{11}David
was
told
what
Rizpah
the
daughter
of
Aiah,
the
concubine
of
Saul,
had
done.
\VS{12}So
David went
and
took
the
bones
of
Saul
and
the
bones
of
Jonathan
his
son
from
the
men
of
Jabesh
Gilead,
who
had
stolen
them
from
the
street
of Beth Shan,
where
the
Philistines
had
hanged
them
in
the
day
that
the
Philistines
killed
Saul
in
Gilboa;
\VS{13}and
he
brought
up
from
there
the
bones
of
Saul
and
the
bones
of
Jonathan
his
son.
They
also
gathered
the
bones
of
those
who
were
hanged.
\VS{14}They
buried
the
bones
of
Saul
and
Jonathan
his
son
in
the
country
of
Benjamin
in
Zela,
in
the
tomb
of
Kish
his
father;
and
they performed
all
that
the
king
commanded.
After
that,
God
answered
prayer
for
the
land.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}The
Philistines
had
war
again
with
Israel;
and
David
went
down,
and
his
servants
with
him,
and
fought
against
the
Philistines.
David grew faint;
\VS{16}and Ishbibenob,
who
was
of
the sons
of
the giant,
the
weight
of
whose
spear
was
three
hundred
shekels
of
bronze
in
weight,
he being
armed
with
a
new sword,
thought
he
would
kill
David.
\VS{17}But
Abishai
the
son
of
Zeruiah
helped
him,
and
struck
the
Philistine
and
killed
him.
Then
the
men
of
David
swore
to
him,
saying, “Don’t
go
out
with
us
to
battle
any
more,
so
that
you
don’t
quench
the
lamp
of
Israel.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}After
this,
there
was
again
war
with
the
Philistines
at
Gob.
Then
Sibbecai
the
Hushathite
killed
Saph,
who
was
of
the sons
of
the giant.
\VS{19}There
was
again
war
with
the
Philistines
at
Gob,
and
Elhanan
the
son
of
Jaare-Oregim
the
Bethlehemite
killed
Goliath
the Gittite’s brother,
the staff
of
whose
spear
was
like
a
weaver’s
beam.
\VS{20}There
was
again
war
at
Gath, where
there
was
a
man
of great stature,
who
had
six
fingers
on
every
hand
and
six
toes
on
every
foot,
twenty-four
in
number,
and
he
also
was
born
to
the giant.
\VS{21}When
he defied
Israel,
Jonathan
the
son
of
Shimei,
David’s
brother,
killed
him.
\VS{22}These
four
were
born
to
the giant
in
Gath;
and
they
fell
by
the
hand
of
David
and
by
the
hand
of
his
servants.

\par }\Chap{22}{\PP \VerseOne{1}David
spoke
to
Yahweh
the
words
of
this
song
in
the
day
that
Yahweh
delivered
him
out
of
the
hand
of
all
his
enemies,
and
out
of
the
hand
of
Saul,
\VS{2}and
he
said:
\par }{\Q “Yahweh
is
my
rock,
\par }{\QB my fortress,
\par }{\QB and
my
deliverer, even mine;
\par }{\Q \VS{3}God
is
my
rock
in whom I
take
refuge;
\par }{\QB my
shield,
and
the
horn
of
my
salvation,
\par }{\QB my high tower,
and
my
refuge.
\par }{\QB My
savior,
you
save
me
from
violence.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}I
call
on
Yahweh,
who
is worthy
to
be
praised;
\par }{\QB So
shall
I
be
saved
from
my
enemies.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}For
the
waves
of
death
surrounded
me.
\par }{\QB The floods
of
ungodliness made
me afraid.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
cords
of
Sheol\FTNT{*}{{\FR 22:6 }
Sheol is the place of the dead.}
were
around
me.
\par }{\QB The
snares
of
death caught
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}In
my
distress,
I
called
on
Yahweh.
\par }{\QB Yes,
I
called
to
my
God.
\par }{\Q He
heard
my
voice
out
of
his
temple.
