
DAVID LEARNS OF SAUL'S 
DEATH{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}It was thus that 
Saul died. As for David, 
he returned after 
defeating the Amalekites. 
He was already two days 
in Ziklag {I}2_{/}when, 
on the third day, a man 
came from Saul's camp, 
with his clothes torn and 
dust strewn on his head. 
He went to David and fell 
to the ground in homage. 
{I}3_{/}David asked him, 
"Where are you from?" And 
he answered, "I have 
escaped from the 
Israelite camp." 
{I}4_{/}David then said, 
"Tell me what happened." 
And the man told him, 
"The soldiers fled from 
the battle but many of 
them fell and died. Saul 
and his son Jonathan - 
they too are dead."
{I}5_{/}Then David asked 
the young man who 
reported this, "How do 
you know that Saul and 
his son Jonathan are 
dead?"
{I}6_{/}The young man 
replied, "I happened to 
be on Mount Gilboa and I 
saw Saul leaning on his 
spear while chariots and 
horsemen were closing in 
on him. {I}7_{/}He turned 
around and, seeing me, 
called me. {I}8_{/}I 
said, 'Here I am.' He 
asked, 'Who are you?' and 
I replied, 'I am an 
Amalekite.' {I}9_{/}He 
then said to me, 'Come 
here and kill me for I 
feel dizzy though I am 
fully alive.' {I}10_{/}So 
I went over and killed 
him, for I knew that he 
would fall and not rise 
again. Then I removed the 
crown from his head and 
the armlet from his arm, 
both of which I have here 
to give you, my lord."
{I}11_{/}At this, David 
took hold of his clothes 
and tore them and his men 
did the same. 
{I}12_{/}And they 
mourned, weeping and 
fasting until evening, 
for the death of Saul and 
his son Jonathan, for all 
the people of Judah and 
for the nation of Israel.
{I}13_{/}David asked the 
young man who told him 
this, "Where are you 
from?" And he answered, 
"I am the son of an 
Amalekite immigrant." 
{I}14_{/}David said, "Why 
were you not afraid to 
lay your hands on 
Yahweh's anointed and 
kill him?" {I}15_{/}He 
then called one of his 
men and ordered him, 
"Come and strike him 
down." He struck down the 
Amalekite and killed him.
{I}16_{/}David declared, 
"You will answer for your 
own blood for you 
condemned yourself when 
you said, 'I have killed 
Yahweh's anointed'."
{I}17_{/}David sang this 
song of lamentation for 
Saul and his son 
Jonathan, and had it 
taught to the people of 
Judah. It is called "The 
Bow" {I}18_{/}and is 
found in the Book of the 
Just.
{I}19_{/}"Your glory, O 
Israel, is slain upon 
your mountains!
How the mighty ones have 
fallen!
{I}20_{/}Tell it not in 
Gath,
proclaim it not in the 
streets of Ashkelon
lest the Philistine women 
rejoice,
lest foreign maidens 
exult.
{I}21_{/}Mountains of 
Gilboa,
let neither dew nor rain 
visit you,
no more fertile fields on 
you!
For on you the shield of 
the valiant was defiled.
{I}22_{/}The shield of 
Saul was not anointed 
with oil;
but with the blood of the 
slain.
From the fat of the 
warriors,
the bow of Jonathan did 
not turn back,
nor did the sword of Saul 
return unstained.
{I}23_{/}Saul and 
Jonathan, beloved and 
cherished,
neither in life nor in 
death were they parted;
swifter than eagles they 
were
and stronger than lions.
{I}24_{/}Women of Israel, 
weep over Saul
who clothed you in 
precious scarlet.
{I}25_{/}How the valiant 
have fallen!
In the midst of the 
battle Jonathan lies 
slain on your mountains.
{I}26_{/}I grieve for 
you, my brother Jonathan;
how dear have you been to 
me!
Your love for me was 
wonderful,
even more than the love 
of women.
{I}27_{/}How the valiant 
have fallen!
The weapons of war have 
perished!"
DAVID IS ANOINTED KING 
OVER JUDAH{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}After this, David 
consulted Yahweh, "Shall 
I go up to one of the 
cities of Judah?" Yahweh 
answered him, "Go!" Then 
David asked, "Where shall 
I go?" He answered, "To 
Hebron." {I}2_{/}So David 
went up to Hebron with 
his two wives, Ahinoam of 
Jezreel and Abigail the 
widow of Nabal of Carmel. 
{I}3_{/}David also 
brought up his men with 
their families and they 
settled in the towns of 
Hebron. {I}4_{/}Then the 
men of Judah came and 
there they anointed David 
king over the nation of 
Judah.
David learned that the 
men of Jabesh-gilead had 
buried Saul, {I}5_{/}so 
he sent messengers to 
them with these words, 
"May Yahweh bless you for 
you have dealt kindly 
with Saul, your master, 
and have buried him. 
{I}6_{/}May Yahweh show 
his love and fidelity to 
you! I, in turn, will be 
kind to you for having 
done this. {I}7_{/}Now be 
brave and strong for 
although your master Saul 
is dead, the people of 
Judah have anointed me 
their king."
{I}8_{/}Now Abner, son of 
Ner, Saul's general, had 
taken Ishbaal, son of 
Saul, and brought him 
over to Mahanaim 
{I}9_{/}where he made him 
king over Gilead, the 
Ashurites, Jezreel, 
Ephraim, Benjamin and the 
rest of Israel. 
{I}10_{/}Ishbaal, Saul's 
son, was forty years old 
when he began to reign 
over Israel, and he 
reigned for two years. 
Only the people of Judah 
followed David. 
{I}11_{/}David was their 
king in Hebron and he 
ruled over them for seven 
years and six months.
CIVIL WAR{/}

{I}12_{/}Abner, son of 
Ner, and the menservants 
of Ishbaal, Saul's son, 
left Mahanaim for Gibeon 
{I}13_{/}where Joab, son 
of Zeruiah and the men of 
David met them at the 
pool of Gibeon. There 
they sat, one group on 
one side of the pool, the 
other on the opposite 
side. {I}14_{/}Abner told 
Joab, "Let the young men 
rise and perform for us." 
Joab replied, "Let them 
rise!" {I}15_{/}So they 
rose and were counted 
off: twelve of the 
Benjaminites of Ishbaal, 
Saul's son, and twelve of 
David's men. 
{I}16_{/}Each one caught 
his opponent's head and 
thrust his sword in his 
opponent's side, and all 
fell down together. 
Therefore, that place in 
Gibeon was called field 
of the fighting.
{I}17_{/}After a very 
fierce battle that day, 
Abner and the men of 
Israel were defeated by 
David's troops. 
{I}18_{/}The three sons 
of Zeruiah - Joab, 
Abishai and Asahel - were 
there. {I}19_{/}Asahel, 
who ran as fast as a wild 
gazelle, pursued Abner, 
turning neither to the 
right nor to the 
left.{I}20_{/}Abner 
turned around and asked, 
"Is that you, Asahel?" He 
replied, "Yes, it is I." 
{I}21_{/}Abner said to 
him, "Turn right or left, 
go after one of the young 
men and take his spoil." 
But Asahel refused to 
desist from following 
him, {I}22_{/}so Abner 
again said, "Stop 
following me! I will 
surely strike you down 
and then, how could I 
face your brother Joab?" 
{I}23_{/}But Asahel would 
not heed, and Abner, 
without turning back, 
struck him in the belly 
with his spear which ran 
through him and came out 
his back. He fell and 
died on the spot and all 
who came to the place 
where Asahel fell dead, 
stopped there.
{I}24_{/}Joab and 
Abishai, however, pursued 
Abner and, by sunset, 
arrived at the hill of 
Ammah which lies near 
Giah toward the desert of 
Gibeon. {I}25_{/}The 
Benjaminites then rallied 
around Abner, forming one 
band, and took their 
position on the hilltop. 
{I}26_{/}Then Abner 
called to Joab, "When 
will the sword rest? Do 
you not realize that this 
will bring you more 
bitterness? When will you 
order your men to stop 
pursuing their brothers?" 
{I}27_{/}Joab replied, 
"As God lives, if you had 
not spoken, my men would 
have continued pursuing 
their brothers until 
morning." {I}28_{/}So 
Joab blew the trumpet and 
the men desisted from 
pursuing the Israelites 
and fighting them.
{I}29_{/}Abner and his 
men marched all night 
through the lowland, 
crossed the Jordan, and 
marched the whole morning 
until they reached 
Mahanaim. {I}30_{/}As for 
Joab, he stopped pursuing 
Abner and gathered all 
his men. Besides Asahel, 
nineteen of David's 
servants were missing. 
{I}31_{/}But David's men 
had killed three hundred 
and sixty of Abner's men 
from among the 
Benjaminites. 
{I}32_{/}Asahel was taken 
and buried in his 
father's tomb at 
Bethlehem. Then Joab and 
his men marched all night 
and reached Hebron at 
daybreak.
{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}There was a long 
war between Saul's party 
and that of David, but 
David grew stronger while 
Saul's party grew weaker. 
{I}2_{/}Sons were born to 
David at Hebron: his 
firstborn, Amnon, of 
Ahinoam of Jezreel; 
{I}3_{/}his second, 
Chileab, of Abigail, 
widow of Nabal of Carmel; 
the third, Absalom, son 
of Maacah the daughter of 
Talmai, king of Geshur; 
{I}4_{/}the fourth, 
Adonijah, the son of 
Haggith; the fifth, 
Shephatiah, the son of 
Abital; {I}5_{/}and the 
sixth, Ithream, of 
David's wife Eglah. These 
were born to David in 
Hebron.
{I}6_{/}While war was 
going on between the 
party of Saul and that of 
David, Abner was 
strengthening his 
position in Saul's 
family. {I}7_{/}Now Saul 
had a concubine named 
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, 
on whose account Ishbaal 
chided Abner, "Why have 
you slept with my 
father's concubine?" 
{I}8_{/}Abner was very 
angry because of 
Ishbaal's remark and 
exclaimed, "Am I a dog's 
head? Up to now I have 
been loyal to the family 
of Saul your father, to 
his brothers and friends, 
and have not delivered 
you into the hands of 
David, and you come 
accusing me because of 
this woman. {I}9_{/}May 
God deal with me severely 
if I do not do for David 
what Yahweh swore to him 
- {I}10_{/}to transfer 
the kingdom from the 
family of Saul to that of 
David and make him king 
of Israel and Judah to 
rule over all the land 
from Dan to Beersheba." 
{I}11_{/}Ishbaal could no 
longer say a word to 
Abner for he feared him.
{I}12_{/}Abner then sent 
messengers to David at 
Hebron saying, "To whom 
does the land belong? 
Enter into an agreement 
with me and I shall help 
you obtain all Israel." 
{I}13_{/}David replied, 
"I will make an agreement 
with you, but on one 
condition: you may appear 
before me when you bring 
me Saul's daughter, 
Michal."
{I}14_{/}Then David sent 
messengers to Ishbaal, 
Saul's son, to tell him, 
"Give me my wife Michal 
whom I married for the 
price of a hundred 
Philistine foreskins." 
{I}15_{/}Ishbaal sent for 
her and took her away 
from her husband Paltiel, 
son of Laish, 
{I}16_{/}who followed her 
weeping all the way to 
Bahurim. There Abner said 
to him, "Go back!" and he 
turned back.
{I}17_{/}Abner conferred 
with the elders of Israel 
and told them, "You have 
long wanted to have David 
as your king. 
{I}18_{/}Well, make it 
come true; for Yahweh 
made a promise to David 
and said: By my servant 
David, I will save my 
people Israel from the 
Philistines and from all 
their enemies." 
{I}19_{/}Abner also spoke 
to the people of 
Benjamin; then he went to 
tell David at Hebron the 
proposals of Israel and 
the Benjaminites.
JOAB MURDERS ABNER{/}

{I}20_{/}When Abner came 
to David at Hebron, David 
prepared a feast for him 
and the twenty men who 
were with him. 
{I}21_{/}Then Abner said 
to David, "I will now go 
and assemble all Israel 
for my master the king, 
that they may enter into 
an agreement with you, 
and that you may reign 
over all those you want 
to rule."
{I}22_{/}Just then, 
David's men and Joab 
arrived from a raid 
taking along with them a 
great deal of booty. 
Abner was no longer with 
David at Hebron for he 
had departed quietly 
after David had dismissed 
him. {I}23_{/}When Joab 
arrived with his troops 
he was told, "Abner, son 
of Ner, came to see the 
king; then the king sent 
him on his way and he 
went in peace." 
{I}24_{/}Joab then went 
to the king and said, 
"What did you do? When 
Abner came to you, why 
did you allow him to 
leave? {I}25_{/}You know 
what Abner, son of Ner, 
is like; he came to you 
deceitfully to observe 
and find out what you are 
doing."
{I}26_{/}Joab left David 
and sent messengers to go 
after Abner and they had 
him brought back from the 
cistern of Sirah. But 
David did not know of 
that. {I}27_{/}When Abner 
arrived at Hebron, Joab 
took him aside within the 
city gate as though to 
speak with him, 
privately. There he 
stabbed him in the belly 
and he died. Joab did so 
in revenge for the murder 
of his brother, Asahel.
{I}28_{/}Later on, David 
heard about this. Then he 
said, "Yahweh will not 
punish me and my kingdom 
for the blood of Abner, 
son of Ner. {I}29_{/}May 
justice for his blood 
fall on Joab and on all 
his father's family, and 
may there be forever 
among them some member 
who has discharge, or is 
sick with leprosy, or who 
is only fit to hold a 
spindle, or who falls by 
the sword or hungers!"
{I}30_{/}Joab and his 
brother Abishai slew 
Abner because he had 
killed their brother 
Asahel in the battle at 
Gibeon.
{I}31_{/}David then told 
Joab and those who were 
with him, "Tear off your 
clothes, put on sackcloth 
and mourn before Abner." 
