The Bible, King James version, Complete

Part 16 out of 58




09:023:018 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode
in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

09:023:019 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the
hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

09:023:020 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire
of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him
into the king's hand.

09:023:021 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have
compassion on me.

09:023:022 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where
his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me
that he dealeth very subtilly.

09:023:023 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places
where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the
certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass,
if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout
all the thousands of Judah.

09:023:024 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and
his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the
south of Jeshimon.

09:023:025 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David;
wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after
David in the wilderness of Maon.

09:023:026 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his
men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get
away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David
and his men round about to take them.

09:023:027 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and
come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

09:023:028 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went
against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Selahammahlekoth.

09:023:029 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at
Engedi.

09:024:001 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the
Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in
the wilderness of Engedi.

09:024:002 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel,
and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild
goats.

09:024:003 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave;
and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men
remained in the sides of the cave.

09:024:004 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which
the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy
into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem
good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of
Saul's robe privily.

09:024:005 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him,
because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

09:024:006 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do
this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch
forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the
LORD.

09:024:007 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered
them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the
cave, and went on his way.

09:024:008 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and
cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul
looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth,
and bowed himself.

09:024:009 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words,
saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

09:024:010 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had
delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some
bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I
will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the
LORD's anointed.

09:024:011 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my
hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed
thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor
transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against
thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

09:024:012 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of
thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

09:024:013 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth
from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

09:024:014 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost
thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

09:024:015 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee,
and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

09:024:016 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking
these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my
son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

09:024:017 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou
hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

09:024:018 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well
with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into
thine hand, thou killedst me not.

09:024:019 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?
wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done
unto me this day.

09:024:020 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine
hand.

09:024:021 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not
cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my
name out of my father's house.

09:024:022 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and
his men gat them up unto the hold.

09:025:001 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered
together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at
Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of
Paran.

09:025:002 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel;
and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep,
and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

09:025:003 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife
Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a
beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in
his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

09:025:004 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his
sheep.

09:025:005 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the
young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet
him in my name:

09:025:006 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace
be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be
unto all that thou hast.

09:025:007 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy
shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was
there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in
Carmel.

09:025:008 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the
young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good
day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto
thy servants, and to thy son David.

09:025:009 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according
to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

09:025:010 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David?
and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days
that break away every man from his master.

09:025:011 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I
have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know
not whence they be?

09:025:012 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and
came and told him all those sayings.

09:025:013 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword.
And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded
on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred
men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

09:025:014 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying,
Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute
our master; and he railed on them.

09:025:015 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt,
neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant
with them, when we were in the fields:

09:025:016 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while
we were with them keeping the sheep.

09:025:017 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is
determined against our master, and against all his household:
for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to
him.

09:025:018 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two
bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five
measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins,
and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

09:025:019 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I
come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

09:025:020 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by
the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came
down against her; and she met them.

09:025:021 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this
fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of
all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for
good.

09:025:022 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave
of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that
pisseth against the wall.

09:025:023 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the
ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to
the ground,

09:025:024 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let
this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak
in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

09:025:025 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even
Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and
folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men
of my lord, whom thou didst send.

09:025:026 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul
liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to
shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now
let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as
Nabal.

09:025:027 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto
my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow
my lord.

09:025:028 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the
LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord
fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found
in thee all thy days.

09:025:029 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but
the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with
the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall
he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

09:025:030 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my
lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning
thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

09:025:031 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart
unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or
that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall
have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

09:025:032 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel,
which sent thee this day to meet me:

09:025:033 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast
kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging
myself with mine own hand.

09:025:034 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath
kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and
come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by
the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

09:025:035 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him,
and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have
hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

09:025:036 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his
house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry
within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him
nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

09:025:037 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out
of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his
heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

09:025:038 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote
Nabal, that he died.

09:025:039 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be
the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the
hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the
LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.
And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him
to wife.

09:025:040 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel,
they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take
thee to him to wife.

09:025:041 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and
said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet
of the servants of my lord.

09:025:042 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five
damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the
messengers of David, and became his wife.

09:025:043 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of
them his wives.