\par }{\QB My
cry
came
into
his
ears.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Then
the
earth
shook
and
trembled.
\par }{\QB The
foundations
of
heaven
quaked
and
were
shaken,
\par }{\QB because
he
was
angry.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Smoke
went
up
out
of
his
nostrils.
\par }{\QB Consuming
fire
came
out
of
his
mouth.
\par }{\QB Coals
were kindled
by
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}He
bowed
the
heavens also,
and
came
down.
\par }{\QB Thick
darkness
was
under
his
feet.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}He
rode
on
a
cherub,
and
flew.
\par }{\QB Yes,
he
was
seen
on
the
wings
of
the
wind.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}He
made
darkness
a
shelter
around
himself,
\par }{\QB gathering
of
waters,
and
thick
clouds
of
the
skies.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}At
the
brightness
before
him,
\par }{\QB coals
of
fire
were kindled.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Yahweh
thundered
from
heaven.
\par }{\QB The
Most High
uttered
his
voice.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}He
sent
out
arrows
and
scattered
them,
\par }{\QB lightning
and
confused
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Then
the
channels
of
the
sea
appeared.
\par }{\QB The
foundations
of
the
world
were
laid
bare
by
Yahweh’s
rebuke,
\par }{\QB at
the
blast
of
the
breath
of
his
nostrils.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}He
sent
from
on
high
and
he
took
me.
\par }{\QB He
drew
me
out
of
many
waters.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}He
delivered
me
from
my
strong
enemy,
\par }{\QB from
those
who
hated
me,
for
they were
too
mighty
for
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}They
came
on
me
in
the
day
of
my
calamity,
\par }{\QB but
Yahweh
was
my support.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}He
also
brought
me
out
into
a
large
place.
\par }{\QB He delivered
me,
because
he delighted
in
me.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}Yahweh
rewarded
me
according
to
my
righteousness.
\par }{\QB He
rewarded
me
according
to
the
cleanness
of
my
hands.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}For
I
have
kept
Yahweh’s
ways,
\par }{\QB and
have
not
wickedly
departed
from
my
God.
\par }{\Q \VS{23}For
all
his
ordinances
were
before
me.
\par }{\QB As
for
his
statutes,
I
didn’t
depart
from
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}I
was also
perfect toward
him.
\par }{\QB I
kept myself
from
my
iniquity.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}Therefore
Yahweh
has
rewarded
me according
to
my
righteousness,
\par }{\QB According
to
my
cleanness
in
his
eyesight.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{26}With
the
merciful
you
will
show
yourself
merciful.
\par }{\QB With
the
perfect
man
you
will
show
yourself
perfect.
\par }{\QB \VS{27}With
the
pure
you will
show
yourself
pure.
\par }{\QB With
the
crooked
you will
show
yourself shrewd.
\par }{\Q \VS{28}You
will
save
the
afflicted
people,
\par }{\QB but
your
eyes
are
on
the arrogant,
that
you
may
bring
them
down.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}For
you
are
my
lamp,
Yahweh.
\par }{\QB Yahweh
will
light up
my
darkness.
\par }{\Q \VS{30}For
by
you,
I
run against
a
troop.
\par }{\QB By
my
God,
I
leap over
a
wall.
\par }{\Q \VS{31}As
for
God,
his
way
is
perfect.
\par }{\QB Yahweh’s
word
is
tested.
\par }{\QB He
is
a
shield
to
all
those
who
take
refuge
in
him.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{32}For
who
is
God,
besides
Yahweh?
\par }{\QB Who
is
a
rock,
besides
our
God?
\par }{\Q \VS{33}God
is
my
strong
fortress.
\par }{\QB He makes
my
way
perfect.
\par }{\Q \VS{34}He makes
his
feet
like
hinds’
feet,
\par }{\QB and
sets
me
on
my
high
places.
\par }{\Q \VS{35}He
teaches
my
hands
to
war,
\par }{\QB so
that
my
arms
bend
a
bow
of
bronze.