King David himself 
followed the corpse. 
{I}32_{/}They buried 
Abner at Hebron; there 
the king wept aloud over 
his grave and all the 
people joined in the 
lamentation.
{I}33_{/}The king began 
the mourning song for 
Abner with these words, 
"Should Abner die as a 
fool dies? {I}34_{/}Your 
hands were not bound, 
your feet were not 
fettered; as one falls at 
the hands of the wicked, 
so you have fallen." And 
all the people again wept 
over him.
{I}35_{/}Then the people 
tried to persuade David 
to take some food while 
it was still day, but 
David swore, "May God do 
so to me and more if I 
touch food before 
sundown!" {I}36_{/}The 
people heeded this and it 
pleased them; in fact, 
they were pleased at 
whatever the king said. 
{I}37_{/}This day they 
realized, as did all the 
people of Israel, that 
the king had no part in 
the murder of Abner, son 
of Ner. {I}38_{/}Then the 
king said to his 
servants, "Do you realize 
that a general and 
valiant warrior passed 
away today in Israel? 
{I}39_{/}Although I am 
the anointed king, today 
I feel helpless to 
control the sons of 
Zeruiah. May Yahweh repay 
the one who did evil."
ISHBAAL IS MURDERED{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}When Ishbaal, 
Saul's son, heard that 
Abner had died at Hebron, 
he was stunned and the 
Israelites were 
disheartened. 
{I}2_{/}Saul's son had 
two men, captains of 
raiding bands: one was 
Baanah, the other Rechab, 
both sons of Rimmon, a 
Benjaminite from Beeroth. 
For Beeroth was still 
considered part of 
Benjamin; {I}3_{/}the 
Beerothites fled to 
Gittaim and have remained 
there as immigrants to 
the present day.
{I}4_{/}(Jonathan, son of 
Saul, had a son whose 
feet were crippled. He 
was five years old when 
the news came from 
Jezreel about the death 
of Saul and Jonathan. His 
nurse took him up and 
fled so hastily that the 
boy fell and became lame. 
He was called Mepibaal.)
{I}5_{/}Now Rechab and 
Baanah, sons of Rimmon, 
the Beerothite, went 
their way and arrived in 
the heat of the day at 
the house of Ishbaal who 
was taking a nap. 
{I}6_{/}His doorkeeper 
had been cleaning wheat, 
but feeling drowsy, she 
slept; Rechab and his 
brother Baanah got into 
the house. {I}7_{/}They 
rushed into Ishbaal's 
bedroom as he lay asleep 
in his bed and struck him 
dead. They beheaded him, 
took his head and left, 
walking all night by the 
way of the Arabah. 
{I}8_{/}They brought 
Ishbaal's head to David 
at Hebron and said to the 
king, "Here is the head 
of Ishbaal son of Saul, 
your enemy who sought 
your life. This day 
Yahweh has avenged my 
lord the king, on Saul 
and his son."
{I}9_{/}But David 
answered Rechab and his 
brother Baanah, sons of 
Rimmon the Beerothite, 
"Let Yahweh hear, he who 
has saved me from all 
adversities. 
{I}10_{/}When somebody 
reported Saul's death to 
me, thinking he was 
bringing me good news, I 
took hold of him and 
killed him at Ziklag, 
instead of giving him a 
reward. {I}11_{/}Will I 
do less when wicked men 
have murdered a just one 
in his own house and on 
his bed? Shall I not now 
demand his blood from 
your hands and sweep you 
away?"
{I}12_{/}So David 
commanded his young men 
to kill them. They cut 
off their hands and feet 
and hung them beside the 
pool at Hebron. Then they 
took Ishbaal's head and 
buried it in Abner's tomb 
on Hebron.
DAVID IS ANOINTED KING 
OVER ISRAEL{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}All the tribes of 
Israel came to David at 
Hebron and said, "We are 
your bone and flesh. 
{I}2_{/}In the past, when 
Saul was king over us, it 
was you who led Israel. 
And Yahweh said to you, 
'You shall be the 
shepherd of my people 
Israel and you shall be 
commander over Israel." 
{I}3_{/}Before Yahweh, 
King David made an 
agreement with the elders 
of Israel who came to him 
at Hebron, and they 
anointed him king of 
Israel.
{I}4_{/}David was thirty 
years old when he began 
to reign, and he reigned 
for forty years: 
{I}5_{/}he reigned over 
Judah, from Hebron, seven 
and a half years; and 
over Israel and Judah, 
from Jerusalem, for 
thirty-three years.
DAVID CAPTURES 
JERUSALEM{/}

{I}6_{/}The king and his 
men set out for Jerusalem 
to fight the Jebusites 
who lived there. They 
said to David, "If you 
try to break in here, the 
blind and the lame will 
drive you away," which 
meant that David could 
not get in. {I}7_{/}Yet 
David captured the 
fortress of Zion that 
became the "city of 
David."
{I}8_{/}That day David 
said, "Whoever wants to 
defeat the Jebusites, let 
him reach these lame and 
blind, David's enemies, 
through the tunnel for 
fetching water." From 
this came the saying, 
"The blind and the lame 
shall not enter the 
house." {I}9_{/}David 
lived in the fortress, 
calling it the City of 
David, and proceeded to 
build the city around it, 
from the Millo and inside 
as well. {I}10_{/}And 
David grew more powerful, 
for Yahweh, the God of 
hosts, was with him.
{I}11_{/}Hiram, king of 
Tyre, sent messengers to 
David with cedar trees, 
carpenters and masons to 
build a house for David. 
{I}12_{/}David then 
understood that Yahweh 
had made him king over 
Israel and had exalted 
his reign for the sake of 
his people Israel.
{I}13_{/}After David had 
come from Hebron he took 
more concubines and wives 
from Jerusalem, and more 
sons and daughters were 
born to him. 
{I}14_{/}These are the 
names of those who were 
born to him in Jerusalem: 
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, 
Solomon, {I}15_{/}Ibhar, 
Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 
{I}16_{/}Elishama, Eliada 
and Eliphelet.
{I}17_{/}When the 
Philistines heard that 
David had been anointed 
king of Israel, they went 
to search for him. On 
hearing this, David went 
down to the stronghold. 
{I}18_{/}When the 
Philistines overran the 
valley of Rephaim, 
{I}19_{/}David consulted 
Yahweh, "Shall I attack 
the Philistines? Will you 
deliver them into my 
hands?" Yahweh answered 
David, "Go ahead, for I 
will certainly deliver 
the Philistines into your 
hands." {I}20_{/}So David 
came to Baalperazim where 
he defeated them. He 
said, "Yahweh has 
scattered my enemies 
before me like a sudden 
bursting flood." That is 
why that place is called 
Baalperazim. 
{I}21_{/}There the 
Philistines left their 
idols and David and his 
men picked them up.
{I}22_{/}The Philistines 
went up again and overran 
the valley of Rephaim. 
{I}23_{/}David consulted 
Yahweh who said, "Do not 
go up straight but circle 
around and attack them 
from behind when you are 
in front of the balsam 
trees. {I}24_{/}Once you 
hear a marching sound on 
top of the balsam trees, 
act quickly, for Yahweh 
is going ahead of you to 
attack the Philistine 
army." {I}25_{/}David 
obeyed Yahweh's command 
and struck down the 
Philistines from Giba to 
as far as Gezer. 
THE ARK IS BROUGHT TO 
JERUSALEM{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}David gathered 
together once more all 
the picked men of Israel, 
numbering thirty thousand 
in all. {I}2_{/}Then he 
and all the people with 
him in Baala-Judah set 
forth to bring up from 
there the ark of God on 
which Yahweh of hosts 
pronounced and put his 
Name, he who rests on the 
cherubim. {I}3_{/}They 
placed the ark of God on 
a new cart and brought it 
out of the house of 
Abinadab on the hill. 
Uzzah and Ahio, sons of 
Abinadab, were guiding 
the cart {I}4_{/}with the 
ark of Yahweh, with Ahio 
walking before it. 
{I}5_{/}David and the 
Israelites were joyfully 
celebrating before 
Yahweh, singing and 
playing on lyres, harps, 
tambourines, castanets 
and cymbals.
{I}6_{/}When they came to 
the threshing floor of 
Nacon, the oxen stumbled 
and Uzzah stretched his 
hand to the ark of God to 
hold it. {I}7_{/}Yahweh's 
anger burnt against Uzzah 
and God struck him there; 
Uzzah died there beside 
the ark of God. 
{I}8_{/}David was angry 
because Yahweh had struck 
Uzzah, and that place is 
called Perez-Uzzah to the 
present day.
{I}9_{/}David was afraid 
of Yahweh that day and 
said, "How can the ark of 
Yahweh come to me?" 
{I}10_{/}So David refused 
to take the ark of Yahweh 
into the city of David 
but had it brought, 
instead, to the house of 
Obededom the Gittite. 
{I}11_{/}Yahweh's ark 
remained there for three 
months and Yahweh blessed 
Obededom and all his 
household.
{I}12_{/}King David was 
told that Yahweh had 
blessed the family of 
Obededom and all that 
belonged to him because 
of the ark of God, so he 
went to bring up the ark 
of God from the house of 
Obededom to the city of 
David, rejoicing. 
{I}13_{/}After those who 
carried the ark of Yahweh 
had walked six paces, 
they sacrificed an ox and 
a fattened calf.
{I}14_{/}David whirled 
round dancing with all 
his heart before Yahweh, 
wearing a linen ephod, 
{I}15_{/}for he and all 
the Israelites brought up 
the ark of Yahweh, 
shouting joyfully and 
sounding the horn.
{I}16_{/}As the ark of 
Yahweh entered the city 
of David, Michal, Saul's 
daughter, looked out of 
the window; and when she 
saw King David leaping 
and whirling round before 
Yahweh, she despised him 
in her heart.
{I}17_{/}They brought in 
the ark of Yahweh and 
laid it in its place in 
the tent which David had 
pitched for it. Then 
David offered burnt and 
peace offerings before 
Yahweh. {I}18_{/}Once the 
offerings had been made, 
David blessed the people 
in the name of Yahweh of 
hosts, {I}19_{/}and 
distributed to each of 
them, to each man and 
woman of the entire 
assembly of Israel, a 
loaf of bread, a portion 
of meat and a raisin 
cake. With this, all the 
people left for their 
homes.
{I}20_{/}When David 
returned to bless his 
household, Michal, Saul's 
daughter, met him and 
said, "How the king of 
Israel honored himself 
today, exposing himself 
before his servants' 
maids as uncouth men do!" 
{I}21_{/}But David said 
to Michal, "I did that 
before Yahweh who chose 
me instead of your father 
and his family, making me 
commander over Israel, 
Yahweh's people. By 
Yahweh's life I swear 
that I will dance and 
whirl again before him. 
{I}22_{/}I will humble 
myself still more and you 
may look at me, but I 
will not be rejected by 
the maids you spoke 
about." {I}23_{/}And 
Michal, Saul's daughter, 
had no child to the day 
she died.
THE PROPHECY OF NATHAN{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}When the king had 
settled in his palace and 
Yahweh had rid him of all 
his surrounding enemies, 
{I}2_{/}he said to Nathan 
the prophet, "Look, I 
live in a house of cedar 
but the ark of God is 
housed in a tent." 
{I}3_{/}Nathan replied, 
"Do as it seems fit to 
you for Yahweh is with 
you."
{I}4_{/}But that very 
night, Yahweh's word came 
to Nathan, {I}5_{/}"Go 
and tell my servant 
David, this is what 
Yahweh says: Are you able 
to build a house for me 
to live in? {I}6_{/}I 
have not dwelt in a house 
since I brought the 
Israelites up from Egypt 
to the present day, but I 
went about with a tent 
for shelter. {I}7_{/}As 
long as I walked with the 
Israelites, did I say 
anything to the chiefs of 
Israel whom I commanded 
to shepherd my people 
Israel? Did I say: Why 
have you not built me a 
house of cedar?
{I}8_{/}Now you will tell 
my servant David, this is 
what Yahweh of hosts 
says: I took you from the 
pasture, from tending the 
sheep, to make you 
commander of my people 
Israel. {I}9_{/}I have 
been with you wherever 
you went, cutting down 
all your enemies before 
you. Now I will make your 
name great as the name of 
the great ones on earth. 
{I}10_{/}I will provide a 
place for my people 
Israel and plant them 
that they may live there 
in peace. They shall no 
longer be harassed, nor 
shall wicked men oppress 
them as be-fore. 
{I}11_{/}From the time 
when I appointed judges 
over my people Israel it 
is only to you that I 
have given rest from all 
your enemies. Yahweh also 
tells you that he will 
build you a house. 
{I}12_{/}When the time 
comes for you to rest 
with your ancestors, I 
will raise up your son 
after you, the one born 
of you and I will make 
his reign secure. 
{I}13_{/}He shall build a 
house for my name and I 
will firmly establish his 
kingship forever. 
{I}14_{/}I will be a 
father to him and he 
shall be my son. If he 
does wrong, I will punish 
him with the rod, as men 
do. {I}15_{/}But I will 
not withdraw my kindness 
from him as I did from 
Saul when I removed him 
out of your way. 
{I}16_{/}Your house and 
your reign shall last 
forever before me, and 
your throne shall be 
forever firm."
{I}17_{/}Nathan repeated 
these words and related 
this vision to David.
{I}18_{/}Then King David 
went in, sat before 
Yahweh and said, "Who am 
I, O Yahweh God, and who 
is my family that you 
have brought me so far? 
{I}19_{/}Yet this was not 
enough for you, O Yahweh 
God, for you have also 
spoken of your servant's 
house for a long time to 
come. Is this the way men 
act, O Yahweh God? 
{I}20_{/}What more can 
David say to you? You 
know your servant, O 
Yahweh God! {I}21_{/}You 
fulfill your promise and 
carry out your plan, as 
you do now in bringing 
about all these great 
things and revealing them 
to your servant. 
