2SA 01:01  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;

2SA 01:02  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.

2SA 01:03  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he

said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

2SA 01:04  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.

2SA 01:05  And David said unto the young man that told him, How

knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

2SA 01:06  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.

2SA 01:07  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto

me. And I answered, Here [am] I.

2SA 01:08  And he said unto me, Who [art] thou? And I answered him,

I [am] an Amalekite.

2SA 01:09  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.

2SA 01:10  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.

2SA 01:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and

likewise all the men that [were] with him:

2SA 01:12  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.

2SA 01:13  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.

2SA 01:14  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to

stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

2SA 01:15  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near,

[and] fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

2SA 01:16  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.

2SA 01:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and

over Jonathan his son:

2SA 01:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah [the use

of] the bow: behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)

2SA 01:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how

are the mighty fallen!

2SA 01:20  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.

2SA 01:21  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.

2SA 01:22  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.

2SA 01:23  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.

2SA 01:24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you

in scarlet, with [other] delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon

your apparel.

2SA 01:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O

Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.

2SA 01:26  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.

2SA 01:27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war

perished!

2SA 02:01  And it came to pass after this, that David inquired 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.

2SA 02:02  So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam

the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

2SA 02:03  And his men that [were] with him did David bring up,

every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of

Hebron.

2SA 02:04  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.

2SA 02:05  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead,

and said unto them, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD, that ye have showed

this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Saul, and have buried him.

2SA 02:06  And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I

also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this

thing.

2SA 02:07  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.

2SA 02:08  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took

Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

2SA 02:09  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites,

and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all

Israel.

2SA 02:10  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.

2SA 02:11  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house

of Judah was seven years and six months.

2SA 02:12  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth

the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

2SA 02:13  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.

2SA 02:14  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and

play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

2SA 02:15  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.

2SA 02:16  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.

2SA 02:17  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was

beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

2SA 02:18  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and

Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel [was as] light of foot as a wild

roe.

2SA 02:19  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned

not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

2SA 02:20  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, [Art] thou

Asahel? And he answered, I [am].

2SA 02:21  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.

2SA 02:22  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?

2SA 02:23  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.

2SA 02:24  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.

2SA 02:25  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together

after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

2SA 02:26  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?

2SA 02:27  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.

2SA 02:28  So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still,

and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

2SA 02:29  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.

2SA 02:30  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.

2SA 02:31  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of

Abner's men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.

2SA 02:32  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.

2SA 03:01  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.

2SA 03:02  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his

firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2SA 03:03  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;

2SA 03:04  And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the

fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

2SA 03:05  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were

born to David in Hebron.

2SA 03:06  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.

2SA 03:07  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?

2SA 03:08  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth,

and said, [Am] I a dog's head, which against Judah do show 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?

2SA 03:09  So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD

hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

2SA 03:10  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.

2SA 03:11  And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he

feared him.

2SA 03:12  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.

2SA 03:13  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.

2SA 03:14  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.

2SA 03:15  And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband,

[even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

2SA 03:16  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to

Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

2SA 03:17  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel,

saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

2SA 03:18  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.

2SA 03:19  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.

2SA 03:20  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.

2SA 03:21  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.

2SA 03:22  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.

2SA 03:23  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.

2SA 03:24  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?

2SA 03:25  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.

2SA 03:26  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.

2SA 03:27  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.

2SA 03:28  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:

2SA 03:29  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.

2SA 03:30  So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he

had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

2SA 03:31  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.

2SA 03:32  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.

2SA 03:33  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as

a fool dieth?

2SA 03:34  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.

2SA 03:35  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.

2SA 03:36  And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased

them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

2SA 03:37  For all the people and all Israel understood that day

that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

2SA 03:38  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that

there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

2SA 03:39  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.

2SA 04:01  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron,

his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2SA 04:02  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.

2SA 04:03  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners

there until this day.)

2SA 04:04  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.

2SA 04:05  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.

2SA 04:06  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.

2SA 04:07  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.

2SA 04:08  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.

2SA 04:09  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,

2SA 04:10  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:

2SA 04:11  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?

2SA 04:12  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.

2SA 05:01  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron,

and spake, saying, Behold, we [are] thy bone and thy flesh.

2SA 05:02  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.

2SA 05:03  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.

2SA 05:04  David [was] thirty years old when he began to reign,

[and] he reigned forty years.

2SA 05:05  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.

2SA 05:06  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.

