2 Samuel

1 ¶ Now it came to pass after the ^adeath of Saul, when David had returned from the ^bslaughter of the Amalekites, and David had remained two days in Ziklag,

2 it came even to pass on the third day that behold, ^ca man came out of the camp from Saul ^dwith his clothes torn and dust on his head. And so it was that when he came to David he ^efell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 Then David said to him, “From where have you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 And David said to him, ^f“How did things go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle and many of the people are also fallen and dead. And Saul and ^gJonathan his son are dead also.”

5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 And the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on ^hMount Gilboa, behold, ⁱSaul leaned on his spear. And behold, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and slay me, for anguish has come upon me because my life still remains in me.’

10 So I stood over him and ^jslew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 ¶ Then David took hold on his clothes and ^ktore them. And so did also all the men who were with him.

12 And they ^lmourned and wept and ^mfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the ⁿpeople of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”

14 Then David said to him, “How ^owas it you were not ^pafraid to ^qstretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”

15 And ^rDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near and fall on him.” And he smote him so that he died.

16 And David said to him, ^s“Your blood is on your head, for ^tyour mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’”

David’s Lamentation

17 ¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son.

18 ^uHe also told them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow. Behold, it is written in the ^vbook of Jasher.

19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! ^wHow have the mighty fallen!

20 ^xTell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of ^yAskelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest ^zthe daughters of the ^auncircumcised triumph.

21 “You ^bmountains of Gilboa, ^clet there be no dew, neither let there be rain on you, nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul is not ^danointed with oil.

22 “From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the ^ebow of Jonathan did not turn back. And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

23 “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their ^fdeath they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were ^gstronger than lions.

24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, and who put ornaments of gold on your clothes.

25 “How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places.

26 “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant you have been to me. ^hYour love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 ⁱ“How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished!”

1 ¶ Now it came to pass after this that David ^ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” And David said, “Where shall I go up?” He said, “To ^bHebron.”

2 So David went up there, and his ^ctwo wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.

3 And David brought up ^dhis men who were with him, every man with his household. And they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4 ¶ ^eAnd the men of Judah came, and there they ^fanointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, ^g“The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.”

5 Then David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead. And he said to them, ^h“Blessed are you of the LORD because you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.

6 “And now ⁱthe LORD show kindness and truth to you. And I also will repay you this kindness because you have done this thing.

7 “Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened and be valiant, for your master Saul is dead and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

David’s Conflict with Saul’s House

8 ¶ But ^jAbner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to ^kMahanaim.

9 And he made him king over ^lGilead and over the ^mAshurites and over ⁿJezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over all Israel.

10 Saul’s son Ishbosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel. And he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the ^otime that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 ¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to ^pGibeon.

13 And ^qJoab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the ^rpool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and play before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve from Benjamin, who were followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul and twelve from the servants of David.

16 And they caught every one his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side. So they fell down together. Therefore, that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very fierce battle that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 ¶ And there were ^sthree sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as ^tlight of foot as a ^uwild gazelle.

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner. And in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” And he answered, “I am.”

21 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

22 And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I smite you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?”

23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore, Abner struck him ^vin the belly with the butt end of the spear so 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 ^wstill.

24 ¶ Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner. And the sun went down when they came to the hill of Ammah that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner and became one troop. And they stood on top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Will the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from following their brethren?”

27 And Joab said, “As God lives, unless ^xyou had spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have given up from following his brother.”

28 So Joab blew a trumpet and all the people stood still. And they did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.

29 Then Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain and passed over the Jordan. And they went through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

30 ¶ So Joab returned from following Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.

31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and sixty men died.

32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father that was in ^yBethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

1 ¶ Now there was a long ^awar between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David became stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2 ¶ And ^bto David were sons born in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, ^cof Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, ^dAbsalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king ^eof Geshur;

4 and the fourth, ^fAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6 ¶ Now 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.

7 And Saul had a concubine whose name was ^gRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you ^hgone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth. And he said, “Am I ⁱa dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends. And I have not delivered you into the hand of David. And yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman.

9 ^j“May God do so to Abner and more also if I do not do for David ^kas the LORD has sworn to him,

10 “to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah ^lfrom Dan even to Beersheba.”

11 And he could not answer Abner a word because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand will be with you to bring all Israel to you.”

13 And he said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you, that is, ^myou will not see my face unless you first bring ⁿMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

14 And David sent messengers to ^oIshbosheth Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal whom I betrothed to myself for a ^phundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15 So Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 But her husband went along with her weeping behind her to ^qBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

17 ¶ Then Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you sought for David to be king over you.

18 “Now then do it! ^rFor the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 Now Abner also spoke in the ears of ^sBenjamin. 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.

20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go. And I will ^tgather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make a covenant with you and that you may ^ureign over all that your heart desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Kills Abner

22 ¶ And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop. And they brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.

23 When Joab and all the army that was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king and he has sent him away and he is gone in peace.”

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he has already gone?

25 “You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know ^vyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”

26 And when Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

27 And when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab ^wtook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately. And he smote him there ^xunder the fifth rib so that he died, for the blood of ^yAsahel his brother.

28 ¶ And afterward when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 ^z“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 who ^ahas a discharge, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls on the sword, or who lacks bread.”

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother ^bAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 ¶ And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, ^c“Tear your clothes. ^dGird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the bier.

32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a ^efool dies?

34 “Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” And all the people wept again over him.

35 And when all the people came ^fto persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David swore, saying, ^g“So do God to me and more also if I taste bread or anything else ^huntil the sun goes down.”

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the intent of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 “And I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Zeruiah are ⁱtoo hard for me. ^jThe LORD will reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.”

1 ¶ And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, ^ahis hands were feeble and all the Israelites were ^btroubled.

2 And Saul’s son had two men who were captains of bands. The name of the one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for ^cBeeroth also was considered part of Benjamin,

3 and the Beerothites fled to ^dGittaim and have been aliens there until this day.)

4 ¶ And ^eJonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan ^fout 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 ^gMephibosheth.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came in the heat of the day to the ^hhouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on a bed at noon.

