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11  A, i te takanga o te tau, i te wa ano e haere ai nga kingi ki te whawhai, na ka unga e Rawiri a Ioapa ratou ko ana tangata, ko Iharaira katoa; a huna iho e ratou nga tama a Amona, whakapaea ana a Rapa. Ko Rawiri ia i noho ki Hiruharama.

A, i te mea ka ahiahi, na ka maranga ake a Rawiri i tona moenga, a haereere ana i runga i te tuanui o te whare o te kingi: na ka kitea iho e ia i te tuanui tetahi wahine e kaukau ana; he ataahua rawa ano te wahine ki te titiro atu.

Na ka tono tangata te kingi, a ka ui mo taua wahine. Na ko te meatanga, Ehara ianei tenei i a Patehepa tamahine a Eriama, ko te wahine ia a Uria Hiti.

Na ka unga etahi karere e Rawiri ki te tiki i a ia; a ka haere mai ia ki a ia; a takoto tahi ana raua; kua oti hoki tona poke te pure, a hoki ana ki tona whare.

Na ka hapu te wahine, a ka tono tangata ki a Rawiri, ka mea, Kua hapu ahau.

Na ka tono tangata a Rawiri ki a Ioapa, ka mea, Tena a Uria Hiti tonoa mai ki ahau. Na tonoa ana e Ioapa a Uria ki a Rawiri.

A, i te taenga mai o Uria ki a ia, ka ui a Rawiri i pehea a Ioapa, i pehea hoki te iwi, a i pehea te whawhai.

Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Uria, Haere ki raro, ki tou whare ki te horoi i ou waewae. Na ka puta a Uria i te whare o te kingi; a i maua i muri i a ia tetahi kai a te kingi.

Otiia moe ana a Uria ki te tatau o te whare o te kingi i roto i nga tangata katoa a tona ariki, kihai hoki i haere ki raro, ki tona whare.

10 A ka korerotia te korero ki a Rawiri, Kihai a Uria i haere ki raro, ki tona whare; na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Uria, He teka ianei katahi ano koe ka tae mai i te haere? he aha koe te haere ai ki raro, ki tou whare?

11 Na ka mea a Uria ki a Rawiri, Kei roto te aaka i te tihokahoka, me Iharaira, me Hura; kei te mata ano o te parae toku ariki, a Ioapa ratou ko nga tangata a toku ariki e noho ana; kia haere koia ahau ki toku whare ki te kai, ki te inu, ki te tako to ki taku wahine? e ora ana koe, e ora ana hoki tou wairua, e kore tenei mea e meatia e ahau.

12 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Uria, E noho ki konei i tenei ra ano, a apopo ahau unga ai i a koe. Heoi, noho ana a Uria i taua ra, i te aonga ake ano, ki Hiruharama.

13 Na ka karangatia ia e Rawiri, a kai ana; a meinga ana e ia kia haurangi: a i te ahiahi ka puta ki waho ki te takoto ki tona takotoranga i roto i nga tangata a tona ariki, kihai hoki i haere ki raro, ki tona whare.

14 Na i te ata ka tuhituhia he pukapuka e Rawiri ki a Ioapa, o tonoa ana kia kawea e Uria.

15 I tuhituhi hoki ia ki te pukapuka, i mea, Me hoatu e koutou a Uria ki mua rawa, ki te wahi e nui rawa ana te whawhai, ka hoki ai i muri i a ia, kia patua ai ia, kia mate ai.

16 Na i a Ioapa e whakapae ana i te pa, ka hoatu e ia a Uria ki te wahi i mohio ai ia kei reira nga toa.

17 Na, ko te putanga atu o nga tangata o te pa ki te whawhai ki a Ioapa, ka hinga etahi o te iwi, etahi o nga tangata ake a Rawiri; i mate ano a Uria Hiti.

18 Katahi a Ioapa ka tono tangata hei korero ki a Rawiri i nga mea katoa o te whawhai.

19 I ako ano ia te karere, i mea, E poto i a koe nga mea katoa o te whawhai te korero ki te kingi;

20 Na ki te ara te riri o te kingi, a ka mea ia ki a koe, He aha koutou i whakatata rawa ai ki te pa tatau ai? kahore ianei koutou i mohio ka kopere mai ratou i te taiepa?

