II Samuel

Old Testament · 24 chapters · 695 verses.

Chapter 1

1:1And after the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
1:2And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp with his garments torn and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage.
1:3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
1:4Then David said to him, “What happened? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people fled from the battle, and many of the people also fell and died; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
1:5And David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
1:6And the young man who told him said, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and behold, the chariots and horsemen were overtaking him.
1:7And he turned and looked behind him, saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’
1:8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I said to him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
1:9Then he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and put me to death, for anguish has seized me, though all my life is still in me.’
1:10So I stood over him and put him to death, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
1:11Then David took hold of his garments and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
1:12And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
1:13Then David said to the young man who had told him, “Where are you from?” And he said, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.”
1:14And David said to him, “How were you not afraid to raise your hand to destroy the anointed of the LORD?”
1:15Then David called one of the young men and said, “Draw near and strike him.” And he struck him, and he died.
1:16And David said to him, “Your blood is upon your own head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I put to death the anointed of the LORD.’”
1:17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son.
1:18And he said that the sons of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” Behold, it is written in the Book of the Upright:
1:19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your heights. How the mighty have fallen!
1:20Do not tell it in Gath; do not proclaim the news in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
1:21Mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fields yielding offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
1:22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
1:23Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely in their lives, and in their death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.
1:24Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with delights, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
1:25How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your heights.
1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You were very dear to me; your love for me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
1:27How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

Chapter 2

2:1And afterward David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” And David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.”
2:2So David went up there, and also his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
2:3And David brought up the men who were with him, each man with his household, and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron.
2:4And the men of Judah came and anointed David there as king over the house of Judah. And David was told, “The men of Jabesh-Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
2:5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, “Blessed are you of the LORD, because you showed this steadfast love to your lord Saul by burying him.
2:6And now, may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. I also will do good to you, because you have done this thing.
2:7Now therefore, let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for your lord Saul is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
2:8But Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.
2:9And he made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel.
2:10Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
2:11And the time that David reigned in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
2:12Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
2:13And Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them together by the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool.
2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and fight before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
2:15So they arose and crossed over by number: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2:16And each man seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
2:17And the battle was very fierce that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David.
2:18Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. And Asahel was swift of foot, like one of the gazelles in the open field.
2:19And Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn aside to the right or to the left from following Abner.
2:20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I.”
2:21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
2:22And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to Joab your brother?”
2:23But he refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the butt of the spear, and the spear came out behind him. And he fell there and died where he was. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died stood still.
2:24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah by the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.
2:25And the sons of Benjamin gathered behind Abner, formed one band, and stood on the top of a certain hill.
2:26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long before you tell the people to turn back from pursuing their brothers?”
2:27And Joab said, “As God lives, had you not spoken, the people would not have withdrawn until morning, each man from pursuing his brother.”
2:28Then Joab blew the horn, and all the people stood still. They pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.
2:29And Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night, crossed the Jordan, passed through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
2:30Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner and gathered all the people; and nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel.
2:31But the servants of David had struck down three hundred and sixty men of Benjamin and Abner’s men.
2:32And they lifted up Asahel and buried him in his father’s burial place, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and day broke over them at Hebron.

Chapter 3

3:1And the war between the house of Saul and the house of David continued long. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
3:2And sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3:3his second was Chileab, by Abigail, wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third was Absalom, son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
3:4the fourth was Adonijah, son of Haggith; and the fifth was Shephatiah, son of Abital;
3:5and the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
3:6And while the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was growing strong within the house of Saul.
3:7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
3:8Then Abner was exceedingly angry over the words of Ish-Bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I have shown steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David; yet today you charge me with guilt concerning this woman.
3:9Thus may God do to Abner, and thus may He add to him, if I do not do for David as the LORD has sworn to him:
3:10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
3:11And Ish-Bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
3:12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
3:13And David said, “Good. I will make a covenant with you. Only one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”
3:14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give me back my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
3:15And Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish.
3:16And her husband went with her, weeping as he followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.
3:17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time you have sought David as king over you.
3:18Now therefore, do it; for the LORD has spoken concerning David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”
3:19And Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner went to speak in David’s hearing at Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
3:20So Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men were with him. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
3:21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
3:22And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
3:23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, they told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
3:24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why did you send him away, so that now he is gone?
3:25You know Abner son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to learn your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
3:26Then Joab went out from David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know.
3:27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately. There he struck him in the abdomen, and he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
3:28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner son of Ner.
3:29May it rest upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house. And may there never fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or one with a skin disease, or one who grasps a spindle, or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks bread.”
3:30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in battle at Gibeon.
3:31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your garments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.
3:32And they buried Abner at Hebron. The king lifted up his voice and wept at Abner’s grave, and all the people wept.
3:33And the king lamented over Abner and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
3:34Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put in fetters. As a man falls before wicked men, so you have fallen.” And all the people wept still more over him.
3:35Then all the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still day. But David swore, saying, “Thus may God do to me, and thus may He add, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”
3:36And all the people took note of it, and it was good in their sight. Indeed, everything the king did was good in the sight of all the people.
3:37So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not come from the king to put Abner son of Ner to death.
3:38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a ruler and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
3:39And today I am weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil.”

