Bible in 90 Days
11 “Thus said the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor. And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of his sin.
12 ‘For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the Sun.’”
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD has also put away your sin. You shall not die.
14 “However, because, by this deed, you have caused the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child who is born to you shall surely die.”
15 So Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child whom Uriah’s wife bore to David. And it was sick.
16 David, therefore, sought God for the child and fasted and went in and lay all night upon the earth.
17 Then the elders of his house arose to come to him, and to cause him to rise from the ground. But he would not. Nor did he eat food with them.
18 So, on the seventh day, the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Behold, while the child was alive, we spoke to him. And he would not listen to our voice. How, then, shall we say to him, ‘The child is dead,’ and upset him more?”
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore, David said to 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 worshipped. And afterward, he came to his own house and requested that they set bread before him. And he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What thing is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive. But when the child was dead, you rose up and ate food.”
22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. For I said, ‘Who can tell whether God will have mercy on me, so that the child may live?’
23 “But now, being dead, why should I now 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 into her, and lay with her. And she bore a son. And he called his name, Solomon. Also, the LORD loved him.
25 For He had sent Word by Nathan the Prophet. Therefore, he called his name, Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
26 Then Joab fought against Rabbah, of the children of Ammon, and took the city of the kingdom.
27 Therefore, Joab sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
28 “Now, therefore, gather the rest of the people together and besiege the city, so that you may take it, lest the victory be attributed to me.”
29 So, David gathered all the people together and went against Rabbah and besieged it and took it.
30 And he took their king’s crown from his head (which weighed a talent of gold, with precious stones). And it was set on David’s head. And he brought away the spoil of the city in exceedingly great abundance.
31 And he carried away the people who were there, and put them under saws, and under iron hoes, and under axes of iron, and cast them into the brick kiln. He did thus with all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
13 Now after this, so it was 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 severely troubled that he fell sick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and it seemed extraordinary for Amnon to be able to do anything.
3 But Amnon had a friend called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very cunning man,
4 who said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so low from day to day? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon answered him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food. And let her prepare food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar, my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may receive food by her hand.”
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8 So, Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. And he was laying 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 would not eat. Then Amnon said, “Have every man go out from me.” So, every man went out from him.
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, so that I may eat from your 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 set them before him to eat, he took her and said to her, “Come. Lie with me, my sister.”
12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me. For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Do not commit this folly.
13 “And me, where would my shame go? And you would be as one of the fools in Israel. Now, therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not deny me from you.”
14 However, he would not listen to her voice. But, being stronger than her, he forced her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Up! Go away!”
16 And she answered him, “There is no reason. This evil (to send me away) is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not hear her,
17 and called his servant who served him, and said, “Send this woman away from me now, and lock the door after her!”
18 And she had a garment of diverse colors upon her. For the king’s daughters who were virgins were appareled with such garments. Then his servant brought her out and locked the door after her.
19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the garment of diverse colors which was upon her and laid her hand on her head and went away, crying.
20 And Absalom, her brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, your brother, been with you? Now then, hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Do not let this thing grieve your heart.” So, Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 But when King David heard all these things, he was very angry.
22 And Absalom said to his brother, Amnon, neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar.
23 And after the time of two years, Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor (which is beside Ephraim). And Absalom called all the king’s sons.
24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, “Behold, now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25 But the king answered Absalom, “No my son. Please do not let us all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” Still, Absalom pressed hard upon him. However, he would not go, but thanked him.
26 Then Absalom said, “But, please, shall not my brother Amnon go with us?” And the king answered him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom urged him, and he sent Amnon with him, and all the king’s children.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Mark, now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, “Strike Amnon! Kill him. Do not fear. For have I not commanded you? Be bold, therefore, and valiant.”
29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. And all the king’s sons arose. And every man got up upon his mule and fled.
30 And while they were on the way, tidings came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed 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 ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Do not let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons. For only Amnon is dead. For so Absalom has decreed since Amnon forced his sister Tamar.
