Death of David's child. 4 And there came a traveller 2 SAMUEL, XIII. unto the B. C. 1035. a Ge.18.2-7. rich man; and he spared to take of his own flock, and of his own herd, to dress for the1 do hurt. way-faring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man: and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing 2 shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 2 or, is worthy to die, or, is a son of b Job 1.20. Solomon is born. how will he then 'vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to 1 Sa.26.16. his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst 1ise and eat bread. € Ex.22.1. Lu.19.8. d 1 Sa.16.13. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and Ps.18. title. I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Ju-ƒ dah; and if that had been too little, I would, moreover, have given unto thee such and such things. f i c.5.5. Is.38.2,3. Joel 2.14. Jon.3.9. 18a.15.19. i Nu.15.31. Is.5.24. Am.2.4. j Job 7.8-10. c.11.15-27. Mat.26.52. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.1 Ch.22.9. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never m Am.7.9. depart from thine house; because thou 3.e. Beloved hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take P thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. r 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.s 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. .24.10. Ps.32.5. Job 7.20. 51.4. Pr.28.13. P.130.3,4. Is.6.5-7. 1 Jno.1.7,9. 8 18.52.5. Eze.36.20,23. very great. Ro.2.24. fasted a fast. t c.13.31. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon; and the LORD loved him 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, 3 because of the LORD. 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And 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 encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and 4 it be called after my name. 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, (the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones,) and it was set on David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city 5 in great abundance. 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem. CHAP. XIII. A a ND it came to pass after this, that 1 Ch.3.9. D 1 Ki.21.4. 2 Co.7.10. vellous, or, hidden in the eyes of Amnon. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants it was marof David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice; 267 sister, whose name was Tamar; u and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin: and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. Amnon's incest. 2 SAMUEL, XIII. Da 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, vid's brother, and Jonadab was a very subtile man. 4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, 1 lean 2 from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee; say unto him, I pray thee, let my sisters Tamar come and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. B. C. 1032. a Ge.37.3. b Ps.45.13,14. 2 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see ƒ him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat. morning by morning. e Je.2.37. Aminon. Ge.18.6. Ge.38.12,13. 1 Sa.25.4,36. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took 6 flour, and kneaded it, and made 6 or, paste. cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. 9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me: and they went out every man from him. 10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. j Pr.26.24-26. 11 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said Ge.39.12. unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: " do not thou this folly." 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. I Ju.19.6,9,22. Est.1.10. a Absalom causes Amnon's death ours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath 3 Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained 5 desolate in her brother Absalom's house. 4 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated & Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. i 23 And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants, go with thy servant. 25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Am1 Sa.25.36. non's heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be 10 valiant. 29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every up upon his mule, and 14 Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice; but, being stronger than she, Ju.19.23. forced her, and lay with her. Pr.5.22,23. 10 sons of valour. o Pr.29.12. 15 Then Amnon hated her 12 exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith herode. hated her was greater than the love where-Ki.1.33. with he had loved her: and Amnon said 12 with great unto her, Arise, be gone. me. g De.22.25. hatred greatly. r.1.11. & c.12.16. 13 mouth. 16 And she said unto him, There is no cause this evil in sending me away is ver.3. greater than the other that thou didst unto But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And she had a garment of divers col 14 or, settled. 268 Joab's art 2 SAMUEL, XIV. king take the thing to his heart, to think B. C. 1030. that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead. c 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. 35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. 2 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept 3 very sore. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud king of Geshur. And David mourned for his sons every day. 38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, i and was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David 6 longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted' concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. CHAP. XIV. a c.19.19. blood do not multiply to Nu.35.19. d 1 Sa. 14.45. 2 according to 3 with a great weeping greatly. e c.13.37,38. c.3.3. Job 34.15. Ps.90.3,10. He.9.27. 4 or, Ammi hur. 5 or, because God hath not taken away his life, he hath in Absalom's favour. T king emember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, Asd the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. 12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. 13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. 14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: 5 neither doth God respect any person; yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled k from him. h 15 Now therefore that I am come to also devised. speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. NOW thing's heart was toward : 142. Absalom. 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah," and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead; 3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. h Job 34.19. Mat.22.16. Ac.10.34. Ro.2.11. i c.14.23. j Nu.35.24. k Le.26.40. Is.50.1,2. La.3.31,32. 6 was consumed. Ps.84.2. Ge.37.35. 38.12. m c.13.39. 2 Ch.11.6. 4 for rest. o c.19.27. hear. 