\par }{\Q \VS{36}You
have also
given
me
the
shield
of
your
salvation.
\par }{\QB Your gentleness
has
made
me great.
\par }{\Q \VS{37}You
have
enlarged
my
steps
under
me.
\par }{\QB My
feet
have
not
slipped.
\par }{\Q \VS{38}I
have
pursued
my
enemies
and
destroyed
them.
\par }{\QB I
didn’t
turn
again
until
they
were
consumed.
\par }{\Q \VS{39}I
have
consumed
them,
\par }{\QB and
struck
them
through,
\par }{\QB so
that
they
can’t
arise.
\par }{\QB Yes,
they
have
fallen
under
my
feet.
\par }{\Q \VS{40}For
you have
armed
me
with
strength
for
the
battle.
\par }{\QB You have
subdued
under
me those
who
rose
up
against
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{41}You
have also
made
my
enemies
turn
their
backs
to
me,
\par }{\QB that
I might
cut
off
those
who
hate
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{42}They
looked,
but
there
was
no
one
to
save;
\par }{\QB even
to
Yahweh,
but
he
didn’t
answer
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{43}Then
I
beat
them
as small
as
the
dust
of
the
earth.
\par }{\QB I
crushed
them
as
the
mire
of
the
streets,
and
spread
them
abroad.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{44}You
also
have
delivered
me
from
the strivings
of
my
people.
\par }{\QB You
have
kept
me
to
be
the
head
of
the
nations.
\par }{\QB A
people whom
I
have
not
known
will
serve
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{45}The
foreigners
will
submit
themselves
to
me.
\par }{\QB As soon
as
they
hear
of
me,
they
will
obey
me.
\par }{\Q \VS{46}The
foreigners
will fade
away,
\par }{\QB and
will
come
trembling out
of their close places.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{47}Yahweh
lives!
\par }{\QB Blessed
be
my
rock!
\par }{\Q Exalted
be
God,
the
rock
of
my
salvation,
\par }{\QB \VS{48}even
the
God
who
executes
vengeance
for
me,
\par }{\QB who
brings
down
peoples
under
me,
\par }{\QB \VS{49}who
brings
me
away
from
my
enemies.
\par }{\Q Yes,
you
lift
me
up above
those
who
rise
up
against
me.
\par }{\QB You
deliver
me
from
the
violent
man.
\par }{\Q \VS{50}Therefore
I
will
give
thanks
to
you,
Yahweh,
among
the
nations,
\par }{\QB and
will
sing
praises
to
your
name.
\par }{\Q \VS{51}He
gives great
deliverance
to
his
king,
\par }{\QB and shows loving
kindness
to
his
anointed,
\par }{\QB to
David
and
to
his
offspring,
forever
more.”

\par }\Chap{23}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
these
are
the
last
words
of
David.
\par }{\Q David
the
son
of
Jesse
says,
\par }{\QB the
man
who
was
raised
on
high
says,
\par }{\QB the
anointed
of
the
God
of
Jacob,
\par }{\QB the sweet
psalmist
of
Israel:
\par }{\Q \VS{2}“Yahweh’s
Spirit
spoke
by
me.
\par }{\QB His
word
was
on
my
tongue.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}The
God
of
Israel
said,
\par }{\QB the
Rock
of
Israel
spoke
to
me,
\par }{\QB ‘One
who
rules
over
men
righteously,
\par }{\QB who
rules
in
the
fear
of
God,
\par }{\Q \VS{4}shall
be
as
the
light
of
the
morning
when
the
sun
rises,
\par }{\QB a
morning
without
clouds,
\par }{\QB when
the
tender
grass springs out
of
the
earth,
\par }{\QB through clear
shining
after
rain.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Isn’t
my
house
so
with
God?
\par }{\QB Yet
he
has
made
with
me
an
everlasting
covenant,
\par }{\QB ordered
in
all
things,
and sure,
\par }{\QB for
it
is
all
my
salvation
and
all
my
desire.
\par }{\QB Won’t
he
make
it
grow?
