Chapter 1


1

David Learns of Saul's Death

Now it came 1961 about after 310 the death 4194 of Saul 7586, when David 1732 had returned 7725 from the slaughter 5221 of the Amalekites 6002, that David 1732 remained 3427 two 8147 days 3117 in Ziklag 6860.
2 On the third 7992 day 3117, behold 2009, a man 376 came 935 out of the camp 4264 from Saul 7586, with his clothes 899 torn 7167 and dust 127 on his head 7218. And it came 1961 about when he came 935 to David 1732 that he fell 5307 to the ground 776 and prostrated 7812 himself.
3 Then David 1732 said 559 to him, "From where 335 do you come 935?" And he said 559 to him, "I have escaped 4422 from the camp 4264 of Israel 3478."
4 David 1732 said 559 to him, "How 4100 did things 1697 go 1961? Please 4994 tell 5046 me." And he said 559, "The people 5971 have fled 5127 from the battle 4421, and also 1571 many 7235 of the people 5971 have fallen 5307 and are dead 4191; and Saul 7586 and Jonathan 3083 his son 1121 are dead 4191 also 1571."
5 So David 1732 said 559 to the young 5288 man 5288 who told 5046 him, "How 349 do you know 3045 that Saul 7586 and his son 1121 Jonathan 3083 are dead 4191?"
6 The young 5288 man 5288 who told 5046 him said 559, "By chance 7122 I happened 7136 to be on Mount 2022 Gilboa 1533, and behold 2009, Saul 7586 was leaning 8172 on his spear 2595. And behold 2009, the chariots 7393 and the horsemen 6571 pursued 1692 him closely 1692.
7 "When he looked 6437 behind 310 him, he saw 7200 me and called 7121 to me. And I said 559, 'Here 2009 I am.'
8 "He said 559 to me, 'Who 4310 are you?' And I answered 559 him, 'I am an Amalekite 6003.'
9 "Then he said 559 to me, 'Please 4994 stand 5975 beside 5921 me and kill 4191 me, for agony 7661 has seized 270 me because 3588 my life 5315 still 5750 lingers in me.'
10 "So I stood 5975 beside 5921 him and killed 4191 him, because 3588 I knew 3045 that he could not live 2421 after 310 he had fallen 5307. And I took 3947 the crown 5145 which 834 {was} on his head 7218 and the bracelet 685 which 834 {was} on his arm 2220, and I have brought 935 them here 2008 to my lord 113."
11 ¶ Then David 1732 took 2388 hold 2388 of his clothes 899 and tore 7167 them, and {so} also 1571 {did} all 3605 the men 376 who 834 {were} with him.
12 They mourned 5594 and wept 1058 and fasted 6684 until 5704 evening 6153 for Saul 7586 and his son 1121 Jonathan 3083 and for the people 5971 of the LORD 3068 and the house 1004 of Israel 3478, because 3588 they had fallen 5307 by the sword 2719.
13 David 1732 said 559 to the young 5288 man 5288 who told 5046 him, "Where 335 are you from?" And he answered 559, "I am the son 1121 of an alien 1616, an Amalekite 6003."
14 Then David 1732 said 559 to him, "How 349 is it you were not afraid 3372 to stretch 7971 out your hand 3027 to destroy 7843 the LORD'S 3068 anointed 4899?"
15 And David 1732 called 7121 one 259 of the young 5288 men 5288 and said 559, "Go 5066, cut 6293 him down 6293." So he struck 5221 him and he died 4191.
16 David 1732 said 559 to him, "Your blood 1818 is on your head 7218, for your mouth 6310 has testified 6030 against you, saying 559, 'I have killed 4191 the LORD'S 3068 anointed 4899.'"
17

David's Dirge for Saul and Jonathan

¶ Then David 1732 chanted 6969 with this 2088 lament 7015 over 5921 Saul 7586 and Jonathan 3083 his son 1121,
18 and he told 559 {them} to teach 3925 the sons 1121 of Judah 3063 {the song of} the bow 7198; behold 2009, it is written 3789 in the book 5612 of Jashar 3477.
19 "Your beauty 6643, O Israel 3478, is slain 2491 on your high 1116 places 1116! How 349 have the mighty 1368 fallen 5307!
20 "Tell 5046 {it} not in Gath 1661, Proclaim 1319 it not in the streets 2351 of Ashkelon 831, Or 6435 the daughters 1323 of the Philistines 6430 will rejoice 8055, The daughters 1323 of the uncircumcised 6189 will exult 5937.
21 "O mountains 2022 of Gilboa 1533, Let not dew 2919 or rain 4306 be on you, nor 408 fields 7704 of offerings 8641; For there 8033 the shield 4043 of the mighty 1368 was defiled 1602, The shield 4043 of Saul 7586, not anointed 4899 with oil 8081.
22 "From the blood 1818 of the slain 2491, from the fat 2459 of the mighty 1368, The bow 7198 of Jonathan 3083 did not turn 5472 back 268, And the sword 2719 of Saul 7586 did not return 7725 empty 7387.
23 "Saul 7586 and Jonathan 3083, beloved 157 and pleasant 5273 in their life 2425, And in their death 4194 they were not parted 6504; They were swifter 7043 than 4480 eagles 5404, They were stronger 1396 than 4480 lions 738.
24 "O daughters 1323 of Israel 3478, weep 1058 over 413 Saul 7586, Who clothed 3847 you luxuriously 5730 in scarlet 8144, Who put 5927 ornaments 5716 of gold 2091 on your apparel 3830.
25 "How 349 have the mighty 1368 fallen 5307 in the midst 8432 of the battle 4421! Jonathan 3083 is slain 2491 on your high 1116 places 1116.
26 "I am distressed 6887 for you, my brother 251 Jonathan 3083; You have been very 3966 pleasant 5276 to me. Your love 160 to me was more 4480 wonderful 6381 Than 4480 the love 160 of women 802.
27 "How 349 have the mighty 1368 fallen 5307, And the weapons 3627 of war 4421 perished 6!"

Chapter 2


1

David Made King over Judah

Then it came 1961 about afterwards that David 1732 inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068, saying 559, "Shall I go 5927 up to one 259 of the cities 5892 of Judah 3063?" And the LORD 3068 said 559 to him, "Go 5927 up." So David 1732 said 559, "Where 575 shall I go 5927 up?" And He said 559, "To Hebron 2275."
2 So David 1732 went 5927 up there 8033, and his two 8147 wives 802 also 1571, Ahinoam 293 the Jezreelitess 3159 and Abigail 26 the widow 802 of Nabal 5037 the Carmelite 3761.
3 And David 1732 brought 5927 up his men 376 who 834 {were} with him, each 376 with his household 1004; and they lived 3427 in the cities 5892 of Hebron 2275.
4 Then the men 376 of Judah 3063 came 935 and there 8033 anointed 4886 David 1732 king 4428 over 5921 the house 1004 of Judah 3063.
5 ¶ David 1732 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to the men 376 of Jabesh-gilead, and said 559 to them, "May you be blessed 1288 of the LORD 3068 because 834 you have shown 6213 this 2088 kindness 2617 to Saul 7586 your lord 113, and have buried 6912 him.
6 "Now 6258 may the LORD 3068 show 6213 lovingkindness 2617 and truth 571 to you; and I also 1571 will show 6213 this 2088 goodness 2899 to you, because 834 you have done 6213 this 2088 thing 1697.
7 "Now 6258 therefore, let your hands 3027 be strong 2388 and be valiant; for Saul 7586 your lord 113 is dead 4191, and also 1571 the house 1004 of Judah 3063 has anointed 4886 me king 4428 over 5921 them."
8

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

¶ But Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369, commander 8269 of Saul's 7586 army 6635, had taken 3947 Ish-bosheth 378 the son 1121 of Saul 7586 and brought 5674 him over 5674 to Mahanaim 4266.
9 He made 4427 him king 4427 over 413 Gilead 1568, over 413 the Ashurites 805, over 413 Jezreel 3157, over 5921 Ephraim 669, and over 5921 Benjamin 1144, even over 5921 all 3605 Israel 3478.
10 Ish-bosheth 378, Saul's 7586 son 1121, was forty 705 years 8141 old 1121 when he became 4427 king 4427 over 5921 Israel 3478, and he was king 4427 for two 8147 years 8141. The house 1004 of Judah 3063, however 389, followed 310 David 1732.
11 The time that David 1732 was king 4428 in Hebron 2275 over 5921 the house 1004 of Judah 3063 was seven 7651 years 8141 and six 8337 months 2320.
12

Civil War

¶ Now Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369, went 3318 out from Mahanaim 4266 to Gibeon 1391 with the servants 5650 of Ish-bosheth 378 the son 1121 of Saul 7586.
13 And Joab 3097 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 and the servants 5650 of David 1732 went 3318 out and met 6298 them by the pool 1295 of Gibeon 1391; and they sat 3427 down 3427, one 428 on the one 2088 side 2088 of the pool 1295 and the other 2088 on the other 2088 side 2088 of the pool 1295.
14 Then Abner 74 said 559 to Joab 3097, "Now 4994 let the young 5288 men 5288 arise 6965 and hold 7832 a contest 7832 before 6440 us." And Joab 3097 said 559, "Let them arise 6965."
15 So they arose 6965 and went 5674 over 5674 by count 4557, twelve for Benjamin 1144 and Ish-bosheth 378 the son 1121 of Saul 7586, and twelve of the servants 5650 of David 1732.
16 Each 376 one 376 of them seized 2388 his opponent 7453 by the head 7218 and {thrust} his sword 2719 in his opponent's 7453 side 6654; so they fell 5307 down 5307 together 3164. Therefore that place 4725 was called 7121 Helkath-hazzurim 2521, which 834 is in Gibeon 1391.
17 That day 3117 the battle 4421 was very 3966 severe 7186, and Abner 74 and the men 376 of Israel 3478 were beaten 5062 before 6440 the servants 5650 of David 1732.
18 ¶ Now the three 7969 sons 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 were there 8033, Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 and Asahel 6214; and Asahel 6214 {was} {as} swift-footed as one 259 of the gazelles 6643 which 834 is in the field 7704.
19 Asahel 6214 pursued 7291 Abner 74 and did not turn 5186 to the right 3225 or to the left 8040 from following 310 Abner 74.
20 Then Abner 74 looked 6437 behind 310 him and said 559, "Is that you, Asahel 6214?" And he answered 559, "It is I."
21 So Abner 74 said 559 to him, "Turn 5186 to your right 3225 or 176 to your left 8040, and take 270 hold 270 of one 259 of the young 5288 men 5288 for yourself, and take 3947 for yourself his spoil 2488." But Asahel 6214 was not willing 14 to turn 5493 aside 5493 from following 310 him.
22 Abner 74 repeated again 5750 to Asahel 6214, "Turn 5493 aside 5493 from following 310 me. Why 4100 should I strike 5221 you to the ground 776? How 349 then could I lift 5375 up my face 6440 to your brother 251 Joab 3097?"
23 However, he refused 3985 to turn 5493 aside 5493; therefore Abner 74 struck 5221 him in the belly 2570 with the butt 310 end 310 of the spear 2595, so that the spear 2595 came 3318 out at his back 310. And he fell 5307 there 8033 and died 4191 on the spot 8478. And it came 1961 about that all 3605 who came 935 to the place 4725 where Asahel 6214 had fallen 5307 and died 4191, stood 5975 still 5975.
24 ¶ But Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 pursued 7291 Abner 74, and when the sun 8121 was going 935 down, they came 935 to the hill 1389 of Ammah 522, which 834 is in front 6440 of Giah 1520 by the way 1870 of the wilderness 4057 of Gibeon 1391.
25 The sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 gathered 6908 together behind 310 Abner 74 and became 1961 one 259 band 92, and they stood 5975 on the top 7218 of a certain 259 hill 1389.
26 Then Abner 74 called 7121 to Joab 3097 and said 559, "Shall the sword 2719 devour 398 forever 5331? Do you not know 3045 that it will be bitter 4751 in the end 314? How 4970 long will you refrain 3808 from telling 559 the people 5971 to turn 7725 back 7725 from following 310 their brothers 251?"
27 Joab 3097 said 559, "As God 430 lives 2416, if you had not spoken 1696, surely 3588 then 227 the people 5971 would have gone 5927 away 5927 in the morning 1242, each 376 from following 310 his brother 251."
28 So Joab 3097 blew 8628 the trumpet 7782; and all 3605 the people 5971 halted 5975 and pursued 7291 Israel 3478 no 3808 longer 5750, nor 3808 did they continue 3254 to fight 3898 anymore 5750.
29 Abner 74 and his men 376 then went 1980 through the Arabah 6160 all 3605 that night 3915; so they crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383, walked 1980 all 3605 morning 1338, and came 935 to Mahanaim 4266.
30 ¶ Then Joab 3097 returned 7725 from following 310 Abner 74; when he had gathered 6908 all 3605 the people 5971 together, nineteen of David's 1732 servants 5650 besides Asahel 6214 were missing 6485.
31 But the servants 5650 of David 1732 had struck 5221 down 5221 many of Benjamin 1144 and Abner's 74 men 376, {so that} three 7969 hundred 3967 and sixty 8346 men 376 died 4191.
32 And they took 5375 up Asahel 6214 and buried 6912 him in his father's 1 tomb 6913 which 834 was in Bethlehem 1035. Then Joab 3097 and his men 376 went 1980 all 3605 night 3915 until the day dawned 215 at Hebron 2275.

Chapter 3


1

The House of David Strengthened

Now there was a long 752 war 4421 between 996 the house 1004 of Saul 7586 and the house 1004 of David 1732; and David 1732 grew 1980 steadily 1980 stronger 2388, but the house 1004 of Saul 7586 grew 1980 weaker 1800 continually 1980.
2 ¶ Sons 1121 were born 3205 to David 1732 at Hebron 2275: his firstborn 1060 was Amnon 550, by Ahinoam 293 the Jezreelitess 3159;
3 and his second 4932, Chileab 3609, by Abigail 26 the widow 802 of Nabal 5037 the Carmelite 3761; and the third 7992, Absalom 53 the son 1121 of Maacah 4601, the daughter 1323 of Talmai 8526, king 4428 of Geshur 1650;
4 and the fourth 7243, Adonijah 138 the son 1121 of Haggith 2294; and the fifth 2549, Shephatiah 8203 the son 1121 of Abital 37;
5 and the sixth 8345, Ithream 3507, by David's 1732 wife 802 Eglah 5698. These 428 were born 3205 to David 1732 at Hebron 2275.
6

Abner Joins David

¶ It came 1961 about while there was war 4421 between 996 the house 1004 of Saul 7586 and the house 1004 of David 1732 that Abner 74 was making 2388 himself strong 2388 in the house 1004 of Saul 7586.
7 Now Saul 7586 had a concubine 6370 whose name 8034 was Rizpah 7532, the daughter 1323 of Aiah 345; and Ish-bosheth said 559 to Abner 74, "Why 4069 have you gone 935 in to my father's 1 concubine 6370?"
8 Then Abner 74 was very 3966 angry 2734 over 5921 the words 1697 of Ish-bosheth 378 and said 559, "Am I a dog's 3611 head 7218 that belongs to Judah 3063? Today 3117 I show 6213 kindness 2617 to the house 1004 of Saul 7586 your father 1, to his brothers 251 and to his friends 4828, and have not delivered 4672 you into the hands 3027 of David 1732; and yet today 3117 you charge 6485 me with a guilt 5771 concerning the woman 802.
9 "May God 430 do 6213 so 3541 to Abner 74, and more 3254 also 3541, if 3588 as the LORD 3068 has sworn 7650 to David 1732, I do not accomplish 6213 this 3651 for him,
10 to transfer 5674 the kingdom 4467 from the house 1004 of Saul 7586 and to establish 6965 the throne 3678 of David 1732 over 5921 Israel 3478 and over 5921 Judah 3063, from Dan 1835 even to Beersheba 884."
11 And he could 3201 no 3808 longer 5750 answer 7725 Abner 74 a word 1697, because 4480 he was afraid 3372 of him.
12 ¶ Then Abner 74 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to David 1732 in his place 8478, saying 559, "Whose 4310 is the land 776? Make 3772 your covenant 1285 with me, and behold 2009, my hand 3027 shall be with you to bring 5437 all 3605 Israel 3478 over 5437 to you."
13 He said 559, "Good 2896! I will make 3772 a covenant 1285 with you, but I demand 7592 one 259 thing 1697 of you, namely 559, you shall not see 7200 my face 6440 unless you first 6440 bring 935 Michal 4324, Saul's 7586 daughter 1323, when you come 935 to see 7200 me."
14 So David 1732 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to Ish-bosheth 378, Saul's 7586 son 1121, saying 559, "Give 5414 me my wife 802 Michal 4324, to whom 834 I was betrothed 781 for a hundred 3967 foreskins 6190 of the Philistines 6430."
15 Ish-bosheth 378 sent 7971 and took 3947 her from {her} husband 376, from Paltiel 6409 the son 1121 of Laish 3919.
16 But her husband 376 went 1980 with her, weeping 1058 as he went 1980, and followed 310 her as far 5704 as Bahurim 980. Then Abner 74 said 559 to him, "Go 1980, return 7725." So he returned 7725.
17 ¶ Now Abner 74 had 1961 consultation 1697 with the elders 2205 of Israel 3478, saying 559, "In times past you were seeking 1245 for David 1732 to be king 4428 over 5921 you.
18 "Now 6258 then, do 6213 {it!} For the LORD 3068 has spoken 559 of David 1732, saying 559, 'By the hand 3027 of My servant 5650 David 1732 I will save 3467 My people 5971 Israel 3478 from the hand 3027 of the Philistines 6430 and from the hand 3027 of all 3605 their enemies 340.'"
19 Abner 74 also 1571 spoke 1696 in the hearing 241 of Benjamin 1144; and in addition 1571 Abner 74 went 1980 to speak 1696 in the hearing 241 of David 1732 in Hebron 2275 all 3605 that seemed good 2895 to Israel 3478 and to the whole 3605 house 1004 of Benjamin 1144.
20 ¶ Then Abner 74 and twenty 6242 men 376 with him came 935 to David 1732 at Hebron 2275. And David 1732 made 6213 a feast 4960 for Abner 74 and the men 376 who 834 were with him.
21 Abner 74 said 559 to David 1732, "Let me arise 6965 and go 1980 and gather 6908 all 3605 Israel 3478 to my lord 113 the king 4428, that they may make 3772 a covenant 1285 with you, and that you may be king 4427 over all 3605 that your soul 5315 desires 183." So David 1732 sent 7971 Abner 74 away 7971, and he went 1980 in peace 7965.
22 ¶ And behold 2009, the servants 5650 of David 1732 and Joab 3097 came 935 from a raid 1416 and brought 935 much 7227 spoil 7998 with them; but Abner 74 was not with David 1732 in Hebron 2275, for he had sent 7971 him away 7971, and he had gone 1980 in peace 7965.
23 When Joab 3097 and all 3605 the army 6635 that was with him arrived 935, they told 5046 Joab 3097, saying 559, "Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369 came 935 to the king 4428, and he has sent 7971 him away 7971, and he has gone 1980 in peace 7965."
24 Then Joab 3097 came 935 to the king 4428 and said 559, "What 4100 have you done 6213? Behold 2009, Abner 74 came 935 to you; why 4100 then 2088 have you sent 7971 him away 7971 and he is already 1980 gone 1980?
25 "You know 3045 Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369, that he came 935 to deceive 6601 you and to learn 3045 of your going 4161 out and coming 4126 in and to find 3045 out all 3605 that you are doing 6213."
26

Joab Murders Abner

¶ When Joab 3097 came 3318 out from David 1732, he sent 7971 messengers 4397 after 310 Abner 74, and they brought 7725 him back 7725 from the well 953 of Sirah 5626; but David 1732 did not know 3045 {it.}
27 So when Abner 74 returned 7725 to Hebron 2275, Joab 3097 took 5186 him aside 5186 into the middle 8432 of the gate 8179 to speak 1696 with him privately 7987, and there 8033 he struck 5221 him in the belly 2570 so that he died 4191 on account of the blood 1818 of Asahel 6214 his brother 251.
28 Afterward 310 when David 1732 heard 8085 it, he said 559, "I and my kingdom 4467 are innocent 5355 before the LORD 3068 forever of the blood 1818 of Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369.
29 "May it fall 2342 on the head 7218 of Joab 3097 and on all 3605 his father's 1 house 1004; and may there not fail 3772 from the house 1004 of Joab 3097 one who has a discharge 2100, or who is a leper 6879, or who takes 2388 hold 2388 of a distaff 6418, or who falls 5307 by the sword 2719, or who lacks 2638 bread 3899."
30 So Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 his brother 251 killed 2026 Abner 74 because he had put 4191 their brother 251 Asahel 6214 to death 4191 in the battle 4421 at Gibeon 1391.
31

David Mourns Abner

¶ Then David 1732 said 559 to Joab 3097 and to all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with him, "Tear 7167 your clothes 899 and gird 2296 on sackcloth 8242 and lament 5594 before 6440 Abner 74." And King 4428 David 1732 walked 1980 behind 310 the bier 4296.
32 Thus they buried 6912 Abner 74 in Hebron 2275; and the king 4428 lifted 5375 up his voice 6963 and wept 1058 at the grave 6913 of Abner 74, and all 3605 the people 5971 wept 1058.
33 The king 4428 chanted 6969 a {lament} for Abner 74 and said 559, "Should Abner 74 die 4191 as a fool 5036 dies 4194?
34 "Your hands 3027 were not bound 631, nor 3808 your feet 7272 put 5066 in fetters 5178; As one falls 5307 before 6440 the wicked, you have fallen 5307." And all 3605 the people 5971 wept 1058 again 3254 over 5921 him.
35 Then all 3605 the people 5971 came 935 to persuade David 1732 to eat 1262 bread 3899 while it was still 5750 day 3117; but David 1732 vowed 7650, saying 559, "May God 430 do 6213 so 3541 to me, and more 3254 also 3541, if I taste 2938 bread 3899 or 176 anything 3972 else 3605 before 6440 the sun 8121 goes 935 down."
36 Now all 3605 the people 5971 took 5234 note 5234 {of it,} and it pleased them, just as everything the king 4428 did 6213 pleased all 3605 the people 5971.
37 So all 3605 the people 5971 and all 3605 Israel 3478 understood 3045 that day 3117 that it had not been 1961 {the will} of the king 4428 to put 4191 Abner 74 the son 1121 of Ner 5369 to death 4191.
38 Then the king 4428 said 559 to his servants 5650, "Do you not know 3045 that a prince 8269 and a great 1419 man 1419 has fallen 5307 this 2088 day 3117 in Israel 3478?
39 "I am weak 7390 today 3117, though anointed 4886 king 4428; and these 428 men 376 the sons 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 are too 4480 difficult 7186 for me. May the LORD 3068 repay 7999 the evildoer according to his evil 7463."

