001:001 It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned
from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode
two days in Ziklag;
001:002 it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of
the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head:
and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth,
and did obeisance.
001:003 David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him,
Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
001:004 David said to him, How went the matter? Please tell me.
He answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many
of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan
his son are dead also.
001:005 David said to the young man who told him, How know you that Saul
and Jonathan his son are dead?
001:006 The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on
Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold,
the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
001:007 When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me.
I answered, Here am I.
001:008 He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
001:009 He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me;
for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet
whole in me.
001:010 So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was
sure that he could not live after that he was fallen:
and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet
that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.
001:011 Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them;
and likewise all the men who were with him:
001:012 and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul,
and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh,
and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen
by the sword.
001:013 David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you?
He answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.
001:014 David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your
hand to destroy Yahweh's anointed?
001:015 David called one of the young men, and said, Go near,
and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died.
001:016 David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has
testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh's anointed.
001:017 David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son
001:018 (and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of]
the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
001:019 Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
001:020 Don't tell it in Gath. Don't publish it in the streets
of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
001:021 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain on you,
neither fields of offerings; For there the shield of
the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul was not
anointed with oil.
001:022 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
Jonathan's bow didn't turn back. Saul's sword didn't return empty.
001:023 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives.
In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter
than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
001:024 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in
scarlet delicately, who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
001:025 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is slain on your high places.
001:026 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have
been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful,
passing the love of women.
001:027 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
002:001 It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying,
Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? Yahweh said
to him, Go up. David said, Where shall I go up?
He said, To Hebron.
002:002 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam
the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
002:003 His men who were with him did David bring up, every man
with his household: and they lived in the cities of Hebron.
002:004 The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king
over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, The men
of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.
002:005 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said
to them, Blessed be you of Yahweh, that you have shown this
kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
002:006 Now Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you:
and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have
done this thing.
002:007 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant;
for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah
have anointed me king over them.
002:008 Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's army, had taken
Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
002:009 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites,
and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin,
and over all Israel.
002:010 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began
to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years.
But the house of Judah followed David.
002:011 The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah
was seven years and six months.
002:012 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son
of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
002:013 Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out,
and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down,
the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other
side of the pool.
002:014 Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play
before us. Joab said, Let them arise.
002:015 Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin,
and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the
servants of David.
002:016 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust]
his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together:
therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim,
which is in Gibeon.
002:017 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten,
and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
002:018 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel:
and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
002:019 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn't turn
to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
002:020 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it you, Asahel?
He answered, It is I.
002:021 Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left,
and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor.
But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
002:022 Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me:
why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold
up my face to Joab your brother?
002:023 However he refused to turn aside: therefore Abner with the hinder
end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came
out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place:
and it happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel
fell down and died stood still.
002:024 But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went
down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies
before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
002:025 The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner,
and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
002:026 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever?
Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end?
How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return
from following their brothers?"
002:027 Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then
in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed
everyone his brother.
002:028 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still,
and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
002:029 Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah;
and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron,
and came to Mahanaim.
002:030 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered
all the people together, there lacked of David's servants
nineteen men and Asahel.
002:031 But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner's men,
[so that] three hundred sixty men died.
002:032 They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father,
which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night,
and the day broke on them at Hebron.
003:001 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house
of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house
of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
003:002 To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon,
of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
003:003 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite;
and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai
king of Geshur;
003:004 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth,
Shephatiah the son of Abital;
003:005 and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David's wife.
These were born to David in Hebron.
003:006 It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul
and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong
in the house of Saul.
003:007 Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter
of Aiah: and [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why have you gone
in to my father's concubine?
003:008 Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said,
Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show
kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers,
and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand
of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault
concerning this woman.
003:009 God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn
to David, I don't do even so to him;
003:010 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set
up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan
even to Beersheba.
003:011 He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
003:012 Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is
the land? saying [also], Make your league with me, and behold,
my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you.
003:013 He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing
I require of you: that is, you shall not see my face,
except you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come
to see my face.
003:014 David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying,
Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me
for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
003:015 Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Paltiel the son of Laish.
003:016 Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed
her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return:
and he returned.
003:017 Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying,
In times past you sought for David to be king over you:
003:018 now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of 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.
003:019 Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went
also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed
good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
003:020 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him.
David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
003:021 Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will 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.
David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
003:022 Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray,
and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not
with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was
gone in peace.
003:023 When Joab and all the army who was with him had come,
they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king,
and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
003:024 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? behold,
Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away,
and he is quite gone?
003:025 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you,
and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know
all that you do.
003:026 When Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers
after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah:
but David didn't know it.
003:027 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into
the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck
him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood
of Asahel his brother.
003:028 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom
are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner
the son of Ner:
003:029 let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house;
and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has
an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff,
or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.
003:030 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had
killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
003:031 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him,
Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn
before Abner. King David followed the bier.
003:032 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice,
and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
003:033 The king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die
as a fool dies?
003:034 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters.
As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.
All the people wept again over him.
003:035 All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day;
but David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also,
if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun be down.
003:036 All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them;
as whatever the king did pleased all the people.
003:037 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it
was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
003:038 The king said to his servants, "Don't you know that there
a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
003:039 I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men
the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward
the evil-doer according to his wickedness."
004:001 When [Ishbosheth], Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron,
his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
004:002 [Ishbosheth], Saul's son, [had] two men who were captains of bands:
the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab,
the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin
(for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin:
004:003 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have lived as foreigners
there until this day).
004:004 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet.
He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan
out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled:
and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell,
and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
004:005 The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went,
and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth,
as he took his rest at noon.
004:006 They came there into the midst of the house, as though they
would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body:
and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
004:007 Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed
in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him,
and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way
of the Arabah all night.
004:008 They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David to Hebron,
and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ishbosheth,
the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life;
and Yahweh has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul,
and of his seed.
004:009 David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons
of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As Yahweh lives,
who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
004:010 when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have
brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag,
which was the reward I gave him for his news.
004:011 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person
in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood
of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
004:012 David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut
off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside
the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth,
and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
005:001 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron,
and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
005:002 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you
who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh said to you,
You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall
be prince over Israel.
005:003 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron;
and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh:
and they anointed David king over Israel.
005:004 David was thirty years old when he began to reign,
and he reigned forty years.
005:005 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months;
and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all
Israel and Judah.
005:006 The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites,
the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying,
Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not
come in here; thinking, David can't come in here.
005:007 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is
the city of David.
005:008 David said on that day, Whoever strikes the Jebusites,
let him get up to the watercourse, and [strike]
the lame and the blind, who are hated of David's soul.
Therefore they say, There are the blind and the lame;
he can't come into the house.
005:009 David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David.
David built round about from Millo and inward.
005:010 David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of Armies,
was with him.
005:011 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees,
and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
005:012 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel,
and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
005:013 David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem,
after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons
and daughters born to David.
005:014 These are the names of those who were born to him
in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
005:015 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
005:016 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
005:017 When 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 stronghold.
005:018 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the
valley of Rephaim.
005:019 David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up against
the Philistines? will you deliver them into my hand?
Yahweh said to David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver
the Philistines into your hand.
005:020 David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said,
Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.
Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
005:021 They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
005:022 The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim.
005:023 When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, You shall not go up:
make a circuit behind them, and come on them over against
the mulberry trees.
005:024 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops
of the mulberry trees, that then you shall bestir yourself;
for then is Yahweh gone out before you to strike the army
of the Philistines.
005:025 David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines
from Geba until you come to Gezer.
006:001 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel,
thirty thousand.
006:002 David arose, and went with all the people who were with him,
from Baale Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God,
which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Armies
who sits [above] the cherubim.
006:003 They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it
out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill:
and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
006:004 They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill,
with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
006:005 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all
manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, and with harps,
and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines,
and with castanets, and with cymbals.
006:006 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put
forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it;
for the oxen stumbled.
006:007 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck
him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
006:008 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzzah;
and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.
006:009 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, How shall
the ark of Yahweh come to me?
006:010 So David would not remove the ark of Yahweh to him into
the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house
of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
006:011 The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom
the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom,
and all his house.
006:012 It was told king David, saying, Yahweh has blessed the house
of Obed-Edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark
of God. David went and brought up the ark of God from the house
of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy.
006:013 It was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Yahweh had gone
six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
006:014 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was
girded with a linen ephod.
006:015 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh
with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
006:016 It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David,
that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window,
and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh;
and she despised him in her heart.
006:017 They brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place,
in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David
offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
006:018 When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering
and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name
of Yahweh of Armies.
006:019 He dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude
of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a cake
of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins.
So all the people departed everyone to his house.
006:020 Then David returned to bless his household.
Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said,
How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered
himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants,
as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
006:021 David said to Michal, [It was] before Yahweh, who chose me
above your father, and above all his house, to appoint
me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel:
therefore will I play before Yahweh.
006:022 I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my
own sight: but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken,
they shall honor me.
006:023 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
007:001 It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh
had given him rest from all his enemies round about,
007:002 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell
in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
007:003 Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart;
for Yahweh is with you.
007:004 It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came
to Nathan, saying,
007:005 Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you
build me a house for me to dwell in?
007:006 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought
up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day,
but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.
007:007 In all places in which I have walked with all the children
of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel,
whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying,
Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
007:008 Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says
Yahweh of Armies, I took you from the sheep pen, from following
the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel;
007:009 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all
your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name,
like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.
007:010 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them,
that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more;
neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more,
as at the first,
007:011 and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my
people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies.
Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house.
007:012 When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers,
I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out
of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
007:013 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever.
007:014 I will be his father, and he shall be my son:
if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men,
and with the stripes of the children of men;
007:015 but my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took
it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
007:016 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you:
your throne shall be established forever.
007:017 According to all these words, and according to all this vision,
so did Nathan speak to David.
007:018 Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh;
and he said, Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house,
that you have brought me thus far?
007:019 This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have
spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come;
and this [too] after the manner of men, Lord Yahweh!
007:020 What can David say more to you? for you know your servant,
Lord Yahweh.
007:021 For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you
worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
007:022 Therefore you are great, Yahweh God: for there is none like you,
neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we
have heard with our ears.
007:023 What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel,
whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make
him a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things
for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you
out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?
007:024 You did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people
to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
007:025 Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning
your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it forever,
and do as you have spoken.
007:026 Let your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Armies
is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall
be established before you.
007:027 For you, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed
to your servant, saying, I will build you a house:
therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this
prayer to you.
007:028 Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth,
and you have promised this good thing to your servant:
007:029 now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant,
that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh,
have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your
servant be blessed forever.
008:001 After this it happened that David struck the Philistines,
and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother
city out of the hand of the Philistines.
008:002 He struck Moab, and measured them with the line,
making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two
lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive.
The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
008:003 David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,
as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
008:004 David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty
thousand footmen: and David hamstrung all the chariot horses,
but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.
008:005 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king
of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
008:006 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the
Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute.
Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
008:007 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants
of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
008:008 From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David
took exceeding much brass.
008:009 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all
the army of Hadadezer,
008:010 then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to Greet him,
and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer
and struck him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi.
[Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold,
and vessels of brass:
008:011 These also did king David dedicate to Yahweh, with the silver
and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;
008:012 of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of
the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer,
son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
008:013 David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians
in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.
008:014 He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons,
and all the Edomites became servants to David.
Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
008:015 David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice
and righteousness to all his people.
008:016 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat
the son of Ahilud was recorder;
008:017 and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar,
were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;
008:018 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] the Cherethites
and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.
009:001 David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul,
that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
009:002 There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba,
and they called him to David; and the king said to him,
Are you Ziba? He said, Your servant is he.
009:003 The king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I
may show the kindness of God to him? Ziba said to the king,
Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.
009:004 The king said to him, Where is he? Ziba said to the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel,
in Lo Debar.
009:005 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir
the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
009:006 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,
came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance.
David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant!
009:007 David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will
surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake,
and will restore you all the land of Saul your father;
and you shall eat bread at my table continually."
009:008 He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you
should look on such a dead dog as I am?"
009:009 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him,
"All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given
to your master's son.
009:010 You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons,
and your servants; and you shall bring in [the fruits],
that your master's son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth
your master's son shall eat bread always at my table."
Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
009:011 Then said Ziba to the king, According to all that my lord
the king commands his servant, so shall your servant do.
As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table,
as one of the king's sons.
009:012 Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica.
All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
009:013 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually
at the king's table. He was lame in both his feet.
010:001 It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died,
and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
010:002 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash,
as his father shown kindness to me. So David sent
by his servants to comfort him concerning his father.
David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
010:003 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun
their lord, Do you think that David honors your father,
in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent
his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out,
and to overthrow it?
010:004 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half
of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle,
even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
010:005 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men
were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until
your beards be grown, and then return.
010:006 When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious
to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians
of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen,
and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men
of Tob twelve thousand men.
010:007 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army
of the mighty men.
010:008 The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array
at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and
of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves
in the field.
010:009 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him
before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel,
and put them in array against the Syrians:
010:010 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai
his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
010:011 He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall
help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you,
then I will come and help you.
010:012 Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people,
and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which
seems him good.
010:013 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle
against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
010:014 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled,
they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city.
Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon,
and came to Jerusalem.
010:015 When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel,
they gathered themselves together.
010:016 Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond
the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain
of the army of Hadarezer at their head.
010:017 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together,
and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians
set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
010:018 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians
[the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen,
and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that
he died there.
010:019 When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they
were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel,
and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children
of Ammon any more.
011:001 It happened, at the return 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 children of Ammon,
and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
011:002 It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed,
and walked on the roof of the king's house: and from the roof
he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful
to look on.