2SA 05:07  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same

[is] the city of David.

2SA 05:08  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.

2SA 05:09  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of

David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

2SA 05:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of

hosts [was] with him.

2SA 05:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and

cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an

house.

2SA 05:12  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.

2SA 05:13  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.

2SA 05:14  And these [be] the names of those that were born unto him

in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

2SA 05:15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

2SA 05:16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

2SA 05:17  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.

2SA 05:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the

valley of Rephaim.

2SA 05:19  And David inquired 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.

2SA 05:20  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.

2SA 05:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men

burned them.

2SA 05:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread

themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

2SA 05:23  And when David inquired 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.

2SA 05:24  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.

2SA 05:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and

smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

2SA 06:01  Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of

Israel, thirty thousand.

2SA 06:02  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.

2SA 06:03  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.

2SA 06:04  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.

2SA 06:05  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.

2SA 06:06  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].

2SA 06:07  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.

2SA 06:08  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.

2SA 06:09  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How

shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

2SA 06:10  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.

2SA 06:11  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.

2SA 06:12  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.

2SA 06:13  And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the

LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

2SA 06:14  And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might;

and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.

2SA 06:15  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark

of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

2SA 06:16  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.

2SA 06:17  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.

2SA 06:18  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.

2SA 06:19  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.

2SA 06:20  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!

2SA 06:21  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.

2SA 06:22  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.

2SA 06:23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto

the day of her death.

2SA 07:01  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;

2SA 07:02  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.

2SA 07:03  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that [is] in

thine heart; for the LORD [is] with thee.

2SA 07:04  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD

came unto Nathan, saying,

2SA 07:05  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt

thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

2SA 07:06  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.

2SA 07:07  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?

2SA 07:08  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:

2SA 07:09  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.

2SA 07:10  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,

2SA 07:11  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.

2SA 07:12  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.

2SA 07:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish

the throne of his kingdom for ever.

2SA 07:14  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:

2SA 07:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took

[it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

2SA 07:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for

ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

2SA 07:17  According to all these words, and according to all this

vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2SA 07:18  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?

2SA 07:19  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?

2SA 07:20  And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord

GOD, knowest thy servant.

2SA 07:21  For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart,

hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know

[them].

2SA 07:22  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.

2SA 07:23  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?

2SA 07:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel [to

be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their

God.

2SA 07:25  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.

2SA 07:26  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.

2SA 07:27  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.

2SA 07:28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words

be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

2SA 07:29  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.

2SA 08:01  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.

2SA 08:02  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.

2SA 08:03  David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of

Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

2SA 08:04  And David took from him a thousand [chariots], and seven

hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all

the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an hundred

chariots.

2SA 08:05  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour

Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty

thousand men.

2SA 08:06  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.

2SA 08:07  And David took the shields of gold that were on the

servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

2SA 08:08  And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer,

king David took exceeding much brass.

2SA 08:09  When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all

the host of Hadadezer,

2SA 08:10  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:

2SA 08:11  Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with

the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he

subdued;

2SA 08:12  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.

2SA 08:13  And David gat [him] a name when he returned from smiting

of the Syrians in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen thousand

[men].

2SA 08:14  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.

2SA 08:15  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed

judgment and justice unto all his people.

2SA 08:16  And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host; and

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder;

2SA 08:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of

Abiathar, [were] the priests; and Seraiah [was] the scribe;

2SA 08:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the

Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

2SA 09:01  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the

house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2SA 09:02  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].

2SA 09:03  And the king said, [Is] there not yet any of the house of

Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said

unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, [which is] lame on [his]

feet.

2SA 09:04  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.

2SA 09:05  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of

Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

2SA 09:06  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!

2SA 09:07  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show

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.

2SA 09:08  And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant,

that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

2SA 09:09  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.

2SA 09:10  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.

2SA 09:11  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.

2SA 09:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was] Micha.

And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants unto

Mephibosheth.

2SA 09:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat

continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

2SA 10:01  And it came to pass after this, that the king of the

children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2SA 10:02  Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son

of Nahash, as his father showed 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.

2SA 10:03  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?

2SA 10:04  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.

2SA 10:05  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.

2SA 10:06  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.

2SA 10:07  And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the

host of the mighty men.

2SA 10:08  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.

2SA 10:09  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:

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 10:13  And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with him,

unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

2SA 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.

2SA 10:15  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before

Israel, they gathered themselves together.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 11:01  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.