Chapter 4


1

Ish-bosheth Murdered

Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul's 7586 son 1121, heard 8085 that Abner 74 had died 4191 in Hebron 2275, he lost 7503 courage, and all 3605 Israel 3478 was disturbed 926.
2 Saul's 7586 son 1121 {had} two 8147 men 376 who were commanders 8269 of bands 1416: the name 8034 of the one 259 was Baanah 1196 and the name 8034 of the other 8145 Rechab 7394, sons 1121 of Rimmon 7417 the Beerothite 886, of the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144 (for Beeroth 881 is also 1571 considered 2803 {part} of Benjamin 1144,
3 and the Beerothites 886 fled 1272 to Gittaim 1664 and have been 1961 aliens 1481 there 8033 until 5704 this 2088 day 3117).
4 ¶ Now Jonathan 3083, Saul's 7586 son 1121, had a son 1121 crippled 5223 in his feet 7272. He was five 2568 years 8141 old 1121 when the report 8052 of Saul 7586 and Jonathan 3083 came 935 from Jezreel 3157, and his nurse 539 took 5375 him up and fled 5127. And it happened 1961 that in her hurry 2648 to flee 5127, he fell 5307 and became 6452 lame 6452. And his name 8034 was Mephibosheth 4648.
5 ¶ So the sons 1121 of Rimmon 7417 the Beerothite 886, Rechab 7394 and Baanah 1196, departed 1980 and came 935 to the house 1004 of Ish-bosheth 378 in the heat 2527 of the day 3117 while he was taking 7901 his midday 6672 rest 4904.
6 They came 935 to the middle 8432 of the house 1004 as if to get 3947 wheat 2406, and they struck 5221 him in the belly 2570; and Rechab 7394 and Baanah 1196 his brother 251 escaped 4422.
7 Now when they came 935 into the house 1004, as he was lying 7901 on his bed 4296 in his bedroom, they struck 5221 him and killed 4191 him and beheaded him. And they took 3947 his head 7218 and traveled 1980 by way 1870 of the Arabah 6160 all 3605 night 3915.
8 Then they brought 935 the head 7218 of Ish-bosheth 378 to David 1732 at Hebron 2275 and said 559 to the king 4428, "Behold 2009, the head 7218 of Ish-bosheth 378 the son 1121 of Saul 7586, your enemy 340, who 834 sought 1245 your life 5315; thus the LORD 3068 has given 5414 my lord 113 the king 4428 vengeance 5360 this 2088 day 3117 on Saul 7586 and his descendants 2233."
9 ¶ David 1732 answered 6030 Rechab 7394 and Baanah 1196 his brother 251, sons 1121 of Rimmon 7417 the Beerothite 886, and said 559 to them, "As the LORD 3068 lives 2416, who 834 has redeemed 6299 my life 5315 from all 3605 distress 6869,
10 when 3588 one told 5046 me, saying 559, 'Behold 2009, Saul 7586 is dead 4191,' and thought 5869 he was bringing 1319 good news 1319, I seized 270 him and killed 2026 him in Ziklag 6860, which 834 was the reward 1309 I gave 5414 him for {his} news 1309.
11 "How 637 much more, when 3588 wicked 7563 men 376 have killed 2026 a righteous 6662 man 376 in his own house 1004 on his bed 4904, shall I not now 6258 require 1245 his blood 1818 from your hand 3027 and destroy 1197 you from the earth 776?"
12 Then David 1732 commanded 6680 the young 5288 men 5288, and they killed 2026 them and cut 7112 off 7112 their hands 3027 and feet 7272 and hung 8518 them up beside 5921 the pool 1295 in Hebron 2275. But they took 3947 the head 7218 of Ish-bosheth 378 and buried 6912 it in the grave 6913 of Abner 74 in Hebron 2275.

Chapter 5


1

David King over All Israel

Then all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478 came 935 to David 1732 at Hebron 2275 and said 559, "Behold 2009, we are your bone 6106 and your flesh 1320.
2 "Previously, when Saul 7586 was king 4428 over 5921 us, you were the one who led 3318 Israel 3478 out and in. And the LORD 3068 said 559 to you, 'You will shepherd 7462 My people 5971 Israel 3478, and you will be a ruler 5057 over 5921 Israel 3478.'"
3 So all 3605 the elders 2205 of Israel 3478 came 935 to the king 4428 at Hebron 2275, and King 4428 David 1732 made 3772 a covenant 1285 with them before 6440 the LORD 3068 at Hebron 2275; then they anointed 4886 David 1732 king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478.
4 David 1732 was thirty 7970 years 8141 old 1121 when he became 4427 king 4427, {and} he reigned 4427 forty 705 years 8141.
5 At Hebron 2275 he reigned 4427 over 5921 Judah 3063 seven 7651 years 8141 and six 8337 months 2320, and in Jerusalem 3389 he reigned 4427 thirty-three years 8141 over 5921 all 3605 Israel 3478 and Judah 3063.
6 ¶ Now the king 4428 and his men 376 went 1980 to Jerusalem 3389 against 413 the Jebusites 2983, the inhabitants 3427 of the land 776, and they said 559 to David 1732, "You shall not come 935 in here 2008, but the blind 5787 and lame 6455 will turn 5493 you away 5493"; thinking 559, "David 1732 cannot 3808 enter 935 here 2008."
7 Nevertheless, David 1732 captured 3920 the stronghold 4686 of Zion 6726, that is the city 5892 of David 1732.
8 David 1732 said 559 on that day 3117, "Whoever 3605 would strike 5221 the Jebusites 2983, let him reach 5060 the lame 6455 and the blind 5787, who are hated 8130 by David's 1732 soul 5315, through the water 6794 tunnel 6794." Therefore they say 559, "The blind 5787 or the lame 6455 shall not come 935 into the house 1004."
9 So David 1732 lived 3427 in the stronghold 4686 and called 7121 it the city 5892 of David 1732. And David 1732 built 1129 all 5439 around 5439 from the Millo 4407 and inward 1004.
10 David 1732 became 1980 greater 1980 and greater 1419, for the LORD 3068 God 430 of hosts 6635 was with him.
11 ¶ Then Hiram 2438 king 4428 of Tyre 6865 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to David 1732 with cedar 730 trees 6086 and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built 1129 a house 1004 for David 1732.
12 And David 1732 realized 3045 that the LORD 3068 had established 3559 him as king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478, and that He had exalted 5375 his kingdom 4467 for the sake 5668 of His people 5971 Israel 3478.
13 ¶ Meanwhile David 1732 took 3947 more 5750 concubines 6370 and wives 802 from Jerusalem 3389, after 310 he came 935 from Hebron 2275; and more 5750 sons 1121 and daughters 1323 were born 3205 to David 1732.
14 Now these 428 are the names 8034 of those who 3209 were born 3209 to him in Jerusalem 3389: Shammua 8051, Shobab 7727, Nathan 5416, Solomon 8010,
15 Ibhar 2984, Elishua 474, Nepheg 5298, Japhia 3309,
16 Elishama 476, Eliada 450 and Eliphelet 467.
17

War with the Philistines

¶ When the Philistines 6430 heard 8085 that they had anointed 4886 David 1732 king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478, all 3605 the Philistines 6430 went 5927 up to seek 1245 out David 1732; and when David 1732 heard 8085 {of it,} he went 3381 down 3381 to the stronghold 4686.
18 Now the Philistines 6430 came 935 and spread 5203 themselves out in the valley 6010 of Rephaim 7497.
19 Then David 1732 inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068, saying 559, "Shall I go 5927 up against 413 the Philistines 6430? Will You give 5414 them into my hand 3027?" And the LORD 3068 said 559 to David 1732, "Go 5927 up, for I will certainly 5414 give 5414 the Philistines 6430 into your hand 3027."
20 So David 1732 came 935 to Baal-perazim 1188 and defeated 5221 them there 8033; and he said 559, "The LORD 3068 has broken 6555 through 6555 my enemies 340 before 6440 me like the breakthrough 6556 of waters 4325." Therefore he named that place 4725 Baal-perazim 1188.
21 They abandoned 5800 their idols 6091 there 8033, so David 1732 and his men 376 carried 5375 them away.
22 ¶ Now the Philistines 6430 came 5927 up once again 3254 and spread 5203 themselves out in the valley 6010 of Rephaim 7497.
23 When David 1732 inquired 7592 of the LORD 3068, He said 559, "You shall not go 5927 {directly} up; circle 5437 around 5437 behind 310 them and come 935 at them in front 4136 of the balsam 1057 trees 1057.
24 "It shall be, when you hear 8085 the sound 6963 of marching 6807 in the tops 7218 of the balsam 1057 trees 1057, then 227 you shall act 2782 promptly 2782, for then 227 the LORD 3068 will have gone 3318 out before 6440 you to strike 5221 the army 4264 of the Philistines 6430."
25 Then David 1732 did 6213 so 3651, just 3512 as the LORD 3068 had commanded 6680 him, and struck 5221 down 5221 the Philistines 6430 from Geba 1387 as far 5704 as Gezer 1507.

Chapter 6


1

Peril in Moving the Ark

Now David 1732 again gathered 622 all 3605 the chosen 977 men of Israel 3478, thirty 7970 thousand 505.
2 And David 1732 arose 6965 and went 1980 with all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with him to Baale-judah 1184, to bring 5927 up from there 8033 the ark 727 of God 430 which 834 is called 7121 by the Name 8034, the very name 8034 of the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635 who is enthroned 3427 {above} the cherubim 3742.
3 They placed 7392 the ark 727 of God 430 on a new 2319 cart 5699 that they might bring 5375 it from the house 1004 of Abinadab 41 which 834 was on the hill 1389; and Uzzah 5798 and Ahio 283, the sons 1121 of Abinadab 41, were leading 5090 the new 2319 cart 5699.
4 So they brought 5375 it with the ark 727 of God 430 from the house 1004 of Abinadab 41, which 834 was on the hill 1389; and Ahio 283 was walking 1980 ahead 6440 of the ark 727.
5 Meanwhile, David 1732 and all 3605 the house 1004 of Israel 3478 were celebrating 7832 before 6440 the LORD 3068 with all 3605 kinds of {instruments made of} fir 1265 wood 6086, and with lyres 3658, harps 5035, tambourines 8596, castanets 4517 and cymbals 6767.
6 ¶ But when they came 935 to the threshing 1637 floor 1637 of Nacon 5225, Uzzah 5798 reached 7971 out toward 413 the ark 727 of God 430 and took 270 hold 270 of it, for the oxen 1241 nearly upset 8058 {it.}
7 And the anger 639 of the LORD 3068 burned 2734 against Uzzah 5798, and God 430 struck 5221 him down 5221 there 8033 for his irreverence 7944; and he died 4191 there 8033 by the ark 727 of God 430.
8 David 1732 became 2734 angry 2734 because of the LORD'S 3068 outburst against Uzzah 5798, and that place 4725 is called 7121 Perez-uzzah 6560 to this 2088 day 3117.
9 So David 1732 was afraid 3372 of the LORD 3068 that day 3117; and he said 559, "How 349 can the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 come 935 to me?"
10 And David 1732 was unwilling to move 5493 the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 into the city 5892 of David 1732 with him; but David 1732 took 5186 it aside 5186 to the house 1004 of Obed-edom 5654 the Gittite 1663.
11 Thus the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 remained 3427 in the house 1004 of Obed-edom 5654 the Gittite 1663 three 7969 months 2320, and the LORD 3068 blessed 1288 Obed-edom 5654 and all 3605 his household 1004.
12

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

¶ Now it was told 5046 King 4428 David 1732, saying 559, "The LORD 3068 has blessed 1288 the house 1004 of Obed-edom 5654 and all 3605 that belongs to him, on account 5668 of the ark 727 of God 430." David 1732 went 1980 and brought 5927 up the ark 727 of God 430 from the house 1004 of Obed-edom 5654 into the city 5892 of David 1732 with gladness 8057.
13 And so it was, that when 3588 the bearers 5375 of the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 had gone 6805 six 8337 paces 6806, he sacrificed 2076 an ox 7794 and a fatling 4806.
14 And David 1732 was dancing 3769 before 6440 the LORD 3068 with all 3605 {his} might 5797, and David 1732 was wearing 2296 a linen 906 ephod 646.
15 So David 1732 and all 3605 the house 1004 of Israel 3478 were bringing 5927 up the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 with shouting 8643 and the sound 6963 of the trumpet 7782.
16 ¶ Then it happened 1961 {as} the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 came 935 into the city 5892 of David 1732 that Michal 4324 the daughter 1323 of Saul 7586 looked 8259 out of the window 2474 and saw 7200 King 4428 David 1732 leaping 6339 and dancing 3769 before 6440 the LORD 3068; and she despised 959 him in her heart 3820.
17 ¶ So they brought 935 in the ark 727 of the LORD 3068 and set 3322 it in its place 4725 inside 8432 the tent 168 which 834 David 1732 had pitched 5186 for it; and David 1732 offered 5927 burnt 5930 offerings 5930 and peace 8002 offerings 8002 before 6440 the LORD 3068.
18 When David 1732 had finished 3615 offering 5927 the burnt 5930 offering 5930 and the peace 8002 offering 8002, he blessed 1288 the people 5971 in the name 8034 of the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635.
19 Further, he distributed 2505 to all 3605 the people 5971, to all 3605 the multitude 1995 of Israel 3478, both 4480 to men 376 and women 802, a cake 2471 of bread 3899 and one 259 of dates 829 and one 259 of raisins 809 to each 376 one 376. Then all 3605 the people 5971 departed 1980 each 376 to his house 1004.
20 ¶ But when David 1732 returned 7725 to bless 1288 his household 1004, Michal 4324 the daughter 1323 of Saul 7586 came 3318 out to meet 7122 David 1732 and said 559, "How 4100 the king 4428 of Israel 3478 distinguished 3513 himself today 3117! He uncovered 1540 himself today 3117 in the eyes 5869 of his servants' 5650 maids 519 as one 259 of the foolish 7386 ones 7386 shamelessly 1540 uncovers 1540 himself!"
21 So David 1732 said 559 to Michal 4324, "{It was} before 6440 the LORD 3068, who 834 chose 977 me above 4480 your father 1 and above 4480 all 3605 his house 1004, to appoint 6680 me ruler 5057 over 5921 the people 5971 of the LORD 3068, over 5921 Israel 3478; therefore I will celebrate 7832 before 6440 the LORD 3068.
22 "I will be more 5750 lightly 7043 esteemed 7043 than 4480 this 2088 and will be humble 8217 in my own eyes 5869, but with the maids 519 of whom 834 you have spoken 559, with them I will be distinguished 3513."
23 Michal 4324 the daughter 1323 of Saul 7586 had 1961 no 3808 child 3206 to the day 3117 of her death 4194.

Chapter 7


1

David Plans to Build a Temple

Now it came 1961 about when 3588 the king 4428 lived 3427 in his house 1004, and the LORD 3068 had given 5117 him rest 5117 on every 5439 side 5439 from all 3605 his enemies 340,
2 that the king 4428 said 559 to Nathan 5416 the prophet 5030, "See 7200 now 4994, I dwell 3427 in a house 1004 of cedar 730, but the ark 727 of God 430 dwells 3427 within 8432 tent 3407 curtains 3407."
3 Nathan 5416 said 559 to the king 4428, "Go 1980, do 6213 all 3605 that is in your mind 3824, for the LORD 3068 is with you."
4 ¶ But in the same 1931 night 3915 the word 1697 of the LORD 3068 came 1961 to Nathan 5416, saying 559,
5 "Go 1980 and say 559 to My servant 5650 David 1732, 'Thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068, "Are you the one who should build 1129 Me a house 1004 to dwell 3427 in?
6 "For I have not dwelt 3427 in a house 1004 since 4480 the day 3117 I brought 5927 up the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 from Egypt 4714, even to this 2088 day 3117; but I have been 1961 moving 1980 about in a tent 168, even in a tabernacle 4908.
7 "Wherever I have gone 1980 with all 3605 the sons 1121 of Israel 3478, did I speak 1696 a word 1697 with one 259 of the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, which 834 I commanded 6680 to shepherd 7462 My people 5971 Israel 3478, saying 559, 'Why 4100 have you not built 1129 Me a house 1004 of cedar 730?'"'
8

God's Covenant with David

"Now 6258 therefore, thus 3541 you shall say 559 to My servant 5650 David 1732, 'Thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, "I took 3947 you from the pasture 5116, from following 310 the sheep 6629, to be ruler 5057 over 5921 My people 5971 Israel 3478.
9 "I have been 1961 with you wherever you have gone 1980 and have cut 3772 off 3772 all 3605 your enemies 340 from before 6440 you; and I will make 6213 you a great 1419 name 8034, like the names 8034 of the great 1419 men 1419 who 834 are on the earth 776.
10 "I will also appoint 7760 a place 4725 for My people 5971 Israel 3478 and will plant 5193 them, that they may live 7931 in their own place 8478 and not be disturbed 7264 again 5750, nor 3808 will the wicked afflict 6031 them any 3254 more 3254 as formerly 7223,
11 even from the day 3117 that I commanded 6680 judges 8199 to be over 5921 My people 5971 Israel 3478; and I will give 5117 you rest 5117 from all 3605 your enemies 340. The LORD 3068 also declares 5046 to you that the LORD 3068 will make 6213 a house 1004 for you.
12 "When 3588 your days 3117 are complete 4390 and you lie 7901 down 7901 with your fathers 1, I will raise 6965 up your descendant 2233 after 310 you, who 834 will come 3318 forth 3318 from you, and I will establish 3559 his kingdom 4467.
13 "He shall build 1129 a house 1004 for My name 8034, and I will establish 3559 the throne 3678 of his kingdom 4467 forever.
14 "I will be a father 1 to him and he will be a son 1121 to Me; when 834 he commits 5753 iniquity 5753, I will correct 3198 him with the rod 7626 of men 376 and the strokes 5061 of the sons 1121 of men 120,
15 but My lovingkindness 2617 shall not depart 5493 from him, as I took 5493 {it} away 5493 from Saul 7586, whom 834 I removed 5493 from before 6440 you.
16 "Your house 1004 and your kingdom 4467 shall endure 539 before 6440 Me forever; your throne 3678 shall be established 3559 forever."'"
17 In accordance with all 3605 these 428 words 1697 and all 3605 this 2088 vision 2384, so 3651 Nathan 5416 spoke 1696 to David 1732.
18

David's Prayer

¶ Then David 1732 the king 4428 went 935 in and sat 3427 before 6440 the LORD 3068, and he said 559, "Who 4310 am I, O Lord 136 GOD 3068, and what 4310 is my house 1004, that You have brought 935 me this 1988 far 1988?
19 "And yet 5750 this 2088 was insignificant 6994 in Your eyes 5869, O Lord 136 GOD 3068, for You have spoken 1696 also 1571 of the house 1004 of Your servant 5650 concerning the distant 7350 future 7350. And this 2088 is the custom 8451 of man 120, O Lord 136 GOD 3068.
20 "Again 5750 what 4100 more 5750 can David 1732 say 1696 to You? For You know 3045 Your servant 5650, O Lord 136 GOD 3068!
21 "For the sake 5668 of Your word 1697, and according to Your own heart 3820, You have done 6213 all 3605 this 2088 greatness 1420 to let Your servant 5650 know 3045.
22 "For this 3651 reason You are great 1431, O Lord 136 GOD 3068; for there 369 is none 369 like 3644 You, and there 369 is no 369 God 430 besides 2108 You, according to all 3605 that we have heard 8085 with our ears 241.
23 "And what 4310 one 259 nation 1471 on the earth 776 is like Your people 5971 Israel 3478, whom 834 God 430 went 1980 to redeem 6299 for Himself as a people 5971 and to make 7760 a name 8034 for Himself, and to do 6213 a great 1420 thing 1420 for You and awesome 3372 things 3372 for Your land 776, before Your people 5971 whom 834 You have redeemed 6299 for Yourself from Egypt 4714, {from} nations 1471 and their gods 430?
24 "For You have established 3559 for Yourself Your people 5971 Israel 3478 as Your own people 5971 forever, and You, O LORD 3068, have become 1961 their God 430.
25 "Now 6258 therefore, O LORD 3068 God 430, the word 1697 that You have spoken 1696 concerning 5921 Your servant 5650 and his house 1004, confirm 6965 {it} forever, and do 6213 as You have spoken 1696,
26 that Your name 8034 may be magnified 1431 forever, by saying 559, 'The LORD 3068 of hosts 6635 is God 430 over 5921 Israel 3478'; and may the house 1004 of Your servant 5650 David 1732 be established 3559 before 6440 You.
27 "For You, O LORD 3068 of hosts 6635, the God 430 of Israel 3478, have made 1540 a revelation to Your servant 5650, saying 559, 'I will build 1129 you a house 1004'; therefore Your servant 5650 has found 4672 courage 3820 to pray 6419 this 2088 prayer 8605 to You.
28 "Now 6258, O Lord 136 GOD 3068, You are God 430, and Your words 1697 are truth 571, and You have promised 1696 this 2088 good 2899 thing 2899 to Your servant 5650.
29 "Now 6258 therefore, may it please 2974 You to bless 1288 the house 1004 of Your servant 5650, that it may continue 1961 forever 5769 before 6440 You. For You, O Lord 136 GOD 3068, have spoken 1696; and with Your blessing 1293 may the house 1004 of Your servant 5650 be blessed 1288 forever 5769."