Chapter 4

4:1When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was alarmed.
4:2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands. The name of one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, from the sons of Benjamin, for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.
4:3The Beerothites had fled to Gittaim and remained there as sojourners to this day.
4:4Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report concerning Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse lifted him up and fled; and as she hastened to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
4:5Then Rechab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, went and came in the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Bosheth, while he was taking his rest at noon.
4:6They entered the midst of the house as though taking wheat, and struck him in the abdomen. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
4:7They entered the house while he lay on his bed in his inner chamber, struck him, and put him to death. They cut off his head, took it, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
4:8And they brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The LORD has given my lord the king vengeance this day upon Saul and his offspring.”
4:9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every distress,
4:10when one told me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought himself a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his good news.
4:11How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous man in his own house, upon his bed? And now, shall I not require his blood from your hand and purge you from the earth?”
4:12Then David commanded the young men, and they put them to death, cut off their hands and feet, and hung them beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner at Hebron.

Chapter 5

5:1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
5:2Formerly, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over Israel.’”
5:3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; and they anointed David king over Israel.
5:4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5:5At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
5:6Then the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And they said to David, “You shall not come in here unless you remove the blind and the lame,” thinking, “David shall not come in here.”
5:7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David.
5:8And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him reach the water shaft—and the lame and the blind, whom David hates.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
5:9Then David dwelt in the fortress and called it the City of David. And David built all around, from Millo inward.
5:10And David grew greater and greater, for the LORD, God of Hosts, was with him.
5:11Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, craftsmen in wood, and craftsmen in stone for walls; and they built a house for David.
5:12And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
5:13Then David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
5:14And these are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5:15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
5:16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
5:17When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it and went down to the fortress.
5:18Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
5:19Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will surely give the Philistines into your hand.”
5:20So David came to Ba‘al-Perazim, and David struck them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Ba‘al-Perazim.
5:21And they abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
5:22Then the Philistines came up again and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
5:23And David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the balsam trees.
5:24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then act swiftly, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
5:25And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

Chapter 6

6:1Then David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel—thirty thousand.
6:2And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Ba‘alah of Judah, to bring up from there the Ark of God, which is called by the Name—the Name of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned above the winged guardians.
6:3And they set the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.
6:4And they brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the Ark of God; and Ahio was walking before the Ark.
6:5And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of cypress-wood instruments—with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
6:6And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen had stumbled.
6:7Then the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverent act; and he died there beside the Ark of God.
6:8And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and that place has been called Perez-Uzzah to this day.
6:9And David feared the LORD that day and said, “How can the Ark of the LORD come to me?”
6:10So David was unwilling to bring the Ark of the LORD to himself in the City of David; but David turned it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
6:11And the Ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
6:12Then it was told to King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him because of the Ark of God.” So David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with joy.
6:13And when those carrying the Ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.
6:14And David was dancing with all his might before the LORD; and David was wearing a linen priestly vest.
6:15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of a horn.
6:16And as the Ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
6:17And they brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had spread for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
6:18And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD of Hosts.
6:19And he distributed to all the people, to the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each one a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
6:20Then David returned to bless his house. And Michal daughter of Saul went out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maidservants, as one of the worthless men shamelessly uncovers himself!”
6:21And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.
6:22And I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be low in my own eyes. But by the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be honored.”
6:23And Michal daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

Chapter 7

7:1And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house and the LORD had given him rest all around from all his enemies,
7:2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the Ark of God dwells within curtains.”
7:3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
7:4But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
7:5“Go and say to My servant David, Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build Me a house in which to dwell?
7:6For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the sons of Israel up from Egypt to this day, but I have moved about in a tent and in the Dwelling Place.
7:7In all the places where I have moved about among all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word to any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
7:8And now, thus you shall say to My servant David, Thus says the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people Israel.
7:9And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
7:10And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And wicked men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
7:11from the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. And I have given you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.
7:12When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
7:13He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
7:14I will be a Father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
7:15But My steadfast love shall not depart from him, as I caused it to depart from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
7:16And your house and your kingdom shall be established before you forever; your throne shall be established forever.”
7:17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
7:18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, Lord, the LORD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
7:19And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, Lord, the LORD; for You have also spoken concerning the house of Your servant for a far-off time. And this is the law for mankind, Lord, the LORD.
7:20And what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord, the LORD.
7:21For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, to make it known to Your servant.
7:22Therefore You are great, O LORD God; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
7:23And who is like Your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem as a people for Himself, to make for Himself a name, and to do great and fearsome things for Your land before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt—from nations and their gods?
7:24And You established Your people Israel for Yourself as Your people forever; and You, O LORD, became their God.
7:25And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, and do as You have spoken.
7:26And let Your Name be great forever, so that it may be said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel’; and let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
7:27For You, O LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found courage in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
7:28And now, Lord, the LORD, You Yourself are God, and Your words are truth; and You have spoken this good promise to Your servant.
7:29And now, be pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, Lord, the LORD, have spoken, and by Your blessing the house of Your servant shall be blessed forever.”