33 “Now, therefore, do not let my lord the king take the thing so grievously to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who kept watch lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.
35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons come. As your servant said, so it is.”
36 And as soon as he had stopped speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voices and wept. And the king, also, and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled away 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 for three years.
39 And King David desired to go forth to Absalom, because he was pacified concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
14 Then Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a cunning woman there, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel. Do not anoint yourself with oil but be as a woman who has now mourned for the dead a long time.
3 “Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” For Joab told her what she should say.
4 Then the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, and fell down on her face to the ground, and prostrated herself, and said, “Help, O king!”
5 Then the king said to her, “What is wrong?” And she answered, “I am indeed a widow, and my husband is dead.
6 “And your handmaid had two sons. And the two struggled together in the field. And there was no one to part them. So, one struck the other and killed him.
7 “And behold, the whole family arose against your handmaid. And they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, so that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he killed, so that we may also destroy the heir.’ So shall they quench my ember which is left and shall not leave to my husband either name or posterity upon the Earth.”
8 And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give you a charge.”
9 Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king! This trespass is on me and on my father’s House. And the king and his throne are guiltless.”
10 And the king said, “Bring him to me, who speaks against you. And he shall no longer touch you.”
11 Then she said, “Please, let the king remember the LORD your God, so that you would not allow revengers of blood to destroy anymore, lest they kill my son.” And he answered, “As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please, let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.”
13 Then the woman said, “Why, then, have you thought such a thing against the people of God? Or does the king speak as one who is at fault, in that he will not bring back his banished?
14 “For we must die and be as water, spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet does God take away life; but He appoints means by which not to cast the expelled out from Him.
15 “Now, therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Therefore, your handmaid said, ‘I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
16 ‘For the king will hear and deliver his handmaid (and also my son) out of the hand of the man who would destroy me from the inheritance of God.’
17 “Therefore, your handmaid said, ‘The word of my lord the king shall now be comforting. For my lord the king is as an angel of God in hearing good and bad. Therefore, the LORD your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king answered, and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me the thing that I shall ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.”
19 And the king said, “Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?” Then the woman answered, and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, I will not turn, to the right or to the left, from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me. And he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.
20 “For with the intent of changing appearances, your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to understand all things that are on the Earth.”
21 And the king said to Joab, “Behold, now, I have done this thing. Go, then, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself and thanked the king. Then Joab said, “This day your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”
23 And Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 And the king said, “Let him turn to his own house, and not see my face.” So, Absalom turned to his own house, and did not see the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel, there was no one to be praised as much for beauty as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish on him.
26 And when he shaved his head (for he shaved it at the end of every year because it was too heavy for him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
27 And Absalom had three sons and one daughter, named Tamar, who was a fair woman to look upon.
28 So, Absalom dwelt in Jerusalem for the span of two years and did not see 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 for him again, he would not come.
30 Therefore, he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab has a field by my place, and has barley in it. Go and set it on fire!” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants burnt my field with fire?”
32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, and I will send you to the king to say “Why have I come from Geshur? It would have been better for me to have still been there.”’ Now, therefore, let me see the king’s face. And if there is any trespass in me, let him kill me.”
33 Then Joab came to the king and told him. And he called for Absalom, who came to the king and bowed himself to the ground on his face before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
15 After this, Absalom prepared chariots for himself, and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 And Absalom rose up early and stood by the entrance of the gate. And every man who had any dispute, and had come to the king for judgment, Absalom called to himself, and said, “What city are you from?” And he answered, “Your servant is from…” (one of the tribes of Israel).
3 Then Absalom said to him, “See, your matters are good and righteous; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”
4 Moreover, Absalom said, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who has any dispute might come to me, so that I might do him justice!”
5 And when any man came near to him and prostrated himself, 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 after forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Pleaase let me go to Hebron and render my vow which I have vowed to the LORD.
8 “For your servant vowed a vow when I remained at Geshur, in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD shall bring me back indeed to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.’”