Chapter 8


1

David's Triumphs

Now after 310 this 3651 it came 1961 about that David 1732 defeated 5221 the Philistines 6430 and subdued 3665 them; and David 1732 took 3947 control 4964 of the chief 522 city 522 from the hand 3027 of the Philistines 6430.
2 ¶ He defeated 5221 Moab 4124, and measured 4058 them with the line 2256, making them lie 7901 down 7901 on the ground 776; and he measured 4058 two 8147 lines 2256 to put 4191 to death 4191 and one full 4393 line 2256 to keep 2421 alive 2421. And the Moabites 4124 became 1961 servants 5650 to David 1732, bringing 5375 tribute 4503.
3 ¶ Then David 1732 defeated 5221 Hadadezer 1909, the son 1121 of Rehob 7340 king 4428 of Zobah 6678, as he went 1980 to restore 7725 his rule 3027 at the River 5104.
4 David 1732 captured 3920 from him 1,700 horsemen 6571 and 20,000 foot 7273 soldiers; and David 1732 hamstrung 6136 the chariot 7393 horses 7393, but reserved 3498 {enough} of them for 100 3967 chariots 7393.
5 When the Arameans 758 of Damascus 1834 came 935 to help 5826 Hadadezer 1909, king 4428 of Zobah 6678, David 1732 killed 5221 22,000 Arameans 758.
6 Then David 1732 put 7760 garrisons 5333 among the Arameans 758 of Damascus 1834, and the Arameans 758 became 1961 servants 5650 to David 1732, bringing 5375 tribute 4503. And the LORD 3068 helped 3467 David 1732 wherever he went 1980.
7 David 1732 took 3947 the shields 7982 of gold 2091 which 834 were carried 413 by the servants 5650 of Hadadezer 1909 and brought 935 them to Jerusalem 3389.
8 From Betah 984 and from Berothai 1307, cities 5892 of Hadadezer 1909, King 4428 David 1732 took 3947 a very 3966 large 7235 amount of bronze 5178.
9 ¶ Now when Toi 8583 king 4428 of Hamath 2574 heard 8085 that David 1732 had defeated 5221 all 3605 the army 2428 of Hadadezer 1909,
10 Toi 8583 sent 7971 Joram 3141 his son 1121 to King 4428 David 1732 to greet him and bless 1288 him, because he had fought 3898 against Hadadezer 1909 and defeated 5221 him; for Hadadezer 1909 had been 1961 at war 4421 with Toi 8583. And {Joram} brought with him articles 3627 of silver 3701, of gold 2091 and of bronze 5178.
11 King 4428 David 1732 also 1571 dedicated 6942 these to the LORD 3068, with the silver 3701 and gold 2091 that he had dedicated 6942 from all 3605 the nations 1471 which 834 he had subdued 3533:
12 from Aram 758 and Moab 4124 and the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and the Philistines 6430 and Amalek 6002, and from the spoil 7998 of Hadadezer 1909, son 1121 of Rehob 7340, king 4428 of Zobah 6678.
13 ¶ So David 1732 made 6213 a name 8034 {for himself} when he returned 7725 from killing 5221 18,000 Arameans 758 in the Valley 1516 of Salt 4417.
14 He put 7760 garrisons 5333 in Edom 112. In all 3605 Edom 112 he put 7760 garrisons 5333, and all 3605 the Edomites 112 became 1961 servants 5650 to David 1732. And the LORD 3068 helped 3467 David 1732 wherever he went 1980.
15 ¶ So David 1732 reigned 4427 over 5921 all 3605 Israel 3478; and David 1732 administered 6213 justice 4941 and righteousness 6666 for all 3605 his people 5971.
16 Joab 3097 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 {was} over 5921 the army 6635, and Jehoshaphat 3092 the son 1121 of Ahilud 286 {was} recorder 2142.
17 Zadok 6659 the son 1121 of Ahitub 285 and Ahimelech 288 the son 1121 of Abiathar 54 {were} priests 3548, and Seraiah 8304 {was} secretary 5613.
18 Benaiah 1141 the son 1121 of Jehoiada 3077 was over the Cherethites 3774 and the Pelethites 6432; and David's 1732 sons 1121 were chief 3548 ministers 3548.

Chapter 9


1

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

Then David 1732 said 559, "Is there 3426 yet 5750 anyone 834 left 3498 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586, that I may show 6213 him kindness 2617 for Jonathan's 3083 sake 5668?"
2 Now there was a servant 5650 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586 whose name 8034 was Ziba 6717, and they called 7121 him to David 1732; and the king 4428 said 559 to him, "Are you Ziba 6717?" And he said 559, "{I am} your servant 5650."
3 The king 4428 said 559, "Is there 657 not yet 5750 anyone 376 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586 to whom I may show 6213 the kindness 2617 of God 430?" And Ziba 6717 said 559 to the king 4428, "There is still 5750 a son 1121 of Jonathan 3083 who is crippled 5223 in both feet 7272."
4 So the king 4428 said 559 to him, "Where 375 is he?" And Ziba 6717 said 559 to the king 4428, "Behold 2009, he is in the house 1004 of Machir 4353 the son 1121 of Ammiel 5988 in Lo-debar 3810."
5 Then King 4428 David 1732 sent 7971 and brought 3947 him from the house 1004 of Machir 4353 the son 1121 of Ammiel 5988, from Lo-debar 3810.
6 Mephibosheth 4648, the son 1121 of Jonathan 3083 the son 1121 of Saul 7586, came 935 to David 1732 and fell 5307 on his face 6440 and prostrated 7812 himself. And David 1732 said 559, "Mephibosheth 4648." And he said 559, "Here 2009 is your servant 5650!"
7 David 1732 said 559 to him, "Do not fear 3372, for I will surely 6213 show 6213 kindness 2617 to you for the sake 5668 of your father 1 Jonathan 3083, and will restore 7725 to you all 3605 the land 7704 of your grandfather 1 Saul 7586; and you shall eat 398 at my table 7979 regularly 8548."
8 Again he prostrated 7812 himself and said 559, "What 4100 is your servant 5650, that you should regard 6437 a dead 4191 dog 3611 like 3644 me?"
9 ¶ Then the king 4428 called 7121 Saul's 7586 servant 5288 Ziba 6717 and said 559 to him, "All 3605 that belonged 1961 to Saul 7586 and to all 3605 his house 1004 I have given 5414 to your master's 113 grandson 1121.
10 "You and your sons 1121 and your servants 5650 shall cultivate 5647 the land 127 for him, and you shall bring 935 in {the produce} so that your master's 113 grandson 1121 may have 1961 food 3899; nevertheless Mephibosheth 4648 your master's 113 grandson 1121 shall eat 398 at my table 7979 regularly 8548." Now Ziba 6717 had fifteen sons 1121 and twenty 6242 servants 5650.
11 Then Ziba 6717 said 559 to the king 4428, "According to all 3605 that my lord 113 the king 4428 commands 6680 his servant 5650 so 3651 your servant 5650 will do 6213." So Mephibosheth 4648 ate 398 at David's table 7979 as one 259 of the king's 4428 sons 1121.
12 Mephibosheth 4648 had a young 6996 son 1121 whose name 8034 was Mica 4316. And all 3605 who lived 4186 in the house 1004 of Ziba 6717 were servants 5650 to Mephibosheth 4648.
13 So Mephibosheth 4648 lived 3427 in Jerusalem 3389, for he ate 398 at the king's 4428 table 7979 regularly 8548. Now he was lame 6455 in both 8147 feet 7272.

Chapter 10


1

Ammon and Aram Defeated

Now it happened 1961 afterwards that the king 4428 of the Ammonites died 4191, and Hanun 2586 his son 1121 became 4427 king 4427 in his place 8478.
2 Then David 1732 said 559, "I will show 6213 kindness 2617 to Hanun 2586 the son 1121 of Nahash 5176, just 3512 as his father 1 showed 6213 kindness 2617 to me." So David 1732 sent 7971 some 3027 of his servants 5650 to console 5162 him concerning 413 his father 1. But when David's 1732 servants 5650 came 935 to the land 776 of the Ammonites,
3 the princes 8269 of the Ammonites said 559 to Hanun 2586 their lord 113, "Do you think 5869 that David 1732 is honoring 3513 your father 1 because 3588 he has sent 7971 consolers 5162 to you? Has David 1732 not sent 7971 his servants 5650 to you in order 5668 to search 2713 the city 5892, to spy 7270 it out and overthrow 2015 it?"
4 So Hanun 2586 took 3947 David's 1732 servants 5650 and shaved 1548 off 1548 half 2677 of their beards 2206, and cut 3772 off 3772 their garments 4063 in the middle 2677 as far 5704 as their hips 8351, and sent 7971 them away 7971.
5 When they told 5046 {it} to David 1732, he sent 7971 to meet 7122 them, for the men 376 were greatly 3966 humiliated 3637. And the king 4428 said 559, "Stay 3427 at Jericho 3405 until 5704 your beards 2206 grow 6779, and {then} return 7725."
6 ¶ Now when the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 saw 7200 that they had become 887 odious 887 to David 1732, the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 sent 7971 and hired 7936 the Arameans 758 of Beth-rehob 1050 and the Arameans 758 of Zobah 6678, 20,000 foot 7273 soldiers 7273, and the king 4428 of Maacah 4601 with 1,000 505 men 376, and the men 382 of Tob 382 with 12,000 men 376.
7 When David 1732 heard 8085 {of it,} he sent 7971 Joab 3097 and all 3605 the army 6635, the mighty 1368 men 1368.
8 The sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 came 3318 out and drew 6186 up in battle 4421 array at the entrance 6607 of the city 8179, while the Arameans 758 of Zobah 6678 and of Rehob 7340 and the men 382 of Tob 382 and Maacah 4601 {were} by themselves 905 in the field 7704.
9 ¶ Now when Joab 3097 saw 7200 that the battle was set against 413 him in front 6440 and in the rear 268, he selected 977 from all 3605 the choice 977 men of Israel 3478, and arrayed 6186 {them} against 7122 the Arameans 758.
10 But the remainder 3499 of the people 5971 he placed 5414 in the hand 3027 of Abishai 52 his brother 251, and he arrayed 6186 {them} against 7122 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.
11 He said 559, "If 518 the Arameans 758 are too 4480 strong 2388 for me, then you shall help 3444 me, but if 518 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 are too 4480 strong 2388 for you, then I will come 1980 to help 3467 you.
12 "Be strong 2388, and let us show 2388 ourselves courageous 2388 for the sake 1157 of our people 5971 and for the cities 5892 of our God 430; and may the LORD 3068 do 6213 what 2896 is good 2896 in His sight 5869."
13 So Joab 3097 and the people 5971 who 834 were with him drew 5066 near 5066 to the battle 4421 against the Arameans 758, and they fled 5127 before him.
14 When the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 saw 7200 that the Arameans 758 fled 5127, they {also} fled 5127 before Abishai 52 and entered 935 the city 5892. Then Joab 3097 returned 7725 from {fighting} against 5921 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and came 935 to Jerusalem 3389.
15 ¶ When the Arameans 758 saw 7200 that they had been defeated 5062 by Israel 3478, they gathered 622 themselves together 3162.
16 And Hadadezer 1909 sent 7971 and brought 3318 out the Arameans 758 who 834 were beyond the River 5104, and they came 935 to Helam 2431; and Shobach 7731 the commander 8269 of the army 6635 of Hadadezer 1909 led 6440 them.
17 Now when it was told 5046 David 1732, he gathered 622 all 3605 Israel 3478 together and crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383, and came 935 to Helam 2431. And the Arameans 758 arrayed 6186 themselves to meet 7122 David 1732 and fought 3898 against 5973 him.
18 But the Arameans 758 fled 5127 before Israel 3478, and David 1732 killed 2026 700 charioteers 7393 of the Arameans 758 and 40,000 horsemen 6571 and struck 5221 down 5221 Shobach 7731 the commander 8269 of their army 6635, and he died 4191 there 8033.
19 When all 3605 the kings 4428, servants 5650 of Hadadezer 1909, saw 7200 that they were defeated 5062 by Israel 3478, they made 7999 peace 7999 with Israel 3478 and served 5647 them. So the Arameans 758 feared 3372 to help 3467 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 anymore 5750.

Chapter 11


1

Bathsheba, David's Great Sin

Then it happened 1961 in the spring 8666, at the time 6256 when kings 4428 go 3318 out {to battle,} that David 1732 sent 7971 Joab 3097 and his servants 5650 with him and all 3605 Israel 3478, and they destroyed 7843 the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and besieged Rabbah 7237. But David 1732 stayed 3427 at Jerusalem 3389.
2 ¶ Now when evening 6153 came 1961 David 1732 arose 6965 from his bed 4904 and walked 1980 around 1980 on the roof 1406 of the king's 4428 house 1004, and from the roof 1406 he saw 7200 a woman 802 bathing 7364; and the woman 802 was very 3966 beautiful 2896 in appearance 4758.
3 So David 1732 sent 7971 and inquired 1875 about the woman 802. And one said 559, "Is this 2088 not Bathsheba 1339, the daughter 1323 of Eliam 463, the wife 802 of Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850?"
4 David 1732 sent 7971 messengers 4397 and took 3947 her, and when she came 935 to him, he lay 7901 with her; and when she had purified 6942 herself from her uncleanness 2932, she returned 7725 to her house 1004.
5 The woman 802 conceived 2029; and she sent 7971 and told 5046 David 1732, and said 559, "I am 2029 pregnant 2030."
6 ¶ Then David 1732 sent 7971 to Joab 3097, {saying,} "Send 7971 me Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850." So Joab 3097 sent 7971 Uriah 223 to David 1732.
7 When Uriah 223 came 935 to him, David 1732 asked 7592 concerning the welfare 7965 of Joab 3097 and the people 5971 and the state 7965 of the war 4421.
8 Then David 1732 said 559 to Uriah 223, "Go 3381 down 3381 to your house 1004, and wash 7364 your feet 7272." And Uriah 223 went 3318 out of the king's 4428 house 1004, and a present 4864 from the king 4428 was sent 3318 out after 310 him.
9 But Uriah 223 slept 7901 at the door 6607 of the king's 4428 house 1004 with all 3605 the servants 5650 of his lord 113, and did not go 3381 down 3381 to his house 1004.
10 Now when they told 5046 David 1732, saying 559, "Uriah 223 did not go 3381 down 3381 to his house 1004," David 1732 said 559 to Uriah 223, "Have you not come 935 from a journey 1870? Why 4069 did you not go 3381 down 3381 to your house 1004?"
11 Uriah 223 said 559 to David 1732, "The ark 727 and Israel 3478 and Judah 3063 are staying 3427 in temporary 5521 shelters 5521, and my lord 113 Joab 3097 and the servants 5650 of my lord 113 are camping 2583 in the open 6440 field 7704. Shall I then go 935 to my house 1004 to eat 398 and to drink 8354 and to lie 7901 with my wife 802? By your life 2416 and the life 2416 of your soul 5315, I will not do 6213 this 2088 thing 1697."
12 Then David 1732 said 559 to Uriah 223, "Stay 3427 here 2088 today 3117 also 1571, and tomorrow 4279 I will let 7971 you go 7971." So Uriah 223 remained 3427 in Jerusalem 3389 that day 3117 and the next 4283.
13 Now David 1732 called 7121 him, and he ate 398 and drank 8354 before 6440 him, and he made 7937 him drunk 7937; and in the evening 6153 he went 3318 out to lie 7901 on his bed 4904 with his lord's 113 servants 5650, but he did not go 3381 down 3381 to his house 1004.
14 ¶ Now in the morning 1242 David 1732 wrote 3789 a letter 5612 to Joab 3097 and sent 7971 {it} by the hand 3027 of Uriah 223.
15 He had written 3789 in the letter 5612, saying 559, "Place 3051 Uriah 223 in the front 6440 line 6440 of the fiercest 2389 battle 4421 and withdraw 7725 from him, so that he may be struck 5221 down 5221 and die 4191."
16 So it was as Joab 3097 kept 8104 watch 8104 on the city 5892, that he put 5414 Uriah 223 at the place 4725 where he knew 3045 there {were} valiant 2428 men 376.
17 The men 376 of the city 5892 went 3318 out and fought 3898 against 854 Joab 3097, and some 4480 of the people 5971 among 4480 David's 1732 servants 5650 fell 5307; and Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850 also 1571 died 4191.
18 Then Joab 3097 sent 7971 and reported 5046 to David 1732 all 3605 the events 1697 of the war 4421.
19 He charged 6680 the messenger 4397, saying 559, "When you have finished 3615 telling 1696 all 3605 the events 1697 of the war 4421 to the king 4428,
20 and if 518 it happens 1961 that the king's 4428 wrath 2534 rises 5927 and he says 559 to you, 'Why 4069 did you go 5066 so near 5066 to the city 5892 to fight 3898? Did you not know 3045 that they would shoot 3384 from the wall 2346?
21 'Who 4310 struck 5221 down 5221 Abimelech 40 the son 1121 of Jerubbesheth 3380? Did not a woman 802 throw 7993 an upper 7393 millstone 7393 on him from the wall 2346 so that he died 4191 at Thebez 8405? Why 4100 did you go 5066 so near 5066 the wall 2346?'--then you shall say 559, 'Your servant 5650 Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850 is dead 4191 also 1571.'"
22 ¶ So the messenger 4397 departed 1980 and came 935 and reported 5046 to David 1732 all 3605 that Joab 3097 had sent 7971 him {to tell.}
23 The messenger 4397 said 559 to David 1732, "The men 376 prevailed 1396 against 5921 us and came 3318 out against 413 us in the field 7704, but we pressed them as far 5704 as the entrance 6607 of the gate 8179.
24 "Moreover, the archers 3372 shot 3372 at your servants 5650 from the wall 2346; so some 4480 of the king's 4428 servants 5650 are dead 4191, and your servant 5650 Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850 is also 1571 dead 4191."
25 Then David 1732 said 559 to the messenger 4397, "Thus 3541 you shall say 559 to Joab 3097, 'Do not let this 2088 thing 1697 displease you, for the sword 2719 devours 398 one 2088 as well as another 2088; make 2388 your battle 4421 against 413 the city 5892 stronger 2388 and overthrow 2040 it'; and {so} encourage 2388 him."
26 ¶ Now when the wife 802 of Uriah 223 heard 8085 that Uriah 223 her husband 376 was dead 4191, she mourned 5594 for her husband 1167.
27 When the {time of} mourning 60 was over 5674, David 1732 sent 7971 and brought 622 her to his house 1004 and she became 1961 his wife 802; then she bore 3205 him a son 1121. But the thing 1697 that David 1732 had done 6213 was evil 7489 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068.