Chapter 8

8:1And afterward David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.
8:2And he struck Moab and measured the Moabites with a line, making them lie down on the ground. He measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
8:3David also struck Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his dominion at the Euphrates.
8:4And David captured from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses but spared enough for one hundred chariots.
8:5And when the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand Arameans.
8:6Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD saved David wherever he went.
8:7And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8:8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
8:9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer,
8:10Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his welfare and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, gold, and bronze.
8:11King David also consecrated these to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he had consecrated from all the nations he had subdued:
8:12from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
8:13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt.
8:14And he put garrisons throughout Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD saved David wherever he went.
8:15And David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.
8:16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder.
8:17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary.
8:18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials.

Chapter 9

9:1Then David said, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul, that I may show him steadfast love for Jonathan’s sake?”
9:2Now the house of Saul had a servant whose name was Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.”
9:3Then the king said, “Is there no one still left of the house of Saul, that I may show him the steadfast love of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”
9:4And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-Debar.”
9:5Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar.
9:6And Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and paid respect. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Behold, your servant.”
9:7Then David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you steadfast love for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you shall continually eat at my table.”
9:8And he bowed himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should turn toward a dead dog such as I?”
9:9Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson.
9:10And you shall work the land for him—you and your sons and your servants—and bring in its produce, that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, shall continually eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
9:11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” And Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.
9:12And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah; and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
9:13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he continually ate at the king’s table; and he was lame in both feet.

Chapter 10

10:1And afterward the king of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
10:2And David said, “I will show steadfast love to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father showed steadfast love to me.” So David sent his servants to comfort him concerning his father; and David’s servants came into the land of Ammon.
10:3But the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not sent his servants to search the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”
10:4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the hips, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
10:5When they told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown back; then return.”
10:6And when the Ammonites saw that they had become abhorrent to David, the Ammonites sent and hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah, the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and twelve thousand men from Tob.
10:7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army—the mighty men.
10:8Then the Ammonites came out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the gate; while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
10:9When Joab saw that the battle line was against him both before and behind, he chose men from all the choice men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.
10:10And the rest of the people he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites.
10:11And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall come to my aid; and if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your aid.
10:12Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
10:13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.
10:14And when the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
10:15And when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
10:16And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam; and Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, was before them.
10:17And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.
10:18Then the Arameans fled before Israel; and David slew seven hundred Aramean charioteers and forty thousand horsemen. He also struck Shobach, the commander of their army, and he died there.
10:19And when all the kings who served Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

Chapter 11

11:1And it came to pass, at the turn of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the Ammonites and laid siege to Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.
11:2And it came to pass toward evening, that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.
11:3Then David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
11:4Then David sent messengers and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. Now she had purified herself from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house.
11:5And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
11:6Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
11:7And when Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was, how the people were, and how the war was going.
11:8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out from the king’s house, and a present from the king followed him.
11:9But Uriah lay down at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
11:10And when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11:11And Uriah said to David, “The Ark, and Israel, and Judah dwell in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As you live and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
11:12Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you away.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
11:13And David called him, and he ate and drank before him; and David made him drunk. Then in the evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
11:14And in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
11:15And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Place Uriah at the front where the battle is fiercest, then withdraw from him, that he may be struck and die.”
11:16And as Joab watched the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men.
11:17Then the men of the city went out and fought with Joab, and some of the people, some of David’s servants, fell; and Uriah the Hittite also died.
11:18Then Joab sent and told David all the events of the war.
11:19And he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the king all the events of the war,
11:20if the king’s anger rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you draw so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
11:21Who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you draw so near to the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
11:22So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to say.
11:23And the messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us and came out against us into the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.
11:24Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants died; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
11:25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: Do not let this matter be evil in your sight, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your battle against the city and overthrow it. And encourage him.”
11:26And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
11:27And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house; and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Chapter 12