21 Na wai a Apimereke tama a Ierupehete i patu? he teka ianei na te wahine i maka te wahi o runga o te kohatu huri ki runga ki a ia i te taiepa, a mate iho ai ki Tepehe? he aha koutou i whakatata atu ai ki te taiepa? Na mea atu, Kua mate ano tau po nonga, a Uria Hiti.

22 Heoi haere ana te karere, a ka tae, korerotia ana e ia ki a Rawiri nga mea katoa i unga ai ia e Ioapa.

23 I mea hoki te karere ki a Rawiri, I kaha rawa mai aua tangata ki a matou, a puta mai ana ki a matou ki te parae. Na whakaekea atu ana e matou, a tae noa ki te kuwaha o te keti.

24 Na ko te koperenga mai a nga kaikopere i te taiepa ki au tangata, mate iho etahi o nga tangata a te kingi; ko tau pononga hoki, ko Uria Hiti kua mate.

25 Katahi ka mea a Rawiri ki te karere, Kia penei tau ki atu ki a Ioapa, Kei he tenei mea ki tou whakaaro, he kai noa iho hoki ta te hoari i tetahi, i tetahi: kia kaha tau whawhai ki te pa, whakangaromia. Mau ano ia e whakatenatena.

26 A, i te rongonga o te wahine a Uria kua mate tana tahu a Uria, ka tangihia e ia tana tahu.

27 A ka pahemo te tangihanga, ka tono tangata a Rawiri ki te tiki i a ia ki tona whare, a ka waiho hei wahine. mana, a ka whanau ta raua tama. Otiia i kino ki ta Ihowa titro taua mea i mea ai a Rawiri.

12  Na ka tonoa a Natana e Ihowa ki a Rawiri: a ka tae atu ia ki a ia, ka mea ki a ia, Tokorua nga tangata i te pa kotahi; he taonga o tetahi, he rawakore tetahi.

He tini noa iho nga hipi, nga kau a te tangata taonga:

Hore rawa ia he mea a te rawakore; heoi ano he reme uha kotahi nei, he mea nohinohi nana i hoki mai i whangai haere; a i tupu tahi ake ratou me ana tamariki: i kai tana ake taro, i inu hoki i roto i tana ake kapu, i takoto ki tona uma; a i rite t onu he tamahine ki a ia.

Na ka tea he pahi ki te tangata taonga, a ka manawapa tera ki te tango i tetahi o ana hipi, o ana kau, kia taka ma te manuhuri i haere mai ki a ia; heoi tangohia ana e ia te reme a te tangata rawakore, taka ana e ia ma te tangata i haere nei ki a ia.

Ko te tino muranga o te riri o Rawiri ki taua tangata, ka mea ki a Natana, E ora ana a Ihowa, e tika ana kia mate te tangata nana tenei mahi.

Ko te reme hoki, kia wha ana e hoatu ai hei utu; mona i mea i tenei mea, mona hoki kihai i aroha.

Na ka mea a Natana ki a Rawiri, Ko taua tangata ra, ko koe. Ko te kupu tenei a Ihowa, a te Atua o Iharaira, Naku koe i whakawahi hei kingi mo Iharaira, naku hoki koe i whakaora i te ringa o Haora;

A hoatu ana e ahau te whare o tou ariki ki a koe, me nga wahine a tou ariki ki tou uma: i hoatu ano e ahau te whare o Iharaira raua ko Hura ki a koe; a mehemea i iti tenei, kua tapiritia atu e ahau mau era atu mea ano.

He aha koe i whakahawea ai ki te kupu a Ihowa? i mea ai i tenei kino i tana tirohanga? Ko Uria Hiti i patua e koe ki te hoari, a tangohia ana tana wahine hei wahine mau; ko ia hoki tukitukia ana e koe ki te hoari a nga tama a Amona.

10 Na reira e kore te hoari e whakakorea atu aianei i roto i tou whare a ake ake, mou i whakahawea ki ahau, i tango hoki i te wahine a Uria Hiti hei wahine mau.

11 Ko te kupu tenei a Ihowa, Nana, ka whakaara ahau i te kino mou i roto i tou whare, a ka tango i au wahine i tau tirohanga, ka hoatu ki tou hoa, na ka takotoria e ia au wahine i te tirohanga a te ra i runga nei.

12 I meatia pukutia hoki tenei mea e koe: ko ahau ia ka mea i tenei mea ki mua i a Iharaira katoa, ki mua ano i te ra.

13 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Natana, Kua hara ahau ki a Ihowa. A ka mea a Natana ki a Rawiri, Kua kauparea atu ano tou hara e Ihowa; e kore koe e mate.