6 And they came there into the middle of the house as if they would get wheat, and they smote him ⁱin the stomach. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. And they smote him and slew him and beheaded him. And they took his head and went away through the Arabah all night.

8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron and said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul your enemy ^jwho sought your life. Thus the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.”

9 ¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, ^kwho has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10 “when ^lone told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.

11 “How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Will I not therefore now ^mrequire his blood from your hand and take you away from the earth?”

12 And David ⁿcommanded his young men and they slew them. And they 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 ^otomb of Abner in Hebron.

1 ¶ Then all the tribes of Israel ^acame to David to Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, ^bwe are your bone and your flesh.

2 “Also in time past when Saul was king over us, ^cyou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, ^d‘You will feed My people Israel and you will be a captain over Israel.’”

3 ^eSo all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron. ^fAnd King David made a covenant with them in Hebron ^gbefore the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was ^hthirty years old when he began to reign and ⁱhe reigned forty years.

5 He reigned in Hebron over Judah ^jseven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

David Conquers Jerusalem

6 ¶ ^kAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the ^lJebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “Except you take away the blind and the lame, you will not come in here,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the ^mcity of David.

8 Now David said on that day, ⁿ“Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the watercourse.” Therefore, they say, “The blind or the lame will not come into the house.”

9 So David dwelt in the fort and called it the ^oCity of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

10 And David went on and became great. And the ^pLORD God of armies was with ^qhim.

11 ¶ Then ^rHiram ^sking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.

12 So David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel and that He had ^texalted his kingdom ^ufor His people Israel’s sake.

13 And ^vDavid took more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. And there were more sons and daughters born to David.

14 And ^wthese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammuah and Shobab and Nathan and ^xSolomon,

15 Ibhar also and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia,

16 and Elishama and Eliada and Eliphalet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 ¶ ^yBut when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to search for David. And David heard of it and ^zwent down to the stronghold.

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the ^avalley of Rephaim.

19 Then David ^binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up. For I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 So David came to ^cBaal Perazim. And David smote them there and said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me as a breakthrough of waters.” Therefore, he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

21 And they left their images there and David and ^dhis men burned them.

22 ¶ ^eThen the Philistines came up again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when ^fDavid inquired of the LORD, He said, “You will not go up. But circle behind them and come on them in front of the mulberry trees.

24 “And let it be when you ^ghear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you will advance. For then will the ^hLORD go out before you in order to smite the army of the Philistines.”

25 So David did as the LORD had commanded him. And he smote the Philistines from ⁱGeba until you come to ^jGazer.

1 ¶ Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And ^aDavid arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of armies, ^bwho dwells between the cherubim.

3 Then they set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was ^cin Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

4 So they brought it out of the ^dhouse of Abinadab that was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God. And Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel ^eplayed before the LORD on all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals.

6 ¶ And when they came to ^fNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth ^ghis hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah. And God smote him there for his error, and there he died by the ark of God.

8 And David was displeased because of the LORD’S outburst against Uzzah. And he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

9 ^hSo David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, “How will the ark of the LORD come to me?”

10 And David would not move the ark of the LORD to him into the ⁱcity of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the ^jGittite.

11 ^kSo the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD ^lblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

12 ¶ Then it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” ^mSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness.

13 Now it was so that when ⁿthose who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed ^ooxen and fatlings.

14 Then David ^pdanced before the LORD with all his might. And David was girded with a ^qlinen ephod.

15 ^rSo David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 ¶ Now as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, ^sMichal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17 So ^tthey brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in ^uits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it. And David ^voffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18 And as soon as David finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of armies.

19 ^xAnd he distributed among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both women and men, to every one a cake of bread, a good piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So everyone departed to his own house.

20 ¶ ^yThen 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 today, who ^zuncovered himself today in the eyes of the maidservants of his servants, as one of the ^abase fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 But David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD ^bwho chose me before your father and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the ^cpeople of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore, I will play before the LORD.

22 “And I will still be more undignified than this, and will be base in my own sight. And of the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

23 Therefore, Michal the daughter of Saul had no children ^dto the day of her death.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass ^awhen the king sat in his house and the LORD had given him rest all around from all his enemies,

2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a ^bhouse of cedar, ^cbut the ark of God dwells within ^dcurtains.”

3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your ^eheart, for the LORD is with you.”

4 ¶ Now it came to pass that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,

5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, ^f“Would you build for Me a house in which to dwell?

6 “For I have not dwelt in any house ^gsince the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day. But I have walked in a ^htent and in a tabernacle.

7 “In all the places wherein ⁱI have walked with all the children of Israel have I ever spoken a word with any of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded ^jto feed My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

8 “Now therefore, you will say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of armies, ^k“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

9 “And ^lI was with you wherever you went, and m have cut off all your enemies out of your sight and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are in the earth.

10 “Moreover, I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will ⁿplant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more. ^oNeither will the children of wickedness afflict them anymore, as previously,

11 ^peven from the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you ^qthat He will make you a house.

12 ¶ ^r“And when your days are fulfilled and you ^ssleep with your fathers, ^tI will set up your seed after you who will proceed out of your own body. And I will establish his kingdom.

13 ^uHe will build a house for My name and I will ^vestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 ^wI will be his Father and he will be ^xMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men.

15 “But My mercy will not depart from him, ^yas I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.

16 “And ^zyour house and your kingdom will be established forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”

17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

18 ¶ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD. And he said, ^a“Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house that You have brought me this far?

19 “And this was yet a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD. But You have spoken also of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. ^bAnd is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

20 “And what can David say more to You? For You, Lord GOD, ^cknow Your servant.

21 “For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.

22 “Therefore, ^dYou are great, O LORD God. For ^ethere is none like You, nor is there any God like You, according to all that we have heard with our ^fears.

23 “And what ^gone nation in the earth is like Your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself and to make for Himself a name, and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land; before ^hYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

24 “For ⁱYou have confirmed to Yourself Your people Israel to be a people for Yourself forever. ^jAnd You, LORD, have become their God.

25 “And now, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.

