2 SAMUEL
Book 10
Part:
 1
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1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of
Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites,
and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
1:2 It came even to pass on the third day,
that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes
rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David,
that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
1:3 And David said unto him, From whence
comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I
escaped.
1:4 And David said unto him, How went the
matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are
fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead;
and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
1:5 And David said unto the young man that
told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
1:6 And the young man that told him said,
As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon
his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
1:7 And when he looked behind him, he saw
me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
1:8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And
I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
1:9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray
thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my
life is yet whole in me.
1:10 So I stood upon him, and slew him,
because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen:
and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was
on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
1:11 Then David took hold on his clothes,
and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
1:12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted
until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of
the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the
sword.
1:13 And David said unto the young man that
told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a
stranger, an Amalekite.
1:14 And David said unto him, How wast thou
not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
1:15 And David called one of the young men,
and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
1:16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be
upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I
have slain the LORD's anointed.
1:17 And David lamented with this
lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children
of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of
Jasher.)
1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy
high places: how are the mighty fallen!
1:20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in
the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be
no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:
for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of
Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the
fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword
of Saul returned not empty.
1:23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and
pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided:
they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over
Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on
ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst
of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women.
1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the
weapons of war perished!
2:1 And it came to pass after this, that
David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the
cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said,
Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2:2 So David went up thither, and his two
wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the
Carmelite.
2:3 And his men that were with him did
David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the
cities of Hebron.
2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there
they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David,
saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
2:5 And David sent messengers unto the men
of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that
ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have
buried him.
2:6 And now the LORD shew kindness and
truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye
have done this thing.
2:7 Therefore now let your hands be
strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and
also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of
Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to
Mahanaim;
2:9 And made him king over Gilead, and over
the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin,
and over all Israel.
2:10 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years
old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the
house of Judah followed David.
2:11 And the time that David was king in
Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2:12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the
servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to
Gibeon.
2:13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the
servants of David, went out, and met together 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.
2:14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young
men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
2:15 Then there arose and went over by
number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of
Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2:16 And they caught every one his fellow
by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell
down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which
is in Gibeon.
2:17 And there was a very sore battle that
day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants
of David.
2:18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah
there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot
as a wild roe.
2:19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in
going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following
Abner.
2:20 Then Abner looked behind him, and
said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
2:21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside
to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the
young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside
from following of him.
2:22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn
thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the
ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
2:23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside:
wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the
fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there,
and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came
to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
2:24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after
Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah,
that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
2:25 And the children of Benjamin gathered
themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on
the top of an hill.
2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said,
Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be
bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid
the people return from following their brethren?
2:27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless
thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up
every one from following his brother.
2:28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the
people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought
they any more.
2:29 And Abner and his men walked all that
night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all
Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
2:30 And Joab returned from following Abner:
and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of
David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
2:31 But the servants of David had smitten
of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore
men died.
2:32 And they took up Asahel, and buried
him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab
and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
3:1 Now there was long war between the
house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and
stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
3:2 And unto David were sons born in
Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3:3 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;
3:4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of
Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
3:5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah
David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
3:6 And it came to pass, while there was
war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made
himself strong for the house of Saul.
3:7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name
was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner,
Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
3:8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words
of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do
shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his
brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the
hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning
this woman?
3:9 So do God to Abner, and more also,
except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
3:10 To translate the kingdom from the
house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over
Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
3:11 And he could not answer Abner a word
again, because he feared him.
3:12 And Abner sent messengers to David on
his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league
with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all
Israel unto thee.
3:13 And he said, Well; I will make a
league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt
not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when
thou comest to see my face.
3:14 And David sent messengers to
Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I
espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from
her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
3:16 And her husband went with her along
weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return.
And he returned.
3:17 And Abner had communication with the
elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king
over you:
3:18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath
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.
3:19 And Abner also spake 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 that seemed good to the whole
house of Benjamin.
3:20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and
twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with
him a feast.
3:21 And Abner said unto David, I will
arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that
they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all
that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in
peace.
3:22 And, behold, the servants of David and
Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with
them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him
away, and he was gone in peace.
3:23 When Joab and all the host that was
with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came
to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
3:24 Then Joab came to the king, and said,
What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou
hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
3:25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner,
that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming
in, and to know all that thou doest.
