David's officers. 2 SAMUEL, IX, X. He sends for Mephibosheth. brought with him vessels of silver, B. C. 1040. k IKì.7.51. 11 his smit ing. 11 Which also king David did dedicate k unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the 1 Ps. LX. Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Re-m 2Ki.14.7. hob, king of Zobah. 12 or, slaying. 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from 11 smiting of the Syrians l in the valley m of salt, 12 being eighteen thousand n Ge.27.29. o Ps. 121.4-8. P Ps.72.2. 89.14. Je.22.15, 16. Am.5.15, 24. And 7 T And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead doge as I am? 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have ƒ given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul, and to all his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land q 1Ki.4.3. for him, and thou shalt bring in 13 or, remem- the fruits that thy master's son may brancer,or, have food to eat: but Mephibowriter of sheth thy master's son shall eat chronicles. bread alway g at my table. Now Ziba hadh fifteen sons and twenty r 1Ch.24.3. servants. 16 And Joa the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat q the son of Ahilud was 13 re- | 11 corder; or, secretary. 17 And Zadok r the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, s 1Ch.18. 17. were the priests; and Seraiah wast 15a.30.14. the 14 scribe; 18 And Benaiah s the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites t and the Pelethites; and David's sons were 15 chief rulers. CHAPTER IX. David by Ziba sendeth for Mephibo sheth. ND David said, Is there yet any AND yet any 150r, princes. (CHAP. 9.) a 1Sa.20.14. Pr.27.10. b ch.16.1,4. c ch.4.4. e ch.16.9. g ver.7,13. 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that ƒ ch.19.29. may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, h ch.19.17. which is lame c on his feet. i 1Ch.8.34. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto k 2Ki.25.29. the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, d the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. 11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table : k and was lame on both his feet. CHAPTER X. David's messengers are sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash. ND a it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him, by the hand of his servants, for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, 1 Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee to search b the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 4 Wherefore Hanun took David's return. men of Tob, Ju.11.3,5. g ver.6. h Jos.8.21,22. 6 And when the children off ch.23.8. Ammon saw that they stank d before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians e of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zo-i ba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men,and of 2 Ish-tob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men,f 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,g and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. Ne.4.14. Sam.4.9. 1Cor. 16.13. Ju.10.15. 1Sa.3.18. m Ps.68.1,12. 2 That is, Euphrates. 3 or, Shophack, 1Ch.19.16. 1Ch. 19.16. 1Ch.19.18. footmen. o ch.8.6. 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and h put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people hep Ps. 18.37,38, delivered into the hand of Abishai (CHAP. 11.) his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Am inon. 11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be i of good courage, and let k us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that I which seemeth him good. 1 at the return of the year, 1Ki.20.22, 26. 2Ch.36.10. a 1Ch.20.1. Job 31.1. c Pr.31.30. 2 1Ch.3.5, 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw they made peace with Israel, and that they were smitten before Israel, served o them. So p the Syrians feared to help the children of Am inon any more. CHAPTER XI. While Joab besiegeth Rabbah, David committeth adultery with Bath-sheba. AND it came to pass, 1 after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent a Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw b a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful c to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this 2 Bath-sheba, the daughter of 3 Eliam, the wife of Uriah ₫ the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers and took her; and she came in unto him, and e he lay with her; 4 for she was purified f from her uncleanness and she returned unto her house. with child. 5 And the woman conceived, and 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the Bath-shua, sent and told David, and said,'1 am people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled m before him. 14 And when the children of Am-e mon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abi-4 shai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. 15 T And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 AndHadarezer sent,and brought out the Syrians that were beyond 2 the river: and they came to Helam: and 3 Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And when it was told David, he 6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him 5 how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash g thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there 6 followed him a mess of meat from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto Uriah slain in battle. 2 SAMUEL, XII. David takes Bath-sheba to wife. his house, David said unto Uriah, B. C. 1035. Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down 1⁄2 ch.7.2,6. unto thine house? 18.22.12-14. Ge. 19.33-35. Hab.2.15. 11 And Uriah said unto David. i ch.20.6. The ark, hand Israel, and Judah k Ps. 137.3. abide in tents; and my lord i Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall Ik then go into mine house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my m ver.9. wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: / and at even he went out m to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. " 1Ki.21.8,9. from after. p Ju.9.53. Ju.6.32. 19 be evil in 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter ng to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the 7 hottest battle, and retire ye 8 from him, that he may be smitten o and die. q 11 so and r such. ch.12.26. t ICh.21.7. 16 And it came to pass, when Joab 12 was evil in | observed the city, that he assigned the eyes of. Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also. 18¶ Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 19 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 20 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? know ye not that they would shoot from the wall? (CHAP. 12.) a Ps.51, title. b Is.5.1-7. 41. Mat.21 33, &c. 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants: and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. 25 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing 10 displease thee, for q the sword devoureth 11 one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow r it and encourage thou him. 26 ¶ And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, s and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done 12 displeased t the LORD. CHAPTER XII. Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb, causeth David to be his own judge. ND the LORD sent Nathan unto AND the sent came unto him, and said b unto him, There were two men in one city: the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own 1 meat, and drink of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, c and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller d unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing 2 shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lab four-fold, e because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel. I anointed f thee king over Israel, g and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and h gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would Nathan reproves David. 2 SAMUEL, XII. Solomon is born. moreover have given unto thee B. C. 1035. came to his own house; and when | such and such things. he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. i 1Sa. 15. 19. 9 Wherefore i hast thou despised k the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Am-ch.11.15-27. mon. 10 Now m therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take n thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shali lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. & Nu. 15.31. m Am.7.9. n ch.16.22. De.28.30. 0 ch.24.10. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive I fasted and wept: for I said, Who t can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should i fast? can I bring him 32.27,28. back again? I shall go to him, but u he shall not return to me. Ps.32.5. p Ps. 130.3,4. I Juo. 1.7,9, Rev.1.5. 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned o against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, 'The LORD also hath put away p thy sin; q Is.52.5. thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. Eze.36.20, 23. Rom.2.24. 3 fasted a fast. 15 T And Nathan departed untor ch. 13.31. his house. And the LORD struck 4 do hurt to. the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David 3 fasted, and went in, and lay r all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house t arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then 4vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, s Job.1.20. u Is.38.2,3. Job 7.8-10. 1Ch.22.9. 5 i. e. Be- Ne. 13.26. w 1Ch.20.1. 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: v and the LORD loved him. 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name 5 Jedidiah, because of the LORD. 26 T And w Joab fought against Rabbah z of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters. 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, (the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones :) and it was Amnon ravisheth Tamar. 2 SAMUEL, XII. Absalom külleth Amnon. for she was a virgin; and 1 Amnon | B. C. 1032. greater than the love wherewith thought it hard for him to do any he had loved her. And Amnon said thing to her. 1 it was marunto her, Arise, be gone. vellous, or, hidden in the eyes of Ammon. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, c David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man. 4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, 2 lean 3 from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand. Ge.34.2. it ought not so to be done. 20.17. g:Ge.34.7. 16 And she said unto him, There is no cause this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her. 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her. 18 And she had a garment of divers colours i upon her: fork with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. 19 ¶ And Tamar put ashes lon her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand m on her head, and 6 T So Amnon lay down, and Ju, 19.23. h De.22.23. 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy bro-with great ther Amnon's house, and dress him meat. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; (and he was laid down.) And she took 4 flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes. hatred greatly. i Ge.37.3. Ju.5.30. Ps45,13,14. Z ch. 1.2. Jos.7.6. Job 2.12. m Jer.2.37. 8 Aminon. 9 set not thine heart. 10 and deso late. n Ge.24.50. 9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him. 10 And Arnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 And when she had brought o Le. 19. 17, 18. them unto him to eat, he e took pGe.38.12,13. hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not 6 force me; for 6 no such thing ought to be done in Israel: ƒ do not thou this folly.g 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced h her, and lay with her. 15 T Then Amnon hated her 7 exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was! 31.24. 1Sa,25.4,36. Pr.26.24,26. Ju. 19.6,9, 22, Ru.3.7. Ps. 104. 15. 11 or, will you 12 sons of valour. Pr.29.12. 21 T But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. 22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither n good nor bad for Absalom hated o Ammon because he had forced, his sister Tumar. 23 ¶ And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom help sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: aud Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king. and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, 1 beseech thee, and his servants, go with thy servant. 25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. 26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Ammon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But q Absalom pressed him, that he let Ammon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 T Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merryr with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him; fear not: 11 have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be 12 valiant. 29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom hal |