\par }{\Q \VS{6}But
all
the ungodly
will
be
as
thorns
to
be
thrust
away,
\par }{\QB because
they
can’t
be
taken
with
the
hand.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}The
man
who
touches
them must
be
armed
with
iron
and
the staff
of
a
spear.
\par }{\Q They
will
be utterly
burned
with
fire
in
their
place.”
\par }{\PP \VS{8}These
are
the
names
of
the
mighty
men
whom
David
had: Josheb Basshebeth
a
Tahchemonite,
chief
of
the
captains;
he
was
called
Adino
the
Eznite,
who
killed
eight
hundred
at
one
time.
\VS{9}After
him
was
Eleazar
the
son
of Dodai
the
son
of
an
Ahohite,
one
of
the
three
mighty
men
with
David
when
they defied
the
Philistines
who
were
there
gathered
together
to
battle,
and
the
men
of
Israel
had
gone
away.
\VS{10}He
arose
and
struck
the
Philistines
until
his
hand
was
weary,
and
his
hand froze
to
the
sword;
and
Yahweh
worked
a
great
victory
that
day;
and
the
people
returned
after
him
only
to
take plunder.
\VS{11}After
him
was Shammah
the
son
of
Agee
a
Hararite.
The
Philistines
had
gathered
together
into
a troop
where
there
was
a
plot
of
ground
full
of
lentils;
and
the
people
fled
from
the
Philistines.
\VS{12}But
he
stood
in
the
middle
of
the
plot
and
defended
it,
and
killed
the
Philistines;
and
Yahweh
worked
a
great
victory.
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Three
of
the
thirty
chief
men
went
down,
and
came
to
David
in
the
harvest
time
to
the
cave
of
Adullam;
and
the troop
of
the
Philistines
was
encamped
in
the
valley
of
Rephaim.
\VS{14}David
was
then
in
the stronghold;
and
the
garrison
of
the
Philistines
was
then
in
Bethlehem.
\VS{15}David
said longingly, “Oh
that
someone
would
give
me
water
to
drink
from
the
well
of
Bethlehem,
which
is
by
the
gate!”
\par }{\PP \VS{16}The
three
mighty
men
broke
through
the
army
of
the
Philistines,
and
drew
water
out
of
the
well
of
Bethlehem
that
was
by
the
gate
and
took
it
and
brought
it
to
David;
but
he
would
not
drink
of
it,
but poured
it
out
to
Yahweh.
\VS{17}He
said, “Be
it
far
from
me,
Yahweh,
that
I
should
do
this!
Isn’t
this
the
blood
of
the
men
who risked
their
lives
to
go?”
Therefore
he
would
not
drink
it.
The
three
mighty
men
did
these
things.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Abishai,
the
brother
of
Joab,
the
son
of
Zeruiah,
was
chief
of
the
three.
He
lifted
up
his
spear
against
three
hundred
and
killed
them,
and
had
a
name
among
the
three.
\VS{19}Wasn’t
he
most
honorable
of
the
three?
Therefore
he
was
made
their
captain. However
he wasn’t
included
as
one
of
the
three.
\par }{\PP \VS{20}Benaiah
the
son
of
Jehoiada,
the
son
of
a valiant
man
of
Kabzeel,
who
had
done mighty
deeds,
killed
the
two
sons
of
Ariel
of
Moab.
He
also
went
down
and
killed
a
lion
in
the
middle
of
a
pit
in
a
time
of
snow.
\VS{21}He
killed
a huge
Egyptian,
and
the
Egyptian
had
a
spear
in
his
hand;
but
he
went
down
to
him
with
a
staff
and plucked
the
spear
out
of
the
Egyptian’s
hand,
and
killed
him
with
his
own
spear.
\VS{22}Benaiah
the
son
of
Jehoiada
did
these
things,
and
had
a
name
among
the
three
mighty
men.
\VS{23}He
was
more
honorable
than
the
thirty,
but
he
didn’t
attain
to
the
three.