3:26 And when Joab was come out from David,
he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well
of Sirah: but David knew it not.
3:27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron,
Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote
him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel
his brother.
3:28 And afterward when David heard it, he
said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the
blood of Abner the son of Ner:
3:29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and
on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of
Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a
staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
3:30 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew
Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the
battle.
3:31 And David said to Joab, and to all the
people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with
sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the
bier.
3:32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and
the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all
the people wept.
3:33 And the king lamented over Abner, and
said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
3:34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet
put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou.
And all the people wept again over him.
3:35 And when all the people came to cause
David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God
to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be
down.
3:36 And all the people took notice of it,
and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the
people.
3:37 For all the people and all Israel
understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son
of Ner.
3:38 And the king said unto his servants,
Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in
Israel?
3:39 And I am this day weak, though
anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me:
the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
4:1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner
was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were
troubled.
4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were
captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the
other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of
Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.
4:3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim,
and were sojourners there until this day.)
4:4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son
that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came
of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and
fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell,
and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,
Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the
house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
4:6 And they came thither into the midst of
the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him
under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
4:7 For when they came into the house, he
lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him,
and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the
plain all night.
4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth
unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of
Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the
LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
4:9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah
his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As
the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
4:10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul
is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him,
and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a
reward for his tidings:
4:11 How much more, when wicked men have
slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not
therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from
the earth?
4:12 And David commanded his young men, and
they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged
them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth,
and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
5:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to
David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy
flesh.
5:2 Also in time past, when Saul was king
over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and
the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou
shalt be a captain over Israel.
5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the
king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron
before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
5:4 David was thirty years old when he
began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven
years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three
years over all Israel and Judah.
5:6 And the king and his men went to
Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake
unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou
shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold
of Zion: the same is the city of David.
5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever
getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and
the blind that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and
captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come
into the house.
5:9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called
it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and
inward.
5:10 And David went on, and grew great, and
the LORD God of hosts was with him.
5:11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers
to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built
David an house.
5:12 And David perceived that the LORD had
established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom
for his people Israel's sake.
5:13 And David took him more concubines and
wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were
yet sons and daughters born to David.
5:14 And these be the names of those that
were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and
Solomon,
5:15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg,
and Japhia,
5:16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and
Eliphalet.
5:17 But when the Philistines heard that
they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up
to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
5:18 The Philistines also came and spread
themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
5:19 And David enquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into
mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless
deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5:20 And David came to Baalperazim, and
David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine
enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the
name of that place Baalperazim.
5:21 And there they left their images, and
David and his men burned them.
5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again,
and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
5:23 And when David enquired of the LORD,
he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and
come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the
sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou
shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to
smite the host of the Philistines.
5:25 And David did so, as the LORD had
commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to
Gazer.
6:1 Again, David gathered together all the
chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
6:2 And David arose, and went with all the
people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence
the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts
that dwelleth between the cherubims.
6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new
cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah:
and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
6:4 And they brought it out of the house of
Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio
went before the ark.
6:5 And David and all the house of Israel
played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood,
even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and
on cymbals.
6:6 And when they came to Nachon's
threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took
hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled
against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he
died by the ark of God.
6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD
had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place
Perezuzzah to this day.
6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that
day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
6:10 So David would not remove the ark of
the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside
into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in
the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed
Obededom, and all his household.
6:12 And it was told king David, saying,
The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth
unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the
ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with
gladness.
6:13 And it was so, that when they that
bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and
fatlings.
6:14 And David danced before the LORD with
all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
6:15 So David and all the house of Israel
brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of
the trumpet.
6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into
the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and
saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised
him in her heart.
6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that
David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings before the LORD.
6:18 And as soon as David had made an end
of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people
in the name of the LORD of hosts.
6:19 And he dealt among all the people,
even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men,
to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon
of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
6:20 Then David returned to bless his
household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and
said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered
himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of
the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was
before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his
house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before the LORD.
6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus,
and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou
hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul
had no child unto the day of her death.
7:1 And it came to pass, when the king sat
in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his
enemies;
7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the
prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God
dwelleth within curtains.
