Bathsheba, David’s Great Sin

11 ^(A)Then it happened ^[a](B)in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and ^(C)besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

² Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on ^(D)the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. ³ So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not ^(E)Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of ^(F)Uriah the Hittite?” ⁴ David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, ^(G)he lay with her; ^(H)and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. ⁵ The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “^(I)I am pregnant.”

⁶ Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. ⁷ When Uriah came to him, ^(J)David asked concerning the welfare of Joab and ^[b]the people and the state of the war. ⁸ Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and ^(K)wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and a present from the king ^[c]was sent out after him. ⁹ But Uriah slept ^(L)at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. ¹⁰ Now when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” ¹¹ Uriah said to David, “^(M)The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in ^[d]temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and ^(N)the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.” ¹² Then David said to Uriah, “^(O)Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the ^[e]next. ¹³ Now David called him, and he ate and drank before him, and he ^(P)made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his bed ^(Q)with his lord’s servants, but he did not go down to his house.

¹⁴ Now in the morning David ^(R)wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ^15 (S)He had written in the letter, saying, “^[f]Place Uriah in the front line of the ^[g]fiercest battle and withdraw from him, ^(T)so that he may be struck down and die.” ¹⁶ So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men. ¹⁷ The men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David’s servants fell; and ^(U)Uriah the Hittite also died. ¹⁸ Then Joab sent and reported to David all the events of the war. ¹⁹ He charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king, ²⁰ and if it happens that the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? ²¹ Who ^(V)struck down Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”

²² So the messenger departed and came and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. ²³ The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us and came out against us in the field, but we ^[h]pressed them as far as the entrance of the gate. ²⁴ Moreover, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” ²⁵ Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing ^[i]displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle against the city stronger and overthrow it’; and so encourage him.”

²⁶ Now when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, ^(W)she mourned for her husband. ²⁷ When the time of mourning was over, David sent and ^[j]brought her to his house and ^(X)she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But ^(Y)the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Nathan Rebukes David

12 Then the Lord sent ^(Z)Nathan to David. And ^(AA)he came to him and ^[k]said,

⁵ Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this ^[n](AC)deserves to die. ⁶ He must make restitution for the lamb ^(AD)fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.”

⁷ Nathan then said to David, “^(AE)You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘^(AF)It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸ I also gave you ^(AG)your master’s house and your master’s wives into your ^[o]care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! ⁹ Why ^(AH)have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? ^(AI)You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, ^(AJ)have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ¹⁰ Now therefore, ^(AK)the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ ¹¹ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; ^(AL)I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in ^[p]broad daylight. ¹² Indeed ^(AM)you did it secretly, but ^(AN)I will do this thing before all Israel, and ^[q]under the sun.’” ¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “^(AO)I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has ^[r](AP)taken away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴ However, because by this deed you have ^(AQ)given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” ¹⁵ So Nathan went to his house.

Loss of a Child

Then the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s ^[s]widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. ¹⁶ David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David ^(AR)fasted and went and ^(AS)lay all night on the ground. ^17 (AT)The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. ¹⁸ Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!” ¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” ²⁰ So David arose from the ground, ^(AU)washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and ^(AV)worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.

²¹ Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? ^[t]While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” ²² He said, “While the child was still alive, ^(AW)I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘^(AX)Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ ²³ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? ^(AY)I will go to him, but ^(AZ)he will not return to me.”

Solomon Born

²⁴ Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and ^[u](BA)he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him ²⁵ and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him ^[v]Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.

