Absalom is slain.

David's charge to the army. CHAP. XVIII. Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though Rogelim, I should receive a thousand shekels of silver 28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen in my hand, yet would I not put forth vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, my hand against the king's son: for in and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, our hearing the king charged thee and and parched pulse, Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

CHAP. XVIII.

130therwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus

AND David numbered the people that with the fund the took three darts in his

were with him, and set captains of hand, and thrust them through the heart of thousands and captains of hundreds over Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

them.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people 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. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

15 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.

16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art 18 Now Absalom in his life-time had worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is taken and reared up for himself a pillar, better that thou succour us out of the city. which is in the king's dale: for he said, 4 And the king said unto them, What have no son to keep my name in rememseemeth you best I will do. And the king|brance: and he called the pillar after his stood by the gate side, and all the people own name: and it is called unto this day, came out by hundreds and by thousands. Absalom's Place.

5 And the king commanded Joab and 19 T Then said Ahimaaz the son of ZaAbishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for dok, Let me now run, and bear the king my sake with the young man, even with tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged Absalom. And all the people heard when him of his enemies.

the king gave all the captains charge con- 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt cerning Absalom. not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt 6 So the people went out into the field bear tidings another day but this day thou against Israel: and the battle was in the shalt bear no tidings, because the king's wood of Ephraim; son is dead.

7 Where the people of Israel were slain 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go, tell the before the servants of David, and there king what thou hast seen. And Cushi was there a great slaughter that day of bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. twenty thousand men. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Za

8 For the battle was there scattered over dok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let the face of all the country: and the wood me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And devoured more people that day than the Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run,my son, sword devoured. seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

9 And Absalom met the servants of 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahiand the mule went under the thick boughs maaz ran by the way of the plain, and of a great oak, and his head caught hold of overran Cushi. the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked,and behold a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone 11 And Joab said unto the man that told there is tidings in his mouth. And he came him, And behold, thou sawest him, and apace, and drew near.

why didst thou not smite him there to the 26 And the watchman saw another man ground? and I would have given thee ten running: and the watchman called unto shekels of silver, and a girdle. the porter, and said, Behold, another man

David's lamentatron.

II. SAMUEL.

He is brought back. running alone. And the king said, He and that will be worse unto thee than all the also bringeth tidings. evil that befel thee from thy youth until 27 And the watchman said, Methinketh now. the running of the foremost is like the run- 8 Then the king rose, and sat in the gate. ning of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And And they told unto all the people, saying, the king said, He is a good man, and Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And cometh with good tidings. all the people came before the king: for

28 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto Israel had fled every man to his tent. the king, All is well. And he fell down to 9 And all the people were at strife the earth upon his face before the king, throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, The king saved us out of the hand of our which hath delivered up the men that lifted enemies, and be delivered us out of the up their hand against my lord the king. hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but knew not what it was.

I

30 And the king said unto him, T rn aside and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

:

31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

11 ¶ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi an-last to bring back the king? swered, The enemies of my lord the king, 13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to be as that young man is. me, and more also, if thou be not captain

33 And the king was much moved, of the host before me continually in the and went up to the chamber over the gate, room of Joab.

and wept and as he went, thus he said, 14 And he bowed the heart of all the O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absa-men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; lom! would God I had died for thee, O so that they sent this word unto the king, Absalom, my son, my son! Return thou, and all thy servants. 15 So the king returned, and came to

CHAP. XIX.

AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king Jordan, Anindan came to Gilgal, to go weepeth and mourneth for Absalom, to meet the king, to conduct the king over 2 And the victory that day was turned Jordan.

into mourning unto all the people: for the 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benpeople heard say that day how the king jamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and was grieved for his son. came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!

17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king. 5 And Joab came into the house to the 18 And there went over a ferry-boat to king, and said Thou hast shamed this day carry over the king's household, and to do the faces of all thy servants, which this day what he thought good. And Shimei the have saved thy life, and the lives of thy son of Gera fell down before the king, as sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of he was come over Jordan; thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared thou remember that which thy servant did this day, that thou regardest neither princes perversely the day that my lord the king nor servants for this day I perceive, that went out of Jerusalem, that the king should if Absalom had lived, and all we had died take it to his heart. this day, then it had pleased thee well. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and sinned: therefore behold, I am come the speak comfortably unto thy servants: for first this day of all the house of Joseph to I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, go down to meet my lord the king. there will nottarry one with thee this night: 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah an

swered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

Rebellion of Sheba.

36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 22 And David said,What have I to do 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should back again, that I may die in mine own this day be adversaries unto me? shall city, and be buried by the grave of my there any man be put to death this day father and of my mother: but behold thy in Israel? for do I not know that I am servant Chimham; let him go over with this day king over Israel? my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die : and the king sware unto him.

39 And all the people went over Jor

38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him 24 ¶ And Mephibosheth the son of that which shall seem good unto thee: and Saul came down to meet the king, and had whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his will I do for thee. beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he cante dan. And when the king was come over, again in peace. the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him: 25 And it came to pass, when he was and he returned unto his own place. come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant 41 T And behold, all the men of Israel said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may came to the king, and said unto the king, ride thereon, and go to the king; because Why have our brethren the men of Judah thy servant is lame. stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

:

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near 28 For all of my father's house were of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry but dead men before my lord the king for this matter? have we eaten at all of the yet didst thou set thy servant among them king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? that did eat at thine own table. What 43 And the men of Israel answered the right therefore have I yet to cry any more men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts unto the king? in the king, and we have also more right 29 And the king said unto him, Why in David than ye: why then did ye despeakest thou any more of thy matters ? I spise us, that our advice should not be first have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. had in bringing back our king? And the 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the words of the men of Judah were fiercer king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as than the words of the men of Israel. my lord the king is come again in peace CHAP. XX. unto his own house. AND there happened to be there a man 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came of Belial, whose name was Sheba, down from Rogelim, and went over Jor- the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he dan with the king, to conduct him over blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inherit32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, ance in the son of Jesse: every man to even fourscore years old: and he had pro- his tents, O Israel.

