David's kindness to Mephibosbeth. II. SAMUEL. The Ammonites and Syrians defeated. 3 And the king faid, Is there not yet vid's fervants came into the land of the any of the houfe of Saul, that I may thew children of Ammon. the kindness of God unto him? and Ziba faid unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a fon, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king faid unto him, Where is he? And Ziba faid unto the king, Behold, he is in the houfe of Machir, the fon of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. 5 Then king David fent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the fon of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6 Now when Mephibofheth, the fon of Jonathan, the fon of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibofheth. And he answered, Behold thy fervant! 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon faid unto Hanun their lord, Thinkeft thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath fent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather fent his fervants unto thee, to fearch the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 4 Wherefore Hanun took David's fervants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and fent them away. 5 When they told it unto David, he fent to meet them, because the men were greatly afhamed: and the king faid, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. 7 And David faid unto him, Fear not: for I will furely fhew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's fake, and will 6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon reftore thee all the land of Saul thy fa-faw that they ftank before David, the ther; and thou fhalt eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy fervant, that thou fhouldeft look upon fuch a dead dog as I am? 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's fervant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's fon all that pertained to Saul and to all his houfe. 10 Thou therefore, and thy fons, and thy fervants, fhall till the land for him, and thou fhalt bring in the fruits, that thy mafter's fon may have food to eat but Mephibofheth thy master's fon fhall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen fons and twenty fervants. II Then faid Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his fervant, fo fhall thy fervant do. As for Mephibofheth, faid the king, he fhall eat at my table, as one of the king's fons. 12 And Mephibofheth had a young fon, whofe name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were fervants unto Mephibofheth. 13 So Mephibofheth dwelt in Jerufalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. CHAP. X. David's meffengers fent to comfort Hanun, are villainously treated. 6, 15 The Ammonites and Syrians are overcome. A ND it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his fon reigned in his ftead. children of Ammon fent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ifh-tob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent. Joab, and all the hoft of the mighty men.. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ifh-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab faw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chofe of all the choice men of Ifrael, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abithai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammou. 11 And he faid, If the Syrians be too ftrong for me, then thou fhalt help me:but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God and the LORD do that which feemeth him good.. 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon faw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they alfo before Abifhai, and enter ed into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to 2 Then faid David, I will fhew kindnefs unto Hanun the fon of Nahafh, as Jerufalem. his father fhewed kindness unto me. And 15 And when the Syrians faw that David fent to comfort him by the hand they were smitten before Ifrael, they gaof his fervants for his father. And Da-thered themfelves together. ro And David's adultery. Chap. xi. Uriah flain. 16 And Hadarezer fent, and brought 10 And when they had told David, out the Syrians that were beyond the faying, Uriah went not down unto his river and they came to Helam; and house, David faid unto Uriah, Camest Shobach the captain of the hoft of Ha- thou not from thy journey? why then darezer went before them. didft thou not go down unto thine house? 17 And when it was told David, he ga- 11 And Uriah faid unto David, The thered all Ifrael together, and paffed over ark, and Ifrael, and Judah, abide in Jordan, and come to Helam. And the tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants Syrians fet themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Ifrael; and David flew the men of feven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thoufand horsemen, and fmote Shobach the captain of their hoft, who died there. 19 And when all the kings that were fervants to Hadarezer faw that they were fmitten before Ifrael, they made peace with Ifrael, and ferved them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. CHAP. XI. I Joab befiegeth Rabbah. 2 David committeth adultery with Bath-fheba. 16 Uriabis flain. 26 David taketh Bath-fheba to wife. ND it came to pass, after the year A was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David fent Joab, and his fervants with him, and all Ifrael; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and befieged Rabbah. But David tarried ftill at Jerufalem. of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; fhall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou liveft, and as thy foul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12 And David faid to Uriah, Tarry here to day alfo, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerufalem that day, and the morrow. 13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the fervants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 14 And it came to pafs in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and fent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the laying battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be fmitten, and die. 16 ¶ And it came to pafs, when Joabobferved the city, that he affigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 2 ¶ And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arofe from off his bed, 17 And the men of the city went out, and walked upon the roof of the king's and fought with Joab and there fell house and from the roof he faw a wo-fome of the people of the fervants of Daman washing herself; and the woman vid; and Uriah the Hittite died alfo. Das very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David fent and enquired after the woman. And one faid, Is not this Beth-fheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? -4 And David fent meffengers, and took her; and the came in unto him, and he lay with her; for the was purified from her uncleannefs: and the returned unto her houfe. 