{I}22_{/}Therefore you 
are great, O Yahweh God, 
for there is no one like 
you, nor is there a God 
other than you from all 
that we ourselves have 
heard. {I}23_{/}Is there 
on earth another nation 
like your people Israel, 
whom God has come to 
redeem, and to make his 
people? Indeed you made 
them famous when you did, 
for your glory, great and 
awesome things, rescuing 
them out of Egypt, from 
their people and their 
gods. {I}24_{/}You have 
set apart your people 
Israel to become your 
people forever; and you, 
Yahweh, have become their 
God.

{I}25_{/}Now, O Yahweh 
God, keep forever the 
promise you made and have 
now revealed to me 
regarding myself and my 
family, {I}26_{/}that 
your name may be honored 
forever and people may 
say, 'Yahweh of hosts is 
God over Israel.' The 
house of your servant 
David will be secure 
before you 
{I}27_{/}because you, O 
Yahweh of hosts, God of 
Israel, have made it 
known to your servant and 
have said to him: 'Your 
family will last 
forever.' This is why I 
have dared to address 
this prayer to you.
{I}28_{/}So now, O Yahweh 
God, since you are the 
faithful God, and have 
promised me this good 
thing, {I}29_{/}please 
bless my descendants, 
that they may continue 
forever before you. For 
you, O Yahweh God, have 
spoken and, with your 
blessing, my family shall 
be blessed forever."
DAVID'S VICTORIES{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}After this, David 
defeated the Philistines, 
crushing them in such a 
way that they were no 
longer in control of the 
land. {I}2_{/}Then he 
defeated the Moabites. He 
had them measured with a 
line and made them lie 
down on the ground; two 
thirds of them were to be 
executed, and one third 
to be spared. And so the 
Moabites became David's 
servants and paid tribute 
to him.
{I}3_{/}David also 
defeated Hadadezer, son 
of Rehob, king of Zobah, 
when he tried to retake 
the valley of the 
Euphrates. {I}4_{/}David 
captured from him a 
thousand and seven 
horsemen and twenty 
thousand foot soldiers. 
He hamstrung all the 
chariot horses but left a 
sufficient number for a 
hundred chariots. 
{I}5_{/}The Arameans of 
Damascus came to help 
Hadadezer, king of Zobah, 
but David won over 
twenty-two thousand of 
their men. {I}6_{/}Then 
David set up governors in 
Aram of Damascus and the 
Arameans became David's 
servants, paying tribute 
to him.
Yahweh made David 
victorious wherever he 
went. {I}7_{/}David took 
the golden shields 
carried by the servants 
of Hadadezer and brought 
them to Jerusalem; 
{I}8_{/}he also took a 
great quantity of bronze 
from Betah and Berothai, 
cities of Hadadezer.
{I}9_{/}When Toi, king of 
Hamath heard that David 
had defeated the entire 
army of Hadadezer, 
{I}10_{/}he sent his son 
Joram to King David to 
greet him and thank him 
for having fought against 
Hadadezer and defeating 
him. For the latter had 
often been at war with 
Toi. Joram brought with 
him articles of silver, 
gold and bronze 
{I}11_{/}which King David 
consecrated to Yahweh 
together with the silver 
and gold which he 
consecrated from all the 
nations he subdued: 
{I}12_{/}from Edom, Moab, 
the Ammonites, the 
Philistines, Amalek, as 
well as the booty of 
Hadadezer, son of Rehob, 
king of Zobah.
{I}13_{/}David became 
famous when he returned 
from defeating an army of 
eighteen thousand 
Edomites in the Valley of 
Salt. {I}14_{/}He set up 
governors in Edom and the 
Edomites became his 
servants. So Yahweh made 
David victorious wherever 
he went. 
{I}15_{/}David reigned 
over all Israel, issuing 
decrees and administering 
justice to all his 
people. {I}16_{/}Joab, 
son of Zeruiah, was 
commander of the army; 
Jehoshaphat, son of 
Ahilud, recorder; 
{I}17_{/}Zadok, son of 
Ahitub and Ahimelech, son 
of Abiathar, priests; 
Seraiah, secretary; 
{I}18_{/}and Benaiah, son 
of Jehoiada, was in 
charge of the Cherethites 
and the Pelethites. 
David's sons were 
priests.
{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}David asked, "Is 
there anyone left of the 
house of Saul to whom I 
can show kindness for the 
sake of Jonathan?" 
{I}2_{/}So they called a 
servant of Saul, named 
Ziba, and brought him to 
David who asked, "So you 
are Ziba?" He replied, "I 
am your servant." 
{I}3_{/}Then the king 
asked him, "Is there 
still someone of the 
house of Saul to whom I 
can give God's favor?" 
Ziba answered the king, 
"A son of Jonathan whose 
feet are crippled still 
lives." {I}4_{/}The king 
asked him, "Where is he?" 
And Ziba replied, "He is 
in the house of Machir, 
son of Ammiel, at 
Lodebar." {I}5_{/}So King 
David sent for him and 
had him brought from the 
house of Machir, son of 
Ammiel, at Lodebar.
{I}6_{/}When Mepibaal, 
son of Jonathan, son of 
Saul arrived, he fell on 
the ground and paid 
homage to David who said, 
"Mepibaal!" He replied, 
"Your servant listens." 
{I}7_{/}David then told 
him, "Do not be afraid. I 
will do you a favor for 
the sake of your father 
Jonathan and give you 
back all the land of Saul 
your father. Besides, you 
shall always eat at my 
table." {I}8_{/}He bowed 
down and said, "What is 
your servant that you 
should show concern for a 
dead dog like myself?"
{I}9_{/}The king called 
Ziba, Saul's servant, and 
said to him, "I have 
turned over to your 
master's son everything 
that Saul and his family 
possessed. {I}10_{/}You 
yourself, your sons and 
servants shall till the 
land for him and carry in 
the harvest so that your 
master's family may have 
food, although your 
master's son Mepibaal 
shall always eat at my 
table." Ziba, who had 
fifteen sons and twenty 
servants {I}11_{/}said to 
the king, "Your servant 
will do whatever my lord 
the king commands. Yet 
Mepibaal ate at my table 
like a king's son." 
{I}12_{/}Mepibaal had a 
young son named Mica; and 
all who lived in Ziba's 
house became Mepibaal's 
servants. {I}13_{/}But 
Mepibaal lived in 
Jerusalem for he always 
ate at the king's table. 
He was lame in both feet.
{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}When the king of 
the Ammonites died and 
Hanun his son reigned in 
his place, {I}2_{/}David 
said, "I will be kind to 
Hanun son of Nahash as 
his father was kind to 
me." So David sent his 
servants to comfort him 
over his father's death. 
When David's servants 
arrived in the land of 
the Ammonites, 
{I}3_{/}the Ammonite 
chiefs told Hanun their 
lord, "Do you think that, 
by sending men with 
condolences, David is 
honoring your father? Has 
not David rather sent his 
servants to you to 
explore the city, spy on 
it and overthrow it?"
{I}4_{/}At this, Hanun 
seized David's servants, 
shaved off half their 
beard, cut away the lower 
halves of their garments 
even up to their hips and 
sent them away. 
{I}5_{/}When this was 
reported to David, he 
sent messengers to meet 
these men who felt 
greatly ashamed and to 
tell them, "Stay in 
Jericho and return after 
your beards have grown."
{I}6_{/}The Ammonites saw 
that David could no 
longer bear with them, so 
they sent for and hired 
the Arameans of Beth-
rehob and of Zobah 
numbering twenty thousand 
foot soldiers, the king 
of Maacah with one 
thousand men and also 
twelve thousand men of 
Tob. {I}7_{/}On hearing 
this, David sent out Joab 
with all the warriors. 
{I}8_{/}The Ammonites 
came out in battle 
formation at the entrance 
gate while the Arameans 
of Zobah and Rehob and 
the men of Tob and Maacah 
grouped separately in the 
open country.
{I}9_{/}When Joab saw 
that there were two 
battlefronts, one in 
front of him and the 
other behind, he selected 
picked men of Israel and 
arranged them in battle 
formation against the 
Syrians. {I}10_{/}Then he 
entrusted the rest of his 
army to Abishai his 
brother and arranged them 
in battle formation 
against the Ammonites. 
{I}11_{/}And he said, "If 
the Syrians are too 
strong for me, you shall 
help me; but if the 
Ammonites are too strong 
for you, I will come to 
your assistance. 
{I}12_{/}Take courage! 
Let us act like men for 
the sake of our people 
and God's cities; and may 
Yahweh do what seems good 
to him."
{I}13_{/}Joab and the 
people who were with him 
launched the attack 
against the Arameans and 
put them to flight. 
{I}14_{/}When the 
Ammonites saw the 
Arameans fleeing, they 
too fled before Abishai 
and entered the city. 
Then Joab returned from 
his battle against the 
Ammonites and came to 
Jerusalem.
{I}15_{/}When the 
Arameans saw that they 
had been defeated by 
Israel, they gathered 
together. 
{I}16_{/}Hadadezer sent 
for the Syrians and had 
them brought from beyond 
the Euphrates. They came 
to Helam with Shobach, 
the commander of 
Hadadezer's army, leading 
them. {I}17_{/}This was 
reported to David who, in 
turn, gathered together 
all Israel and came to 
Helam after crossing the 
Jordan. The Arameans then 
arranged themselves in 
battle formation and 
fought against David, 
{I}18_{/}but they fled 
before Israel. David had 
seven hundred of the men 
in chariots and forty 
thousand horsemen killed. 
Shobach, too, the 
commander of their army 
was slain and died there. 
{I}19_{/}After having 
been defeated by Israel, 
all the kings who 
depended on Hadadezer 
made peace with Israel 
and became subject to 
them. So the Arameans no 
longer dared to help the 
Ammonites.
DAVID AND BATHSHEBA{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}In the spring of 
that year, when kings 
usually set out to fight, 
David sent out Joab, his 
officers and all the 
Israelite troops. They 
slaughtered the Ammonites 
and attacked Rabbah, 
while David remained in 
Jerusalem.
{I}2_{/}One afternoon, 
David got up from his 
siesta and took a walk on 
the roof of the royal 
house. From the rooftop, 
he saw a woman bathing, 
and the woman was very 
beautiful. {I}3_{/}David 
sent to inquire about the 
woman, and was told, "She 
is Bathsheba, daughter of 
Eliam and wife of Uriah, 
the Hittite." {I}4_{/}So 
David sent messengers to 
have her brought to him; 
and he had intercourse 
with her after she had 
cleansed herself after 
her monthly period. Then 
she returned to her 
house.
{I}5_{/}As the woman saw 
she was with child, she 
sent word to David, "I am 
with child."
{I}6_{/}David then sent a 
message to Joab, "Send me 
Uriah the Hittite." So 
Joab sent Uriah to David. 
{I}7_{/}When Uriah came, 
David asked him about 
Joab, how the people were 
and how the war was 
proceeding; {I}8_{/}then 
he told Uriah, "Go down 
to your house and wash 
your feet."
Uriah left the palace and 
the king had a portion 
from his table sent to 
him. {I}9_{/}Uriah, 
however, did not go down 
to his house but slept by 
the door of the king's 
palace with all the 
servants of his lord. 
{I}10_{/}David was told 
that Uriah did not go 
down to his house, and he 
said to him, "Have you 
not come from a journey? 
Why did you not go down 
to your house?" 
{I}11_{/}Uriah replied, 
"The ark, the men of 
Israel and Judah are 
housed in tents while my 
lord Joab and his 
servants are encamped in 
the open country. Shall I 
go to my house to eat and 
drink there and sleep 
with my wife? As you 
live, I will not do 
this!" {I}12_{/}So David 
said to Uriah, "Remain 
here today also and I 
will dismiss you 
tomorrow." Uriah 
therefore stayed in 
Jerusalem that day and 
the day after. 
{I}13_{/}David invited 
him to table and he ate 
and drank until he was 
drunk. When evening fell, 
however, he went to lie 
down on his couch with 
the guards of his lord 
instead of going down to 
his house.
{I}14_{/}The next 
morning, David wrote Joab 
a letter to be taken by 
hand by Uriah, 
{I}15_{/}in which he 
said, "Place Uriah in the 
front row where the 
fighting is very fierce 
and then withdraw from 
him so that he may be 
struck down and die." 
{I}16_{/}When Joab was 
attacking the city, he 
assigned Uriah to a place 
which he knew was being 
defended by strong 
warriors. {I}17_{/}And 
the defenders attacked 
the men of Joab. Some of 
David's soldiers and 
officers were killed; 
Uriah the Hittite also 
died.
{I}18_{/}Then Joab sent a 
messenger to tell David 
everything that had 
happened during the 
battle. {I}19_{/}And he 
said to him, "When you 
have finished recounting 
the outcome of the battle 
to the king, 
{I}20_{/}perhaps he will 
get angry and ask you, 
'Why did you go so near 
the city to fight? Did 
you not know they would 
shoot from the wall? 
{I}21_{/}Who killed 
Abimelech, son of 
Jerubbesheth? Was it not 
a woman who dropped a 
millstone on him from the 
wall so that he died at 
Thebez? Why did you go so 
close to the wall?'; then 
you shall say: Your 
servant Uriah the Hittite 
is also dead."
{I}22_{/}So the messenger 
went to tell David all 
that Joab instructed him. 
{I}23_{/}So he answered 
the king and explained, 
"These men had overcome 
us and pushed us in the 
field; then we drove them 
back to the entrance 
gate. {I}24_{/}But the 
archers aimed at your 
guard from the top of the 
wall, killing some of 
them. Your servant Uriah 
the Hittite has also been 
killed."
{I}25_{/}David said to 
the messenger, "Try to 
encourage Joab with this 
message: Do not let this 
thing disturb you, for 
the sword devours one 
this time and another at 
another time. Intensify 
your attacks against the 
city and overthrow it."