War Again

^26 (BB)Now Joab fought against ^(BC)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and captured the royal city. ²⁷ Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters. ²⁸ Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and camp against the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named after me.” ²⁹ So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, fought against it and captured it. ³⁰ Then ^(BD)he took the crown of ^[w]their king from his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it ^[x]was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in great amounts. ³¹ He also brought out the people who were in it, and ^(BE)set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now it was after this that ^(BF)Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was ^(BG)Tamar, and ^(BH)Amnon the son of David loved her. ² Amnon was so frustrated because of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed ^[y]hard to Amnon to do anything to her. ³ But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of ^[z](BI)Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. ⁴ He said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Then Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” ⁵ Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat, and let her prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” ⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and ^(BJ)make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

⁷ Then David sent to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” ⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. And she took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. ⁹ She took the pan and ^[aa]dished them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “^(BK)Have everyone go out from me.” So everyone went out from him. ¹⁰ Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the ^[ab]bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. ¹¹ When she brought them to him to eat, he ^(BL)took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” ¹² But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for ^(BM)such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this ^(BN)disgraceful thing! ¹³ As for me, where could I ^[ac]get rid of my reproach? And as for you, you will be like one of the ^[ad]fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for ^(BO)he will not withhold me from you.” ¹⁴ However, he would not listen to ^[ae]her; since he was stronger than she, he ^(BP)violated her and lay with her.

¹⁵ Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!” ¹⁶ But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. ¹⁷ Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her.” ¹⁸ Now she had on ^(BQ)a ^[af]long-sleeved garment; for in this manner the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. ^19 (BR)Tamar put ^[ag]ashes on her head and ^(BS)tore her ^[ah]long-sleeved garment which was on her; and ^(BT)she put her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

²⁰ Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. ²¹ Now when King David heard of all these matters, he was very angry. ²² But Absalom did not speak to Amnon ^(BU)either good or bad; for ^(BV)Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

²³ Now it came about after two full years that Absalom ^(BW)had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

Absalom Avenges Tamar

²⁴ Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” ²⁵ But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, for we will be burdensome to you.” Although he ^[ai]urged him, he would not go, but blessed him. ²⁶ Then ^(BX)Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” ²⁷ But when Absalom ^[aj]urged him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

²⁸ Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, ^(BY)when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have not I myself commanded you? Be courageous and be ^[ak]valiant.” ²⁹ The servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose and each mounted ^(BZ)his mule and fled.

³⁰ Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” ³¹ Then the king arose, ^(CA)tore his clothes and ^(CB)lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. ^32 (CC)Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, ^[al]responded, “Do not let my lord ^[am]suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the ^[an]intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. ³³ Now therefore, do not let my lord the king ^(CD)take the report to ^[ao]heart, namely, ‘all the king’s sons are dead,’ for only Amnon is dead.”

³⁴ Now ^(CE)Absalom had fled. And ^(CF)the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. ³⁵ Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; according to your servant’s word, so it happened.” ³⁶ As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted their voices and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept ^[ap]very bitterly.

³⁷ Now ^(CG)Absalom fled and went to ^(CH)Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of ^(CI)Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ^38 (CJ)So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there three years. ³⁹ The heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for ^(CK)he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.

The Woman of Tekoa

14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that ^(CL)the king’s heart was inclined toward Absalom. ² So Joab sent to ^(CM)Tekoa and ^[aq]brought a wise woman from there and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments now, and do not ^(CN)anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days; ³ then go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put ^(CO)the words in her mouth.

⁴ Now when the woman of Tekoa ^[ar]spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and ^(CP)prostrated herself and said, “^(CQ)Help, O king.” ⁵ The king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she ^[as]answered, “Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead. ⁶ Your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no ^[at]one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him. ⁷ Now behold, ^(CR)the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, ^(CS)and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to ^[au]leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

⁸ Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.” ⁹ The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord, the king, ^(CT)the iniquity is on me and my father’s house, but ^(CU)the king and his throne are guiltless.” ¹⁰ So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” ¹¹ Then she said, “Please let the king remember the Lord your God, ^(CV)so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “^(CW)As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

¹² Then the woman said, “Please let your maidservant speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” ¹³ The woman said, “^(CX)Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back ^(CY)his banished one. ¹⁴ For ^(CZ)we will surely die and are ^(DA)like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans ^[av]ways so that ^(DB)the banished one will not be cast out from him. ¹⁵ Now ^[aw]the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your maidservant said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the ^[ax]request of his maidservant. ¹⁶ For the king will hear ^[ay]and deliver his maidservant from the ^[az]hand of the man who would destroy ^[ba]both me and my son from ^(DC)the inheritance of God.’ ¹⁷ Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be ^[bb]comforting, for as ^(DD)the angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and evil. And may the Lord your God be with you.’”

