Juborned by Joab. Chap. xiv. 8 And the king faid unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. 9 And the woman of Tekoah faid unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king faid, Whofoever faith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. II Then faid fhe, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not fuffer the revengers of blood to deftroy any more, left they deftroy my fon. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there fhall not one hair of thy fon fall to the earth. Abfalom's return. 20 To fetch about this form of fspeech hath thy fervant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wife, according to the wifdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. 21 And the king faid unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Abfalom again. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab faid, To day thy fervant knoweth that I have found grace in thy fight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his fervant. 23 So Joab arofe and went to Gefhur, and brought Abfalom to Jerufalem. it Then the woman faid, Let thine 24 And the king faid, Let him turn to handmaid, I pray thee, fpeak one word his own houfe, and let him not see my unto my lord the king. And he faid, face. So Abfalom returned to his own Say on. houfe, and faw not the king's face. 13 And the woman faid, Wherefore 25 But in all Ifrael there was none to then haft thou thought fuch a thing a-be fo much praised as Abfalom for his gainft the people of God? for the king beauty: from the fole of his foot even doth fpeak this thing as one which is to the crown of his head there was no faulty, in that the king doth not fetch blemish in him. home again his banished. 14 For we muft needs die, and are as water fpilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth Ged refpect any perfon: yet doth he devife means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 15 Now therefore that I am come to fpeak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is becaufe the people have made me afraid and thy handmaid faid, I will now fpeak unto the king; it may be that the king will perforin the request of his handmaid. 16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would deftroy me and my fon together out of the inheritance of God. 17 Then thine handmaid faid, The word of my lord the king fhall now be comfortable for as an angel of God, fo is my lord the king to difcern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. 18 Then the king anfwered and faid unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I fhall afk thee. And the woman faid, Let my lord the king now fpeak. 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 fhekels after the king's weight. 27 And unto Abfalom there were born three fons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar fhe was a woman of a fair countenance. 28 So Abfalom dwelt two full years in Jerufalem, and faw not the king's face. 29 Therefore Abfalom fent for Joab, to have fent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he fent again the second time, he would not come. 30 Therefore he faid unto his fervants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and fet it on fire. And Abfalom's fervants fet the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arofe, and came to Abfalom unto his houfe, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy fervants set my field on fire? 32 And Abfalom anfwered Joab, Behold, I fent unto thee, faying, Come hither, that I may fend thee to the king, to fay, Wherefore am I come from Gelhur? it had been good for me to have been there 19 And the king faid, Is not the hand of ftill: now therefore let me fee the king's Joab with thee in all this? And the woman face; and if there be any iniquity in me, anfwered and faid, As thy foul liveth, my let him kill me. lord the king, none can turn to the right 33 So Joab came to the king, and told hand or to the left from ought that my him: and when he had called for Abfalord the king hath spoken: for thy fervant lom, he came to the king, and bowed Joab, he bade me, and he put all these himself on his face to the ground before words in the mouth of thine handmaid: the king: and the king kissed Abfalom. T 2 CHAP. Abfalom's popularity: CHAP. XV. II. SAMUEL. Abfalom ftealeth the hearts of Ifrael. 10 He maketh a confpiracy. 13 David fleeth from Jerufalem. His treafon. left he overtake us fuddenly, and bring evil upon us, and finite the city with the edge of the fword. 15 And the king's fervants said unto the king, Behold, thy fervants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. AND it came to pass after this, that Abfalom prepared him chariots and horfes, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Abfalom rofe up early, and stood 16 And the king went forth, and all befide the way of the gate: and it was his houshold after him. And the king Jo, that when any man that had a con-left ten women, which were concubines, troverfy came to the king for judgment, to keep the houfe. then Abfalom called unto him, and faid, 17 And the king went forth, and all Of what city art thou? And he faid, the people after him, and tarried in a Thy fervant is of one of the tribes of place that was far off. Ifrael. 3 And Abfalom faid unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Abfalom faid moreover, O that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any fuit or caufe might come unto me, and I would do him juftice! 5 And it was fo, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeifance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kiffed him. 6 And on this manner did Abfalom to all Ifrael that came to the king for judgment: fo Abfalom ftole the hearts of the men of Ifrael. 7 And it came to pafs after forty years, that Abfalom faid 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 fervant vowed a vow while I abode at Gefhur in Syria, faying, If the LORD fhall bring me again indeed to Jerufalem, then I will ferve the LORD. 18 And all his fervants paffed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, fix hundred men which came after him from Gath, paffed on before the king. 19 Then faid the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goeft thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and alfo an exile. 20 Whereas thou cameft but yesterday, fhould I this day make thee go up and down with us? feeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and faid, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, furely in what place my lord the king fhall be, whether in death or life, even there alfo will thy fervant be. 22 And David faid to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite paffed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people paffed over: the king alfo himself paffed over the brook Kidron, and all the people paffed over, toward the way of the wilderness. 