{I}26_{/}When Uriah's 
wife heard of the death 
of her husband, she 
mourned for him. 
{I}27_{/}After her 
mourning was over, David 
had her brought to his 
house. She became his 
wife and bore him a son. 
But Yahweh was displeased 
with what David had done.
{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}So Yahweh sent 
the prophet Nathan to 
David. Nathan went to the 
king and said to him, 
"There were two men in a 
city: one was rich; the 
other, poor. {I}2_{/}The 
rich man had many sheep 
and cattle, {I}3_{/}but 
the poor man had only one 
little ewe lamb he had 
bought. He himself fed it 
and it grew up with him 
and his children. It 
shared his food, drank 
from his cup and slept on 
his lap. It was like a 
daughter to him. 
{I}4_{/}Now a traveler 
came to the rich man, but 
he would not take from 
his own flock or herd to 
prepare food for the 
traveler. Instead, he 
took the poor man's lamb 
and prepared that for his 
visitor."
{I}5_{/}David was furious 
because of this man and 
told Nathan, "As Yahweh 
lives, the man who has 
done this deserves death! 
{I}6_{/}He must return 
the lamb fourfold for 
acting like this and 
showing no compassion."
{I}7_{/}Nathan said to 
David, "You are this man! 
It is Yahweh, God of 
Israel, who speaks: 'I 
anointed you king over 
Israel and saved you from 
Saul's hands; {I}8_{/}I 
gave you your master's 
house and your master's 
wives; I also gave you 
the nation of Israel and 
Judah. But if this were 
not enough, I would have 
given you even more. 
{I}9_{/}Why did you 
despise Yahweh by doing 
what displeases him? You 
struck down Uriah the 
Hittite with the sword 
and took his wife for 
yourself. Yes, you killed 
him with the sword of the 
Ammonites. {I}10_{/}Now 
the sword will never be 
far from your family 
because you have despised 
me and taken the wife of 
Uriah the Hittite for 
yourself.
{I}11_{/}Thus says 
Yahweh: Your misfortune 
will rise from your own 
house! I will take your 
wives from you and give 
them to your neighbor who 
shall lie with them in 
broad daylight. 
{I}12_{/}What you did was 
done secretly, but what I 
do will be done before 
Israel in broad 
daylight."
{I}13_{/}David said to 
Nathan, "I have sinned 
against Yahweh." Nathan 
answered him, "Yahweh has 
forgiven your sin; you 
shall not die. 
{I}14_{/}However, because 
you have dared to despise 
Yahweh by doing such a 
thing, the child that is 
born to you shall die." 
{I}15_{/}Then Nathan left 
and went to his house.
Yahweh struck the child 
that Uriah's wife bore to 
David and it became sick. 
{I}16_{/}David entreated 
God for the child; he 
kept a strict fast and 
lay on the ground the 
whole night. {I}17_{/}The 
elders of his house asked 
him to rise from the 
ground but he refused. 
Nor did he join them to 
eat. {I}18_{/}On the 
seventh day, the child 
died. David's servants 
were afraid to tell him 
that the child was dead 
for they said, "When the 
child was still alive, we 
spoke to him but he would 
not listen to us. What 
will he do if we tell him 
the child is dead?"
{I}19_{/}When David saw 
his servants whispering 
to one another, he 
realized that the child 
was dead and asked them, 
"Is the child dead?" They 
replied, "He is dead." 
{I}20_{/}Then David rose 
from the ground, washed 
and anointed himself, and 
changed his clothes. He 
entered the house of 
Yahweh and worshiped.
After that, he went to 
his own house, asked for 
food and ate. 
{I}21_{/}Then his 
servants asked him, "Why 
are you acting like this? 
You fasted and wept for 
the child while it was 
alive; but after it died, 
you got up and took 
food." {I}22_{/}David 
answered, "While the 
child was still alive, I 
fasted and wept thinking: 
who knows? Perhaps Yahweh 
will be kind to me and 
let my child live. 
{I}23_{/}But now that he 
is dead, why should I 
fast? Can I bring him 
back to life? I can go to 
him but he cannot return 
to me."
{I}24_{/}David comforted 
his wife Bathsheba. He 
went in and slept with 
her and she bore a son 
whom he named Solomon. 
Yahweh loved him 
{I}25_{/}and made it 
known through Nathan the 
prophet, who named him 
Jedidiah on Yahweh's 
behalf.
{I}26_{/}Joab fought 
against Rabbah of the 
Ammonites and conquered 
the king's city. 
{I}27_{/}Then he sent 
messengers to David and 
told him, "I have fought 
against Rabbah and 
conquered the city of 
waters. {I}28_{/}Gather 
then the rest of the 
people to attack and 
capture the city lest I 
myself do it and the city 
be called by my name." 
{I}29_{/}So David 
mustered the people, 
attacked and captured 
Rabbah. {I}30_{/}He took 
the crown of their god 
Milkom from its head, the 
weight of which was a 
talent of gold, and which 
had a precious stone 
embedded in it. This they 
put on David's head. He 
carried off an amount of 
booty {I}31_{/}and 
brought away the people 
whom he set to labor with 
saws, iron picks and iron 
axes, making them work at 
the brick-kilns. David 
dealt like this with all 
the Ammonite cities, then 
he returned to Jerusalem 
with all the people.
AMNON AND TAMAR{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}Now David's son 
Absalom had a beautiful 
sister named Tamar. It 
happened that Amnon, 
another of David's sons, 
loved her. {I}2_{/}Amnon 
was so obsessed that he 
became ill and, as Tamar 
was a virgin, he could 
not do anything. 
{I}3_{/}Amnon had a 
friend named Jonadab, son 
of Shimeah, David's 
brother. Jonadab, who was 
a very shrewd man, said 
to him, {I}4_{/}"Oh son 
of the king, why do you 
look so miserable morning 
after morning? Will you 
not tell me?" Amnon 
replied, "I love Tamar, 
sister of my brother 
Absalom." {I}5_{/}So 
Jonadab said to him, "Lie 
down on your bed and 
pretend to be ill; and 
when your father comes to 
see you, say to him, 'Let 
my sister Tamar come to 
give me bread to eat and 
let her prepare the food 
in my presence so that I 
may eat it from her 
hand." {I}6_{/}So Amnon 
lay down and pretended to 
be ill; and when the king 
came to see him, he told 
the king, "Please let my 
sister Tamar come to make 
some cakes in my 
presence; I will eat from 
her hand."
{I}7_{/}So David sent for 
Tamar and said to her, 
"Go to your brother 
Amnon's house and prepare 
him some food." 
{I}8_{/}Tamar went to her 
brother Amnon's house 
where he was lying down. 
She took dough, kneaded 
it, made and baked cakes 
before him. {I}9_{/}But 
when she took the pan and 
set the cakes before him, 
he refused to eat and 
said, "Send everyone 
outside." After they all 
left, {I}10_{/}Amnon said 
to Tamar, "Bring the food 
into the bedroom and let 
me eat from your hand." 
Tamar took the cakes she 
had made and brought them 
to her brother Amnon in 
the bedroom. {I}11_{/}But 
when she brought them to 
him to eat, he grabbed 
her and said, "Come, lie 
with me, my sister." 
{I}12_{/}She answered 
him, "No, my brother, do 
not force me. No such 
thing is done in Israel. 
Do not commit this 
foolishness. 
{I}13_{/}Where will I 
hide my shame? And you 
yourself would be 
regarded as a foolish man 
by all the people. So 
please, talk to the king 
for he will not keep me 
from you." {I}14_{/}But 
he refused to listen to 
her and, being stronger 
than she, forced her and 
lay with her.
{I}15_{/}Afterwards, 
Amnon hated her with a 
hatred exceeding the love 
he had had for her; and 
he said to Tamar, "Get up 
and leave." {I}16_{/}But 
she answered him, "No, my 
brother. Sending me away 
is a greater offense than 
what you did to me." But 
Amnon refused to listen. 
{I}17_{/}He called his 
servant and said, "Get 
this woman out and bolt 
the door behind her." 
{I}18_{/}(Now Tamar was 
wearing a long robe with 
sleeves like the virgin 
daughters of the king 
used to wear.) So the 
servant brought her out, 
bolting the door behind 
her. {I}19_{/}Tamar then 
put ashes on her head and 
tore the long robe she 
was wearing. Laying her 
hand on her head, she 
went away crying aloud.
{I}20_{/}Her brother 
Absalom spoke to her, 
"Has your brother Amnon 
been with you? Be calm 
and do not take this to 
heart for he is your 
brother." Desolate as she 
was, Tamar stayed in her 
brother Absalom's house.
{I}21_{/}When King David 
heard of this, he was 
very angry but he did not 
like to scold Amnon 
because he loved him as 
his firstborn. 
{I}22_{/}Absalom, for his 
part, no longer spoke to 
Amnon. He hated him for 
having raped his sister 
Tamar.
{I}23_{/}Two years later, 
when Absalom had 
celebrated the shearing 
of his flock at Baalhazor 
near Ephraim, he invited 
all the king's sons. 
{I}24_{/}He himself went 
to the king and said, "I 
have shearers; so please 
let the king and his 
servants accept my 
invitation." {I}25_{/}But 
the king answered 
Absalom, "No, my son, not 
all of us should go lest 
we be a burden to you." 
As Absalom urged him the 
king refused to go 
personally but gave him 
his blessing. 
{I}26_{/}Then Absalom 
said, "If you will not 
go, please let my brother 
Amnon come with us." The 
king replied, "Why should 
he go with you?" 
{I}27_{/}But Absalom 
insisted until the king 
allowed Amnon and all the 
king's sons to go with 
him. Absalom prepared a 
royal feast. 
{I}28_{/}Then he 
commanded his servants, 
"Watch until Amnon gets 
drunk and when I tell 
you, 'Strike Amnon,' kill 
him. Have no fear for I 
myself have given you 
this order. Be brave and 
determined." {I}29_{/}So 
Absalom's servants did to 
Amnon what he had 
commanded. On seeing this 
all the sons of the king 
hastily mounted their 
mules and fled.
{I}30_{/}While they were 
on the way, a report 
reached David, "Absalom 
has slain all the king's 
sons, leaving no one 
alive." {I}31_{/}At this, 
the king tore his 
garments and lay on the 
ground; and all his 
servants around him also 
tore their garments. 
{I}32_{/}But Jonadab, son 
of Shimeah, David's 
brother, said, "Don't 
imagine that they have 
killed all your sons. 
Only Amnon is dead, for 
Absalom had decided to 
kill him from the day 
Amnon raped his sister 
Tamar. {I}33_{/}So let 
not my lord the king 
believe that all his sons 
are dead: Amnon alone is 
dead."
{I}34_{/}Meanwhile, 
Absalom had fled. Then 
the young watchman saw 
many people coming from 
the Horonaim road by the 
side of the mountain. 
{I}35_{/}Jonadab said to 
the king, "Was it not 
true what I said to you? 
It is your sons who are 
coming." {I}36_{/}As soon 
as he had spoken, the 
king's sons came, crying 
aloud; the king, too, and 
all his servants wept 
bitterly.
{I}37{/}-{I}38_{/}As for 
Absalom, he fled to 
Talmai son of Ammihud, 
king of Geshur, where he 
remained for three years. 
{I}39_{/}All this time 
King David mourned for 
his son. And when he had 
recovered from the death 
of Amnon he began to 
yearn for Absalom.
{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Now Joab son of 
Zeruiah saw that the king 
was yearning for Absalom. 
{I}2_{/}So he sent a 
messenger to Tekoa to 
fetch a wise woman and he 
told her this, "Please 
pretend to be a mourner. 
Put on mourning garments 
and do not perfume 
yourself with oil that 
you may look like a woman 
who has been mourning for 
several days for the dead 
{I}3_{/}and go to the 
king with this message." 
And Joab told her what to 
say.
{I}4_{/}When the woman of 
Tekoa appeared before the 
king, she fell on her 
face in homage and said, 
"Help me, O king!" 
{I}5_{/}The king asked 
her, "What is wrong?" She 
answered, "Alas, I am a 
widow; my husband is 
dead. {I}6_{/}I, your 
handmaid, had two sons 
who quarreled with one 
another in the field. 
Since there was no one to 
part them, one struck the 
other and killed him. 
{I}7_{/}Now the entire 
family demand that I give 
up the one who struck his 
brother. And they say: 
'We will kill him and 
avenge his brother's 
death.' So they want to 
quench my remaining hope; 
with this they will leave 
my husband without name 
or posterity on the 
earth."
{I}8_{/}Then the king 
said to the woman, "Go 
home and I will give 
orders on your behalf." 
{I}9_{/}But the woman of 
Tekoa said to the king, 
"Let me and my family be 
blamed, my lord the king, 
and let the king and his 
throne not be criticized 
for this." {I}10_{/}The 
king said, "If anyone 
says anything to you, 
bring him to me and he 
shall never bother you 
again." {I}11_{/}Then she 
said, "Please let the 
king swear by Yahweh, his 
God, that the avenger of 
blood may not deepen my 
disgrace by killing my 
son." The king replied, 
"As Yahweh lives, not one 
hair of your son shall 
perish."
{I}12_{/}Then the woman 
said, "Please allow me to 
say something to my lord 
the king." The king told 
her, "Speak." 
{I}13_{/}And she went on, 
"Why do you yourself act 
against the people of 
God? In giving this 
decision, the king 
condemns himself for not 
having brought his 
banished son back home. 
{I}14_{/}We are all 
mortals and as water 
spilt on the ground 
cannot be gathered up 
again, so God does not 
make the soul return. So 
let the king find a way 
to bring back his 
banished son. 
{I}15_{/}Now, if I have 
come to talk about this 
to my lord the king, it 
is because the people 
scared me and I thought, 
'I will speak to the 
king; perhaps he will 
listen to me. {I}16_{/}If 
he agrees to help me when 
I tell him about the man 
who seeks to cut off both 
me and my son from the 
inheritance God gave us, 
{I}17_{/}he will surely 
give the decision which 
will bring us peace. For 
my lord the king is like 
an angel of God in 
understanding everything. 