26 “And let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of armies is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

27 “For You, O LORD of armies, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build You a house.’ Therefore, Your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

28 “And now, O Lord GOD, You are that God, and ^kYour words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Therefore, now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant so that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it. And with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed ^lforever.”

1 ¶ Then after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Methe Gammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And ^ahe smote Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s ^bservants and ^cbrought gifts.

3 ¶ David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of ^dZobah, as he went to recover ^ehis border at the River Euphrates.

4 Then David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen and 20,000 footmen. And David ^fhocked all the chariot horses, but spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5 ^gThen when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew 22,000 Syrians.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts. ^hAnd the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

7 Now David took the ⁱshields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 And from Betah and from ^jBerothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

9 ¶ When Toi king of ^kHamath heard that David had smitten all the army of Hadadezer,

10 he sent Joram his son to King David to salute him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him, for Hadadezer had fought with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of bronze.

11 King David also ^ldedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all nations that he subdued;

12 from Syria and from Moab and from the children of Ammon and from the ^mPhilistines and from Amalek and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David made himself a ⁿname when he returned from smiting ^o18,000 Syrians in the ^pValley of Salt.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout ^qall Edom he put garrisons, and all those of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

David’s Officials

15 ¶ So David reigned over all Israel. And David executed judgment and justice to all his people.

16 ^rAnd Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army. And ^sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

17 ^tAnd Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests. And Seraiah was the scribe.

18 ^uAnd Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the ^vCherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were chief rulers.

1 ¶ Then David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul that I may ^ashow him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Now there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was ^bZiba. And when they called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

3 And the king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul that I may show ^cthe kindness of God to him?” And Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son who is ^dlame in his feet.”

4 And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of ^eMachir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

5 ¶ Then King David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6 Now when ^fMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

7 Then David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. And I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you will eat bread at my table continually.”

8 And he bowed himself and said, “What is your servant that you should look on such ^ga dead dog as I am?”

9 ¶ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant. And he said to him, ^h“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

10 “You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, will farm the land for him. And you will bring in the fruits so that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son ⁱwill eat bread always at my table.” Now Ziba had ^jfifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he will eat at my table as one of the king’s sons.”

12 And Mephibosheth had a young son ^kwhose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, ^lfor he ate continually at the king’s table. And he ^mwas lame in both his feet.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass after this that the ^aking of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.

2 Then David said, “I will show ^bkindness to Hanun the son of ^cNahash as his father showed kindness to 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.

3 Then the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has not David rather sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?”

4 Therefore, Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off one half of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle, ^das far as their buttocks. And he sent them away.

5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.”

6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they ^ehad become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the ^fSyrians of ^gBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, 20,000 footmen, and of King ^hMaacah a thousand men, and of ⁱIshtob 12,000 men.

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the ^jmighty men.

8 And the children of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the ^kSyrians of Zoba and of Rehob and Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9 ¶ When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in battle array against the Syrians.

10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of ^lAbishai his brother, so that he might put them in battle array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you will help me. But if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 ^m“Be of good courage, and let us show ourselves ⁿcourageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God. And the ^oLORD do what seems good in His sight.”

13 And Joab, and the people who were with him, drew near to the battle against the Syrians. And they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they fled also before Abishai and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to ^pJerusalem.

15 ¶ Now when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

16 Then Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river. And they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.

17 Now when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and passed over the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.

18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel. And David slew seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and ^q40,000 horsemen. And he smote Shobach the captain of their army, who died there.

19 And when all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel and ^rserved them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon anymore.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the spring, at the ^atime when kings go forth to battle, that ^bDavid sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged ^cRabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

2 ¶ Now it came to pass one evening that David arose from off his bed and ^dwalked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he ^esaw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of ^fUriah the ^gHittite?”

4 Then David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him and ^hhe lay with her, for she was ⁱpurified from her uncleanness. And she returned to her house.

5 Now the woman conceived and sent and told David. And she said, “I am with child.”

6 ¶ Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7 And when Uriah had come to him, David demanded of him how Joab was doing and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.

8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and ^jwash your feet.” And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a gift of food from the king.

9 But Uriah slept at the ^kdoor of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

10 Now when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”

11 Then Uriah said to David, ^l“The ark and Israel and Judah stay in tents. And ^mmy lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camped in the open fields. Will I then go into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

12 Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13 And when David had called him, he ate and drank before him. And he made him ⁿdrunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed ^owith the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

14 ¶ Now it came to pass in the morning that David ^pwrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him so that he may ^qbe smitten and die.”

16 Now it came to pass when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were.

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.

18 ¶ Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war.

19 And he charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,

20 “and if it happens that the king’s wrath arises and he says to you, ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

21 ‘Who smote ^rAbimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ Then you say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

22 ¶ So the messenger went and came and showed David all that Joab had sent by him.

23 And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.

24 “And the archers shot from off the wall upon your servants, and some of the king’s servants’ charioteers are dead and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”

25 Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you will say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city and overthrow it.’ Say this to encourage him.”

26 ¶ Now when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house. And she ^sbecame his wife and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done ^tdispleased the LORD.

1 ¶ Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And ^ahe came to him and ^bsaid to him, “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor.

2 “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.

3 “But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb that he had bought and nourished. And it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate from his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.

4 “Now there came a traveller to the rich man. And he refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd in order to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him. But he took the poor man’s lamb and dressed it for the man who had come to him.”

5 And David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man. And he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this thing will surely die!

6 “And he will restore the lamb ^cfourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

7 ¶ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man. Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ^d‘I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

8 ‘And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given you much more!

9 ^e‘Why have you ^fdespised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? ^gYou have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 “Now therefore, ^hthe sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

11 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will ⁱtake your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12 ‘For you did it secretly. ^jBut I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

13 ^kThen David said to Nathan, ^l“I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has ^mput away your sin. You will not die.

14 “However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD ⁿto blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”

15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And ^othe LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he was very sick.

16 David therefore inquired of God for the child. And David fasted and went in and ^play all night on the ground.

17 And the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat bread with them.

18 Now 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 spoke to him and he would not hearken to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do himself harm!”

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore, David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

20 Then David arose from the ground and washed and ^qanointed himself and changed his clothes. And he came into the house of the LORD and ^rworshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.

