Page images
PDF
EPUB

together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, 18) and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David sĺew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, that he died 19 there. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. 11(1 1And it came to pass, 'at the return

2

of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem.

And it came to pass 'at eventidel, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he

saw a woman

3 upon.

woman bathing; and the was very beautiful to look And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 °And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; (for she was purified from her uncleanness ;) and 5 she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived; and 'she sent and told David, and said, I am with 6 child. "And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. 7 And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people 'fared', and how the 8 war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from 9 the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not 10 down to his house. And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said

1 See 1 Chr. xx. 1. 2 Or, present from

unto Uriah, Art thou not comel from la journey? wherefore didst thou not go down unto thine house? 11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open 'field; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do 12 this thing. °And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem 3that 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 to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not 14 down to his house. And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the 15 hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be 16 smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto Ithe place where he knew that valiant 17 men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah 18 the Hittite died also. Then Joab

sent and told David all the things 19) concerning the war; and he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the 20) king, it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went! ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that 21) they would shoot from the wall? who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast lan upper millstone upon him from the wall, that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then 'shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah 22 the Hittite is dead also. So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for. (23 °And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we

[blocks in formation]

VERSION OF 1611.-18 who; 19 smitten. -XI. 1 after.. was expired. . forth..(still); 2 in an eveningtide.. washing herself; 7 demanded. . did; 10 Camest. .thy.. why then; 11 tents.. fields ; 16 observed.. a; 19 matters of; 20 and..so.. approached.. when ye did; 21 a piece of a.. in; 23 (Surely). [36]

were upon them even unto the enter24)ing of the gate. And the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the 25 Hittite is dead also. Then David

said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou 26 him. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she 'made lamentation for her 27 husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and 'took her 'home to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

121

.

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich. and the 2 other poor. "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 morsel', and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him 4 as a daughter. And there came a traveller 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 5 to him. 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 "lis 6 worthy to die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, 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, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee 8 out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such 9 things. Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the LORD, to do that

1 Heb. a son of death.

which is evil in his sight? thou hast Ismitten 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 Ammon. 10 Now 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 11 wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold,

I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall 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 13 before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away 14 thy sin; thou shalt not die. °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 15 die. And Nathan departed unto his house.

O

And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, 16 and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay 17 all night upon the earth. "And the elders of his house arose, and 'stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did 18 he eat bread with them. 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 'hearkened not unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is 19 dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered together', David perceived that the child was dead: 'and' David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they 20 said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required they set bread before 21 him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this

2 Or, how then İshall we tell him that the child is
dead, so that he \do¦ himself \some harm\?

VERSION OF 1611.-24 upon; 26 mourned; 27 fet.

XII. 3 meat; 5 thing shall surely;

8 moreover.. given; 9 commandment.. killed; 15 strake; 17 went to; 18 would.. hearken; 19 therefore. = [17]

that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, 22 thou didst rise and eat bread. And

he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether the LORD will 'not be gracious to me, that the 23 child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, 24 but he shall not return to me. And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and 1he called his name Solomon. And the 25 LORD loved him; and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah, 'for' the LORD's sake!.

26

Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took 27 the royal city. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, 'yea, I have 28 taken the city of waters. "Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and 29 it be called after my name. And

David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and 30) fought against it, and took it. And

he took the crown of their 'king' from off his head; and the weight Ithereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, 31 exceeding much'. "And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. 'And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

131 And it came to pass after this, that

Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. 2) And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it 'seemed hard to Amnon to do any thing 'unto 3 her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shim

1 Another reading is, she called. That is, Beloved of Jah.

3 See 1 Chr. xx. 1-3.

4 Heb. my name be called upon it.

о

eah David's brother: and Jonadab 4) was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why, 'O' son of the king', art thou 'thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, 5) my brother Absalom's sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and 'feign' thyself sick and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me 'bread to eat, and dress the food' in my sight, that I may see it, 6) and eat it at her hand. So Amnon lay down, and 'feigned' himself sick and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand. 7 °Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him 'food'. 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took 'dough', and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did 9 bake the cakes. And she took 'the' 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 Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring

the food 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 11 Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them 'near' unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not 10force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do 13 not thou this folly. And I, whither shall I carry my shame? 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 14 withhold me from thee. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but being stronger than she, 'he' 15 forced her, and lay with her. Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And