Chapter 12


1

Nathan Rebukes David

Then the LORD 3068 sent 7971 Nathan 5416 to David 1732. And he came 935 to him and said 559, "There were two 8147 men 376 in one 259 city 5892, the one 259 rich 6223 and the other 259 poor 7326.
2 "The rich 6223 man 6223 had 1961 a great 3966 many 7235 flocks 6629 and herds 1241.
3 "But the poor 7326 man had nothing except one 259 little 6996 ewe 3535 lamb 3535 Which 834 he bought 7069 and nourished 2421; And it grew 1431 up together 3164 with him and his children 1121. It would eat 398 of his bread 6595 and drink 8354 of his cup 3563 and lie 7901 in his bosom 2436, And was like a daughter 1323 to him.
4 "Now a traveler 1982 came 935 to the rich 6223 man 376, And he was unwilling 2550 to take 3947 from his own flock 6629 or his own herd 1241, To prepare 6213 for the wayfarer 732 who had come 935 to him; Rather he took 3947 the poor 7326 man's 376 ewe 3535 lamb 3535 and prepared 6213 it for the man 376 who had come 935 to him."
5 Then David's 1732 anger 639 burned 2734 greatly 3966 against the man 376, and he said 559 to Nathan 5416, "As the LORD 3068 lives 2416, surely 3588 the man 376 who has done 6213 this 2088 deserves 1121 to die 4194.
6 "He must make 7999 restitution 7999 for the lamb 3535 fourfold 706, because he did 6213 this 2088 thing 1697 and had 2550 no 3808 compassion 2550."
7 ¶ Nathan 5416 then said 559 to David 1732, "You are the man 376! Thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068 God 430 of Israel 3478, 'It is I who anointed 4886 you king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478 and it is I who delivered 4672 you from the hand 3027 of Saul 7586.
8 'I also gave 5414 you your master's 113 house 1004 and your master's 113 wives 802 into your care 2436, and I gave 5414 you the house 1004 of Israel 3478 and Judah 3063; and if 518 {that had been} too little 4592, I would have added 3254 to you many more things like these 2007!
9 'Why 4069 have you despised 959 the word 1697 of the LORD 3068 by doing 6213 evil 7451 in His sight 5869? You have struck 5221 down 5221 Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850 with the sword 2719, have taken 3947 his wife 802 to be your wife 802, and have killed 2026 him with the sword 2719 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983.
10 'Now 6258 therefore, the sword 2719 shall never depart 5493 from your house 1004, because you have despised 959 Me and have taken 3947 the wife 802 of Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850 to be your wife 802.'
11 "Thus 3541 says 559 the LORD 3068, 'Behold 2009, I will raise 6965 up evil 7463 against 5921 you from your own household 1004; I will even take 3947 your wives 802 before your eyes 5869 and give 5414 {them} to your companion 7453, and he will lie 7901 with your wives 802 in broad 5869 daylight.
12 'Indeed 3588 you did 6213 it secretly 5643, but I will do 6213 this 2088 thing 1697 before 5048 all 3605 Israel 3478, and under 5048 the sun 8121.'"
13 Then David 1732 said 559 to Nathan 5416, "I have sinned 2398 against the LORD 3068." And Nathan 5416 said 559 to David 1732, "The LORD 3068 also 1571 has taken 5674 away 5674 your sin 2403; you shall not die 4191.
14 "However 657, because 3588 by this 2088 deed 1697 you have given 5006 occasion to the enemies 340 of the LORD 3068 to blaspheme 5006, the child 1121 also 1571 that is born 3209 to you shall surely 4191 die 4191."
15 So Nathan 5416 went 1980 to his house 1004.
16

Loss of a Child

¶ David 1732 therefore inquired 1245 of God 430 for the child 5288; and David 1732 fasted and went 935 and lay 7901 all night 3885 on the ground 776.
17 The elders 2205 of his household 1004 stood 6965 beside 5921 him in order to raise 6965 him up from the ground 776, but he was unwilling and would not eat 1262 food 3899 with them.
18 Then it happened 1961 on the seventh 7637 day 3117 that the child 3206 died 4191. And the servants 5650 of David 1732 were afraid 3372 to tell 5046 him that the child 3206 was dead 4191, for they said 559, "Behold 2009, while the child 3206 was {still} alive 2416, we spoke 1696 to him and he did not listen 8085 to our voice 6963. How 349 then can we tell 559 him that the child 3206 is dead 4191, since he might do 6213 {himself} harm 7463!"
19 But when David 1732 saw 7200 that his servants 5650 were whispering 3907 together, David 1732 perceived 995 that the child 3206 was dead 4191; so David 1732 said 559 to his servants 5650, "Is the child 3206 dead 4191?" And they said 559, "He is dead 4191."
20 So David 1732 arose 6965 from the ground 776, washed 7364, anointed 5480 {himself,} and changed 2498 his clothes 8071; and he came 935 into the house 1004 of the LORD 3068 and worshiped 7812. Then he came 935 to his own house 1004, and when he requested 7592, they set 7760 food 3899 before him and he ate 398.
21 ¶ Then his servants 5650 said 559 to him, "What 4100 is this 2088 thing 1697 that you have done 6213? While 5668 the child 3206 was alive 2416, you fasted 6684 and wept 1058; but when 3512 the child 3206 died 4191, you arose 6965 and ate 398 food 3899."
22 He said 559, "While the child 3206 was {still} alive 2416, I fasted 6684 and wept 1058; for I said 559, 'Who 4310 knows 3045, the LORD 3068 may be gracious 2603 to me, that the child 3206 may live 2416.'
23 "But now 6258 he has died 4191; why 4100 should I fast 6684? Can 3201 I bring 7725 him back 7725 again 5750? I will go 1980 to him, but he will not return 7725 to me."
24

Solomon Born

¶ Then David 1732 comforted 5162 his wife 802 Bathsheba 1339, and went 935 in to her and lay 7901 with her; and she gave 3205 birth 3205 to a son 1121, and he named him Solomon 8010. Now the LORD 3068 loved 157 him
25 and sent 7971 {word} through 3027 Nathan 5416 the prophet 5030, and he named him Jedidiah 3041 for the LORD'S 3068 sake 5668.
26

War Again

Now Joab 3097 fought 3898 against Rabbah 7237 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983 and captured 3920 the royal 4410 city 5892.
27 Joab 3097 sent 7971 messengers 4397 to David 1732 and said 559, "I have fought 3898 against Rabbah 7237, I have even 1571 captured 3920 the city 5892 of waters 4325.
28 "Now 6258 therefore, gather 622 the rest 3499 of the people 5971 together and camp 2583 against 5921 the city 5892 and capture 3920 it, or 6435 I will capture 3920 the city 5892 myself 589 and it will be named after 5921 me."
29 So David 1732 gathered 622 all 3605 the people 5971 and went 1980 to Rabbah 7237, fought 3898 against it and captured 3920 it.
30 Then he took 3947 the crown 5850 of their king 4428 from his head 7218; and its weight 4948 {was} a talent 3603 of gold 2091, and {in it} {was} a precious 3368 stone 68; and it was {placed} on David's 1732 head 7218. And he brought 3318 out the spoil 7998 of the city 5892 in great 3966 amounts 7235.
31 He also brought 3318 out the people 5971 who 834 were in it, and set 7760 {them} under saws 4050, sharp 2757 iron 1270 instruments 2757, and iron 1270 axes 4037, and made them pass 5674 through the brickkiln 4404. And thus 3651 he did 6213 to all 3605 the cities 5892 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983. Then David 1732 and all 3605 the people 5971 returned 7725 {to} Jerusalem 3389.

Chapter 13


1

Amnon and Tamar

Now it was after 310 this 3651 that Absalom 53 the son 1121 of David 1732 had a beautiful 3303 sister 269 whose name 8034 was Tamar 8559, and Amnon 550 the son 1121 of David 1732 loved 157 her.
2 Amnon 550 was so frustrated 6887 because 5668 of his sister 269 Tamar 8559 that he made 2470 himself ill 2470, for she was a virgin 1330, and it seemed 6381 hard 6381 to Amnon 550 to do 6213 anything 3972 to her.
3 But Amnon 550 had a friend 7453 whose name 8034 was Jonadab 3082, the son 1121 of Shimeah 8093, David's 1732 brother 251; and Jonadab 3082 was a very 3966 shrewd 2450 man 376.
4 He said 559 to him, "O son 1121 of the king 4428, why 4069 are you so 3602 depressed 1800 morning 1242 after morning 1242? Will you not tell 5046 me?" Then Amnon 550 said 559 to him, "I am in love 157 with Tamar 8559, the sister 269 of my brother 251 Absalom 53."
5 Jonadab 3082 then said 559 to him, "Lie 7901 down 7901 on your bed 4904 and pretend 2470 to be ill 2470; when your father 1 comes 935 to see 7200 you, say 559 to him, 'Please 4994 let my sister 269 Tamar 8559 come 935 and give me {some} food 3899 to eat 1262, and let her prepare 6213 the food 1279 in my sight 5869, that I may see 7200 {it} and eat 398 from her hand 3027.'"
6 So Amnon 550 lay 7901 down 7901 and pretended 2470 to be ill 2470; when the king 4428 came 935 to see 7200 him, Amnon 550 said 559 to the king 4428, "Please 4994 let my sister 269 Tamar 8559 come 935 and make 3823 me a couple 8147 of cakes 3834 in my sight 5869, that I may eat 1262 from her hand 3027."
7 ¶ Then David 1732 sent 7971 to the house 1004 for Tamar 8559, saying 559, "Go 1980 now 4994 to your brother 251 Amnon's 550 house 1004, and prepare 6213 food 1279 for him."
8 So Tamar 8559 went 1980 to her brother 251 Amnon's 550 house 1004, and he was lying 7901 down 7901. And she took 3947 dough 1217, kneaded 3888 {it,} made 3823 cakes 3823 in his sight 5869, and baked 1310 the cakes 3834.
9 She took 3947 the pan 4958 and dished 3332 {them} out before 6440 him, but he refused 3985 to eat 398. And Amnon 550 said 559, "Have everyone go 3318 out from me." So everyone went 3318 out from him.
10 Then Amnon 550 said 559 to Tamar 8559, "Bring 935 the food 1279 into the bedroom 2315, that I may eat 1262 from your hand 3027." So Tamar 8559 took 3947 the cakes 3834 which 834 she had made 6213 and brought 935 them into the bedroom 2315 to her brother 251 Amnon 550.
11 When she brought 5066 {them} to him to eat 398, he took 2388 hold 2388 of her and said 559 to her, "Come 935, lie 7901 with me, my sister 269."
12 But she answered 559 him, "No 408, my brother 251, do not violate 6031 me, for such 3651 a thing 3651 is not done 6213 in Israel 3478; do not do 6213 this 2088 disgraceful 5039 thing 5039!
13 "As for me, where 575 could I get 1980 rid 1980 of my reproach 2781? And as for you, you will be like one 259 of the fools 5036 in Israel 3478. Now 6258 therefore, please 4994 speak 1696 to the king 4428, for he will not withhold 4513 me from you."
14 However, he would 14 not listen 8085 to her; since he was stronger 2388 than 4480 she, he violated 6031 her and lay 7901 with her.
15 ¶ Then Amnon 550 hated 8130 her with a very 3966 great 1419 hatred 8135; for the hatred 8135 with which 834 he hated 8130 her was greater 1419 than 4480 the love 160 with which 834 he had loved 157 her. And Amnon 550 said 559 to her, "Get 6965 up, go 1980 away!"
16 But she said 559 to him, "No 408, because 182 this 2088 wrong 7463 in sending 7971 me away 7971 is greater 1419 than 4480 the other 312 that you have done 6213 to me!" Yet he would 14 not listen 8085 to her.
17 Then he called 7121 his young 5288 man 5288 who attended 8334 him and said 559, "Now 4994 throw 7971 this 2088 woman 2088 out of my {presence,} and lock 5274 the door 1817 behind 310 her."
18 Now she had on a long-sleeved 6446 garment 3801; for in this 3651 manner 3651 the virgin 1330 daughters 1323 of the king 4428 dressed 3847 themselves in robes 4598. Then his attendant 8334 took 3318 her out and locked 5274 the door 1817 behind 310 her.
19 Tamar 8559 put 3947 ashes 665 on her head 7218 and tore 7167 her long-sleeved 6446 garment 3801 which 834 {was} on her; and she put 7760 her hand 3027 on her head 7218 and went 1980 away, crying 2199 aloud 2199 as she went 1980.
20 ¶ Then Absalom 53 her brother 251 said 559 to her, "Has Amnon 550 your brother 251 been 1961 with you? But now 6258 keep 2790 silent 2790, my sister 269, he is your brother 251; do not take 7896 this 2088 matter 1697 to heart 3820." So Tamar 8559 remained 3427 and was desolate 8074 in her brother 251 Absalom's 53 house 1004.
21 Now when King 4428 David 1732 heard 8085 of all 3605 these 428 matters 1697, he was very 3966 angry 2734.
22 But Absalom 53 did not speak 1696 to Amnon 550 either 5704 good 2896 or 5704 bad 7451; for Absalom 53 hated 8130 Amnon 550 because he had violated 6031 his sister 269 Tamar 8559.
23 ¶ Now it came 1961 about after two full 3117 years 8141 that Absalom 53 had 1961 sheepshearers 1494 in Baal-hazor 1178, which 834 is near 5973 Ephraim 669, and Absalom 53 invited 7121 all 3605 the king's 4428 sons 1121.
24

Absalom Avenges Tamar

Absalom 53 came 935 to the king 4428 and said 559, "Behold 2009 now 4994, your servant 5650 has sheepshearers 1494; please 4994 let the king 4428 and his servants 5650 go 1980 with your servant 5650."
25 But the king 4428 said 559 to Absalom 53, "No 408, my son 1121, we should not all 3605 go 1980, for we will be burdensome 3513 to you." Although he urged 6555 him, he would 14 not go 1980, but blessed 1288 him.
26 Then Absalom 53 said 559, "If not, please 4994 let my brother 251 Amnon 550 go 1980 with us." And the king 4428 said 559 to him, "Why 4100 should he go 1980 with you?"
27 But when Absalom 53 urged 6555 him, he let 7971 Amnon 550 and all 3605 the king's 4428 sons 1121 go 7971 with him.
28 ¶ Absalom 53 commanded 6680 his servants 5288, saying 559, "See 7200 now 4994, when Amnon's 550 heart 3820 is merry 2895 with wine 3196, and when I say 559 to you, 'Strike 5221 Amnon 550,' then put 4191 him to death 4191. Do not fear 3372; have not I myself 595 commanded 6680 you? Be courageous 2388 and be valiant."
29 The servants 5288 of Absalom 53 did 6213 to Amnon 550 just 3512 as Absalom 53 had commanded 6680. Then all 3605 the king's 4428 sons 1121 arose 6965 and each 376 mounted 7392 his mule 6505 and fled 5127.
30 ¶ Now it was while they were on the way 1870 that the report 8052 came 935 to David 1732, saying 559, "Absalom 53 has struck 5221 down 5221 all 3605 the king's 4428 sons 1121, and not one 259 of them is left 3498."
31 Then the king 4428 arose 6965, tore 7167 his clothes 899 and lay 7901 on the ground 776; and all 3605 his servants 5650 were standing 5324 by with clothes 899 torn 7167.
32 Jonadab 3082, the son 1121 of Shimeah 8093, David's 1732 brother 251, responded, "Do not let my lord 113 suppose 559 they have put 4191 to death 4191 all 3605 the young 5288 men 5288, the king's 4428 sons 1121, for Amnon 550 alone 905 is dead 4191; because 3588 by the intent 6310 of Absalom 53 this has been 1961 determined 7760 since 4480 the day 3117 that he violated 6031 his sister 269 Tamar 8559.
33 "Now 6258 therefore, do not let my lord 113 the king 4428 take 7760 the report 1697 to heart 3820, namely 559, 'all 3605 the king's 4428 sons 1121 are dead 4191,' for only 905 Amnon 550 is dead 4191."
34 ¶ Now Absalom 53 had fled 1272. And the young 5288 man 5288 who was the watchman 6822 raised 5375 his eyes 5869 and looked 7200, and behold 2009, many 7227 people 5971 were coming 1980 from the road 1870 behind 310 him by the side 6654 of the mountain 2022.
35 Jonadab 3082 said 559 to the king 4428, "Behold 2009, the king's 4428 sons 1121 have come 935; according to your servant's 5650 word 1697, so 3651 it happened 1961."
36 As soon as he had finished 3615 speaking 1696, behold 2009, the king's 4428 sons 1121 came 935 and lifted 5375 their voices 6963 and wept 1058; and also 1571 the king 4428 and all 3605 his servants 5650 wept 1058 very 3966 bitterly.
37 ¶ Now Absalom 53 fled 1272 and went 1980 to Talmai 8526 the son 1121 of Ammihud 5989, the king 4428 of Geshur 1650. And {David} mourned 56 for his son 1121 every 3605 day 3117.
38 So Absalom 53 had fled 1272 and gone 1980 to Geshur 1650, and was there 8033 three 7969 years 8141.
39 {The heart of} King 4428 David 1732 longed 3615 to go 3318 out to Absalom 53; for he was comforted 5162 concerning 5921 Amnon 550, since 3588 he was dead 4191.

Chapter 14


1

The Woman of Tekoa

Now Joab 3097 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 perceived 3045 that the king's 4428 heart 3820 {was inclined} toward 5921 Absalom 53.
2 So Joab 3097 sent 7971 to Tekoa 8620 and brought 3947 a wise 2450 woman 802 from there 8033 and said 559 to her, "Please 4994 pretend 56 to be a mourner 56, and put 3847 on mourning 60 garments 899 now 4994, and do not anoint 5480 yourself with oil 8081, but be like a woman 802 who has been mourning 56 for the dead 4191 many 7227 days 3117;
3 then go 935 to the king 4428 and speak 1696 to him in this 2088 manner 1697." So Joab 3097 put 7760 the words 1697 in her mouth 6310.
4 ¶ Now when the woman 802 of Tekoa 8621 spoke 559 to the king 4428, she fell 5307 on her face 639 to the ground 776 and prostrated 7812 herself and said 559, "Help 3467, O king 4428."
5 The king 4428 said 559 to her, "What 4100 is your trouble?" And she answered 559, "Truly 61 I am a widow 490, for my husband 376 is dead 4191.
6 "Your maidservant 8198 had two 8147 sons 1121, but the two 8147 of them struggled 5327 together 5327 in the field 7704, and there 369 was no 369 one 369 to separate 5337 them, so one 259 struck 5221 the other 259 and killed 4191 him.
7 "Now behold 2009, the whole 3605 family 4940 has risen 6965 against 5921 your maidservant 8198, and they say 559, 'Hand 5414 over 5414 the one who struck 5221 his brother 251, that we may put 4191 him to death 4191 for the life 5315 of his brother 251 whom 834 he killed 2026, and destroy 8045 the heir 3423 also 1571.' Thus they will extinguish 3518 my coal 1513 which 834 is left 7604, so as to leave 7760 my husband 376 neither 1115 name 8034 nor 1115 remnant 7611 on the face 6440 of the earth 127."
8 ¶ Then the king 4428 said 559 to the woman 802, "Go 1980 to your house 1004, and I will give 6680 orders 6680 concerning 5921 you."
9 The woman 802 of Tekoa 8621 said 559 to the king 4428, "O my lord 113, the king 4428, the iniquity 5771 is on me and my father's 1 house 1004, but the king 4428 and his throne 3678 are guiltless 5355."
10 So the king 4428 said 559, "Whoever speaks 1696 to you, bring 935 him to me, and he will not touch 5060 you anymore."
11 Then she said 559, "Please 4994 let the king 4428 remember 2142 the LORD 3068 your God 430, {so that} the avenger 1350 of blood 1818 will not continue 7235 to destroy 7843, otherwise 3808 they will destroy 8045 my son 1121." And he said 559, "As the LORD 3068 lives 2416, not one hair 8185 of your son 1121 shall fall 5307 to the ground 776."
12 ¶ Then the woman 802 said 559, "Please 4994 let your maidservant 8198 speak 1696 a word 1697 to my lord 113 the king 4428." And he said 559, "Speak 1696."
13 The woman 802 said 559, "Why 4100 then have you planned 2803 such 2088 a thing 2088 against 5921 the people 5971 of God 430? For in speaking 1696 this 2088 word 1697 the king 4428 is as one 818 who 818 is guilty 818, {in that} the king 4428 does not bring 7725 back 7725 his banished 5080 one 5080.
14 "For we will surely 4191 die 4191 and are like water 4325 spilled 5064 on the ground 776 which 834 cannot 3808 be gathered 622 up again. Yet God 430 does not take 5375 away life 5315, but plans 2803 ways 4284 so that the banished 5080 one 5080 will not be cast 5080 out from him.
15 "Now 6258 the reason 834 I have come 935 to speak 1696 this 2088 word 1697 to my lord 113 the king 4428 is that the people 5971 have made 3372 me afraid 3372; so your maidservant 8198 said 559, 'Let me now 4994 speak 1696 to the king 4428, perhaps 194 the king 4428 will perform 6213 the request 1697 of his maidservant 519.
16 'For the king 4428 will hear 8085 and deliver 5337 his maidservant 519 from the hand 3709 of the man 376 who would destroy 8045 both 3162 me and my son 1121 from the inheritance 5159 of God 430.'
17 "Then your maidservant 8198 said 559, 'Please 4994 let the word 1697 of my lord 113 the king 4428 be comforting 4496, for as the angel 4397 of God 430, so 3651 is my lord 113 the king 4428 to discern 8085 good 2896 and evil 7451. And may the LORD 3068 your God 430 be with you.'"
18 ¶ Then the king 4428 answered 6030 and said 559 to the woman 802, "Please 4994 do not hide 3582 anything 1697 from me that I am about to ask 7592 you." And the woman 802 said 559, "Let my lord 113 the king 4428 please 4994 speak 1696."
19 So the king 4428 said 559, "Is the hand 3027 of Joab 3097 with you in all 3605 this 2088?" And the woman 802 replied 6030, "As your soul 5315 lives 2416, my lord 113 the king 4428, no 518 one can turn 3231 to the right 3231 or to the left 8041 from anything 3605 that my lord 113 the king 4428 has spoken 1696. Indeed 3588, it was your servant 5650 Joab 3097 who 1931 commanded 6680 me, and it was he who put 7760 all 3605 these 428 words 1697 in the mouth 6310 of your maidservant 8198;
20 in order 5668 to change 5437 the appearance 6440 of things 1697 your servant 5650 Joab 3097 has done 6213 this 2088 thing 1697. But my lord 113 is wise 2450, like the wisdom 2451 of the angel 4397 of God 430, to know 3045 all 3605 that is in the earth 776."
21

