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of the LORD, and worshipped :
came to his own houfe, and
e required, they fet bread before
dhe did eat.

hen faid his fervants unto him,
hing is this that thou haft done?
Ift faft and weep for the child
was alive, but when the child
id, thou didst rife and eat bread.
nd he faid, While the child was
, I fafted and wept : for I faid,
n tell whether God will be gra-
me, that the child may live?
it now he is dead, wherefore
faft can I bring him back
I fhall go to him, but he fhall

rn to me.

And David comforted Bath-fheife, and went in unto her, and her: and fhe bare a fon, and d his name Solomon; and the ved him.

d he sent by the hand of Nathan her; and he called his name Jebecause of the LORD.

And Joab fought against Rabe children of Ammon, and took city.

d Joab fent meffengers to Dafaid, I have fought against Rabhave taken the city of waters. w therefore gather the reft of Le together, and encamp againft and take it: left I take the city, called after my name.

d David gathered all the peoer, and went to Rabbah, and ainft it, and took it.

1 he took their kings crown is head, (the weight whereof nt of gold, with the precious nd it was fet on Davids head: ought forth the spoil of the ciabundance.

he brought forth the people herein, and put them under under harrows of iron, and s of iron, and made them pafs e brick-kiln : and thus did he he cities of the children of So David and all the people to Jerufalem. CHAP. XII.

2 And Amnon was fo vexed, that he fell fick for his fifter Tamar; for the was a virgin and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whofe name was Jonadab the fon of Shimeah, Davids brother : and Jonadab was a very fubtil man.

4 And he faid unto him, Why art thou, being the kings fon, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon faid unto him, I love Tamar my brother Abfaloms fifter.

5 And Jonadab faid unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make chy felf fick: and when thy father cometh to fee thee, fay unto him, I pray thee, let my fifter Tamar come and give me meat, and drefs the meat in my fight, that I may fee it, and eat it at her hand.

6 So Amnon lay down, and made himfelf fick: and when the king was come to fee him, Amnon faid unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my fifter come and make me a couple of cakes in my fight, that I may eat at her hand.

Then David fent home to Tamar, faying, Go now to thy brother Amnons houfe, and dress him meat.

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnons house (and he was laid down) and the took four, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his fight, and did bake the cakes.

9 And he took a pan, and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon faid, Have out all men from me: and they went out every man from him.

10 And Amnon faid unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which he had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

11 And when he had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and faid unto her, Come, lie with me, my fifter.

12 And fhe anfwered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me: for no fuch thing ought to be done in Ifrael; do not thou this folly.

II. Samuel.

Tamar ravished. Thame to go? and as for thee, thoufhalt be as one of the fools in Ifrael: now therefore, I pray thee, fpeak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

14 Howbeit, he would not hearken unto her voice: but being ftronger than fhe, forced her, and lay with her.

Abfalom killeth Amnon.

27 But Abfalom preffed him, that he let Amnon and all the kings fons go with him.

28 Now Abfalom had commanded his fervants, faying, Mark ye now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, and when I fay unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not: have not I com15 Then Amnon hated her exceed-manded you? be couragious, and be ingly, fo that the hatred wherewith he valiant. hated her, was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her: and Amnon faid unto her, Arife, be gone.

16 And fhe faid unto him, There is no caufe; this evil in fending me away, is greater than the other that thou didft unto me: but he would not hearken unto her.

17 Then he called his fervant that miniftred unto him, and faid, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18 And he had a garment of divers colours upon her for with fuch robes I were the kings daughters that were virgins, apparelled. Then his fervant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put afhes on her head, and rent her garment of divers coJours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

20 And Abfalom her brother faid unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my fifter: he is thy brother, regard not this thing. So Tamar remained defolate in her brother Abfaloms house.

21 But when king David heard of all thefe things, he was very wroth.

22 And Abfalom fpake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad for Abfalo n hated Amnon, because he had forced his fifter Tamar.

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23 And it came to pafs after two full years, that Abfalom had fheep-fhearers in Baal-hazor, which is befide Ephraim and Abfalom invited all the kings fons.

24 And Abfalom came to the king, and faid, Behold now,thy fervant hath fheepfhearers, let the king, I beseech thee, and his fervants, go with thy fervant.

25 And the king faid to Abfalom, Nay, my fon, let us not all now go, left we be chargeable unto thee. And he preffed him howbeit he would not go, but bleffed him.

29. And the fervants of Abfalom did unto Amnon as Abfalom had commanded: then all the kings fons arofe, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

30 And it came to pass while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, faying, Abfalom hath flain all the kings fons, and there is not one of them left.