Yahweh your God be with 
you!"
{I}18_{/}Then the king 
said to the woman, "Do 
not hide anything from me 
when I question you." The 
woman replied, "Let my 
lord the king speak." 
{I}19_{/}The king asked, 
"Is Joab behind you in 
all this?" The woman 
answered, "As you surely 
live, my lord the king, 
all is as my lord the 
king says. It was your 
servant Joab who ordered 
me and taught me 
everything I had to say. 
{I}20_{/}Joab did this to 
disguise the purpose. But 
my lord is as wise as an 
angel of God, knowing all 
things that happen on 
earth."
{I}21_{/}Then the king 
told Joab, "Well, I shall 
do it. Go, fetch the 
young man Absalom." 
{I}22_{/}Joab fell on his 
face to the ground in 
homage and blessed the 
king, saying, "Today I 
know that you look kindly 
on me, my lord the king, 
because you have granted 
this my request." 
{I}23_{/}Joab went on his 
way to Geshur to fetch 
Absalom and bring him to 
Jerusalem. {I}24_{/}The 
king, however, told him, 
"Let him stay in his own 
house for I shall not 
receive him." So Absalom 
stayed in his own house 
and was not received by 
the king.
{I}25_{/}In all Israel, 
there was no one as 
praised for his handsome 
appearance as Absalom, 
from the sole of his feet 
to the crown of his head 
he was without defect.
{I}26_{/}When he cut his 
hair (every year he cut 
his hair when it became 
too heavy for him), he 
weighed it, and it 
weighed two hundred 
shekels by the king's 
weight. {I}27_{/}There 
were born to Absalom 
three sons and a daughter 
named Tamar, a beautiful 
woman.
{I}28_{/}For two years 
Absalom stayed in 
Jerusalem but the king 
did not receive him. 
{I}29_{/}Absalom called 
for Joab to send him to 
the king, but Joab 
refused to see him. He 
called for him a second 
time but Joab would not 
come. {I}30_{/}So Absalom 
said to his servants, 
"You know Joab's field 
which is next to mine, 
planted with barley. Go 
set it on fire." And so 
they did. Then the 
servants of Joab came to 
him to tell him, "The 
servants of Absalom set 
your field on fire." 
{I}31_{/}Then Joab went 
to Absalom's house and 
asked him, "Why have your 
servants set my field on 
fire?" {I}32_{/}Absalom 
replied, "Come over, for 
I want to send you to the 
king with this message, 
'Why did you let me 
return from Geshur? It 
would be better for me to 
be there yet.' Now I want 
to be received by the 
king. If I am guilty, let 
him send me to death!" 
{I}33_{/}Joab went to the 
king and brought him the 
message. So the king 
called for Absalom who 
appeared before the king, 
bowing low with his face 
to the ground. And the 
king embraced Absalom.
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}After this, 
Absalom got himself a 
chariot and horses, as 
well as fifty men to run 
before him. 
{I}2_{/}Absalom used to 
rise early and stand 
beside the gateway. 
Whenever a man with a 
grievance came before the 
king's tribunal, Absalom 
would call to him and 
say, "From which city are 
you?" Should he say, 
"Your servant is from 
such and such a tribe in 
Israel," {I}3_{/}Absalom 
would tell him, "Your 
cause is good and just 
but there is no one to 
hear you on behalf of the 
king."
{I}4_{/}Absalom added, "I 
wish I were judge in the 
land! Then every man with 
a grievance or cause 
could come to me and I 
would give him justice." 
{I}5_{/}Whenever a man 
approached to pay him 
homage, he would stretch 
out his arms to hold and 
embrace him. 
{I}6_{/}Absalom did this 
to all Israelites who 
came to the tribunal of 
the king, winning their 
hearts for himself.
{I}7_{/}After four years, 
Absalom said to the king, 
"Please allow me to go 
and fulfill the vow I 
have to pay to Yahweh in 
Hebron. {I}8_{/}For while 
I lived at Geshur in 
Aram, I made this vow: 
'If Yahweh will really 
bring me back to 
Jerusalem, I shall go 
there to worship him!" 
{I}9_{/}The king said to 
him, "Go in peace," and 
he left for Hebron.
ABSALOM'S REBELLION{/}

{I}10_{/}Absalom sent 
spies throughout the 
tribes of Israel with 
this instruction, "As 
soon as you hear the 
trumpet sound, proclaim: 
'Absalom is king in 
Hebron!"
{I}11_{/}Two hundred men 
from Jerusalem had left 
with Absalom as invited 
guests. But nothing of 
his purpose dawned on 
them. {I}12_{/}While 
Absalom was offering the 
sacrifices, he sent for 
Ahitophel the Gilonite, 
David's counselor, from 
his city Giloh. Meantime, 
the conspiracy grew 
strong and the number of 
people with Absalom kept 
increasing.
{I}13_{/}A messenger came 
to report to David that 
the Israelites were 
siding with Absalom. 
{I}14_{/}Then David said 
to all his servants who 
were with him in 
Jerusalem, "Let us flee, 
for we cannot resist 
Absalom. Go quickly, lest 
he come hurriedly and 
overtake us. Surely he 
will put the city to the 
sword if he can bring 
disaster upon us." 
{I}15_{/}The king's 
servants answered him, 
"Your servants are with 
you in whatever my lord 
the king decides."
{I}16_{/}The king 
departed with all his 
household, but left ten 
concubines behind to take 
care of the house. 
{I}17_{/}The king left on 
foot and the people 
followed him. They 
stopped at the last house 
of the city and 
{I}18_{/}his servants 
marched past him, as well 
as the Cherethites, the 
Pelethites and all the 
six hundred Gittites who 
had followed him from 
Gath, and went ahead of 
him.
{I}19_{/}Then the king 
said to the commander, 
Ittai, the Gittite, "Why 
are you also coming with 
us? Go back and stay with 
your king, for you are a 
foreigner, an exile from 
your home. {I}20_{/}Are 
you setting out when you 
have just arrived? Shall 
I make you wander about 
with us? Go back, take 
your brothers with you 
and may Yahweh show you 
kindness and 
faithfulness. 
{I}21_{/}Ittai, however, 
answered the king, "As 
Yahweh lives, and as my 
lord the king lives, 
wherever my lord the king 
shall be, whether in life 
or in death, there also 
will your servant be."
{I}22_{/}Then David said 
to Ittai,"Go then, march 
on." So Ittai the Gittite 
marched on with all his 
men and all the children 
who were with him. 
{I}23_{/}Meanwhile, all 
those in the countryside 
wept aloud as all the 
people passed by. Then 
the king crossed the 
brook Kidron and all the 
people moved on to the 
desert.
{I}24_{/}The priest Zadok 
came with all the Levites 
bearing the ark of the 
Covenant of God. They set 
down the ark of God where 
Abiathar stood until the 
people had all gone out 
of the city; 
{I}25_{/}after which the 
king said to Zadok, 
"Carry the ark of God 
back into the city. If 
Yahweh looks kindly on 
me, he will bring me back 
and allow me to again see 
the ark and its lodging 
place. {I}26_{/}But if he 
says, 'I am not pleased 
with you,' I am here; let 
him do to me what seems 
good to him."
{I}27_{/}The king also 
said to the priest Zadok, 
"See, better go back to 
the city in peace and 
take with you your son 
Ahimaaz, and Jonathan, 
son of Abiathar. 
{I}28_{/}I will wait in 
the desert fords until 
you send word for me." 
{I}29_{/}So Zadok and 
Abiathar carried the ark 
of God back to Jerusalem 
and remained there.
{I}30_{/}David himself 
went up the Mount of 
Olives, weeping. He was 
barefooted and had his 
head covered, and all the 
people who were with him 
had their heads covered 
and wept as they went.
HUMILIATION FOR DAVID{/}

{I}31_{/}When David was 
informed that Ahitophel 
was among the 
conspirators with 
Absalom, he said, "O 
Yahweh, turn the counsel 
of Ahitophel into folly."
{I}32_{/}When David 
reached the summit where 
God is worshiped, Hushai 
the Archite met him with 
his coat torn and dust 
strewn on his head. 
{I}33_{/}David said to 
him, "If you come with 
me, you will be a burden 
to me. {I}34_{/}It would 
be better for you to 
return to the city and 
say to Absalom, 'I will 
be your servant, O king! 
Just as I have been your 
father's servant in the 
past, I will now be your 
servant.' In that way you 
will be useful to me in 
thwarting the counsel of 
Ahitophel. {I}35_{/}The 
priests Zadok and 
Abiathar are there to 
help you. Report whatever 
you hear from the king's 
house. {I}36_{/}Both 
their sons are there, 
Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and 
Jonathan, Abiathar's son, 
and you shall report to 
me through them 
everything you hear." 
{I}37_{/}So David's 
friend Hushai arrived in 
the city just as Absalom 
was entering Jerusalem.
{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}When David had 
gone a little beyond{I} 
{/}the summit, Ziba the 
steward of Mepibaal met 
him with saddled asses 
laden with two hundred 
loaves of bread, a 
hundred bunches of 
raisins, a hundred summer 
fruits and a skin of 
wine. {I}2_{/}The king 
then asked Ziba, "Why 
have you brought these?" 
Ziba answered, "The asses 
are for the king's 
household to ride on. The 
bread and summer fruit 
are for your servants to 
eat, while the wine is 
drink for those who faint 
in the desert."
{I}3_{/}Then the king 
asked him, "Where is your 
master's son?" Ziba 
replied, "He is staying 
in Jerusalem, for he 
said, 'Today the 
Israelites will give me 
back my father's 
kingdom!" {I}4_{/}To 
this, the king said, 
"Everything that belongs 
to Mepibaal is now 
yours." And Ziba said, "I 
pay homage to my lord the 
king. May I always find 
favor with you."
{I}5_{/}When King David 
came to Bahurim, a man 
from the clan of Saul's 
family named Shimei, son 
of Gera, came out cursing 
him. {I}6_{/}He threw 
stones at David and his 
officers although the 
king's men and warriors 
flanked the king on the 
right and left. 
{I}7_{/}Shimei said as he 
cursed, "Go away! Go 
away! You bloodthirsty 
good-for-nothing! 
{I}8_{/}Yahweh has 
brought down on your head 
all the blood of the 
family of Saul. You 
became king in his place, 
but God has now placed 
the kingdom in the hands 
of your son Absalom. Ruin 
has come upon you because 
you are a bloodthirsty 
man."
{I}9_{/}Then Abishai, son 
of Zeruiah, said to the 
king, "Why should this 
dead dog curse my lord 
the king? Let me go and 
cut his head off." 
{I}10_{/}But the king 
said, "Why should I 
listen to you, sons of 
Zeruiah? If Yahweh has 
ordered him to curse me, 
who shall ask him why he 
acts like this?" 
{I}11_{/}Then David said 
to Abishai and his 
officers, "If my own son 
wants to kill me, how 
much more this 
Benjaminite! Leave him 
alone and let him curse 
me if Yahweh has ordered 
him to do so. 
{I}12_{/}Perhaps Yahweh 
will look on my 
affliction and turn to 
good things the curses 
heaped on me today." 
{I}13_{/}So David and his 
men went their way while 
Shimei, following on the 
hillside opposite him, 
continued to curse as he 
threw stones and flung 
dust at him. {I}14_{/}The 
king, together with his 
men, arrived exhausted at 
the Jordan where he 
refreshed himself.
{I}15_{/}Now Absalom, 
accompanied by Ahitophel, 
entered Jerusalem with 
all the Israelites. 
{I}16_{/}When Hushai the 
Archite, David's friend, 
appeared before Absalom 
and exclaimed, "Long live 
the king!" 
{I}17_{/}Absalom said to 
Hushai, "Is this your 
loyalty to your friend? 
Why did you not go with 
your friend?" 
{I}18_{/}Hushai said to 
Absalom, "No, I will be 
with the one Yahweh and 
this people and the 
Israelites have chosen, 
and with him I will 
remain. {I}19_{/}Whom am 
I now to serve? Are you 
not his son? As I have 
served your father, so 
will I serve you."
{I}20_{/}Then Absalom 
said to Ahitophel, "Have 
a meeting to decide what 
we shall do." 
{I}21_{/}Ahitophel said 
to Absalom, "Go and be 
with the concubines your 
father has left to keep 
his house. When the 
Israelites hear that you 
have made yourself odious 
to your father, all those 
of your party will be 
strengthened." 
{I}22_{/}So they pitched 
a tent for Absalom on the 
terrace and Absalom went 
in to his father's 
concubines in the sight 
of the Israelites. 
{I}23_{/}In those days, 
Ahitophel's counsel was 
deemed as sound as the 
oracle of God, and so it 
was deemed by both David 
and Absalom.
{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}Ahitophel said to 
Absalom, "Let me choose 
twelve thousand men that 
I may set out and pursue 
David tonight. {I}2_{/}I 
will attack him while he 
is tired and discouraged 
and throw him into a 
panic. All those who are 
with him will flee so I 
will strike down only the 
king. {I}3_{/}Then I will 
bring all the people back 
to you as a bride comes 
home to her husband. Seek 
the death of only one man 
and then all the people 
will be unharmed." 
{I}4_{/}The advice 
pleased Absalom and all 
the elders of Israel.
{I}5_{/}Then Absalom 
said, "Call in Hushai the 
Archite to hear what he 
has to say." {I}6_{/}When 
Hushai came before 
Absalom, Absalom asked 
him, "Ahitophel has given 
this advice. Shall we 
follow it? If not, you 
speak." {I}7_{/}So Hushai 
said to Absalom, "This 
time, Ahitophel's advice 
is not good. {I}8_{/}You 
know that your father and 
his men are warriors. 
