2 Samuel 11-20

Christian Standard Bible

David’s Adultery with Bathsheba

11 In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.^(A)

² One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. ³ So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba,^(B) daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah^(C) the Hethite?” ^[a]

⁴ David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness.^(D) Afterward, she returned home. ⁵ The woman conceived and sent word to inform David, “I am pregnant.”

⁶ David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hethite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. ⁷ When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. ⁸ Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. ⁹ But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

¹⁰ When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”

¹¹ Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers^[b] are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!” ^(E)

¹² “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. ¹³ Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

Uriah’s Death Arranged

¹⁴ The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. ¹⁵ In the letter he wrote:

Put Uriah^(F) at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies.

¹⁶ When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. ¹⁷ Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hethite also died.

¹⁸ Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle. ¹⁹ He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle— ²⁰ if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall? ²¹ At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth?^[c][d] Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died?^(G) Why did you get so close to the wall?’—then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.’” ²² Then the messenger left.

When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell. ²³ The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the city gate. ²⁴ However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead.”

²⁵ David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”

²⁶ When Uriah’s^(H) wife heard that her husband, Uriah, had died, she mourned for him.^{[e] 27} When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the Lord considered what David had done to be evil.^(I)

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Repentance

12 So the Lord sent Nathan to David.^(J) When he arrived, he said to him:

There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had very large flocks and herds, ³ but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up with him and with his children. From his meager food she would eat, from his cup she would drink, and in his arms she would sleep. She was like a daughter to him. ⁴ Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.^[f]

⁵ David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! ⁶ Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”^(K)

⁷ Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel,^(L) and I rescued you from Saul. ⁸ I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms,^[g] and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. ⁹ Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider^[h] evil?^(M) You struck down Uriah^(N) the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.^{(O) 10} Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house^(P) because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife.’

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says,^(Q) ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another^[i] before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them in broad daylight.^{[j] 12} You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’”^[k]

¹³ David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”^(R)

Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.^{(S) 14} However, because you treated^[l] the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”^{(T) 15} Then Nathan went home.

The Death of Bathsheba’s Son

The Lord struck the baby that Uriah’s^(U) wife had borne to David, and he became deathly ill. ¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.^{(V) 17} The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

¹⁸ On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”

¹⁹ When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?”

“He is dead,” they replied.

²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the Lord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.

²¹ His servants asked him, “Why have you done this? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”

²² He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live.’^{(W) 23} But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”^(X)

The Birth of Solomon

²⁴ Then David comforted^(Y) his wife Bathsheba; he went to her and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named^[m] him Solomon.^[n](Z) The Lord loved him, ²⁵ and he sent a message through the prophet Nathan, who named^[o] him Jedidiah,^[p] because of the Lord.

Capture of the City of Rabbah

²⁶ Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites^(AA) and captured the royal fortress. ²⁷ Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured its water supply. ²⁸ Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.” ²⁹ So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it. ³⁰ He took the crown from the head of their king,^[q] and it was placed on David’s head. The crown weighed seventy-five pounds^[r] of gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city. ³¹ He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking.^(AB) He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

Amnon Rapes Tamar

13 Some time passed. David’s son Absalom^(AC) had a beautiful sister named Tamar,^(AD) and David’s son Amnon^(AE) was infatuated with her. ² Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her. ³ Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah.^(AF) Jonadab was a very shrewd man, ⁴ and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable^(AG) every morning? Won’t you tell me?”

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

⁵ Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare a meal in my presence^(AH) so I can watch and eat from her hand.’”

⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”

⁷ David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”

⁸ Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them. ⁹ She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him. ¹⁰ “Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. ¹¹ When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said,^[s] “Come sleep with me, my sister!”

¹² “Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t disgrace^(AI) me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel.^(AJ) Don’t commit this outrage!^{(AK) 13} Where could I ever go with my humiliation? And you—you would be like one of the outrageous fools in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you.” ¹⁴ But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he disgraced her by raping her.

¹⁵ So Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here!” he said.

¹⁶ “No,” she cried,^[t] “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you’ve already done to me!”