¹⁸ Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” ¹⁹ So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman replied, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was ^(DE)your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant; ²⁰ in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, ^(DF)like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.”

Absalom Is Recalled

²¹ Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, ^(DG)I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.” ²² Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the ^[bc]request of his servant.” ²³ So Joab arose and went to ^(DH)Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. ²⁴ However the king said, “Let him turn to ^(DI)his own house, and let him not see my face.” So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

²⁵ Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; ^(DJ)from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. ²⁶ When he ^(DK)cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king’s weight. ^27 (DL)To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was ^(DM)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

²⁸ Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, ^(DN)and did not see the king’s face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he would not come. ³⁰ Therefore he said to his servants, “See, ^(DO)Joab’s ^[bd]field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the ^[be]field on fire. ³¹ Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my ^[bf]field on fire?” ³² Absalom ^[bg]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there.”’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face, ^(DP)and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.” ³³ So when Joab came to the king and told him, he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king, and ^(DQ)the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it came about after this that ^(DR)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. ² Absalom used to rise early and ^(DS)stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” ³ Then Absalom would say to him, “See, ^(DT)your ^[bh]claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” ⁴ Moreover, Absalom would say, “^(DU)Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.” ⁵ And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and ^(DV)kiss him. ⁶ In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; ^(DW)so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ Now it came about at the end of ^[bi]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in ^(DX)Hebron. ⁸ For your servant ^(DY)vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘^(DZ)If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” ⁹ The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘^(EA)Absalom is king in Hebron.’” ¹¹ Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, ^(EB)who were invited and ^(EC)went ^[bj]innocently, and they did not know anything. ¹² And Absalom sent for ^(ED)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city ^(EE)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for ^(EF)the people increased continually with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem

¹³ Then a messenger came to David, saying, “^(EG)The hearts of the men of Israel are ^[bk]with Absalom.” ¹⁴ David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “^(EH)Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” ¹⁵ Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” ¹⁶ So the king went out and all his household ^[bl]with him. But ^(EI)the king left ten concubines to keep the house. ¹⁷ The king went out and all the people ^[bm]with him, and they stopped at the last house. ¹⁸ Now all his servants passed on beside him, ^(EJ)all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, ^(EK)six hundred men who had come ^[bn]with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

¹⁹ Then the king said to ^(EL)Ittai the Gittite, “Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place. ²⁰ You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while ^(EM)I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; ^(EN)mercy and ^[bo]truth be with you.” ²¹ But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely ^(EO)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.” ²² Therefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. ²³ While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over ^(EP)the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward ^(EQ)the way of the wilderness.

²⁴ Now behold, ^(ER)Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him ^(ES)carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and ^(ET)Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city. ²⁵ The king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then ^(EU)He will bring me back again and show me both it and ^(EV)His habitation. ²⁶ But if He should say thus, ‘^(EW)I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, ^(EX)let Him do to me as seems good ^[bp]to Him.” ²⁷ The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Are you not ^(EY)a seer? Return to the city in peace and your ^(EZ)two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸ See, I am going to wait ^(FA)at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ Therefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

³⁰ And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and ^(FB)his head was covered and he walked ^(FC)barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went. ³¹ Now someone told David, saying, “^(FD)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, ^(FE)make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

