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2 Samuel
| 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. |
| 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. |
| David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king
of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. |
| And David took from him a thousand chariots, and
seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked
all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. |
| And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour
Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men. |
| 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. |
| And David took the shields of gold that were on the
servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. |
| And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of
Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. |
| When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten
all the host of Hadadezer, |
| 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: |
| Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD,
with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he
subdued; |
| 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. |
| And David gat him a name when he returned from
smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand
men. |
| 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. |
| And David reigned over all Israel; and David
executed judgment and justice unto all his people. |
| And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; |
| And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son
of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; |
| And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the
Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. |
| And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the
house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? |
| 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. |
| And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house
of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said
unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. |
| 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. |
| Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the
house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. |
| 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! |
| And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely
show 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. |
| And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant,
that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was
Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto
Mephibosheth. |
| So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat
continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. |
| And it came to pass after this, that the king of the
children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. |
| Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the
son of Nahash, as his father showed 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. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all
the host of the mighty men. |
| 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. |
| 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: |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with
him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. |
| 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. |
| And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten
before Israel, they gathered themselves together. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one
said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah
the Hittite? |
| 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. |
| And the woman conceived, and sent and told David,
and said, I am with child. |
| And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the
Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. |
| And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of
him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote
a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. |
| 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. |
| And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city,
that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. |
| 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. |
| Then Joab sent and told David all the things
concerning the war; |
| And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast
made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| So the messenger went, and came and showed David all
that Joab had sent him for. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her
husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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: |
| And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he
did this thing, and because he had no pity. |
| 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; |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing
before all Israel, and before the sun. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD
struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very
sick. |
| David therefore besought God for the child; and
David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and
he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. |
| And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of
Ammon, and took the royal city. |
| And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have
fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. |
| 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. |
| And David gathered all the people together, and went
to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. |
| 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. |
| 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 brickkiln: and thus did he unto all
the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people
returned unto Jerusalem. |
| 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. |
| And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his
sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to
do any thing to her. |
| But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the
son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man. |
| And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's
son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto
him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. |
| And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed,
and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto
him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress
the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. |
| So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when
the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let
Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I
may eat at her hand. |
| Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy
brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat. |
| So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he
was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his
sight, and did bake the cakes. |
| And she took a pan, and poured them out before him;
but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And
they went out every man from him. |
| And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the
chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which
she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. |
| And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he
took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. |
| And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force
me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this
folly. |
| And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as
for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I
pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. |
| Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but,
being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. |
| Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred
wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved
her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. |
| And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil
in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me.
But he would not hearken unto her. |
| Then he called his servant that ministered unto him,
and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. |
| And she had a garment of divers colours upon her:
for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins
apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after
her. |
| And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her
garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her
head, and went on crying. |
| And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon
thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy
brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her
brother Absalom's house. |
| But when king David heard of all these things, he
was very wroth. |
| And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither
good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar. |
| And it came to pass after two full years, that
Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons. |
| And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now,
thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his
servants go with thy servant. |
| And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us
not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. |
| Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my
brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go
with thee? |
| But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all
the king's sons go with him. |
| Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark
ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you,
Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be
courageous, and be valiant. |
| And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as
Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat
him up upon his mule, and fled. |
| And it came to pass, while they were in the way,
that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's
sons, and there is not one of them left. |
| Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay
on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent. |
| And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother,
answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the
young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the
appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he
forced his sister Tamar. |
| Now therefore let not my lord the king take the
thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for
Amnon only is dead. |
| But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the
watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much
people by the way of the hill side behind him. |
| And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's
sons come: as thy servant said, so it is. |
| And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end
of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their
voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. |
| But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of
Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. |
| So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there
three years. |
| And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto
Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. |
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