But he refused to listen to her. ¹⁷ Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him, “Get this away from me, throw her out, and bolt the door behind her!” ¹⁸ Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved^[u] robe, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. ¹⁹ Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head^(AL) and went away crying out.

²⁰ Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman^(AM) in the house of her brother Absalom.

Absalom Murders Amnon

²¹ When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.^{[v] 22} Absalom didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.

²³ Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. ²⁴ Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?”

²⁵ The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him.

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

The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” ²⁷ But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.^[w]

²⁸ Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and valiant!” ^{(AN) 29} So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.

³⁰ While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!” ³¹ In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.^(AO)

³² But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah,^(AP) spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this^[x] ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar. ³³ So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

³⁴ Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.^{[y] 35} Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said.” ³⁶ Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly. ³⁷ But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.^(AQ) And David mourned for his son^[z] every day.

³⁸ After Absalom had fled to Geshur and had been there three years, ³⁹ King David^[aa] longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.

Absalom Restored to David

14 Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king’s mind was on Absalom. ² So Joab sent someone to Tekoa^(AR) to bring a wise^(AS) woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don’t put on any oil.^(AT) Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. ³ Go to the king and speak these words to him.” Then Joab told her exactly what to say.^[ab]

⁴ When the woman from Tekoa came^[ac] to the king, she fell facedown to the ground, paid homage,^(AU) and said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”

⁵ “What’s the matter?” the king asked her.

“Sadly, I am a widow; my husband died,” she said.^{(AV) 6} “Your servant had two sons. They were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. ⁷ Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will eliminate the heir!’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”^(AW)

⁸ The king told the woman, “Go home. I will issue a command on your behalf.”

⁹ Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me^(AX) and my father’s family, and may the king and his throne be innocent.”

¹⁰ “Whoever speaks to you,” the king said, “bring him to me. He will not trouble you again!”

¹¹ She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!” ^(AY)

“As the Lord lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.”^(AZ)

¹² Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?”

“Speak,” he replied.

¹³ The woman asked, “Why have you devised something similar against the people of God? When the king spoke as he did about this matter, he has pronounced his own guilt. The king has not brought back his own banished one. ¹⁴ We will certainly die^(BA) and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; he would devise plans so that the one banished from him does not remain banished.

¹⁵ “Now therefore, I’ve come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought: I must speak to the king. Perhaps the king will grant his servant’s request. ¹⁶ The king will surely listen in order to keep his servant from the grasp of this man who would eliminate both me and my son from God’s inheritance. ¹⁷ Your servant thought: May the word of my lord the king bring relief, for my lord the king is able to discern the good and the bad like the angel of God.^(BB) May the Lord your God be with you.”

¹⁸ Then the king answered the woman, “I’m going to ask you something; don’t conceal it from me!”

“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman replied.

¹⁹ The king asked, “Did Joab put you up to^[ad] all this?”

The woman answered. “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from all my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave orders to me; he told your servant exactly what to say.^{[ae] 20} Joab your servant has done this to address the issue indirectly,^[af] but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, knowing everything on earth.”

²¹ Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”

²² Joab fell with his face to the ground in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” Joab said, “your servant knows I have found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant.”

²³ So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom^(BC) to Jerusalem. ²⁴ However, the king added, “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his house, but he did not see the king.^[ag]

²⁵ No man in all Israel was as handsome^(BD) and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. ²⁶ When he shaved his head—he shaved it at the end of every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off—he would weigh the hair from his head and it would be five pounds^[ah] according to the royal standard.

²⁷ Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. ²⁸ Absalom resided in Jerusalem two years but never saw the king. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab was unwilling to come to him. So he sent again, a second time, but he still would not come. ³⁰ Then Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab has a field right next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set fire to it!” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.^[ai]

³¹ Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”

³² “Look,” Absalom explained to Joab, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? I’d be better off if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king. If I am guilty, let him kill me.”

