Death of Saul and his sons. a1 Chr. 10. 1-12. Or, wounded. b ch. 28. 4. c ch. 14. 49. 1 Chr. 8. 33. d See 2 Sam. 1. 6, &c. + Heb. shooters, men with bows. + Heb. found him. So Judg. 9. CHAPTER XXXI. 7 And when the men of Israel that 1 Saul having lost his army, and his sons stain, he and were on the other side of the valley, and No a OW the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down "slain in mount "Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons. C 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers thit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. e 4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through ch. 14. 6. & therewith; lest 'these uncircumcised_come 54. 17.26. [Or, mock me. 8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it 2 Sam. 1.20. in the house of their idols, and among the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and "they fastened his body to the wall of "Beth-shan. 11 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Judg. 1. 27. and thrust me through, and abuse me. Jabesh-gilead heard of that which 52 Sam. 1.14. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a 2 Sam. 1. 10. Sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, † Here am I. 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 1 Sam. 31. 1. See 1 Sam. 31. 2, 3, 4. + Heb. Behold me. Or, coat of mail, or, my or my embroider ed coat hindereth me, that Judg. 9. 54. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him,mu. &c. because I was sure that he could not live David's lamentation. II. SAMUEL. He is made king of Judah after that he was fallen: and I took the 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother crown that was upon his head, and the Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been bracelet that was on his arm, and have unto me: "thy love to me was wonderful, brought them hither unto my lord. passing the love of women. 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, ch. 3. 31. & and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 13. 31. * Num. 12. 8. 1 Sam. 24.6. & 26. 9. Ich. 4. 10, 12. 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jona-1 than his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. C 1 Sam. 18. L 3. & 19. 2. & 20. 17, 41. & 23. 16. 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the ver. 19. weapons of war perished! CHAPTER II. up AN a 1 Sam. 23. 2, ND it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, say-Judg. 1. 1. ing, Shall I go up into any of the cities of 14 And David said unto him, "How wast Judah? And the LORD said unto him, C 11 Sam. 31. 4. thou not afraid to stretch forth thine Go up. And David said, Whither shall m 1 Sam. 26. 9. 1 Kings 2. 32, 33, 37. A ver. 10. Luke 19. 22. 1 Sam. 31.3. Or, of the upright. ver. 27. 1 Sam. 31. 9. Mic. 1. 10. See Judg. 16. 23. 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: q 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: beJosh. 10. 13. hold, it is written in the book of Jasher:) 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughSee Ex. 15. ters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Ye "mountains of Gilboa, let there So Judg. 5. be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not 1 Sam. 10. 1. been anointed with oil. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. g 8. 9. & 30.7 5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that Ruth 2.20. ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the LORD shew kindness 2 Tim. 1. 16, and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 18. the sons of valour. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and the ye valiant: for Heb. be ve your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the 1 Sam. 14.50. +Heb. the host which was Saul's. Or, Esh-baal, 1 Chr. 8. 33. & 9. 39. ch.5. 5. +Heb, num 1 Kings 2. 11 ber of days Joab defeateth Abner. II. SAMUEL. Joab soundeth a retreat. 12 ¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the gathered themselves together after Abservants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, ner, and became one troop, and stood on Josh. 18. 25. Went out from Mahanaim to 'Gibeon. the top of a hill. +Heb. them Jer. 41. 12. together. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? Prov. 17. 14. from the morning. Or, gone 27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then tin the ver. 14, morning the people had gone up every+Heb. one from following his brother. 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the away. people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bith 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-ron, and they came to Mahanaim. strong men. hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. I That is, Or, spoil, Judg. 14. 19. 46. & 20. 10. 20 Then Abner looked said, Art thou Asahel? ed, I am. behind him, and 21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? 23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of sch. 3.2.& the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 ¶ And the children of Benjamin 30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. Abner revolteth to David. II. SAMUEL. Abner is slain by Joab war between the house of Saul and the 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, e 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose ch. 21. 8, 10. name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah : and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou 'gone in unto my father's concubine? I ch. 16. 21. 1 Sam. 24. 14. t 37. 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the mayest reign over all that thine heart de- Kings 11. Deut. 23. 18. Words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a sireth. And David sent Abner away; dog's head, which against Judah do shew and he went in peace. kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to Da12.28.17 vid, even so I do to him; 1; Ruth 1. 17. 1 Kings 19. 2. 1 Sam. 15. 28. & 16. 1, 1 Chr. 12. 23. h i 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of Judg. 20. 1. David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. ch. 17. 11. 1 Kings 4. 25. + Heb. saying. k 22 And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and m 12 ¶ And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 13 ¶ And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, 'Thou shalt not see my So Gen. 43. face, except thou first bring " Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. 14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me "for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to 1 Kings 2. speak with him "quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for Or the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 ¶ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the †blood of Abner the son of Ner: a b 10. peaceably. y ch. 4. 6. 1 ch. 2. 23. + Heb. bloods. 32, 33. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and 1 Kings 2. on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. d +Heb. be cut off. c ch. 2. 23. Josh. 7. 6. ch. 1. 2. 11. 31 ¶ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sack-Gen. 3. 34 cloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron : and the king lifted up his voice, and wept + Heb. bed David mourneth for Abner. II. SAMUEL. Ish-bosheth is murdered. at the grave of Abner; and all the people he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and 33 And the king lamented over Abner, ch. 13. 12, 13. and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? + Heb. was good in their eyes. + Heb. tender. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day tweak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah *be too hard for me: 'the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to 2 Tim. 4. 14. his wickedness. 1 Kings 2.5, 6, 33, 34. Ps. 28. 4. & 62. 12. they smote him, and slew him, and be- 9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my Gen. 48. 16. soul out of all adversity, i 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: 1 Kings 1. 29. Ps. 31. 7. ch. 1. 2,4,15 +Heb. he was in his own eyes as a bringer, &c. Or, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings. 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now 'require his blood of your hand, and Gen. 9. 5, 6. take you away from the earth? 12 And David "commanded his young chi. 15. men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the "sepulchre of Abner in Hebron. CHAPTER V. 1 The tribes come to Hebron to anoint David over Israel. TH d Neh. 11. 33. ⚫ ch. 9. 3. a ch. 3. 32. & 12. 23. HEN came all the tribes of 1 Chr. 11. 1. flesh. с b b Gen. 29. 14. 13. 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, ing, Behold, we are thy bone and thy and were sojourners there until this day.) 4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul 1 Sam. 29.1, and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and 1 Sam. 18. broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, 1 Sam. 16. 1, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 6 And the king and his men went to Josh. 15.63. 7 For when they came into the house, Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the in * Judg. 1. 21. Judg. 1.8.& 19. 11, 12. |