SA2 1:1  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned
 from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

SA2 1:2  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out
 of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so
 it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

SA2 1:3  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto
 him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

SA2 1:4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.
 And he answered, That 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.

SA2 1:5  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that
 Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

SA2 1:6  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon
 mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and
 horsemen followed hard after him.

SA2 1:7  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I
 answered, Here am I.

SA2 1:8  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
 Amalekite.

SA2 1:9  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for
 anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

SA2 1:10  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could
 not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his
 head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto
 my lord.

SA2 1:11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all
 the men that were with him:

SA2 1:12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for
 Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of
 Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

SA2 1:13  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And
 he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

SA2 1:14  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth
 thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?

SA2 1:15  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall
 upon him. And he smote him that he died.

SA2 1:16  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth
 hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.

SA2 1:17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan
 his son:

SA2 1:18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:
 behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

SA2 1:19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the
 mighty fallen!

SA2 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest
 the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the
 uncircumcised triumph.

SA2 1:21  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be
 rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty
 is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed
 with oil.

SA2 1:22  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
 Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

SA2 1:23  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and
 in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they
 were stronger than lions.

SA2 1:24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet,
 with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

SA2 1:25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan,
 thou wast slain in thine high places.

SA2 1:26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast
 thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

SA2 1:27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

SA2 2:1  And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD,
 saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto
 him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

SA2 2:2  So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the
 Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

SA2 2:3  And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his
 household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

SA2 2:4  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the
 house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead
 were they that buried Saul.

SA2 2:5  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto
 them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your
 lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

SA2 2:6  And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will
 requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

SA2 2:7  Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for
 your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king
 over them.

SA2 2:8  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the
 son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

SA2 2:9  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over
 Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

SA2 2:10  Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over
 Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

SA2 2:11  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah
 was seven years and six months.

SA2 2:12  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of
 Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

SA2 2:13  And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and
 met together 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.

SA2 2:14  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before
 us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

SA2 2:15  Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which
 pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

SA2 2:16  And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his
 sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place
 was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

SA2 2:17  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and
 the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

SA2 2:18  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and
 Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

SA2 2:19  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the
 right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

SA2 2:20  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he
 answered, I am.

SA2 2:21  And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy
 left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour.
 But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

SA2 2:22  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me:
 wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my
 face to Joab thy brother?

SA2 2:23  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end
 of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind
 him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass,
 that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood
 still.

SA2 2:24  Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when
 they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the
 wilderness of Gibeon.

SA2 2:25  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after
 Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

SA2 2:26  Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever?
 knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall
 it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

SA2 2:27  And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then
 in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

SA2 2:28  So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued
 after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

SA2 2:29  And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and
 passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

SA2 2:30  And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all
 the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and
 Asahel.

SA2 2:31  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's
 men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

SA2 2:32  And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his
 father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they
 came to Hebron at break of day.

SA2 3:1  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
 David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed
 weaker and weaker.

SA2 3:2  And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon,
 of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

SA2 3:3  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;

SA2 3:4  And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah
 the son of Abital;

SA2 3:5  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to
 David in Hebron.

SA2 3:6  And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and
 the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

SA2 3:7  And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah:
 and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's
 concubine?

SA2 3:8  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I
 a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of
 Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered
 thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault
 concerning this woman?

SA2 3:9  So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to
 David, even so I do to him;

SA2 3:10  To translate 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.

SA2 3:11  And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

SA2 3:12  And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is
 the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be
 with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

SA2 3:13  And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I
 require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring
 Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

SA2 3:14  And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver
 me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the
 Philistines.

SA2 3:15  And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
 Phaltiel the son of Laish.

SA2 3:16  And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
 Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

SA2 3:17  And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye
 sought for David in times past to be king over you:

SA2 3:18  Now then do it: for the LORD hath 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.

SA2 3:19  And Abner also spake 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 that
 seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

SA2 3:20  So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David
 made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

SA2 3:21  And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all
 Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that
 thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner
 away; and he went in peace.

SA2 3:22  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a
 troop, 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.

SA2 3:23  When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told
 Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him
 away, and he is gone in peace.

SA2 3:24  Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold,
 Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite
 gone?

SA2 3:25  Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and
 to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

SA2 3:26  And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after
 Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

SA2 3:27  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the
 gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that
 he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

SA2 3:28  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are
 guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

SA2 3:29  Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and
 let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is
 a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that
 lacketh bread.

SA2 3:30  So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain
 their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

SA2 3:31  And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him,
 Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And
 king David himself followed the bier.

SA2 3:32  And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his
 voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

SA2 3:33  And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool
 dieth?

SA2 3:34  Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man
 falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again
 over him.

SA2 3:35  And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was
 yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste
 bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

SA2 3:36  And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as
 whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

SA2 3:37  For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not
 of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

SA2 3:38  And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a
 prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

SA2 3:39  And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons
 of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil
 according to his wickedness.

SA2 4:1  And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands
 were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

SA2 4:2  And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name
 of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a
 Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to
 Benjamin.

SA2 4:3  And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until
 this day.)

SA2 4:4  And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was
 five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and
 his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to
 flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

SA2 4:5  And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and
 came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed
 at noon.

SA2 4:6  And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they
 would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab
 and Baanah his brother escaped.

SA2 4:7  For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his
 bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his
 head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

SA2 4:8  And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said
 to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which
 sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of
 Saul, and of his seed.

SA2 4:9  And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon
 the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my
 soul out of all adversity,

SA2 4:10  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have
 brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought
 that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

SA2 4:11  How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his
 own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your
 hand, and take you away from the earth?

SA2 4:12  And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off
 their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But
 they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in
 Hebron.

SA2 5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake,
 saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

SA2 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that
 leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt
 feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

SA2 5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David
 made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David
 king over Israel.

SA2 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned
 forty years.

SA2 5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in
 Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

SA2 5:6  And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the
 inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take
 away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David
 cannot come in hither.

SA2 5:7  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city
 of David.

SA2 5:8  And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and
 smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's
 soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the
 lame shall not come into the house.

SA2 5:9  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David
 built round about from Millo and inward.

SA2 5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with
 him.

SA2 5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and
 carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

SA2 5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over
 Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

SA2 5:13  And 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.

SA2 5:14  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem;
 Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

SA2 5:15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

SA2 5:16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

SA2 5:17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over
 Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and
 went down to the hold.

SA2 5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of
 Rephaim.

SA2 5:19  And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the
 Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto
 David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

SA2 5:20  And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said,
 The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of
 waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

SA2 5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

SA2 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the
 valley of Rephaim.

SA2 5:23  And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up;
 but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry
 trees.

SA2 5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops
 of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall
 the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

SA2 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the
 Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

SA2 6:1  Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty
 thousand.

SA2 6:2  And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from
 Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called
 by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

SA2 6:3  And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the
 house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of
 Abinadab, drave the new cart.

SA2 6:4  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah,
 accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

SA2 6:5  And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all
 manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and
 on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

SA2 6:6  And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his
 hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

SA2 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him
 there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

SA2 6:8  And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon
 Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

SA2 6:9  And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark
 of the LORD come to me?

SA2 6:10  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city
 of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

SA2 6:11  And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the
 Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

SA2 6:12  And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house
 of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So
 David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the
 city of David with gladness.

SA2 6:13  And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone
 six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

SA2 6:14  And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was
 girded with a linen ephod.

SA2 6:15  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD
 with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

SA2 6:16  And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's
 daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing
 before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

SA2 6:17  And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place,
 in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David
 offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

SA2 6:18  And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and
 peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

SA2 6:19  And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of
 Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good
 piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to
 his house.

SA2 6:20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter
 of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel
 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his
 servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

SA2 6:21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me
 before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the
 people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

SA2 6:22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own
 sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be
 had in honour.

SA2 6:23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of
 her death.

SA2 7:1  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had
 given him rest round about from all his enemies;

SA2 7:2  That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an
 house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

SA2 7:3  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for
 the LORD is with thee.

SA2 7:4  And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto
 Nathan, saying,

SA2 7:5  Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me
 an house for me to dwell in?

SA2 7:6  Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up
 the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a
 tent and in a tabernacle.

SA2 7:7  In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of
 Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to
 feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

SA2 7:8  Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the
 LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to
 be ruler over my people, over Israel:

SA2 7:9  And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all
 thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto
 the name of the great men that are in the earth.