2SA 11:02  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.

2SA 11:03  And David sent and inquired after the woman. And [one]

said, [Is] not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of

Uriah the Hittite?

2SA 11:04  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.

2SA 11:05  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and

said, I [am] with child.

2SA 11:06  And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the

Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.

2SA 11:07  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded [of him]

how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

2SA 11:08  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.

2SA 11:09  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.

2SA 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?

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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].

2SA 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.

2SA 11:18  Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning

the war;

2SA 11:19  And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an

end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

2SA 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?

2SA 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.

2SA 11:22  So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that

Joab had sent him for.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 11:26  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband

was dead, she mourned for her husband.

2SA 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.

2SA 12:01  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.

2SA 12:02  The rich [man] had exceeding many flocks and herds:

2SA 12:03  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.

2SA 12:04  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.

2SA 12:05  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:

2SA 12:06  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did

this thing, and because he had no pity.

2SA 12:07  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;

2SA 12:08  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.

2SA 12:09  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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 12:12  For thou didst [it] secretly: but I will do this thing

before all Israel, and before the sun.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David

fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

2SA 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.

2SA 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?

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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?

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 12:25  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he

called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

2SA 12:26  And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon,

and took the royal city.

2SA 12:27  And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have

fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

2SA 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.

2SA 12:29  And David gathered all the people together, and went to

Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

2SA 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.

2SA 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 brickkiln: and thus did he unto

all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people

returned unto Jerusalem.

2SA 13:01  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.

2SA 13:02  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 any thing to her.

2SA 13:03  But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son

of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtle man.

2SA 13:04  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.

2SA 13:05  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.

2SA 13:06  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.

2SA 13:07  Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy

brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

2SA 13:08  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.

2SA 13:09  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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 13:14  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being

stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 13:21  But when king David heard of all these things, he was

very wroth.

2SA 13:22  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor

bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister

Tamar.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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?

2SA 13:27  But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the

king's sons go with him.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 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.

2SA 13:35  And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons

come: as thy servant said, so it is.

2SA 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.

2SA 13:37  But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud,

king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.

2SA 13:38  So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three

years.

2SA 13:39  And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto

Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

2SA 14:01  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's

heart [was] toward Absalom.

2SA 14:02  And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman,

and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and

put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be

as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2SA 14:03  And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him.

So Joab put the words in her mouth.

2SA 14:04  And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell

on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O

king.

2SA 14:05  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she

answered, I [am] indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

2SA 14:06  And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove

together in the field, and [there was] none to part them, but the

one smote the other, and slew him.

2SA 14:07  And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine

handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we

may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will

destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is

left, and shall not leave to my husband [neither] name nor remainder

upon the earth.

2SA 14:08  And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and

I will give charge concerning thee.

2SA 14:09  And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O

king, the iniquity [be] on me, and on my father's house: and the

king and his throne [be] guiltless.

2SA 14:10  And the king said, Whosoever saith [ought] unto thee,

bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

2SA 14:11  Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the

LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood

to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, [As] the

LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

2SA 14:12  Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee,

speak [one] word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

2SA 14:13  And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such

a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this

thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home

again his banished.

2SA 14:14  For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilled on the

ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect

[any] person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not

expelled from him.

2SA 14:15  Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto

my lord the king, [it is] because the people have made me afraid:

and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be

that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

2SA 14:16  For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of

the hand of the man [that would] destroy me and my son together out

of the inheritance of God.

2SA 14:17  Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king

shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so [is] my lord

the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be

with thee.

2SA 14:18  Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not

from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman

said, Let my lord the king now speak.

2SA 14:19  And the king said, [Is not] the hand of Joab with thee in

all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] thy soul liveth, my

lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from

ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he

bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

2SA 14:20  To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab

done this thing: and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of

an angel of God, to know all [things] that [are] in the earth.

2SA 14:21  And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this

thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

2SA 14:22  And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed

himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant

knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in

that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.

2SA 14:23  So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to

Jerusalem.

2SA 14:24  And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let

him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw

not the king's face.

2SA 14:25  But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as

Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown

of his head there was no blemish in him.

2SA 14:26  And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's

end that he polled [it]: because [the hair] was heavy on him,

therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two

hundred shekels after the king's weight.

2SA 14:27  And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one

daughter, whose name [was] Tamar: she was a woman of a fair

countenance.

2SA 14:28  So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not

the king's face.

2SA 14:29  Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the

king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the

second time, he would not come.

