David's lamentation.

II. SAMUEL.

He is brought back. running alone. And the king said, He and that will be worse unto thee than all the also bringeth tidings. evil that befel thee from thy youth until 27 And the watchman said, Methinketh now.

the running of the foremost is like the run- 8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. ning of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And And they told unto all the people, saying, the king said, He is a good man, and Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And cometh with good tidings. all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

28 And Abimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

30 And the king said aside and stand here. aside, and stood still.

unto him, Tern
And he turned

31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings,. my lord the king for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee burt, be as that young man is.

9 ¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled cut of the land for Absalom.

10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain 33 And the king was much moved, of the host before me continually in the and went up to the chamber over the gate, room of Joab. and wept and as he went, thus he said, 14 And he bowed the heart of all the O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absa- men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; lom! would God I had died for thee, O so that they sent this word unto the king, Absalom, my son, my son! Return thou, and all thy servants. 15 So the king returned, and came to

CHAP. XIX.

AND it was told Joab, Behold, the king Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go

weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. to meet the king, to conduct the king over 2 And the victory that day was turned Jordan. into mourning unto all the people: for the 16 ¶ And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benpeople heard say that day how the king jamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and was grieved for his son. came down with the men of Judah to meet

3 And the people gat them by stealth king David. that day into the city, as people being 17 And there were a thousand men of ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant 4 But the king covered his face, and the of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons king cried with a loud voice, O my son and his twenty servants with him; and Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son! they went over Jordan before the king.

5 And Joab came into the house to the 18 And there went over a ferry-boat to king, and said Thou hast shamed this day carry over the king's household, and to do the faces of all thy servants, which this day what he thought good. And Shimei the have saved thy life, and the lives of thy son of Gera fell down before the king, as sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of he was come over Jordan;

thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; 19 And said unto the king, Let not my 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared thou remember that which thy servant did this day, that thou regardest neither princes perversely the day that my lord the king nor servants: for this day I perceive, that went out of Jerusalem, that the king should if Absalom had lived, and all we had died take it to his heart.

this day, then it had pleased thee well. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and sinned: therefore behold, I am come the speak comfortably unto thy servants: for hrst this day of all the house of Joseph to I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, go down to meet my lord the king. there will not tarry one with thee this night: 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah an

Shimer is pardoned.

CHAP. XX.

swered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

Rebellion of Sheba.

36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? 22 And David said,What have I to do 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should back again, that I may die in mine own this day be adversaries unto me? shall city, and be buried by the grave of my there any man be put to death this day father and of my mother: but behold thy in Israel? for do not I know that I am servant Chimham; let him go over with this day king over Israel? my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die: and the king sware unto him.

38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him 24 T And Mephibosheth the son of that which shall seem good unto thee: and Saul came down to meet the king, and had whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his will I do for thee. beard, nor washed his clothes, from the 39 And all the people went over Jorday the king departed until the day he came dan. And when the king was come over, again in peace. the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him:

25 And it came to pass, when he was and he returned unto his own place, come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, the king said unto him, Wherefore went- and Chimham went on with him and all est not thou with me, Mephibosheth? the people of Judah conducted the king, 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, and also half the people of Israel.

servant deceived me: for thy servant 41 T And behold, all the men of Israel my said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may came to the king, and said unto the king, ride thereon, and go to the king; because Why have our brethren the men of Judah thy servant is lame. stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near 28 For all of my father's house were of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry but dead men before my lord the king: for this matter? have we eaten at all of the yet didst thou set thy servant among them king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? that did eat at thine own table. What 43 And the men of Israel answered the right therefore have I yet to cry any more men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts unto the king? in the king, and we have also more right 29 And the king said unto him, Why in David than ye: why then did ye despeakest thou any more of thy matters? I spise us, that our advice should not be first have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land. had in bringing back our king? And the 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the words of the men of Judah were fiercer king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as than the words of the men of Israel. my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house. AND there happened to be there a man 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came of Belial, whose name was Sheba, down from Rogelim, and went over Jor- the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he dan with the king, to conduct him over blew a trumpet, and said, We have no Jordan. part in David, neither have we inherit32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, ance in the son of Jesse: every man to even fourscore years old: and he had pro- his tents, O Israel.

CHAP. XX.

vided the king of sustenance while he lay 2 So every man of Israel went up from at Mahanaim: for he was a very great man. after David, and followed Sheba the son 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave Come thou over with me, and I will feed unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

thee with me in Jerusalem.

men

34 And Barzillai said unto the king, 3 And David came to his house at How long have I to live, that I should go Jerusalem; and the king took the ten woup with the king unto Jerusalem? his concubines, whom he had left to 35 I am this day fourscore years old: keep the house, and put them in ward, and can I discern between good and evil? and fed them, but went not in unto them. can thy servant taste what I eat or what I So they were shut up unto the day of their drink? can I hear any more the voice of death, living in widowhood. singing-men and singing-women? where- 4 ¶ Then said the king to Amasa, Asfore then should thy servant be yet a bur- semble me the men of Judah within three den unto my lord the king? days, and be thou bere present.

Amasa is slain.

II. SAMUEL. 5 So Amasa went to assemble the men| of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

:

The three years' famine.

19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?

6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's 20 And Joab answered and said, Far servants and pursue after him, lest he get be it, far be it from me, that I should swalhim fenced cities, and escape us. low up or destroy.

7 And there went out after him Joab's 21 The matter is not so: but a man of men, and the Cherethites, and the Pele-mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri thites, and all the mighty men: and they by name, hath lifted up his hand against went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after the king, even against David: deliver him Sheba the son of Bichri. only, and I will depart from the city. And 8 When they were at the great stone the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. them. And Joab's garment that he had 22 Then the woman went unto all the put on was girded unto him, and upon it people in her wisdom. And they cut off a girdle with a sword fastened upon his the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumforth it fell out. pet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Je

9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa rusalem unto the king.

by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 23 ¶ Now Joab was over all the host 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiathat was in Joab's hand: so he smote him da was over the Cherethites and over the therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his Pelethites: bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in

when

24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:

25 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

26 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David. CHAP. XXI.

the midst of the highway. Add in the THEN there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; removed Amasa out of the highway into and David inquired of the LORD. And the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for he saw that every one that came by him his bloody house, because he slew the stood still. Gibeonites.

13 When he was removed out of the 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, highway, all the people went on after Joab, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. were not of the children of Israel, but of 14 T And he went through all the tribes the remnant of the Amorites; and the of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, children of Israel had sworn unto them: and all the Berites: and they were ga- and Saul sought to slay them, in his zeal thered together, and went also after him. to the children of Israel and Judah.) 15 And they came and besieged him in 3 Wherefore David said unto the GiAbel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a beonites, What shall I do for you? and bank against the city, and it stood in the wherewith shall I make the atonement, that trench and all the people that were with ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? Joab battered the wall,to throw it down. 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, 16 Then cried a wise woman out of We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may kill any man in Israel. And he said, speak with thee. What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 17 And when he was come near unto 5 And they answered the king, The her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And man that consumed us, and that devised he answered, I am he. Then she said against us, that we should be destroyed unto him, Hear the words of thy hand- from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, maid. And he answered, I do hear. 6 Let seven men of his sons be deliver

18 Then she spake, saying, They were ed unto us, and we will hang them up unwont to speak in old time, saying, They to the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the shal surely ask counsel at Abel: and so LORD did choose. And the king said, I they ended the matter. will give them.