12:1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him, “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
12:2The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
12:3but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and kept alive. And it grew up with him and with his sons. It ate from his morsel, drank from his cup, and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
12:4Now a traveler came to the rich man, but he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. So he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
12:5Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.
12:6And he shall repay fourfold for the ewe lamb, because he did this thing and had no pity.”
12:7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man. Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
12:8And I gave you your lord’s house and your lord’s wives into your bosom, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this were too little, I would have added to you such and such things.
12:9Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, took his wife to be your wife, and killed him by the sword of the Ammonites.
12:10And now, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
12:11Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will raise up calamity against you from your own house. And before your eyes I will take your wives and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
12:12For you did it in secret, but I will do this thing before all Israel and in broad daylight.”
12:13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
12:14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have given the enemies of the LORD great cause to despise Him, the son who is born to you shall surely die.”
12:15Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD struck the child whom the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and he became gravely ill.
12:16And David sought God on behalf of the child; and David fasted, went in, and lay all night upon the ground.
12:17Then the elders of his house stood beside him to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor would he eat food with them.
12:18And on the seventh day the child died. And David’s servants feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we say to him, ‘The child is dead’? He may harm himself.”
12:19But David saw that his servants were whispering, and David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
12:20Then David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his garments. And he entered the house of the LORD and bowed himself. Then he went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
12:21Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
12:22And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
12:23But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I am going to him, but he shall not return to me.”
12:24Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him,
12:25and sent word through Nathan the prophet, who called his name Jedidiah for the LORD’s sake.
12:26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.
12:27And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have also captured the city of waters.
12:28And now, gather the rest of the people, encamp against the city, and capture it, lest I capture the city and it be called by my name.”
12:29So David gathered all the people, went to Rabbah, fought against it, and captured it.
12:30And he took the crown of their king from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was set upon David’s head. And he brought out a very great quantity of spoil from the city.
12:31And he brought out the people who were in it and put them under saws, iron cutting tools, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brick kiln. Thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 13

13:1And afterward Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar; and Amnon son of David loved her.
13:2And Amnon was so distressed because of Tamar his sister that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.
13:3But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, son of Shimea, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very cunning man.
13:4And he said to him, “Why are you so haggard, O son of the king, morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” And Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”
13:5Then Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat. Let her prepare the food before my eyes, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’”
13:6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make two cakes before my eyes, that I may eat from her hand.”
13:7Then David sent word to Tamar at the house, saying, “Go now to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare food for him.”
13:8So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, shaped cakes before his eyes, and cooked them.
13:9Then she took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him.
13:10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to Amnon her brother in the inner chamber.
13:11And when she brought them near to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
13:12But she said to him, “No, my brother; do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful folly.
13:13And I—where could I carry my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”
13:14But he would not listen to her voice; and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
13:15Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Rise, go.”
13:16But she said to him, “No, for this great evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me.” But he would not listen to her.
13:17Then he called his young servant and said, “Put this woman out from me, outside, and bolt the door after her.”
13:18Now she wore a long tunic, for with such robes the king’s virgin daughters clothed themselves. And his servant brought her outside and bolted the door after her.
13:19Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long tunic she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
13:20And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? And now, my sister, be silent; he is your brother. Do not set your heart upon this thing.” And Tamar dwelt desolate in the house of Absalom her brother.
13:21And when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
13:22And Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor evil, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated Tamar his sister.
13:23And after two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers at Ba‘al-Hazor, which is near Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
13:24And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
13:25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son; please let us not all go, lest we be a burden to you.” And though he urged him, he would not go, but blessed him.
13:26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
13:27But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him.
13:28And Absalom commanded his young men, saying, “Watch now: when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and be valiant.”
13:29So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
13:30And while they were on the way, the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck all the king’s sons, and not one of them remains.”
13:31Then the king arose, tore his garments, and lay on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their garments torn.
13:32But Jonadab son of Shimea, David’s brother, answered and said, “Do not let my lord suppose that they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons; for Amnon alone is dead. For this has been Absalom’s intent from the day Amnon violated Tamar his sister.
13:33And now, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, saying, ‘All the king’s sons are dead’; for Amnon alone is dead.”
13:34But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked; and behold, many people were coming by the road behind him, along the side of the hill.
13:35Then Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come. As the word of your servant, so it has come to pass.”
13:36And as he finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came. And they lifted up their voices and wept; and the king also, and all his servants, wept with a very great weeping.
13:37But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
13:38So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
13:39And King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

Chapter 14

14:1Now Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
14:2And Joab sent to Tekoah and brought from there a wise woman. And he said to her, “Please pretend to be in mourning. Put on garments of mourning, do not anoint yourself with oil, and be like a woman who has mourned for the dead these many days.
14:3Then go to the king and speak to him according to this word.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.
14:4Then the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, fell with her face to the ground, paid homage, and said, “Help, O king!”
14:5And the king said to her, “What is the matter?” And she said, “Truly, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
14:6And your maidservant had two sons. The two of them quarreled in the field, and there was no one to separate them; and one struck the other and put him to death.
14:7And behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Give up the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, and destroy the heir also.’ So they would quench the coal I have left, leaving my husband neither name nor remnant upon the face of the ground.”
14:8Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
14:9And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, “Let the guilt be upon me, my lord, O king, and upon my father’s house; but let the king and his throne be guiltless.”
14:10And the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you again.”
14:11Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, so that the avenger of blood may not continue to destroy and they may not destroy my son.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
14:12Then the woman said, “Please let your maidservant speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.”
14:13And the woman said, “Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word, the king is as one guilty, because the king does not bring back his own banished one.
14:14For we must surely die and are like water spilled upon the ground, which cannot be gathered again. Yet God does not take away life, but devises ways so that the banished one may not remain banished from Him.
14:15And now, I have come to speak this word to my lord the king because the people made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘Please let me speak to the king; perhaps the king will do what his maidservant asks.
14:16For the king will listen and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who seeks to destroy both me and my son from the inheritance of God.’
14:17Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like a messenger of God in discerning good and evil. And the LORD your God be with you.’”
14:18Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything I ask you.” And the woman said, “Please let my lord the king speak.”
14:19And the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As you live, my lord, O king, there is no turning to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.
14:20Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of the matter. And my lord is wise, with wisdom like that of a messenger of God, to know all that is in the land.”
14:21Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
14:22And Joab fell with his face to the ground, paid homage, and blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, because the king has granted the request of his servant.”
14:23Then Joab arose, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
14:24But the king said, “Let him turn aside to his own house, and let him not see my face.” So Absalom turned aside to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
14:25Now in all Israel there was no man so greatly praised for his beauty as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
14:26And when he shaved his head—at the end of every year he shaved it, because it was heavy upon him—he weighed the hair of his head: two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
14:27And three sons and one daughter were born to Absalom. Her name was Tamar, and she was a woman beautiful in appearance.
14:28And Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem two full years without seeing the king’s face.
14:29Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. And he sent again a second time, but Joab would not come.
14:30Then he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is beside mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
14:31Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
14:32And Absalom said to Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king to say, Why did I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to remain there.’ And now, let me see the king’s face; and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.”
14:33Then Joab came to the king and told him. And the king called for Absalom, and he came to the king and bowed himself with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