9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So, he arose and went to Hebron.
10 Then, Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the trumpet, you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
11 And two hundred invited men went out of Jerusalem with Absalom. And they went innocently, knowing nothing.
12 Also, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, Giloh, while he offered Sacrifices. And the treason was great. For the people with Absalom steadily increased.
13 Then, a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have turned to follow Absalom.”
14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Up, and let us flee! For we shall not escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he comes suddenly and takes us and brings evil upon us and strikes the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, your servants are ready to do according to all that my lord the king shall appoint.”
16 So the king departed, with all his household following him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house.
17 And the king went forth, with all the people following him, and stayed in a faraway place.
18 And all his servants went around him, and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men, who had followed him from Gath, went before the king.
19 Then, the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why have you also come with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a stranger. Therefore, depart to your place!
20 “You came yesterday. And should I make you wander today and go with us? I will go where I can. Therefore, you return and carry back your brethren. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, there will your servant surely be.”
22 Then David said to Ittai, “Come and go forward.” And Ittai the Gittite went, and all his men, and all the children who were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people went forward. But the king passed over the brook Kidron. And all the people went over toward the way of the wilderness.
24 And lo, Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him, bearing the Ark of the Covenant of God. And they set the Ark of God down. And Abiathar went up until all the people had come out of the city.
25 Then, the king said to Zadok, “Carry the Ark of God back into the city. If I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me it and its Tabernacle.
26 “But if He says this: “I have no delight in you,” behold, I am here. Let Him do to me as seems good in His Eyes.”
27 Again, the king said to Zadok the Priest, “Are you not a Seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you: Ahimaaz, your son, and Jonathan, the son of Abiathar.
28 “Behold, I will wait in the fields of the wilderness until some word comes from you to be told to me.”
29 Therefore, Zadok and Abiathar carried the Ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they waited there.
30 And David went up the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and went barefooted. And all the people who were with him (every man) had his head covered. And as they went up, they wept.
31 Then one told David, saying, “Ahithophel is one of those who have conspired with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray! Turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
32 Then David came to the top of the Mount, where he worshipped God. And behold, Hushai the Archite came against him, with his coat torn and having earth upon his head,
33 to whom David said, “If you go with me, you shall be a burden to me.
34 “But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king! As I have been in time past your father’s servant, so will I now be your servant!’ then you may bring me the counsel of Ahithophel to nothing.
35 “And do you not have there with you Zadok and Abiathar, the priests? Therefore, whatever you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 “Behold, their two sons are there with them: Ahimaaz, Zadok’s, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s. By them also shall you send me everything that you can hear.”
37 So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.
16 When David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and two hundred cakes of bread upon them, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of dried figs, and a bottle of wine.
2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” And Ziba said, “They are donkeys for the king’s household to ride on, and bread and dried figs for the young men to eat, and wine so that the faint may drink in the wilderness.
3 And the king said, “But where is your master’s son?” Then, Ziba answered the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘This day shall the House of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.’”
4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I beg you, let me find grace in your sight, my lord, O king!”
5 And when King David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, named Shimei, the son of Gera. And he came out and cursed.
6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David, and all the people, and all the men of war on his right and on his left.
7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, “Come forth! Come forth, you murderer and wicked man!
8 “The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the House of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned! And the LORD has delivered your kingdom into the hand of Absalom, your son! And behold, you have been taken in your wickedness, because you are a murderer!”
9 Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king, “Why does this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go and take away his head.”
10 But the king said, ‘What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? For if he curses because the LORD has bid him curse David, who then dare says, ‘Why have you done so?’”
11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my own bowels, seeks my life! How much more so, then, may this son of Benjamin? Allow him to curse! For the LORD has bid him!
12 “It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction and do me good for his cursing this day!”
13 And as David and his men went along the way, Shimei went along the side of the mountain, opposite him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones against him, and cast dust.
14 Then 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 when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”
17 Then Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?
18 Hushai then answered Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose. His will I be. And with them will I dwell.