5 And the woman conceived, and fent and told David, and faid, I am with child. 6¶ And David fent to Joab, faying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab fent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war profpered. 8 And David faid to Uriah, Go down to thy houfe, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's houfe, and there followed him a mefs of meat from the king. 9 But Uriah flept at the door of the king's houfe with all the fervants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war ; 19 And charged the meffenger, faying, When thou haft made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 20 And if fo be that the king's wrath arife, and he fay unto thee, Wherefore approached ye fo nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would fhoot from the wall? 21 Who fmote Abimelech the fon of Jerubbefheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a milftone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy fervant Uriah the Hittite is dead alfo. 22 So the meffenger went, and came and fhewed David all that Joab had fent him for. 23 And the meffenger faid unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate. 24 And the shooters fhot from off the wall upon thy fervants; and fome of the Nathan's parable. II. SAMUEL. David confeffeth his fins. king's fervants be dead, and thy fervant ( his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him Uriah the Hittite is dead alfo. with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the fword fhall never depart from thine houfe; because thou haft despised me, and haft taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 25 Then David faid unto the meffenger, Thus fhalt thou fay unto Joab, Let not this thing difplease thee, for the fword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more ftrong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. 26 ¶ And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her hufband was dead, the mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was paft, David fent and fetched her to his house, and he became his wife, and bare him a fon. But the thing that David had done difpleased the LORD. CHAP. XII. Nathan's parable. 7 David confeffeth his fin, and is pardoned. 24 Solomon is born. 26 Rabbah is taken. AND the LORD fent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and faid unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, fave one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up and it grew up toge. ther with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bofom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to drefs for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dreffed 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 fhall furely die: 6 And he shall reftore the lamb four fold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 ¶ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus faith the LORD God of Ifrael, I anointed thee king over Ifrael, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy mafter's wives into thy bofom, and gave thee the houfe of Ifrael and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee fuch and fuch things. 9 Wherefore haft thou defpifed the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his fight? thou haft killed Uriah the Hittite with the fword, and haft taken II Thus faith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own houfe, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he fhall lie with thy wives in the fight of this fun. 12 For thou didft it fecretly: but I will do this thing before all Ifrael, and before the fun. 13 And David faid unto Nathan, I have finned against the LORD. And Nathan faid unto David, The LORD alfo hath put away thy fin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou bat given great occafion to the enemies of the LORD to blafpheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 15 And Nathan departed unto his houfe. And the LORD ftruck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very fick. 16 David therefore befought God for the child; and David fafted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his houfe arofe, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the feventh day, that the child died. And the fervants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they faid, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we fpake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David faw that his fervants whifpered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David faid unto his fervants, Is the child dead? And they faid, He is dead. 20 Then David arofe 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 his own houfe; and when he required, they fet bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then faid his fervants unto him, What thing is this that thou haft done? thou didst faft and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rife and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I faid, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? Solomon born. Chap. xiii. 23 But now he is dead, wherefore fhould Ifaft? can I bring him back again? I fhall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 24 T And David comforted Bath-fheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her and fhe bare a fon, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. 25 And he fent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah because of the LORD. 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab fent meffengers to David, and faid, 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: left I take the city, and 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 ftones and it was fet on David's head. And he brought forth the fpoil of the city in great abundance. 31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under faws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pafs through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people turned unto Jerufalem. Amnon ravisheth Tamar. Tamar come, and give me meat, and drefs the meat in my fight, that I may fee it, and eat it at her hand. 