Absalom Is Recalled

¶ Then the king 4428 said 559 to Joab 3097, "Behold 2009 now 4994, I will surely do 6213 this 2088 thing 1697; go 1980 therefore, bring 7725 back 7725 the young 5288 man 5288 Absalom 53."
22 Joab 3097 fell 5307 on his face 6440 to the ground 776, prostrated 7812 himself and blessed 1288 the king 4428; then Joab 3097 said 559, "Today 3117 your servant 5650 knows 3045 that I have found 4672 favor 2580 in your sight 5869, O my lord 113, the king 4428, in that the king 4428 has performed 6213 the request 1697 of his servant 5650."
23 So Joab 3097 arose 6965 and went 1980 to Geshur 1650 and brought 935 Absalom 53 to Jerusalem 3389.
24 However the king 4428 said 559, "Let him turn 5437 to his own house 1004, and let him not see 7200 my face 6440." So Absalom 53 turned 5437 to his own house 1004 and did not see 7200 the king's 4428 face 6440.
25 ¶ Now in all 3605 Israel 3478 was no 3808 one 376 as handsome 3303 as Absalom 53, so highly 3966 praised 1984; from the sole 3709 of his foot 7272 to the crown 6936 of his head 6936 there was no 3808 defect 4140 in him.
26 When he cut 1548 the hair of his head 7218 (and it was at the end 7093 of every year 3117 that he cut 1548 {it,} for it was heavy 3515 on him so he cut 1548 it), he weighed 8254 the hair 8181 of his head 7218 at 200 3967 shekels 8255 by the king's 4428 weight 68.
27 To Absalom 53 there were born 3205 three 7969 sons 1121, and one 259 daughter 1323 whose name 8034 was Tamar 8559; she was a woman 802 of beautiful 3303 appearance 4758.
28 ¶ Now Absalom 53 lived 3427 two full 3117 years 8141 in Jerusalem 3389, and did not see 7200 the king's 4428 face 6440.
29 Then Absalom 53 sent 7971 for Joab 3097, to send 7971 him to the king 4428, but he would 14 not come 935 to him. So he sent 7971 again 5750 a second 8145 time 8145, but he would 14 not come 935.
30 Therefore he said 559 to his servants 5650, "See 7200, Joab's 3097 field 2513 is next 413 to mine, and he has barley 8184 there 8033; go 1980 and set 3341 it on fire 784." So Absalom's 53 servants 5650 set 3341 the field 2513 on fire 784.
31 Then Joab 3097 arose 6965, came 935 to Absalom 53 at his house 1004 and said 559 to him, "Why 4100 have your servants 5650 set 3341 my field 2513 on fire 784?"
32 Absalom 53 answered 559 Joab 3097, "Behold 2009, I sent 7971 for you, saying 559, 'Come 935 here 2008, that I may send 7971 you to the king 4428, to say 559, "Why 4100 have I come 935 from Geshur 1650? It would be better 2896 for me still 5750 to be there 8033."' Now 6258 therefore, let me see 7200 the king's 4428 face 6440, and if 518 there 3426 is iniquity 5771 in me, let him put 4191 me to death 4191."
33 So when Joab 3097 came 935 to the king 4428 and told 5046 him, he called 7121 for Absalom 53. Thus he came 935 to the king 4428 and prostrated 7812 himself on his face 639 to the ground 776 before 6440 the king 4428, and the king 4428 kissed 5401 Absalom 53.

Chapter 15


1

Absalom's Conspiracy

Now it came 1961 about after this 3651 that Absalom 53 provided 6213 for himself a chariot 4818 and horses 5483 and fifty 2572 men 376 as runners 7323 before 6440 him.
2 Absalom 53 used to rise 7925 early 7925 and stand 5975 beside the way 1870 to the gate 8179; and when any 3605 man 376 had 1961 a suit 7379 to come 935 to the king 4428 for judgment 4941, Absalom 53 would call 7121 to him and say 559, "From what city 5892 are you?" And he would say 559, "Your servant 5650 is from one 259 of the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478."
3 Then Absalom 53 would say 559 to him, "See 7200, your claims 1697 are good 2896 and right 5228, but no 369 man listens 8085 to you on the part of the king 4428."
4 Moreover, Absalom 53 would say 559, "Oh 4310 that one would appoint 7760 me judge 8199 in the land 776, then every 3605 man 376 who 834 has 1961 any suit 7379 or cause 4941 could come 935 to me and I would give 6663 him justice 6663."
5 And when a man 376 came 7126 near 7126 to prostrate 7812 himself before him, he would put 7971 out his hand 3027 and take 2388 hold 2388 of him and kiss 5401 him.
6 In this 2088 manner 1697 Absalom 53 dealt 6213 with all 3605 Israel 3478 who 834 came 935 to the king 4428 for judgment 4941; so Absalom 53 stole 1589 away 1589 the hearts 3820 of the men 376 of Israel 3478.
7 ¶ Now it came 1961 about at the end 7093 of forty 705 years 8141 that Absalom 53 said 559 to the king 4428, "Please 4994 let me go 1980 and pay 7999 my vow 5088 which 834 I have vowed 5087 to the LORD 3068, in Hebron 2275.
8 "For your servant 5650 vowed 5087 a vow 5088 while I was living 3427 at Geshur 1650 in Aram 758, saying 559, 'If 518 the LORD 3068 shall indeed 7725 bring 7725 me back 7725 to Jerusalem 3389, then I will serve 5647 the LORD 3068.'"
9 The king 4428 said 559 to him, "Go 1980 in peace 7965." So he arose 6965 and went 1980 to Hebron 2275.
10 But Absalom 53 sent 7971 spies 7270 throughout all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, saying 559, "As soon as you hear 8085 the sound 6963 of the trumpet 7782, then you shall say 559, 'Absalom 53 is king 4427 in Hebron 2275.'"
11 Then two hundred 3967 men 376 went 1980 with Absalom 53 from Jerusalem 3389, who were invited 7121 and went 1980 innocently 8537, and they did not know 3045 anything.
12 And Absalom 53 sent 7971 for Ahithophel 302 the Gilonite 1526, David's 1732 counselor 3289, from his city 5892 Giloh 1542, while he was offering 2076 the sacrifices 2077. And the conspiracy 7195 was strong 533, for the people 5971 increased 7227 continually 1980 with Absalom 53.
13

David Flees Jerusalem

¶ Then a messenger 5046 came 935 to David 1732, saying 559, "The hearts 3820 of the men 376 of Israel 3478 are with Absalom 53."
14 David 1732 said 559 to all 3605 his servants 5650 who 834 were with him at Jerusalem 3389, "Arise 6965 and let us flee 1272, for {otherwise} none 3808 of us will escape 6413 from Absalom 53. Go 1980 in haste 4116, or 6435 he will overtake 5381 us quickly 4116 and bring 5080 down 5080 calamity 7463 on us and strike 5221 the city 5892 with the edge 6310 of the sword 2719."
15 Then the king's 4428 servants 5650 said 559 to the king 4428, "Behold 2009, your servants 5650 {are ready to do} whatever my lord 113 the king 4428 chooses 977."
16 So the king 4428 went 3318 out and all 3605 his household 1004 with him. But the king 4428 left 5800 ten 6235 concubines 6370 to keep 8104 the house 1004.
17 The king 4428 went 3318 out and all 3605 the people 5971 with him, and they stopped 5975 at the last 4801 house 1004.
18 Now all 3605 his servants 5650 passed 5674 on beside him, all 3605 the Cherethites 3774, all 3605 the Pelethites 6432 and all 3605 the Gittites 1663, six 8337 hundred 3967 men 376 who 834 had come 935 with him from Gath 1661, passed 5674 on before 6440 the king 4428.
19 ¶ Then the king 4428 said 559 to Ittai 863 the Gittite 1663, "Why 4100 will you also 1571 go 1980 with us? Return 7725 and remain 3427 with the king 4428, for you are a foreigner 5237 and also 1571 an exile 1540; {return} to your own place 4725.
20 "You came 935 {only} yesterday 8543, and shall I today 3117 make you wander 5128 with us, while I go 1980 where I will? Return 7725 and take 7725 back 7725 your brothers 251; mercy 2617 and truth 571 be with you."
21 But Ittai 863 answered 6030 the king 4428 and said 559, "As the LORD 3068 lives 2416, and as my lord 113 the king 4428 lives 2416, surely wherever my lord 113 the king 4428 may be, whether 518 for death 4194 or 518 for life 2425, there 8033 also 3588 your servant 5650 will be."
22 Therefore David 1732 said 559 to Ittai 863, "Go 1980 and pass 5674 over 5674." So Ittai 863 the Gittite 1663 passed 5674 over 5674 with all 3605 his men 376 and all 3605 the little 2945 ones 2945 who 834 {were} with him.
23 While all 3605 the country 776 was weeping 1058 with a loud 1419 voice 6963, all 3605 the people 5971 passed 5674 over 5674. The king 4428 also passed 5674 over 5674 the brook 5158 Kidron 6939, and all 3605 the people 5971 passed 5674 over 5674 toward the way 1870 of the wilderness 4057.
24 ¶ Now behold 2009, Zadok 6659 also 1571 {came,} and all 3605 the Levites 3881 with him carrying 5375 the ark 727 of the covenant 1285 of God 430. And they set 3332 down 3332 the ark 727 of God 430, and Abiathar 54 came 5927 up until 5704 all 3605 the people 5971 had finished 8552 passing 5674 from the city 5892.
25 The king 4428 said 559 to Zadok 6659, "Return 7725 the ark 727 of God 430 to the city 5892. If 518 I find 4672 favor 2580 in the sight 5869 of the LORD 3068, then He will bring 7725 me back 7725 again and show 7200 me both it and His habitation 5116.
26 "But if 518 He should say 559 thus 3541, 'I have 2654 no 3808 delight 2654 in you,' behold 2009, here I am, let Him do 6213 to me as seems good 2895 to Him."
27 The king 4428 said 559 also to Zadok 6659 the priest 3548, "Are you {not} a seer 7203? Return 7725 to the city 5892 in peace 7965 and your two 8147 sons 1121 with you, your son 1121 Ahimaaz 290 and Jonathan 3083 the son 1121 of Abiathar 54.
28 "See 7200, I am going to wait 4102 at the fords 5679 of the wilderness 4057 until 5704 word 1697 comes 935 from you to inform 5046 me."
29 Therefore Zadok 6659 and Abiathar 54 returned 7725 the ark 727 of God 430 to Jerusalem 3389 and remained 3427 there 8033.
30 ¶ And David 1732 went 5927 up the ascent 4608 of the {Mount of} Olives 2132, and wept 1058 as he went 5927, and his head 7218 was covered 2645 and he walked 1980 barefoot 3182. Then all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with him each 376 covered 2645 his head 7218 and went 5927 up weeping 1058 as they went 5927.
31 Now someone told 5046 David 1732, saying 559, "Ahithophel 302 is among the conspirators 7194 with Absalom 53." And David 1732 said 559, "O LORD 3068, I pray 4994, make 5528 the counsel 6098 of Ahithophel 302 foolishness 5528."
32 ¶ It happened 1961 as David 1732 was coming 935 to the summit 7218, where God 430 was worshiped 7812, that behold 2009, Hushai 2365 the Archite 757 met 7122 him with his coat 3801 torn 7167 and dust 127 on his head 7218.
33 David 1732 said 559 to him, "If 518 you pass 5674 over 5674 with me, then you will be a burden 4853 to me.
34 "But if 518 you return 7725 to the city 5892, and say 559 to Absalom 53, 'I will be your servant 5650, O king 4428; as I have been 1961 your father's 1 servant 5650 in time 227 past 3975, so I will now 6258 be your servant 5650,' then you can thwart 6565 the counsel 6098 of Ahithophel 302 for me.
35 "Are not Zadok 6659 and Abiathar 54 the priests 3548 with you there 8033? So it shall be that whatever you hear 8085 from the king's 4428 house 1004, you shall report 5046 to Zadok 6659 and Abiathar 54 the priests 3548.
36 "Behold 2009 their two 8147 sons 1121 are with them there 8033, Ahimaaz 290, Zadok's 6659 son and Jonathan 3083, Abiathar's 54 son; and by them you shall send 7971 me everything 3605 that you hear 8085."
37 So Hushai 2365, David's 1732 friend 7463, came 935 into the city 5892, and Absalom 53 came 935 into Jerusalem 3389.

Chapter 16


1

Ziba, a False Servant

Now when David 1732 had passed 5674 a little 4592 beyond 5674 the summit 7218, behold 2009, Ziba 6717 the servant 5288 of Mephibosheth 4648 met 7122 him with a couple 6776 of saddled 2280 donkeys 2543, and on them {were} two 3967 hundred 3967 loaves of bread 3899, a hundred 3967 clusters 6778 of raisins 6778, a hundred 3967 summer 7019 fruits 7019, and a jug 5035 of wine 3196.
2 The king 4428 said 559 to Ziba 6717, "Why 4100 do you have these 428?" And Ziba 6717 said 559, "The donkeys 2543 are for the king's 4428 household 1004 to ride 7392, and the bread 3899 and summer 7019 fruit 7019 for the young 5288 men 5288 to eat 398, and the wine 3196, for whoever 3287 is faint 3287 in the wilderness 4057 to drink 8354."
3 Then the king 4428 said 559, "And where 346 is your master's 113 son 1121?" And Ziba 6717 said 559 to the king 4428, "Behold 2009, he is staying 3427 in Jerusalem 3389, for he said 559, 'Today 3117 the house 1004 of Israel 3478 will restore 7725 the kingdom 4468 of my father 1 to me.'"
4 So the king 4428 said 559 to Ziba 6717, "Behold 2009, all 3605 that belongs to Mephibosheth 4648 is yours." And Ziba 6717 said 559, "I prostrate 7812 myself; let me find 4672 favor 2580 in your sight 5869, O my lord 113, the king 4428!"
5

David Is Cursed

¶ When King 4428 David 1732 came 935 to Bahurim 980, behold 2009, there came 3318 out from there 8033 a man 376 of the family 4940 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586 whose name 8034 was Shimei 8096, the son 1121 of Gera 1617; he came 3318 out cursing 7043 continually as he came 3318.
6 He threw 5619 stones 68 at David 1732 and at all 3605 the servants 5650 of King 4428 David 1732; and all 3605 the people 5971 and all 3605 the mighty 1368 men 1368 were at his right 3225 hand 3225 and at his left 8040.
7 Thus 3541 Shimei 8096 said 559 when he cursed 7043, "Get 3318 out, get 3318 out, you man 376 of bloodshed 1818, and worthless 1100 fellow 376!
8 "The LORD 3068 has returned 7725 upon you all 3605 the bloodshed 1818 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586, in whose 834 place 8478 you have reigned 4427; and the LORD 3068 has given 5414 the kingdom 4410 into the hand 3027 of your son 1121 Absalom 53. And behold 2009, you are {taken} in your own evil 7463, for you are a man 376 of bloodshed 1818!"
9 ¶ Then Abishai 52 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 said 559 to the king 4428, "Why 4100 should this 2088 dead 4191 dog 3611 curse 7043 my lord 113 the king 4428? Let me go 5674 over 5674 now 4994 and cut 5493 off 5493 his head 7218."
10 But the king 4428 said 559, "What 4100 have I to do with you, O sons 1121 of Zeruiah 6870? If 3588 he curses 7043, and if 3588 the LORD 3068 has told 559 him, 'Curse 7043 David 1732,' then who 4310 shall say 559, 'Why 4069 have you done 6213 so 3651?'"
11 Then David 1732 said 559 to Abishai 52 and to all 3605 his servants 5650, "Behold 2009, my son 1121 who 834 came 3318 out from me seeks 1245 my life 5315; how 637 much more now 6258 this Benjamite 1145? Let 5117 him alone 5117 and let him curse 7043, for the LORD 3068 has told 559 him.
12 "Perhaps 194 the LORD 3068 will look 7200 on my affliction 6040 and return 7725 good 2899 to me instead 8478 of his cursing 7045 this 2088 day 3117."
13 So David 1732 and his men 376 went 1980 on the way 1870; and Shimei 8096 went 1980 along on the hillside parallel 5980 with him and as he went 1980 he cursed 7043 and cast 5619 stones 68 and threw 6080 dust 6083 at him.
14 The king 4428 and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with him arrived 935 weary 5889 and he refreshed 5314 himself there 8033.
15

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

Then Absalom 53 and all 3605 the people 5971, the men 376 of Israel 3478, entered 935 Jerusalem 3389, and Ahithophel 302 with him.
16 Now it came 1961 about when 3512 Hushai 2365 the Archite 757, David's 1732 friend 7463, came 935 to Absalom 53, that Hushai 2365 said 559 to Absalom 53, "{Long} live 2421 the king 4428! {Long} live 2421 the king 4428!"
17 Absalom 53 said 559 to Hushai 2365, "Is this 2088 your loyalty 2617 to your friend 7453? Why 4100 did you not go 1980 with your friend 7453?"
18 Then Hushai 2365 said 559 to Absalom 53, "No 3808! For whom 834 the LORD 3068, this 2088 people 5971, and all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 have chosen 977, his I will be, and with him I will remain 3427.
19 "Besides 8145, whom 4310 should I serve 5647? {Should I} not {serve} in the presence 6440 of his son 1121? As I have served 5647 in your father's 1 presence 6440, so 3651 I will be in your presence 6440."
20 ¶ Then Absalom 53 said 559 to Ahithophel 302, "Give 3051 your advice 6098. What 4100 shall we do 6213?"
21 Ahithophel 302 said 559 to Absalom 53, "Go 935 in to your father's 1 concubines 6370, whom 834 he has left 5117 to keep 8104 the house 1004; then all 3605 Israel 3478 will hear 8085 that you have made 887 yourself odious 887 to your father 1. The hands 3027 of all 3605 who 834 are with you will also be strengthened 2388."
22 So they pitched 5186 a tent 168 for Absalom 53 on the roof 1406, and Absalom 53 went 935 in to his father's 1 concubines 6370 in the sight 5869 of all 3605 Israel 3478.
23 The advice 6098 of Ahithophel 302, which 834 he gave 3289 in those 1992 days 3117, {was} as if 3512 one inquired 7592 of the word 1697 of God 430; so 3651 was all 3605 the advice 6098 of Ahithophel 302 {regarded} by both 1571 David 1732 and Absalom 53.