7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all
that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
7:4 And it came to pass that night, that
the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus
saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house
since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt,
even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked
with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes
of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why
build ye not me an house of cedar?
7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my
servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the
sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over
Israel:
7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou
wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have
made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are
in the earth.
7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my
people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of
their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness
afflict them any more, as beforetime,
7:11 And as since the time that I commanded
judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from
all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee
an house.
7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and
thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee,
which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his
kingdom.
7:13 He shall build an house for my name,
and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be
my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men,
and with the stripes of the children of men:
7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away
from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall
be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established
for ever.
7:17 According to all these words, and
according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
7:18 Then went king David in, and sat
before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my
house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
7:19 And this was yet a small thing in thy
sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house
for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
7:20 And what can David say more unto thee?
for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
7:21 For thy word's sake, and according to
thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy
servant know them.
7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God:
for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee,
according to all that we have heard with our ears.
7:23 And what one nation in the earth is
like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a
people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great
things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou
redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
7:24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy
people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art
become their God.
7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that
thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house,
establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
7:26 And let thy name be magnified for
ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the
house of thy servant David be established before thee.
7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of
Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an
house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this
prayer unto thee.
7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that
God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto
thy servant:
7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to
bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before
thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let
the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
8:1 And after this it came to pass that
David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took
Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them
with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines
measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And
so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of
Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river
Euphrates.
8:4 And David took from him a thousand
chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and
David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an
hundred chariots.
8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came
to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and
twenty thousand men.
8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of
Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts.
And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
8:7 And David took the shields of gold that
were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai,
cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that
David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king
David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against
Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram
brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels
of brass:
8:11 Which also king David did dedicate
unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all
nations which he subdued;
8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the
children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the
spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
8:13 And David gat him a name when he
returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being
eighteen thousand men.
8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom;
throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became
David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and
David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over
the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and
Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the
scribe;
8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was
over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were
chief rulers.
9:1 And David said, Is there yet any that
is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for
Jonathan's sake?
9:2 And there was of the house of Saul a
servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David,
the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
9:3 And the king said, Is there not yet any
of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?
And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on
his feet.
9:4 And the king said unto him, Where is
he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir,
the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him
out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of
Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face,
and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered,
Behold thy servant!
9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for
I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and
will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat
bread at my table continually.
9:8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is
thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9:9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's
servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all
that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
9:10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy
servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the
fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth
thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had
fifteen sons and twenty servants.
9:11 Then said Ziba unto the king,
According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so
shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat
at my table, as one of the king's sons.
9:12 And Mephibosheth had a young son,
whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were
servants unto Mephibosheth.
9:13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem:
for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both
his feet.
10:1 And it came to pass after this, that
the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in
his stead.
10:2 Then said David, I will shew kindness
unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me.
And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his
father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of
Ammon.
10:3 And the princes of the children of
Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour
thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David
rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it
out, and to overthrow it?
10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants,
and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their
garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
10:5 When they told it unto David, he sent
to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said,
Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw
that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the
Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen,
and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent
Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
10:8 And the children of Ammon came out,
and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the
Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by
themselves in the field.
10:9 When Joab saw that the front of the
battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice
men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10:10 And the rest of the people he
delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them
in array against the children of Ammon.
10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too
strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon
be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play
the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do
that which seemeth him good.
10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people
that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled
before him.
10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw
that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and
entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon,
and came to Jerusalem.
10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they
were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out
the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and
Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
10:17 And when it was told David, he
gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to
Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and
fought with him.
10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel;
and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and
forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host,
who died there.
10:19 And when all the kings that were
servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they
made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help
the children of Ammon any more.
11:1 And it came to pass, after the year
was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David
sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they
destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David
tarried still at Jerusalem.
11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide,
that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the
king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and
the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
11:3 And David sent and enquired after the
woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the
wife of Uriah the Hittite?
11:4 And David sent messengers, and took
her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was
purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and
told David, and said, I am with child.
11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send
me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
11:7 And when Uriah was come unto him,
David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how
the war prospered.
11:8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to
thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's
house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the
king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to
his house.
11:10 And when they had told David, saying,
Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou
not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine
house?