Chapter 15

15:1And afterward Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses, with fifty men to run before him.
15:2And Absalom rose early and stood beside the road to the gate. Whenever any man had a dispute to bring before the king for judgment, Absalom called to him and said, “From what city are you?” And he said, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”
15:3Then Absalom said to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no one appointed by the king to hear you.”
15:4And Absalom said, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who has a plea or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.”
15:5And when anyone drew near to bow himself to him, Absalom put out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.
15:6And Absalom did this to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
15:7And at the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and fulfill my vow which I vowed to the LORD in Hebron.
15:8For your servant vowed a vow while I dwelt in Geshur, in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’”
15:9And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
15:10Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the horn, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”
15:11And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who had been invited. They went in their innocence and knew nothing.
15:12And while he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, from Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom continually increased.
15:13Then a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”
15:14And David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “Rise, and let us flee, or there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry and go, lest he quickly overtake us, bring calamity upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15:15And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”
15:16Then the king went out, with all his household following him; but the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
15:17And the king went out, with all the people following him; and they stopped at the last house.
15:18And all his servants passed by at his side—all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath. They passed before the king.
15:19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
15:20You came only yesterday. Shall I make you wander with us today, when I am going wherever I may go? Return, and take your brothers back with you. Steadfast love and faithfulness be with you.”
15:21And Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.”
15:22Then David said to Ittai, “Go, and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over, with all his men and all the dependents who were with him.
15:23And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed over. And the king crossed the Brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.
15:24And behold, Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him, carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. And they set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city.
15:25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the Ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.
15:26But if He says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let Him do to me what is good in His sight.”
15:27And the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you a seer? Return to the city in peace, with your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan son of Abiathar—your two sons with you.
15:28See, I will wait at the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
15:29So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.
15:30And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered, and he went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.
15:31And it was told to David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
15:32And when David came to the summit, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him, with his robe torn and earth upon his head.
15:33And David said to him, “If you pass on with me, you will be a burden to me.
15:34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you shall defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
15:35And are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore, every word that you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
15:36Behold, their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar. By their hand you shall send me everything you hear.”
15:37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

Chapter 16

16:1And when David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys. On them were two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
16:2Then the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who grow weary in the wilderness to drink.”
16:3And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.’”
16:4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I bow myself. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”
16:5And when King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man from the family of the house of Saul came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he came out cursing as he came.
16:6And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, though all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.
16:7And thus Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out! Get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!
16:8The LORD has brought back upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of blood.”
16:9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me cross over and take off his head.”
16:10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse, for if the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
16:11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, who came from my body, seeks my life. How much more now this Benjamite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him.
16:12Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction, and the LORD will repay me with good for his curse this day.”
16:13So David and his men went on by the road, while Shimei went along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went, throwing stones beside him, and flinging dust.
16:14And the king and all the people who were with him arrived weary, and refreshed themselves there.
16:15Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16:16And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
16:17Then Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your steadfast love for your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
16:18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
16:19And besides, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I served before your father, so I will serve before you.”
16:20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?”
16:21And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself abhorrent to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”
16:22So they spread a tent for Absalom upon the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
16:23Now the counsel that Ahithophel gave in those days was as though one inquired of the word of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom.