David
set
him
over
his
guard.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}Asahel
the
brother
of
Joab
was
one
of
the
thirty:
Elhanan
the
son
of
Dodo
of
Bethlehem,
\VS{25}Shammah
the
Harodite,
Elika
the
Harodite,
\VS{26}Helez
the
Paltite,
Ira
the
son
of
Ikkesh
the
Tekoite,
\VS{27}Abiezer
the
Anathothite,
Mebunnai
the
Hushathite,
\VS{28}Zalmon
the
Ahohite,
Maharai
the
Netophathite,
\VS{29}Heleb
the
son
of
Baanah
the
Netophathite,
Ittai
the
son
of
Ribai
of
Gibeah
of
the
children
of
Benjamin,
\VS{30}Benaiah
a
Pirathonite,
Hiddai of
the brooks of
Gaash.
\VS{31}Abialbon
the
Arbathite,
Azmaveth
the Barhumite,
\VS{32}Eliahba
the
Shaalbonite,
the
sons
of
Jashen,
Jonathan,
\VS{33}Shammah
the
Hararite,
Ahiam
the
son
of
Sharar
the
Ararite,
\VS{34}Eliphelet
the
son
of
Ahasbai,
the
son
of
the
Maacathite,
Eliam
the
son
of
Ahithophel
the
Gilonite,
\VS{35}Hezro
the
Carmelite,
Paarai
the
Arbite,
\VS{36}Igal
the
son
of
Nathan
of
Zobah,
Bani
the
Gadite,
\VS{37}Zelek
the
Ammonite,
Naharai
the
Beerothite,
armor
bearers
to
Joab
the
son
of
Zeruiah,
\VS{38}Ira
the
Ithrite,
Gareb
the
Ithrite,
\VS{39}and
Uriah
the
Hittite: thirty-seven
in
all.

\par }\Chap{24}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Again
Yahweh’s
anger
burned
against
Israel,
and
he
moved
David
against
them,
saying, “Go,
count
Israel
and
Judah.”
\VS{2}The
king
said
to
Joab
the
captain
of
the
army,
who
was
with
him, “Now
go
back
and
forth
through
all
the
tribes
of
Israel,
from
Dan
even
to
Beersheba,
and
count
the
people,
that
I
may
know
the sum
of
the
people.”
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Joab
said
to
the
king, “Now
may
Yahweh
your
God
add
to
the
people, however
many
they
may
be,
one
hundred
times;
and
may
the
eyes
of
my
lord
the
king
see
it.
But
why
does
my
lord
the
king
delight
in
this
thing?”
\par }{\PP \VS{4}Notwithstanding,
the
king’s
word
prevailed
against
Joab
and
against
the
captains
of
the
army.
Joab
and
the
captains
of
the
army
went
out
from
the
presence
of
the
king
to count
the
people
of
Israel.
\VS{5}They
passed
over
the
Jordan
and
encamped
in
Aroer,
on
the
right
side
of
the
city
that
is
in
the
middle
of
the
valley
of
Gad,
and
to
Jazer;
\VS{6}then
they
came
to
Gilead
and
to
the
land
of Tahtim Hodshi;
and
they
came
to Dan Jaan
and
around
to
Sidon,
\VS{7}and
came
to
the stronghold
of
Tyre,
and
to
all
the
cities
of
the
Hivites
and
of
the
Canaanites;
and
they
went
out
to
the
south
of
Judah,
at
Beersheba.
\VS{8}So
when
they
had
gone
back
and forth
through
all
the
land,
they
came
to
Jerusalem
at
the
end
of
nine
months
and
twenty
days.
\VS{9}Joab
gave
up
the sum
of
the
counting
of
the
people
to
the
king;
and
there
were
in
Israel
eight
hundred
thousand
valiant
men
who
drew
the
sword,
and
the
men
of
Judah
were
five
hundred
thousand
men.
\par }{\PP \VS{10}David’s
heart
struck
him
after
he
had
counted
the
people.
David
said
to
Yahweh, “I
have
sinned
greatly
in
that
which
I
have
done.