When enraged, they are 
like a bear robbed of her 
cubs in the field. 
Besides, your father is 
expert enough in war not 
to spend the night with 
his men. {I}9_{/}Right 
now he is hiding in one 
of the pits or in some 
other place. If some of 
your men fall in the 
first attack, whoever 
hears of it will say, 
'There has been a 
slaughter among the men 
who follow Absalom.' 
{I}10_{/}Then even the 
valiant man whose heart 
is like that of a lion 
will utterly melt with 
fear, for all Israel 
knows that your father is 
a warrior, as are the men 
who are with him. 
{I}11_{/}My advice is for 
you to gather all the 
Israelites from Dan to 
Beersheba, as many as the 
sands of the sea, and go 
to battle in person. 
{I}12_{/}Then we shall 
find him wherever he is 
and fall on him as the 
dew falls on the ground. 
Neither he nor any of his 
men will be left alive. 
{I}13_{/}If he withdraws 
into a city, all Israel 
will bring ropes and drag 
it into the valley until 
not even a pebble of it 
remains." 
{I}14_{/}Absalom and all 
the Israelites said, "The 
counsel of Hushai the 
Archite is better than 
the counsel of 
Ahitophel." For Yahweh 
had decreed that the good 
counsel of Ahitophel be 
defeated, so that he 
might bring evil upon 
Absalom.
{I}15_{/}Then Hushai 
reported to the priests 
Zadok and Abiathar, 
"Ahitophel advised 
Absalom and the elders of 
Israel in this way; but I 
have advised them in this 
manner. 
{I}16_{/}Therefore send 
word to David quickly, 
'Do not lodge tonight at 
the desert fords. Go 
beyond them lest the King 
and all the men with him 
be trapped!"
{I}17_{/}Now Jonathan and 
Ahimaaz were waiting at 
Enrogel where a 
maidservant regularly 
went to report to them so 
they could go and tell 
king David, for they 
themselves must not be 
seen in the city. 
{I}18_{/}But a lad saw 
them and reported to 
Absalom. The two 
hurriedly left the place 
and entered the house of 
a man of Bahurim who had 
a well in his courtyard, 
and they got down into 
it. {I}19_{/}The woman 
took a covering and 
spread it over the well's 
mouth, then scattered 
grain over it without 
anyone noticing. 
{I}20_{/}When Absalom's 
servants came to the 
woman's house, they 
asked, "Where are Ahimaaz 
and Jonathan?" The woman 
answered them, "They 
left, following the 
brook." They looked for 
them but could not find 
them; and so they 
returned to Jerusalem.
{I}21_{/}After they had 
gone, the men came up out 
of the well and went to 
tell David, "Hurry and 
cross over the river, for 
this is what Ahitophel 
has counseled against 
you." {I}22_{/}So David 
and all those who were 
with him crossed over the 
Jordan; and by daybreak, 
not one was left who had 
not crossed the Jordan.
{I}23_{/}When Ahitophel 
saw that his advice was 
not followed, he saddled 
his ass and rode back 
home to his own city. 
After setting his house 
in order, he hanged 
himself and died. He was 
then buried in the tomb 
of his father.
{I}24_{/}David had 
already entered Mahanaim 
when Absalom crossed over 
the Jordan with all the 
Israelites. 
{I}25_{/}Absalom had put 
Amasa in charge of the 
army instead of Joab. 
Amasa was the son of 
Ithra, an Ishmaelite who 
had married Abigail the 
daughter of Isai, sister 
of Zeruiah, the mother of 
Joab. {I}26_{/}The 
Israelites and Absalom 
pitched camp in the land 
of Gilead.
{I}27_{/}When David 
arrived at Mahanaim, 
Shobi the son of Nahash 
from Rabbah of the 
Ammonites, and Machir the 
son of Ammiel from 
Lodebar, and Barzillai 
the Gileadite from 
Rogelim, {I}28_{/}brought 
beds, basins, earthen 
vessels, wheat, barley, 
meal, roasted grain, 
beans and lentils, honey 
and curds, sheep and 
cheese from the herd. All 
this was for David and 
the people with him to 
eat {I}29_{/}for they 
said, "The people are 
hungry, weary and thirsty 
in the desert."
{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}David then 
mustered the men who were 
with him and set over 
them commanders of a 
thousand men and 
commanders of a hundred 
men. He sent forth the 
army, of which one third 
was under the command of 
Joab; {I}2_{/}one third, 
under the command of 
Abishai, son of Zeruiah, 
Joab's brother, and one 
third, under the command 
of Ittai, the Gittite. 
Then the king said to the 
men, "I myself will go 
out with you." 
{I}3_{/}But the men 
replied, "You shall not 
go out. They could not 
care less if we flee or 
if half of us die. But 
you are worth ten 
thousand of us and it is 
better if you are able to 
send us assistance from 
the city." {I}4_{/}So the 
king said to them, "I 
will do whatever seems 
best to you." Then the 
king stood by the side of 
the gate while the entire 
army marched out by 
hundreds and by 
thousands. {I}5_{/}The 
king ordered Joab, 
Abishai and Ittai, "Don't 
hurt the young man 
Absalom for my sake." All 
the army heard the king 
giving orders to all the 
commanders concerning 
Absalom.
DEFEAT AND DEATH OF 
ABSALOM{/}

{I}6_{/}The army of David 
went out into the field 
against Israel. The 
battle was fought in the 
forest of Ephraim 
{I}7_{/}where the 
Israelites were defeated 
by the men of David. The 
slaughter there on that 
day was great, numbering 
twenty thousand men. 
{I}8_{/}The battle spread 
over the entire country 
and more people perished 
in the ravines of the 
forest than were killed 
by the sword that day.
{I}9_{/}Absalom was 
riding a mule and 
happened to meet the 
guards of David. As the 
mule passed under the 
thick branches of a big 
oak tree, his head was 
caught in the oak tree 
and he was left hanging 
between heaven and earth, 
while the mule he was 
riding went its way. 
{I}10_{/}Someone reported 
to Joab, "I saw Absalom 
hanging from an oak 
tree." {I}11_{/}Joab said 
to the man who reported 
this, "What! You saw him 
but did not strike him at 
once? I would have given 
you ten pieces of silver 
and a belt." {I}12_{/}But 
the man answered Joab, 
"Even if I felt in my 
hand the weight of a 
thousand pieces of 
silver, I would not raise 
my hand against the 
king's son, for we heard 
the king command you, 
Abishai and Ittai: 'For 
my sake, spare the young 
man Absalom.' {I}13_{/}If 
I had not done my duty, 
the king would come to 
know about it and you 
yourself would have kept 
your distance." 
{I}14_{/}Joab replied, "I 
will not waste time 
talking with you." So he 
took three spears in his 
hand and thrust them into 
Absalom's heart while he 
was still alive in the 
oak tree. {I}15_{/}Then 
ten guards, Joab's armor-
bearers, surrounded 
Absalom and struck him 
down.
{I}16_{/}Joab blew the 
trumpet and the troops 
stopped pursuing the 
Israelites as Joab 
restrained them. 
{I}17_{/}They then took 
Absalom, threw him into a 
deep pit in the forest 
and covered him with a 
great heap of stones. In 
the meantime all the 
Israelites fled, each one 
to his own home.
{I}18_{/}During his 
lifetime Absalom had a 
memorial created for 
himself in the king's 
Valley for he said, "I 
have no son by whom my 
name may be remembered." 
He called the pillar 
after his own name and, 
to this day, it is called 
Absalom's monument.
{I}19_{/}Then Ahimaaz, 
the son of Zadok, said, 
"Let me run and report to 
the king that Yahweh has 
delivered him from the 
power of his enemies." 
{I}20_{/}But Joab said to 
him, "Today you would not 
be a bearer of good news; 
another day you will run, 
but today there is no 
good news because the 
king's son is dead." 
{I}21_{/}Joab then said 
to a Cushite, "Go tell 
the king what you have 
seen." The Cushite bowed 
before Joab and ran. 
{I}22_{/}But Ahimaaz, the 
son of Zadok, again said 
to Joab, "Come what may, 
let me also run behind 
the Cushite." Joab asked, 
"Why must you run, my 
son, seeing that you will 
have no reward for this 
news?" {I}23_{/}Ahimaaz 
insisted, "It does not 
matter, I will run." So 
Joab allowed him to go, 
and Ahimaaz ran by way of 
the plain, outrunning the 
Cushite.
DAVID IS TOLD OF 
ABSALOM'S DEATH{/}

{I}24_{/}David was 
sitting between the two 
gates. The watchman 
posted at the roof of the 
gate, on the wall, saw a 
man running alone. 
{I}25_{/}So he called out 
and reported to the king 
who said, "If he is 
alone, he brings good 
news." As he was drawing 
near, {I}26_{/}the 
watchman saw another man 
running. So he called to 
the gatekeeper and said, 
"Look, another man is 
running alone!" The king 
said, "He also brings 
good news." {I}27_{/}The 
watchman said, "The first 
man runs like Ahimaaz, 
the son of Zadok." The 
king replied, "He is a 
good man, so he comes 
with good news."
{I}28_{/}Then Ahimaaz 
cried out to the king, 
"All is well." Bowing 
before the king with his 
face to the ground, he 
said, "Blessed be Yahweh 
your God who has 
delivered up the men who 
rebelled against my lord 
the king!" {I}29_{/}The 
king asked him, "How is 
the young Absalom?" 
Ahimaaz answered, "When 
Joab sent your servant, I 
saw a great tumult but 
did not know what it was 
all about." {I}30_{/}So 
the king said, "Move away 
and stand here." He moved 
aside and stayed there.
{I}31_{/}The Cushite 
arrived and said, "Good 
news for my lord the 
king! Yahweh has done you 
justice today and saved 
you from all those who 
rebelled against you." 
{I}32_{/}The king asked 
the Cushite, "How is the 
young Absalom?" The 
Cushite answered, "May 
the enemies of my lord 
the king and all who 
rebel against you end up 
like that young man."
{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}The king was 
greatly disturbed and, 
going up to the room over 
the gate, he wept and 
said, "O, my son Absalom! 
My son, my son Absalom! 
Would that I had died 
instead of you, O 
Absalom, my son, my son!"
{I}2_{/}It was reported 
to Joab, "The king is 
weeping and mourning for 
Absalom." {I}3_{/}So the 
victory that day turned 
into mourning for all the 
people, when they heard 
that the king was 
grieving over his son. 
{I}4_{/}The people 
quietly entered the city 
that day, like those 
fleeing from battle in 
shame. {I}5_{/}The king 
covered his face and was 
crying aloud, "O my son 
Absalom, O Absalom, my 
son, my son!"
{I}6_{/}Joab then came to 
the king's house and 
said, "You have today put 
to shame all your 
servants who saved your 
life, the lives of your 
sons and daughters, and 
of your wives and 
concubines. {I}7_{/}Yes, 
you love those who hate 
you and hate those who 
love you. For you have 
made it clear today that 
your commanders and 
guards mean nothing to 
you. I know that if 
Absalom were alive today 
and all of us dead, you 
would be pleased. 
{I}8_{/}You must now show 
yourself and say a good 
word to your guards for, 
I swear by Yahweh, if you 
do not, no one will stay 
with you tonight, and 
this will be worse than 
all the evil that has 
happened to you from your 
youth to the present 
day."
{I}9_{/}So the king took 
his seat at the gate and 
as the people were 
informed that the king 
was sitting at the gate, 
they came before him.
The people of Israel had 
fled, each man to his own 
home. {I}10_{/}Yet 
throughout all the tribes 
of Israel, the people 
were arguing, "The king 
who delivered us from the 
Philistines has had to 
flee because of Absalom. 
{I}11_{/}We ourselves 
anointed Absalom to rule 
over us. But if he died 
in battle, what prevents 
us from bringing back the 
king?"
DAVID RETURNS TO 
JERUSALEM{/}

{I}12_{/}King David heard 
what the Israelites said. 
So he sent this message 
to the priests Zadok and 
Abiathar, "Say to the 
elders of Judah: 'Why 
should you be the last to 
bring the king back to 
his house? {I}13_{/}You 
are relatives, of my own 
race. Why should you be 
the last to bring back 
the king?' {I}14_{/}Say 
also to Amasa, 'Are you 
not of my own family? I 
swear before God that I 
will make you general of 
my army in place of 
Joab."
{I}15_{/}So he won over 
the men of Judah and, as 
one man, they sent word 
to the king, "Please 
return with your 
servants." {I}16_{/}So 
the king came back and 
the men of Judah went 
over to Gilgal to welcome 
him and help him cross 
the Jordan. 
{I}17_{/}Shimei, son of 
Gera, the Benjaminite 
from Bahurim, hurried 
down with the people of 
Judah to meet King David. 
{I}18_{/}He had taken 
with him a thousand men 
from Benjamin. Ziba also, 
the steward of Saul's 
family, hurried down to 
the Jordan before the 
king with his fifteen 
sons and twenty servants. 
{I}19_{/}He helped the 
king's household cross 
the ford and attended to 
his needs.
Shimei the son of Gera 
fell down before the 
king, as he was about to 
cross the Jordan, 
{I}20_{/}and said to him, 
"Let not my lord hold me 
guilty or remember the 
wrong your servant did 
when my lord the king 
left Jerusalem. Let not 
the king remember this, 
{I}21_{/}for I confess 
that I have sinned; and 
therefore I have come 
today, the first from 
Joseph's tribes to 
welcome my lord the 
king."
{I}22_{/}Abishai the son 
of Zeruiah answered, 
"Shall not Shimei be put 
to death for having 
cursed Yahweh's 
anointed?" {I}23_{/}But 
David said, "Far be it 
from me to listen to you, 
you sons of Zeruiah! This 
is bad advice; no one 
shall be put to death in 
Israel today. Do I not 
know that I am ruling 
again over Israel this 
day?" {I}24_{/}So the 
king assured Shimei with 
an oath, "You shall not 
die."