Chapter 17


1

Hushai's Counsel

Furthermore, Ahithophel 302 said 559 to Absalom 53, "Please 4994 let me choose 977 12,000 men 376 that I may arise 6965 and pursue 7291 David 1732 tonight 3915.
2 "I will come 935 upon him while he is weary 3023 and exhausted and terrify 2729 him, so that all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 are with him will flee 5127. Then I will strike 5221 down 5221 the king 4428 alone 905,
3 and I will bring 7725 back 7725 all 3605 the people 5971 to you. The return 7725 of everyone 3605 depends on the man 376 you seek 1245; {then} all 3605 the people 5971 will be at peace 7965."
4 So the plan 1697 pleased Absalom 53 and all 3605 the elders 2205 of Israel 3478.
5 ¶ Then Absalom 53 said 559, "Now 4994 call 7121 Hushai 2365 the Archite 757 also 1571, and let us hear 8085 what 4100 he has to say 6310."
6 When 3512 Hushai 2365 had come 935 to Absalom 53, Absalom 53 said 559 to him, "Ahithophel 302 has spoken 1696 thus. Shall we carry 6213 out his plan 1697? If 518 not, you speak 1696."
7 So Hushai 2365 said 559 to Absalom 53, "This 2088 time 6471 the advice 6098 that Ahithophel 302 has given 3289 is not good 2896."
8 Moreover, Hushai 2365 said 559, "You know 3045 your father 1 and his men 376, that they are mighty 1368 men 1368 and they are fierce, like a bear 1677 robbed 7909 of her cubs 7909 in the field 7704. And your father 1 is an expert 376 in warfare 4421, and will not spend 3885 the night 3885 with the people 5971.
9 "Behold 2009, he has now 6258 hidden 2244 himself 1931 in one 259 of the caves 6354 or 176 in another 259 place 4725; and it will be when 3512 he falls 5307 on them at the first 8462 attack, that whoever hears 8085 {it} will say 559, 'There has been 1961 a slaughter 4046 among the people 5971 who 834 follow 310 Absalom 53.'
10 "And even 1571 the one 1121 who is valiant, whose 834 heart 3820 is like the heart 3820 of a lion 743, will completely 4549 lose 4549 heart 4549; for all 3605 Israel 3478 knows 3045 that your father 1 is a mighty 1368 man 1121 and those who 834 are with him are valiant 2428 men 1121.
11 "But I counsel 3289 that all 3605 Israel 3478 be surely 622 gathered 622 to you, from Dan 1835 even to Beersheba 884, as the sand 2344 that is by the sea 3220 in abundance 7230, and that you personally 6440 go 1980 into battle 7128.
12 "So we shall come 935 to him in one 259 of the places 4725 where he can be found 4672, and we will fall 5307 on him as the dew 2919 falls 5307 on the ground 127; and of him and of all 3605 the men 376 who 834 are with him, not even 1571 one 259 will be left 3498.
13 "If 518 he withdraws 622 into a city 5892, then all 3605 Israel 3478 shall bring 5375 ropes 2256 to that city 5892, and we will drag 5498 it into the valley 5158 until not even 1571 a small 6872 stone 6872 is found 4672 there 8033."
14 Then Absalom 53 and all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 said 559, "The counsel 6098 of Hushai 2365 the Archite 757 is better 2896 than 4480 the counsel 6098 of Ahithophel 302." For the LORD 3068 had ordained 6680 to thwart 6565 the good 2896 counsel 6098 of Ahithophel 302, so 5668 that the LORD 3068 might bring 935 calamity 7463 on Absalom 53.
15

Hushai's Warning Saves David

¶ Then Hushai 2365 said 559 to Zadok 6659 and to Abiathar 54 the priests 3548, "This 2088 is what 2088 Ahithophel 302 counseled 3289 Absalom 53 and the elders 2205 of Israel 3478, and this 2088 is what 2088 I have counseled 3289.
16 "Now 6258 therefore, send 7971 quickly 4120 and tell 5046 David 1732, saying 559, 'Do not spend 3885 the night 3915 at the fords 6160 of the wilderness 4057, but by all means 5674 cross 5674 over 5674, or 6435 else 6435 the king 4428 and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 are with him will be destroyed 1104.'"
17 Now Jonathan 3083 and Ahimaaz 290 were staying 5975 at En-rogel 5883, and a maidservant 8198 would go 1980 and tell 5046 them, and they would go 1980 and tell 5046 King 4428 David 1732, for they could 3201 not be seen 7200 entering 935 the city 5892.
18 But a lad 5288 did see 7200 them and told 5046 Absalom 53; so the two 8147 of them departed 1980 quickly 4120 and came 935 to the house 1004 of a man 376 in Bahurim 980, who had a well 875 in his courtyard 2691, and they went 3381 down 3381 into it.
19 And the woman 802 took 3947 a covering 4539 and spread 6566 it over 5921 the well's 875 mouth 6440 and scattered 7849 grain 7383 on it, so that nothing was known 3045.
20 Then Absalom's 53 servants 5650 came 935 to the woman 802 at the house 1004 and said 559, "Where 346 are Ahimaaz 290 and Jonathan 3083?" And the woman 802 said 559 to them, "They have crossed 5674 the brook 4323 of water 4325." And when 3512 they searched 1245 and could not find 4672 {them,} they returned 7725 to Jerusalem 3389.
21 ¶ It came 1961 about after 310 they had departed 1980 that they came 5927 up out of the well 875 and went 1980 and told 5046 King 4428 David 1732; and they said 559 to David 1732, "Arise 6965 and cross 5674 over 5674 the water 4325 quickly 4120 for thus 3602 Ahithophel 302 has counseled 3289 against 5921 you."
22 Then David 1732 and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him arose 6965 and crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383; and by dawn not even 5704 one 259 remained 5737 who 834 had not crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383.
23 ¶ Now when 3512 Ahithophel 302 saw 7200 that his counsel 6098 was not followed 6213, he saddled 2280 {his} donkey 2543 and arose 6965 and went 1980 to his home 1004, to his city 5892, and set 6680 his house 1004 in order 6680, and strangled 2614 himself; thus he died 4191 and was buried 6912 in the grave 6913 of his father 1.
24 ¶ Then David 1732 came 935 to Mahanaim 4266. And Absalom 53 crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383, he and all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 with him.
25 Absalom 53 set 7760 Amasa 6021 over 5921 the army 6635 in place 8478 of Joab 3097. Now Amasa 6021 was the son 1121 of a man 376 whose name 8034 was Ithra 3501 the Israelite 3481, who 834 went 935 in to Abigail 26 the daughter 1323 of Nahash 5176, sister 269 of Zeruiah 6870, Joab's 3097 mother 517.
26 And Israel 3478 and Absalom 53 camped 2583 in the land 776 of Gilead 1568.
27 ¶ Now when David 1732 had come 935 to Mahanaim 4266, Shobi 7629 the son 1121 of Nahash 5176 from Rabbah 7237 of the sons 1121 of Ammon 5983, Machir 4353 the son 1121 of Ammiel 5988 from Lo-debar 3810, and Barzillai 1271 the Gileadite 1569 from Rogelim 7274,
28 brought 5066 beds 4904, basins 5592, pottery 3627, wheat 2406, barley 8184, flour 7058, parched 7039 {grain,} beans 6321, lentils 5742, parched 7039 {seeds,}
29 honey 1706, curds 2529, sheep 6629, and cheese 8194 of the herd 1241, for David 1732 and for the people 5971 who 834 {were} with him, to eat 398; for they said 559, "The people 5971 are hungry 7457 and weary 5889 and thirsty 6771 in the wilderness 4057."

Chapter 18


1

Absalom Slain

Then David 1732 numbered 6485 the people 5971 who 834 were with him and set 7760 over 5921 them commanders 8269 of thousands 505 and commanders 8269 of hundreds 3967.
2 David 1732 sent 7971 the people 5971 out, one third 7992 under the command 3027 of Joab 3097, one third 7992 under the command 3027 of Abishai 52 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870, Joab's 3097 brother 251, and one third 7992 under the command 3027 of Ittai 863 the Gittite 1663. And the king 4428 said 559 to the people 5971, "I myself 589 will surely 3318 go 3318 out with you also 1571."
3 But the people 5971 said 559, "You should not go 3318 out; for if 518 we indeed 5127 flee 5127, they will not care about 413 us; even if 518 half 2677 of us die 4191, they will not care about 413 us. But you are worth ten 6235 thousand 505 of us; therefore now 6258 it is better 2896 that you {be ready} to help 5826 us from the city 5892."
4 Then the king 4428 said 559 to them, "Whatever 834 seems 3190 best 3190 to you I will do 6213." So the king 4428 stood 5975 beside the gate 8179, and all 3605 the people 5971 went 3318 out by hundreds 3967 and thousands 505.
5 The king 4428 charged 6680 Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 and Ittai 863, saying 559, "{Deal} gently 328 for my sake with the young 5288 man 5288 Absalom 53." And all 3605 the people 5971 heard 8085 when the king 4428 charged 6680 all 3605 the commanders 8269 concerning Absalom 53.
6 ¶ Then the people 5971 went 3318 out into the field 7704 against 7122 Israel 3478, and the battle 4421 took 1961 place 1961 in the forest 3293 of Ephraim 669.
7 The people 5971 of Israel 3478 were defeated 5062 there 8033 before 6440 the servants 5650 of David 1732, and the slaughter 4046 there 8033 that day 3117 was great 1419, 20,000 men.
8 For the battle 4421 there 8033 was spread 6327 over the whole 3605 countryside 776, and the forest 3293 devoured 398 more 7235 people 5971 that day 3117 than the sword 2719 devoured 398.
9 ¶ Now Absalom 53 happened to meet 7122 the servants 5650 of David 1732. For Absalom 53 was riding 7392 on {his} mule 6505, and the mule 6505 went 935 under 8478 the thick 7730 branches 7730 of a great 1419 oak 424. And his head 7218 caught 2388 fast 2388 in the oak 424, so he was left 5414 hanging 5414 between 996 heaven 8064 and earth 776, while the mule 6505 that was under 8478 him kept going 5674.
10 When a certain 259 man 376 saw 7200 {it,} he told 5046 Joab 3097 and said 559, "Behold 2009, I saw 7200 Absalom 53 hanging 8518 in an oak 424."
11 Then Joab 3097 said 559 to the man 376 who had told 5046 him, "Now behold 2009, you saw 7200 {him!} Why 4069 then did you not strike 5221 him there 8033 to the ground 776? And I would have given 5414 you ten 6235 {pieces} of silver 3701 and a belt 2290."
12 The man 376 said 559 to Joab 3097, "Even if 3863 I should receive 8254 a thousand 505 {pieces of} silver 3701 in my hand 3709, I would not put 7971 out my hand 3027 against 413 the king's 4428 son 1121; for in our hearing 241 the king 4428 charged 6680 you and Abishai 52 and Ittai 863, saying 559, 'Protect 8104 for me the young 5288 man 5288 Absalom 53!'
13 "Otherwise 176, if I had dealt 6213 treacherously 8267 against his life 5315 (and there is nothing hidden 3582 from the king 4428), then you yourself 859 would have stood 3320 aloof."
14 Then Joab 3097 said 559, "I will not waste 3176 time 3176 here 3651 with you." So he took 3947 three 7969 spears 7626 in his hand 3709 and thrust 8628 them through the heart 3820 of Absalom 53 while he was yet 5750 alive 2416 in the midst 3820 of the oak 424.
15 And ten 6235 young 5288 men 5288 who carried 5375 Joab's 3097 armor 3627 gathered 5437 around 5437 and struck 5221 Absalom 53 and killed 4191 him.
16 ¶ Then Joab 3097 blew 8628 the trumpet 7782, and the people 5971 returned 7725 from pursuing 7291 Israel 3478, for Joab 3097 restrained 2820 the people 5971.
17 They took 3947 Absalom 53 and cast 7993 him into a deep 1419 pit 6354 in the forest 3293 and erected 5324 over 5921 him a very 3966 great 1419 heap 1530 of stones 68. And all 3605 Israel 3478 fled 5127, each 376 to his tent 168.
18 Now Absalom 53 in his lifetime 2425 had taken 3947 and set 5324 up for himself a pillar 4676 which 834 is in the King's 4428 Valley 6010, for he said 559, "I have 369 no 369 son 1121 to preserve 2142 my name 8034." So he named 7121 the pillar 4676 after 5921 his own name 8034, and it is called 7121 Absalom's 53 Monument 3027 to this 2088 day 3117.
19

David Is Grief-stricken

¶ Then Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok 6659 said 559, "Please 4994 let me run 7323 and bring 1319 the king 4428 news 1319 that the LORD 3068 has freed 8199 him from the hand 3027 of his enemies 340."
20 But Joab 3097 said 559 to him, "You are not the man 376 to carry 1309 news 1309 this 2088 day 3117, but you shall carry 1319 news 1319 another 312 day 3117; however, you shall carry 1319 no 3808 news 1319 today 3117 because the king's 4428 son 1121 is dead 4191."
21 Then Joab 3097 said 559 to the Cushite 3569, "Go 1980, tell 5046 the king 4428 what 834 you have seen 7200." So the Cushite 3569 bowed 7812 to Joab 3097 and ran 7323.
22 Now Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok 6659 said 559 once more to Joab 3097, "But whatever 4100 happens 1961, please 4994 let me also 1571 run 7323 after 310 the Cushite 3569." And Joab 3097 said 559, "Why would you run 7323, my son 1121, since you will have 369 no 369 reward 1309 for going 4672?"
23 "But whatever 4100 happens 1961," {he said,} "I will run 7323." So he said 559 to him, "Run 7323." Then Ahimaaz 290 ran 7323 by way 1870 of the plain 3603 and passed 5674 up the Cushite 3569.
24 ¶ Now David 1732 was sitting 3427 between 996 the two 8147 gates 8179; and the watchman 6822 went 1980 up to the roof 1406 of the gate 8179 by the wall 2346, and raised 5375 his eyes 5869 and looked 7200, and behold 2009, a man 376 running 7323 by himself 905.
25 The watchman 6822 called 7121 and told 5046 the king 4428. And the king 4428 said 559, "If 518 he is by himself 905 there is good news 1309 in his mouth 6310." And he came 1980 nearer 1980 and nearer 7131.
26 Then the watchman 6822 saw 7200 another 312 man 376 running 7323; and the watchman 6822 called 7121 to the gatekeeper 7778 and said 559, "Behold 2009, {another} man 376 running 7323 by himself 905." And the king 4428 said 559, "This 2088 one 2088 also 1571 is bringing 1319 good news 1319."
27 The watchman 6822 said 559, "I think 7200 the running 4794 of the first 7223 one 7223 is like the running 4794 of Ahimaaz 290 the son 1121 of Zadok 6659." And the king 4428 said 559, "This 2088 is a good 2896 man 376 and comes 935 with good 2896 news 1309."
28 ¶ Ahimaaz 290 called 7121 and said 559 to the king 4428, "All is well 7965." And he prostrated 7812 himself before the king 4428 with his face 639 to the ground 776. And he said 559, "Blessed 1288 is the LORD 3068 your God 430, who 834 has delivered 5462 up the men 376 who 834 lifted 5375 their hands 3027 against my lord 113 the king 4428."
29 The king 4428 said 559, "Is it well 7965 with the young 5288 man 5288 Absalom 53?" And Ahimaaz 290 answered 559, "When Joab 3097 sent 7971 the king's 4428 servant 5650, and your servant 5650, I saw 7200 a great 1419 tumult 1995, but I did not know 3045 what 4100 {it was.}"
30 Then the king 4428 said 559, "Turn 5437 aside 5437 and stand 3320 here 3541." So he turned 5437 aside 5437 and stood 5975 still 5975.
31 ¶ Behold 2009, the Cushite 3569 arrived 935, and the Cushite 3569 said 559, "Let my lord 113 the king 4428 receive 1319 good news 1319, for the LORD 3068 has freed 8199 you this day 3117 from the hand 3027 of all 3605 those who rose 6965 up against 5921 you."
32 Then the king 4428 said 559 to the Cushite 3569, "Is it well 7965 with the young 5288 man 5288 Absalom 53?" And the Cushite 3569 answered 559, "Let the enemies 340 of my lord 113 the king 4428, and all 3605 who 834 rise 6965 up against 5921 you for evil 7463, be as that young 5288 man 5288!"
33 ¶ The king 4428 was deeply 7264 moved 7264 and went 5927 up to the chamber 5944 over 5944 the gate 8179 and wept 1058. And thus 3541 he said 559 as he walked 1980, "O my son 1121 Absalom 53, my son 1121, my son 1121 Absalom 53! Would I had died 4191 instead 8478 of you, O Absalom 53, my son 1121, my son 1121!"

Chapter 19


1

Joab Reproves David's Lament

Then it was told 5046 Joab 3097, "Behold 2009, the king 4428 is weeping 1058 and mourns 56 for Absalom 53."
2 The victory 8668 that day 3117 was turned 1961 to mourning 60 for all 3605 the people 5971, for the people 5971 heard 8085 {it} said 559 that day 3117, "The king 4428 is grieved 6087 for his son 1121."
3 So the people 5971 went 935 by stealth 1589 into the city 5892 that day 3117, as people 5971 who are humiliated 3637 steal 1589 away 1589 when they flee 5127 in battle 4421.
4 The king 4428 covered 3813 his face 6440 and cried 2199 out with a loud 1419 voice 6963, "O my son 1121 Absalom 53, O Absalom 53, my son 1121, my son 1121!"
5 Then Joab 3097 came 935 into the house 1004 to the king 4428 and said 559, "Today 3117 you have covered 954 with shame 954 the faces 6440 of all 3605 your servants 5650, who today 3117 have saved 4422 your life 5315 and the lives 5315 of your sons 1121 and daughters 1323, the lives 5315 of your wives 802, and the lives 5315 of your concubines 6370,
6 by loving 157 those who hate 8130 you, and by hating 8130 those who love 157 you. For you have shown 5046 today 3117 that princes 8269 and servants 5650 are nothing 369 to you; for I know 3045 this day 3117 that if 3863 Absalom 53 were alive 2416 and all 3605 of us were dead 4191 today 3117, then 227 you would be pleased.
7 "Now 6258 therefore arise 6965, go 3318 out and speak 1696 kindly 3820 to your servants 5650, for I swear 7650 by the LORD 3068, if 3588 you do not go 3318 out, surely 518 not a man 376 will pass 3885 the night 3915 with you, and this 2088 will be worse 7489 for you than 4480 all 3605 the evil 7463 that has come 935 upon you from your youth 5271 until 5704 now 6258."
8