14 Otira, i te mea na tenei mahi au i whai take nui ai nga hoariri o Ihowa ki te kohukohu, he pono ka mate te tamaiti ka whanau nei ki a koe.

15 Na haere ana a Natana ki tona whare. A ka pakia e Ihowa te tamaiti a Rawiri i whanau nei i te wahine a Uria: he nui hoki te mate.

16 Na ka inoi a Rawiri ki te Atua mo te tamaiti; a nohopuku ana a Rawiri, haere ana ki roto, pau noa taua po e takoto ana i te whenua.

17 Na ka whakatika nga kaumatua o tona whare ki a ia, ki te whakaara i a ia i te whenua: heoi kihai ia i pai, kihai hoki i kai tahi i ta ratou taro.

18 Na i te whitu o nga ra ka mate te tamaiti. A ka wehi nga tangata a Rawiri ki te mea ki a ia kua mate te tamaiti: i mea hoki ratou, Na i te mea e ora ana te tamaiti, i korero tatou ki a ia, a kihai ia i whakarongo ki to tatou reo: na, tera noa ak e te kino e mea ai ia ki a ia ano ki te korerotia e tatou ki a ia te matenga o te tamaiti.

19 Otiia i kite a Rawiri i ana tangata e kowhetewhete ana ki a ratou ano, a ka mohio a Rawiri ki ana tangata, Kua mate ranei te tamaiti? A ka mea ratou, Kua mate.

20 Katahi a Rawiri ka whakatika i te whenua, ka horoi i a ia, ka whakawahi i a ia, ka tango i etahi kakahu ke mona; a haere ana ki te whare o Ihowa ki te koropiko. Katahi ka haere ia ki tona whare. Na ka tonoa e ia, a ka whakatakotoria he taro mana, a kai ana ia.

21 Katahi ka mea ana tangata ki a ia, He aha tenei mea i mea nei koe? I nohopuku koe, i tangi ki te tamaiti i a ia e ora ana: no te matenga ia o te tamaiti, na whakatika ana koe ki te kai taro.

22 Ano ra ko ia, I te tamaiti e ora ana ano, i nohopuku ahau, i tangi: i mea hoki, Ko wai ka tohu, tera pea a Ihowa ka aroha ki ahau, a ka ora te tamaiti?

23 Ko tenei, ka mate nei ia, kia nohopuku ahau hei aha? E taea ranei ia e ahau te whakahoki mai? Ko ahau e haere ki a ia, e kore ia e hoki mai ki ahau.

24 Na ka whakamarie a Rawiri i tana wahine, i a Patehepa, a haere ana ki roto, ki a ia, a takoto tahi ana raua; a ka whanau ano ia, he tama, huaina iho tona ingoa ko Horomona; i arohaina ia e Ihowa;

25 I tono hoki ia na te ringa o Natana poropiti, a nana i hua tona ingoa ko Teriria; he whakaaro hoki ki a Ihowa.

26 A, i whawhai ano a Ioapa ki Rapa o nga tamariki a Amona; a horo ana i a ia te pa kingi.

27 Na ka tono tangata a Ioapa ki a Rawiri, ka mea, Kua tauria a Rapa e ahau, ae ra, kua horo i ahau te pa o nga wai.

28 Na, tena, huihuia te nuinga o te iwi ki te whakapae i te pa, kia riro ai i a koe: kei riro mai te pa i ahau, a noku te ingoa e huaina ki reira.

29 Na huihuia ana te iwi katoa e Rawiri, a haere ana ki Rapa; na tauria ana a reira e ia, a riro ana i a ia.

30 Tangohia ana e ia te karauna o to ratou kingi i tona matenga, ko tona taimaha kotahi taranata koura, a i roto nga kohatu utu nui; a potaea iho ki te matenga o Rawiri. A i whakaputaina e ia nga taonga o te pa, tona tini.

31 Na, ko nga tangata i roto, whakaputaina ana e ia ki waho, a whakamahia ana ki nga kani, ki nga harou rino, ki nga toki rino; i meinga ano ratou kia tika na roto i te tahunga pereki. Ko tana hoki tenei i mea ai ki nga pa katoa o nga tamariki a Am ona. Na hoki ana a Rawiri te iwi katoa ki Hiruharama.

13  Muri iho i enei mea, na he tuahine to Apoharama tama a Rawiri, ko Tamara te ingoa, he attahua; a i arohaina ia e Amoanono tama a Rawiri.

