23 whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

24

And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved 25 him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name 1 Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26

AND Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the 27 royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against 28 Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and 292 it be called after my name. And David gathered all the people together, and 30 went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. And he took their king's

crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the 31 spoil of the city 3 in great abundance. And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto

Jerusalem.

13 AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was 3 a virgin; and 4 Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's 4 brother and Jonadab was a very subtil man. : And he said unto him, Why art

thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? 5 And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see 6 it, and eat it at her hand. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

7

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's 8 house, and dress him meat. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took 7 flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes 9 in his sight, and did bake the cakes. And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men 10 from me. And they went out every man from him. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber 11 to Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he 12 took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not 8 force me; for 9 no such thing ought 13 to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from 14 thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

15

Then Amnon hated her 10 exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said 16 unto her, Arise, be gone. And she said unto him, There is no cause this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he 17 would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were

1 That is, Beloved of the LORD.

2 Heb. my name be called upon it.

3 Heb. very great.

4 Heb. it was marvellous, or,
hidden in the eyes of Amnon.
5 Heb. thin.

6 Heb. morning by morning.
7 Or, paste.

8 Heb. humble me.

9 Heb. it ought not so to be done.

10 Heb. with great hatred. greatly.

B. C. 1030-1027.

2 SAMUEL XIV.

the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that 20 was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

21, 22

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated And Absalom came to 23 Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside 24 Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

And the king said to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, And the 25 I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. 26 And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us.

27 king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: 4 have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be 29 5 valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

30

And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah 31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his 82 servants stood by with their clothes rent. David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the 7 appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he 33 forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead. 34 But Absalom fled.

And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, 35 behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: 9 as thy servant 36 said, so it is. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept 10 very sore.

14

3 Heb. and desolate.

4 Or, will you not, since I
have commanded you?

10 Heb. with a great weeping greatly.

11 Or, Ammihur.

12 Or, was consumed.

13 Heb. Save.

14 Heb. no deliverer between them.

7 the other, and slew him. And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my 8 husband neither name nor remainder 1 upon the earth. And the king said unto 9 the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on 10 me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless. And the king said, Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall 11 not touch thee any more. Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

12

Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto 13 my lord the king. And he said, Say on. And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch 14 home again his banished. For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of 16 his handmaid. For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inherit17 ance of God. Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king 5 to discern good and bad therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

18

Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the 19 king now speak. And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the 20 mouth of thine handmaid to fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.

21

And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go 22 therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and 6thanked the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in 23 that the king hath fulfilled the request of 7 his servant. So Joab arose and went 24 to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

25

885

8 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no 26 blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it :) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight. 27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is 9 near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, 32 Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any 33 iniquity in me, let him kill me. So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. 15 AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood 2 beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of 3 Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but 42 there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause 5 might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took 6 him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7

10

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in 8 Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve 9 the LORD. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; 12 and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel 14 are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and 3 bring evil upon us, 15 and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall 4 appoint.

16

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king 17 left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. And the king went 18 forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from 19 Gath, passed on before the king. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the 20 king for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be 21 with thee. And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether 22 in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all 23 the little ones that were with him. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook 7 Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until 25 all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok,

24

1 Heb. to come.

2 Or, none will hear thee from the king downward.

3 Heb. thrust.

4 Heb. choose.

5 Heb. at his feet.

6 Heb. make thee wander in going.

7 Called, John xviii. 1, Cedron.

Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the 26 LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: but if he thus say, have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as 27 seemeth good unto him. The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz 28 thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will tarry in the plain of the 29 wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they 31 went up. And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with 33 his coat rent, and earth upon his head : unto whom David said, If thou passest 34 on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for 35 me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that 37 ye can hear. So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

16

And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of 2 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the 3 wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, And where is thy master's son ? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me 4 the kingdom of my father. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

5

And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: 3 he 6 came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were 7 on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come 8 out, come out, thou 4 bloody man, and thou man of Belial: the LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son and, 5 behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody 9 man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his 10 head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who 11 shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him 12 curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine 67 affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and 7 cast

1 Heb. going up, and weeping.

2 Heb, I do obeisance.

3 Or, he still came forth and cursed. 6 Or, tears.
4 Heb. man of blood.

5 Heb. behold thee in thy evil.

7 Heb. eye.

8 Heb. dusted him with dust.