[blocks in formation]

VERSION OF 1611.-22 can tell.. GOD; 25 because of.. LORD; 26 And; 27 and; 30 king's.. whereof.. with the. . in great abundance; 31 So. XIII. 2 for. . thought. . for him. . to; 4 being the king's; 5 make.. meat.. meat; 6 made; 7 meat; 8 flour; 9 a; 10 meat; 13 cause.. to go; 15 exceedingly; so that. = [38]

Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone. 16 And she said unto him, "Not so, because this great wrong' in 'putting! me forth is worse than the other that thou didst unto me. But he 17 would not hearken unto her. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door 18 after her. And she had a garment

of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted 19 the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went 'her way', crying aloud 20) as she went'. "And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; 'take' not this thing 'to heart!. So Tamar remained desolate in her 21 brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, (22 he was very wroth. And Absalom

23

spake unto Amnon neither good nor bad for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited 24 all the king's sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his serv(25 ants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be 'burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed 26 him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, 27 Why should he go with thee?

But

Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with (28 him. And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, 29 and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's

1 Or, Think not there is occasion for this great wrong in putting me forth, which is worse &c."

sons arose, and every man gat him up 30 upon his mule, and fled." °And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that 'the' tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of 31 them left. Then the king arose, and

rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by 32 with their clothes rent. And Jonadab,

the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have 'killed' all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he 33 forced his sister Tamar. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only 34 is dead. But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him. And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons are come : 36 as thy servant said, so it is. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted' up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore. 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of 51 Ammihur', king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

35

38

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

141

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was to(2 ward Absalom. And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long 3 time mourned for the dead and 'go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the 4 words in her mouth. And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and

[blocks in formation]

VERSION OF 1611.-16 There is no cause.. evil. . sending.. away.. greater; 19 on; 20 regard; 22 (his brother); 24 beseech; 25 (now).. chargeable; 28 Now.. (had); 31 tare; 32 slain; 34 lift; 36 lift; 37 Ammihud. -XIV. 2 (now); 3 come. = [24]

did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, 'Of a truth I am a widow woman, and 6 mine husband is dead. "And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him. (7) And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and Isol destroy the heir also: thus shall they quench my coal which is left, and shall leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face 8 of the earth. And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. 9 And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house and the king and his throne 10 be guiltless. "And the king said,

Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not (11) touch thee any more. Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that the 'avenger! of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. 12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak la' word unto my lord the king. And he 13) said, Say on. And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou 'devised' such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one which is guilty', in that the king doth not fetch home 14 again his banished one. For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God Itake away life', 'but deviseth' means, that he that is banished be not lan 15 outcast from him. Now therefore

[blocks in formation]

the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of (17 the inheritance of God. "Then thine handmaid said, 'Let, I pray theel, the word of my lord the king be 1comfortable for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad and the LORD thy God be 18 with thee. Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, laught that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. (19 And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words 20 in the mouth of thine handmaid: "to Ichange the face' of 'the matter! hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all 21 things that are in the earth. And the king said unto Joab, Behold now,

I have done this thing go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his

face, and 'did obeisance', and 'blessed' the king and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the 23 request of his servant. °So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought 24 Absalom to Jerusalem.. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

25

So

Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head *26 there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, ('now! it was at every year's 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 27 shekels, after the king's weight. And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.

28

'And Absalom dwelt two full years

1 Heb. for rest. 2 Or, Ithel 3 Heb. to hear. 4 Another reading is, thou hast done. 5 Another reading is, thy.

VERSION OF 1611.- 5 indeed; 6 slew; 7 we will.. and so.. (not); 11 (thou wouldest).. (suffer) .. revengers.. (to); 12 one; 13 thought.. doth speak.. thing.. faulty; 14 respect any person: yet doth he devise..his..expelled: 15 of.. thing.. handmaid; 16 handmaid; 17 shall now.. therefore.. (will); 18 the thing; 19 (not); 20 fetch about this form..speech; 22 bowed himself. . thanked. . fulfilled; 24 and.. returned; 25 But; 26 for; 28 So. = [52]

« PreviousContinue »