19 “And moreover, to whom shall I do service if not to his son? As I served before your father, so will I before you.”
20 Then Absalom spoke to Ahithophel, “Give counsel what we shall do.”
21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines whom he has left to keep the house. And when all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father, the hands of all who are with you shall be strong.”
22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house. And Absalom went in to 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 one had asked counsel of the oracle of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel, both with David and with Absalom.
17 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men. And I will get up and follow after David this night.
2 “And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed. So, I will make them afraid. And all the people who are with him shall flee, and I will strike only the king.
3 “And I will bring back all the people to you. When all shall return, all the people shall be in peace, seeing the man whom you seek has been killed.”
4 And the saying pleased Absalom, as well as all the elders of Israel.
5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also and let us hear what he says as well!”
6 So, when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken this. Shall we do as he says, or not? Tell me.”
7 Hushai then answered Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8 “For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are strong men and bitter, as a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Also, your father is a valiant warrior and will not lodge with the people.
9 “Behold, he is hidden now in some cave, or in some place. And when some of them are overthrown at first, the people shall hear and say, ‘The people who follow Absalom have been slaughtered!’
10 “Then he, also, who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall shrink and faint. For all Israel knows that your father is valiant, and those with him are stout men.
11 “Therefore, my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand of the sea in number, and that you go to battle in person.
12 “So shall we come upon him in some place, wherever we shall find him. And we will fall upon him as the dew falls on the ground. And of all the men who are with him we will not leave one.
13 “Moreover, if he has gotten into a city, then shall all the men of Israel bring ropes to that city. And we will draw it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14 Then 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 determined to destroy the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring misery upon Absalom).
15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, “Of this and that manner did Ahithophel and the elders of Israel counsel Absalom. And thus and so have I counseled.
16 “Now, therefore, send quickly, and tell David, saying, “Do not stay in the fields of the wilderness this night. But cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him are devoured.”
17 Now, Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En Rogel, for they could not be seen coming into the city. And a maid went and told them, and they went and told King David.
18 Nevertheless, a young man saw them, and told it to Absalom. Therefore, they both departed quickly and came to a man’s house in Bahurim who had a well in his court, into which they went down.
19 And the wife took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn on it, so that the thing would not be known.
20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the wife, into the house, they said, “Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman answered them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought them, and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 And as soon as they had departed, the others came out of the well, and went and told King David, and said to him, “Up! And quickly get yourself over the water! For such counsel has Ahithophel given against you!”
22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they went over Jordan until the dawning of the day, so that there was not one of them who had not come over Jordan.
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and arose. And he went home to his city and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in his father’s grave.
24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasa was the son of a man named Jithra, an Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
26 So Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
27 And when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash, out of Rabbah, of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel, out of Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite, out 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 corn.
29 And they brought honey and butter and sheep and cheese from the herd, 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!”
18 Then David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands over them, and captains of hundreds.
2 And David sent forth one third of the people under the hand of Joab, and one third of those under the hand of Abishai, Joab’s brother, the son of Zeruiah, and one third of those under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I will also go with you myself.”
3 But the people answered, “You shall not go forth! For if we flee away, they will not care about us! Nor will they care about us if half of us were killed! But you are now worth ten thousand of us! Therefore, now, it is better that you help us out of the city!”
4 Then the king said to them, “What seems best to you, that I will do.” So, 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, “Engage the young man Absalom gently, for my sake.” And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6 So, the people went out into the field to meet Israel. And the battle was in the Forest of Ephraim,
7 where the people of Israel were killed before the servants of David. So, there was a great slaughter that day, of twenty thousand.
8 For the battle was scattered over all the country. And the forest devoured many more people that day than did the sword.
9 Now Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule. And the mule came under a great thick oak. And his head caught hold of the oak and he was taken up between the sky and the earth. And the mule that was under him went away.
10 And one who saw it told Joab, saying, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.”
11 Then Joab said to the man who told him, “And have you indeed seen? Why then did you not strike him to the ground there, and I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a girdle?”