David Restored as King

So the king 4428 arose 6965 and sat 3427 in the gate 8179. When they told 5046 all 3605 the people 5971, saying 559, "Behold 2009, the king 4428 is sitting 3427 in the gate 8179," then all 3605 the people 5971 came 935 before 6440 the king 4428.
9 ¶ All 3605 the people 5971 were quarreling 1777 throughout all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, saying 559, "The king 4428 delivered 5337 us from the hand 3709 of our enemies 340 and saved 4422 us from the hand 3709 of the Philistines 6430, but now 6258 he has fled 1272 out of the land 776 from Absalom 53.
10 "However, Absalom 53, whom 834 we anointed 4886 over 5921 us, has died 4191 in battle 4421. Now 6258 then, why 4100 are you silent 2790 about bringing 7725 the king 4428 back 7725?"
11 ¶ Then King 4428 David 1732 sent 7971 to Zadok 6659 and Abiathar 54 the priests 3548, saying 559, "Speak 1696 to the elders 2205 of Judah 3063, saying 559, 'Why 4100 are you the last 314 to bring 7725 the king 4428 back 7725 to his house 1004, since the word 1697 of all 3605 Israel 3478 has come 935 to the king 4428, {even} to his house 1004?
12 'You are my brothers 251; you are my bone 6106 and my flesh 1320. Why 4100 then should you be the last 314 to bring 7725 back 7725 the king 4428?'
13 "Say 559 to Amasa 6021, 'Are you not my bone 6106 and my flesh 1320? May God 430 do 6213 so 3541 to me, and more 3254 also 3541, if 518 you will not be commander 8269 of the army 6635 before 6440 me continually in place 8478 of Joab 3097.'"
14 Thus he turned 5186 the hearts 3824 of all 3605 the men 376 of Judah 3063 as one 259 man 376, so that they sent 7971 {word} to the king 4428, {saying,} "Return 7725, you and all 3605 your servants 5650."
15 The king 4428 then returned 7725 and came 935 as far 5704 as the Jordan 3383. And Judah 3063 came 935 to Gilgal 1537 in order to go 1980 to meet 7122 the king 4428, to bring 5674 the king 4428 across 5674 the Jordan 3383.
16 ¶ Then Shimei 8096 the son 1121 of Gera 1617, the Benjamite 1145 who 834 was from Bahurim 980, hurried 4116 and came 3381 down 3381 with the men 376 of Judah 3063 to meet 7122 King 4428 David 1732.
17 There were a thousand 505 men 376 of Benjamin 1144 with him, with Ziba 6717 the servant 5288 of the house 1004 of Saul 7586, and his fifteen sons 1121 and his twenty 6242 servants 5650 with him; and they rushed 6743 to the Jordan 3383 before 6440 the king 4428.
18 Then they kept crossing 5674 the ford 5679 to bring 5674 over 5674 the king's 4428 household 1004, and to do 6213 what 2896 was good 2896 in his sight 5869. And Shimei 8096 the son 1121 of Gera 1617 fell 5307 down 5307 before 6440 the king 4428 as he was about to cross 5674 the Jordan 3383.
19 So he said 559 to the king 4428, "Let not my lord 113 consider 2803 me guilty 5771, nor 408 remember 2142 what 834 your servant 5650 did 5753 wrong 5753 on the day 3117 when 834 my lord 113 the king 4428 came 3318 out from Jerusalem 3389, so that the king 4428 would take 7760 {it} to heart 3820.
20 "For your servant 5650 knows 3045 that I have sinned 2398; therefore behold 2009, I have come 935 today 3117, the first 7223 of all 3605 the house 1004 of Joseph 3130 to go 3381 down 3381 to meet 7122 my lord 113 the king 4428."
21 But Abishai 52 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 said 559, "Should not Shimei 8096 be put 4191 to death 4191 for this 2088, because 3588 he cursed 7043 the LORD'S 3068 anointed 4899?"
22 David 1732 then said 559, "What 4100 have I to do with you, O sons 1121 of Zeruiah 6870, that you should this day 3117 be an adversary 7854 to me? Should any 376 man 376 be put 4191 to death 4191 in Israel 3478 today 3117? For do I not know 3045 that I am king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478 today 3117?"
23 The king 4428 said 559 to Shimei 8096, "You shall not die 4191." Thus the king 4428 swore 7650 to him.
24 ¶ Then Mephibosheth 4648 the son 1121 of Saul 7586 came 3381 down 3381 to meet 7122 the king 4428; and he had neither 3808 cared 6213 for his feet 7272, nor 3808 trimmed 6213 his mustache 8222, nor 3808 washed 3526 his clothes 899, from the day 3117 the king 4428 departed 1980 until 5704 the day 3117 he came 935 {home} in peace 7965.
25 It was when 3588 he came 935 from Jerusalem 3389 to meet 7122 the king 4428, that the king 4428 said 559 to him, "Why 4100 did you not go 1980 with me, Mephibosheth 4648?"
26 So he answered 559, "O my lord 113, the king 4428, my servant 5650 deceived 7411 me; for your servant 5650 said 559, 'I will saddle 2280 a donkey 2543 for myself that I may ride 7392 on it and go 1980 with the king 4428,' because 3588 your servant 5650 is lame 6455.
27 "Moreover, he has slandered 7270 your servant 5650 to my lord 113 the king 4428; but my lord 113 the king 4428 is like the angel 4397 of God 430, therefore do 6213 what 2896 is good 2896 in your sight 5869.
28 "For all 3605 my father's 1 household 1004 was nothing 3808 but dead 4194 men 376 before my lord 113 the king 4428; yet you set 7896 your servant 5650 among those who ate 398 at your own table 7979. What 4100 right 6666 do I have 3426 yet 5750 that I should complain 2199 anymore 5750 to the king 4428?"
29 So the king 4428 said 559 to him, "Why 4100 do you still 5750 speak 1696 of your affairs 1697? I have decided 559, 'You and Ziba 6717 shall divide 2505 the land 7704.'"
30 Mephibosheth 4648 said 559 to the king 4428, "Let him even 1571 take 3947 it all 3605, since my lord 113 the king 4428 has come 935 safely 7965 to his own house 1004."
31 ¶ Now Barzillai 1271 the Gileadite 1569 had come 3381 down 3381 from Rogelim 7274; and he went 5674 on to the Jordan 3383 with the king 4428 to escort 7971 him over the Jordan 3383.
32 Now Barzillai 1271 was very 3966 old 2204, being eighty 8084 years 8141 old 1121; and he had sustained 3557 the king 4428 while he stayed 7871 at Mahanaim 4266, for he was a very 3966 great 1419 man 376.
33 The king 4428 said 559 to Barzillai 1271, "You cross 5674 over 5674 with me and I will sustain 3557 you in Jerusalem 3389 with me."
34 But Barzillai 1271 said 559 to the king 4428, "How 4100 long 4100 have I yet to live 2425, that I should go 5927 up with the king 4428 to Jerusalem 3389?
35 "I am now 3117 eighty 8084 years 8141 old 1121. Can I distinguish 3045 between 996 good 2896 and bad 7451? Or 518 can your servant 5650 taste 2938 what 834 I eat 398 or what 834 I drink 8354? Or 518 can I hear 8085 anymore 5750 the voice 6963 of singing 7891 men and women? Why 4100 then should your servant 5650 be an added 5750 burden 4853 to my lord 113 the king 4428?
36 "Your servant 5650 would merely 4592 cross 5674 over 5674 the Jordan 3383 with the king 4428. Why 4100 should the king 4428 compensate 1580 me {with} this 2088 reward 1578?
37 "Please 4994 let your servant 5650 return 7725, that I may die 4191 in my own city 5892 near 5973 the grave 6913 of my father 1 and my mother 517. However, here 2009 is your servant 5650 Chimham 3643, let him cross 5674 over 5674 with my lord 113 the king 4428, and do 6213 for him what 834 is good 2895 in your sight 5869."
38 The king 4428 answered 559, "Chimham 3643 shall cross 5674 over 5674 with me, and I will do 6213 for him what 2896 is good 2896 in your sight 5869; and whatever you require 977 of me, I will do 6213 for you."
39 All 3605 the people 5971 crossed 5674 over 5674 the Jordan 3383 and the king 4428 crossed 5674 too. The king 4428 then kissed 5401 Barzillai 1271 and blessed 1288 him, and he returned 7725 to his place 4725.
40 ¶ Now the king 4428 went 5674 on to Gilgal 1537, and Chimham 3643 went 5674 on with him; and all 3605 the people 5971 of Judah 3063 and also 1571 half 2677 the people 5971 of Israel 3478 accompanied 5674 the king 4428.
41 And behold 2009, all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 came 935 to the king 4428 and said 559 to the king 4428, "Why 4069 had our brothers 251 the men 376 of Judah 3063 stolen 1589 you away 1589, and brought 5674 the king 4428 and his household 1004 and all 3605 David's 1732 men 376 with him over 5674 the Jordan 3383?"
42 Then all 3605 the men 376 of Judah 3063 answered 6030 the men 376 of Israel 3478, "Because 3588 the king 4428 is a close 7138 relative 7138 to us. Why 4100 then are you angry 2734 about 5921 this 2088 matter 1697? Have we eaten 398 at all 398 at the king's 4428 {expense,} or 518 has anything 5375 been taken 5375 for us?"
43 But the men 376 of Israel 3478 answered 6030 the men 376 of Judah 3063 and said 559, "We have ten 6235 parts 3027 in the king 4428, therefore we also 1571 have more 4480 {claim} on David 1732 than 4480 you. Why 4069 then did you treat 7043 us with contempt 7043? Was it not our advice 1697 first 7223 to bring 7725 back 7725 our king 4428?" Yet the words 1697 of the men 376 of Judah 3063 were harsher 7185 than 4480 the words 1697 of the men 376 of Israel 3478.

Chapter 20


1

Sheba's Revolt

Now a worthless 1100 fellow 376 happened 7122 to be there 8033 whose name 8034 was Sheba 7652, the son 1121 of Bichri 1075, a Benjamite; and he blew 8628 the trumpet 7782 and said 559, "We have 369 no 369 portion 2506 in David 1732, Nor 3808 do we have inheritance 5159 in the son 1121 of Jesse 3448; Every 376 man 376 to his tents 168, O Israel 3478!"
2 So all 3605 the men 376 of Israel 3478 withdrew 5927 from following 310 David 1732 {and} followed 310 Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075; but the men 376 of Judah 3063 remained 1692 steadfast 1692 to their king 4428, from the Jordan 3383 even to Jerusalem 3389.
3 ¶ Then David 1732 came 935 to his house 1004 at Jerusalem 3389, and the king 4428 took 3947 the ten 6235 women 802, the concubines 6370 whom 834 he had left 5117 to keep 8104 the house 1004, and placed 5414 them under guard and provided 3557 them with sustenance 3557, but did not go 935 in to them. So they were shut 6887 up until 5704 the day 3117 of their death 4191, living 2424 as widows 491.
4 ¶ Then the king 4428 said 559 to Amasa 6021, "Call 2199 out the men 376 of Judah 3063 for me within three 7969 days 3117, and be present 5975 here 6311 yourself 859."
5 So Amasa 6021 went 1980 to call 2199 out {the men of} Judah 3063, but he delayed 309 longer than 4480 the set 4150 time 4150 which 834 he had appointed 3259 him.
6 And David 1732 said 559 to Abishai 52, "Now 6258 Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075 will do 7489 us more 4480 harm 7489 than 4480 Absalom 53; take 3947 your lord's 113 servants 5650 and pursue 7291 him, so 6435 that he does not find 4672 for himself fortified 1219 cities 5892 and escape 5337 from our sight 5869."
7 So Joab's 3097 men 376 went 3318 out after 310 him, along with the Cherethites 3774 and the Pelethites 6432 and all 3605 the mighty 1368 men 1368; and they went 3318 out from Jerusalem 3389 to pursue 7291 Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075.
8 When they were at the large 1419 stone 68 which 834 is in Gibeon 1391, Amasa 6021 came 935 to meet 6440 them. Now Joab 3097 was dressed in his military attire, and over 5921 it was a belt 2290 with a sword 2719 in its sheath 8593 fastened 6775 at his waist 4975; and as he went 3318 forward 3318, it fell 5307 out.
9 Joab 3097 said 559 to Amasa 6021, "Is it well 7965 with you, my brother 251?" And Joab 3097 took 270 Amasa 6021 by the beard 2206 with his right 3225 hand 3027 to kiss 5401 him.
10

Amasa Murdered

But Amasa 6021 was not on guard 8104 against the sword 2719 which 834 was in Joab's 3097 hand 3027 so he struck 5221 him in the belly 2570 with it and poured 8210 out his inward 4578 parts 4578 on the ground 776, and did not {strike} him again 8138, and he died 4191. Then Joab 3097 and Abishai 52 his brother 251 pursued 7291 Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075.
11 Now there stood 5975 by him one 376 of Joab's 3097 young 5288 men 5288, and said 559, "Whoever favors 2654 Joab 3097 and whoever is for David 1732, {let him} follow 310 Joab 3097."
12 But Amasa 6021 lay 1556 wallowing 1556 in {his} blood 1818 in the middle 8432 of the highway 4546. And when the man 376 saw 7200 that all 3605 the people 5971 stood 5975 still 5975, he removed 5437 Amasa 6021 from the highway 4546 into the field 7704 and threw 7993 a garment 899 over 5921 him when 3512 he saw 7200 that everyone 3605 who came 935 by him stood 5975 still 5975.
13

Revolt Put Down

As soon 3512 as he was removed 3014 from the highway 4546, all 3605 the men 376 passed 5674 on after 310 Joab 3097 to pursue 7291 Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075.
14 ¶ Now he went 5674 through 5674 all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478 to Abel 59, even Beth-maacah 1038, and all 3605 the Berites 1276; and they were gathered 6950 together and also 637 went 935 after 310 him.
15 They came 935 and besieged him in Abel 62 Beth-maacah 1038, and they cast 8210 up a siege 5550 ramp 5550 against 413 the city 5892, and it stood 5975 by the rampart 2426; and all 3605 the people 5971 who 834 were with Joab 3097 were wreaking 7843 destruction 7843 in order to topple 5307 the wall 2346.
16 Then a wise 2450 woman 802 called 7121 from the city 5892, "Hear 8085, hear 8085! Please 4994 tell 559 Joab 3097, 'Come 7126 here that I may speak 1696 with you.'"
17 So he approached 7126 her, and the woman 802 said 559, "Are you Joab 3097?" And he answered 559, "I am." Then she said 559 to him, "Listen 8085 to the words 1697 of your maidservant 519." And he answered 559, "I am listening 8085."
18 Then she spoke 559, saying 559, "Formerly 7223 they used to say 559, 'They will surely 7592 ask 7592 {advice} at Abel 59,' and thus 3651 they ended 8552 {the dispute.}
19 "I am of those who are peaceable 7999 {and} faithful 539 in Israel 3478. You are seeking 1245 to destroy 4191 a city 5892, even a mother 517 in Israel 3478. Why 4100 would you swallow 1104 up the inheritance 5159 of the LORD 3068?"
20 Joab 3097 replied 6030, "Far 2486 be it, far 2486 be it from me that I should swallow 1104 up or destroy 7843!
21 "Such 3651 is not the case 1697. But a man 376 from the hill 2022 country 2022 of Ephraim 669, Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075 by name 8034, has lifted 5375 up his hand 3027 against King 4428 David 1732. Only 905 hand 5414 him over 5414, and I will depart 1980 from the city 5892." And the woman 802 said 559 to Joab 3097, "Behold 2009, his head 7218 will be thrown 7993 to you over 1157 the wall 2346."
22 Then the woman 802 wisely 2451 came 935 to all 3605 the people 5971. And they cut 3772 off 3772 the head 7218 of Sheba 7652 the son 1121 of Bichri 1075 and threw 7993 it to Joab 3097. So he blew 8628 the trumpet 7782, and they were dispersed 6327 from the city 5892, each 376 to his tent 168. Joab 3097 also returned 7725 to the king 4428 at Jerusalem 3389.
23 ¶ Now Joab 3097 was over 413 the whole 3605 army 6635 of Israel 3478, and Benaiah 1141 the son 1121 of Jehoiada 3077 was over 5921 the Cherethites 3774 and the Pelethites 6432;
24 and Adoram 151 was over 5921 the forced 4522 labor 4522, and Jehoshaphat 3092 the son 1121 of Ahilud 286 was the recorder 2142;
25 and Sheva 7724 was scribe 5613, and Zadok 6659 and Abiathar 54 were priests 3548;
26 and Ira 5896 the Jairite 2972 was also 1571 a priest 3548 to David 1732.

Chapter 21


1

Gibeonite Revenge

Now there was a famine 7458 in the days 3117 of David 1732 for three 7969 years 8141, year 8141 after 310 year 8141; and David 1732 sought 1245 the presence 6440 of the LORD 3068. And the LORD 3068 said 559, "It is for Saul 7586 and his bloody 1818 house 1004, because he put 4191 the Gibeonites 1393 to death 4191."
2 So the king 4428 called 7121 the Gibeonites 1393 and spoke 559 to them (now the Gibeonites 1393 were not of the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 but of the remnant 3499 of the Amorites 567, and the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 made 7650 a covenant 7650 with them, but Saul 7586 had sought 1245 to kill 5221 them in his zeal 7065 for the sons 1121 of Israel 3478 and Judah 3063).
3 Thus David 1732 said 559 to the Gibeonites 1393, "What 4100 should I do 6213 for you? And how 4100 can I make 3722 atonement 3722 that you may bless 1288 the inheritance 5159 of the LORD 3068?"
4 Then the Gibeonites 1393 said 559 to him, "We have 369 no 369 {concern} of silver 3701 or gold 2091 with Saul 7586 or his house 1004, nor 369 is it for us to put 4191 any 376 man 376 to death 4191 in Israel 3478." And he said 559, "I will do 6213 for you whatever 4100 you say 559."
5 So they said 559 to the king 4428, "The man 376 who 834 consumed 3615 us and who 834 planned 1819 to exterminate 8045 us from remaining 3320 within any 3605 border 1366 of Israel 3478,
6 let seven 7651 men 376 from his sons 1121 be given 5414 to us, and we will hang 3363 them before the LORD 3068 in Gibeah 1390 of Saul 7586, the chosen 972 of the LORD 3068." And the king 4428 said 559, "I will give 5414 {them.}"
7 ¶ But the king 4428 spared 2550 Mephibosheth 4648, the son 1121 of Jonathan 3083 the son 1121 of Saul 7586, because 5921 of the oath 7621 of the LORD 3068 which 834 was between 996 them, between 996 David 1732 and Saul's 7586 son 1121 Jonathan 3083.
8 So the king 4428 took 3947 the two 8147 sons 1121 of Rizpah 7532 the daughter 1323 of Aiah 345, Armoni 764 and Mephibosheth 4648 whom 834 she had borne 3205 to Saul 7586, and the five 2568 sons 1121 of Merab 4764 the daughter 1323 of Saul 7586, whom 834 she had borne 3205 to Adriel 5741 the son 1121 of Barzillai 1271 the Meholathite 4259.
9 Then he gave 5414 them into the hands 3027 of the Gibeonites 1393, and they hanged 3363 them in the mountain 2022 before 6440 the LORD 3068, so that the seven 7651 of them fell 5307 together 3162; and they were put 4191 to death 4191 in the first 7223 days 3117 of harvest 7105 at the beginning 8462 of barley 8184 harvest 7105.
10 ¶ And Rizpah 7532 the daughter 1323 of Aiah 345 took 3947 sackcloth 8242 and spread 5186 it for herself on the rock 6697, from the beginning 8462 of harvest 7105 until 5704 it rained 5413 on them from the sky 8064; and she allowed 5414 neither 3808 the birds 5775 of the sky 8064 to rest 5117 on them by day 3119 nor 3808 the beasts 2421 of the field 7704 by night 3915.
11 When it was told 5046 David 1732 what 834 Rizpah 7532 the daughter 1323 of Aiah 345, the concubine 6370 of Saul 7586, had done 6213,
12 then David 1732 went 1980 and took 3947 the bones 6106 of Saul 7586 and the bones 6106 of Jonathan 3083 his son 1121 from the men 1167 of Jabesh-gilead, who 834 had stolen 1589 them from the open 7339 square 7339 of Beth-shan 1052, where the Philistines 6430 had hanged 8518 them on the day 3117 the Philistines 6430 struck 5221 down 5221 Saul 7586 in Gilboa 1533.
13 He brought 5927 up the bones 6106 of Saul 7586 and the bones 6106 of Jonathan 3083 his son 1121 from there 8033, and they gathered 622 the bones 6106 of those who had been hanged 3363.
14 They buried 6912 the bones 6106 of Saul 7586 and Jonathan 3083 his son 1121 in the country 776 of Benjamin 1144 in Zela 6762, in the grave 6913 of Kish 7027 his father 1; thus they did 6213 all 3605 that the king 4428 commanded 6680, and after 310 that God 430 was moved 6279 by prayer 6279 for the land 776.
15 ¶ Now when the Philistines 6430 were at war 4421 again 5750 with Israel 3478, David 1732 went 3381 down 3381 and his servants 5650 with him; and as they fought 3898 against 854 the Philistines 6430, David 1732 became 5888 weary 5888.
16 Then Ishbi-benob 3430, who 834 was among the descendants 3211 of the giant 7498, the weight 4948 of whose spear 7013 was three 7969 hundred 3967 {shekels} of bronze 5178 in weight 4948, was girded 2296 with a new 2319 {sword,} and he intended 559 to kill 5221 David 1732.
17 But Abishai 52 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870 helped 5826 him, and struck 5221 the Philistine 6430 and killed 4191 him. Then 227 the men 376 of David 1732 swore 7650 to him, saying 559, "You shall not go 3318 out again 5750 with us to battle 4421, so 3808 that you do not extinguish 3518 the lamp 5216 of Israel 3478."
18 ¶ Now it came 1961 about after 310 this 3651 that there was war 4421 again 5750 with the Philistines 6430 at Gob 1359; then 227 Sibbecai 5444 the Hushathite 2843 struck 5221 down 5221 Saph 5593, who 834 was among the descendants 3211 of the giant 7498.
19 There was war 4421 with the Philistines 6430 again 5750 at Gob 1359, and Elhanan 445 the son 1121 of Jaare-oregim 3296 the Bethlehemite 1022 killed 5221 Goliath 1555 the Gittite 1663, the shaft 6086 of whose spear 2595 was like a weaver's 707 beam 4500.
20 There was war 4421 at Gath 1661 again 5750, where there was a man 376 of {great} stature 4055 who had six 8337 fingers 676 on each hand 3027 and six 8337 toes 676 on each foot 7272, twenty-four in number 4557; and he also 1571 had been born 3205 to the giant 7498.
21 When he defied 2778 Israel 3478, Jonathan 3083 the son 1121 of Shimei 8096, David's 1732 brother 251, struck 5221 him down 5221.
22 These 428 four 702 were born 3205 to the giant 7498 in Gath 1661, and they fell 5307 by the hand 3027 of David 1732 and by the hand 3027 of his servants 5650.