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himfelf fick: and when the king was come to fee him, Amnon faid unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my fifter come, and make me a couple of cakes in my fight, that I may eat at her hand. 7 Then David fent home to Tamar, faying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's houfe, and drefe him meat. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's houfe; and he was laid down. And the took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his fight, and did bake the cakes. 9 And he took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon faid, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10 And Amnon faid 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. II And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and faid unto her, Come lie with me, my fifter. 12 And fhe answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no fuch thing ought to be done in Ifrael: do not thou this folly. 13 And I, whither fhall I cause my re-hame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Ifrael. Now therefore, I pray thee, fpeak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. CHAP. XIII. 2 And Amnon was fo vexed, that he fell fick for his lifter Tamar; for he was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whofe name was Jonadab, the fon of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadah was a very fubtil man. 4 And he faid unto him, Why art thou, being the king's fon, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon faid unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Abfalom's fifter. s And Jonadab faid unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyfelf fick: and when thy father cometh to fee thee, fay unto him, I pray thee, let my fifter 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being ftronger than the, forced her, and lay with her. 15 T Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; fo that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon faid unto her, Arife, be gone. 16 And the faid unto him, There is no caufe: this evil in fending me away is greater than the other that thou didft unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his fervant that miniftered unto him, and faid, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And he had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with fuch robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his fervant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put afhes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours T that Abfalom killeth Amnon. II. SAMUEL. that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. 20 And Abfalom her brother faid unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my fifter: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained defolate in her brother Abfalom's houfe. 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22 And Abfalom fpake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Abfalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his fifter Tamar. 23 And it came to pafs after two full years, that Abfalom had fheepfhearers in Baal-hazor, which is befide Ephraim; and Abfalom invited all the king's fons. 24 And Abfalom came to the king, and faid, Behold now, thy fervant hath theep-! fhearers; let the king, I befeech thee, and his fervants go with thy fervant. 25 And the king faid to Abfalom, Nay, my fon, let us not all now go, left we be chargeable unto thee. And he preffed him howbeit he would not go, but bleffed him. 26 Then faid Abfalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. The avidow of Tekoab that all the king's fons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 34 But Abfalom 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 fide behind him. 35 And Jonadab faid unto the king, Behold, the king's fons come: as thy fervant faid, fo it is. 36 And it came to pass, as foon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's fons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king alfo and all his fervants wept very fore. 37 But Abfalom fled, and went to Talmai, the fon of Ammiliud, king of Gefhur. And David mourned for his fon every day. 38 So Abfalom fled, and went to Gefhur, and was there three years. 39 And the foul of king David longed to go forth unto Abfalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, feeing he was dead. CHAP. XIV. Joab, fuborning a widow of Tekoah to incline the king's heart to fetch home Ab falom, 21 bringeth him to Jerufalem. OW Joab the fon of Zeruiah' per And the king faid unto him, Why fhould Neived that the king's heart was to he go with thee? 27 But Abfalom preffed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's fons go with him. 28 Now Abfalom had commanded his fervants, faying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I lay unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. ward Abfalom. 2 And Joab fent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wife woman, and faid unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyfelf with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: And come to the king, and speak 29 And the fervants of Abfalom did on this manner unto him. So Joab put unto Amnon as Abfalom had command-the words in her mouth. ed. Then all the king's fons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. 30 And it came to pafs, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, faying, Abfalom hath flain all the king's fons, and there is not one of them left. 4 And when the woman of Tekoah fpake to the king, fhe fell on her face to the ground, and did obeifance, and said, Help, O king. 5 And the king faid unto her, What aileth thee? And the answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6 And thy handmaid had two fons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one fmote the other, and flew him. 31 Then the king arofe, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his fervants stood by with their clothes rent. 32 And Jonadab, the fon of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let 7 And, behold, the whole family is not my lord fuppofe that they have flain rifen against thine handmaid, and they faid, all the young men the king's fons; for Deliver him that fmote his brother, that Amnon only is dead; for by the appoint- we may kill him, for the life of his broment of Abfalom this hath been deter-ther whom he flew; and we will deftroy mined from the day that he forced his fifter Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think the heir alfo and fo they fhall quench my coal which is left, and fhall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. |