³² It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the ^(FF)Archite met him with his ^[bq]coat torn and ^[br]dust on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be ^(FG)a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, and ^(FH)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵ Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that ^(FI)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ Behold ^(FJ)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and ^(FK)by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, ^(FL)David’s friend, came into the city, and ^(FM)Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Ziba, a False Servant

16 Now when David had passed ^(FN)a little beyond the summit, behold, ^(FO)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him ^(FP)with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “^(FQ)The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, ^(FR)for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.” ³ Then the king said, “And where is ^(FS)your master’s son?” And ^(FT)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” ⁴ So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

David Is Cursed

⁵ When King David came to ^(FU)Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul ^(FV)whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ^(FW)cursing continually as he came. ⁶ He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. ⁷ Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, ^(FX)you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! ^8 (FY)The Lord has returned upon you all ^(FZ)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

⁹ Then ^(GA)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should ^(GB)this dead dog ^(GC)curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and ^[bs]cut off his head.” ¹⁰ But the king said, “^(GD)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? ^(GE)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ ^(GF)then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” ¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^(GG)my son who came out from ^[bt]me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, ^(GH)for the Lord has told him. ¹² Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and ^[bu](GI)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” ¹³ So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. ¹⁴ The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

^15 (GJ)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶ Now it came about when ^(GK)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that ^(GL)Hushai said to Absalom, “^(GM)Long live the king! Long live the king!” ¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ^[bv]loyalty to your friend? ^(GN)Why did you not go with your friend?” ¹⁸ Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. ¹⁹ Besides, ^(GO)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?” ²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^(GP)Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, ^(GQ)and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines ^(GR)in the sight of all Israel. ^23 (GS)The advice of Ahithophel, which he ^[bw]gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; ^(GT)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.

Hushai’s Counsel

17 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men that I may arise and pursue David tonight. ^2 (GU)I will come upon him while he is weary and ^[bx]exhausted and terrify him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then ^(GV)I will strike down the king alone, ³ and I will bring back all the people to you. ^[by]The return of everyone depends on the man you seek; then all the people will be at ^(GW)peace.” ⁴ So the ^[bz]plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then Absalom said, “Now call ^(GX)Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what ^[ca]he has to say.” ⁶ When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to ^[cb]him, “Ahithophel has spoken ^[cc]thus. Shall we ^[cd]carry out his plan? If not, you speak.” ⁷ So Hushai said to Absalom, “^(GY)This time the advice that Ahithophel has ^[ce]given is not good.” ⁸ Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are ^[cf]fierce, ^(GZ)like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an ^[cg]expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. ⁹ Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ^[ch]caves or in another place; and it will be ^[ci]when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, ^(HA)will completely ^[cj]lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men. ¹¹ But I counsel that all Israel be surely gathered to you, ^(HB)from Dan even to Beersheba, ^(HC)as the sand that is by the sea in abundance, and that ^[ck]you personally go into battle. ¹² So we shall come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will ^[cl]fall on him ^(HD)as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. ¹³ If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will ^(HE)drag it into the ^[cm]valley until not even a small stone is found there.” ¹⁴ Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For ^(HF)the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.

Hushai’s Warning Saves David

¹⁵ Then ^(HG)Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “^[cn]This is what Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, and ^[co]this is what I have counseled. ¹⁶ Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘^(HH)Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be ^[cp]destroyed.’” ^17 (HI)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at ^(HJ)En-rogel, and a maidservant would go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David, for they could not be seen entering the city. ¹⁸ But a lad did see them and told Absalom; so the two of them departed quickly and came to the house of a man ^(HK)in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down ^[cq]into it. ¹⁹ And ^(HL)the woman ^[cr]took a covering and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered grain on it, so that nothing was known. ²⁰ Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And ^(HM)the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ It came about after they had departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David; and they said to David, “^(HN)Arise and cross over the water quickly for thus Ahithophel has counseled against you.” ²² Then David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed the Jordan; and by ^[cs]dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not ^[ct]followed, he ^[cu]saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to ^(HO)his city, and ^[cv](HP)set his house in order, and ^(HQ)strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father.