21 Then his servants said to him, “What thing is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive. But when the child was dead, you arose and ate food.”

22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, ^sfor I said, ‘Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

23 “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go ^tto him but ^uhe will not return to me.”

24 ¶ Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. And ^vshe bore a son and ^whe called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him.

25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26 ¶ Now ^xJoab fought against ^yRabbah of the children of Ammon and took the royal city.

27 Then Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the city of waters.

28 “Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”

29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.

30 ^zAnd he took their king’s crown from off his head. And its weight 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.

31 Then he brought forth the people who were in it and put them under saws and under iron picks and under axes of iron. And he made them pass through the brick kiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass after this that ^aAbsalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was ^bTamar. And ^cAmnon the son of David loved her.

2 And Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin. And it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the ^dson of Shimeah David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very shrewd man.

4 And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight so that I may see it and eat it at her hand.’”

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king had come to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and ^emake a couple of cakes for me in my sight so that I may eat at her hand.”

7 ¶ Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.”

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes.

9 And she took a pan and dished them out before him. But he refused to eat. And Amnon said, ^f“Have everyone go out from me.” And every man went out from him.

10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room so that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes that she had made and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 Now when she had brought them to him to eat, ^ghe took hold of her and said to her, “Come lie with me, my sister.”

12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for ^hno such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not do this ⁱdisgraceful thing!

13 “And I, where will I take my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, ^jfor he will not withhold me from you.”

14 However, he would not hearken to her voice. But being stronger than she, he ^kforced her and lay with her.

15 ¶ Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

16 Then she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not hearken to her.

17 Then he called his servant who ministered to him and said, “Put this woman out from me and bolt the door behind her.”

18 And she had a ^lrobe of many colors on her, for with such robes were the king’s daughters clothed who were virgins. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door behind her.

19 ¶ Then Tamar put mashes on her head and tore her robe of many colors that was on her. And ⁿshe laid her hand on her head and went on crying.

20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 ¶ But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 Then Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon ^oneither good nor bad. For Absalom ^phated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 ¶ Now it came to pass after two full years that Absalom ^qhad sheepshearers in Baal Hazor that is beside Ephraim. And Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be a burden to you.” Though he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 But Absalom urged him that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 ¶ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Take note now when Amnon’s ^rheart is merry with wine. And when I say to you, ‘Smite Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.”

29 And the servants of Absalom ^sdid to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and every man got up on ^this mule and fled.

30 ¶ Now it came to pass while they were in the way that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons and there is not one of them left.”

31 Then the king arose and ^utore his clothes and ^vlay on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 Then ^wJonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, “Do not let my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon only is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 “Now therefore, ^xdo not let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For Amnon only is dead.”

34 ¶ ^yThen Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hillside behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”

36 Then it came to pass as soon as he had finished 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 bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled and went to ^zTalmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled and went to ^aGeshur. And he was there three years.

39 And the soul of King David longed to go to Absalom, for he was ^bcomforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

1 ¶ Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was inclined ^atoward Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to ^bTekoah and fetched from there a wise woman. And he said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner and put on now mourning apparel. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has for a long time mourned for the dead.

3 “Then come to the king and speak in this manner to him.” So Joab ^cput the words in her mouth.

4 ¶ And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, ^dshe fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself. And she said, ^e“Help, O king.”

5 And the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, ^f“I am indeed a widow woman and my husband is dead.

6 “And your maidservant had two sons, and the two fought together in the field, and there was no one to separate them. But the one smote the other and slew him.

7 “And behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant. And they said, ‘Deliver him who smote his brother so that we may kill him ^gfor the life of his brother whom he slew, and we will destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal that is left and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the earth.”

8 ¶ Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house and I will give orders concerning you.”

9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, “My lord, O king, the ^hiniquity is on me and on my father’s house. And the king and his throne are guiltless.”

10 And the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me and he will not touch you anymore.”

11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, that you would not allow the ^jrevengers of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, ^k“As the LORD lives, there will not one hair of your son fall to the earth.”

12 ¶ Then the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak one word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Say on.”

13 And the woman said, “Why then have you thought such a thing against the ^lpeople of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back my banished one.

14 “For we ⁿmust surely die, and are as water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. ^oNeither does God respect any person. Yet ^pHe devises means so that His banished ones not be expelled from Him.

15 “Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.’

16 “‘For the king will hear in order to deliver his maidservant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the ^qinheritance of God.’

17 “Then your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for as ^ran angel of God, so is my lord the king to ^sdiscern good and evil. Therefore, the LORD your God will be with you.’”

18 ¶ Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.”

19 And the king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab, he commanded me and he ^tput all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.

20 “In order to change the appearance of things, your servant Joab has done this thing. And my lord is wise ^uaccording to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth.”

21 And the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.”

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face and prostrated himself and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”

23 So Joab arose and ^vwent to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24 And the king said, “Let him turn to his own house, and ^wlet him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

25 ¶ But in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his handsome looks. ^xFrom the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

26 And when he cut the hair of his head (for it was at every year’s end that he cut it because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.

27 ^yAnd to Absalom there were born three sons and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 ¶ So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and ^zdid not see the king’s face.

29 Therefore, Absalom sent for Joab, to have him sent to the king. But he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

30 Therefore, he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.”’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face, and ^aif there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me.”

33 So Joab came to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king. And the king ^bkissed Absalom.

1 ¶ Now ^ait came to pass after this that Absalom ^bprepared for himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate. And it was so that when any man who ^chad a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him and said, “From what city are you?” And he said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

3 And Absalom said to him, “See, your matters are good and right. But no man listens to you on the part of the king.”

4 Moreover, Absalom said, ^d“Oh that I were made judge in the land, then every man who had any suit or cause might come to me and I would give him justice.”

5 Now it was so that when any man came near to him to bow down to him, he would put forth his hand and take him and ^ekiss him.

6 And in this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. ^fSo Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 ¶ Now it came to pass ^gafter four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow that I have vowed to the LORD in ^hHebron.”

8 ⁱ“For your servant ^jvowed a vow ^kwhile I remained at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD will bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 ¶ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you will say, ‘Absalom ^lreigns in Hebron.’”