09:025:044 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to
Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

09:026:001 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon?

09:026:002 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,
having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek
David in the wilderness of Ziph.

09:026:003 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and
he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

09:026:004 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was
come in very deed.

09:026:005 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched:
and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son
of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench,
and the people pitched round about him.

09:026:006 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to
Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will
go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will
go down with thee.

09:026:007 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold,
Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in
the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round
about him.

09:026:008 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy
into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I
pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I
will not smite him the second time.

09:026:009 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be
guiltless?

09:026:010 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall
smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend
into battle, and perish.

09:026:011 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against
the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear
that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

09:026:012 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's
bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew
it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep
sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

09:026:013 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top
of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

09:026:014 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner,
saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and
said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

09:026:015 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who
is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept
thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to
destroy the king thy lord.

09:026:016 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD
liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your
master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's
spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

09:026:017 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my
son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

09:026:018 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

09:026:019 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against
me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of
men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me
out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD,
saying, Go, serve other gods.

09:026:020 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the
face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a
flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

09:026:021 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I
will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in
thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have
erred exceedingly.

09:026:022 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let
one of the young men come over and fetch it.

09:026:023 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his
faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day,
but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's
anointed.

09:026:024 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD,
and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

09:026:025 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou
shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So
David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

09:027:001 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the
hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I
should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and
Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of
Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

09:027:002 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men
that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of
Gath.

09:027:003 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man
with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

09:027:004 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he
sought no more again for him.

09:027:005 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine
eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country,
that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in
the royal city with thee?

09:027:006 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag
pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

09:027:007 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the
Philistines was a full year and four months.

09:027:008 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and
the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of
old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even
unto the land of Egypt.

09:027:009 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman
alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses,
and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to
Achish.

09:027:010 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David
said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the
Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

09:027:011 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings
to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did
David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in
the country of the Philistines.

09:027:012 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people
Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant
for ever.

09:028:001 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines
gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with
Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that
thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

09:028:002 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy
servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I
make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

09:028:003 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and
buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put
away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of
the land.

09:028:004 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and
pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and
they pitched in Gilboa.

09:028:005 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid,
and his heart greatly trembled.

09:028:006 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not,
neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

09:028:007 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And
his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor.

09:028:008 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he
went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by
night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto
thee.

09:028:009 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul
hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar
spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then
layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

09:028:010 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth,
there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

09:028:011 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he
said, Bring me up Samuel.

09:028:012 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice:
and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived
me? for thou art Saul.

09:028:013 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest
thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out
of the earth.

09:028:014 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old
man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul
perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to
the ground, and bowed himself.

09:028:015 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring
me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the
Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me,
and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams:
therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto
me what I shall do.

09:028:016 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing
the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

09:028:017 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy
neighbour, even to David:

09:028:018 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor
executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the
LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

09:028:019 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the
hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons
be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel
into the hand of the Philistines.

09:028:020 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was
sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no
strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor
all the night.

09:028:021 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore
troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath
obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have
hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

09:028:022 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice
of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before
thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest
on thy way.

09:028:023 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants,
together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto
their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

09:028:024 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and
killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake
unleavened bread thereof:

09:028:025 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and
they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

09:029:001 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to
Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in
Jezreel.

09:029:002 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by
thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward
with Achish.

09:029:003 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these
Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the
Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king
of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years,
and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto
this day?

09:029:004 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and
the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow
return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast
appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest
in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should
he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with
the heads of these men?

09:029:005 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances,
saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

09:029:006 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the
LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy
coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have
not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me
unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

09:029:007 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not
the lords of the Philistines.

09:029:008 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what
hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with
thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the
enemies of my lord the king?

09:029:009 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art
good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the
princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with
us to the battle.

09:029:010 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's
servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up
early in the morning, and have light, depart.

09:029:011 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning,
to return into the land of the Philistines. And the
Philistines went up to Jezreel.

09:030:001 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to
Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the
south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with
fire;

09:030:002 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew
not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and
went on their way.

09:030:003 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was
burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their
daughters, were taken captives.