²⁴ Then David came to ^(HR)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ Absalom set ^(HS)Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was ^[cw]Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of ^(HT)Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi ^(HU)the son of Nahash from ^(HV)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, ^(HW)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and ^(HX)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought ^(HY)beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans, lentils, parched seeds, ²⁹ honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and for the people who were with him, ^(HZ)to eat; for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Absalom Slain

18 Then David ^[cx]numbered the people who were with him and ^(IA)set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ² David sent the people out, ^(IB)one third under the ^[cy]command of Joab, one third under the ^[cz]command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the ^[da]command of ^(IC)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” ³ But the people said, “^(ID)You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But ^[db]you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” ⁴ Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So ^(IE)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. ⁵ The king charged Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And ^(IF)all the people heard when the king charged all the commanders concerning Absalom.

⁶ Then the people went out into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in ^(IG)the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ The people of Israel were ^[dc]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. ⁸ For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁹ Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. For Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And ^(IH)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was ^[dd]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. ¹⁰ When a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” ¹¹ Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” ¹² The man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for ^(II)in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘^[de]Protect for me the young man Absalom!’ ¹³ Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and ^(IJ)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” ¹⁴ Then Joab said, “I will not ^[df]waste time here with you.” ^(IK)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the ^[dg]midst of the oak. ¹⁵ And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

¹⁶ Then ^(IL)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. ¹⁷ They took Absalom and cast him into ^[dh]a deep pit in the forest and ^(IM)erected over him a very great heap of stones. And ^(IN)all Israel fled, each to his tent. ¹⁸ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and ^(IO)set up for himself a pillar which is in ^(IP)the King’s Valley, for he said, “^(IQ)I have no son ^[di]to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

David Is Grief-stricken

¹⁹ Then ^(IR)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news ^(IS)that the Lord has ^[dj]freed him from the hand of his enemies.” ²⁰ But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.” ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. ²² Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since ^(IT)you will have no reward for going?” ²³ “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.

²⁴ Now ^(IU)David was sitting between the two gates; and ^(IV)the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. ²⁵ The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. ²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” ²⁷ The watchman said, “I ^[dk]think the running of the first one ^(IW)is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “^(IX)This is a good man and comes with good news.”

²⁸ Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “^[dl]All is well.” And ^(IY)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “^(IZ)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” ²⁹ The king said, “^(JA)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but ^(JB)I did not know what it was.” ³⁰ Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

³¹ Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for ^(JC)the Lord has ^[dm]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” ³² Then the king said to the Cushite, “^(JD)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “^(JE)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”

^33 [dn]The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “^(JF)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! ^(JG)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab Reproves David’s Lament

19 Then it was told Joab, “Behold, ^(JH)the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” ² The ^[do]victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” ³ So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle. ⁴ The king ^(JI)covered his face and ^[dp]cried out with a loud voice, “^(JJ)O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” ⁵ Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, ⁶ by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that ^[dq]princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then ^[dr]you would be pleased. ⁷ Now therefore arise, go out and speak ^[ds]kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely ^(JK)not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

David Restored as King

⁸ So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is ^(JL)sitting in the gate,” then all the people came before the king.

Now ^(JM)Israel had fled, each to his tent. ⁹ All the people were quarreling throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “^(JN)The king delivered us from the ^[dt]hand of our enemies and ^(JO)saved us from the ^[du]hand of the Philistines, but now ^(JP)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. ¹⁰ However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”