But
now,
Yahweh, put
away,
I
beg
you,
the
iniquity
of
your
servant;
for
I
have
done
very
foolishly.”
\par }{\PP \VS{11}When
David
rose
up
in
the
morning,
Yahweh’s
word
came
to
the
prophet
Gad,
David’s
seer,
saying,
\VS{12}“Go
and
speak
to
David, ‘Yahweh
says, “I
offer
you
three
things.
Choose
one
of
them,
that
I
may
do
it
to
you.” ’ ”
\par }{\PP \VS{13}So
Gad
came
to
David,
and
told
him,
saying, “Shall
seven
years
of
famine
come
to
you
in
your
land?
Or
will
you
flee
three
months
before
your foes
while
they
pursue
you?
Or
shall
there
be
three
days’
pestilence
in
your
land?
Now
answer,
and
consider
what
answer
I
shall
return
to
him
who
sent
me.”
\par }{\PP \VS{14}David
said
to
Gad, “I
am
in
distress.
Let
us
fall
now
into
Yahweh’s
hand,
for
his
mercies
are
great.
Let
me
not
fall
into
man’s
hand.”
\par }{\PP \VS{15}So
Yahweh
sent
a
pestilence
on
Israel
from
the
morning
even
to
the
appointed
time;
and
seventy
thousand
men
died
of
the
people
from
Dan
even
to
Beersheba.
\VS{16}When
the
angel
stretched
out
his
hand
toward
Jerusalem
to
destroy
it,
Yahweh
relented
of
the
disaster,
and
said
to
the
angel
who
destroyed
the
people, “It
is
enough.
Now withdraw
your
hand.”
Yahweh’s
angel
was
by
the
threshing
floor
of
Araunah
the
Jebusite.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}David
spoke
to
Yahweh
when
he
saw
the
angel
who
struck
the
people,
and
said, “Behold,
I
have
sinned,
and
I
have
done perversely;
but
these
sheep,
what
have
they
done?
Please
let
your
hand
be
against
me,
and
against
my
father’s
house.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Gad
came
that
day
to
David
and
said
to
him, “Go
up,
build
an
altar
to
Yahweh
on
the
threshing
floor
of
Araunah
the
Jebusite.”
\par }{\PP \VS{19}David
went
up according
to
the
saying
of
Gad,
as
Yahweh
commanded.
\VS{20}Araunah
looked
out,
and
saw
the
king
and
his
servants
coming
on
toward
him.
Then
Araunah
went
out
and
bowed
himself
before
the
king
with
his
face
to
the
ground.
\VS{21}Araunah
said, “Why
has
my
lord
the
king
come
to
his
servant?”
\par }{\PP David
said, “To
buy
your
threshing
floor,
to
build
an
altar
to
Yahweh,
that
the
plague
may
be
stopped
from afflicting
the
people.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Araunah
said
to
David, “Let
my
lord
the
king
take
and
offer
up
what
seems
good
to
him.
Behold,
the
cattle
for
the
burnt
offering,
and
the
threshing
sledges
and
the
yokes
of
the
oxen
for
the
wood.
\VS{23}All
this,
O
king,
does
Araunah
give
to
the
king.”
Araunah
said
to
the
king, “May
Yahweh
your
God
accept
you.”
\par }{\PP \VS{24}The
king
said
to
Araunah, “No,
but
I
will
most
certainly
buy
it
from
you
for
a
price.
I
will
not
offer
burnt
offerings
to
Yahweh
my
God
which
cost
me
nothing.”
So
David
bought
the
threshing
floor
and
the
oxen
for
fifty
shekels\FTNT{*}{{\FR 24:24 }
A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 50 shekels is about 0.5 kilograms or 1.1 pounds.}
of
silver.
\VS{25}David
built
an
altar
to
Yahweh
there,
and
offered
burnt
offerings
and
peace
offerings.
So
Yahweh
was
entreated
for
the
land,
and
the
plague
was removed
from
Israel.
\par }