9 And the king faid unto him, Go in peace. So he arole, and went to Hebron. 10 T But Abfalom fent fpies throughout all the tribes of Ifrael, faying. As Yoon as ye hear the found of the trumpet, then ye thall fay, Abfalom reigneth invites were with him, bearing the ark of Hebron. 11 And with Abfalom went two hundred men ont of Jerufalem, that were called; and they went in their fimplicity, and they knew not any thing. 12 And Abfalom fent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counfeller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he of fered facrifices. And the confpiracy was ftrong; for the people increased continually with Abfalom. 13 And there came a meffenger to David, faying, The hearts of the men of Ifrael are after Abfalom. 14 And David faid unto all his fervants that were with him at Jerufalem, Arife, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Abfaloni: make fpeed to depart, 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Le the covenant of God: and they fet down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done paffing out of the city. 25 And the king faid unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and fhew me both it, and his habitation: 26 But if he thus fay, I have no delight. in thee; behold, bere am I, let him do to me as feemeth good unto him. 27 The king faid alfo unto Zadok the prieft, Art not thou a feer? return into the city in peace, and your two fons with you, Ahimaaz thy fon, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderuefa, David fleeth from him. Chap. xvi. Ziba's falsehood. wilderness, until there come word from wine, that fuch as be faint in the wilder you to certify me. 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerufalem: and they tarried there. 30 And David went up by the afcent 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. nefs may drink. 3 And the king faid, And where is thy mafter's fon? and Ziba faid unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerufalem: for he faid, To day shall the house of Ifrael reftore me the kingdom of my father. 4 Then faid the king to Ziba, Rehold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibofheth. And Ziba faid, I humbly be feech thee that I may find grace in thy 31 And one told David, faying, Ahi-fight, my lord, O king. thophel is among the confpirators with 5 And when king David came to BaAbfalom. And David faid, O LORD, Ihurim, behold, thence came out a man pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahitho- of the family of the houfe of Saul, whose phel into foolishness. name was Shimei, the fon of Gera: he 32 And it came to pass, that when came forth, and curfed ftill as he came. David was come to the top of the mount, 6 And he caft ftones at David, and at where he worshipped God, behold, Hu-all the fervants of king David and all fhai the Archite came to meet him with the people and all the mighty men quere his coat rent, and earth upon his head: on his right hand and on his left. 33 Unto whom David faid, If thou paffeft on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: 34 But if thou return to the city, and Tay unto Abfalom, I will be thy fervant, O king; as I have been thy father's fervant hitherto, fo cvill I now alfo be thy fervant: then mayeft thou for me defeat the counfel of Ahithophel. 35 And haft thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it fhall be, that what thing foever thou fhalt hear out of the king's houfe, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two fons, Ahimaaz Zadok's fon, and Jonathan Abiathar's fon; and by them ye fhall fend unto me every thing ye can hear. that 37 So Hufhai David's friend came into the city, and Abfalom came into Jerufalem. CHAP. XVI. 7 And thus faid Shimei when he curfed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the houfe of Saul, in whofe ftead thou haft reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Abfalom thy fon: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mifchief, becaufe thou art a bloody man. 9 Then faid Abifhai the fon of Zeruiah unto the king, Why fhould this dead dog curfe my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king faid, What have I to do with you, ye fons of Zeruiah? fo let him curfe, because the LORD hath faid unto him, Curfe David. Who fhall then fay, Wherefore haft thou done fo? II And David faid to Abifhai, and to all his fervants, Behold, my fon, which came forth of my bowels, feeketh_my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him 1 Ziba, by falfe fuggeftions, obtaineth his curfe; for the LORD hath bidden him. mafter's inheritance. 5 Shimei curfeth 12 It may be that the LORD will look David. 9 David abftaineth and xe-on mine affliction, and that the LORD will ftraineth others from revenge. 20 Abi-requite me good for his curfing this day. thophel's counsel. A top ND when David was a little paft fervant of Mephibofheth met him, with a couple of affes faddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raifins, and an hundred of fummer fruits, and a battle of wine. 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the as he went, and threw ftones at him, and caft duft. 14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. 15 And Abfalom, and all the people the men of Ifrael, came to Jerufalem, and Ahitbophel with him. 2 And the king faid unto Ziba, What meaneft thou by these? and Ziba faid, The affes be for the king's houfhold to ride on; and the bread and fummer 16 And it came to pafs, when Hushai fruit for the young men to eat; and the the Archite, David's frieud, was come Ꭲ ; unto Abithophel's counsel overthrown. II. SAMUEL. David acquainted therewith. unto Abfalom, that Hufhai faid unto Abfa-[father and his men, that they be mighty lom, God fave the king, God fave the king. men, and they be chafed in their minds, 17 And Abfalom faid to Hufhai, Is this as a bear robbed of her whelps in the thy kindness to thy friend? why wenteft field: and thy father is a man of war, and thou not with thy friend? will not lodge with the people, 18 And Hufhai faid unto Abfalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Ifrael, choofe, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 9 Behold, he is hid now in fome pit, or in fome other place: and it will come to pafs, when fome of them be overthrown at the firft, that whofoever heareth it will fay, There is a flaughter among the people that follow Abfalom. 19 And again, whom should I ferve? Should I not ferve in the prefence of his fon as I have ferved in thy father's pre- Io And he also that is valiant, whofe fence, fo will I be in thy prefence. heart is as the heart of a lion, fhall ut20 Then faid Abfalom to Ahitho-terly melt: for all Ifrael knoweth that phel, Give counsel among you what we thy father is a mighty man, and they fhall do. which be with him are valiant men. 21 And Ahithophel said unto Abfalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the houfe; and all Ifrael fhall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they spread Abfalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Abfalom went in unto his father's concubines in the fight of all Ifrael. JI Therefore I counsel that all Ifrael be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-fheba, as the fand that is by the fea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. 12 So fhall we come upon him in fome place where he fhall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left fo much as one. 23 And the counfel of Ahithophel, which he counfelled in thofe days, was 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a as if a man bad enquired at the oracle of city, then shall all Ifrael bring ropes to God: fo was all the counfel of Ahitho-that city, and we will draw it into the phel both with David and with Abfalom. river, until there be not one small stone CHAP. XVII. found there. 1 Abithophel's counfel is overthrown by Hufbai's, according to God's appointment. 15 Secret intelligence is fent to David. 23 Abithophel hangeth himself. MORE OREOVER Ahithophel faid unto Abfalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arife and purfue after David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him fhall flee; and I will fmite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou feekeft is as if all returned: fo all the people fhall be in peace. 4 And the faying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Ifrael." 5 Then said Abfalom, Call now Hufhai the Archite alfo, and let us hear likewife what he faith. 6 And when Hufhai was come to Ab. falom, Abfalom fpake unto him, faying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: fhall we do after his faying? if not; fpeak thou. 7 And Hufhai faid unto Abfalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. 8 For, faid Hufhai, thou knoweft thy 14 And Abfalom and all the men of Ifrael faid, The counfel of Hufhai the Archite is better than the counfel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Abithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Abfalom. 15 T Then faid Hufhai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel countel Abfalom and the elders of Ifrael; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Nowtherefore fend quickly, and tell David, faying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pafs over; left the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be feen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. 18 Nevertheless a lad faw them, and told Abfalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's houfe in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down. a 19 And the woman took and spread covering over the well's mouth, and fpread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 20 And Abitbophel hangeth himself. Chap. xviii. Abfalom flain by Joah. 20 And when Abfalom's fervants came and a third part under the hand of Ittai to the woman to the house, they said, the Gittite. And the king faid unto the Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And people, I will furely go forth with you the woman faid unto them, They be gone inyfelf also. over the brook of water. And when they had fought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and faid unto David, Arife, and pafs quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counfelled against you. 3 But the people anfwered, Thou fhalt not go forth: for if we flce away, they I will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou fuccour us out of the city. 4 And the king faid unto them, What feemeth you beft I will do. And the 22 Then David arofe, and all the peo-king ftood by the gate fide, and all the ple that quere with him, and they paffed people came out by hundreds and by over Jordan: by the morning light there thoufands. lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel faw that his counfel was not followed, he faddled bis ass, and arose, and gat him home to his houfe, to his city, and put his houfhold in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the fepulchre of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Abfalom paffed over Jordan, he and all the men of Ifrael with him. 25 And Abfalom made Amafa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amafa was a man's fon, whofe name was Ithra an Ifraelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahafh, fifter to Zeruiah Joab's mother. 26 So Ifrael and Abfalom pitched in the land of Gilead. 27 And it came pafs, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the fon of Nahafh of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the fon of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28 Brought beds, and bafons, and earthen veffels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulfe, 29 And honey, and butter, and fheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that avere with him, to eat for they faid, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. CHAP. XVIII. 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abifhai and Ittai, faying, Deal gently for my fake with the young man, even with Abfalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Abfalom. 6 So the people went out into the field againft Ifrael: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; Where the people of Ifrael were flain before the fervants of David, and there was there a great flaughter that day of twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the fword devoured. 9 T And Abfalom met the fervants of David. And Abfalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. Io And a certain man faw it, and told Joab, and faid, Behold, I faw Abfalom hanged in an oak. II And Joab faid unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou faweft him, and why didft thou not fmite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten hekels of filver, and a girdle. 12 And the man faid unto Joab, Though Ifhould receive a thoufand hekels of filver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's fon: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abifhai and Ittai, faying, Beware that none touch the young man Abfalom. I David viewing the armies, giveth them charge of Abjalom. 9 Abfalom is flain by Joab. 33 David lamenteth for him. A that were with him, and let captains ND David numbered the people 13 Otherwife I fhould have wrought of thoufands and captains of hundreds falfehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou 2 And David fent forth a third part thy felf wouldeft have set thyfelf against of the people under the hand of Joab, me. and a third part under the hand of Abi- 14 Then faid Joab, I may not tarry hai the fon of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, thus with thee.. And he took three darts over them. |