¹¹ Then King David sent to ^(JQ)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house? ¹² You are my brothers; ^(JR)you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ ¹³ Say to ^(JS)Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? ^(JT)May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be ^(JU)commander of the army before me continually ^(JV)in place of Joab.’” ¹⁴ Thus he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah ^(JW)as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.” ¹⁵ The king then returned and came as far as the Jordan. And Judah came to ^(JX)Gilgal in order to go to meet the king, to bring the king across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Then ^(JY)Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, with ^(JZ)Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they rushed to the Jordan before the king. ¹⁸ Then they kept crossing the ford to bring over the king’s household, and to do what was good in his sight. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. ¹⁹ So he said to the king, “^(KA)Let not my lord consider me guilty, nor remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king came out from Jerusalem, so that the king would ^[dv]take it to heart. ²⁰ For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore behold, I have come today, ^(KB)the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.” ²¹ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “^(KC)Should not Shimei be put to death for this, ^(KD)because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” ²² David then said, “^(KE)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be an adversary to me? ^(KF)Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that I am king over Israel today?” ²³ The king said to Shimei, “^(KG)You shall not die.” Thus the king swore to him.

²⁴ Then ^(KH)Mephibosheth the ^[dw]son of Saul came down to meet the king; and ^(KI)he had neither ^[dx]cared for his feet, nor ^[dy]trimmed his mustache, nor ^(KJ)washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. ²⁵ It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “^(KK)Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” ²⁶ So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ ^(KL)because your servant is lame. ²⁷ Moreover, ^(KM)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is ^(KN)like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. ²⁸ For ^(KO)all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; ^(KP)yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should ^[dz]complain anymore to the king?” ²⁹ So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have ^[ea]decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” ³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”

³¹ Now ^(KQ)Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to ^[eb]escort him over the Jordan. ³² Now Barzillai was very old, being eighty years old; and he had ^[ec](KR)sustained the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me and I will ^[ed]sustain you in Jerusalem with me.” ³⁴ But Barzillai said to the king, “^(KS)How long ^[ee]have I yet to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am ^[ef]now ^(KT)eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I hear anymore ^(KU)the voice of singing men and women? ^(KV)Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king compensate me with this reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant ^(KW)Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” ³⁸ The king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you ^[eg]require of me, I will do for you.” ³⁹ All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then ^(KX)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

⁴⁰ Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also ^(KY)half the people of Israel ^[eh]accompanied the king. ⁴¹ And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “^(KZ)Why had our brothers ^(LA)the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” ⁴² Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because ^(LB)the king is a close relative to ^[ei]us. Why then ^[ej]are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has ^[ek]anything been taken for us?” ⁴³ But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “^[el](LC)We have ten parts in the king, therefore ^[em]we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not ^[en]our advice first to bring back ^[eo]our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.

Sheba’s Revolt

20 Now ^(LD)a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of ^(LE)Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said,

² So all the men of Israel ^[ep]withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah ^[eq]remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.

³ Then David came to his house at Jerusalem, and ^(LI)the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and placed them under guard and provided them with sustenance, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ Then the king said to ^(LJ)Amasa, “Call out the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.” ⁵ So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah, but he ^(LK)delayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him. ⁶ And David said to ^(LL)Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; ^(LM)take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.” ⁷ So Joab’s men went out after him, ^(LN)along with the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty men; and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri. ⁸ When they were at the large stone which is in ^(LO)Gibeon, Amasa came ^[er]to meet them. Now Joab was ^[es]dressed in his military attire, and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out. ⁹ Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” And ^(LP)Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Amasa Murdered

¹⁰ But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so ^(LQ)he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri. ¹¹ Now there stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, ^(LR)let him follow Joab.” ¹² But Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he ^[et]removed Amasa from the highway into the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.