{I}25_{/}Mepibaal, the 
son of Saul, came down 
from Jerusalem to meet 
the king. He had not 
washed his feet, or 
trimmed his beard, or 
cleaned his clothes since 
the king departed. 
{I}26_{/}When he arrived 
to meet the king, the 
king said to him, "Why 
did you not go with me, 
Mepibaal?" {I}27_{/}He 
answered, "My lord, O 
king! My steward deceived 
me. For I said to him, 
'Saddle an ass for me so 
that I may ride on it and 
go with the king,' since 
I am lame. {I}28_{/}But 
he has slandered me to my 
lord the king. And yet my 
lord the king is like an 
angel of God. Do, 
therefore, what seems 
good to you. {I}29_{/}My 
father's family was 
doomed to die before my 
lord the king, but you 
counted your servant 
among those who eat at 
your table. What further 
right do I have to 
complain to the king?" 
{I}30_{/}The king said to 
him, "Why talk more? I 
have decided - you and 
Ziba shall divide the 
land." {I}31_{/}Mepibaal 
answered, "Oh, let him 
take it all since my lord 
the king has come home 
safely."
{I}32_{/}Now, Barzillai 
the Gileadite had come 
down from Rogelim and he 
crossed the Jordan with 
him; then he said goodbye 
to him. 
{I}33_{/}Barzillai was a 
very old man of eighty, 
who, being a very wealthy 
man, had provided the 
king with food when he 
remained in Mahanaim. 
{I}34_{/}The king said to 
Barzillai, "Come, join me 
and stay with me; I will 
take care of you in 
Jerusalem." {I}35_{/}But 
Barzillai said to the 
king, "How many more 
years will I live that I 
should go up with the 
king to Jerusalem? 
{I}36_{/}Today, I am 
eighty years old and can 
discern neither what is 
pleasant nor what is not. 
Can your servant still 
taste what he eats or 
drinks; or listen to the 
voice of men and women 
singing? Why then should 
your servant be an added 
burden to my lord the 
king? {I}37_{/}Your 
servant will accompany 
the king just a little 
past the Jordan. Why 
should the king reward me 
for this? {I}38_{/}Please 
allow me to return to my 
own city where I may die 
and be buried near the 
graves of my father and 
mother. But let this my 
son Kimham, your servant, 
continue with my lord the 
king. You can do for him 
whatever it may please 
you. {I}39_{/}The king 
answered, "Kimham will 
come with me and I will 
give him whatever seems 
fit to you. Besides, I 
will do for you whatever 
you desire of me." 
{I}40_{/}As all the 
people had crossed the 
Jordan, the king also 
crossed. Then the king 
embraced and blessed 
Barzillai who then 
returned to his own home.
{I}41_{/}The king went on 
to Gilgal accompanied by 
Kimham, together with the 
men of Judah and some 
Israelites. {I}42_{/}Then 
the Israelites came to 
the king and asked, "Why 
have our brothers, the 
men of Judah, grabbed 
you? They have brought 
the king and his entire 
family over the Jordan 
together with all your 
soldiers?" {I}43_{/}The 
men of Judah answered the 
Israelites, "Because the 
king is our immediate 
relative. But why does 
this rouse your anger? 
Have we fed ourselves at 
the king's expense or 
received any gift from 
him?" {I}44_{/}But the 
Israelites answered the 
men of Judah, "We have 
more right to the king 
than you because we are 
ten tribes. Why did you 
disregard us? Were we not 
the first to have the 
king brought back?" But 
the men of Judah argued 
more vehemently than the 
Israelites.
SHEBA REBELS AGAINST 
DAVID{/}

{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}There happened to 
be there a base fellow 
named Sheba, son of 
Bichri, a Benjaminite, 
who sounded the trumpet 
and said, "We have 
nothing to do with David. 
What can we expect from 
the son of Jesse? Go 
back, O Israelites, each 
man to his home!" 
{I}2_{/}So all the 
Israelites left David and 
followed Sheba the son of 
Bichri. The men of Judah, 
however, steadfastly 
followed their king from 
the Jordan to Jerusalem.
{I}3_{/}When David 
reached his house at 
Jerusalem, he took the 
ten concubines whom he 
had left to keep the 
palace and put them under 
guard. He provided for 
them but had no relations 
with them. So they were 
secluded until the day of 
their death and lived 
like widows.
{I}4_{/}The king said to 
Amasa, "Assemble all the 
men of Judah within three 
days; then come here to 
me." {I}5_{/}So Amasa 
left to summon the men of 
Judah but he failed to 
show up at the appointed 
time. {I}6_{/}David then 
said to Abishai, "Sheba 
son of Bichri, will do us 
more harm than Absalom. 
Take my guards and pursue 
him lest he flee to any 
fortified city and escape 
from us." {I}7_{/}So 
Abishai, with the men of 
Joab, the Cherethites, 
Pelethites and all the 
warriors, left Jerusalem 
to pursue Sheba, son of 
Bichri. {I}8_{/}When they 
reached the big stone in 
Gibeon, Amasa came to 
meet them. Now Joab was 
wearing over his tunic a 
belt with a sheathed 
sword. The sword slipped 
out. {I}9_{/}Joab said to 
Amasa, "How are you, my 
brother?" And he held 
Amasa's beard with his 
right hand as if to 
embrace him. 
{I}10_{/}Amasa did not 
notice the sword which he 
held until Joab stabbed 
him, shedding his 
entrails to the ground. 
Amasa died on the spot 
without need of a second 
thrust.
Then Joab and Abishai his 
brother pursued Sheba, 
son of Bichri. 
{I}11_{/}Meantime, one of 
Joab's men stood beside 
Amasa and said, "Let him 
who is for Joab and 
stands by David follow 
Joab." {I}12_{/}Amasa 
then lay bathed in his 
blood, lying on the 
highway. When the man saw 
the people stopping to 
look, he carried Amasa 
from the highway into the 
field and covered him 
with a garment. 
{I}13_{/}When he was 
removed from the highway, 
the people followed Joab 
in pursuit of Sheba, son 
of Bichri.
{I}14_{/}Sheba passed 
through all the tribes of 
Israel and entered Abel 
of Bethmaacah with all 
his allies who had 
assembled to follow him. 
{I}15_{/}Joab's men came 
and attacked him in Abel 
of Bethmaacah. They set 
up a mound against the 
city, and all the men of 
Joab dug under the wall 
to throw it down.
{I}16_{/}Then a wise 
woman called out from the 
city, "Listen! Listen! 
Tell Joab to come here 
that I may speak to him." 
{I}17_{/}As Joab 
approached, the woman 
asked, "Are you Joab?" He 
answered, "I am." 
{I}18_{/}The woman 
continued, "They used to 
say in olden days to 
settle a matter, 'Seek 
advice at Abel if you 
want to know the ancient 
customs {I}19_{/}of the 
faithful of Israel.' And 
you want to destroy a 
city which is a mother 
city in Israel. Why do 
you want to destroy the 
heritage of Yahweh?" 
{I}20_{/}Joab answered, 
"By no means do I want to 
destroy it! {I}21_{/}But 
a man from the hill 
country of Ephraim, named 
Sheba, son of Bichri, has 
rebelled against King 
David. Only surrender him 
and I will withdraw from 
the city." So the woman 
said to Joab, "We shall 
throw his head over the 
wall to you." 
{I}22_{/}The woman then 
gathered the inhabitants 
and spoke to them so 
persuasively that they 
beheaded Sheba, son of 
Bichri, and threw his 
head out to Joab who then 
sounded the trumpet for 
the people to depart from 
the city. Then everyone 
went home and Joab 
himself returned to the 
king in Jerusalem.
{I}23_{/}Joab was in 
command of all the army 
of Israel while Benaiah, 
son of Jehoiada, was in 
command of the 
Cherethites and the 
Pelethites. 
{I}24_{/}Adoram was in 
charge of the forced 
labor, and Jehoshaphat, 
son of Ahilud, was the 
recorder. Sheva was 
secretary, {I}25_{/}and 
Zadok and Abiathar were 
priests, {I}26_{/}and Ira 
the Jairite was David's 
priest.
THE GREAT FAMINE{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}There was famine 
during the reign of David 
for three consecutive 
years and David consulted 
Yahweh. The answer was, 
"There is bloodguilt on 
Saul and his family 
because he put the 
Gibeonites to death."
{I}2_{/}The Gibeonites 
were not of the people of 
Israel but descendants of 
the Amorites. Although 
the Israelites had sworn 
to spare them, Saul had 
attempted to wipe them 
out on behalf of the 
people of Israel and 
Judah. {I}3_{/}So David 
called the Gibeonites and 
asked them, "What shall I 
do for you? And how shall 
I repay you that you may 
bless the people of 
Yahweh?" {I}4_{/}The 
Gibeonites answered him, 
"Our quarrel with Saul 
and his family is not 
over silver or gold, nor 
is it our task to put any 
Israelite to death." The 
king asked again, "Tell 
me then what I shall do 
for you"; {I}5_{/}and 
they replied,"That man 
slaughtered us and 
planned our destruction 
so that we would no 
longer occupy any place 
in Israel. 
{I}6_{/}Surrender seven 
of his sons to us so that 
we may hang them up 
before Yahweh at Gibeon 
on the mountain of 
Yahweh." To this, the 
king said, "I will 
surrender them."
{I}7_{/}David spared 
Mepibaal, son of 
Jonathan, Saul's son, 
because of the oath David 
and Jonathan took before 
Yahweh. {I}8_{/}But he 
took the two sons of 
Rizpah, daughter of Aiah 
whom she bore to Saul - 
Armoni and Mepibaal; and 
the five sons of Merab, 
daughter of Saul, whom 
she bore to Adriel, son 
of Barzillai the 
Meholathite. {I}9_{/}He 
delivered them into the 
hands of the Gibeonites 
who hanged them on the 
mountain of Yahweh where 
all seven perished 
together. They were put 
to death in the first 
days of harvest at the 
beginning of the barley 
harvest.
{I}10_{/}Then Rizpah, 
daughter of Aiah, took 
sackcloth and spread it 
for herself on the rock, 
from the beginning of 
harvest until rain fell 
on them from the heavens. 
She did not allow the 
birds of the air to come 
on them by day or the 
beasts of the field by 
night. {I}11_{/}When 
David was told what 
Rizpah, Aiah's daughter 
and Saul's concubine, had 
done, {I}12_{/}he asked 
the men of Jabesh-gilead 
for the bones of Saul and 
those of his son 
Jonathan. (They had taken 
them from the wall of 
Bethshan where the 
Philistines had nailed 
them when they killed 
Saul on Gilboa.) 
{I}13_{/}So David had 
brought up from there the 
bones of Saul and his son 
Jonathan, and the bones 
of those who had been 
hanged were gathered. 
{I}14_{/}All of them were 
buried in the land of 
Benjamin in Zela, in the 
tomb of Kish their 
father. When all that the 
king had commanded was 
done, God had pity on the 
land.
{I}15_{/}The Philistines 
waged war again with 
Israel, and David went 
down together with his 
servants to fight against 
them. When David was 
already tired, 
{I}16_{/}Ishbibenob, one 
of the descendants of the 
giants whose spear 
weighed three hundred 
shekels of bronze and who 
had put on a new sword, 
thought of killing David. 
{I}17_{/}But Abishai, son 
of Zeruiah, came to his 
help, attacking and 
killing the Philistine. 
Then David's men urged 
him, "You shall not join 
us anymore in battle lest 
the lamp of Israel be 
extinguished."
{I}18_{/}After this, 
there was more fighting 
with the Philistines at 
Gob; there Sibbecai the 
Hushathite, slew Saph, 
one of the descendants of 
the giants. 
{I}19_{/}There was 
another battle with the 
Philistines at Gob where 
Elhanan, son of 
Jaareoregim, the 
Bethlehemite, slew 
Goliath the Gittite, the 
shaft of whose spear was 
the size of a weaver's 
beam. {I}20_{/}In another 
encounter at Gath, there 
was a huge man with six 
fingers on each hand and 
six toes on each foot, 
numbering twenty-four in 
all. He too was a 
descendant of the giants. 
{I}21_{/}When he taunted 
Israel, Jonathan, son of 
Shimei, David's brother, 
slew him. {I}22_{/}All 
four descendants of the 
giants fell by the hand 
of David and his guards.
DAVID'S SONG OF PRAISE{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}David sang this 
song to Yahweh on the day 
Yahweh delivered him from 
his enemies and from 
Saul. {I}2_{/}He said, 
The Lord is my rock, my 
rampart,
my deliverer {I}3_{/}and 
my God,
the rock in whom I take 
refuge.
He is my shield, my 
salvation,
my stronghold and my 
refuge,
my Savior; you save me 
from violence.
{I}4_{/}I call on the 
Lord, who is worthy of 
praise;
he saves me from my 
enemies.
{I}5_{/}Waters of death 
carried me along,
torrents of destruction 
terrified me.
{I}6_{/}Caught as by the 
cords of the grave,
I was utterly helpless 
before the snares of 
death.
{I}7_{/}But I called upon 
the Lord in my distress,
to my God I cried for 
help;
and from his temple he 
heard my voice,
my cry of grief reached 
his ears.
{I}8_{/}Then the earth 
reeled and rocked;
the foundations of the 
heavens shook;
they trembled in his 
fury.
{I}9_{/}From his nostrils 
smoke rose,
from his mouth a 
devouring fire
throwing off live embers.
{I}10_{/}He bent the 
heavens and came down
with dark clouds under 
his feet.
{I}11_{/}He rode on a 
cherub and flew,
he was seen on the wings 
of the wind.
{I}12_{/}He set darkness 
around him as his tent,
a heap of waters in the 
thick clouds.
{I}13_{/}Then from the 
brightness of his 
presence
flared up fiery embers.
{I}14_{/}From heaven the 
Lord thundered;
the voice of the Most 
High resounded.
