David made king of Judah.

Chap. ii.

3 And his men that were with him, did David bring up, every man with his houfhold: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the houfe of Judah: and they told David, faying, That the men of Jabefhgilead were they that buried Saul.

54 And David fent meffengers unto the men of Jabefh-gilead, and faid unto them, Bleffed be ye of the LORD, that ye have fhewed this kindness unto your Jord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

Afahel flain.

17 And there was a very fore battle that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Ifrael, before the fervants of David.

18 And there were three fons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abifhai, and Afahel: And Afahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

19 And Afahel purfued after Abner, and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left, from following Abner!

20 Then Abner looked behind him, and faid, Art thou Afahel? And he anfwered, I am.

21 And Abner faid to him, Turn thee

6 And now the LORD fhew kindness and truth unto you: and I alfo will rc-afide to thy right hand or to thy left, quite you this kindness, because ye have and lay thee hold on one of the young done this thing. men, and take thee his armor. Buc Afahel would not turn afide from following of him.

7 Therefore now let your hands be ftrengthned, and be ye valiant: for your mafter Saul is dead, and alfo the house 22 And Abner faid again to Afahel, of Judah have anointed me king over Turn thee afide from following me: them. wherefore fhould I fmite thee to the 8 But Abner the fon of Ner, cap-ground? how then should I hold up my tain of Sauls hoft, took Ifh-bofheth the face to Joab thy brother? fon of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim.

9 And he made him king over Gilead, and over the Afhurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Ifrael.

10 Ifh-bofheth Sauls fon was forty years old when he began to reign over Ifrael, and reigned two years: but the houfe of Judah followed David.

11 (And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah, was feven years, and fix months.)

23 Howbeit he refufed to turn afide: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the fpear fmote him under the fifth rib, that the fpear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the fame place and it came to pafs, that as many as came to the place where Afahel fell down and died, ftood ftill.

24 Joab alfo and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the fun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

12 And Abner the fon of Ner, and 25 And the children of Benjamin the fervants of Ifh-bofheth the fon of gathered themselves together after AbSaul, went out from Mahanaim, to Gi-ner, and became one troop, and stood beon. on the top of an hill.

13 And Joab the fon of Zeruiah, and the fervants of David went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they fat down, the one on the one fide of the pool, and the other on the other fide of the pool.

14 And Abner faid to Joab, Let the young men now arife, and play before us. And Joab faid, Let them arife.

15 Then there arofe and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ifh-bofheth the fon of Saul, and twelve of the fervants of David.

16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thruft his fword in his fellows fide; fo they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gi beon.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, and faid, Shall the fword devour for ever? knoweft thou not that it will be bitternefs in the latter end? how long fhall it be then ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab faid, As God liveth, unlefs thou hadft fpoken, furely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people ftood ftill, and pursued after Ifrael no more, neither fought they any more.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and paffed over Jordan, and went through a Bichron, and they came to Mahar N 4.

30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of Davids fervants nineteen men, and Afahel. 31 But the fervants of David had fmitten of Benjamin and of Abners men, fo that three hundred and threefcore men died.

32 And they took up Afahel, and buried him in the fepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem; and Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

Abner revolteth to David throne of David over Ifrael, and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-fheba.

11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12 And Abner fent meffengers to David on his behalf, faying, Whose is the land? faying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand fall be with thee, to bring about all Ifrael unto thee.

13 And he faid, Well, I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not fee my face, except thou firft bring Michal 1 During the war David ftill waxeth Sauls daughter, when thou comeft to Stronger. 6 Abner difpleafed with Ish-fee my face.

CHAP. III.

bofbeth, 12 revolteth to David. 27 Foab 14 And David fent meffengers to Ifhkilleth Abner. 28 David curfeth Joab, bofheth Sauls fon, faying, Deliver me 31 and mourneth for Abner. my wife Michal, which I efpoufed to

N

me for an hundred foreskins, of the Phi

Ow there was long war between
the house of Saul, and the houfe liftines.

of David: but David waxed ftronger 15 And Ifh-bofheth fent, and took her
and ftronger, and the houfe of Saul wax-from her husband, even from Phaltiel
ed weaker and weaker.
the fon of Laifh.

2 And unto David were fons born in Hebron: and his firft-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitefs.

3 And his fecond, Chileab,. of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite: and the third, Abfalom the fon of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Gelhur:

4 And the fourth, Adonijah the fon of Haggith: and the fifth, Shephatiah the fon of Abiral:

5 And the fixch, Ithream, by Eglah Davids wife: these were born to David in Hebron.

6And it came to pafs while there was war between the houfe of Saul and the houfe of David, that Abner made himself ftrong for the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whofe name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ib bofbeth faid to Abner, Wherefore haft thou gone in unto my fathers concubine?

8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ifh-bofheth, and faid, Am Ia dogs head, which againft Judah do fhew kindness this day unto the houfe of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargeft me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more alfo, except as the LORD hath fworn to David, even fo I do to him:

10 To tranflate the kingdom from he houfe of Saui, and to fet up the

16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim : then faid Abner unto him, Go, return. And be returned.

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Ifrael, faying, Ye fought for David in times past to be king

over you,

18 Now then do it; for the LORD hath spoken of David, faying, By the hand of my fervant David I will fave my people Ifrael out of the hand of the Philiftines, and out of the hand of all their lenemies.