2SA 14:30  Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is

near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And

Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

2SA 14:31  Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto [his] house,

and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

2SA 14:32  And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee,

saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say,

Wherefore am I come from Geshur? [it had been] good for me [to have

been] there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if

there be [any] iniquity in me, let him kill me.

2SA 14:33  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.

2SA 15:01  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him

chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2SA 15:02  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of

the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy

came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and

said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] of one

of the tribes of Israel.

2SA 15:03  And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters [are] good

and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee.

2SA 15:04  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the

land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto

me, and I would do him justice!

2SA 15:05  And it was [so], that when any man came night [to him] to

do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed

him.

2SA 15:06  And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to

the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of

Israel.

2SA 15:07  And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said

unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have

vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

2SA 15:08  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in

Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem,

then I will serve the LORD.

2SA 15:09  And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and

went to Hebron.

2SA 15:10  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of

Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye

shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

2SA 15:11  And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem,

[that were] called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew

not any thing.

2SA 15:12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's

counsellor, from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered

sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased

continually with Absalom.

2SA 15:13  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts

of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

2SA 15:14  And David said unto all his servants that [were] with him

at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape

from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly,

and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the

sword.

2SA 15:15  And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy

servants [are ready to do] whatsoever my lord the king shall

appoint.

2SA 15:16  And the king went forth, and all his household after him.

And the king left ten women, [which were] concubines, to keep the

house.

2SA 15:17  And the king went forth, and all the people after him,

and tarried in a place that was far off.

2SA 15:18  And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the

Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six

hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the

king.

2SA 15:19  Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest

thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for

thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.

2SA 15:20  Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this day

make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return

thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth [be] with thee.

2SA 15:21  And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD

liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my

lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also

will thy servant be.

2SA 15:22  And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the

Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that

[were] with him.

2SA 15:23  And 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.

2SA 15:24  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] with him,

bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of

God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out

of the city.

2SA 15:25  And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God

into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he

will bring me again, and show me [both] it, and his habitation:

2SA 15:26  But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold,

[here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

2SA 15:27  The king said also unto Zadok the priest, [Art not] thou

a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,

Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

2SA 15:28  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until

there come word from you to certify me.

2SA 15:29  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again

to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

2SA 15:30  And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and

wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot:

and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head,

and they went up, weeping as they went up.

2SA 15:31  And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the

conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn

the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2SA 15:32  And it came to pass, that [when] David was come to the

top [of the mount], where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the

Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his

head:

2SA 15:33  Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then

thou shalt be a burden unto me:

2SA 15:34  But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I

will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's servant

hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou

for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

2SA 15:35  And [hast thou] not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar

the priests? therefore it shall be, [that] what thing soever thou

shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell [it] to Zadok

and Abiathar the priests.

2SA 15:36  Behold, [they have] there with them their two sons,

Ahimaaz Zadok's [son], and Jonathan Abiathar's [son]; and by them ye

shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

2SA 15:37  So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom

came into Jerusalem.

2SA 16:01  And when David was a little past the top [of the hill],

behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of

asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an

hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a

bottle of wine.

2SA 16:02  And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these?

And Ziba said, The asses [be] for the king's household to ride on;

and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the

wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

2SA 16:03  And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And

Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he

said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my

father.

2SA 16:04  Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all that

[pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee

[that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2SA 16:05  And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came

out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was]

Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

2SA 16:06  And 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.

2SA 16:07  And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out,

thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

2SA 16:08  The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the

house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath

delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold,

thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

2SA 16:09  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why

should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray

thee, and take off his head.

2SA 16:10  And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of

Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him,

Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

2SA 16:11  And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants,

Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how

much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone, and let

him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

2SA 16:12  It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and

that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

2SA 16:13  And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went

along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went,

and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

2SA 16:14  And the king, and all the people that [were] with him,

came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

2SA 16:15  And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came

to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

2SA 16:16  And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's

friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God

save the king, God save the king.

2SA 16:17  And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to thy

friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

2SA 16:18  And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and

this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and

with him will I abide.

2SA 16:19  And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in

the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence,

so will I be in thy presence.

2SA 16:20  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you

what we shall do.

2SA 16:21  And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's

concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel

shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the

hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

2SA 16:22  So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house;

and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all

Israel.

2SA 16:23  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in

those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so

[was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with

Absalom.

2SA 17:01  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose

out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David

this night:

2SA 17:02  And I will come upon him while he [is] weary and weak

handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that [are] with

him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:

2SA 17:03  And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man

whom thou seekest [is] as if all returned: [so] all the people shall

be in peace.

2SA 17:04  And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders

of Israel.

2SA 17:05  Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and

let us hear likewise what he saith.

2SA 17:06  And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto

him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do

[after] his saying? if not; speak thou.

2SA 17:07  And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel

hath given [is] not good at this time.

2SA 17:08  For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men,

that they [be] mighty men, and they [be] chafed in their minds, as a

bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father [is] a man of

war, and will not lodge with the people.

2SA 17:09  Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other]

place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at

the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter

among the people that follow Absalom.

2SA 17:10  And he also [that is] valiant, whose heart [is] as the

heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy

father [is] a mighty man, and [they] which [be] with him [are]

valiant men.

2SA 17:11  Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered

unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that [is] by the

sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.

2SA 17:12  So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be

found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground:

and of him and of all the men that [are] with him there shall not be

left so much as one.

2SA 17:13  Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all

Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river,

until there be not one small stone found there.

2SA 17:14  And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel

of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel.

For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel,

to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

2SA 17:15  Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests,

Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of

Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

2SA 17:16  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge

not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass

over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that [are]

with him.

2SA 17:17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they

might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told

them; and they went and told king David.

2SA 17:18  Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they

went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in

Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

2SA 17:19  And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's

mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

2SA 17:20  And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the

house, they said, Where [is] Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman

said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they

had sought and could not find [them], they returned to Jerusalem.

2SA 17:21  And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they

came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto

David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath

Ahithophel counselled against you.

2SA 17:22  Then David arose, and all the people that [were] with

him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked

not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

2SA 17:23  And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not

followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his

house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged

himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

2SA 17:24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over

Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

2SA 17:25  And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of

Joab: which Amasa [was] a man's son, whose name [was] Ithra an

Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to

Zeruiah Joab's mother.

2SA 17:26  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

2SA 17:27  And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim,

that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and

Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of

Rogelim,

2SA 17:28  Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat,

and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentiles,

and parched [pulse],

2SA 17:29  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.

2SA 18:01  And David numbered the people that [were] with him, and

set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2SA 18:02  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.

2SA 18:03  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] worth ten thousand of us:

therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.

2SA 18:04  And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will

do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out

by hundreds and by thousands.

2SA 18:05  And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai,

saying, [Deal] gently for my sake with the young man, [even] with

Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the

captains charge concerning Absalom.

2SA 18:06  So the people went out into the field against Israel: and

the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;

2SA 18:07  Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants

of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty

thousand [men].

2SA 18:08  For the battle was there scattered over the face of all

the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the

sword devoured.

2SA 18:09  And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode

upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great

oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up

between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him

went away.

2SA 18:10  And a certain man saw [it], and told Joab, and said,

Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.

2SA 18:11  And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold,

thou sawest [him], and why didst thou not smite him there to the

ground? And I would have given thee ten [shekels] of silver, and a

girdle.

2SA 18:12  And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a

thousand [shekels] of silver in mine hand, [yet] would I not put

forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king

charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none [touch]

the young man Absalom.

2SA 18:13  Otherwise 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].

2SA 18:14  Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he

took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of

Absalom, while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak.

2SA 18:15  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about

and smote Absalom, and slew him.

2SA 18:16  And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from

pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

2SA 18:17  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.

2SA 18:18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for

himself a pillar, which [is] in the king's dale: for he said, I have

no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar

after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

2SA 18:19  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and

bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his

enemies.

2SA 18:20  And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this

day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou

shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.

2SA 18:21  Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast

seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

2SA 18:22  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But

howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said,

Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings

ready?

2SA 18:23  But howsoever, [said he], let me run. And he said unto

him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran

Cushi.

2SA 18:24  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.

2SA 18:25  And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king

said, If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth. And he came

apace, and drew near.

2SA 18:26  And the watchman saw another man running: and the

watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold [another] man

running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

2SA 18:27  And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the

foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the

king said, He [is] a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

2SA 18:28  And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well.

And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and

said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men

that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

2SA 18:29  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 I knew not what [it was].

2SA 18:30  And the king said [unto him], Turn aside, [and] stand

here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

2SA 18:31  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.

2SA 18:32  And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom

safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all

that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man

[is].

2SA 18:33  And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber

over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son

Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O

Absalom, my son, my son!

2SA 19:01  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and

mourneth for Absalom.

2SA 19:02  And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning unto

all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was

grieved for his son.

2SA 19:03  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the

city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

2SA 19:04  But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a

loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

2SA 19:05  And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou

hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day

have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters,

and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

2SA 19:06  In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy

friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest

neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if

Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased

thee well.

2SA 19:07  Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto

thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there

will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto

thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

2SA 19:08  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told

unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate.

And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every

man to his tent.

2SA 19:09  And all the people were at strife throughout all the

tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our

enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and

now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

2SA 19:10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle.

Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

2SA 19:11  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.

2SA 19:12  Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh:

wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

2SA 19:13  And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my

flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the

host before me continually in the room of Joab.

2SA 19:14  And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as

[the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] unto the king,

Return thou, and all thy servants.

2SA 19:15  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came

to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

2SA 19:16  And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which [was] of

Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king

David.

2SA 19:17  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.

2SA 19:18  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's

household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of

Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

2SA 19:19  And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity

unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did

perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that

the king should take it to his heart.

2SA 19:20  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore,

behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to

go down to meet my lord the king.

2SA 19:21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall

not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S

anointed?

2SA 19:22  And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of

Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there

any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I

[am] this day king over Israel?

2SA 19:23  Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die.

And the king sware unto him.

2SA 19:24  And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the

king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor

washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he

came [again] in peace.

2SA 19:25  And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to

meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not

thou with me, Mephibosheth?

2SA 19:26  And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me:

for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride

thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.

2SA 19:27  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.

2SA 19:28  For all [of] my father's house were but dead men before

my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did

eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any

more unto the king?

2SA 19:29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of

thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

2SA 19:30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take

all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his

own house.

2SA 19:31  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and

went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

2SA 19:32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even] fourscore years

old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at

Mahanaim; for he [was] a very great man.

2SA 19:33  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me,

and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

2SA 19:34  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to

live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

2SA 19:35  I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern

between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I

drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing

women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my

lord the king?

2SA 19:36  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the

king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

2SA 19:37  Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may

die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and

of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with

my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

2SA 19:38  And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and

I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and

whatsoever thou shalt require of me, [that] will I do for thee.

2SA 19:39  And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king

was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he

returned unto his own place.

2SA 19:40  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.

2SA 19:41  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and

said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen

thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all

David's men with him, over Jordan?

2SA 19:42  And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,

Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry

for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's [cost]? or hath

he given us any gift?

2SA 19:43  And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and

said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right]

in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should

not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men

of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

2SA 20:01  And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose

name [was] Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a

trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we

inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2SA 20:02  So every man of Israel went up from after David, [and]

followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto

their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

2SA 20:03  And 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 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto

them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in

widowhood.

2SA 20:04  Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah

within three days, and be thou here present.

2SA 20:05  So Amasa went to assemble [the men of] Judah: but he

tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

2SA 20:06  And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of

Bichri do us more harm than [did] Absalom: take thou thy lord's

servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and

escape us.

2SA 20:07  And there went out after him Joab's men, and the

Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they

went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

2SA 20:08  When they [were] at the great stone which [is] in Gibeon,

Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had 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.

2SA 20:09  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.

2SA 20:10  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in Joab's

hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out his

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.

2SA 20:11  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.

2SA 20:12  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway.

And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed

Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him,

when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

2SA 20:13  When he was removed out of the highway, all the people

went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

2SA 20:14  And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel,

and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered

together, and went also after him.

2SA 20:15  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah,

and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the

trench: and all the people that [were] with Joab battered the wall,

to throw it down.

2SA 20:16  Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say,

I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

2SA 20:17  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, [Art]

thou Joab? And he answered, I [am he]. Then she said unto him, Hear

the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

2SA 20:18  Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old

time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they

ended [the matter].

2SA 20:19  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?

2SA 20:20  And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me,

that I should swallow up or destroy.

2SA 20:21  The matter [is] not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba

the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king,

[even] against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the

city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown

to thee over the wall.

2SA 20:22  Then the woman went unto all the 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.

2SA 20:23  Now Joab [was] over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah

the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and over the

Pelethites:

2SA 20:24  And Adoram [was] over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the

son of Ahilud [was] recorder:

2SA 20:25  And Sheva [was] scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar [were] the

priests:

2SA 20:26  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

2SA 21:01  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years,

year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD

answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he

slew the Gibeonites.