31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his fervants ftood by with their clothes rent.

32 And Jonadab the fon of Shimeah Davids brother, answered and faid, Let not my lord fuppofe that they have flain all the young men the kings fons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Abfalom this hath been determined, from the day that he forced his fifter Tamar.

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

34 But Abfalom Bed. And the young man that kept the watch, lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-fide behind him.

35 And Jonadab faid unto the king, Behold, the kings fons come as thy fervant faid, fo it is.

36 And it came to pafs affoon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the kings fons came, and lift up their voice and wept: and the king alfo and all his fervants wept very fore.

37 But Abfalom fled, and went to Talmai the fon of Ammihud king of Gefhur: and David mourned for his fon every day.

38 So Abfalom fled, and went to Ge fhur, and was there three years.

39 And the foul of king David longed to go forth unto Abfalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, feeing he was dead.

26 Then faid Abfalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king faid unto him, Why should1 go with thee?

CHA P. XIV. Foab fuborning the widow of Tekoah to incline

Chap. xiv.

The widow of Tekoah. incline the kings heart to fetch home Abfalom, 23 bringeth him to Jerufalem. Ow Joab the fon of Zeruiah perceived that the kings heart was toward Abfalom.

2 And Joab fent to Tekoah, and fetcht thence a wife woman, and faid unto her, I pray thee feign thy felf to be a mourner, and put on now mourning-apparel, and anoint not thy felf with oyl, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

3 And come to the king, and fpeak on this manner unto him: fo Joab put the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah pake to the king, fhe fell on her face to the ground, and did obeifance, and faid, Help, O king.

5 And the king faid unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine hufband is dead.

6 And thy handmaid had two fons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one fmote the other, and flew him.

7 And behold, the whole family is rifen against thine handmaid, and they faid, Deliver him that fmote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he flew, and we will deftroy the heir alfo and fo they fhall quench my coal which is left, and fhall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

8 And the king faid unto the woman, Go to thine houfe, and I will give charge concerning thee.

9 And the woman of Tekoah faid unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my fathers houfe: and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king faid, Whofoever faith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he hall not touch thee any more.

11 Then faid the, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldst not fuffer the revengers of blood to deftroy any more, left they deftroy my fon. And he faid, As the LORD liveth, there fhall not one hair of thy fon fall to the earth.

12 Then the woman faid, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, fpeak one word unto my lord the king. And he faid, Say on.

13 And the woman faid, Wherefore then haft thou thought fuch a thing againft the people of God? for the king doth fpeak this thing, as one which is

Abfaloms return.

faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.

14 For we muft needs die, and are as water fpilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again: neither doth God refpect any perfon, yet doth he devife means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

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

16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would deftroy me and my fon together out of the inheritance of God:

17 Then thine handmaid faid, The word of my lord the king fhall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, fo is my lord the king to difcern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

18 Then the king anfwered and faid unto the woman, Hide not from me, pray thee, the thing that I fhall ask thee. And the woman faid, Let my lord the king now speak.

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

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

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21 And the king faid unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Abfalom again.

22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab faid, To day thy fervant knoweth that I have found grace in thy fight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his fervant.

23 So Joab arofe and went to Gefhur, and brought Abfalom to Jerufalem.

24 And the king faid, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Abfalom returned to his own house, and faw not the kings face.

II. Samuel.

Abfaloms beauty: 25 But in all Ifrael there was none to be fo much praifed as Abfalom for his beauty: from the fole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.

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26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every years end that he polled it because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred fhekels after the kings weight.

27 And unto Abfalom there were born three fons and one daughter, whofe name was Tamar: fhe was a woman of a fair countenance.

28 So Abfalom dwelt two full years in Jerufalem, and faw not the kings face.

29 Therefore Abfalom fent for Joab, to have fent him to the king, but he would not come to him: and when he fent again the fecond time, he would not

come.

30 Therefore he faid unto his fervants, See, Joabs field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and fet it on fire: and Abfaloms fervants fet the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arofe and came to Abfalom unto his houfe, and faid unto him, Wherefore have thy fervants fet my field on fire?

His confpiracy.

3 And Abfalom faid unto him, See, thy matters are good and right, but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 Abfalom faid moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any fuit or caufe,might come unto me, and I would do him juftice.

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

6 And on this manner did Abfalom to all Ifrael that came to the king for judgment: fo Abfalom ftole the hearts of the men of Ifrael.