Na ngaua kinotia ana a Amanono, no ka mate ia mo tona tuahine, mo Tamara, he wahine hoki ia, a ki te whakaaro o Amanono he he rawa ki te meatia tetahi mea ki a ia.

He hoa ia to Amanono, tona ingoa ko Ionarapa, he tama na Himea, na tetahi o nga tuakana o Rawiri; he tangata murere rawa ano a Ionarapa.

Na ka mea ia ki a ia, He aha koe, e te tama a te kingi, i penei ai te kikokore i tenei ata, i tenei ata? e kore ianei koe e whakaatu ki ahau? Ano ra ko Amanono ki a ia, E aroha ana ahau ki a Tamara, ki te tuahine o Apoharama, o toku teina.

Na ka mea a Ionarapa ki a ia, Takoto i runga i tou moenga, ka whakamatemate hoki i a koe, a ka tae mai tou papa kia kite i a koe, na ka mea ki a ia, Kia haere mai toku tuahine, a Tamara ki te whangai i ahau ki te kai, ki te taka hoki i te kai i t aku tirohanga, kia kite atu ai ahau, kia kai ai i ta tona ringa.

Heoi ka takoto a Amanono, ka whakamatemate; a, i te taenga mai o te kingi kia kite i a ia, ka mea a Amanono ki te kingi, Tena kia haere mai a Tamara, toku tuahine ki te hanga i etahi keke i taku tirohanga, kia rua, a ka kai ahau i ta tona ringa.

Katahi ka tono tangata a Rawiri ki te whare ki a Tamara, ka mea, Tena, haere ki te whare o tou tungane, o Amanono, ki te taka kai mana.

Heoi haere ana a Tamara ki te whare o tona tungane, o Amanono, a i te takoto tera: na ka mau ia ki te paraoa, a pokepokea ana, hanga ana hei keke i tana tirohanga, na tunua ana e ia nga keke.

Na kua mau ia ki te parai, ringihia ana e ia ki tona aroaro: heoi ka whakaparahako tera ki te kai. Na ka mea a Amanono, Kia mawehe katoa atu nga tangata i ahau. Na ka mawehe katoa nga tangata i a ia.

10 Na ka mea a Amanono ki a Tamara, Maua ake te kai na ki te whare moenga, a ma tou ringa ahau e whangai. Na ka mau a Tamara ki nga keke i hanga e ia, a kawea ana ki a Amanono, ki tona tungane, ki te whare moenga.

11 A, i tana kawenga ki a ia kia kainga, na ka hopu tera i a ia, ka mea, Haere mai, taua ka takoto tahi, e toku tuahine.

12 Na ka mea ia ki a ia, Kauaka, e toku tungane, kaua ahau e whakaititia, kahore hoki he mahi penei i roto i a Iharaira; kati ra tenei mahi wairangi.

13 Ko ahau hoki, kei hea he hunanga mo toku whakama? a ka rite koe ki tetahi o te hunga wairangi o Iharaira. Engari ra korero ki te kingi; e kore hoki ahau e kaiponuhia e ia ki a koe.

14 Heoi kihai ia i pai ki te whakarongo ki tona reo: na he kaha rawa ia i a ia, a whakaititia ana ia e ia, a takotoria ana e ia.

15 Katahi ka nui atu te kino i kino ai a Amanono ki a ia; nui atu te kino i kino ai ia ki a ia i te aroha i aroha ai ia ki a ia. A ka mea a Amanono ki a ia, Whakatika, haere.

16 Na ka mea tera ki a ia, Kahore he rawa; nui atu te kino o tenei tononga i ahau i tera i meatia e koe ki ahau. Otiia kihai ia i pai ki te whakarongo ki a ia.

17 Katahi ka karangatia e ia tana tangata i mahi nei ki a ia, a ka mea, Tonoa atu tenei wahine i toku aroaro ki waho, whakarawatia hoki te tatau i muri i a ia.

18 Na he kakahu purepure to te wahine, he pera hoki nga koroka i kakahuria ai nga tamahine wahine a te kingi. Katahi ka kawea ia e tana tangata ki waho, a whakarawatia ana te tatau i muri i a ia.

19 Na ka opehia e Tamara he pungarehu ki runga ki tona matenga, a haea ana e ia tona kakahu purepure, taupokina iho ona ringa ki runga ki tona matenga, a haere ana, me te aue haere.

