that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead 23 them away, and depart. Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company who came against us into our hand. 24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his share is who goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarrieth by the stuff: they shall share 25 alike. And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. 25 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; to those who were in Beth-el, and to those who were in south Ramoth, 29 and to those who were in Jattir, and to those who were in Arcer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were 29 in Eshtemoa, and to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who 30 were in the cities of the Kenites, and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Chor-ashan, and to those who 31 were in Athach, and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt. 31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount 2 Gilboa And the Philistines followed hard apon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, 3 and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him and hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then 4 said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armour- 5 bearer saw that Sanl was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his 6 armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel who were 7 on the other side of the valley, and they who were on the other side the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. And on the morrow, when the Philistines 8 came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head, and stripped off 9 his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they put his armour in the 10 house of Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. And when the inhabitants of Jabesh- 11 gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; all the valiant men 12 arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they 13 took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED, THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. NOW after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; even on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and when he came to David, he fell 3 to the earth, and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are 5 dead also. And David said unto the young man who told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead? And the young man who told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Sauf leaned upon his spear: and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. 8 And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered | him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto 9 me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, so that there is scarcely life in me. So I 10 stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and 11 rent them; and likewise all the men who were with him: and they mourned, and 12 wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man who 13 told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, 14 How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed? And David called one of the young 15 men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And Da- 16 vid said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testifled against | tion over Saul and over Jonathan his son: thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S (also he bade them teach it the children of 18 anointed. Judah behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 17 And David lamented with this lamenta 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: 20 Tell it not in Gath," Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, Neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields that bear heave offerings; For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, the armour of him who was anointed with oil. 22 From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan Were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, and delightful garments, 27 How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished! AND after this, David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto 2 Hebron. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmel3 ite. And his men who were with him did David bring up, every man with his household and they dwelt in the cities of He4 bron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the hcuse of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they who buried 5 Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shown this kindness unto your lord, 6 even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host that was Saul's, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Ma9 hanaim; and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, 10 and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But 11 the house of Judah followed David. And the time 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 Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went 13 out from Mahanaim to Cibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of And 16 And there were three sons of Zeruiah 18 there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in 19 going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to 21 thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. And Ab- 22 ner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: where- 23 fore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear cane out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab 24 25 also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon, And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a 26 hill. Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the peopie return from following their 27 brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away 28 every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, 30 and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen 31 men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and 32 threescore men died. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when And Abner had communication with the 17 And, behold, the servants of David and 22 3 NOW there was long war between the Joab came from pursuing a troop, and house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weak2 er. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of 3 Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai 4 king of Geshur; and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shepha5 tial the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner made himself strong for the house of 7 Saul And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concu8 bine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, who against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, 10 even so I do to him; to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to 13 bring about all Israel unto thee. And he aid, Well: I will make a league with thee; but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou brought in a great spoil with them; but And when Joab was come out from Da- 26 vid, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. And when Abner 27 was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. And afterward when David heard it, he 28 said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: let it rest on the 29 head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who hath an issue, or who is a leper, or who leaneth on a staf, or who falleth on the sword, or who lacketh bread. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Ab- 30 ner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. And David said to Joab, and to all the 31 people who were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. And they buried 32 Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. And the king la- 33 mented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a criminal dieth? 34 Thy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before wicked men, And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, 36 till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king 38 to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen 39 this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. 42 AND when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, 2 and all the Israelites were troubled. 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 Beeroth also was 3 reckoned to Benjamin: and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 4 5 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame of both his fect. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and as she made haste to flee, he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish6 bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. (And the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat; and being heavy, had fallen asleep.) And they smote him under the fifth rib and Rechab and Baanah his brother 7 escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went away through the plain all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, who sought thy life; and the LORD hath 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 unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul 10 out of all adversity, when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was 11 the reward I gave him for his tidings: how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away 12 from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosbeth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron. THEN came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also 2 in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he who leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the 3 elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. And the king and his men went to Jeru- 6 salem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: saying, David cannot come in hither. Never-7 theless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David 8 said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, who hate David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Because the blind and the lame had said, He shall not come into the house. So David 9 dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, 10 and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers 11 to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. And David perceived that the LORD had 12 established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. And David took him more concubines 13 and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. And 14 these are the names of those who were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuab, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and 15 Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eli- 16 phalet. BUT when the Philistines heard that 17 they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and 18 spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, 19 Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up; for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thy hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, 20 and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [THE PLAIN OF BREACHES]. And there they left their images, and Da- 21 vid and his men burned them. And the 22 Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim And 23 when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And 24 when thou hearest the sound of a motion in the tops of the mulberry trees, then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the 25 host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. AGAIN, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the chiefs of the people who were with him to Gibeah of Kirjath-jearim, to bring up from thence the ark of God, at which the name, even the name of Jehovah, the LORD of hosts who dwelleth between the cherubims, is called upon. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the 4 new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio 5 went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, 6 and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold 7 of it; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his rashness; and there he died by the ark of 8 God. And David was grieved, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah (THE BREACH OF UZZAH] to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the 10 LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him. into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the 11 Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household. 12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of Da13 vid with gladness. And when they who bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with 15 a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 17 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the 19 LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of roasted flesh, and a flagon of O wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his house- 20 hold. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It 21 was before the LORD, who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore did I rejoice before the LORD. And I will yet be more 22 vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight and of the maidservants of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the 23 daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. And when the king came to dwell in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; the 2 king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And 3 Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for the LORD is with thee. And that night the word of the LORD 4 came unto Nathan, saying, Go and say to 5 my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Why shouldest thou build me a house to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in 6 any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places 7 wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me a house of cedar? Now therefore 8 so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcot, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: and I was with thee whithersoever 9 thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemics out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men who are in the earth. More- 10 over I have appointed a place for my people Israel, and have planted them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, and as since the time that I 11 commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee a house. And 12 when thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, 13 and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he 14 shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away 15 from him, as I took it from Sauf, whom I put away before thee. And thy house and 16 thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, 17 and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. |