Jordan.

vided the king of sustenance while he lay 2 So every man of Israel went up from at Mahanaim: for he was a very great man. after David, and followed Sheba the son 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave Come thou over with me, and I will feed unto their king, from Jordan even to Jethee with me in Jerusalem. rusalem.

34 And Barzillai said unto the king, 3 And David came to bis house at How long have I to live, that I should go Jerusalem; and the king took the ten woup with the king unto Jerusalem? men his concubines, whom he had left to

35 I am this day fourscore years old: keep the house, and put them in ward, and can I discern between good and evil? and fed them, but went not in unto them, can thy servant taste what feat or what I So they were shut up unto the day of their drink? can I hear any more the voice of death, living in widowhood. singing-men and singing-women? where- 4 Then said the king to Amasa, Asfore then should thy servant be yet a bur- semble me the men of Judah within three den unto my lord the king? days, and be thou here present.

Amasa is slain.

II. SAMUEL. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

:

The three years' famine.

19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's 20 And Joab answered and said, Far servants and pursue after him, lest he get be it, far be it from me, that I should swalhim fenced cities, and escape us. low up or destroy.

7 And there went out after him Joab's 21 The matter is not so: but a man of men, and the Cherethites, and the Pele-mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri thites, and all the mighty men: and they by name, hath lifted up his hand against went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after the king, even against David: deliver him Sheba the son of Bichri. only, and I will depart from the city. And 8 When they were at the great stone the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. them. And Joab's garment that he had 22 Then the woman went unto all the put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 23 Now Joab was over all the host 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiathat was in Joab's hand: so he smote him da was over the Cherethites and over the therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his Pelethites: bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in

24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder :

25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

CHAP. XXI.

David three years, year after year HEN there was a famine in the days

the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into and David inquired of the LORD. And the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for he saw that every one that came by him his bloody house, because he slew the stood stil. Gibeonites.

13 When he was removed out of the 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, highway, all the people went on after Joab, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. were not of the children of Israel, but ot 14 And he went through all the tribes the remnant of the Amorites; and the of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, children of Israel had sworn unto them: and all the Berites: and they were ga- and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeal thered together, and went also after him. to the children of Israel and Judah.) 15 And they came and besieged him in 3 Wherefore David said unto the GiAbel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a beonites, What shall I do for you? and bank against the city, and it stood in the wherewith shall I make the atonement, that trench and all the people that were with ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD! Joab battered the wall,to throw it down. 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, 16 Then cried a wise woman out of We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may kill any man in Israel. And he said, speak with thee. What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 17 And when he was come near unto 5 And they answered the king, The her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And man that consumed us, and that devised he answered, I am he. Then she said against us, that we should be destroyed unto him, Hear the words of thy hand- from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, maid. And he answered, I do hear. 6 Let seven men of his sons be deliver

18 Then she spake, saying, They were ed unto us, and we will hang them up unwont to speak in old time, saying, They to the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so LORD did choose. And the king said, I they ended the muiter. will give them.

Rizpah's kindness to the dead.

CHAP. XXII.

David's thanksgiving. 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth,| 19 And there was again a battle in Gob the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, be- with the Philistines, where Elhanan the cause of the LORD's oath that was between son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew them, between David and Jonathan the the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff son of Saul. of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

8 But the king took the two sons of Riz- 20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, pah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare where was a man of great stature, that had unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and on every hand six fingers, and on every the five sons of Michal the daughter of foot six toes, four and twenty in number; Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel, the and he also was born to the giant. son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan

9 And he delivered them into the hands the son of Shimeah the brother of David of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them slew him.

in the hill before the LORD: and they fell 22 These four were born to the giant in all seven together, and were put to death Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and in the days of harvest, in the first days, in by the hand of his servants. the beginning of barley-harvest.

CHAP. XXII.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah AND David spake unto the Lord the took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon words of this song in the day that the the rock, from the beginning of harvest un- LORD had delivered him out of the hand of til water dropped upon them out of hea- all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: ven, and suffered neither the birds of the 2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts and my fortress, and my deliverer; of the field by night. 3 The God of my rock; in him will I 11 And it was told David what Rizpah trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my the daughter of Aiah the concubine of Saul salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour, thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

had done.

12 ¶ And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa :

13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan enter into his ears. bis son buried they in the country of Ben- 8 Then the earth shook and trembled: jamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish the foundations of heaven moved and his father: and they performed all that the shook, because he was wroth. king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

15 Moreover, the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and his servants with him, and fought down; and darkness was under his feet. against the Philistines : and David waxed 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did faint. fly: and he was seen upon the wings of 16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the the wind. sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear 12 And he made darkness pavilions weighed three hundred shekels of brass in round about him, dark waters, and thick weight, he being girded with a new sword, clouds of the skies. thought to have slain David.

13 Through the brightness before him

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah suc-were coals of fire kindled. coured him, and smote the Philistine, and 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, killed him. Then the men of David sware and the Most High uttered his voice. unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered out with us to battle, that thou quench not them; lightning, and discomfited them. the light of Israel. 16 And the channels of the sea appear18 And it came to pass after this, that ed, the foundations of the world were disthere was again a battle with the Philis- covered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at tines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Husha- the blast of the breath of his nostrils. thite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters: