Bible in 90 Days
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 neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
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.”
14 However, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born unto thee shall surely die.”
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth.
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.
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 spoke 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?”
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.”
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 worshiped. Then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him and he ate.
21 Then said his servants unto him, “What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou did fast and weep for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou did rise and eat bread.”
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?’
23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her and lay with her. And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon; and the Lord loved him.
25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah [that is, Beloved of the Lord], because of the Lord.
26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and have taken from the city its waters.
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.”
29 And David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight of which 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.
31 And he brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
13 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.
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 any thing to her.
3 But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
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.”
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.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and made himself sick; and when the king came 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.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.”
8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. And she took flour and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9 And she took a pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out all men from me.” And they went out every man from him.
10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, “Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat from thine hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
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.”
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!
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.”
14 Nevertheless he would not hearken unto her voice; but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
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!”
16 And she said unto him, “There is no cause. This evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou did unto me.” But he would not hearken unto her.
17 Then he called his servant who ministered unto him and said, “Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”
18 And she had a garment of divers colors upon her, for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went on crying.
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.
21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
22 And Absalom spoke unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
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.
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.”
25 And the king said to Absalom, “Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be a burden unto thee.” And he pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.
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?”
27 But Absalom pressed him, so that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
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.”
29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got himself up upon his mule and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that tidings came to David, saying, “Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.”
31 Then the king arose and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
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.
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.”
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hillside behind him.
35 And Jonadab said unto the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come. As thy servant said, so it is.”
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 sorely.
37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
3 and come to the king and speak in this manner unto him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4 And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, “Help, O king!”
5 And the king said unto her, “What aileth thee?” And she answered, “I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and the two strove together in the field; and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.
7 And behold, the whole family has 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 leave to my husband neither name nor remnant upon the earth.”
8 And the king said unto the woman, “Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.”
9 And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, “My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me and on my father’s house, and the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10 And the king said, “Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.”
11 Then said she, “I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the avengers 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.”
12 Then the woman said, “Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king.” And he said, “Say on.”
13 And the woman said, “Why then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? For the king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.
14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilled 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.
15 Now therefore, why I have 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.
16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.’
17 Then thine handmaid said, ‘The word of my lord the king shall now be comforting; 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.’”
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.”
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 aught 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.
20 To bring about this manner 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.”
21 And the king said unto Joab, “Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.”
22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king; and Joab said, “Today 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.”
23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
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.
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.
26 And when he cut his hair (for it was at every year’s end that he cut it, because the hair was heavy on him; therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s weight.
27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a woman of a fair countenance.
28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.
29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he would not come to him; and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
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.
31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, “Why have thy servants set my field on fire?”
32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, ‘Come hither, that I may send thee to the king to say, “Why have 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.”
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.
15 And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared himself chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate; and it was so that, when any man who 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.”
3 And Absalom said unto him, “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear thee.”
4 Absalom said moreover, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!”
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.
6 And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
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.
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.’”
9 And the king said unto him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
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.’”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem who were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”
14 And David said unto all his servants who 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.”
15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, “Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.”
16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, “Why goest thou also with us? Return to thy place and abide with the king, for thou art a stranger and also an exile.
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.”
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.”
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 who were with him.
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.
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 passed out of the city.
25 And the king said unto Zadok, “Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back, and show me both it and His habitation.
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.”
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.
28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to assure me.”
29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem; and they tarried there.
30 And David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
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.”
32 And it came to pass, when David had come to the top of the mount where he worshiped God, that, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head;
33 unto whom David said, “If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me;
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.
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.
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 everything that ye can hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
16 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 a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 And the king said unto Ziba, “What meanest thou by these?” And Ziba said, “The asses are 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.”
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, ‘Today shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.’”
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.”
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 constantly as he came.
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.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, “Come out, come out, thou bloody man and thou man of Belial!
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.”
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.”
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, ‘Why hast thou done so?’”
11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came forth from my loins, 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.
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.”
13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and cast dust.
14 And the king and all the people who were with him became weary and refreshed themselves there.
15 And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”
17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?”
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.
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.”
20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, “Give counsel among you what we shall do.”
21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, “Go in unto thy father’s concubines, whom he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred by thy father. Then shall the hands of all who are with thee be strong.”
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.
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
17 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, “Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night.
2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weakhanded, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will smite the king only.
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.”
4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
5 Then said Absalom, “Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.”
6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom spoke unto him, saying, “Ahithophel hath spoken in this manner. Shall we do according to his word? If not, speak thou.”
7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
8 For,” said Hushai, “thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are 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.
9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place; and it will come to pass, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
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 those who are with him are valiant men.
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.
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 who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
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.”
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, with the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
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 counseled.
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 who are with him.’”
17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel, for they dared not be seen to come into the city; and a maidservant went and told them, and they went and told King David.
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, who had a well in his court, whither they went down.
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.
20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said unto them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 And it came to pass, after they had 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 counseled against you.”
22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan. By the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose and got him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab. This Amasa was a man’s son whose name was Ithra, an Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom pitched camp in the land of Gilead.
27 And it came to pass, when David had 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,
28 brought beds and basins and earthen vessels, and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn, and beans and lentils and parched pulse,
29 and honey and butter, and sheep, and cheese from cows, for David and for the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
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.”
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 succor us from the city.”
4 And the king said unto them, “What seemeth to you best I will do.” And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
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.
6 So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the wood of Ephraim,
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.
8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of all the country; and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
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.
10 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.”
11 And Joab said unto the man who told him, “And behold, thou sawest him, and why did thou not smite him there to the ground? And I would have given thee ten shekels of silver and a girdle.”
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.’
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.”
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.
15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back the people.
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.
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.
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, “Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.”
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.”
21 Then said Joab to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what thou hast seen.” And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab and ran.
22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, “But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?”
23 “But howsoever,” said he, “let me run.” And he said unto him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
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.
25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, “If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” And he came apace and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running alone.” And the king said, “He also bringeth tidings.”
27 And the watchman said, “I think 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.”
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, who hath delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”
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.”
30 And the king said unto him, “Turn aside and stand here.” And he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Tidings, my lord the king; for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all those who rose up against thee.”
32 And the king said unto the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And the Cushite answered, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.”
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!”
3 And the people got themselves by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
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!”
5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants who 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,
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.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortingly 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.”
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.
9 And all the people were in 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 has fled out of the land because of Absalom.
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?”
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 has come to the king, even to his house?
12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh. Why then are ye the last to bring back the king?’
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 place of Joab.’”
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.”
15 So the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over the Jordan.
16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hastened and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.
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 the Jordan before the king.
18 And there went over a ferryboat 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 coming over the Jordan,
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;
20 for thy servant doth know that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”
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?”
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?”
23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, “Thou shalt not die.” And the king swore unto him.
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.
25 And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, “Why wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?”
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.
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.
28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet did thou set thy servant among those who ate at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?”
29 And the king said unto him, “Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, ‘Thou and Ziba divide the land.’”
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, “Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king has come again in peace unto his own house.”
31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over the Jordan with the king to conduct him over the Jordan.
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old; and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, “Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.”
34 And Barzillai said unto the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
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? Why then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
36 Thy servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. And why should the king recompense me with such a reward?
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.”
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.”
39 And all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had come over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned unto his own place.
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.
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 the Jordan?”
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then be ye angry for this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? Or hath he given us any gift?”
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.
20 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!”
2 So every man of Israel went up from after David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah cleaved unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
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 custody and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 Then said the king to Amasa, “Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou present here.”
5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah, but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
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 himself fortifed cities and escape us.”
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.
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.
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,
10 but Amasa took no heed of the sword that was in Joab’s hand; so Joab 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.
11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him and said, “He that favoreth Joab and he that is for David, let him follow after Joab.”
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 who came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 And Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel and to Bethmaachah and all the Berites; and they were gathered together, and went also with him.
15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah; and they cast up a siege bank against the city, and it stood in the trench; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it down.
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.’”
17 And when he had 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.”
18 Then she spoke, saying, “They were wont to speak in olden times, saying, ‘They shall surely ask counsel at Abel’; and so they ended the matter.
19 I am one of those who 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?”
20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy.
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.”
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.
23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
24 and Adoram was over the tribute; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
25 and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests;
26 and Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler under David.
21 Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.”
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, but Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah)”
3 therefore 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?”
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.”
5 And they answered the king, “The man who consumed us and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,
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 chose.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
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.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore 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.
9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on 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.
10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest untilwater dropped upon them out of heaven; and she suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, who had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.
13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.
14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulcher of Kish his father; and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.
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.
16 And Ishbibenob, who 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 slay David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore unto him, saying, “Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
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, who was of the sons of the giant.
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.
20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who 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.
21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, the brother of David, slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
22 And David spoke 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.
2 And he said, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
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 savior; Thou savest me from violence.
4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
5 “When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6 the sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death lay ahead of me.
7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God; and He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry entered into His ears.
8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because He was wroth.
9 There went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and fire out of His mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under His feet.
11 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 And He made darkness pavilions round about Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
13 Through the brightness before Him were coals of fire kindled.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice.
15 And He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17 “He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me; for they were too strong for me.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.