19 And Abner alfo fpake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went alfo to fpeak in the cars of David in Hebron, all that feemed good to Ifrael, and that feemed good to the whole houfe of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him: and David made Abner, and the men that were with him, a feaft.

21 And Abner faid unto David, I will arife, and go, and will gather all Ifrael unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayft reign over all that chine heart defireth. And David fent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 And behold the fervants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great (poil with them: (but Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had fent him away, and he was gone in peace.)

• When

Foab killeth Abner

Chap. iii, iv.

23 When Joab and all the hoft that was with him, were come, they told Joab, faying, Abner the fon of Ner came to the king, and he hath fent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and faid, What haft thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee, why is it that thou haft fent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knoweft Abner the fon of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doft.

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he fent meffengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David knew it

not.

27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him afide in the gate to fpeak with him quietly: and fmote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood. of Afahel his brother.

28 And afterward when David heard it, he faid, I and my kingdom are guiltlefs before the LORD for ever, from the blood of Abner the fon of Ner:

29 Let it reft on the head of Joab, and on all his fathers houfe, and let there not fail from the houfe of Joab one that hath an iffue, or that is a leper, or that leanech on a ftaff, or that fallech on the fword, or that lacketh bread.

tle.

Ifk-bofbeth murdered. to me, and more alfo, if I tafte bread or ought elfe, till the fun be down.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleafed them as whatsoever the king did, pleafed all the people

37 For all the people, and all Ifrael understood that day, that it was not of the king to flay Abner the fon of Ner.

38 And the king faid unto his fervants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Ifrael?

39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the fons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD fhall reward the doer of evil, according to his wickedness.

CHA P.

IV.

1 The Ifraelites being troubled at the death of Abner, 2 Baanah and Rechab flay Ifb-bofbeth. 9 David caufeth them to be fain, and Ifb-bofbeths head to be buried.

when

ner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Ifraelites were troubled.

2 And Sauls fon had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the fons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth alfo was reckned to Benjamin;

3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were fojourners there until this day.)

30 So. Joab and Abifhai his brother 4 And Jonathan Sauls fon, had a fon flew Abner, because he had flain their that was lame of his feet, and was five brother Afahel at Gibeon in the bat-years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurfe took him up, and fed ; and it came to pafs as she made hafte to flee, that he fell, and became lame; and his name was Mephibofheth.

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rent your clothes, and gird you with fackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bicr.

32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lift up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33 And the king lamented over Abner, and faid, Died Abner as a fool diech?

34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man fallech before wicked men, fo felleft thou. And all the people wept again over him.

35 And when all the people came to caufe David to eat meat while it was yet day, David fware, faying, fo do God

5 And the fons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the houfe of Ifh-bofheth, who lay on a bed at noon.

6 And they came thither into the midft of the houfe, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they fmore him under the fifth rib; and Rechab and Baanah his brother efcaped.

7 For when they came into the houfe, he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and they fmote him and flew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and get them away through the plain all night.

8. And they brought the head of
NS

bo

ul, and of his feed.

And David answered Rechab and ah his brother, the fons of Rimmon Beerothite, and faid unto them, As LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my out of all adverfity,

When one told me, faying, Behold, is dead, (thinking to have brought tidings) I took hold of him, and him in Ziklag, who thought that I Id have given him a reward for his gs:

How much more, when wicked have flain a righteous perfon, in wn houfe, upon his bed? thall I not efore now require his blood of your 1, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young and they flew them, and cut off hands and their feet, and hanged up over the pool in Hebron: but took the head of Ifh-bofheth, and ed it in the fepulchre of Abner in

con.

CHA P. V.

tribes come to Hebron to anoint Dadover Ifrael: 6 He taketh Zion from Jebusites.

Hen came all the tribes of Ifrael to David unto Hebron, and spake, g, Behold, we are thy bone and thy

Alfo in time paft when Saul was over us, thou waft he that leddeft and broughteft in Ifrael: and the faid to thee, Thou fhalt feed my le Ifrael, and thou fhalt be a captain Ifrael.

So all the elders of Ifrael came to king to Hebron, and king David e a league with them in Hebron bethe LORD and they anointed Daing over Ifrael.

:

David was thirty years old when egan to reign, and he reigned forty

In Hebron he reigned over Judah years and fix months and in Jeem he reigned thirty and three years all Ifrael and Judah.

And the king and his men went

teth the Jebufites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of Davids foul, he fhall be chief and captain wherefore they faid, The blind and che lame shall not come into the house.

9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it,The city of David; and David built round about, from Millo and inward.

10 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hofts was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre, fent meffengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and mafons: and they built David an house.

12 And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over 16rael, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Ifraels fake.

13 And David took him mo con. cubines and wives out of Jerufalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet fons and daughters born to David.

14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerufalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15 Ibhar alfo, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16 And Elifhama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 But when the Philiftines heard that they had anointed David king over Ifrael, all the Philiftines came up to feek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18 The Philiftines alfo came and fpread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David enquired of the LORD, faying, Shall I go up to the Philiftines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD faid unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philiftines into thine hand.

20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David fmote them there, and faid, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of