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11 Heb. sons
of valor.

12 Heb.
mouth.

25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable to thee. And he press-13 or, ed him: yet he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?

27 But Absalom pressed him that he should let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

14

settled.

Heb. according to the word of thy servant.

15 Heb.
with a great
weeping
greatly.

28 T Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smíte Amnon; then kill him, fear not: 10 have I not com- 16 or, Ammanded you? be courageous, and be mihur.

I valiant.

29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man rode upon his mule, and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that information came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all 17 or, was the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes

rent.

consumed.

32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah1 Heb. Save. David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the 12 ap-2 Heb. no pointment of Absalom this hath been deliverer is determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

34 Bat Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king's sons come; 14 as thy servant said, so it is. 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept 15 exceedingly.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of 16 Ammihud, king of

3

between
them.

Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king David 17 longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

CHAP. XIV.

1 Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah by a parable to incline the king's heart to bring home Absalom, bringeth him to Jerusalem. 25 Absalom's beauty, hair, and children. 28 After two years, Absalom by Joab is brought into the king's presence.

TOW Joab the son of Zeruiah per

Noceived that the king's heart was to

wards Absalom.

2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time

mourned for the dead :

3 And come to the king, and speak in this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 ¶ And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, 1 Help, O king.

5 And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.

6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was 2 none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.

7 And behold, the whole family hath risen against thy handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder 3 upon the earth.

8 And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.

10 And the king said, Whoever saith aught to thee, bring him to me, and he Heb. upon shall not touch thee any more. the face of

the earth.

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11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, 4 that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

12 Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

13 And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty, in

that the king doth not bring home again his banished.

14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; 5 neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

15 Now therefore that I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid and thy handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

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ken away his life, he

hath also devised means, &c.

6 Heb.

for rest.

16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid from the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son togeth-7 Heb. er out of the inheritance of God.

to hear.

blessed.

17 Then thy handmaid said, The word of my lord the king, will now be 6 comfortable for as an angel of God, so is my 8 Heb. lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee. 18 Then the king answered and said 9 or, thy. to the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.

19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid:

20 To bring about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth.

three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 ¶ So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, that he might send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not

10 Heb. And
as Absalom
there was
not a beau.
tiful man
in all Isra-1
el to praise
greatly.

21 And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go 11 Heb. near therefore, bring the young man Absalom my place. again.

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and 8 thanked the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his

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will hear thee from the king downward.

2 or, none

come.

30 Therefore he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my field on fire?

32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Why am I come from Gesbur? it had been good for me had I been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. CHAP. XV.

Absalom by fair speeches and courtesies, stealeth the hearts of Israel. 7 Under pretense of a vow, he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron. 10 He maketh there a great conspiracy. 13 David upon the news fleeth from Jerusalem. 19 Ittai would not leave him. A Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark. 30 David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping. 31 He curseth Akithophel's counsel. 32 Hushai is sent back with instructions.

AND it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but 2 there is no man deputed by the king to hear thee.

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

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11 And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, that were call-4 Heb. ed; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from

choose.

his city, even from Giloh, while he offer-5 Heb. at
ed sacrifices. And the conspiracy was his feet.
strong; for the people increased contin-
ually with Absalom.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he should overtake us suddenly, and 3 bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall 4 appoint.

16 And the king went forth, and all his household 5 after him. And the king left ten women who were concubines to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on by

6 Heb. make
thee woun
der in
going.

7 Called,
John 18. 1.

Cedron.

of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

26 But if he shall thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him. 27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, Art not thou a a seer return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until word shall come from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30 T And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, s and wept as he went, and had his head covered, and he went bare-foot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they

went.

31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32 And it came to pass, that when David had come to the top of the mount, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head;

33 To whom David said, If thou shalt pass on with me, then thou wilt be a bur

his side; and all the Cherethites, and all 1 Sam. 9. 9. den to me:
the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six
hundred men who came after him from
Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day 6 make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may; return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. 22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook 7 Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him bearingthe ark'

8

34 But if thou shalt return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send to me every thing that ye can hear.

Heb. going
37 So Hushai David's friend came
up and into the city, and Absalom came into Je-
weeping..rusalem.