Chapter 17

17:1Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
17:2I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and I will terrify him. Then all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike the king alone.
17:3And I will bring all the people back to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”
17:4And the word was good in the sight of Absalom and in the sight of all the elders of Israel.
17:5Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.”
17:6And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken according to this word. Shall we do what he says? If not, you speak.”
17:7Then Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.”
17:8And Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and bitter in spirit, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is a man of war and will not spend the night with the people.
17:9Behold, even now he is hidden in one of the pits or in some other place. And when some of them fall in the first attack, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
17:10Then even the valiant man whose heart is like the heart of a lion will utterly melt, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
17:11Therefore I counsel that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for abundance, and that you yourself go into battle.
17:12Then we shall come upon him wherever he may be found, and we shall fall upon him as the dew falls upon the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him, not one shall be left.
17:13And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the brook until not even a stone is found there.”
17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had ordained that the good counsel of Ahithophel be defeated, that the LORD might bring calamity upon Absalom.
17:15Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and thus Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and thus I counseled.
17:16And now, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend the night at the plains of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’”
17:17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-Rogel, and a female servant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.
17:18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they went down into it.
17:19Then the woman took a covering, spread it over the mouth of the well, and scattered ground grain upon it, so that nothing was known.
17:20And Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have crossed over the brook of water.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
17:21And after they had gone, the two came up out of the well, went, and told King David. And they said to David, “Rise, and cross quickly over the waters, for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
17:22Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By morning light, not one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.
17:23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, arose, and went home to his own city. And he set his household in order, hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in the grave of his father.
17:24Then David came to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
17:25And Absalom set Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
17:26And Israel encamped with Absalom in the land of Gilead.
17:27And when David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
17:28brought bedding, basins, earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, and roasted legumes,
17:29honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from cattle. They brought these to David and the people who were with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Chapter 18

18:1Then David mustered the people who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
18:2And David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab, one third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.”
18:3But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee, they will pay no attention to us; and if half of us die, they will pay no attention to us. But now you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore, it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.”
18:4And the king said to them, “I will do what is good in your sight.” And the king stood beside the gate while all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
18:5And the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.
18:6Then the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
18:7And the people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great that day—twenty thousand men.
18:8And the battle spread over the face of all the land, and the forest devoured more of the people that day than the sword devoured.
18:9And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule under him passed on.
18:10Then a man saw it and told Joab, saying, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
18:11And Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”
18:12But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to receive one thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Take care, whoever you are, of the young man Absalom.’
18:13Otherwise I would have acted treacherously against my own life. No matter is hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood against me.”
18:14Then Joab said, “I will not linger here with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.
18:15Then ten young men who bore Joab’s weapons surrounded Absalom, struck him, and put him to death.
18:16And Joab blew the horn, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
18:17And they took Absalom, cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
18:18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he called the pillar by his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
18:19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bear good news to the king, that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.”
18:20But Joab said to him, “You shall not bear good news this day. You may bear good news on another day, but this day you shall not bear good news, because the king’s son is dead.”
18:21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
18:22And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Whatever may happen, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, when you will receive no reward for the news?”
18:23But he said, “Whatever may happen, let me run.” And Joab said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and passed the Cushite.
18:24Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, lifted up his eyes, and looked; and behold, a man was running alone.
18:25Then the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.
18:26Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running alone.” And the king said, “He also is bringing good news.”
18:27And the watchman said, “I see that the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”
18:28Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Peace!” And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king.”
18:29And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great commotion when Joab sent the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I did not know what it was.”
18:30Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.
18:31And behold, the Cushite came. And the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive the good news, for today the LORD has delivered you from the hand of all who rose against you.”
18:32And the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you for evil, be like that young man.”

Chapter 19

19:1Then the king was deeply moved, went up to the upper chamber over the gate, and wept. And thus he said as he went, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Oh, that I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son!”
19:2And it was told to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
19:3And the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieving for his son.”
19:4And the people stole into the city that day as people steal away who are ashamed when they flee in battle.
19:5And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
19:6Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put to shame the faces of all your servants, who today delivered your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines,
19:7by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For today you have shown that commanders and servants are nothing to you. Today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right in your sight.
19:8And now, arise, go out, and speak to the heart of your servants. For I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight; and this will be worse for you than all the calamity that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
19:9Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent.
19:10And all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
19:11And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. And now, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
19:12Then King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king at his house?
19:13You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
19:14And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? Thus may God do to me, and thus may He add, if you are not commander of the army before me in place of Joab all your days.’”
19:15And he inclined the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”
19:16Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring the king over the Jordan.
19:17And Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
19:18And one thousand men from Benjamin were with him, along with Ziba, servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. And they crossed the Jordan before the king.
19:19And the ferry crossed over to carry the king’s household across and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei son of Gera fell before the king as he was crossing the Jordan.
19:20And he said to the king, “Do not let my lord hold me guilty, or remember what your servant did perversely on the day my lord the king went out from Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart.
19:21For your servant knows that I have sinned. And behold, I have come today, the first of all the house of Joseph, to come down and meet my lord the king.”
19:22Then Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Should Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
19:23But David said, “What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”
19:24Then the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
19:25And Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his garments from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
19:26And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
19:27And he said, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle the donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
19:28And he slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like a messenger of God; therefore do what is good in your sight.
19:29For all my father’s house were but men deserving death before my lord the king, yet you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What right do I have anymore to cry to the king?”
19:30Then the king said to him, “Why speak any further of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’”
19:31And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Indeed, let him take it all, now that my lord the king has come home in peace.”
19:32And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and crossed the Jordan with the king, to escort him over the Jordan.
19:33Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king while he remained at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.
19:34Then the king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.”
19:35But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
19:36I am eighty years old today. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why then should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king?
19:37Your servant will cross the Jordan a little way with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?
19:38Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and my mother. But behold your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”
19:39Then the king said, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.”
19:40Then all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
19:41Then the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. And all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.
19:42And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, with all David’s men?”
19:43Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten anything at the king’s expense? Has any gift been given to us?”
19:44And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten shares in the king, and we also have a greater claim on David than you. Why then have you treated us with contempt? Was not our word first to bring back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.

