Shimei curses David.

CHAP. XVI.

Ahithophel's counsel. David was come to the top of the mount, stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD where he worshipped God, behold, Hu- hath delivered the kingdom into the hand sha the Archite came to meet him with of Absalom thy son: and behold, thou art his coat rent, and earth upon his head: taken in thy mischief, because thou art a

33 Unto whom David said, If thou bloody man. passest on with me, then thou shalt be a 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruburden unto me: iah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, 35 And hast thou not there with thee Wherefore hast thou done so? Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore 11 And David said to Abishai, and to it shall be, that what thing soever thou all his servants, Behold, my son, which shalt hear out of the king's house, thou came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the how much more now may this Benjamite priests. do it? let him alone, and let him curse; 36 Behold, they have there with them for the LORD hath bidden him. their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye on mine affliction, and that the LORD will shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 So Hushai, David's friend,came into the city, and Absalon came into Jerusalem. CHAP. XVI.

AND when David was a little past the

12 It may be that the LORD will look

requite me good for his cursing this day.

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them 15 ¶ And Absalom, and all the people two hundred loaves of bread, and a hun- the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and dred bunches of raisins, and a hundred Ahithophel with him. of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What the Archite, David's friend, was come unto meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, The asses be for the king's household to God save the king, God save the king. ride on; and the bread and summer fruit 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this for the young men to eat; and the wine, thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest that such as be faint in the wilderness may thou not with thy friend? 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom,

drink.

3 And the king said, And where is thy Nay; but whom the LORD, and this peomaster's son? And Ziba said unto the ple, and all the men of Israel choose, his king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: will I be, and with him will I abide. for he said, To-day shall the house of Is- 19 And again, whom should I serve? rael restore me the kingdom of my father. should I not serve in the presence of his 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, son? as I have served in thy father's prethine are all that pertained unto Mephibo-sence, so will I be in thy presence. sheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my Give counsel among you what we shall do. lord, O king. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom,

5 And when king David came to Bahu-Go in unto thy father's concubines, which rim, behold, thence came out a man of he hath left to keep the house; and all Isthe family of the house of Saul, whose rael shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he father: then shall the hands of all that are came forth, and cursed still as he came. with thee be strong.

6 And he cast stones at David, and at 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon all the servants of king David: and all the the top of the house; and Absalom went people and all the mighty men were on his in unto his father's concubines in the sight right hand and on his left. of all Israel.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel Come out, come out, thou bloody man, which he counselled in those days, was as and thou man of Belial: if a man had inquired at the oracle of 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose both with David and with Absalom.

Hushar's counsel accepted.

MORE

CHAP. XVII. the intent that the LORD might bring evil OREOVER, Ahithophel said unto upon Absalom. Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

15 T Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the el2 And I will come upon him while he ders of Israel; and thus and thus have I is weary and weak-handed, and will make counselled. him afraid: and all the people that are 16 Now therefore send quickly, and with him shall flee; and I will smite the tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in king only: the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up and all the people that are with him.

3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seer to come into the city and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18 Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them 6 And when Hushai was come to Absa-away quickly, and came to a man's house lom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; Ahithophei hath spoken after this manner: whither they went down. shall we do after his saying? if not, speak

thou.

19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread 7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The ground corn thereon; and the thing was counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not not known. good at this time.

20 And when Absalom's servants came

8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy to the woman to the house, they said, father and his men, that they be mighty Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And men, and they be chafed in their minds, as the woman said unto them, They be gone a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: over the brook of water. And when they and thy father is a man of war, and will had sought and could not find them, they not lodge with the people. returned to Jerusalem.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or 21 And it came to pass, after they were in some other place: and it will come to departed, that they came up out of the pass, when some of them be overthrown at well, and went and told king David, and the first, that whosoever heareth it will said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly say, There is a slaughter among the peo-over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel ple that follow Absalom. counselled against you.

10 And he also that is valiant, whose 22 Then David arose, and all the peoheart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly ple that were with him, and they passed melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father over Jordan: by the morning light there is a mighty man, and they which be with lacked not one of them that was not gone him are valiant men. over Jordan.

11 Therefore I counsel that all Israel 23 ¶ And when Ahithophel saw that be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan his counsel was not followed, he saddled even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by his ass, and arose,and gat him home to his the sea for multitude; and that thou go to house, to his city, and put his household in battle in thine own person. order, and hanged himself, and died, and

12 So shall we come upon him in some was buried in the sepulchre of his father. place where he shall be found, and we will 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. light upon him as the dew falleth on the And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and ground: and of him and of all the men all the men of Israel with him. that are with him there shall not be left so 25 And Absalom made Amasa capmuch as one. tain of the host instead of Joab: which

13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a Amasa was a man's son, wnose name was city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to Ithra, an Israelite, that went in to Abigail that city, and we will draw it into the river, the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, until there be not one small stone found Joab's mother. there.

26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the 14 And Absalom and all the men of Is-land of Gilead. rael said, The counsel of Hushai the Ar- 27 ¶ And it came to pass, when David chite is better than the counsel of Ahitho- was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son phel. For the LORD had appointed to of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of

Absalom is slain.

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

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

CHAP. XVIII.

AND David numbered the people that

were with him, and set 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 a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

130therwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his

hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Za

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

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

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

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

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

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