CHAP. XVI.

1 Ziba by presents and false suggestions ob taineth his master's inheritance. 5 At Bahurim Shimei curseth David. 9 David with patience abstaineth and restraineth others from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absalom's council. 20 Ahithophel's

counsel.

ND when David was a little past

servant of Mephibosheth met him, with

a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hun-1 dred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

Before CHRIST, 1023.

obeisance.

2 And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said,1 Heb. I do The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.

3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.

4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, 1 I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

2 or, he
still came
forth and
cursed.

3 Heb. man
of blood.

4 Heb. be

hold thee in
thy evil.

a 1 Sam. 24.
14.

c. 9. 8.

5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose 5 or, tears. name was Shimei, the son of Gera: be came forth, and cursed still as he came. 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou 3 bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

8 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and 4 behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.

9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this a dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Why hast thou done so ?

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjaminite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

6 Heb. eye.

7 Heb.
dusted him

the Archite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, 8 God save the king, "God save the king.

17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then said Absalom to. Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

21 And Aphithophel said to Absalom, Go in to thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred by thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the 9 oracle of with dust. God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. CHAP. XVII.

8 Heb.

Let the king live.

9 Heb. word.

2

1 Heb.

was right
in the eyes
of, &c.

Heb.
what is in

his mouth.

1 Ahithophel's counsel is overthrown by Hushai's, according to God's appointment. 15 Secret intelligence is sent to David. 23 Ahithophel hangeth himself. 25 Amasa is made captain. 27 David at Mahanaim is furnished with provisions.

MOR

́OREOVER Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;

2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and 1 will smite the king only:

3 And I will bring back all the people to thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.

4 And the saying, 1 pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise 2 what he saith.

6 And when Hushai had come to Ab

12 It may be that the LORD will look 3 Heb. word. salom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, on my 56 affliction, and that the LORD

will requite me good for his cursing this day.

4 Heb. coun-
seled.

13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, 5 Heb. bitter and 7 cast dust. of soul.

14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

6 Heb.

15 And Absalom, and all the peo- fallen. ple the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai!

Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his 3 saying? if not, speak thou.

7 And Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath 4 given, is not good at this time.

8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are 5 chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come Ito pass, when some of them are & over

thrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.

10 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they who are with him are valiant men.

II Therefore I counsel that all Israel should be generally gathered to thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and 7 that thou shouldst go to battle in thy own person. 12'So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

Before CHRIST, 1023.

7 Heb. that thy face, or, presence go, &c.

8 Heb. com.

13 Moreover, if he shall have entered into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it manded. into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of

A hithophel. For the LORD had 8 ap-] pointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.

15 Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.

16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speed-9 Heb.done. ily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a maid servant went and told them; and they went and told king David.

18 Nevertheless, a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; into which they descended.

19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn upon it; and the thing was not known.

10 Heb. gave charge concerning house.

his

11 or, cups.

1 Heb. set their heart

on us.

20 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said to them, they have gone over the brook of water. And when 2 Heb. as ten they had sought and could not find them, thousand they returned to Jerusalem. of us.

21 And it came to pass, after they had| departed, that they came out of the well, and went and told king David, and said to David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you.

3 Heb. be to

22 Then David arose, and all the peo- succor. ple that were with him, and they passed!

over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that had not gone over Jordan.

9

23 ¶ And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and 10 put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his father.

24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 T And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra, an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother.

26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 And it came to pass, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

28 Brought beds, and 11 basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,

29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of cows, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

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captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.

2 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruia, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth for if we flee away, they will not 1 care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art 2 worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou shouldst 3 succor us out of the city.

4 And the king said to them, "What seemeth to you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

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