Chapter 20

20:1Now there happened to be there a worthless man whose name was Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew the horn and said, “We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tents, O Israel!”
20:2Then every man of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clung to their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.
20:3And David came to his house at Jerusalem. Then the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in a house under guard. He provided for them but did not go in to them. And they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.
20:4Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to me within three days, and you be present here.”
20:5So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointed time that the king had set for him.
20:6Then David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities for himself and escape our sight.”
20:7So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men. They went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
20:8When they were near the great stone at Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was wearing his military garment, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist. As he went forward, the sword fell out.
20:9And Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
20:10But Amasa did not guard against the sword in Joab’s hand. And Joab struck him with it in the abdomen and poured out his entrails upon the ground. He did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bichri.
20:11And one of Joab’s young men stood beside Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David—follow Joab!”
20:12Now Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway into the field and cast a garment over him, because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
20:13When he had been removed from the highway, every man passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
20:14And Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and to all the Berites. And they assembled and also went in after him.
20:15And they came and laid siege against him at Abel-beth-maacah. They raised a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer wall. And all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to make it fall.
20:16Then a wise woman called from the city, “Hear! Hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come near here, that I may speak to you.’”
20:17And he came near to her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he said, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.” And he said, “I am listening.”
20:18Then she spoke, saying, “They used to say in former times, ‘Let them surely inquire at Abel,’ and thus they settled a matter.
20:19I am one of the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?”
20:20And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
20:21The matter is not so. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim—Sheba son of Bichri is his name—has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give him up alone, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.”
20:22Then the woman came to all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. Then he blew the horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
20:23Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
20:24And Adoram was over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.
20:25And Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
20:26And Ira the Jairite was also priest to David.

Chapter 21

21:1Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodguilty house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
21:2So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but were a remnant of the Amorites. The sons of Israel had sworn to them, but Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah.
21:3And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make amends, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
21:4And the Gibeonites said to him, “It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” And he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
21:5Then they said to the king, “The man who consumed us and planned against us, that we should be destroyed from taking our stand anywhere within all the border of Israel—
21:6let seven men of his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
21:8And the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul—Armoni and Mephibosheth—and the five sons of Michal daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
21:9And he gave them into the hand of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. The seven fell together; they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
21:10Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens. She did not allow the birds of the heavens to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
21:11And David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul’s concubine, had done.
21:12Then David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the city square of Beth-shean, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines struck Saul down on Gilboa.
21:13And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.
21:14And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin, at Zela, in the grave of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. Afterward God accepted the plea for the land.
21:15Then war arose again between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his servants, and they fought against the Philistines. And David grew weary.
21:16And Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of Rapha—his spearhead weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and he was armed with a new sword—intended to strike David.
21:17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and put him to death. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “You shall not go out with us to battle again, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
21:18And it came to pass afterward that battle arose again with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck Saph, who was among the descendants of Rapha.
21:19And battle arose again with the Philistines at Gob. And Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite struck the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.
21:20And battle arose again at Gath. There was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in number. He also had been born to Rapha.
21:21And he reproached Israel, but Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him.
21:22These four had been born to Rapha in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Chapter 22