2SA 21:02  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto 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 unto

them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of

Israel and Judah.)

2SA 21:03  Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do

for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless

the inheritance of the LORD?

2SA 21:04  And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver

nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill

any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, [that] will I do

for you.

2SA 21:05  And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and

that devised against us [that] we should be destroyed from remaining

in any of the coasts of Israel,

2SA 21:06  Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we

will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the LORD

did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

2SA 21:07  But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the

son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that [was] between them,

between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

2SA 21:08  But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of

Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five

sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel

the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

2SA 21:09  And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites,

and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell

[all] seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest,

in the first [days], in the beginning of barley harvest.

2SA 21:10  And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and

spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until

water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the

birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field

by night.

2SA 21:11  And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah,

the concubine of Saul, had done.

2SA 21:12  And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones

of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen

them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged

them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

2SA 21:13  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.

2SA 21:14  And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in

the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his

father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after

that God was entreated for the land.

2SA 21:15  Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel;

and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against

the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

2SA 21:16  And Ishbibenob, which [was] of the sons of the giant, the

weight of whose spear [weighed] three hundred [shekels] of brass in

weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain

David.

2SA 21:17  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote

the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto

him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou

quench not the light of Israel.

2SA 21:18  And it came to pass after this, that there was again a

battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite

slew Saph, which [was] of the sons of the giant.

2SA 21:19  And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines,

where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew [the

brother of] Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear [was] like

a weaver's beam.

2SA 21:20  And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of

[great] stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every

foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to

the giant.

2SA 21:21  And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah

the brother of David slew him.

2SA 21:22  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by

the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2SA 22:01  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in

the day [that] the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his

enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2SA 22:02  And he said, The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and

my deliverer;

2SA 22:03  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: [he is] my

shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge,

my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

2SA 22:04  I will call on the LORD, [who is] worthy to be praised:

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

2SA 22:05  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of

ungodly men made me afraid;

2SA 22:06  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of

death prevented me;

2SA 22:07  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

enter] into his ears.

2SA 22:08  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of

heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

2SA 22:09  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out

of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

2SA 22:10  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness

[was] under his feet.

2SA 22:11  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen

upon the wings of the wind.

2SA 22:12  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark

waters, [and] thick clouds of the skies.

2SA 22:13  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire

kindled.

2SA 22:14  The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered

his voice.

2SA 22:15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning,

and discomfited them.

2SA 22:16  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of

the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast

of the breath of his nostrils.

2SA 22:17  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many

waters;

2SA 22:18  He delivered me from my strong enemy, [and] from them

that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

2SA 22:19  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD

was my stay.

2SA 22:20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered

me, because he delighted in me.

2SA 22:21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness:

according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

2SA 22:22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not

wickedly departed from my God.

2SA 22:23  For all his judgments [were] before me: and [as for] his

statutes, I did not depart from them.

2SA 22:24  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from

mine iniquity.

2SA 22:25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my

righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

2SA 22:26  With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, [and]

with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

2SA 22:27  With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the

froward thou wilt show thyself unsavoury.

2SA 22:28  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes

[are] upon the haughty, [that] thou mayest bring [them] down.

2SA 22:29  For thou [art] my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten

my darkness.

2SA 22:30  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I

leaped over a wall.

2SA 22:31  [As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD

[is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him.

2SA 22:32  For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock,

save our God?

2SA 22:33  God [is] my strength [and] power: And he maketh my way

perfect.

2SA 22:34  He maketh my feet like hinds' [feet]: and setteth me upon

my high places.

2SA 22:35  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is

broken by mine arms.

2SA 22:36  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and

thy gentleness hath made me great.

2SA 22:37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did

not slip.

2SA 22:38  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and

turned not again until I had consumed them.

2SA 22:39  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they

could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

2SA 22:40  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them

that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

2SA 22:41  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I

might destroy them that hate me.

2SA 22:42  They looked, but [there was] none to save; [even] unto

the LORD, but he answered them not.

2SA 22:43  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I

did stamp them as the mire of the street, [and] did spread them

abroad.

2SA 22:44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my

people, thou hast kept me [to be] head of the heathen: a people

[which] I knew not shall serve me.

2SA 22:45  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as

they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

2SA 22:46  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out

of their close places.

2SA 22:47  The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be

the God of the rock of my salvation.