20 Na ka mea a Apoharama tona tungane ki a ia, I a koe tou tungane a Amanono? tena, noho puku, e toku tuahine; ko tou tungane hoki ia, kaua tou ngakau e mea ki tenei mea. Na noho ana a Tamara, whakapouaru ana i te whare o tona tungane, o Apoharama.

21 I te rongonga ia o Kingi Rawiri i enei mea katoa, nui rawa tona riri.

22 Na kahore a Apoharama kupu ki a Amanono, ahakoa pai, ahakoa kino: e mauahara ana hoki a Apoharama ki a Amanono, mona i whakaiti i tona tuahine i a Tamara.

23 A, e rua rawa tau i muri, na he kaikutikuti hipi a Apoharama i Paara Hatoro, i te taha o Eparaima, a karangatia ana e Apoharama nga tama katoa a te kingi.

24 Na ka haere a Apoharama ki te kingi, a ka mea, Nana, he kaikutikuti enei a tau pononga, na kia haere te kingi ratou ko ana pononga hei hoa mo tau pononga.

25 Na ka mea te kingi ki a Apoharama, Kauaka, e taku tama, kaua matou katoa e haere, kei taimaha koe i a matou. Na tohe ana ia ki a ia: otiia kihai tera i pai ki te haere; engari i manaaki i a ia.

26 Katahi ka mea a Apoharama, Ki te kore, tukua toku tuakana a Amanono, kia haere tahi matou. Na ka mea te kingi, Kia haere ia i a koe hei aha?

27 Ka tohe ia a Apoharama ki a ia, a ka tukua e ia a Amanono ratou ko nga tama katoa a te kingi hei hoa mona.

28 Na i whakahau a Apoharama i ana tangata, i mea, E kite koutou i te ngakau o Amanono e koa ana i te waina, a ka mea ahau ki a koutou, Patua a Amanono, na me whakamate, kaua e wehi; he teka ianei naku koutou i whakahau? kia maia, kia toa.

29 A rite tonu ta nga tangata a Apoharama i mea ai ki a Amanono ki ta Apoharama i whakahau ai. Katahi ka whakatika katoa nga tama a te kingi, a eke ana ki tona muera, ki tona muera, a rere ana.

30 I a ratou ano i te ara, ka tae te rongo ki a Rawiri, ka korerotia, Kua patua e Apoharama nga tama katoa a te kingi, kihai hoki tetahi o ratou i mahue.

31 Katahi ka whakatika te kingi, a haea ana e ia ona kakahu, takoto ana ki te whenua; me te tu ano ana tangata katoa, he mea haehae nga kakahu.

32 Na ka oho a Ionarapa tama a Himea, a te tuakana o Rawiri, ka ki, Kei mea toku ariki, ko nga taitama katoa, ko nga tama a te kingi kua whakamatea nei; engari ko Amanono anake i mate: ko ta Apoharama hoki tenei i karanga ai, he mea whakatakoto no te ra ano i whakaiti ai tera i tona tuahine, i a Tamara.

33 Na, tena, kaua te ngakau o toku ariki, o te kingi e mea ki taua mea, e whakaaro, Ko nga tama katoa a te kingi kua mate: kahore, ko Amanono anake i mate.

34 Rere ana ia a Apoharama. Na, ko te marangatanga o nga kanohi o te tamaiti e tutei atu ana, ka titiro, na he nui te hunga e haere mai ana i te ara i te taha o te puke i tona tuara.

35 Na ka mea a Ionarapa ki te kingi, Nana, ko nga tama a te kingi te haere mai nei; e rite ana ki ta tau pononga i mea ai.

36 Mutu kau tana korero, na ko te haerenga mai o nga tama a te kingi, a nui atu to ratou reo ki te tangi: a nui atu te tangi i tangi ai te kingi ratou ko ana tangata katoa.

37 Rere ana ia a Apoharama, a haere ana ki a Taramai tama a Amihuru, kingi o Kehuru. Ko Rawiri ia, tangihia ana e ia tana tama i nga ra katoa.

38 Heoi rere ana a Apoharama, haere ana ki Kehuru, a e toru ona tau ki reira.

39 Na ka koingo te ngakau o Kingi Rawiri kia haere ki a Apoharama: kua marie hoki ia ki a Amonono, i te mea kua mate ia.

David and Bathsheba

11 In the spring,(A) at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab(B) out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.(C) They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.(D) But David remained in Jerusalem.