22:1And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
22:2And he said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
22:3My God is my rock; I take refuge in Him. He is my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, and my refuge. My Savior, You save me from violence.
22:4I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
22:5For the waves of death surrounded me; torrents of destruction terrified me.
22:6The cords of the realm of the dead surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.
22:7In my distress I called upon the LORD; I called to my God. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry reached His ears.
22:8Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the heavens quaked and were shaken, because He was angry.
22:9Smoke went up from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; coals were kindled by it.
22:10He bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet.
22:11He rode upon a winged guardian and flew; He appeared upon the wings of the wind.
22:12He made darkness a shelter around Him—dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
22:13From the brightness before Him, coals of fire were kindled.
22:14The LORD thundered from the heavens, and the Most High gave forth His voice.
22:15He sent out arrows and scattered them; He hurled lightning and routed them.
22:16Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
22:17He sent from above and took me; He drew me out of many waters.
22:18He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I.
22:19They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
22:20He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
22:21The LORD repaid me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He recompensed me.
22:22For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not acted wickedly against my God.
22:23For all His judgments were before me, and I did not turn aside from His statutes.
22:24I was blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.
22:25And the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight.
22:26With the kind You show Yourself kind; with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless.
22:27With the pure You show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.
22:28You save an afflicted people, but Your eyes are upon the proud, to bring them down.
22:29For You are my lamp, O LORD, and the LORD illumines my darkness.
22:30For by You I run against a troop; by my God I leap over a wall.
22:31As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the LORD is refined. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
22:32For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock except our God?
22:33God is my strong refuge, and He makes my way blameless.
22:34He makes my feet like those of deer and causes me to stand upon my high places.
22:35He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
22:36You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your humility has made me great.
22:37You broaden the path beneath me, and my ankles have not slipped.
22:38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.
22:39I consumed them and struck them down, so that they did not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
22:40You girded me with strength for battle; You made those who rose against me bow beneath me.
22:41You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me.
22:42They looked, but there was no savior; they cried to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
22:43I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I crushed and spread them out like mud in the streets.
22:44You delivered me from the strivings of my people; You preserved me as head of nations. A people I had not known served me.
22:45Foreigners feigned obedience to me; as soon as they heard, they obeyed me.
22:46Foreigners lost heart and came trembling from their strongholds.
22:47The LORD lives, and blessed is my Rock; exalted is my God, the Rock of my salvation.
22:48God gives me vengeance and brings peoples down beneath me.
22:49He brings me out from my enemies. You exalt me above those who rise against me; You deliver me from the man of violence.
22:50Therefore I give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, and I sing praise to Your Name.
22:51He gives great deliverance to His king and shows steadfast love to His Anointed One, to David and to his seed forever.”

Chapter 23

23:1And these are the last words of David: “An utterance of David son of Jesse; an utterance of the man raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the delight of Israel’s songs:
23:2The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was upon my tongue.
23:3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me: He who rules over men in righteousness, who rules in the fear of God,
23:4is like the light of morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when tender grass springs from the earth through brightness after rain.
23:5Is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in all things and secure. Will He not cause all my salvation and every desire to spring forth?
23:6But the worthless are all like thorns cast away, for they cannot be taken with the hand.
23:7The man who touches them must arm himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they shall be utterly burned with fire where they lie.”
23:8These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, chief of the Three; he was Adino the Eznite, who killed eight hundred at one time.
23:9And after him was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines gathered there for battle, while the men of Israel withdrew.
23:10He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and clung to the sword. And the LORD worked a great deliverance that day; the people returned after him only to strip the slain.
23:11And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered into a company where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled before the Philistines.
23:12But he stationed himself in the midst of the plot, defended it, and struck the Philistines. And the LORD worked a great deliverance.
23:13Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest and came to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
23:14David was then in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem.
23:15And David longed and said, “Who will give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate?”
23:16Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem by the gate, carried it, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD.
23:17And he said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Is this not the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
23:18And Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred and killed them, and he had a name among the Three.
23:19Was he not the most honored of the Three? Therefore he became their chief, yet he did not attain to the first three.
23:20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada, son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, great in deeds, struck two champions of Moab. He also went down and struck a lion in a pit on a snowy day.
23:21He also struck an imposing Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
23:22These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he had a name among the three mighty men.
23:23He was honored above the thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
23:24Asahel brother of Joab was among the thirty; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
23:25Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
23:26Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
23:27Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
23:28Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
23:29Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin,
23:30Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
23:31Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
23:32Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
23:33Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
23:34Eliphelet son of Ahasbai, son of the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
23:35Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
23:36Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
23:37Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
23:38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
23:39Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.

Chapter 24

24:1And the anger of the LORD burned again against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”
24:2So the king said to Joab, commander of the army who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
24:3And Joab said to the king, “May the LORD your God add to the people, however many they may be, a hundredfold, while the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?”
24:4Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to count the people of Israel.
24:5And they crossed the Jordan and encamped at Aroer, on the south side of the city that lies in the midst of the Brook of Gad, toward Jazer.
24:6Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi. They came to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon.
24:7And they came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba.
24:8So they went throughout all the land and came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
24:9Then Joab gave the number of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.
24:10But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. And now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
24:11When David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to Gad the prophet, David’s seer, saying,
24:12“Go and speak to David: Thus says the LORD, I am setting three things before you; choose one of them, and I will do it to you.”
24:13So Gad came to David, told him, and said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come upon you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your adversary while he pursues you? Or shall there be three days of pestilence in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”
24:14And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are many; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
24:15So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people died, from Dan to Beersheba.
24:16And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented concerning the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough; now withdraw your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
24:17Then David spoke to the LORD when he saw the angel striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have acted perversely. But these sheep—what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”
24:18And Gad came to David that day and said to him, “Go up and raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
24:19So David went up according to the word of Gad, as the LORD had commanded.
24:20And Araunah looked and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. Then Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth.
24:21And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be restrained from the people.”
24:22Then Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer what is good in his sight. See, here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for wood.”
24:23“All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
24:24But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
24:25And David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD accepted the plea for the land, and the plague was restrained from Israel.