12 Then the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would still not lay my hand upon the king’s son! For in our hearing, the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware, lest any touch the young man Absalom.’
13 “If I had done it, it would have been the danger of my life! For nothing can be hidden from the king! Yea, you yourself would have been against me!”
14 Then Joab said, “I will not wait with you like this.” And he took three arrows in his hand and thrust them through Absalom, while he was still alive in the midst of the oak.
15 And ten servants who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16 Then 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 forest and laid a mighty great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled, each one to his tent.
18 Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and raised up a pillar for himself (which is in the king’s dale). For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” And he named the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called “Absalom’s Place”.
19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king the news that the LORD has delivered him out of the hand of his enemies.”
20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not be the messenger today. You shall bring news another time. But today you shall bear none. For the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to Cushi, “Go! Tell the king what you have seen.” And Cushi bowed himself to Joab and ran.
22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after Cushi?” And Joab said, “Why, now, will you run, my son, seeing that you have no tidings to bring?”
23 “Still, let me run?” Then he said to him, “Run.” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and overtook Cushi.
24 Now David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went to the top of the gate, upon the wall, and lifted up his eyes and saw. And behold, a man came running alone.
25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, he brings news.” And he came quickly and drew near.
26 And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the potter, and said, “Behold, a man runs alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.”
27 And the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” Then the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
28 And Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “Peace!” And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, Who has shut up the men who lift up their hands 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 your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what.”
30 And the king said to him, “Turn aside. Stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 And behold, Cushi came. And Cushi said, “News, my lord the king. For the LORD has delivered you this day out of the hand of all who rose against you!”
32 Then the king said to Cushi, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” And Cushi answered, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do you harm, are as that young man is.”
33 And the king was moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said this: “O, my son Absalom! My son! My son, Absalom! Would that I had died for you, O Absalom, my son! My son!”
19 And it was told to Joab, “Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.”
2 Therefore, the victory of that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard say that day, “The king sorrows for his son.”
3 And the people went that day into the city, secretly, as ashamed people when they hide themselves while fleeing in battle.
4 So the king hid his face. And the king cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son! My son!”
5 Then Joab came into the house, to the king, and said, “This day you have shamed the faces of all your servants who have saved your life this day, and the lives of your sons, and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,
6 “in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For this day you have declared that you regard neither your princes nor servants. Therefore, this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and we all had died this day, that then it would have pleased you well.
7 “Now, therefore, up! Come out and speak comfortably to your servants. For I swear by the LORD, unless you come out, there will not be one man stay with you this night! And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has fallen on you from your youth until now!”
8 Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And they declared to all the people, saying, “Behold, the king sits in the gate!” And all the people came before the king (for Israel had fled, each man to his tent).
9 Then all the people were quarreling 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 for Absalom!
10 “And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle! Therefore, why are you so slow to bring the king back?”
11 But King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, and say, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the saying of all Israel has come to the king, to his house?
12 ‘You are my brethren. My bones and my flesh are yours. Why, then, are you the last who bring the king back?’
13 “Also, say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also if you are not captain of the army to me forever in the room of Joab!’”
14 So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah, as of one man. Therefore, they sent to the king, saying, “Return with all your servants.”
15 So the king returned and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go meet the king and to cross over Jordan with him.
16 And Shimei, the son of Gera, the son of Benjamin (who was from Bahurim) hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David,
17 and a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the House of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. And they went over Jordan before the king.
18 And a boat went over to carry over the king’s household, and to bring him pleasure. Then Shimei, the son of Gera, fell before the king after he had come over Jordan,
19 and said to the king, “Do not let my lord think me guilty, or remember the thing that your servant did wickedly when my lord the king departed out of Jerusalem, so that the king would take it to heart.
20 “For your servant knows that I have done amiss. Therefore, behold, I am the first this day, of all the House of Joseph, who has come to go down to meet my lord the king.”