³³ Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and paid homage with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Revolt

15 After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.^{(BE) 2} He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate.^(BF) Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, “What city are you from?” If he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” ³ Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.” ⁴ He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.” ⁵ When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.^{(BG) 6} Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ When four^[aj] years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. ⁸ For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram,^(BH) saying, ‘If the Lord really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.’”^[ak](BI)

⁹ “Go in peace,” the king said to him.^(BJ) So he went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn,^(BK) you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’” ^(BL)

¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation. ¹² While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite,^(BM) from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.

¹³ Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴ David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom!^(BN) Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

¹⁵ The king’s servants said to the king, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.” ¹⁶ Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house ¹⁸ while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the people of Gath—six hundred men who came with him from there^(BO)—marched past the king.

¹⁹ The king said to Ittai of Gath,^(BP) “Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you’re both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. ²⁰ Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you^[al] kindness and faithfulness.”

²¹ But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!” ^(BQ)

²² “March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him. ²³ Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.

²⁴ Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices^[am] until the people had finished marching past.^{(BR) 25} Then the king instructed Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city.^(BS) If I find favor with the Lord, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its^[an] dwelling place.^{(BT) 26} However, if he should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am—he can do with me whatever pleases him.”^[ao](BU)

²⁷ The king also said to the priest Zadok,^(BV) “Look,^[ap] return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. ²⁸ Remember, I’ll wait at the fords^[aq] of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives,^(BW) weeping as he ascended. His head was covered,^(BX) and he was walking barefoot.^(BY) All of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.

³¹ Then someone reported to David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”

“Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” ^(BZ)

³² When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite^(CA) was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go away with me, you’ll be a burden to me, ³⁴ but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s counsel for me. ³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. ³⁶ Take note: their two sons are there with them—Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai,^(CB) David’s personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

Ziba Helps David

16 When David had gone a little beyond the summit,^[ar] Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant,^(CC) was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a clay jar of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

³ “Where is your master’s grandson?” the king asked.

“Why, he’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’”^(CD)

⁴ The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” ^(CE)

“I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May I find favor with you, my lord the king!”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out.^(CF) His name was Shimei son of Gera,^(CG) and he was yelling curses as he approached. ⁶ He threw stones at David and at all the royal^[as] servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left. ⁷ Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man!^{(CH) 8} The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!”

⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog^(CI) curse my lord the king?^(CJ) Let me go over and remove his head!”

¹⁰ The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?^(CK) He curses^(CL) me this way because the Lord^[at] told him, ‘Curse David!’ ^(CM) Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that?’” ¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood,^[au] intends to take my life^(CN)—how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to. ¹² Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction^[av] and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today.” ¹³ So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, threw stones at him, and kicked up dust. ¹⁴ Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived^[aw] exhausted, so they rested there.

Absalom’s Advisers

¹⁵ Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. ¹⁶ When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” ^(CO)

¹⁷ “Is this your loyalty to your friend?” Absalom asked Hushai. “Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

¹⁸ “Not at all,” Hushai answered Absalom. “I am on the side of the one that the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him. ¹⁹ Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”^(CP)

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?”

²¹ Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace.^(CQ) When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged.”^{[ax] 22} So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.^(CR)

²³ Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God^(CS)—such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight. ² I will attack him while he is weary and discouraged,^[ay] throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will scatter. I will strike down only the king^{(CT) 3} and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you’re looking for, all^[az] the people will be at peace.” ⁴ This proposal seemed right to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite also. Let’s hear what he has to say as well.”

⁶ So Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom told him, “Ahithophel offered this proposal. Should we carry out his proposal? If not, what do you say?”

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given this time is not good.” ⁸ Hushai continued, “You know your father and his men. They are warriors and are desperate like a wild bear robbed of her cubs.^(CU) Your father is an experienced soldier who won’t spend the night with the people. ⁹ He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves^[ba] or some other place. If some of our troops fall^[bb] first, someone is sure to hear and say, ‘There’s been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ Then, even a brave man with the heart of a lion^(CV) will lose heart^[bc] because all Israel knows that your father and the valiant men with him are warriors. ¹¹ Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba—as numerous as the sand by the sea^(CW)—be gathered to you and that you personally go into battle. ¹² Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. Not even one will be left—neither he nor any of the men with him. ¹³ If he retreats to some city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag its stones^[bd] into the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.” ¹⁴ Since the Lord had decreed^(CX) that Ahithophel’s good advice be undermined^(CY) in order to bring about Absalom’s ruin, Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than Ahithophel’s advice.”

