of your hand, and take you away from 12 the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up 'beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the Igravel of Abner in Hebron.

51

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and (2 thy flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt 3 be prince over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a Icovenant with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty 5 years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 6°2And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, "Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, 7 David cannot come in hither. Never

theless David took the strong hold of Zion; the same is the city of David. (8)°And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, 'let him get up to the watercourse, and Ismite the lame and the blind, 5that are hated of David's soul. Wherefore they say, "There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into 9 the house. And David dwelt in the 'strong hold', and called it the city of David. And David built round about 10 from Millo and inward. And David

12 built David an' house. °And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13

And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron and there were yet sons and daughters 14 born to David. And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, and Ibhar, and Elishua; and Ne16 pheg, and Japhia; and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet!.

15

17

And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of 19 Rephaim. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will certainly deliver the Philis(20 tines into thine hand. And David

came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, The LORD hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that 21) place 10 Baal-perazim. And they left their images there, and David and his men took them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the 23 valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up: 'make' a 'circuit' behind them, and come upon them over 24 against the mulberry trees. And it Ishall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then is the LORD 'gone out before thee to smite the host of (25 the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and smote the Philistines from 12Geba until thou come to 'Gezer.

In 1 Chr. xiv. 7, Beeliada.

Or, broken forth upon mine enemies

10 That is, The place of breakings forth.

11 Or, balsam trees

13 In 1 Chr. xiv. 16, Gibeon.

6 1)

1 And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, (2) thirty thousand. °And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, 23 which is called by the Name, leven the name of the LORD of hosts that 3 sitteth upon the cherubim. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill : and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of 4 Abinadab, drave the new cart. ° And

they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went 5 before the ark. °And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all manner of instruments made of fir wood, land with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with casta6 nets', and 'with cymbals. And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon', Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled'. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the 8 ark of God. "And David was displeased, because the LORD had 'broken forth upon Uzzah : and he called 'that' place 10Perez-uzzah, unto this day.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, How shall the ark of the LORD come lunto me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD 'remained' in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed 12 Obed-edom, and all his 'house'.

And

gone six paces, he sacrificed 'an ox! 14 and a fatling. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen 15 ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the 16 sound of the trumpet. And it was so', as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, that' Michal 'the' daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she 17 despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, in the midst of the Itent that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offering! and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of (19) hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men 'and' women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion 12of flesh, and a cake of 'raisins'. So all the people de20 parted every one to his house. Then

David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly 21 uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me 'above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore 22) will I play before the LORD. And I will be yet more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: 'but! of the handmaids' which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in23 honour. And Michal the daughter'

of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

71) 18 And it came to pass, when the king Idwelt in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his ene2 mies round about, that the king said

9 Or, rashness

unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the 4 LORD is with thee. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, say5 ing, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6 for I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent *(7 and in a tabernacle. In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not 8 built me ani house of cedar? "Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the 2sheepcote, from following the sheep, Ithat thou shouldest be "prince over 9 my people, over Israel: and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee'; and 'I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great 'ones' that (10) are in the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them 11 any more, as at the first', and as 'from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover the LORD telleth thee that the LORD' (12 will make thee an house. "When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will 13 establish his kingdom. °He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his king14 dom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes

1 In 1 Chr. xvii. 6, any of the judges. 2 Or, Ipasturel 3 Or, leader 4 Or, have caused

(15 of the children of men; but my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away 16 before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be 17 established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

18) Then David 'the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me 19 thus far!? "And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes', O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come; and this too after the 20) manner of 'men', O Lord GOD! And

what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O 21 Lord GOD. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness', to make thy servant know it. 22 °Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard 23) with our ears. 06 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people,' even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee lout of Egypt, from the nations and 24 their gods? And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, LORD, 'becamest their God. 25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, Iconfirm thou' it for ever, and do as (26 thou hast spoken'. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is God over Israel: and the house of thy servant David shall be established before 27 thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee lan' house: therefore hath thy servant "found in his heart to pray this prayer

like Israel, la nation that is alone in the earth &c. 'Or, lbeen bold\

(28 unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art God, and thy words are truth', and thou hast promised this 29) good thing unto thy servant: now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 81 2And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the (2) hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down 'on' the ground; 'and' he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. the Moabites became servants to (3 David', and brought 'presents'. David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. (4 And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred 5 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David 'smote of the Syrians two and twenty thou6 sand men. Then David put gar

And

risons in Syria of Damascus and "the Syrians became servants to David, and brought presents'. And the LORD gave victory to David 7 whithersoever he went. °And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and 8 brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took ex9 ceeding much brass. And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him: for Hadadezer 10had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him ves

sels of silver, and vessels of gold, and (11) vessels of brass: these also did king David dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he 12 subdued; of 12Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of 13 Rehob, king of Zobah. And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of 12the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, leven eighteen thou14 sand men. And he put garrisons

15

in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites! became servants to David'. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went.

And David reigned over all Israel: and David executed judgement and 16 justice unto all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of (17 Ahilud was 18recorder: and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and (18 Seraiah was 14scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada 15was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were 16 priests'.

91

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jona2 than's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy 3 servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched' him out of the house of Machir the 6 son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, 'came unto David,

13 Or, Ichronicler

14 Or, secretary

15 So in ch. xx. 23, and 1 Chr. xviii. 17. The Hebrew text has, and the Cherethites &c.

16 Or, chief ministers\ 17 See ch. iv. 4.

land fell on his face, and did lobeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 1 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread 8 at my table continually. And he 'did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon 9) such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I 10) given unto thy master's son. °¡And1

thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy serv ants; and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen 11 sons and twenty servants. °Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, 12 as one of the king's sons. °And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants 13 unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and he was lame on both his feet. 10 1

And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned 2) in his stead. And David said, I I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him 'concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land (3 of the children of Ammon. But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow 4 it? So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their gar

ments in the middle, even to their 5 buttocks, and sent them away. When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, 6) and then return. And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men' of Tob 7 twelve thousand men. And when

David heard of it, he sent Joab, and 8 all the host of the mighty men. °And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and Ithe men of Tob and Maacah, were (9 by themselves in the field. 'Now' when Joab saw that the battle was

set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against 10 the Syrians: and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of

Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the children of 11 Ammon. 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 #12 I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that 13) which seemeth him good. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians and they fled before him. 14)°And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were filed, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, 15 and came to Jerusalem. And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered 16 themselves together. And ‘Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer 17 lat their head'. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel