278 Amnon flain. 11. SAMUEL. Joab fuborneth the widows ed you? Be courageous, and be valiant. 4 And when the woman of Tekoalt 29 And the fervants of Abfalom did fpake to the king, fhe fell on her face to unto Amnon as Abfalom had command-the ground, and did obeifance, and faid, ed. Then all the king's fons arofe, and Help, O king. 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. 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 ftrove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one fmote the other, and flew him. 31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments,and lay on the earth: and all his 7 And, behold, the whole family is rifen fervants ftood by with their clothes rent. against thine handmaid, and they faid, 32 And Jonadab, the fon of Shimeah, Deliver him that fmote his brother, that David's brother, answered and faid, Let we may kill him for the life of his brother not my lord fuppofe that they have flain whom he flew; and we will destroy the all the young men the king's fons; for heir alfo and fo they fhall quench my Amnon only is dead: for by the appoint-coal which is left, and fhall not leave to ment of Abfalom this hath been deter- my husband neither name nor remainder mined from the day that he forced his upon the earth. filter Tamar. 83 Now, therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think 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. : 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 houfe: and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king faid, Whofoever faith aught unto thee, bring him to me,and he thall not touch thee any more. 11 Then faid fhe, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldeft not fuffer the revengers of 36 And it came to pafs as foon as he blood to deftroy any more, left they dehad made an end of speaking, that, be-stroy my fon. And he said, As the LORD hold, the king's fons came, and lifted up liveth, there fhall not one hair of thy fon their voice and wept and the king alfo fall to the earth. and all his fervants wept very fore. 57 But Abfalom fled, and went to Talmai, the fon of Ammihud, king of Gehur. And David mourned for his fon every day. 12 Then the woman faid, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, fpeak one word unto my lord the king. And he faid, Say on. 13 And the woman faid, Wherefore then haft thou thought fuch a thing a58 So Abfalom fled, and went to Ge-gainst the people of God? For the king fhur, and was there three years. 39 And the foul of king David longed to go forth unto Abfalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. CHAP. XIV. doth fpeak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his ban ifhed. 14 For we must needs die, and are as water fpilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: neither doth God refpect any perfon; yet doth he devife means that his banished be not expelled from him. 1 Joab, Juborning a widow of Tekoab to incline the king's heart to fetch home Abfalom, 21 bringeth him to Jerufalem. NÓW Joab the fon of Zeruiah per- 15 Now, therefore, that I am come to ceived that the king's heart was toward fpeak of this thing unto my lord the king, Abfalom. it is because the people have made me 2 And Joab fent to Tekoah, and fetch-afraid and thy handmaid faid, I will ed thence a wife woman, and faid unto now fpeak unto the king; it may be that her, I pray thee, feign thyfelf to be a the king will perform the request of his mourner. and put on now mourning ap-handmaid. parel, and anoint not thy felf with oil, 16 For the king will hear, to deliver but be as a woman that had a long time his handmaid out of the hand of the man mourned for the dead: that would destroy me and my fon togeth on this manner unto him. the words in her mouth. 3 And come to the king, and fpeaker out of the inheritance of God. So Joab put 17 Then thine handmaid faid, The word of my lord the king fhall now be comfortable Abfalom's return. Chap. xv. His popularity. 279 comfortable for as an angel of God, fo| Wherefore have thy fervants fet my field is my lord the king to difcern good and on fire? bad therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. 18 Then the king answered, and faid unto the woman, Hide not from me, pray thee, the thing that I fhall afk thee. And the woman faid, Let my lord the king now fpeak. 32 And Abfalom anfwered Joab, Rehold, I fent unto thee, faying, Come hither, that I may fend thee to the king, Ito fay, Wherefore am I come from Gethur? It had been good for me to have been there still now, therefore, let me fee the king's face and if there be any 19 And the king faid, Is not the hand finiquity in me, let him kill me. of Joab with thee in all this? And the 33 So Joab came to the king, and told woman-answered and faid, As thy foul him. And when he had called for Abfaliveth, my lord the king, none can turn lom, he came to the king, and bowed to the right hand or to the left from himself on his face to the ground before aught that my lord the king hath (poken: And the king kiffed Abfaloma for thy fervant Joab, he bade me, and he CHAP. XV. put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: the king. 1 Abfalom fealeth the hearts of Ifrael. 10 He maketh a confpiracy. 13 David fleeth from Jerufalem. 20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy fervant Joab done this thing, AND it came to pafs after this, that and my lord is wife according to the Abfalom prepared him chariots and horfwisdom of an angel of God, to know alles, and fifty men to run before him. things that are in the earth. 2 And Abfalom rofe up early, and 21 And the king faid unto Joab, flood befide the way of the gate and it Behold, now, I have done this thing: go was 9, that when any man that had a therefore, bring the young man Abfa- controverfy came to the king for judgTom again. ment, then Abfalom called unto him, and faid, Of what city art thou? And he faid, Thy fervant is of one of the tribes of Ifrael. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab faid, Today thy fervant knoweth that I have found grace in thy Gght, 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. 24 And the king faid, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not fee my face. So Abfalom returned to his own houfe, and Law not the king's face. S 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, Oh, 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 justice! 5 And it was jo, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeifance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kitfed him. 25 But in all Ifrael there was none to be fo much praifed as Abfalom for his beauty from the fole of his foot even to 6 And on this manner did Abfalom the crown of his head there was no blem-to all Ifrael that came to the king for ish in him. judgment. So Abfalom ftole the hearts 26 And when he polled his head, (for of the men of Ifrael. it was at every year end that he polled 7 And it came to pafs after forty it: because the hair was heavy on him, years, that Abfalom faid unto the king, therefore he polled it) he weighed the I pray thee, let me go, and pay my vow, hair of his head at two hundred shekels which I have vowed unto the LORD, in after the king's weight. Hebron. 27 And unto Abfalom there were born three fons and one daughter, whofe name was Tamar: he 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 fecond time, he would not come. 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. 9 And the king faid unto him, Go in peace. So he arofe, and went to Hebron. 10 But Abfalom fent fpies throughout all the tribes of Ifrael, faying, As foon as ye hear the found of the trumpet, then ye fhall fay, Abfalom reigneth in Hebron. 30 Therefore he faid unto his fervants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he bath 11 And with Abfalom went two hun barley there; go, and fet it on fire And dred men out of Jerufalem, that were Abfalom's fervants fet the field on fire. called and they went in their fimplici. 51 Then Joab arole and came to Abfa-ty, and they knew not any thing. m unto his houfe, and faid unto him, 12 And Abfalom fent for Alüthophel the 280 David fleeth from Ferufalem. II. SAMUEL Abfalom's treason. the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from light in thee, behold, bere am I, let him his city, even from Giloh while he offer-do to me as feemeth good unto him. ed facrifices. And the confpiracy was 27 The king faid alfo unto Zadok the frong for the people increafed continu-priest, Art not thou a feer Return into ally with Abfalom. the city in peace, and your two fons with you, Ahimaaz thy fon, and Jonathan the fon of Abiathar. 18 And there came a meffenger to David, faving, 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 tee: for we thall not elje efcape from Abfalom: make fpeed to depart, left he overtake us fuddenly, and bring evil upon us, and fmite the city with the edge of the fword. 15 And the king's fervants faid unto the king, behold, thy fervants are ready to do whatfoever my lord the king fhall appoint. 16 And the king went forth, and all his household 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. 13 And all his fervants paffed on befide him and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, fix hundred men which came after him from Gath, palled on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest 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, Should I this day make thee go up and down with us? Seeing I go whither may; return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai anfwered the king, and faid, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, furely in what place my lord the king hall be, whether in death or life,even there alfo will thy fervant be. 22 And David faid to Ittai, Go, and pafs 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 passed over. The king alfo himself paffed over the brook Kidron, and all the people paffed over, toward the way of the wildernefs. 24 And lo, Zadok alfo and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of 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. : 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wildernefs, until there come word from you to certify me. 29 Zadok, therefore, and Abiathar.carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem ; 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. 81 And one told David, faying, Ahithophel is among the conípirators with Abfalom. And David faid,O LORD. I pray thee, turn the counfel of Ahathophel into foolishnets. 32 And it came to pafs, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Huhai the Archite came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: 33 Unto whom David faid, If thou paffelt on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me. 34 But if thou return to the city, and fay unto Abfalom, I will be thy fervant, Oking; as 1 bave been thy father's fervant hitherto, so will I now alfo be thy fervant: then mayelt 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 things foever thou shalt hear out of the king's houfe, thou shalt tell is to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two fons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's jon,and Jonathan, Abiathar's fon and by them ye thall fend unto me every thing that ye can hear. 87 So Hufhai David's friend came into the city, and Abfalom came into Jerufalem. 1 CHAP. XVI. Ziba by falje juggeftions obraineth bis mafler's inheritance. 5 Sbimei curfetḥ David. 9 David abflarneth and reAraineth others from revenge. 20 Abithophel's counjel. AND when David was a little paft the 25 And the king faid unto Zadok, Car- top of the bill, behold, Ziba, the fervant ry back the ark of God into the city of Mephibofheth met him with a couple if I thall find favour in the eyes of the of affes faddled, and upon them two hun. · LORD. he will bring me again, and fhewdred loaves of bread, and an hundred me b b it and his habitation: bunches of railins, and an hundred of 26 But if he thus fay, I have no de-fummer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king faid unto Ziba, What meaneft thou by thefe And Ziba faid, The affe be for the king's houfehold to ride on and the bread and funner fruit for the young men to cat; and the wine, that fuch as be faint in the wilder. nefs may drink. Abitbophet's counsel. 281 the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Abfalom, that Hufhai faid unto Abfa lom, God fave the king, God fave the king. 17 And Abfalom faid to Huthai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why wenteft thou not with thy friend? 18 And Huhai faid unto Abfalom, 3 And the king faid, And where is thy Nay; but whom the LORD and this peomafter's fon? And Ziba faid unto the king,ple, and all the men of Ifrael choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. 19 And again, Whom thould I ferve? Should I not ferve in the prefence of his on? As I have ferved in thy father's pref Behold he abideth at Jerufalem; for he 5 And when king David came to Ba- : 7 And thus said Shimei when he curf ed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man and thou man of Belial: 20 Then faid Abfalom to Ahithophel, give counfel among you what we hall do. 21 And Ahithophel faid unto Abfalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines which he hath left to keep the house; and all Ifrael hall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then all the bands of all that are with thee be strong. 22 So they fpread Abfalom a tent upon the top of the houte; and Abfalom went in unto his father's concubines, in the fight of all Ifrael. 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 be-1 hold thou art taken in thy mischief, becaufe thou art a bloody man. 23 And the counfel of Ahithophel which he counfelled in thofe days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: fo was all the counfel of Ahithophel both with David and with Abfalom. CHAP. XVII. Abitbophel's counsel is on erthrown by Hufbai's, according to God's appointment. 15 Secret intelligence is fent to David. 23 Abitbophel rangeth himself. MOREOVER, Ahithophel faid unto Abfalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arife and purfue atter David this night: 9 Then faid Abishai the fori of Zerujah 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. .I 10 And the king faid, What have 1 to do with you, ye fons of Zeruiah? So 2 And I will come upon him while he let him curfe, becaufe the LORD hath is weary and weak handed, and will faid unto him, Curfe David. Who hall make him afraid : and all the people that then lay, Wherefore haft thou done foare with him thall flee; and I will fmite 11 And David faid to Abihai, and to the king only: 4 And the faying pleafed Abfalom well, and all the elders of Ifrael. all his fervants, Behold, my fon, which 3 And I will bring back all the peocame forth of my bowels, feeketh my ple unto thee: the man whom thou life: How much more now may this Ben-leekeft is as if all returned: fo all the jamite do? Let him alone, and let him people fhall be in peace. curfe for the LORD, hath bidden him. 12 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his curfing this day, 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's fide over against him, and curfed as he went, and threw ftones at him, and taft 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 Abithophel with him. 16 And it came to pafs when Husai 5 Then faid Abfalom, Call now Huthai the Archite alfo, and let us hear likewife what he faith." 6 And when Huhai was come to Ab falom, Abfalom fpake unto him, faying, Ahithophel hath Ipoken after this manner: Shall we do after his faying? I not; fpeak thou. 7 And Hufhai said unto Abfalom, The counfel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. 8 For faid Hubai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, 282 Hufbar's eounfel accepted. II. SAMUEL. Abitbopbel bangeth bimfelf. as a bear robbed of her whelps in the had fought and could not find them, they field and thy father is a man of war, returned to Jerufalem. and will not lodge with the people. : 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 hear. eth of it, will fay, There is a flaughter among the people that follow Abfalom. 10 And he also that is valiant, whofe heart is as the heart of a lion, hall utterly melt; for all Ifrael knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore, I counfel that all Ifrael be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the fand that is by the fea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own perfon. 12 So fhall we come upon him in fome place where he shall 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 fhall not be left fo much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Ifrael bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one fmall ftone found there. 21 And it came to pafs 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. 22 Then David arofe, and all the people that were with him, and they paffed over Jordan: by the morning light there 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 afs, and arofe, and gat him home to his houfe, to his city, and put his household 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 inftead of Joab. Which Amafa was a man's for, whofe name was Ithra an Ifraelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 So Ifrael and Abfalom pitched in 14 And Abfalom and all the men of the land of Gilead. Ifrael faid, The counsel of Hufhai the 27 And it came to pass, when David Archite is better than the counfel of was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the Ahithophel, For the LORD had appointed fon of Nahath of Rabbah of the children to defeat the good counfel of Ahithophel, of Ammon, and Machir the fon of Am. to the intent that the LORD might bring miel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileevil upon. Abfalom. adite of Rogelim, 15 Then faid Hufhai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counfel Abfalom and the elders of Ifrael; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Now, therefore, fend quickly, and tell David, faying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but fpeedily pafs over; left the king be fwallowed up, and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz ítayed by Enrogel: 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. 19 And the woman took and fpread a covering over the well's mouth, and fpread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known. 28 Brought beds, and bafons, and earthen veffels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulje, 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 faid. The people is hungry, and weary, and thirty, in the wilderness. CHAP. XVIII. 1 David viewing the armies,giveth them charge of Ablalom. 9 Abfalom is flain by Joab. 53 David lamentet for him. AND David numbered the people that were with him, and fet captains of thoufands and captains of hundreds over them. 2 And David fent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the fon of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king faid unto the people, I will furely go forth with you myfelf also. 20 And when Abfalom's fervants came to the woman to the house, they faid, S But the people answered, Thou shalt Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And not go forth for if we flee away, they the woman faid unto them, They be gone will not care for us; neither if half of over the brook of water. And when theyus die, will they care for us: but now : sbou |