David Informed of Absalom’s Plans

¹⁵ Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “This is what^[be] Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what^[bf] I advised. ¹⁶ Now send someone quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the wilderness ford,^[bg] but be sure to cross over the Jordan,^[bh](CZ) or the king and all the people with him will be devoured.’”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city. ¹⁸ However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything.

²⁰ Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

“They passed by toward the water,”^[bi] the woman replied to them. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ After they had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went and informed King David. They told him, “Get up and immediately ford the river, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” ²² So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one who had not crossed the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his house in order and hanged himself.^(DA) So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.

²⁴ David had arrived at Mahanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. ²⁵ Now Absalom had appointed Amasa^(DB) over the army in Joab’s place. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra^[bj] the Israelite;^[bk](DC) Ithra had married Abigail daughter of Nahash.^[bl] Abigail was a sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. ²⁶ And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. ²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash^(DD) from Rabbah^(DE) of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar,^(DF) and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim^{(DG) 28} brought beds, basins,^[bm] and pottery items. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,^{[bn] 29} honey, curds, sheep, goats, and cheese^[bo] from the herd for David and the people with him to eat. They had reasoned, “The people must be hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Absalom’s Defeat

18 David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of thousands and of hundreds over them. ² He then sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai of Gath. The king said to the troops, “I must also march out with you.”

³ “You must not go!” ^(DH) the people pleaded. “If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth^[bp] ten thousand of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city.”

⁴ “I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the city gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. ⁵ The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.

⁶ Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ Israel’s army was defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—twenty thousand dead. ⁸ The battle spread over the entire area, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.

Absalom’s Death

⁹ Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.^{[bq] 10} One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

¹¹ “You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed.^[br] “Why didn’t you strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten silver pieces^[bs] and a belt!”

¹² The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of a thousand pieces of silver^[bt] in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For we heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for me.’^{[bu](DI) 13} If I had jeopardized my own^[bv] life—and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.”

¹⁴ Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears^[bw] in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s chest. While Absalom was still alive in the oak tree, ¹⁵ ten young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. ¹⁶ Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them. ¹⁷ They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and raised up a huge mound of stones over him.^(DJ) And all Israel fled, each to his tent.^(DK)

¹⁸ When he was alive, Absalom had taken a pillar and raised it up^(DL) for himself in the King’s Valley,^(DM) since he thought, “I have no son^(DN) to preserve the memory of my name.” So he named the pillar after himself. It is still called Absalom’s Monument today.

¹⁹ Ahimaaz son of Zadok^(DO) said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him by freeing him from his enemies.”

²⁰ Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.” ²¹ Joab then said to a Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

²² However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”

Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won’t get a reward?” ^[bx]

²³ “No matter what, I want to run!”

“Then run!” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ David was sitting between the city gates^(DP) when the watchman went up to the roof of the city gate and over to the wall.^(DQ) The watchman looked out and saw a man running alone. ²⁵ He called out and told the king.

The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.”

As the first runner came closer, ²⁶ the watchman saw another man running. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”

“This one is also bringing good news,” said the king.

²⁷ The watchman said, “The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs.”^(DR)

“This is a good man; he comes with good news,”^(DS) the king commented.

²⁸ Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well,” and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, “Blessed be the Lord your God! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”

Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”

³⁰ The king said, “Move aside and stand here.” So he stood to one side.

³¹ Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: The Lord has vindicated you today by freeing you from all who rise against you!”

³² The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”

The Cushite replied, “I wish that the enemies of my lord the king, along with all who rise up against you with evil intent, would become like that young man.”^(DT)

³³ The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber above the city gate and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” ^(DU)

David’s Kingdom Restored

19 It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.” ² That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.” ³ So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. ⁴ But the king covered his face^(DV) and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers—those who saved your life as well as your sons, your wives, and your concubines— ⁶ by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!^[by]

⁷ “Now get up! Go out and encourage^[bz] your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will remain with you tonight.^(DW) This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!”