11 And two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem who were ^minvited and ⁿwent innocently. And they did not know anything.

12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, ^oDavid’s counselor, from his city, even from ^pGiloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased ^qcontinually with Absalom.

13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, ^r“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us ^sflee, for otherwise we will not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king will command.”

16 And ^tthe king went forth and all his household after him. And the king left ^uten women who were concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth and all the people after him. And they stopped in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him, and ^vall the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, ^wsix hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 ¶ Then the king said to ^xIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return to your place and abide with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile.

20 “In fact, you came but yesterday. Should I this day make you go up and down with us, since ^yI do not know where I am going? Return and take back your brethren. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 And Ittai answered the king and said, ^z“As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king will be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.”

22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over.” And Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king also himself crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the ^awilderness.

24 ¶ And behold, ^bZadok also and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ^cark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and ^dAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, “Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I will find favor in the eyes of the LORD, ^eHe will bring me again and show me both it and ^fHis habitation.

26 “But if He says thus, ‘I have no ^gdelight in you,’ behold, here I am, ^hlet Him do to me as it seems good to Him.”

27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a ⁱseer? Return to the city in peace and ^jyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 “See, ^kI will wait in the plain of the wilderness until there comes word from you to inform me.”

29 Therefore, Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they waited there.

30 ¶ Then David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet and wept as he went up. And ^lhe had his head covered and he went ^mbarefoot. And all the people who were with him ⁿcovered every man his head. And they went up ^oweeping as they went up.

31 And someone told David, saying, ^p“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please ^qturn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 ¶ Now it came to pass that when David had come to the top of the mountain where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the ^rArchite came to meet him ^swith his coat torn and dirt on his head.

33 David said to him, “If you cross over with me, then you will be a ^tburden to me.

34 “But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ^u‘I will be your servant, O king. As I was your father’s servant in the past, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 “And do you not have there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests? Therefore, it will be that whatever thing you hear out of the king’s house, you will tell it to ^vZadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 “Behold, they have there ^wwith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. And by them you will send to me everything that you can hear.”

37 So Hushai, ^xDavid’s friend, came into the city, and ^yAbsalom came into Jerusalem.

1 ¶ ^aNow when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, ^bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with two saddled donkeys, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread and one hundred bunches of raisins and one hundred summer fruits and a bottle of wine.

2 Then the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine for ^cwhoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3 And the king said, “And where is your ^dmaster’s son?” ^eAnd Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.’”

4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly beseech you that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

5 ¶ And when King David came to ^fBahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was ^gShimei, the son of Gera. He came out cursing continually as he came.

6 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.

7 And thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Come out! Come out! You man of bloodshed and ^hworthless fellow!

8 “The LORD has ⁱreturned on you all ^jthe blood of the house of Saul in whose place you have reigned. And the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And behold, you are taken in your mischief because you are a man of bloodshed.”

9 ¶ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this ^kdead dog ^lcurse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”

10 Then the king said, ^m“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the ⁿLORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ ^oWho will then say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^pmy son who ^qcame forth from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has ordered him.

12 “It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will ^rrepay me ^sgood for his cursing this day.”

13 So as David and his men went along the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and threw up dust.

14 And the king and all the people who were with him became weary. So they refreshed themselves there.

15 ¶ Now ^tAbsalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 Now it came to pass when Hushai the Archite, ^uDavid’s friend, had come to Absalom, that ^vHushai said to Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? ^wWhy did you not go with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be and with him I will remain.

19 “And again, ^xwhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

20 ¶ Then Absalom said to ^yAhithophel, “Give counsel as to what we should do.”

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go into your father’s ^zconcubines whom he has left to keep the house. And all Israel will hear that you ^aare abhorred by your father. Then the ^bhands of all who are with you will be strong.”

22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went into his father’s concubines ^cin the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel ^dboth with David and with Absalom.

1 ¶ Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose out 12,000 men and I will arise and pursue after David this night.

2 “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak. And I will make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will ^bsmite the king only.

3 “And I will bring back all the people to you. The return of everyone depends on the man you seek, then all the people will be at peace.”

4 And the saying pleased Absalom well and all the ^celders of Israel.

5 ¶ Then Absalom said, “Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear also what ^dhe says.”

6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken after this manner. Will we do after his advice? If not, speak.”

7 And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.

8 Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce in their minds, as a ^ebear robbed of her whelps in the field. And your father is a man of war and will not lodge with the people.

9 “Behold, he is hidden now in some pit or in some other place. And it will come to pass when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

10 “And he also who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly ^fmelt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.

11 “Therefore, I counsel that all Israel be fully gathered to you, ^gfrom Dan even to Beersheba, ^has the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.

12 “So will we come on him in some place where he will be found. And we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and of all the men who are with him there will not be left so much as one.

13 “Moreover, if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will ⁱdrag it into the river until there is not one small stone found there.”

14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the ^jLORD had purposed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil on Absalom.

15 ¶ ^kThen Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel. And thus and so have I counselled.

16 “Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not lodge this night ^lin the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over, lest the king be swallowed up and all the people who are with him.’”

17 ^mNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz ⁿstayed by ^oEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen to come into the city. And a maidservant went and told them, and they went and told King David.

18 Nevertheless, a lad saw them and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house ^pin Bahurim, who had a well in his court. And they went down into it.

19 ^qAnd the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it. And the thing was not known.

20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house they said, “Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” ^rAnd the woman said to them, “They are gone over the brook of water.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 Now it came to pass after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David. And they said to David, ^s“Arise and cross quickly over the water. For thus has Ahithophel counselled against you.”

22 Then David arose and all the people who were with him, and they crossed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 ¶ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose and went home to ^this house, to his city. And he put his ^uhousehold in order and ^vhanged himself. And he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

24 ¶ Then David came to ^wMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 And Absalom made ^xAmasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was a man’s son whose name was Ithra an Israelite, who went in to ^yAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.

26 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 ¶ Now it came to pass when David had come to Mahanaim, that ^zShobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and ^aMachir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and ^bBarzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

28 brought beds and basins and clay vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched grain and beans and lentiles and parched seeds

29 and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty ^cin the wilderness.”