SA2 7:10  Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant
 them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither
 shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

SA2 7:11  And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people
 Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD
 telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

SA2 7:12  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
 fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
 bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

SA2 7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne
 of his kingdom for ever.

SA2 7:14  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:

SA2 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul,
 whom I put away before thee.

SA2 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before
 thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

SA2 7:17  According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so
 did Nathan speak unto David.

SA2 7:18  Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am
 I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

SA2 7:19  And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou
 hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is
 this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

SA2 7:20  And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest
 thy servant.

SA2 7:21  For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done
 all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

SA2 7:22  Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee,
 neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard
 with our ears.

SA2 7:23  And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like
 Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a
 name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy
 people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their
 gods?

SA2 7:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people
 unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

SA2 7:25  And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy
 servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast
 said.

SA2 7:26  And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is
 the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established
 before thee.

SA2 7:27  For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy
 servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found
 in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

SA2 7:28  And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and
 thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

SA2 7:29  Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant,
 that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken
 it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

SA2 8:1  And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and
 subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

SA2 8:2  And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down
 to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one
 full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and
 brought gifts.

SA2 8:3  David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he
 went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

SA2 8:4  And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred
 horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot
 horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

SA2 8:5  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of
 Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

SA2 8:6  Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became
 servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
 whithersoever he went.

SA2 8:7  And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of
 Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

SA2 8:8  And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David
 took exceeding much brass.

SA2 8:9  When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of
 Hadadezer,

SA2 8:10  Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to
 bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for
 Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of
 silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

SA2 8:11  Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and
 gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

SA2 8:12  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.

SA2 8:13  And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians
 in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

SA2 8:14  And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons,
 and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David
 whithersoever he went.

SA2 8:15  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and
 justice unto all his people.

SA2 8:16  And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the
 son of Ahilud was recorder;

SA2 8:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were
 the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

SA2 8:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the
 Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

SA2 9:1  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul,
 that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

SA2 9:2  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And
 when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba?
 And he said, Thy servant is he.

SA2 9:3  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I
 may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan
 hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

SA2 9:4  And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king,
 Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

SA2 9:5  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the
 son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

SA2 9:6  Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come
 unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said,
 Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

SA2 9:7  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee
 kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land
 of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

SA2 9:8  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou
 shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

SA2 9:9  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I
 have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his
 house.

SA2 9:10  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land
 for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have
 food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my
 table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

SA2 9:11  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king
 hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth,
 said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

SA2 9:12  And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that
 dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

SA2 9:13  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the
 king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

SA2 10:1  And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of
 Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

SA2 10:2  Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash,
 as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the
 hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land
 of the children of Ammon.

SA2 10:3  And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord,
 Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters
 unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the
 city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

SA2 10:4  Wherefore 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.

SA2 10:5  When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men
 were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards
 be grown, and then return.

SA2 10:6  And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the
 children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of
 Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of
 Ishtob twelve thousand men.

SA2 10:7  And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the
 mighty men.

SA2 10:8  And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at
 the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and
 Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

SA2 10:9  When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and
 behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array
 against the Syrians:

SA2 10:10  And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his
 brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

SA2 10:11  And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt
 help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will
 come and help thee.

SA2 10:12  Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for
 the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

SA2 10:13  And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the
 battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

SA2 10:14  And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then
 fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned
 from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

SA2 10:15  And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they
 gathered themselves together.

SA2 10:16  And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the
 river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of
 Hadarezer went before them.

SA2 10:17  And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and
 passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in
 array against David, and fought with him.

SA2 10:18  And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven
 hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote
 Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

SA2 10:19  And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they
 were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So
 the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

SA2 11:1  And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when
 kings go forth 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 tarried still at Jerusalem.

SA2 11:2  And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his
 bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a
 woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

SA2 11:3  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not
 this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

SA2 11:4  And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto
 him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she
 returned unto her house.

SA2 11:5  And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with
 child.

SA2 11:6  And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab
 sent Uriah to David.

SA2 11:7  And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab
 did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

SA2 11:8  And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And
 Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat
 from the king.

SA2 11:9  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants
 of his lord, and went not down to his house.

SA2 11:10  And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his
 house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then
 didst thou not go down unto thine house?

SA2 11:11  And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in
 tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the
 open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie
 with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this
 thing.

SA2 11:12  And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I
 will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.

SA2 11:13  And when David had called him, he did eat 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 went not down to his house.

SA2 11:14  And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to
 Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

SA2 11:15  And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront
 of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and
 die.

SA2 11:16  And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned
 Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

SA2 11:17  And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there
 fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died
 also.

SA2 11:18  Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;

SA2 11:19  And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of
 telling the matters of the war unto the king,

SA2 11:20  And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee,
 Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not
 that they would shoot from the wall?

SA2 11:21  Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a
 piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went
 ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

SA2 11:22  So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had
 sent him for.

SA2 11:23  And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against
 us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the
 entering of the gate.

SA2 11:24  And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some
 of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead
 also.

SA2 11:25  Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab,
 Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as
 another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and
 encourage thou him.

SA2 11:26  And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead,
 she mourned for her husband.

SA2 11:27  And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his
 house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David
 had done displeased the LORD.

SA2 12:1  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said
 unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

SA2 12:2  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

SA2 12:3  But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had
 bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his
 children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in
 his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

SA2 12:4  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take
 of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was
 come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that
 was come to him.

SA2 12:5  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to
 Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely
 die:

SA2 12:6  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this
 thing, and because he had no pity.

SA2 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God
 of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the
 hand of Saul;

SA2 12:8  And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy
 bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been
 too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

SA2 12:9  Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil
 in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast
 taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the
 children of Ammon.

SA2 12:10  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because
 thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy
 wife.

SA2 12:11  Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out
 of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give
 them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this
 sun.

SA2 12:12  For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all
 Israel, and before the sun.

SA2 12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And
 Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not
 die.

SA2 12:14  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the
 enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall
 surely die.

SA2 12:15  And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child
 that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

SA2 12:16  David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and
 went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

SA2 12:17  And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up
 from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

SA2 12:18  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the
 servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said,
 Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not
 hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the
 child is dead?

SA2 12:19  But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that
 the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child
 dead? And they said, He is dead.

SA2 12:20  Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed
 himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and
 worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set
 bread before him, and he did eat.

SA2 12:21  Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast
 done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when
 the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

SA2 12:22  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
 said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may
 live?

SA2 12:23  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back
 again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

SA2 12:24  And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and
 lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the
 LORD loved him.

SA2 12:25  And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his
 name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

SA2 12:26  And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took
 the royal city.

SA2 12:27  And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against
 Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

SA2 12:28  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.

SA2 12:29  And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and
 fought against it, and took it.

SA2 12:30  And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof
 was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's
 head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

SA2 12:31  And he brought forth the people that 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 unto all the cities of the
 children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

SA2 13:1  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a
 fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

SA2 13:2  And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for
 she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.

SA2 13:3  But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah
 David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

SA2 13:4  And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from
 day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my
 brother Absalom's sister.

SA2 13:5  And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make 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.

SA2 13:6  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.

SA2 13:7  Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's
 house, and dress him meat.

SA2 13:8  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.

SA2 13:9  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.

SA2 13:10  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.

SA2 13:11  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.

SA2 13:12  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.

SA2 13:13  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.

SA2 13:14  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger
 than she, forced her, and lay with her.

SA2 13:15  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.

SA2 13:16  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.

SA2 13:17  Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put
 now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

SA2 13:18  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.

SA2 13:19  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.

SA2 13:20  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.

SA2 13:21  But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

SA2 13:22  And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for
 Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

SA2 13:23  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.

SA2 13:24  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.

SA2 13:25  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.

SA2 13:26  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?

SA2 13:27  But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons
 go with him.

SA2 13:28  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.

SA2 13:29  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.

SA2 13:30  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.

SA2 13:31  Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth;
 and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

SA2 13:32  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.

SA2 13:33  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.

SA2 13:34  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.

SA2 13:35  And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy
 servant said, so it is.

SA2 13:36  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.

SA2 13:37  But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of
 Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

SA2 13:38  So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

SA2 13:39  And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he
 was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

SA2 14:1  Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was
 toward Absalom.

SA2 14:2  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:

SA2 14:3  And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put
 the words in her mouth.

SA2 14:4  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.

SA2 14:5  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am
 indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

SA2 14:6  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.

SA2 14:7  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.

SA2 14:8  And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give
 charge concerning thee.

SA2 14:9  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.

SA2 14:10  And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to
 me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

SA2 14:11  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.

SA2 14:12  Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word
 unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

SA2 14:13  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.

SA2 14:14  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.

SA2 14:15  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.

SA2 14:16  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.

SA2 14:17  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.

SA2 14:18  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.

SA2 14:19  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:

SA2 14:20  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.

SA2 14:21  And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go
 therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

SA2 14:22  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.

SA2 14:23  So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

SA2 14:24  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.

SA2 14:25  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.

SA2 14:26  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.

SA2 14:27  And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose
 name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

SA2 14:28  So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's
 face.

SA2 14:29  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.

SA2 14:30  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.

SA2 14:31  Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto
 him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

SA2 14:32  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.

SA2 14:33  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.

SA2 15:1  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots
 and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

SA2 15:2  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.

SA2 15:3  And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but
 there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

SA2 15:4  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!

SA2 15:5  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.

SA2 15:6  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.

SA2 15:7  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.

SA2 15:8  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.

SA2 15:9  And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to
 Hebron.

SA2 15:10  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.

SA2 15:11  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.

SA2 15:12  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.

SA2 15:13  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men
 of Israel are after Absalom.

SA2 15:14  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.

SA2 15:15  And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are
 ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

SA2 15:16  And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the
 king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

SA2 15:17  And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried
 in a place that was far off.

SA2 15:18  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.

SA2 15:19  Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also
 with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a
 stranger, and also an exile.

SA2 15:20  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.

SA2 15:21  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.

SA2 15:22  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.

SA2 15:23  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.

SA2 15:24  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.

SA2 15:25  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:

SA2 15:26  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.

SA2 15:27  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.

SA2 15:28  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come
 word from you to certify me.

SA2 15:29  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
 Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

SA2 15:30  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.

SA2 15:31  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.

SA2 15:32  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:

SA2 15:33  Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be
 a burden unto me:

SA2 15:34  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.

SA2 15:35  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.

SA2 15:36  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.

SA2 15:37  So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into
 Jerusalem.

SA2 16:1  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.

SA2 16:2  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.

SA2 16:3  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.

SA2 16:4  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.

SA2 16:5  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.

SA2 16:6  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.

SA2 16:7  And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody
 man, and thou man of Belial:

SA2 16:8  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.

SA2 16:9  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.

SA2 16:10  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?

SA2 16:11  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.

SA2 16:12  It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the
 LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

SA2 16:13  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.

SA2 16:14  And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and
 refreshed themselves there.

SA2 16:15  And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to
 Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

SA2 16:16  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.

SA2 16:17  And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why
 wentest thou not with thy friend?

SA2 16:18  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.

SA2 16:19  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.

SA2 16:20  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we
 shall do.

SA2 16:21  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.

SA2 16:22  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.

SA2 16:23  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.

SA2 17:1  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve
 thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:

SA2 17:2  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:

SA2 17:3  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.

SA2 17:4  And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

SA2 17:5  Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear
 likewise what he saith.

SA2 17:6  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.

SA2 17:7  And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given
 is not good at this time.

SA2 17:8  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.

SA2 17:9  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.

SA2 17:10  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.

SA2 17:11  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.

SA2 17:12  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.

SA2 17:13  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.

SA2 17:14  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.

SA2 17:15  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.

SA2 17:16  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this
 night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king
 be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

SA2 17:17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be
 seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and
 told king David.

SA2 17:18  Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both
 of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well
 in his court; whither they went down.

SA2 17:19  And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and
 spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

SA2 17:20  And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they
 said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be
 gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find
 them, they returned to Jerusalem.

SA2 17:21  And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out
 of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and
 pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

SA2 17:22  Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they
 passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that
 was not gone over Jordan.

SA2 17:23  And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he
 saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and
 put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried
 in the sepulchre of his father.

SA2 17:24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and
 all the men of Israel with him.

SA2 17:25  And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which
 Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to
 Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.

SA2 17:26  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.

SA2 17:27  And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the
 son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of
 Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

SA2 17:28  Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and
 barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched
 pulse,

SA2 17:29  And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and
 for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is
 hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

SA2 18:1  And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of
 thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.

SA2 18:2  And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of
 Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
 brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king
 said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

SA2 18:3  But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee
 away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care
 for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better
 that thou succour us out of the city.

SA2 18:4  And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the
 king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by
 thousands.

SA2 18:5  And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal
 gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people
 heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

SA2 18:6  So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle
 was in the wood of Ephraim;

SA2 18:7  Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
 David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

SA2 18:8  For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country:
 and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

SA2 18:9  And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a
 mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head
 caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth;
 and the mule that was under him went away.

SA2 18:10  And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw
 Absalom hanged in an oak.

SA2 18:11  And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest
 him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have
 given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.

SA2 18:12  And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand
 shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against
 the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and
 Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

SA2 18:13  Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for
 there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set
 thyself against me.

SA2 18:14  Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three
 darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was
 yet alive in the midst of the oak.

SA2 18:15  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote
 Absalom, and slew him.

SA2 18:16  And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing
 after Israel: for Joab held back the people.

SA2 18:17  And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the
 wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled
 every one to his tent.

SA2 18:18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a
 pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my
 name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is
 called unto this day, Absalom's place.

SA2 18:19  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the
 king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

SA2 18:20  And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but
 thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings,
 because the king's son is dead.

SA2 18:21  Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And
 Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

SA2 18:22  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever,
 let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou
 run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

SA2 18:23  But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then
 Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

SA2 18:24  And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the
 roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and
 behold a man running alone.

SA2 18:25  And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he
 be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

SA2 18:26  And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called
 unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king
 said, He also bringeth tidings.

SA2 18:27  And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is
 like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good
 man, and cometh with good tidings.

SA2 18:28  And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell
 down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the
 LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand
 against my lord the king.

SA2 18:29  And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz
 answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a
 great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

SA2 18:30  And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he
 turned aside, and stood still.

SA2 18:31  And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king:
 for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against
 thee.

SA2 18:32  And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And
 Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against
 thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

SA2 18:33  And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the
 gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my
 son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

SA2 19:1  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for
 Absalom.

SA2 19:2  And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the
 people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his
 son.

SA2 19:3  And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people
 being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

SA2 19:4  But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice,
 O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

SA2 19:5  And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed
 this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy
 life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy
 wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

SA2 19:6  In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou
 hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for
 this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this
 day, then it had pleased thee well.

SA2 19:7  Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy
 servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry
 one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil
 that befell thee from thy youth until now.

SA2 19:8  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the
 people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people
 came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

SA2 19:9  And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of
 Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he
 delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out
 of the land for Absalom.

SA2 19:10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now
 therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

SA2 19:11  And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying,
 Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king
 back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even
 to his house.

SA2 19:12  Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are
 ye the last to bring back the king?

SA2 19:13  And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God
 do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me
 continually in the room of Joab.

SA2 19:14  And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of
 one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy
 servants.

SA2 19:15  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal,
 to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

SA2 19:16  And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim,
 hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

SA2 19:17  And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the
 servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants
 with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

SA2 19:18  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's
 household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell
 down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

SA2 19:19  And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me,
 neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that
 my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his
 heart.

SA2 19:20  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I
 am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my
 lord the king.

SA2 19:21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei
 be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?

SA2 19:22  And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that
 ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to
 death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over
 Israel?

SA2 19:23  Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the
 king sware unto him.

SA2 19:24  And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had
 neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from
 the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

SA2 19:25  And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king,
 that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me,
 Mephibosheth?

SA2 19:26  And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy
 servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the
 king; because thy servant is lame.

SA2 19:27  And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord
 the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

SA2 19:28  For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the
 king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own
 table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

SA2 19:29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy
 matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

SA2 19:30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all,
 forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

SA2 19:31  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over
 Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

SA2 19:32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he
 had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a
 very great man.

SA2 19:33  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will
 feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

SA2 19:34  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I
 should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

SA2 19:35  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good
 and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any
 more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy
 servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

SA2 19:36  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why
 should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

SA2 19:37  Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in
 mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But
 behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to
 him what shall seem good unto thee.

SA2 19:38  And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do
 to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt
 require of me, that will I do for thee.

SA2 19:39  And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come
 over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his
 own place.

SA2 19:40  Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and
 all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of
 Israel.

SA2 19:41  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto
 the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have
 brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over
 Jordan?

SA2 19:42  And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the
 king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have
 we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?

SA2 19:43  And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have
 ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then
 did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back
 our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words
 of the men of Israel.

SA2 20:1  And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was
 Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We
 have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every
 man to his tents, O Israel.

SA2 20:2  So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba
 the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan
 even to Jerusalem.

SA2 20:3  And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten
 women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in
 ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the
 day of their death, living in widowhood.

SA2 20:4  Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within
 three days, and be thou here present.

SA2 20:5  So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer
 than the set time which he had appointed him.

SA2 20:6  And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us
 more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after
 him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.

SA2 20:7  And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the
 Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue
 after Sheba the son of Bichri.

SA2 20:8  When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went
 before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and
 upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof;
 and as he went forth it fell out.

SA2 20:9  And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took
 Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

SA2 20:10  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he
 smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the
 ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his
 brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

SA2 20:11  And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth
 Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

SA2 20:12  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when
 the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the
 highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one
 that came by him stood still.

SA2 20:13  When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after
 Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

SA2 20:14  And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to
 Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went
 also after him.

SA2 20:15  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast
 up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people
 that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.

SA2 20:16  Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray
 you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

SA2 20:17  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab?
 And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine
 handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

SA2 20:18  Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying,
 They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

SA2 20:19  I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou
 seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up
 the inheritance of the LORD?

SA2 20:20  And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I
 should swallow up or destroy.

SA2 20:21  The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of
 Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David:
 deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto
 Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

SA2 20:22  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut
 off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew
 a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab
 returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

SA2 20:23  Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of
 Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

SA2 20:24  And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud
 was recorder:

SA2 20:25  And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:

SA2 20:26  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

SA2 21:1  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after
 year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for
 Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

SA2 21:2  And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the
 Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the
 Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to
 slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

SA2 21:3  Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you?
 and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance
 of the LORD?

SA2 21:4  And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of
 Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And
 he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.

SA2 21:5  And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that
 devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the
 coasts of Israel,

SA2 21:6  Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them
 up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king
 said, I will give them.

SA2 21:7  But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of
 Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and
 Jonathan the son of Saul.

SA2 21:8  But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom
 she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the
 daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the
 Meholathite:

SA2 21:9  And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they
 hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven
 together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days,
 in the beginning of barley harvest.

SA2 21:10  And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for
 her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon
 them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them
 by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

SA2 21:11  And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the
 concubine of Saul, had done.

SA2 21:12  And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan
 his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street
 of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had
 slain Saul in Gilboa:

SA2 21:13  And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of
 Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

SA2 21:14  And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the
 country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they
 performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for
 the land.

SA2 21:15  Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David
 went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and
 David waxed faint.

SA2 21:16  And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of
 whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded
 with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

SA2 21:17  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the
 Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying,
 Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light
 of Israel.

SA2 21:18  And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with
 the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was
 of the sons of the giant.

SA2 21:19  And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where
 Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath
 the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

SA2 21:20  And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great
 stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four
 and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

SA2 21:21  And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother
 of David slew him.

SA2 21:22  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of
 David, and by the hand of his servants.

SA2 22:1  And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that
 the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the
 hand of Saul:

SA2 22:2  And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

SA2 22:3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the
 horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest
 me from violence.

SA2 22:4  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be
 saved from mine enemies.

SA2 22:5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made
 me afraid;

SA2 22:6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented
 me;

SA2 22:7  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he
 did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

SA2 22:8  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved
 and shook, because he was wroth.

SA2 22:9  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth
 devoured: coals were kindled by it.

SA2 22:10  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his
 feet.

SA2 22:11  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the
 wings of the wind.

SA2 22:12  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and
 thick clouds of the skies.

SA2 22:13  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

SA2 22:14  The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

SA2 22:15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and
 discomfited them.

SA2 22:16  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world
 were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of
 his nostrils.

SA2 22:17  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

SA2 22:18  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me:
 for they were too strong for me.

SA2 22:19  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my
 stay.

SA2 22:20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me,
 because he delighted in me.

SA2 22:21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the
 cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

SA2 22:22  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed
 from my God.

SA2 22:23  For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did
 not depart from them.

SA2 22:24  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine
 iniquity.

SA2 22:25  Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my
 righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

SA2 22:26  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the
 upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

SA2 22:27  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou
 wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

SA2 22:28  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the
 haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

SA2 22:29  For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

SA2 22:30  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over
 a wall.