11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark,
and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the
servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go
into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou
livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here
to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in
Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
11:13 And when David had called him, he did
eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went
out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down
to his house.
11:14 And it came to pass in the morning,
that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying,
Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye
from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab
observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew
that valiant men were.
11:17 And the men of the city went out, and
fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of
David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the
things concerning the war;
11:19 And charged the messenger, saying,
When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the
king,
11:20 And if so be that the king's wrath
arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the
city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the
wall?
11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of
Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him
from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then
say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
11:22 So the messenger went, and came and
shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
11:23 And the messenger said unto David,
Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the
field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
11:24 And the shooters shot from off the
wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and
thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
11:25 Then David said unto the messenger,
Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for
the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more
strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that
Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
11:27 And when the mourning was past, David
sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare
him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
12:1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David.
And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one
city; the one rich, and the other poor.
12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks
and herds:
12:3 But the poor man had nothing, save one
little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up
together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat,
and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a
daughter.
12:4 And there came a traveller unto the
rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd,
to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the
poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man
that hath done this thing shall surely die:
12:6 And he shall restore the lamb
fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the
man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over
Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house,
and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of
Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover
have given unto thee such and such things.
12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the
commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed
Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy
wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never
depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken
the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will
raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy
wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he
shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I
will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have
sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also
hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou
hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the
child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house.
And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and
it was very sick.
12:16 David therefore besought God for the
child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the
earth.
12:17 And the elders of his house arose,
and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not,
neither did he eat bread with them.
12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh
day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him
that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was
yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice:
how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
12:19 But when David saw that his servants
whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David
said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and
washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into
the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house;
and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What
thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the
child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst
rise and eat bread.
12:22 And he said, While the child was yet
alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be
gracious to me, that the child may live?
12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should
I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall
not return to me.
12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his
wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and
he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the
prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the
children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David,
and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of
waters.
12:28 Now therefore gather the rest of the
people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take
the city, and it be called after my name.
12:29 And David gathered all the people
together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
12:30 And he took their king's crown from
off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the
precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth
the spoil of the city in great abundance.
12:31 And he brought forth the people that
were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and
under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and
thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and
all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
13:1 And it came to pass after this, that
Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and
Amnon the son of David loved her.
13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell
sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it
hard for him to do anything to her.
13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was
Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very
subtil man.
13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou,
being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And
Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
13:5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee
down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to
see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and
give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and
eat it at her hand.
13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself
sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king,
I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes
in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying,
Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's
house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and
made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
13:9 And she took a pan, and poured them
out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all
men from me. And they went out every man from him.
13:10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the
meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took
the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to
Amnon her brother.
13:11 And when she had brought them unto
him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me,
my sister.
13:12 And she answered him, Nay, my
brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in
Israel: do not thou this folly.
13:13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame
to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel.
Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not
withhold me from thee.
13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her
voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
13:15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so
that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love
wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
13:16 And she said unto him, There is no
cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that
thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.
13:17 Then he called his servant that
ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and
bolt the door after her.
13:18 And she had a garment of divers
colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that
were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted
the door after her.
13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and
rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand
on her head, and went on crying.
13:20 And Absalom her brother said unto
her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my
sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained
desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
13:21 But when king David heard of all
these things, he was very wroth.
13:22 And Absalom spake unto his brother
Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had
forced his sister Tamar.
13:23 And it came to pass after two full
years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside
Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
13:24 And Absalom came to the king, and
said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I
beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
13:25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my
son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he
pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
13:26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray
thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why
should he go with thee?
13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let
Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.
13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his
servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine,
and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have
not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
13:29 And the servants of Absalom did unto
Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and
every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
13:30 And it came to pass, while they were
in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all
the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his
garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with
their clothes rent.
13:32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah
David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they
have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead:
for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the
day that he forced his sister Tamar.
13:33 Now therefore let not my lord the
king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons
are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man
that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there
came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
13:35 And Jonadab said unto the king,
Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
13:36 And it came to pass, as soon as he
had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and
lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants
wept very sore.
13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai,
the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son
every day.
13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur,
and was there three years.
13:39 And the soul of king David longed to
go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing
he was dead.