09:030:004 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their
voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

09:030:005 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

09:030:006 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of
stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved,
every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David
encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

09:030:007 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray
thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither
the ephod to David.

09:030:008 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after
this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him,
Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail
recover all.

09:030:009 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him,
and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind
stayed.

09:030:010 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred
abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over
the brook Besor.

09:030:011 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to
David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him
drink water;

09:030:012 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters
of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to
him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three
days and three nights.

09:030:013 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence
art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to
an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone
I fell sick.

09:030:014 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and
upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of
Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

09:030:015 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this
company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt
neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master,
and I will bring thee down to this company.

09:030:016 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread
abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing,
because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the
land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

09:030:017 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening
of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save
four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.

09:030:018 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away:
and David rescued his two wives.

09:030:019 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor
great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any
thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.

09:030:020 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave
before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.

09:030:021 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint
that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to
abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David,
and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came
near to the people, he saluted them.

09:030:022 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those
that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us,
we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have
recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that
they may lead them away, and depart.

09:030:023 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that
which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and
delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

09:030:024 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part
is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that
tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

09:030:025 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute
and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

09:030:026 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the
elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present
for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

09:030:027 To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south
Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

09:030:028 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in
Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

09:030:029 And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in
the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the
cities of the Kenites,

09:030:030 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in
Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,

09:030:031 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where
David himself and his men were wont to haunt.

09:031:001 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of
Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain
in mount Gilboa.

09:031:002 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons;
and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and
Melchishua, Saul's sons.

09:031:003 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit
him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

09:031:004 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and
thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and
thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would
not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and
fell upon it.

09:031:005 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell
likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

09:031:006 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and
all his men, that same day together.

09:031:007 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the
valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that
the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead,
they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came
and dwelt in them.

09:031:008 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came
to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons
fallen in mount Gilboa.

09:031:009 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and
sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish
it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

09:031:010 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they
fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

09:031:011 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which
the Philistines had done to Saul;

09:031:012 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the
body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

09:031:013 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at
Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Book 10 2 Samuel

10:001:001 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was
returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had
abode two days in Ziklag;

10:001:002 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man
came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and
earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David,
that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

10:001:003 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said
unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

10:001:004 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee,
tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the
battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and
Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

10:001:005 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest
thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

10:001:006 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance
upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and,
lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

10:001:007 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me.
And I answered, Here am I.

10:001:008 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite.

10:001:009 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay
me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole
in me.

10:001:010 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he
could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown
that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm,
and have brought them hither unto my lord.

10:001:011 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him:

10:001:012 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul,
and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and
for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the
sword.

10:001:013 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art
thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an
Amalekite.

10:001:014 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch
forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?

10:001:015 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and
fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

10:001:016 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy
mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the
LORD's anointed.

10:001:017 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son:

10:001:018 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the
bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

10:001:019 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are
the mighty fallen!

10:001:020 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon;
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the
daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

10:001:021 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there
be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the
shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul,
as though he had not been anointed with oil.

10:001:022 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the
bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul
returned not empty.

10:001:023 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and
in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than
eagles, they were stronger than lions.

10:001:024 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in
scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold
upon your apparel.

10:001:025 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O
Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

10:001:026 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant
hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing
the love of women.

10:001:027 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

10:002:001 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the
LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?
And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither
shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

10:002:002 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

10:002:003 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man
with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

10:002:004 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king
over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the
men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

10:002:005 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and
said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed
this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried
him.

10:002:006 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also
will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this
thing.

10:002:007 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye
valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of
Judah have anointed me king over them.

10:002:008 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took
Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

10:002:009 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and
over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over
all Israel.

10:002:010 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to
reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of
Judah followed David.

10:002:011 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of
Judah was seven years and six months.

10:002:012 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the
son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

10:002:013 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went
out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat
down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on
the other side of the pool.

10:002:014 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play
before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

10:002:015 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin,
which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of
the servants of David.

10:002:016 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust
his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together:
wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in
Gibeon.

10:002:017 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was
beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

10:002:018 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai,
and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

10:002:019 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to
the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

10:002:020 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And
he answered, I am.