⁸ So the king got up and sat in the city gate,^(DX) and all the people were told, “Look, the king is sitting in the city gate.” Then they all came into the king’s presence.

Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.^{(DY) 9} People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, “The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies,^(DZ) and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines,^(EA) but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.^{(EB) 10} But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

¹¹ King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar:^(EC) “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. ¹² You are my brothers, my flesh and blood.^[ca](ED) So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ ¹³ And tell Amasa,^(EE) ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood?^[cb] May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!’”

¹⁴ So he won over^[cc] all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: “Come back, you and all your servants.” ¹⁵ Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera,^(EF) the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul,^(EG) with his fifteen sons and twenty servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. ¹⁸ They forded the Jordan to bring the king’s household across and do whatever the king desired.^[cd]

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell facedown before the king ¹⁹ and said to him, “My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.^(EH) May the king not take it to heart. ²⁰ For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

²¹ Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?” ^(EI)

²² David answered, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?^(EJ) Have you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I’m king over Israel?” ²³ So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.^(EK)

²⁴ Mephibosheth,^(EL) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. ²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?”

²⁶ “My lord the king,” he replied, “my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said, ‘I’ll saddle the donkey for myself^[ce] so that I may ride it and go with the king’—for your servant is lame.^{(EM) 27} Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king.^(EN) But my lord the king is like the angel of God,^(EO) so do whatever you think best.^{[cf] 28} For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table.^(EP) So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land.”^(EQ)

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!”

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite^(ER) had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. ³² Barzillai was a very old man—eighty years old—and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.^(ES)

³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you^[cg] at my side in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵ I’m now eighty years old.^(ET) Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?^{(EU) 36} Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham;^(EV) let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.”^[ch]

³⁸ The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you.” ³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰ The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king. ⁴¹ Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?”

⁴² All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?” ^[ci]

⁴³ The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king,^(EW) so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren’t we the first to speak of restoring our king?” ^(EX) But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel.

Sheba’s Revolt

20 Now a wicked man, a Benjaminite named Sheba son of Bichri, happened to be there. He blew the ram’s horn and shouted:

² So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem remained loyal to their king.^(EY)

³ When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace and placed them under guard.^(EZ) He provided for them, but he was not intimate with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

⁴ The king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to me within three days and be here yourself.” ⁵ Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him. ⁶ So David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bichri will do more harm to us than Absalom. Take your lord’s soldiers and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”^[ck]

⁷ So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors marched out under Abishai’s command;^[cl] they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. ⁸ They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa joined them. Joab was wearing his uniform and over it was a belt around his waist with a sword in its sheath. As he approached, the sword fell out. ⁹ Joab asked Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.^{(FA) 10} Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it and spilled his intestines out on the ground. Joab did not stab him again, and Amasa died.^(FB)

Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri. ¹¹ One of Joab’s young men had stood over Amasa saying, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!” ¹² Now Amasa had been writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the troops stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.^{(FC) 13} When he was removed from the highway, all the men passed by and followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

¹⁴ Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah. All the Berites^[cm] came together and followed him. ¹⁵ Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp^(FD) against the outer wall of the city. While all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to make it collapse, ¹⁶ a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him.”

¹⁷ When he had come near her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he replied.

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said to him.

He answered, “I’m listening.”

¹⁸ She said, “In the past they used to say, ‘Seek counsel in Abel,’ and that’s how they settled disputes. ¹⁹ I am one of the peaceful and faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the Lord’s inheritance?”

²⁰ Joab protested: “Never! I would never devour or demolish! ²¹ That is not the case. There is a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, who has rebelled against King David. Deliver this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.”

The woman replied to Joab, “Watch! His head will be thrown over the wall to you.” ²² The woman went to all the people with her wise counsel,^(FE) and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn, and they dispersed from the city, each to his own tent. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.