{I}15_{/}Sending out a 
hail of arrows,
he scattered them;
flashing forth bolts of 
lightning,
he routed them.
{I}16_{/}The beds of the 
seas lay uncovered
as the foundations of the 
world
were laid bare,
at your rebuke, O Yahweh,
at the blast from your 
nostril's breath.
{I}17_{/}Reaching down 
from above,
he drew me out of the 
deep water.
{I}18_{/}Too strong for 
me were my enemies,
but he rescued me from my 
adversaries.
{I}19_{/}They have 
launched their attack
in an opportune day
but the Lord has been my 
stay.
{I}20_{/}In the open he 
has set me free.
How great indeed is his 
love for me!
{I}21_{/}Yahweh rewarded 
me according to my 
justice,
and according to my 
righteousness.
{I}22_{/}For I have been 
faithful to Yahweh's way
and I did not sin far 
from him.
{I}23_{/}With his 
ordinances all before me,
I have always followed 
his statutes.
{I}24_{/}Before him I 
have done uprightly
and kept myself from 
iniquity.
{I}25_{/}Therefore Yahweh 
has given me
recompense according to 
my righteousness.
{I}26_{/}To the faithful 
you show yourself 
faithful;
to the blameless you show 
yourself blameless;
{I}27__{/}to the pure you 
show yourself pure;
but to the crooked you 
show yourself astute.
{I}28_{/}For you raise up 
the humble
and humiliate the 
arrogant.
{I}29_{/}Yahweh, you are 
my lamp.
O my God, you brighten up 
my darkness.
{I}30_{/}Yes, with you I 
can crush an armed band,
and by my God I can leap 
over a wall.
{I}31_{/}This God - his 
way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is 
always fulfilled.
To those who seek refuge 
in him, he is a shield.
{I}32_{/}There is no 
other God but Yahweh;
there is no other rock 
but our God.
{I}33_{/}This God is my 
stronghold
and keeps my path 
unerring and safe.
{I}34_{/}He has made my 
feet as swift as the 
hinds';
he has set me secure on 
the heights.
{I}35_{/}He trains my 
hands for war
and my arms to bend a bow 
of brass.
{I}36_{/}You have given 
me your shield for 
protection,
and your help has made me 
great.
{I}37_{/}You have given 
wide room for my steps,
so that they have never 
faltered.
{I}38_{/}I have pursued 
my enemies and wiped them 
out,
I did not turn back till 
I had destroyed them.
{I}39_{/}Thrusting them 
through,
I did not give them time 
to rise
as they fell under my 
feet.
{I}40_{/}You have given 
me strength for the 
battle;
you have subdued my 
adversaries beneath me;
{I}41_{/}you have put my 
enemies to flight
and destroyed those who 
opposed me.
{I}42_{/}They cried for 
help, but no one came.
They cried to the Lord;
he did not answer them.
{I}43_{/}I pulverized 
them as dust of the 
earth;
like mud in the streets I 
trampled on them.
{I}44_{/}You have 
delivered me from
the people's assault
and have made me head 
over the nations.
They came to serve me -
people I had not known.
{I}45_{/}Foreigners 
approached me,
cringing and fawning.
At the sound of my voice,
they rose to obey.
{I}46_{/}Foreigners 
succumbed
or locked themselves in 
their fortresses.
{I}47_{/}Yahweh lives! 
Praised be my rock!
Exalted be my savior God 
-
{I}48_{/}the God who 
grants me vengeance
and subdues the peoples 
for me.
{I}49_{/}He brings me out 
from my foes;
he exalts me above my 
adversaries;
he rescues me from men of 
violence.
{I}50_{/}For this I will 
extol you, Yahweh,
among the nations;
I will sing praise to 
your name.
{I}51_{/}You have given 
your king great victory;
you have shown your love 
forever
to your anointed, to 
David and to his
descendants.
{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
last words of David: The 
oracle of David, son of 
Jesse, the oracle of the 
man whom God exalted, the 
anointed of the God of 
Jacob, the singer of the 
songs of Israel:
{I}2_{/}"The Spirit of 
Yahweh speaks through me, 
his word is on my tongue.
{I}3_{/}The God of Israel 
has spoken,
the Rock of Israel has 
said to me:
when one rules justly 
over men,
ruling in the fear of 
God,
{I}4_{/}he dawns on them 
like the morning light,
like the sun shining 
forth on a cloudless 
morning,
making grass sprout from 
the ground after the 
rain.
{I}5_{/}Yes, is not my 
family like this before 
God? He has made with me 
an eternal covenant, 
orderly and secure.
Will he not complete my 
salvation and fulfill my 
desire?
{I}6_{/}But godless men 
are like thorns that are 
thrown away.
They cannot be held with 
one's hand
{I}7_{/}but are uprooted 
with iron and the shaft 
of a spear,
and they are burned in 
fire."
DAVID'S CHAMPIONS{/}

{I}8_{/}These are the 
names of the warriors who 
were with David: the 
first of the Three was 
Ishbaal, a Hachemonite 
who wielded his spear 
against eight hundred 
whom he slew in a single 
encounter.
{I}9_{/}Next was Eleazar, 
son of Dodo, son of 
Ahohi, who was with David 
when they challenged the 
Philistines who were 
gathered there for 
battle. When he saw the 
retreat of the 
Israelites, {I}10_{/}he 
fought and struck down 
the Philistines until his 
hand grew tired from 
holding the sword without 
pause. Yahweh brought 
about a great victory 
that day.The others 
returned after him, but 
only to strip the slain.
{I}11_{/}Next was 
Shammah, son of Agee the 
Hararite. The Philistines 
gathered together at 
Lehi, where there was a 
plot of ground planted to 
barley, and the men fled 
from the Philistines. 
{I}12_{/}But Shammah 
stood in the middle of 
the plot to defend it and 
slew the Philistines. And 
Yahweh worked a great 
victory.
{I}13_{/}At about harvest 
time, three of the Thirty 
went down to David at the 
cave of Adullam while a 
band of Philistines was 
encamped in the valley of 
Rephaim. {I}14_{/}David 
was in the stronghold 
while the Philistine 
garrison was at 
Bethlehem. {I}15_{/}David 
longed for water and 
said, "Who will give me 
water to drink from the 
well by the gate of 
Bethlehem!" {I}16_{/}At 
this, the three warriors 
broke through the 
Philistine camp, drew 
water out of the well by 
the gate of Bethlehem and 
brought it to David. But 
David refused to drink of 
it and poured it out as 
an offering to Yahweh. 
{I}17_{/}He said, "By no 
means should I do this. 
Shall I drink the blood 
of the men who risked 
their lives?" Therefore, 
he refused to drink it. 
These were the deeds of 
the three warriors.
{I}18_{/}Now Abishai, 
brother of Joab, son of 
Zeruiah, was chief of the 
Thirty. He wielded his 
spear against three 
hundred men and slew 
them, winning a name 
beside the Thirty. 
{I}19_{/}Though he was 
the most popular of the 
Thirty and became their 
commander, he did not 
equal the Three.
{I}20_{/}Benaiah son of 
Jehoiada, a warrior of 
Kabzeel, was a man of 
great achievements who 
killed the two sons of 
Ariel of Moab. He also 
went down into a pit on a 
snowy day and slew a 
lion. {I}21_{/}He slew a 
handsome Egyptian who 
held a spear. Benaiah 
went against him with a 
staff, snatched the spear 
from the Egyptian's hand 
and killed him with his 
own spear. 
{I}22_{/}Benaiah, son of 
Jehoiada, did these 
things and won a name 
beside the thirty 
warriors. {I}23_{/}He was 
popular among the Thirty 
but did not equal the 
Three. David put him in 
command of his bodyguard.
{I}24_{/}Asahel, brother 
of Joab, was one of the 
Thirty; Elhanan, son of 
Dodo of Bethlehem; 
{I}25_{/}Shammah of 
Harod, Elika of Harod; 
{I}26_{/}Helez, the 
Paltite; Ira the son of 
Ikkesh of Tekoa; 
{I}27_{/}Abiezor of 
Anathoth; Mebunnai, the 
Hushathite, 
{I}28_{/}Zalmon the 
Ahohite; Maharai of 
Netophah; {I}29_{/}Jeleb, 
the son of Baanah of 
Netophah; Ittai, the son 
of Ribai of Gibeah of the 
Ben-jaminites; 
{I}30_{/}Benaiah of 
Pirathon; Hiddai, of the 
brooks of Gaash; 
{I}31_{/}Abialbon, the 
Arbathite; Azmaveth of 
Bahurim; {I}32_{/}Eliahba 
of Shaalbon; the sons of 
Jashen, Jonathan; 
{I}33_{/}Shammah, the 
Hararite; Ahiam, the son 
of Sharar, the Hararite, 
{I}34_{/}Eliphelet, the 
son of Ahasbai of Maacah; 
Eliam, the son of 
Ahithophel of Gilo; 
{I}35_{/}Hezro of Carmel; 
Paarai the Arbite; 
{I}36_{/}Igal, the son of 
Nathan of Zobah, Bani, 
the Gadite; 
{I}37_{/}Zelek the 
Ammonite; Naharai of 
Beeroth, the armor-bearer 
of Joab, the son of 
Zeruiah, {I}38_{/}Ira, 
the Ithrite; Gareb the 
Ithrite; {I}39_{/}Uriah, 
the Hittite - thirty-
seven in all.
THE CENSUS{/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}Again the anger 
of Yahweh blazed out 
against Israel. So he let 
David harm them in this 
way, "Count the people of 
Israel and Judah." 
{I}2_{/}The king said to 
Joab and the commanders 
of the army who were with 
him, "Go through all the 
tribes of Israel from Dan 
to Beersheba and count 
the people that I may 
know how many they are."
{I}3_{/}Joab told the 
king, "May Yahweh your 
God multiply the people a 
hundred times and may my 
lord the king see this 
blessing. But why does my 
lord the king want to 
take a census?"
{I}4_{/}But the king's 
word prevailed so that 
Joab and the commanders 
of the army went out from 
the king's presence in 
order to count the people 
of Israel. {I}5_{/}They 
crossed the Jordan and 
started with Aroer, the 
city in the middle of the 
valley, and went on 
toward Gad and to Jazer. 
{I}6_{/}Then they 
proceeded to Gilead and 
to Kadesh in the land of 
the Hittites. They then 
went to Dan, and from Dan 
to Sidon, {I}7_{/}and 
arrived at the fortress 
of Tyre and the cities of 
the Hivites and the 
Canaanites. They went out 
through the Negeb of 
Judah at Beersheba and 
{I}8_{/}after having gone 
through all the land, 
returned to Jerusalem at 
the end of nine months 
and twenty days. 
{I}9_{/}Joab gave the 
total count of the people 
to the king: eight 
hundred thousand sword-
wielding warriors in 
Israel and five hundred 
thousand men in Judah.
{I}10_{/}But after he had 
the people counted, David 
felt remorse and said to 
Yahweh, "I have sinned 
greatly in what I have 
done, but now, O Yahweh, 
I ask you to forgive my 
sin for I have acted 
foolishly."
{I}11_{/}The following 
day, before David awoke, 
Yahweh's word had come to 
the prophet Gad, David's 
seer, {I}12_{/}"Go, and 
give David this message: 
I offer you three things 
and I will let one of 
them befall you according 
to your own choice." 
{I}13_{/}So Gad went to 
David and asked him, "Do 
you want three years of 
famine in your land? Or 
do you want to be pursued 
for three months by your 
foes while you flee from 
them? Or do you want 
three days' pestilence in 
your land? Now, think and 
decide what answer I 
shall give him who sent 
me."
{I}14_{/}David answered 
Gad, "I am greatly 
troubled. Let me fall 
into the hands of Yahweh 
whose mercy is abundant; 
but let me not fall into 
the hands of men."
{I}15_{/}So Yahweh sent a 
pestilence on Israel from 
morning until the 
appointed time, causing 
the death of seventy 
thousand men from Dan to 
Beersheba. {I}16_{/}When 
the angel stretched forth 
his hand toward Jerusalem 
to destroy it, Yahweh 
would punish no more and 
said to the angel who was 
causing destruction among 
the people, "It is 
enough, hold back your 
hand." The angel of 
Yahweh was already at the 
threshing floor of 
Araunah, the Jebusite.
{I}17_{/}When David saw 
the angel striking the 
people, he spoke to 
Yahweh and said, "I have 
sinned and acted 
wickedly, but these are 
only the sheep; what have 
they done? Let your hand 
strike me and my father's 
family."
{I}18_{/}Gad went to 
David that day and said 
to him, "Go, set up an 
altar to Yahweh on the 
threshing floor of 
Araunah the Jebusite." 
{I}19_{/}So David left to 
follow Yahweh's command 
made through Gad. 
{I}20_{/}When Araunah saw 
the king and his 
officials coming toward 
him, he went forward, 
paid homage to the king 
with his face to the 
ground, and said, 
{I}21_{/}"Why has my lord 
the king come to his 
servant?" David answered, 
"I will buy your 
threshing floor in order 
to build an altar to 
Yahweh so that the plague 
may end among the 
people." {I}22_{/}Then 
Araunah said to David, 
"Let my lord the king 
take the threshing floor 
and offer the sacrifice 
that seems good to him: 
here you have my oxen for 
the burnt offering, the 
threshing sledges, and 
the oxen's yokes for the 
wood. {I}23_{/}All this, 
O king, Araunah gives to 
the king. May Yahweh your 
God hear you."
{I}24_{/}But the king 
said to Araunah, "No, I 
will pay you for all 
this, for I will not 
offer to Yahweh my God 
something that costs me 
nothing." So David bought 
the threshing floor and 
the oxen for fifty 
shekels of silver. 
{I}25_{/}David built 
there an altar to Yahweh 
and offered burnt 
offerings and peace 
offerings. So Yahweh had 
mercy on the land and the 
plague ended in Israel.