Chapter 22


1

David's Psalm of Deliverance

And David 1732 spoke 1696 the words 1697 of this 2088 song 7892 to the LORD 3068 in the day 3117 that the LORD 3068 delivered 5337 him from the hand 3709 of all 3605 his enemies 340 and from the hand 3709 of Saul 7586.
2 He said 559, "The LORD 3068 is my rock 5553 and my fortress 4686 and my deliverer 6403;
3 My God 430, my rock 6697, in whom I take 2620 refuge 2620, My shield 4043 and the horn 7161 of my salvation 3468, my stronghold 4869 and my refuge 4498; My savior 3467, You save 3467 me from violence 2555.
4 "I call 7121 upon the LORD 3068, who is worthy to be praised 1984, And I am saved 3467 from my enemies 340.
5 "For the waves 4867 of death 4194 encompassed 661 me; The torrents 5158 of destruction 1100 overwhelmed 1204 me;
6 The cords 2256 of Sheol 7585 surrounded 5437 me; The snares 4170 of death 4194 confronted 6923 me.
7 "In my distress 6862 I called 7121 upon the LORD 3068, Yes, I cried 7121 to my God 430; And from His temple 1964 He heard 8085 my voice 6963, And my cry 7775 for help 7775 {came} into His ears 241.
8 "Then the earth 776 shook 1607 and quaked 7493, The foundations 4144 of heaven 8064 were trembling 7264 And were shaken 1607, because 3588 He was angry 2734.
9 "Smoke 6227 went 5927 up out of His nostrils 639, Fire 784 from His mouth 6310 devoured 398; Coals 1513 were kindled 1197 by it.
10 "He bowed 5186 the heavens 8064 also, and came 3381 down 3381 With thick 6205 darkness 6205 under 8478 His feet 7272.
11 "And He rode 7392 on a cherub 3742 and flew 5774; And He appeared 7200 on the wings 3671 of the wind 7307.
12 "And He made 7896 darkness 2822 canopies 5521 around 5439 Him, A mass 2841 of waters 4325, thick 5645 clouds 5645 of the sky 7834.
13 "From the brightness 5051 before 5048 Him Coals 1513 of fire 784 were kindled 1197.
14 "The LORD 3068 thundered 7481 from heaven 8064, And the Most 5945 High 5945 uttered 5414 His voice 6963.
15 "And He sent 7971 out arrows 2671, and scattered 6327 them, Lightning 1300, and routed 2000 them.
16 "Then the channels 650 of the sea 3220 appeared 7200, The foundations 4144 of the world 8398 were laid 1540 bare 1540 By the rebuke 1606 of the LORD 3068, At the blast 5397 of the breath 7307 of His nostrils 639.
17 "He sent 7971 from on high 4791, He took 3947 me; He drew 4871 me out of many 7227 waters 4325.
18 "He delivered 5337 me from my strong 5794 enemy 340, From those who hated 8130 me, for they were too 4480 strong 553 for me.
19 "They confronted 6923 me in the day 3117 of my calamity 343, But the LORD 3068 was my support 4937.
20 "He also brought 3318 me forth 3318 into a broad 4800 place 4800; He rescued 2502 me, because 3588 He delighted 2654 in me.
21 "The LORD 3068 has rewarded 1580 me according to my righteousness 6666; According to the cleanness 1252 of my hands 3027 He has recompensed 7725 me.
22 "For I have kept 8104 the ways 1870 of the LORD 3068, And have not acted 7561 wickedly 7561 against 4480 my God 430.
23 "For all 3605 His ordinances 4941 {were} before 5048 me, And {as for} His statutes 2708, I did not depart 5493 from them.
24 "I was also blameless 8549 toward Him, And I kept 8104 myself from my iniquity 5771.
25 "Therefore the LORD 3068 has recompensed 7725 me according to my righteousness 6666, According to my cleanness 1252 before 5048 His eyes 5869.
26 "With the kind 2623 You show 2616 Yourself kind 2616, With the blameless 8549 You show 8552 Yourself blameless 8552;
27 With the pure 1305 You show 1305 Yourself pure 1305, And with the perverted 6141 You show 6617 Yourself astute 6617.
28 "And You save 3467 an afflicted 6041 people 5971; But Your eyes 5869 are on the haughty 7311 {whom} You abase 8213.
29 "For You are my lamp 5216, O LORD 3068; And the LORD 3068 illumines 5050 my darkness 2822.
30 "For by You I can run 7323 upon a troop 1416; By my God 430 I can leap 1801 over a wall 7791.
31 "As for God 410, His way 1870 is blameless 8549; The word 565 of the LORD 3068 is tested 6884; He is a shield 4043 to all 3605 who take 2620 refuge 2620 in Him.
32 "For who 4310 is God 410, besides 1107 the LORD 3068? And who 4310 is a rock 6697, besides 1107 our God 430?
33 "God 410 is my strong 2428 fortress 4581; And He sets 5425 the blameless 8549 in His way 1870.
34 "He makes 7737 my feet 7272 like hinds' 355 {feet,} And sets 5975 me on my high 1116 places 1116.
35 "He trains 3925 my hands 3027 for battle 4421, So that my arms 2220 can bend 5181 a bow 7198 of bronze 5154.
36 "You have also given 5414 me the shield 4043 of Your salvation 3468, And Your help 6038 makes 7235 me great 7235.
37 "You enlarge 7337 my steps 6806 under 8478 me, And my feet 7166 have not slipped 4571.
38 "I pursued 7291 my enemies 340 and destroyed 8045 them, And I did not turn 7725 back 7725 until 5704 they were consumed 3615.
39 "And I have devoured 3615 them and shattered 4272 them, so that they did not rise 6965; And they fell 5307 under 8478 my feet 7272.
40 "For You have girded 247 me with strength 2428 for battle 4421; You have subdued 3766 under 8478 me those who rose 6965 up against me.
41 "You have also made 5414 my enemies 340 turn 5414 {their} backs 6203 to me, And I destroyed 6789 those who hated 8130 me.
42 "They looked 8159, but there 369 was none 369 to save 3467; {Even} to the LORD 3068, but He did not answer 6030 them.
43 "Then I pulverized 7833 them as the dust 6083 of the earth 776; I crushed 1854 {and} stamped 7554 them as the mire 2916 of the streets 2351.
44 "You have also delivered 6403 me from the contentions 7379 of my people 5971; You have kept 8104 me as head 7218 of the nations 1471; A people 5971 whom I have not known 3045 serve 5647 me.
45 "Foreigners pretend 3584 obedience 3584 to me; As soon as they hear, they obey 8085 me.
46 "Foreigners lose 5034 heart 5034, And come 2296 trembling 2296 out of their fortresses 4526.
47 "The LORD 3068 lives 2416, and blessed 1288 be my rock 6697; And exalted 7311 be God 430, the rock 6697 of my salvation 3468,
48 The God 410 who executes 5414 vengeance 5360 for me, And brings 3381 down 3381 peoples 5971 under 8478 me,
49 Who also brings 3381 me out from my enemies 340; You even lift 7311 me above 4480 those who rise 6965 up against me; You rescue 5337 me from the violent 2555 man 376.
50 "Therefore I will give 3034 thanks 3034 to You, O LORD 3068, among the nations 1471, And I will sing 2167 praises 2167 to Your name 8034.
51 "{He} is a tower 4023 of deliverance 3444 to His king 4428, And shows 6213 lovingkindness 2617 to His anointed 4899, To David 1732 and his descendants 2233 forever."

Chapter 23


1

David's Last Song

Now these 428 are the last 314 words 1697 of David 1732. David 1732 the son 1121 of Jesse 3448 declares 5002, The man 1397 who was raised 6965 on high 5920 declares 5002, The anointed 4899 of the God 430 of Jacob 3290, And the sweet 5273 psalmist 2158 of Israel 3478,
2 "The Spirit 7307 of the LORD 3068 spoke 1696 by me, And His word 4405 was on my tongue 3956.
3 "The God 430 of Israel 3478 said 559, The Rock 6697 of Israel 3478 spoke 1696 to me, 'He who rules 4910 over men 120 righteously 6662, Who rules 4910 in the fear 3374 of God 430,
4 Is as the light 216 of the morning 1242 {when} the sun 8121 rises 2224, A morning 1242 without 3808 clouds 5645, {When} the tender 1877 grass 1877 {springs} out of the earth 776, Through 4480 sunshine 5051 after 4480 rain 4306.'
5 "Truly 3588 is not my house 1004 so 3651 with God 410? For He has made 7760 an everlasting 5769 covenant 1285 with me, Ordered 6186 in all 3605 things 3605, and secured 8104; For all 3605 my salvation 3468 and all 3605 {my} desire 2656, Will He not indeed 3588 make {it} grow 6779?
6 "But the worthless 1100, every 3605 one 3605 of them will be thrust 5074 away 5074 like thorns 6975, Because 3588 they cannot 3808 be taken 3947 in hand 3027;
7 But the man 376 who touches 5060 them Must be armed 4390 with iron 1270 and the shaft 6086 of a spear 2595, And they will be completely 8313 burned 8313 with fire 784 in {their} place 7675."
8

His Mighty Men

These 428 are the names 8034 of the mighty 1368 men 1368 whom 834 David 1732 had: Josheb-basshebeth 3429 a Tahchemonite 8461, chief 7218 of the captains 7991, he was {called} Adino 5722 the Eznite 6112, because 5921 of eight 8083 hundred 3967 slain 2491 {by him} at one 259 time 6471;
9 and after 310 him was Eleazar 499 the son 1121 of Dodo 1734 the Ahohite 266, one of the three 7969 mighty 1368 men 1368 with David 1732 when they defied 2778 the Philistines 6430 who were gathered 622 there 8033 to battle 4421 and the men 376 of Israel 3478 had withdrawn 5927.
10 He arose 6965 and struck 5221 the Philistines 6430 until his hand 3027 was weary 3021 and clung 1692 to the sword 2719, and the LORD 3068 brought 6213 about 6213 a great 1419 victory 8668 that day 3117; and the people 5971 returned 7725 after 310 him only 389 to strip 6584 {the slain.}
11 ¶ Now after 310 him was Shammah 8048 the son 1121 of Agee 89 a Hararite 2043. And the Philistines 6430 were gathered 622 into a troop 2422 where 8033 there 8033 was a plot 2513 of ground 7704 full 4392 of lentils 5742, and the people 5971 fled 5127 from the Philistines 6430.
12 But he took 3320 his stand 3320 in the midst 8432 of the plot 2513, defended 5337 it and struck 5221 the Philistines 6430; and the LORD 3068 brought 6213 about 6213 a great 1419 victory 8668.
13 ¶ Then three 7969 of the thirty 7970 chief 7218 men 7218 went 3381 down 3381 and came 935 to David 1732 in the harvest 7105 time 7105 to the cave 4631 of Adullam 5725, while the troop 2422 of the Philistines 6430 was camping 2583 in the valley 6010 of Rephaim 7497.
14 David 1732 was then 227 in the stronghold 4686, while the garrison 4673 of the Philistines 6430 was then 227 in Bethlehem 1035.
15 David 1732 had 183 a craving 183 and said 559, "Oh 4310 that someone 4310 would give 8248 me water 4325 to drink 8248 from the well 877 of Bethlehem 1035 which 834 is by the gate 8179!"
16 So the three 7969 mighty 1368 men 1368 broke 1234 through 1234 the camp 4264 of the Philistines 6430, and drew 7579 water 4325 from the well 877 of Bethlehem 1035 which 834 was by the gate 8179, and took 5375 {it} and brought 935 {it} to David 1732. Nevertheless he would 14 not drink 8354 it, but poured 5258 it out to the LORD 3068;
17 and he said 559, "Be it far 2486 from me, O LORD 3068, that I should do 6213 this 2088. {Shall I drink} the blood 1818 of the men 376 who went 1980 in {jeopardy} of their lives 5315?" Therefore he would 14 not drink 8354 it. These 428 things 428 the three 7969 mighty 1368 men 1368 did 6213.
18 ¶ Abishai 52, the brother 251 of Joab 3097, the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870, was chief 7218 of the thirty 7992. And he swung 5782 his spear 2595 against 5921 three 7969 hundred 3967 and killed 2491 {them,} and had a name 8034 as well as the three 7969.
19 He was most 4480 honored 3513 of the thirty 7969, therefore he became 1961 their commander 8269; however, he did not attain 935 to the three 7969.
20 ¶ Then Benaiah 1141 the son 1121 of Jehoiada 3077, the son 1121 of a valiant 2428 man 376 of Kabzeel 6909, who had done mighty 7227 deeds 6467, killed 5221 the two 8147 {sons of} Ariel 739 of Moab 4124. He also went 3381 down 3381 and killed 5221 a lion 743 in the middle 8432 of a pit 877 on a snowy 7950 day 3117.
21 He killed 5221 an Egyptian 4713, an impressive 4758 man 376. Now the Egyptian 4713 {had} a spear 2595 in his hand 3027, but he went 3381 down 3381 to him with a club 7626 and snatched 1497 the spear 2595 from the Egyptian's 4713 hand 3027 and killed 2026 him with his own spear 2595.
22 These 428 {things} Benaiah 1141 the son 1121 of Jehoiada 3077 did 6213, and had a name 8034 as well as the three 7969 mighty 1368 men 1368.
23 He was honored 3513 among 4480 the thirty 7970, but he did not attain 935 to the three 7969. And David 1732 appointed 7760 him over 413 his guard 4928.
24 ¶ Asahel 6214 the brother 251 of Joab 3097 was among the thirty 7970; Elhanan 445 the son 1121 of Dodo 1734 of Bethlehem 1035,
25 Shammah 8048 the Harodite 2733, Elika 470 the Harodite 2733,
26 Helez 2503 the Paltite 6407, Ira 5896 the son 1121 of Ikkesh 6142 the Tekoite 8621,
27 Abiezer 44 the Anathothite 6069, Mebunnai 4012 the Hushathite 2843,
28 Zalmon 6756 the Ahohite 266, Maharai 4121 the Netophathite 5200,
29 Heleb 2460 the son 1121 of Baanah 1196 the Netophathite 5200, Ittai 863 the son 1121 of Ribai 7380 of Gibeah 1390 of the sons 1121 of Benjamin 1144,
30 Benaiah 1141 a Pirathonite 6553, Hiddai 1914 of the brooks 5158 of Gaash 1608,
31 Abi-albon 45 the Arbathite 6164, Azmaveth 5820 the Barhumite 978,
32 Eliahba 455 the Shaalbonite 8170, the sons 1121 of Jashen 3464, Jonathan 3083,
33 Shammah 8048 the Hararite 2043, Ahiam 279 the son 1121 of Sharar 8325 the Ararite 2043,
34 Eliphelet 467 the son 1121 of Ahasbai 308, the son 1121 of the Maacathite 4602, Eliam 463 the son 1121 of Ahithophel 302 the Gilonite 1526,
35 Hezro 2695 the Carmelite, Paarai 6474 the Arbite 701,
36 Igal 3008 the son 1121 of Nathan 5416 of Zobah 6678, Bani 1137 the Gadite 1425,
37 Zelek 6768 the Ammonite 5984, Naharai 5171 the Beerothite 886, armor 3627 bearers 5375 of Joab 3097 the son 1121 of Zeruiah 6870,
38 Ira 5896 the Ithrite 3505, Gareb 1619 the Ithrite 3505,
39 Uriah 223 the Hittite 2850; thirty-seven in all 3605.

Chapter 24


1

The Census Taken

Now again 3254 the anger 639 of the LORD 3068 burned 2734 against Israel 3478, and it incited 5496 David 1732 against them to say 559, "Go 1980, number 4487 Israel 3478 and Judah 3063."
2 The king 4428 said 559 to Joab 3097 the commander 8269 of the army 2428 who 834 was with him, "Go 7751 about 7751 now 4994 through all 3605 the tribes 7626 of Israel 3478, from Dan 1835 to Beersheba 884, and register 6485 the people 5971, that I may know 3045 the number 4557 of the people 5971."
3 But Joab 3097 said 559 to the king 4428, "Now may the LORD 3068 your God 430 add 3254 to the people 5971 a hundred 3967 times 6471 as many as they are, while the eyes 5869 of my lord 113 the king 4428 {still} see 7200; but why 4100 does my lord 113 the king 4428 delight 2654 in this 2088 thing 1697?"
4 Nevertheless, the king's 4428 word 1697 prevailed 2388 against 413 Joab 3097 and against 5921 the commanders 8269 of the army 2428. So Joab 3097 and the commanders 8269 of the army 2428 went 3318 out from the presence 6440 of the king 4428 to register 6485 the people 5971 of Israel 3478.
5 They crossed 5674 the Jordan 3383 and camped 2583 in Aroer 6177, on the right 3225 side 3225 of the city 5892 that is in the middle 8432 of the valley 5158 of Gad 1410 and toward 413 Jazer 3270.
6 Then they came 935 to Gilead 1568 and to the land 776 of Tahtim-hodshi 8483, and they came 935 to Dan-jaan 1842 and around 5439 to Sidon 6721,
7 and came 935 to the fortress 4013 of Tyre 6865 and to all 3605 the cities 5892 of the Hivites 2340 and of the Canaanites 3669, and they went 3318 out to the south 5045 of Judah 3063, {to} Beersheba 884.
8 So when they had gone 7751 about 7751 through the whole 3605 land 776, they came 935 to Jerusalem 3389 at the end 7097 of nine 8672 months 2320 and twenty 6242 days 3117.
9 And Joab 3097 gave 5414 the number 4557 of the registration 4662 of the people 5971 to the king 4428; and there were in Israel 3478 eight 8083 hundred 3967 thousand 505 valiant 2428 men 376 who drew 8025 the sword 2719, and the men 376 of Judah 3063 were five 2568 hundred 3967 thousand 505 men 376.
10 ¶ Now David's 1732 heart 3820 troubled 5221 him after he had numbered 5608 the people 5971. So David 1732 said 559 to the LORD 3068, "I have sinned 2398 greatly 3966 in what 834 I have done 6213. But now 6258, O LORD 3068, please 4994 take 5674 away 5674 the iniquity 5771 of Your servant 5650, for I have acted 5528 very 3966 foolishly 5528."
11 When David 1732 arose 6965 in the morning 1242, the word 1697 of the LORD 3068 came 1961 to the prophet 5030 Gad 1410, David's 1732 seer 2374, saying 559,
12 "Go 1980 and speak 1696 to David 1732, 'Thus 3541 the LORD 3068 says 559, "I am offering 5190 you three 7969 things 7969; choose 977 for yourself one 259 of them, which I will do 6213 to you."'"
13 So Gad 1410 came 935 to David 1732 and told 5046 him, and said 559 to him, "Shall seven 7651 years 8141 of famine 7458 come 935 to you in your land 776? Or 518 will you flee 5127 three 7969 months 2320 before 6440 your foes 6862 while they pursue 7291 you? Or shall there be three 7969 days' 3117 pestilence 1698 in your land 776? Now 6258 consider 3045 and see 7200 what 4100 answer 1697 I shall return 7725 to Him who sent 7971 me."
14 Then David 1732 said 559 to Gad 1410, "I am in great 3966 distress 6887. Let us now 4994 fall 5307 into the hand 3027 of the LORD 3068 for His mercies 7356 are great 7227, but do not let me fall 5307 into the hand 3027 of man 120."
15

Pestilence Sent

¶ So the LORD 3068 sent 5414 a pestilence 1698 upon Israel 3478 from the morning 1242 until 5704 the appointed 4150 time 6256, and seventy 7657 thousand 505 men 376 of the people 5971 from Dan 1835 to Beersheba 884 died 4191.
16 When the angel 4397 stretched 7971 out his hand 3027 toward Jerusalem 3389 to destroy 7843 it, the LORD 3068 relented 5162 from the calamity 7463 and said 559 to the angel 4397 who destroyed 7843 the people 5971, "It is enough 7227! Now 6258 relax 7503 your hand 3027!" And the angel 4397 of the LORD 3068 was by the threshing 1637 floor 1637 of Araunah 728 the Jebusite 2983.
17 Then David 1732 spoke 559 to the LORD 3068 when he saw 7200 the angel 4397 who was striking 5221 down 5221 the people 5971, and said 559, "Behold 2009, it is I who have sinned 2398, and it is I who have done 5753 wrong 5753; but these 428 sheep 6629, what 4100 have they done 6213? Please 4994 let Your hand 3027 be against me and against my father's 1 house 1004."
18

David Builds an Altar

¶ So Gad 1410 came 935 to David 1732 that day 3117 and said 559 to him, "Go 5927 up, erect 6965 an altar 4196 to the LORD 3068 on the threshing 1637 floor 1637 of Araunah 728 the Jebusite 2983."
19 David 1732 went 5927 up according to the word 1697 of Gad 1410, just 3512 as the LORD 3068 had commanded 6680.
20 Araunah 728 looked 8259 down 8259 and saw 7200 the king 4428 and his servants 5650 crossing 5674 over 5674 toward 5921 him; and Araunah 728 went 3318 out and bowed 7812 his face 639 to the ground 776 before the king 4428.
21 Then Araunah 728 said 559, "Why 4069 has my lord 113 the king 4428 come 935 to his servant 5650?" And David 1732 said 559, "To buy 7069 the threshing 1637 floor 1637 from you, in order to build 1129 an altar 4196 to the LORD 3068, that the plague 4046 may be held 6113 back 6113 from the people 5971."
22 Araunah 728 said 559 to David 1732, "Let my lord 113 the king 4428 take 3947 and offer 5927 up what 2896 is good 2896 in his sight 5869. Look 7200, the oxen 1241 for the burnt 5930 offering 5930, the threshing 4173 sledges 4173 and the yokes 3627 of the oxen 1241 for the wood 6086.
23 "Everything 3605, O king 4428, Araunah 728 gives 5414 to the king 4428." And Araunah 728 said 559 to the king 4428, "May the LORD 3068 your God 430 accept 7521 you."
24 However, the king 4428 said 559 to Araunah 728, "No 3808, but I will surely 7069 buy 7069 {it} from you for a price 4242, for I will not offer 5927 burnt 5930 offerings 5930 to the LORD 3068 my God 430 which 2600 cost 2600 me nothing 2600." So David 1732 bought 7069 the threshing 1637 floor 1637 and the oxen 1241 for fifty 2572 shekels 8255 of silver 3701.
25 David 1732 built 1129 there 8033 an altar 4196 to the LORD 3068 and offered 5927 burnt 5930 offerings 5930 and peace 8002 offerings 8002. Thus the LORD 3068 was moved 6279 by prayer 6279 for the land 776, and the plague 4046 was held 6113 back 6113 from Israel 3478.