1 ¶ Then David numbered the people who were with him and ^aset captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab and ^ba third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of ^cIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will surely go forth with you myself also.”

3 ^dBut the people answered, “You will not go forth, for if we flee away, they will not care for us; nor if half of us die, will they care for us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now, it is better that you help us from the city.”

4 Then the king said to them, “What seems best to you I will do.” And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man for my sake, even with Absalom.” ^eAnd all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

6 ¶ So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the ^fforest of Ephraim.

7 Then the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of 20,000 men.

8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country. And the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 ¶ Then Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak. And ^ghis head caught in the oak and he was taken up between heaven and earth. And the mule that was under him went away.

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

11 And Joab said to the man who told him, “Now behold, you saw him. And why did you not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

12 And the man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king’s son. ^hFor in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’

13 “Otherwise, I would have dealt falsely against my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king. And you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

14 Then Joab said, “I will not linger here with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor circled around and smote Absalom and slew him.

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

17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest and ⁱlaid a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel ^jfled everyone to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar which is in the ^kKing’s Valley. For he said, ^l“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he called the pillar after his own name. And it is called to this day, Absalom’s Monument.

19 ¶ Then ^mAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and bear the king news, how that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You will not bear news this day, but you will bear news another day. But this day you will bear no news because the king’s son is dead.”

21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no news ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,” said he, “let me run.” And he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

24 ¶ Now David sat between the ^otwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came quickly and drew near.

26 Now the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the porter and said, “Behold, another man running alone.” And the king said, “He also brings news.”

27 And the watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he fell down to the ground on his face before the king and said, ^p“Blessed be the LORD your God who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”

29 And the king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

30 And the king said to him, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.

31 And behold, the Cushite came. And Cushite said, “There is news my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.”

32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And the Cushite answered, “The enemies of my lord the king and all who rise against you to do you harm are as that young man is.”

33 ¶ And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said thus, ^q“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, ^rmy son!”

1 ¶ Then David numbered the people who were with him and ^aset captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab and ^ba third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of ^cIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will surely go forth with you myself also.”

3 ^dBut the people answered, “You will not go forth, for if we flee away, they will not care for us; nor if half of us die, will they care for us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now, it is better that you help us from the city.”

4 Then the king said to them, “What seems best to you I will do.” And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man for my sake, even with Absalom.” ^eAnd all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

6 ¶ So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the ^fforest of Ephraim.

7 Then the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of 20,000 men.

8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country. And the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 ¶ Then Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak. And ^ghis head caught in the oak and he was taken up between heaven and earth. And the mule that was under him went away.

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

11 And Joab said to the man who told him, “Now behold, you saw him. And why did you not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.”

12 And the man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king’s son. ^hFor in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’

13 “Otherwise, I would have dealt falsely against my own life, for there is no matter hidden from the king. And you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

14 Then Joab said, “I will not linger here with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.

15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor circled around and smote Absalom and slew him.

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

17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest and ⁱlaid a very great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel ^jfled everyone to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar which is in the ^kKing’s Valley. For he said, ^l“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he called the pillar after his own name. And it is called to this day, Absalom’s Monument.

19 ¶ Then ^mAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and bear the king news, how that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You will not bear news this day, but you will bear news another day. But this day you will bear no news because the king’s son is dead.”

21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no news ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,” said he, “let me run.” And he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

24 ¶ Now David sat between the ^otwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came quickly and drew near.

26 Now the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the porter and said, “Behold, another man running alone.” And the king said, “He also brings news.”

27 And the watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he fell down to the ground on his face before the king and said, ^p“Blessed be the LORD your God who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”

29 And the king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.”

30 And the king said to him, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.

31 And behold, the Cushite came. And Cushite said, “There is news my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.”

32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And the Cushite answered, “The enemies of my lord the king and all who rise against you to do you harm are as that young man is.”

33 ¶ And the king was deeply moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said thus, ^q“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, ^rmy son!”

1 ¶ Then it was told Joab, “Behold, the king weeps and ^amourns for Absalom.”

2 And the victory that day was turned into ^bmourning for all the people. For the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

3 And the people went by stealth that day ^cinto the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 But the king ^dcovered his face. And the king cried out with a loud voice, ^e“O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 And ^fJoab came into the house to the king and said, “You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,

6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared this day that you do not regard either princes or servants. For this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had died this day, then it would have pleased you well.

7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfortably to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, if you do not go out, there will not one stay with you this night. And that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”

8 Then the king arose and sat in the ^ggate. And they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king, for Israel had ^hfled every man to his tent.

9 ¶ And all the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us out of the hand of our ⁱenemies and he delivered us out of the hand of the ^jPhilistines. And now he is ^kfled out of the land for Absalom.

10 However, Absalom whom we anointed over us is dead in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 ¶ So King David sent to ^lZadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, even to his house?

12 You are my brethren. You are ^mmy bones and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’

13 ⁿAnd say to Amasa, ‘Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? ^oGod do so to me and more also if you are not captain of the army before me continually in the room of Joab.’”

14 And he turned the heart of all the men of Judah, ^peven as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king, “Return, and all your servants.”

15 So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to ^qGilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king ^rover the Jordan.

16 And ^sShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 And there were a thousand men of ^tBenjamin with him, and ^uZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him. And they went over the Jordan before the king.

18 And there went over a convoy 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 when he had crossed the Jordan.

19 And he said to the king, ^v“Let not my lord impute iniquity to me, nor remember that ^wwhich your servant did perversely the day when my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, so that the king should ^xtake it to heart.

20 For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I am the first to come today of all the ^yhouse of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Will not Shimei be put to death for this, ^zbecause he ^acursed the LORD’S anointed?”

22 And David said, ^b“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? ^cWill any man be put to death this day in Israel? For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?”

23 Therefore, the ^dking said to Shimei, “You will not die.” And the king swore to him.

24 ¶ Then ^eMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had neither dressed his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.

25 Now it came to pass when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, ^f“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, so that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame.

27 And ^ghe has slandered your servant to my lord the king. ^hBut my lord the king is as an angel of God. Do therefore what is good in your eyes.