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof(E) of the palace. From the roof he saw(F) a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba,(G) the daughter of Eliam(H) and the wife of Uriah(I) the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her.(J) She came to him, and he slept(K) with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.)(L) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah(M) the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.”(N) So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.

10 David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”

11 Uriah said to David, “The ark(O) and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love(P) to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”

12 Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter(Q) to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down(R) and die.(S)

16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.

18 Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19 He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20 the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimelek(T) son of Jerub-Besheth[b]? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall,(U) so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ‘Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”

22 The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24 Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning(V) was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased(W) the Lord.

Nathan Rebukes David(X)

12 The Lord sent Nathan(Y) to David.(Z) When he came to him,(AA) he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

“Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

David(AB) burned with anger(AC) against the man(AD) and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives,(AE) the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over,(AF) because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!(AG) This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed(AH) you(AI) king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you,(AJ) and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise(AK) the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down(AL) Uriah(AM) the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed(AN) him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword(AO) will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household(AP) I am going to bring calamity on you.(AQ) Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.(AR) 12 You did it in secret,(AS) but I will do this thing in broad daylight(AT) before all Israel.’”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned(AU) against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away(AV) your sin.(AW) You are not going to die.(AX) 14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for[c] the Lord,(AY) the son born to you will die.”

15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck(AZ) the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying(BA) in sackcloth[d] on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused,(BB) and he would not eat any food with them.(BC)

18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed,(BD) put on lotions and changed his clothes,(BE) he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept,(BF) but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?(BG) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’(BH) 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,(BI) but he will not return to me.”(BJ)

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba,(BK) and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.(BL) The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.[e](BM)

26 Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah(BN) of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. 27 Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, “I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. 28 Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be named after me.”

29 So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. 30 David took the crown(BO) from their king’s[f] head, and it was placed on his own head. It weighed a talent[g] of gold, and it was set with precious stones. David took a great quantity of plunder from the city 31 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking.[h] David did this to all the Ammonite(BP) towns. Then he and his entire army returned to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

13 In the course of time, Amnon(BQ) son of David fell in love with Tamar,(BR) the beautiful sister of Absalom(BS) son of David.

Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah,(BT) David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”

Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

“Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.”

David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat.

“Send everyone out of here,”(BU) Amnon said. So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed(BV) her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”(BW)

12 “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel!(BX) Don’t do this wicked thing.(BY) 13 What about me?(BZ) Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.(CA)

15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!”

16 “No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.”

But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.” 18 So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing an ornate[i] robe,(CB) for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore. 19 Tamar put ashes(CC) on her head and tore the ornate robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.

20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.

21 When King David heard all this, he was furious.(CD) 22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad;(CE) he hated(CF) Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

Absalom Kills Amnon

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers(CG) were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his attendants please join me?”

25 “No, my son,” the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go but gave him his blessing.

26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.”

The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.

28 Absalom(CH) ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high(CI) spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.(CJ) 29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.

30 While they were on their way, the report came to David: “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons; not one of them is left.” 31 The king stood up, tore(CK) his clothes and lay down on the ground; and all his attendants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 But Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “My lord should not think that they killed all the princes; only Amnon is dead. This has been Absalom’s express intention ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. 33 My lord the king should not be concerned about the report that all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled.

Now the man standing watch looked up and saw many people on the road west of him, coming down the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, “I see men in the direction of Horonaim, on the side of the hill.”[j]

35 Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come; it has happened just as your servant said.”

36 As he finished speaking, the king’s sons came in, wailing loudly. The king, too, and all his attendants wept very bitterly.

37 Absalom fled and went to Talmai(CL) son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.

38 After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years. 39 And King David longed to go to Absalom,(CM) for he was consoled(CN) concerning Amnon’s death.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 11:11 Or staying at Sukkoth
  2. 2 Samuel 11:21 Also known as Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon)
  3. 2 Samuel 12:14 An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text for the enemies of
  4. 2 Samuel 12:16 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have in sackcloth.
  5. 2 Samuel 12:25 Jedidiah means loved by the Lord.
  6. 2 Samuel 12:30 Or from Milkom’s (that is, Molek’s)
  7. 2 Samuel 12:30 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms
  8. 2 Samuel 12:31 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  9. 2 Samuel 13:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 19.
  10. 2 Samuel 13:34 Septuagint; Hebrew does not have this sentence.