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

I

8 For thy fervant vowed a vow while abode at Gefhur in Syria, saying, If the LORD fhall bring me again indeed to Jerufalem, then I will ferve the LORD. 9 And the king faid unto him, Go in peace. So he arofe and went to Hebron.

10 But Abfalom fent fpies throughout all the tribes of Ifrael, faying, Affoon as ye hear the found of the trumpet, then ye fhall fay, Abfalom reigneth

11 And wich Abfalom went two hundred men out of Jerufalem, that were called, and they went in their fimplicity, and they knew not any thing.

32 And Abfalom anfwered Joab, Be-in Hebron. hold, I fent unto thee, faying, Come hither that I may fend thee to the king, to fay, Wherefore am I come from Gefhur? it had been good for me to have been there ftill: now therefore let me fee the kings face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

33 So Joab came to the king, and told him and when he had called for Abfalom he came to the king, and bowed himfelf on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kiffed Abfalom. CHAP. XV. 1 Abfalom ftealeth the hearts of Ifrael. 10 He maketh a confpiracy. 13 David fleeth from Jerufalem.

12 And Abfalom fent for Ahichophel the Gilonite, Davids counfeller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered facrifices: and the confpiracy was ftrong; for the people encreased continually with Abfalom.

13. And there came a meffenger to David, faying, The hearts of the men of Ifrael are after Abfalom.

14 And David faid unto all his fervants that were with him at Jerufalem, Arise, and let us filce; for we fhall not elfe co

Abfalom prepared him chariots, and horfes, and fifty men to run before him.

after this, that scape from

2 And Abfalom rofe up early, and. ftood befide the way of the gate and it was fo, that when any man that had a controverfie came to the king for judgment, then Abfalom called unto him, and faid, Of what city art thou? And he faid, Thy fervant is of one of the tribes of Ifrael.

part, left he overtake us fuddenly, and bring evil upon us, and fmite the city with the edge of the fword.

15 And the kings fervants faid unto the king, Behold, thy fervants are ready to do whatfoever my lord the king fhall appoint.

16 And the king went forth, and all his houfhold after him: and the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house..

th, paffed on before the king. Then faid the king to Ittai the wherefore goeft thou alfo with rn to thy place, and abide with for thou art a ftranger, and xile.

with Abfalom. And David faid, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahichophel into foolishness.

32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hufhai the Archite came to meet him, with his coat rent, and earth upon his

hereas thou cameft but yefteruld I this day make thee go own with us? fecing I go whi-head: ay, return thou, and take back ren: mercy and truth be with

Ittai answered the king, and the LORD liveth, and as my king liveth, furely in what lord the king fhall be, whether or life, even there alfo will thy

e.

David faid to Itrai, Go, and And Ittai the Gittite paffed I all his men, and all the little were with him.

all the country wept with ice, and all the people paffed oing alfo himself paffed over the Aron, and all the people paffed ard the way of the wilderness. And lo, Zadok alfo, and all the me with him, bearing the ark venant of God, and they fet ark of God; And Abiathar until all the people had done t of the city.

the king faid unto Zadok, k the ark of God into the city: ind favour in the eyes of the will bring me again, and fhew , and his habitation. fhe thus fay, I have no delight ehold,here am I, let him do to neth good unto him.

king faid alfo unto Zadok the t not thou a feer? return into n peace, and your two fons Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonain of Abiathar.

I will tarry in the plain of ness, until there come word to certifie me.

k therefore and Abiathar car

of God again to Jerufale.

33 Unto whom David faid, If thou paffeft on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me.

34 But if thou return to the city, and fay unto Abfalom, I will be thy fervant, O king; as I have been thy fathers fervant hitherto, fo will I now alfo be thy fervant: then mayft thou for me defeat the counsel of Abichophel.

35 And haft thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it fhall be, that what thing foever chou fhalt hear out of the kings house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

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36 Behold, they have there with them their two fons, Ahimaaz, Zadoks fon, and Jonathan, Abiathars fon and by them ye fhall fend unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 So Hufhai Davids friend came into the city, and Abfalom came into Jerufalem.

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CHAP. XVI.

Ziba by falle fuggeftions obtaineth his mafters inheritance. 5 Shimei curseth David. 9 David abstaineth, and reftraineth others from revenge. 20 Ahithophels counfel.

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Nd when David was a little paft the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the fervant of Mephibofheth met him with a couple of affes faddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raifins, and an hundred of fummer-fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by chefe? And Ziba faid, The affes be for the kings houfhold to ride on, and the bread and fummer-fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine,

that fuch as he faime in

1 J

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