2SA 22:48  It [is] God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the

people under me,

2SA 22:49  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also

hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou

hast delivered me from the violent man.

2SA 22:50  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the

heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

2SA 22:51  [He is] the tower of salvation for his king: and showeth

mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

2SA 23:01  Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of

Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of

the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2SA 23:02  The spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in

my tongue.

2SA 23:03  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me,

He that ruleth over men [must be] just, ruling in the fear of God.

2SA 23:04  And [he shall be] as the light of the morning, [when] the

sun riseth, [even] a morning without clouds; [as] the tender grass

[springing] out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

2SA 23:05  Although my house [be] not so with God; yet he hath made

with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all [things], and sure:

for [this is] all my salvation, and all [my] desire, although he

make [it] not to grow.

2SA 23:06  But [the sons] of Belial [shall be] all of them as thorns

thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

2SA 23:07  But the man [that] shall touch them must be fenced with

iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with

fire in the [same] place.

2SA 23:08  These [be] the names of the mighty men whom David had:

The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the

same [was] Adino the Eznite: [he lift up his spear] against eight

hundred, whom he slew at one time.

2SA 23:09  And after him [was] Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite,

[one] of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the

Philistines [that] were there gathered together to battle, and the

men of Israel were gone away:

2SA 23:10  He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was

weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a

great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to

spoil.

2SA 23:11  And after him [was] Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite.

And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a

piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the

Philistines.

2SA 23:12  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it,

and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

2SA 23:13  And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to

David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of

the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

2SA 23:14  And David [was] then in an hold, and the garrison of the

Philistines [was] then [in] Bethlehem.

2SA 23:15  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me

drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which [is] by the gate!

2SA 23:16  And the three mighty men brake through the host 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: nevertheless

he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

2SA 23:17  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do

this: [is not this] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of

their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these

three mighty men.

2SA 23:18  And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was

chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred,

[and] slew [them], and had the name among three.

2SA 23:19  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was

their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.

2SA 23:20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant

man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of

Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in

time of snow:

2SA 23:21  And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: 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 slew him with his

own spear.

2SA 23:22  These [things] did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had

the name among three mighty men.

2SA 23:23  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained

not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.

2SA 23:24  Asahel the brother of Joab [was] one of the thirty;

Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

2SA 23:25  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

2SA 23:26  Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

2SA 23:27  Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

2SA 23:28  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

2SA 23:29  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of

Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

2SA 23:30  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

2SA 23:31  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

2SA 23:32  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

2SA 23:33  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the

Hararite,

2SA 23:34  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite,

Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

2SA 23:35  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

2SA 23:36  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

2SA 23:37  Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer

to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

2SA 23:38  Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

2SA 23:39  Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

2SA 24:01  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against

Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel

and Judah.

2SA 24:02  For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which

[was] with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan

even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the

number of the people.

2SA 24:03  And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add

unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that

the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my lord the

king delight in this thing?

2SA 24:04  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab,

and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of

the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the

people of Israel.

2SA 24:05  And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the

right side of the city that [lieth] in the midst of the river of

Gad, and toward Jazer:

2SA 24:06  Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of

Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

2SA 24:07  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the

cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to

the south of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.

2SA 24:08  So when they had gone through all the land, they came to

Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

2SA 24:09  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto

the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant

men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah [were] five hundred

thousand men.

2SA 24:10  And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered

the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in

that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the

iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

2SA 24:11  For when David was up in the morning, the word of the

LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

2SA 24:12  Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee

three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto

thee.

2SA 24:13  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him,

Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou

flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or

that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and

see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

2SA 24:14  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us

fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies [are] great: and

let me not fall into the hand of man.

2SA 24:15  So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the

morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people

from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

2SA 24:16  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem

to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the

angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand.

And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the

Jebusite.

2SA 24:17  And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that

smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done

wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I

pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

2SA 24:18  And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up,

rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the

Jebusite.

2SA 24:19  And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the

LORD commanded.

2SA 24:20  And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants

coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before

the king on his face upon the ground.

2SA 24:21  And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to

his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to

build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the

people.

2SA 24:22  And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take

and offer up what [seemeth] good unto him: behold, [here be] oxen

for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and [other]

instruments of the oxen for wood.

2SA 24:23  All these [things] did Araunah, [as] a king, give unto

the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept

thee.

2SA 24:24  And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely

buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings

unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David

bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2SA 24:25  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered

burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for

the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.