Revolt Put Down

¹³ As soon as he was removed from the highway, all the men passed on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

¹⁴ Now he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, even Beth-maacah, and all the Berites; and they were gathered together and also went after him. ¹⁵ They came and besieged him in ^(LS)Abel Beth-maacah, and ^(LT)they ^[eu]cast up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood by the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall. ¹⁶ Then ^(LU)a wise woman called from the city, “Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, ‘Come here that I may speak with you.’” ¹⁷ So he approached her, and the woman said, “Are you Joab?” And he answered, “I am.” Then she said to him, “Listen to the words of your maidservant.” And he answered, “I am listening.” ¹⁸ Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute. ¹⁹ I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. ^(LV)You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up ^(LW)the inheritance of the Lord?” ²⁰ Joab replied, “Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ Such is not the case. But a man from ^(LX)the hill country of Ephraim, ^(LY)Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” ²² Then the woman ^(LZ)wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So ^(MA)he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

^23 (MB)Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; ²⁴ and Adoram was over the forced labor, and ^(MC)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder; ²⁵ and Sheva was scribe, and Zadok and ^(MD)Abiathar were priests; ²⁶ and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David.

Gibeonite Revenge

21 Now there was ^(ME)a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and ^(MF)David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” ² So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and ^(MG)the sons of Israel ^[ev]made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to ^[ew]kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah). ³ Thus David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless ^(MH)the inheritance of the Lord?” ⁴ Then the Gibeonites said to him, “^(MI)We have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” And he said, “I will do for you whatever you say.” ⁵ So they said to the king, “^(MJ)The man who consumed us and who planned ^[ex]to exterminate us from remaining within any border of Israel, ⁶ let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will ^[ey]hang them ^(MK)before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, ^(ML)the chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”

⁷ But the king spared ^(MM)Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, ^(MN)because of the oath of the Lord which was between them, between David and Saul’s son Jonathan. ⁸ So the king took the two sons of ^(MO)Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of ^[ez](MP)Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the ^(MQ)Meholathite. ⁹ Then he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they ^[fa]hanged them in the mountain before the Lord, so that the seven of them fell together; and they were put to death in the first days of harvest at ^(MR)the beginning of barley harvest.

^10 (MS)And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until ^[fb]it rained on them from the sky; and ^(MT)she ^[fc]allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. ¹¹ When it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, ¹² then David went and took ^(MU)the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the open square of ^(MV)Beth-shan, ^(MW)where the Philistines had hanged them on the day ^(MX)the Philistines struck down Saul in Gilboa. ¹³ He brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of those who had been ^[fd]hanged. ¹⁴ They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in ^(MY)Zela, in the grave of Kish his father; thus they did all that the king commanded, and after that ^(MZ)God was moved by prayer for the land.

¹⁵ Now when ^(NA)the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. ¹⁶ Then Ishbi-benob, who was ^(NB)among the descendants of the ^[fe]giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, ^[ff]was girded with a new sword, and he ^[fg]intended to kill David. ¹⁷ But ^(NC)Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “^(ND)You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish ^(NE)the lamp of Israel.”

^18 (NF)Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then ^(NG)Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the ^[fh]giant. ¹⁹ There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite ^[fi]killed ^[fj]Goliath the Gittite, ^(NH)the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. ²⁰ There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born ^(NI)to the ^[fk]giant. ²¹ When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck him down. ^22 (NJ)These four were born to the ^[fl]giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

David’s Psalm of Deliverance

22 ^(NK)And David spoke ^(NL)the words of this song to the Lord in the day that the Lord delivered him from the ^[fm]hand of all his enemies and from the ^[fn]hand of Saul. ² He said,

David’s Last Song

23 Now these are the last words of David.

His Mighty Men

^8 (QS)These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the ^[gy]captains, he was called Adino the Eznite, because of eight hundred slain by him at one time; ⁹ and after him was Eleazar the son of ^(QT)Dodo the ^(QU)Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they ^[gz]defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had ^[ha]withdrawn. ^10 (QV)He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and ^[hb]clung to the sword, and ^(QW)the Lord brought about a great ^[hc]victory that day; and the people returned after him only to strip the slain.

¹¹ Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a ^(QX)Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered ^[hd]into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and ^(QY)the Lord brought about a great ^[he]victory.