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a 4 c.12.1, &c. widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was 10 none to part them, but the one 10 no deliverer smote the other, and slew him. 8 between. 7 And, behold, the whole family is risen r ver.3. against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that s De.19.12. we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband nei 16 For the king will hear, to deliver hiş handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. 19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, The bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21 And the king said unto 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 bowed himself, and 12 thanked the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his 13 servant. 23 So Joab arose, and went to Geshur," and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 And the king said, Let him turn to Absalom's return 2 SAMUEL, XV. Absalom's rebellion. my B. C. 1025. all Israel that came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. his own house, and let him not see 1 25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it; because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it,) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight. a Ge.43.3. 1 And as Ab- was not a beautiful man in all Je.9.3,5, e1 Sa.16.2. 27 & And unto Absalom there were borng c.18.18. three sons, and one daughter, whose name d 7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD in Hebron. 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. 9 And the king said unto 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 ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair Job 20.5,&c. shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. my place. m Ps.3.1,2. Ju.15.4,5. n ver.6. Ju.9.3. 30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near 2 mine, and he hath 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 unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? 32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hith-p c.19.9. er, that I may send thee to the king to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had 3 thrust. been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. 33 So Joab came to the king, and told choose. him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. CHAP. XV. 5 at his feet. Ge.45.15. Lu.15.20. r c.12.11. 16.21,22. AND' it came to pass after this, that c.12.11. horses, and fifty men to run before him. 1 Ki.1.5. 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, u c.8.18. that when any man that had a controversy 6 c.18.2. came to the king for judgment, then Ab-6 to come. salom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 7 or, none thee from wo Pr.30.11,17. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, * from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. m 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and 3 bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall 4 appoint. 16 And the king went forth, and all his household 5 after him: and the king left ten women, which were concubines," to keep the house. 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites," and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai" the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? 3 And Absalom said unto him, 7 See, thy downward. return to thy place, and abide with the matters are good and right; but there is no Ju.9.29. king; for thou art a stranger, and also an 8 wander in man deputed of the king" to hear thee. exile. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that Iyisa.23.13. going. were made judge in the land, that every Ru.1.16,17. man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. David's flight. 2 SAMUEL, XVI. Cheated by Ziba: cursed by Shimei. lord the king shall be, whether in death B. C. 1023. their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go, and pass And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. over. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook 1 Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness. h c.16.15,16, b1 Ch.27.33. Ro.12.15 1 called, Cedron. d c.15.30,32. 18. 25.18. 24 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Le-18a.17.17, vites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the Nu.4.15. ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he i will bring me again, and shew me both it and his habitation. k 26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. P8.43.3,4. 63.1,2. Is.38.22. j c.17.29. Nu.14.8. c.22.20. mc.19.27. Pr.18.17. 27. The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer?" return into 1 Sa.9.9. the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. 37 So Hushai, David's friend,' came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. CHAP. XVI. AND when David was a little past the top of the hill, d behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon & them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and the summer fruit for the young men to eat: and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. 3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said " unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibo2 do obeisance. sheth. And Ziba said, I2 humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from c.17.16. you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they tarried there. p c.19.16,&c. 1 3 still came 2017, Pr.26.2. going up, and weeping. 30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered; and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Ab- 18.20.2.4. salom. And David said, O LORD, I thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Y pray 32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with " his coat rent, and earth upon his head: r c.19.4. t Je.14.3,4. 17.14,23. 3.28.29. y Job 5.13. 33 Unto whom David said, If thou pass-a est on with me, then thou shalt be a burden d unto me: thee in thy evil. c.1.2. z Jos. 16.2. c Ex.22.28. d c.19.35. Ro.9.20. 34 But if thou return to the city, and say 1 Pe.2.23. unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, Ofc.16.19. king; as I have been thy father's servant g La.3.38. hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: Job 9.12. then i defeat the coun- c.17.5-14. mayest thou for me sel of Ahithophel. 35 And hast thou not there with thee Za-; Ge.15.4. dok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house thou shalt tell it * to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them c.17.15,16. m1 Pe.4.19. I ver.27. 271 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came 3 forth, and cursed 4 still 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 said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou 5 bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and behold, 6 thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, pray thee, and take off his head. b I 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came j forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse: for the LORD hath bidden him. |