10:002:021 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to
thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take
thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from
following of him.

10:002:022 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following
me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then
should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

10:002:023 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the
hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that
the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and
died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as
came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

10:002:024 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went
down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth
before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

10:002:025 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together
after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an
hill.

10:002:026 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour
for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the
latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people
return from following their brethren?

10:002:027 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely
then in the morning the people had gone up every one from
following his brother.

10:002:028 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and
pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

10:002:029 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain,
and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they
came to Mahanaim.

10:002:030 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had
gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's
servants nineteen men and Asahel.

10:002:031 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of
Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

10:002:032 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of
his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went
all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

10:003:001 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house
of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house
of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.

10:003:002 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was
Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

10:003:003 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the
daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

10:003:004 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth,
Shephatiah the son of Abital;

10:003:005 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born
to David in Hebron.

10:003:006 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of
Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong
for the house of Saul.

10:003:007 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter
of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou
gone in unto my father's concubine?

10:003:008 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and
said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness
this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren,
and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand
of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning
this woman?

10:003:009 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath
sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10:003:010 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up
the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even
to Beersheba.

10:003:011 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared
him.

10:003:012 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying,
Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and,
behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel
unto thee.

10:003:013 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one
thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face,
except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou
comest to see my face.

10:003:014 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying,
Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an
hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

10:003:015 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Phaltiel the son of Laish.

10:003:016 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to
Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he
returned.

10:003:017 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying,
Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

10:003:018 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By
the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out
of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all
their enemies.

10:003:019 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went
also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed
good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of
Benjamin.

10:003:020 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And
David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

10:003:021 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will
gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a
league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that
thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went
in peace.

10:003:022 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing
a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was
not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was
gone in peace.

10:003:023 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they
told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and
he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

10:003:024 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done?
behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent
him away, and he is quite gone?

10:003:025 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive
thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know
all that thou doest.

10:003:026 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers
after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah:
but David knew it not.

10:003:027 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in
the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under
the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his
brother.

10:003:028 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom
are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner
the son of Ner:

10:003:029 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's
house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that
hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff,
or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

10:003:030 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had
slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

10:003:031 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with
him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn
before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

10:003:032 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his
voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people
wept.

10:003:033 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a
fool dieth?

10:003:034 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a
man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the
people wept again over him.

10:003:035 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while
it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more
also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

10:003:036 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as
whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

10:003:037 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it
was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

10:003:038 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is
a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

10:003:039 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men
the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward
the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

10:004:001 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his
hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

10:004:002 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the
name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab,
the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:
(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.

10:004:003 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there
until this day.)

10:004:004 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet.
He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and
Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled:
and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell,
and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

10:004:005 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah,
went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of
Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

10:004:006 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though
they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the
fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

10:004:007 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his
bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded
him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain
all night.

10:004:008 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron,
and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of
Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath
avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

10:004:009 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of
Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth,
who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10:004:010 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to
have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in
Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for
his tidings:

10:004:011 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person
in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now
require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the
earth?

10:004:012 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut
off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the
pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and
buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

10:005:001 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and
spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

10:005:002 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he
that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said
to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a
captain over Israel.

10:005:003 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and
king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD:
and they anointed David king over Israel.

10:005:004 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned forty years.

10:005:005 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months:
and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all
Israel and Judah.

10:005:006 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites,
the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying,
Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not
come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

10:005:007 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is
the city of David.

10:005:008 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the
gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind
that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain.
Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come
into the house.

10:005:009 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David.
And David built round about from Millo and inward.

10:005:010 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts
was with him.

10:005:011 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar
trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an
house.

10:005:012 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king
over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his
people Israel's sake.

10:005:013 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem,
after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and
daughters born to David.

10:005:014 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in
Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

10:005:015 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

10:005:016 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

10:005:017 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David
king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David;
and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

10:005:018 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley
of Rephaim.

10:005:019 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the
LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the
Philistines into thine hand.

10:005:020 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and
said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me,
as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that
place Baalperazim.

10:005:021 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned
them.

10:005:022 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim.

10:005:023 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not
go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them
over against the mulberry trees.