28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. ⁱYet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry out anymore to the king?”

29 And the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take all since my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

31 ¶ And ^jBarzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went over the Jordan with the king, to escort him over the Jordan.

32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. And ^khe had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.

33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem.”

34 And Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I am this day ^leighty years old. Can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be still a burden to my lord the king?

36 Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 Please let your servant turn back again so that I may die in my own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold, your servant ^mChimham, let him go over with my lord the king, and do to him what seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham will go over with me and I will do to him that which will seem good to you. And whatever you will require of me, that I will do for you.”

39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king ⁿkissed Barzillai and blessed him. And he returned to his own place.

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

41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen you away, and have ^obrought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?”

42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is ^pnear of kin to us. Why then are you angry because of this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ^qten shares in the king, and we have also more right in David than you. Why then did you despise us? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” And ^rthe words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.

1 ¶ Now there happened to be there a rebellious man whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet and said, ^a“We have no part in David, nor have we inheritance in the son of Jesse. ^bEvery man to his tents, O Israel.”

2 So every man of Israel went up from after David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. ^cBut the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

3 ¶ Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, his ^dconcubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and fed them. But he did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 ¶ Then the king said to Amasa, “Within three days, ^eassemble for me the men of Judah and be present here yourself.”

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah. But he delayed longer than the set time that he had appointed him.

6 And David said to ^fAbishai, “Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom. Take ^gyour lord’s servants and pursue after him, lest he find for himself fortified cities and escape us.”

7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the ^hCherethites and the Pelethites, and ⁱall the mighty men. And they went out of Jerusalem in order to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When they were at the great stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist. And as he went forward, it fell out.

9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in health, my brother?” And ^jJoab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa did not notice the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So ^khe smote him with it ^lin the fifth rib, and poured out his inward parts on the ground. And he did not strike him again. And he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him and said, “He who favors Joab and he who is for David, let him follow after Joab.”

12 But Amasa wallowed in blood in the middle 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 everyone who came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 ¶ And he went through all the tribes of Israel to ^mAbel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites. And they were gathered together and went also after him.

15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah. And they ⁿcast up a bank against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 ¶ Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby so that I may speak with you.’”

17 And when he had come near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “I am he.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.”

18 Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the matter.

19 I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the ^oinheritance of the LORD?”

20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!

21 The matter is not so. But a man of Mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22 Then the woman ^pwisely went to all the people. 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 withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

23 ¶ Now ^qJoab was over all the army of Israel. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites.

24 And Adoram was ^rover the tribute. And ^sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.

25 And Sheva was scribe. And ^tZadok and Abiathar were the priests.

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

1 ¶ Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. So David ^ainquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is for Saul and for his bloodthirsty house, because he slew the Gibeonites.”

2 And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the ^bremnant of the Amorites. And the children of Israel had sworn to them. And Saul sought to slay them ^cin his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

3 Therefore, David said to the Gibeonites, “What will I do for you? And with what will I make the atonement so that you may bless the ^dinheritance of the LORD?”

4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul, or from his house. Neither for us will you kill any man in Israel.” And he said, “What you will say, that I will do for you.”

5 And they answered the king, “The man who consumed us and who plotted against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territory of Israel,

6 let seven men of his sons be delivered ^eto us, and we will hang them up to the LORD ^fin Gibeah of Saul, ^gwhom the LORD chose.” And the king said, “I will give them to you.”

7 ¶ But the king spared ^hMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the ⁱLORD’S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8 But the king took the two sons of ^jRizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to 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.

9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites. And they hanged them in the hill ^kbefore the LORD. So 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.

10 ¶ ^lRizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, ^mfrom the beginning of harvest until water dropped on them out of heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of ⁿJabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the ^oPhilistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.

13 And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son. And they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.

14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in ^pZelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they performed all that the king commanded. And after that ^qGod was moved by prayer for the land.

15 ¶ Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, and David went down and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, David grew weary.

16 And Ishbi-Benob, who was of the sons of the ^rgiant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David.

17 But ^sAbishai the son of Zeruiah helped him and smote the Philistine. And he killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, ^t“You will go no more out with us to battle so that you not quench the ^ulight of Israel.”

18 ¶ ^vNow it came to pass after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then ^wSibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.

19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where ^xElhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew ^ythe brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20 And ^zthere was war again in Gath where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on every hand and six toes on every foot, twenty-four in number. And he also was born to the giant.

21 And when he ^adefied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

22 ^bThese four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

1 ¶ Then David ^aspoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had ^bdelivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul.

2 And he ^csaid, ^d“The LORD is my rock and my ^efortress and my deliverer,

3 the God of my rock; ^fin Him I will trust. He is my ^gshield and the ^hhorn of my salvation, my ⁱhigh tower and my ^jrefuge, my savior. You save me from violence.

4 “I will call on the LORD who is worthy to be praised. So I will be saved from my enemies.

5 “When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodly men overwhelmed me;

6 “The ^ksorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.

7 “In my distress ^lI called on the LORD and cried out to my God. And ^mHe heard my voice out of His temple and my cry entered into His ears.

8 “Then ⁿthe earth shook and trembled. ^oThe foundations of heaven moved and shook because He was angry.

9 “There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and ^pfire out of His mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.

10 “He ^qbowed the heavens also, and came down. And ^rdarkness was under His feet.

11 “And He rode on a cherub, and flew. And He was seen ^son the wings of the wind.

12 “And He made ^tdarkness pavilions around Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

13 “Through the brightness before Him were coals of kindled fire.

14 “The LORD ^uthundered from heaven, and the most High uttered His voice.

15 “And He sent out ^varrows and scattered them, lightning and discomfited them.

16 “The channels of the sea were appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the ^xrebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 “He sent from above. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.

18 “He delivered me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

19 “They confronted me in the day of my calamity. But the LORD was my ^zsupport.

20 “He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me because He ^bdelighted in me.

21 “The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the ^dcleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.

22 “For I have ^ekept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 “For all His ^fjudgments were before me. And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 “I was also ^gupright before Him and have kept myself from my iniquity.

25 “Therefore, the ^hLORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.