011:003 David send and inquired after the woman. One said,
Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?
011:004 David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him,
and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness);
and she returned to her house.
011:005 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said,
I am with child.
011:006 David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite.
Joab sent Uriah to David.
011:007 When Uriah was come to him, David asked of him how Joab did,
and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
011:008 David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet.
Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed
him a mess [of food] from the king.
011:009 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all
the servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house.
011:010 When they had told David, saying, Uriah didn't go down to his house,
David said to Uriah, Haven't you come from a journey? why
did you not go down to your house?
011:011 Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah,
abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord,
are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house,
to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live,
and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.
011:012 David said to Uriah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I
will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day,
and the next day.
011:013 When David had called him, he ate and drink before him;
and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on
his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn't go down
to his house.
011:014 It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab,
and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
011:015 He wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront
of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may
be struck, and die.
011:016 It happened, when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned
Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
011:017 The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab:
and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David;
and Uriah the Hittite died also.
011:018 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
011:019 and he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end
of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
011:020 it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he tells you,
'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn't you
know that they would shoot from the wall?
011:021 who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn't a woman
cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died
at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then shall you say,
'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"
011:022 So the messenger went, and came and shown David all that Joab
had sent him for.
011:023 The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us,
and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even
to the entrance of the gate.
011:024 The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall;
and some of the king's servants are dead, and your servant
Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
011:025 Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Joab, Don't let
this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well
as another; make your battle more strong against the city,
and overthrow it: and encourage you him.
011:026 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead,
she made lamentation for her husband.
011:027 When the mourning was past, David sent and took her home
to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
But the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh.
012:001 Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said
to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich,
and the other poor.
012:002 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
012:003 but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb,
which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him,
and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his
own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.
012:004 A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his
own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring
man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb,
and dressed it for the man who had come to him."
012:005 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said
to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is
worthy to die!
012:006 He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing,
and because he had no pity!"
012:007 Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh,
the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel,
and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
012:008 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into
your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah;
and if that would have been too little, I would have added
to you many more such things.
012:009 Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which
is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite
with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife,
and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
012:010 Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house,
because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah
the Hittite to be your wife.'
012:011 This is what Yahweh says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil
against you out of your own house; and I will take your
wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor,
and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
012:012 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel,
and before the sun.'"
012:013 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh."
Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin.
You will not die.
012:014 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion
to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born
to you shall surely die."
012:015 Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that
Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
012:016 David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted,
and went in, and lay all night on the earth.
012:017 The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him,
to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did
he eat bread with them.
012:018 It happened on the seventh day, that the child died.
The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead;
for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive,
we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice:
how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the
child is dead!
012:019 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together,
David perceived that the child was dead; and David said
to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead.
012:020 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself,
and changed his clothing; and he came into the house
of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house;
and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.
012:021 Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have
done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive;
but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread.
012:022 He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept:
for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me,
that the child may live?
012:023 But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again?
I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.
012:024 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.
Yahweh loved him;
012:025 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named
him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake.
012:026 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon,
and took the royal city.
012:027 Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought
against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters.
012:028 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together,
and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city,
and it be called after my name.
012:029 David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah,
and fought against it, and took it.
012:030 He took the crown of their king from off his head;
and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and [in it
were] precious stones; and it was set on David's head.
He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
012:031 He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them
under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes
of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln:
and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon.
David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
013:001 It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had
a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son
of David loved her.
013:002 Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar;
for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do
anything to her.
013:003 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son
of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
013:004 He said to him, Why, son of the king, are you thus lean from day
to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar,
my brother Absalom's sister.
013:005 Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign
yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you,
tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread
to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it,
and eat it from her hand.
013:006 So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king
was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let her
sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight,
that I may eat from her hand.
013:007 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother
Amnon's house, and dress him food.
013:008 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down.
She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight,
and did bake the cakes.
013:009 She took the pan, and poured them out before him;
but he refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from me.
They went out every man from him.
013:010 Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may
eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which she had made,
and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
013:011 When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her,
and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
013:012 She answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such
thing ought to be done in Israel. Don't you do this folly.
013:013 I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be
as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak
to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.
013:014 However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger
than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
013:015 Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred
with which he hated her was greater than the love with which
he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.
013:016 She said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting
me forth is [worse] than the other that you did to me.
But he would not listen to her.
013:017 Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said,
Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
013:018 She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such
robes were the king's daughters who were virgins dressed.
Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
013:019 Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various
colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head,
and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
013:020 Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother
been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister:
he is your brother; don't take this thing to heart.
So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.
013:021 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.