10:005:024 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the
tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir
thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite
the host of the Philistines.

10:005:025 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the
Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

10:006:001 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel,
thirty thousand.

10:006:002 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with
him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of
God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts
that dwelleth between the cherubims.

10:006:003 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it
out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and
Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

10:006:004 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at
Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the
ark.

10:006:005 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD
on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps,
and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on
cymbals.

10:006:006 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth
his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen
shook it.

10:006:007 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God
smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of
God.

10:006:008 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach
upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to
this day.

10:006:009 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall
the ark of the LORD come to me?

10:006:010 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into
the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house
of Obededom the Gittite.

10:006:011 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the
Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all
his household.

10:006:012 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the
house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because
of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God
from the house of Obededom into the city of David with
gladness.

10:006:013 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD
had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

10:006:014 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David
was girded with a linen ephod.

10:006:015 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the
LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

10:006:016 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal
Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David
leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in
her heart.

10:006:017 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his
place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched
for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
before the LORD.

10:006:018 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt
offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the
name of the LORD of hosts.

10:006:019 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole
multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one
a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of
wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

10:006:020 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the
daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How
glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself
to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of
the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

10:006:021 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which
chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to
appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before the LORD.

10:006:022 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in
mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken
of, of them shall I be had in honour.

10:006:023 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the
day of her death.

10:007:001 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the
LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

10:007:002 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell
in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within
curtains.

10:007:003 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine
heart; for the LORD is with thee.

10:007:004 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came
unto Nathan, saying,

10:007:005 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou
build me an house for me to dwell in?

10:007:006 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I
brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this
day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

10:007:007 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children
of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel,
whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build
ye not me an house of cedar?

10:007:008 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus
saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from
following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

10:007:009 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut
off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a
great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in
the earth.

10:007:010 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will
plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and
move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict
them any more, as beforetime,

10:007:011 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my
people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine
enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an
house.

10:007:012 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall
proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

10:007:013 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the
throne of his kingdom for ever.

10:007:014 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit
iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the
stripes of the children of men:

10:007:015 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from
Saul, whom I put away before thee.

10:007:016 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever
before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

10:007:017 According to all these words, and according to all this
vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

10:007:018 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said,
Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast
brought me hitherto?

10:007:019 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but
thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while
to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

10:007:020 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD,
knowest thy servant.

10:007:021 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast
thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know
them.

10:007:022 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like
thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all
that we have heard with our ears.

10:007:023 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like
Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and
to make him a name, and to do for you great things and
terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou
redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their
gods?

10:007:024 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a
people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their
God.

10:007:025 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning
thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever,
and do as thou hast said.

10:007:026 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of
hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant
David be established before thee.

10:007:027 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy
servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath
thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

10:007:028 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true,
and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

10:007:029 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy
servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou,
O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the
house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

10:008:001 And after this it came to pass that David smote the
Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out
of the hand of the Philistines.

10:008:002 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them
down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to
death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the
Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

10:008:003 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,
as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

10:008:004 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred
horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all
the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred
chariots.

10:008:005 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer
king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men.

10:008:006 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians
became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went.

10:008:007 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants
of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

10:008:008 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king
David took exceeding much brass.

10:008:009 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the
host of Hadadezer,

10:008:010 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him,
and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and
smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram
brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
vessels of brass:

10:008:011 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the
silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he
subdued;

10:008:012 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of
the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer,
son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

10:008:013 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the
Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

10:008:014 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he
garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And
the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

10:008:015 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment
and justice unto all his people.

10:008:016 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat
the son of Ahilud was recorder;

10:008:017 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of
Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

10:008:018 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites
and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

10:009:001 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of
Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

10:009:002 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was
Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said
unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

10:009:003 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul,
that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said
unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his
feet.

10:009:004 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto
the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of
Ammiel, in Lodebar.

10:009:005 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of
Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

10:009:006 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,
was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.
And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy
servant!

10:009:007 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee
kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee
all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at
my table continually.

10:009:008 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou
shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

10:009:009 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto
him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to
Saul and to all his house.

10:009:010 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the
land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy
master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy
master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had
fifteen sons and twenty servants.