SA2 22:31  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is
 a buckler to all them that trust in him.

SA2 22:32  For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

SA2 22:33  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

SA2 22:34  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high
 places.

SA2 22:35  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by
 mine arms.

SA2 22:36  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
 gentleness hath made me great.

SA2 22:37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

SA2 22:38  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not
 again until I had consumed them.

SA2 22:39  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not
 arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

SA2 22:40  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up
 against me hast thou subdued under me.

SA2 22:41  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might
 destroy them that hate me.

SA2 22:42  They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he
 answered them not.

SA2 22:43  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp
 them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

SA2 22:44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou
 hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve
 me.

SA2 22:45  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they
 hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

SA2 22:46  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their
 close places.

SA2 22:47  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God
 of the rock of my salvation.

SA2 22:48  It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under
 me.

SA2 22:49  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted
 me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from
 the violent man.

SA2 22:50  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the
 heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

SA2 22:51  He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his
 anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

SA2 23:1  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse
 said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of
 Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

SA2 23:2  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

SA2 23:3  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that
 ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

SA2 23:4  And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
 even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth
 by clear shining after rain.

SA2 23:5  Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an
 everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my
 salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

SA2 23:6  But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away,
 because they cannot be taken with hands:

SA2 23:7  But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the
 staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same
 place.

SA2 23:8  These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite
 that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the
 Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

SA2 23:9  And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the
 three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there
 gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

SA2 23:10  He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and
 his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day;
 and the people returned after him only to spoil.

SA2 23:11  And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the
 Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground
 full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

SA2 23:12  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew
 the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.

SA2 23:13  And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the
 harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines
 pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

SA2 23:14  And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines
 was then in Bethlehem.

SA2 23:15  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the
 water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

SA2 23:16  And the three mighty men brake through the host of the
 Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the
 gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink
 thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

SA2 23:17  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is
 not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore
 he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

SA2 23:18  And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief
 among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew
 them, and had the name among three.

SA2 23:19  Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain:
 howbeit he attained not unto the first three.

SA2 23:20  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of
 Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went
 down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

SA2 23:21  And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear
 in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out
 of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.

SA2 23:22  These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among
 three mighty men.

SA2 23:23  He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the
 first three. And David set him over his guard.

SA2 23:24  Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of
 Dodo of Bethlehem,

SA2 23:25  Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

SA2 23:26  Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

SA2 23:27  Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

SA2 23:28  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

SA2 23:29  Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out
 of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

SA2 23:30  Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

SA2 23:31  Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

SA2 23:32  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

SA2 23:33  Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

SA2 23:34  Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the
 son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

SA2 23:35  Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

SA2 23:36  Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

SA2 23:37  Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the
 son of Zeruiah,

SA2 23:38  Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,

SA2 23:39  Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.

SA2 24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he
 moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

SA2 24:2  For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with
 him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and
 number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

SA2 24:3  And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the
 people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord
 the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

SA2 24:4  Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against
 the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from
 the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

SA2 24:5  And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side
 of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

SA2 24:6  Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they
 came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,

SA2 24:7  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the
 Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even
 to Beersheba.

SA2 24:8  So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at
 the end of nine months and twenty days.

SA2 24:9  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king:
 and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the
 sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

SA2 24:10  And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.
 And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and
 now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I
 have done very foolishly.

SA2 24:11  For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto
 the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

SA2 24:12  Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three
 things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

SA2 24:13  So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven
 years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months
 before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days'
 pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him
 that sent me.

SA2 24:14  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now
 into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall
 into the hand of man.

SA2 24:15  So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even
 to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to
 Beersheba seventy thousand men.

SA2 24:16  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy
 it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed
 the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was
 by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

SA2 24:17  And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the
 people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these
 sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and
 against my father's house.

SA2 24:18  And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an
 altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

SA2 24:19  And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD
 commanded.

SA2 24:20  And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on
 toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his
 face upon the ground.

SA2 24:21  And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant?
 And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the
 LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

SA2 24:22  And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up
 what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and
 threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

SA2 24:23  All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And
 Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

SA2 24:24  And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it
 of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God
 of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and
 the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

SA2 24:25  And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt
 offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and
 the plague was stayed from Israel.