21 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, answered and said, “Shall not Shimei die for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”
22 And David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that this day you should be adversaries to me? Shall there any man die this day in Israel? For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?”
23 Therefore, the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
24 And Mephibosheth, the son of Saul, came down to meet the king, and had neither washed his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the time the king departed until he returned in peace.
25 And when he had come to Jerusalem, and met the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 And he answered, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I would have my donkey saddled, to ride on it to go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27 “And he has accused your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore, do your pleasure.
28 “For all my father’s House were but dead men before my lord the king, yet you sat your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right, therefore, do I still have to cry anymore to the king?”
29 And the king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the lands.’”
30 And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes. Let him take it all, seeing my lord the king has come home in peace.”
31 Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went over Jordan with the king, to send him over Jordan.
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he sojourned in Mahanaim. For he was a man of very great substance.
33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will feed you with me in Jerusalem.”
34 And Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
35 “I am this day eighty years old, and can I discern between good or evil? Has your servant any taste in what I eat, or in that I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and women? Why, then, should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?
36 “Your servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king. And why would the king repay me with such a reward?
37 “Please let your servant turn back again, so that I may die in my own city and be buried in the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold your servant Chimham. Let him go with my lord the king and do with him what shall please you.”
38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall go with me, and I will do with him that with which you shall be content. And whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you.”
39 So all the people went over Jordan. And the king passed over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. And he returned to his own place.
40 Then the king went to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. And all the people of Judah crossed over with the king, and also half the people of Israel.
41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away, and have brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over Jordan?”
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. And why now are you angry for this matter? Have we eaten at the king’s expense? Or have we taken any bribes?”
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten parts in the king, and have also more right to David than you. Why then did you despise us, so that our advice would not be first had in restoring our king?” And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
20 Then a wicked man came there named Sheba, the son of Bichri, a man of Benjamin. And he blew the trumpet, and said, “We have no part in David! Nor have we inheritance in the son of Ishai! Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
2 So every man of Israel went from David and followed Sheba, the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung fast to their king, from Jordan to Jerusalem.
3 Then, when David came to his house, to Jerusalem, the king took the ten women (his concubines) whom he had left behind him to keep the house and put them in ward and fed them. But he no longer lay with them. But they were enclosed until the days of their deaths, living in widowhood.
4 Then the king said to Amasa, “Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days. And be present here yourself.”
5 So Amasa went to assemble Judah. But he took longer than the time which had been appointed to him.
6 Then David said to Abishai, “Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and follow after him, lest he get himself walled cities and escapes us.”
7 And Joab’s men went out after him, and also the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men. And they departed out of Jerusalem, to follow 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 to him. And upon it was a sword, girded, which hung on his loins in the sheath. And as he went, it would fall out.
9 And Joab said to Amasa, “Are you in good health, my brother?” And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand, to kiss him.
10 But Amasa took no notice of the sword that was in Joab’s hand. For with it, he struck him in the fifth rib, and poured out his bowels to the ground, and did not strike him a second time. So, he died. Then Joab and Abishai, his brother, followed after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, “He who favors Joab, and he who is of David’s part, let him get behind Joab.”
12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the road. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the road, into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
13 When he was removed out of the road, every man got behind Joab, to follow after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel: to Abel and Beth Maachah and all of Berim. And they gathered together and also got behind him.
15 So they came and besieged him in Abel, near Beth Maachah. And they cast up a siege mount against the city. And its people stood on the rampart. And all the people who were with Joab destroyed and cast down the wall.
16 Then a wise woman cried out of the city, “Hear! Hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come here, so that I may speak with you.’”
17 And when he came near to her, the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “Yes.” And she said to him, “Hear the words of your handmaid.” And he answered, “I do hear.”
18 Then she spoke this: “They spoke in the old time, saying, ‘They should ask of Abel.’ And so, they have continued.
19 “I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. And you go about to destroy a city, and a mother, in Israel. Why will you devour the inheritance of the LORD?”