26 “With the ⁱmerciful You will show Yourself merciful, and with the upright man You will show Yourself upright.

27 “With the pure You will show Yourself pure, and with the ^jperverted You will show Yourself astute.

28 “And You will save the ^kafflicted people. But Your eyes are on the ^lhaughty, that You may bring them down.

29 “For You are my ^mlamp, O LORD. And the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 “For by You I have run through a troop. By my God I have leaped over a ⁿwall.

31 “As for God, ^oHis way is perfect; the ^pword of the LORD is tested. He is a shield to all those who trust in Him.

32 “For ^qwho is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

33 “God is my ^rstrength and power. And He ^smakes my way ^tperfect.

34 “He makes my feet like ^uthe feet of deer. And He ^vsets me on my high places.

35 “He teaches my hands to make war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.

36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation. And Your gentleness has made me great.

37 “You have ^wenlarged my path under me, so that my feet did not slip.

38 “I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until I had consumed them.

39 “And I have consumed them and wounded them, so that they could not arise. Yes, they are fallen ^xunder my feet.

40 “For You have ^ygirded me with strength for battle. ^zThose who rose up against me You have subdued under me.

41 “You have also given me the ^anecks of my enemies that I might destroy those who hate me.

42 “They looked, but there was none to save, even ^bto the LORD, but He did not answer them.

43 “Then I beat them as small ^cas the dust of the earth. I stamped them as ^dthe mire of the street, and spread them out.

44 ^eYou also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be ^fhead of the nations. ^gA people whom I have not known will serve me.

45 “Foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear, they will be obedient to me.

46 “Foreigners will fade away, and they will be frightened ^hout of their hideouts.

47 “The LORD lives. And blessed be my rock. And exalted be the God of the ⁱrock of my salvation.

48 “It is God who avenges me, and who ^jbrings down the people under me,

49 “and who brings me forth from my enemies. You also have lifted me up on high above those who rose up against me. You have delivered me from the ^kviolent man.

50 “Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among ^lthe nations, and I will sing praises to Your ^mname.

51 ⁿHe is the tower of salvation for His king. And He shows mercy to His ^oanointed, to David, and to ^phis seed forever.”

1 ¶ Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, and ^athe man who was raised up on high, the ^banointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel,

2 ^c“The spirit of the LORD spoke by me and His word was on my tongue.

3 “The God of Israel said. The ^dRock of Israel spoke to me. ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the ^efear of God.

4 ‘And ^fhe will be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.’

5 “Although my house is not so with God, ^gyet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire. Will He now make it grow?

6 “But the sons of rebellion will all be as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands.

7 “But the man who will touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear, and they will be utterly burned with fire in their place.”

The Mighty Men of David

8 ¶ These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth ^aTahchemonite, chief of the captains. The same was Adino the Eznite. He lifted up his spear against eight hundred whom he slew at one time.

9 And after him was ^hEleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered together for battle, and the men of Israel had withdrawn.

10 He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was ⁱweary, and his hand stuck to the sword. And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to ^jplunder.

11 And after him was ^kShammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the ^lPhilistines were gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. And the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it, and slew the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory.

13 ¶ And ^mthree of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the ⁿcave of Adullam. And the troop of the Philistines camped in the ^ovalley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in the ^pstronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15 And David longed and said, “Oh that one would give me drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

16 And the three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate. And they took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.

17 And he said, “Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Is not this the ^qblood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore, he would not drink it. These things these three mighty men did.

18 And ^rAbishai, 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 won a name among the three.

19 Was he not most honorable of three? Therefore, he was their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

20 ¶ And Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of ^sKabzeel, who had done many acts. ^tHe slew two lion-like men of Moab. He went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.

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.

22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name among three mighty men.

23 He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him ^uover his guard.

24 ¶ ^vAsahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 ^wShammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of ^xGaash,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 ^yShammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of ^zAhithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of ^aZobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armorbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38 ^bIra an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

39 ^cUriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

1 ¶ And again the ^aanger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And He moved David against them to say, ^{b>“Go, number Israel and Judah.”}

2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the army who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, ^cfrom Dan even to Beersheba, and number the people so that ^dI may know the number of the people.”

3 And Joab said to the king, “Now may the LORD your God ^eadd to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see. But why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”

4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the army. And Joab and the captains of the army went out from the presence of the king in order to number the people of Israel.

5 And they passed over the Jordan and camped in ^fAroer, on the right side of the city that lies in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward ^gJazer.

6 Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi. And they came to ^hDanjaan and around to ⁱSidon.

7 And they came to the stronghold of ^jTyre, and to all the cities of the ^kHivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.

8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people to the king. ^lAnd there were in Israel 800,000 valiant men who drew the sword. And the men of Judah were 500,000 men.

10 ¶ And ^mDavid’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. And ⁿDavid said to the LORD, ^o“I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, I beseech You, O LORD, take away the iniquity of your servant, for ^pI have done very foolishly.”

11 Now when David rose up in the morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet ^qGad, David’s ^rseer, saying,

12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “I offer three things. Choose one of them so that I may do it to you.”’”

13 So Gad came to David and told him and said to him, “Will seven ^syears of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or will there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and see what answer I will return to Him who sent me.”

14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD, ^tfor His mercies are great. And ^ulet me not fall into the hand of man.”

15 ¶ So ^vthe 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 70,000 men.

16 ^wAnd when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to destroy it, ^xthe LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough. Hold back now your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

17 And David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel who smote the people, and said, “Lo, ^yI have sinned and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I ask you, be against me and against my father’s house.”

David Builds an Altar

18 ¶ And Gad came that day to David and said to him, ^z“Go up, erect an altar to the LORD in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

20 Now Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. And Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king on his face on the ground.

21 And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” ^aAnd David said, “To buy the threshingfloor from you in order to build an altar to the LORD so that ^bthe plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

22 And Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. ^cBehold, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

23 “All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “The LORD your God ^daccept you.”

24 And the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you at a price. Neither will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God of that which did not cost me anything.” So ^eDavid bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25 And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. ^fSo the LORD was moved by prayer for the land and ^gthe plague was withdrawn from Israel.