¹³ Then three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time to the ^(QZ)cave of Adullam, while the troop of the Philistines was camping in ^(RA)the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ David was then ^(RB)in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ^15 (RC)David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” ^16 (RD)So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but ^(RE)poured it out to the Lord; ¹⁷ and he said, “Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this. ^(RF)Shall I drink the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

^18 (RG)Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was ^(RH)chief of the ^[hf]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred ^[hg]and killed them, and had a name as well as the three. ¹⁹ He was most honored of the thirty, therefore he became their commander; however, he did not attain to the three.

²⁰ Then ^(RI)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of ^(RJ)Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, ^[hh]killed the ^[hi]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ He ^[hj]killed an Egyptian, ^[hk]an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² These things ^(RK)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. ²³ He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.

^24 (RL)Asahel the brother of Joab was among the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ^25 (RM)Shammah the ^(RN)Harodite, Elika the Harodite, ²⁶ Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the ^(RO)Tekoite, ²⁷ Abiezer the ^(RP)Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, ²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the ^(RQ)Netophathite, ^29 (RR)Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of ^(RS)Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, ³⁰ Benaiah a ^(RT)Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of ^(RU)Gaash, ³¹ Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the ^(RV)Barhumite, ³² Eliahba the ^(RW)Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, ^33 (RX)Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite, ³⁴ Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of ^(RY)the Maacathite, ^(RZ)Eliam the son of ^(SA)Ahithophel the Gilonite, ^35 (SB)Hezro the ^(SC)Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, ³⁶ Igal the son of Nathan of ^(SD)Zobah, Bani the Gadite, ³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the ^(SE)Beerothite, armor bearers of Joab the son of Zeruiah, ³⁸ Ira the ^(SF)Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ^39 (SG)Uriah the Hittite; thirty-seven in all.

The Census Taken

24 ^(SH)Now ^(SI)again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “^(SJ)Go, number Israel and Judah.” ² The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, ^(SK)from Dan to Beersheba, and ^[hl]register the people, that I may know the number of the people.” ³ But Joab said to the king, “^(SL)Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?” ⁴ Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to ^[hm]register the people of Israel. ⁵ They crossed the Jordan and camped in ^(SM)Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and toward ^(SN)Jazer. ⁶ Then they came to Gilead and to ^[hn]the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and they came to Dan-jaan and around to ^(SO)Sidon, ⁷ and came to the ^(SP)fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the ^(SQ)Hivites and of the Canaanites, and they went out to the south of Judah, to ^(SR)Beersheba. ⁸ So when they had gone about through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. ⁹ And Joab gave ^(SS)the number of the ^[ho]registration of the people to the king; and there were in Israel ^(ST)eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

¹⁰ Now ^(SU)David’s heart ^[hp]troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “^(SV)I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please ^[hq]take away the iniquity of Your servant, for ^(SW)I have acted very foolishly.” ¹¹ When David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to ^(SX)the prophet Gad, David’s ^(SY)seer, saying, ¹² “Go and speak to David, ‘Thus the Lord says, “I am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.”’” ¹³ So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall ^(SZ)seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.” ¹⁴ Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord ^(TA)for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Pestilence Sent

¹⁵ So ^(TB)the Lord ^[hr]sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people ^(TC)from Dan to Beersheba died. ^16 (TD)When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, ^(TE)the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, “It is enough! Now relax your hand!” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. ¹⁷ Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, ^(TF)it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but ^(TG)these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ So Gad came to David that day and said to him, “^(TH)Go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of ^[hs]Araunah the Jebusite.” ¹⁹ David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the Lord had commanded. ²⁰ Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king. ²¹ Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, ^(TI)that the plague may be held back from the people.” ²² Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, ^(TJ)the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. ²³ Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God ^(TK)accept you.” ²⁴ However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for ^(TL)I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God ^[ht]which cost me nothing.” So ^(TM)David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. ²⁵ David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. ^(TN)Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.