David mourns for Abner. Jonathan's Lame Son. Ish-bosheth killed said, I and my kingdom are guiltless 2 And Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, had two before Jehovah for ever of the blood men that were captains of bands: of Abner the son of Ner: 29 let it the name of the one was Baanah, fall upon the head of Joab, and upon and the name of the other Rechab, all his father's house; and let there the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, not fail from the house of Joab one of the children of Benjamin (for that hath an issue, or that is a leper, Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjaor that leaneth on a staff, or that min: 3 and the Beerothites fled to falleth by the sword, or that lacketh Gittaim, and have been sojourners bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his there until this day). brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth? 34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him. 35 And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness. And when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead son, his hands became feeble, Israelites were troubled. 4 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was 1 Mephibosheth. 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon. 6 And 2they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7 Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David_to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; and Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings. 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in 1 In 1 Chr. 8. 34; 9. 40, Merib-baal. 2 Or, there came... men fetching wheat hold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 10 And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him. David King of Israel and Judah. He captures Zion. He defeats the Philistines his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron. 5 Then came all the tribes of 6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, 2 Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come hither. 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the water-course, and smite the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul. Wherefore they say, 5 There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house. 9 And David dwelt in the strong1 Or, leader 4 2 Or, Thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame shall turn thee away 3 Or, and as for the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul 4 Another reading is, that hate David's soul. 5 Or, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house 12 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedartrees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house. And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 and Elishama, and 6 Eliada, and Eliphelet. 17 And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up: for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand. 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath 7 broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place 8 Baal-perazim. 21 And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of Jehovah, 6 In 1 Chr. 14. 7, Beeliada. 7 Or, broken forth upon mine enemies The Ark brought to Perez-uzzah. The Ark brought to Jerusalem he said, Thou shalt not go up: make | 9 And David was afraid of Jehovah a circuit behind them, and come that day; and he said, How shall upon them over against the mul- the ark of Jehovah come unto me? berry-trees. 24 And it shall be, 10 So David would not remove the when thou hearest the sound of ark of Jehovah unto him into the marching in the tops of the mul- city of David; but David carried it berry-trees, that then thou shalt aside into the house of Obed-edom bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah the Gittite. 11 And the ark of Jehogone out before thee to smite the vah remained in the house of Obedhost of the Philistines. 25 And edom the Gittite three months: and David did so, as Jehovah com- Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all manded him, and smote the Philis- his house. tines from 2 Geba until thou come to Gezer. 12 And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the 6 And David again gathered to house of Obed-edom, and all that gether all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, 3 which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sitteth above the cherubim. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in 5 the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of 6 fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with 7castanets, and with cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place 10 Perez-uzzah, unto this day. 1 Or, balsam-trees 2 In 1 Chr. 14. 16, Gibeon. 3 Heb. whereupon is called the Name. press-wood each of Uzzah. pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. 13 And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burntofferings and peace-offerings before Jehovah. 18 And when David had made an end of offering the burntoffering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the 11 Or, of wine Michal taunts David. David plans to build a Temple. God's Message to him daughter of Saul came out to meet | whithersoever thou wentest, and David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 21 And David said unto Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince_over the people of Jehovah, over Israel; therefore will I play before Jehovah. 22 And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight: but of the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honor. 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. 7 1 In 1 Chr. 17. 6, any of the judges. have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 11 and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. 12 When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 15 but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. 18 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come; 5 and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah ! 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah. 21 For 4 Or, have caused 5 Or, and is this the law of man, O Lord Jehovah? 3 David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at 5 the River. 4 And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen : and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from 8 Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass. 7 David's Prayer and Thanksgiving. His Victories over Philistia, and Moab thy word's sake, and according toured them with the line, making thine own heart, hast thou wrought them to lie down on the ground; all this greatness, to make thy ser- and he measured two lines to put to vant know it. 22 Wherefore thou death, and one full line to keep alive. art great, O Jehovah God: for there And the Moabites became servants is none like thee, neither is there to David, and brought tribute. any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thee out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God. 25 And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it for ever, and do as thou hast spoken. 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee. 27 For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant 2 found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28 And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: 29 now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 9 And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent 9Joram his son unto king David, to 10 salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And 12 Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 these also did king David dedicate unto Jehovah, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; 12 of 6Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Am mon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 5 Another reading is, the river Euphrates. 8 In 1 Chr. 18. 8, Tibhath. |