20 And Joab answered, and said, “May it never be! May it never be that I should devour or destroy it!”
21 “The matter is not so! But a man of Mount Ephraim (Sheba the son of Bichri, by name) has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver only him to us, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.”
22 Then the woman went, with her wisdom, to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and cast it to Joab. Then he blew the trumpet and they retreated from the city, each man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem, to the king.
23 Then Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites,
24 and Adoram over the tribute, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud the Recorder.
25 And Sheva was Scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
26 And also, Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
21 Then there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David asked counsel of the LORD. And the LORD answered: “It is for Saul, and for his bloody House, because he killed the [c]Gibeonites.”
2 Then the king called the Gibeonites, and said to them…(Now, the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites, with whom the children of Israel had sworn peace. But Saul sought to kill them for his zeal toward the children of Israel and Judah.)
3 And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make the atonement, so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
4 The Gibeonites then answered him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul, nor from his house. Nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” And he said, “Whatever you say, that will I do for you.”
5 Then they answered the king, “The man who consumed us, and who imagined evil against us, so that we have been destroyed from remaining in any territory of Israel,
6 “let seven men of his sons be delivered to us. And we will hang them up to the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, the LORD’s chosen.” And the king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king had compassion on 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 to Saul (Armoni and Mephibosheth) and the five sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite.
9 And he delivered them to the hands of the Gibeonites, who hanged them on the mountain, before the LORD. So they died, seven altogether. And they were killed in the time of harvest, in the first days, and in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Then Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and hung it up for herself upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them from the sky, and allowed neither the birds of the air to light on them by day nor beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told to 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 citizens of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan where the Philistines had hanged them when the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa.
13 So he brought the bones of Saul there, and the bones of Jonathan, his son. And they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.
14 And they buried the bones of Saul and of Jonathan, his son, in the country of Benjamin, in Zelah, in the grave of Kish, his father. And when they had performed all that the king had commanded, God was then appeased with the land.
15 Again, the Philistines had war with Israel. And David went down, and his servants with him. And they fought against the Philistines. And David fainted.
16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giants whose spears weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, girded a new sword and thought to kill David.
17 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, helped him and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the light of Israel.”
18 And after this, there was also a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then, Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giants.
19 And there was yet another battle with the Philistines in Gob, where Elhanan, the son of Jaare-Oregim, a Bethlehemite, killed Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 Afterward, there was also a battle in Gath, where there was a man of stature, who had six fingers on every hand and six toes on every foot (twenty-four in number) who was also the son of giants.
21 And when he reviled Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shimea, the brother of David, killed him.
22 These four were born to giants in Gath, and died by the hand of David, and by the hands of his servants.
22 And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD on the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hands of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.
2 And he said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress, and He Who delivers me.
3 “God is my strength! In Him will I trust, my Shield and the Horn of My Salvation, my High Tower and my Refuge. My Savior, You have saved me from violence!
4 “I will call on the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised! So shall I be safe from my enemies.
5 “For the pangs of death have surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness have made me afraid.
6 “The sorrows of the grave surrounded me all around. The snares of death overtook me.
7 “In my tribulation, I called upon the LORD and cried to my God. And He heard my voice out of His Temple, and my cry into His Ears.
8 “Then the Earth trembled and quaked! The foundations of the heavens moved and shook, because He was angry!
9 “Smoke went out at His Nostrils, and consuming fire out of His Mouth. Coals were kindled there.
10 “He also bent the heavens and came down, darkness under his feet.
11 “And He rode upon Cherubim and flew. And He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 “And He made darkness a tabernacle all around Him, the gatherings of waters and the clouds of the air.
13 “At the brightness of His presence the coals of fire were kindled.
14 “The LORD thundered from Heaven! And the Most High gave His Voice!
15 “He also shot arrows and scattered them (lightning) and destroyed them.
16 “Also, the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were discovered by the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His Nostrils!
17 “He sent from Above and took me. He drew me out of many waters.
18 “He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me. For they were too strong for me.
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