10:009:011 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord
the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do.
As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table,
as one of the king's sons.

10:009:012 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And
all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto
Mephibosheth.

10:009:013 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually
at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

10:010:001 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children
of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

10:010:002 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of
Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent
to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And
David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

10:010:003 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their
lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he
hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his
servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and
to overthrow it?

10:010:004 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one
half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the
middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

10:010:005 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because
the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at
Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

10:010:006 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of
Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen,
and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve
thousand men.

10:010:007 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of
the mighty men.

10:010:008 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in
array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,
and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in
the field.

10:010:009 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him
before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel,
and put them in array against the Syrians:

10:010:010 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of
Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against
the children of Ammon.

10:010:011 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou
shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for
thee, then I will come and help thee.

10:010:012 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people,
and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which
seemeth him good.

10:010:013 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto
the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

10:010:014 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled,
then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city.
So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to
Jerusalem.

10:010:015 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel,
they gathered themselves together.

10:010:016 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were
beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the
captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

10:010:017 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together,
and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set
themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

10:010:018 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of
seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand
horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who
died there.

10:010:019 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw
that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with
Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the
children of Ammon any more.

10:011:001 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time
when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his
servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the
children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried
still at Jerusalem.

10:011:002 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from
off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and
from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman
was very beautiful to look upon.

10:011:003 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is
not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah
the Hittite?

10:011:004 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto
him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her
uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

10:011:005 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I
am with child.

10:011:006 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And
Joab sent Uriah to David.

10:011:007 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how
Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.

10:011:008 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy
feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there
followed him a mess of meat from the king.

10:011:009 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the
servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

10:011:010 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto
his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy
journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?

10:011:011 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah,
abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord,
are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine
house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou
livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

10:011:012 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow
I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day,
and the morrow.

10:011:013 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before
him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on
his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to
his house.

10:011:014 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter
to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

10:011:015 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the
forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that
he may be smitten, and die.

10:011:016 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he
assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men
were.

10:011:017 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and
there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and
Uriah the Hittite died also.

10:011:018 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the
war;

10:011:019 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end
of telling the matters of the war unto the king,

10:011:020 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto
thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye
did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

10:011:021 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman
cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he
died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy
servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

10:011:022 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab
had sent him for.

10:011:023 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed
against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were
upon them even unto the entering of the gate.

10:011:024 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and
some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the
Hittite is dead also.

10:011:025 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto
Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword
devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong
against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.

10:011:026 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was
dead, she mourned for her husband.

10:011:027 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to
his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But
the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

10:012:001 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and
said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich,
and the other poor.

10:012:002 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

10:012:003 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which
he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with
him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and
drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him
as a daughter.

10:012:004 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to
take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the
wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's
lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

10:012:005 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he
said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done
this thing shall surely die:

10:012:006 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this
thing, and because he had no pity.

10:012:007 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the
LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I
delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

10:012:008 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives
into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of
Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have
given unto thee such and such things.

10:012:009 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to
do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with
the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast
slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10:012:010 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;
because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of
Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

10:012:011 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee
out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine
eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with
thy wives in the sight of this sun.

10:012:012 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before
all Israel, and before the sun.

10:012:013 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.

10:012:014 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion
to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that
is born unto thee shall surely die.

10:012:015 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the
child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

10:012:016 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted,
and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

10:012:017 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.

10:012:018 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died.
And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child
was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet
alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our
voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the
child is dead?

10:012:019 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.

10:012:020 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed
himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of
the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and
when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

10:012:021 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou
hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it
was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and
eat bread.

10:012:022 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?

10:012:023 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him
back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

10:012:024 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her,
and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name
Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

10:012:025 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called
his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

10:012:026 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and
took the royal city.

10:012:027 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought
against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

10:012:028 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and
encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city,
and it be called after my name.

10:012:029 And David gathered all the people together, and went to
Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

10:012:030 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight
whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it
was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the
city in great abundance.

10:012:031 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put
them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of
iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did
he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and
all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

10:013:001 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.

10:013:002 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister
Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him
to do anything to her.



 


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