thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto
him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat,
and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it
at her hand.
10:013:006 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king
was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee,
let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my
sight, that I may eat at her hand.
10:013:007 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother
Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
10:013:008 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid
down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in
his sight, and did bake the cakes.
10:013:009 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he
refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And
they went out every man from him.
10:013:010 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber,
that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which
she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her
brother.
10:013:011 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of
her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
10:013:012 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no
such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
10:013:013 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee,
thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I
pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me
from thee.
10:013:014 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being
stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
10:013:015 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith
he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved
her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
10:013:016 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending
me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But
he would not hearken unto her.
10:013:017 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said,
Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
10:013:018 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with
such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins
apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the
door after her.
10:013:019 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of
divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head,
and went on crying.
10:013:020 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother
been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy
brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in
her brother Absalom's house.
10:013:021 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very
wroth.
10:013:022 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad:
for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar.
10:013:023 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had
sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons.
10:013:024 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy
servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and
his servants go with thy servant.
10:013:025 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now
go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
10:013:026 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon
go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with
thee?
10:013:027 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's
sons go with him.
10:013:028 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now
when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto
you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I
commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
10:013:029 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat
him up upon his mule, and fled.
10:013:030 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings
came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons,
and there is not one of them left.
10:013:031 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the
earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
10:013:032 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and
said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the
young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the
appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day
that he forced his sister Tamar.
10:013:033 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his
heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon
only is dead.
10:013:034 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted
up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people
by the way of the hill side behind him.
10:013:035 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come:
as thy servant said, so it is.
10:013:036 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of
speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up
their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants
wept very sore.
10:013:037 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king
of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
10:013:038 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years.
10:013:039 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom:
for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
10:014:001 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart
was toward Absalom.
10:014:002 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and
said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and
put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil,
but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
10:014:003 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So
Joab put the words in her mouth.
10:014:004 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on
her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O
king.
10:014:005 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she
answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
10:014:006 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in
the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote
the other, and slew him.
10:014:007 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid,
and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may
kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we
will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal
which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name
nor remainder upon the earth.
10:014:008 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I
will give charge concerning thee.
10:014:009 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king,
the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king
and his throne be guiltless.
10:014:010 And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to
me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
10:014:011 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy
God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to
destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As
the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to
the earth.
10:014:012 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak
one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
10:014:013 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a
thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this
thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch
home again his banished.
10:014:014 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect
any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not
expelled from him.
10:014:015 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my
lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid:
and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may
be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
10:014:016 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the
hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out
of the inheritance of God.
10:014:017 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall
now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the
king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will
be with thee.
10:014:018 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from
me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the
woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
10:014:019 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all
this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my
lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left
from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant
Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of
thine handmaid:
10:014:020 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done
this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an
angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
10:014:021 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this
thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
10:014:022 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself,
and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant
knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king,
in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
10:014:023 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to
Jerusalem.
10:014:024 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him
not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw
not the king's face.
10:014:025 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as
Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the
crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
10:014:026 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end
that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him,
therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at
two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
10:014:027 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter,
whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
10:014:028 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the
king's face.
10:014:029 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king;
but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the
second time, he would not come.
10:014:030 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near
mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And
Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
10:014:031 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said
unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
10:014:032 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying,
Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say,
Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to
have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's
face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
10:014:033 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called
for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his
face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed
Absalom.
10:015:001 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him
chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
10:015:002 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the
gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy
came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him,
and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is
of one of the tribes of Israel.
10:015:003 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and
right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
10:015:004 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land,
that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto
me, and I would do him justice!
10:015:005 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him
obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed
him.
10:015:006 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the
king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of
Israel.
10:015:007 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto
the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have
vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
10:015:008 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria,
saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem,
then I will serve the LORD.
10:015:009 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went
to Hebron.
10:015:010 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel,
saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye
shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
10:015:011 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that
were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew
not any thing.
10:015:012 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's
counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom.
10:015:013 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the
men of Israel are after Absalom.
10:015:014 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else
escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us
suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the
edge of the sword.
10:015:015 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy
servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall
appoint.
10:015:016 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And
the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the
house.
10:015:017 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and
tarried in a place that was far off.
10:015:018 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the
Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six
hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before
the king.
10:015:019 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou
also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king:
for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
10:015:020 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee
go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return
thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with
thee.
10:015:021 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and
as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the
king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will
thy servant be.
10:015:022 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the
Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones
that were with him.
10:015:023 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people
passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook
Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the
wilderness.
10:015:024 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing
the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of
God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done
passing out of the city.
10:015:025 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into
the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he
will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
10:015:026 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am
I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
10:015:027 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer?
return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
10:015:028 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there
come word from you to certify me.
10:015:029 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
10:015:030 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as
he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot:
and all the people that was with him covered every man his
head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
10:015:031 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the
conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray
thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
10:015:032 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of
the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite
came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
10:015:033 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou
shalt be a burden unto me:
10:015:034 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will
be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant
hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou
for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
10:015:035 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the
priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou
shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to
Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
10:015:036 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz
Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall
send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
10:015:037 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came
into Jerusalem.
10:016:001 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold,
Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of
asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and
an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer
fruits, and a bottle of wine.
10:016:002 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And
Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on;
and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and
the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
10:016:003 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba
said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he
said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom
of my father.
10:016:004 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that
pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech
thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
10:016:005 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a
man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei,
the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
10:016:006 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king
David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his
right hand and on his left.
10:016:007 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou
bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
10:016:008 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of
Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath
delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and,
behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a
bloody man.
10:016:009 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should
this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray
thee, and take off his head.
10:016:010 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of
Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto
him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done
so?
10:016:011 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my
son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much
more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him
curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
10:016:012 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that
the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
10:016:013 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on
the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and
threw stones at him, and cast dust.
10:016:014 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came
weary, and refreshed themselves there.
10:016:015 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to
Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
10:016:016 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend,
was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save
the king, God save the king.
10:016:017 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy
friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
10:016:018 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this
people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and
with him will I abide.
10:016:019 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the
presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's
presence, so will I be in thy presence.
10:016:020 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what
we shall do.
10:016:021 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's
concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all
Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then
shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
10:016:022 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and
Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of
all Israel.
10:016:023 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those
days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so
was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with
Absalom.
10:017:001 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out
twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David
this night:
10:017:002 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed,
and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him
shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
10:017:003 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom
thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be
in peace.
10:017:004 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of
Israel.
10:017:005 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let
us hear likewise what he saith.
10:017:006 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him,
saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do
after his saying? if not; speak thou.
10:017:007 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath
given is not good at this time.
10:017:008 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that
they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a
bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a
man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
10:017:009 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and
it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the
first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a
slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
10:017:010 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a
lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy
father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant
men.
10:017:011 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto
thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the
sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own
person.
10:017:012 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be
found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the
ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there
shall not be left so much as one.
10:017:013 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel
bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river,
until there be not one small stone found there.
10:017:014 And 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 appointed to defeat the good counsel of
Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon
Absalom.
10:017:015 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus
and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of
Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.