New King James Version (NKJV)

Amnon and Tamar

1 After thisAbsalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose namewasTamar; andAmnon the son of David loved her.

2 Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for shewasa virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend whose namewasJonadabthe son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadabwasa very crafty man.

4 And he said to him, “Whyareyou, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?”

Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may seeitand eat it from her hand.’ ”

6 Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come andmake a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneadedit,made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9 And she took the pan and placedthemout before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said,“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.

10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and broughtthemto Amnon her brother in the bedroom.

11 Now when she had broughtthemto him to eat,he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, forno such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do thisdisgraceful thing!

13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king;for he will not withhold me from you.”

14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, heforced her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated herwasgreater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

16 So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me awayisworse than the other that you did to me.”

But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put thiswomanout, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”

18 Now she had ona robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.

19 Then Tamar putashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors thatwason her, andlaid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. Heisyour brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnonneither good nor bad. For Absalomhated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

23 And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalomhad sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, whichisnear Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.

26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.”

And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’sheart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”

29 So the servants of Absalomdid to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got onhis mule and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”

31 So the king arose andtore his garments andlay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 ThenJonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 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 only Amnon is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”

36 So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled and went toTalmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. AndDavidmourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled and went toGeshur, and was there three years.

39 And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had beencomforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

1 So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heartwasconcernedabout Absalom.

2 And Joab sent toTekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner,and put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.

3 Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joabput the words in her mouth.

4 And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, shefell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said,“Help, O king!”

5 Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?”

# And she answered,“Indeed Iama widow, my husband is dead.

6 Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, andtherewasno one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.

7 And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute himfor the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husbandneithername nor remnant on the earth.”

8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”

9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king,letthe iniquitybeon me and on my father’s house,and the king and his thronebeguiltless.”

10 So the king said, “Whoever saysanythingto you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”

11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember theLordyour God, and do not permitthe avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.”

# And he said,“AstheLordlives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

12 Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speakanotherword to my lord the king.”

And he said, “Say on.”

13 So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing againstthe people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty,inthatthe king does not bringhis banished one home again.

14 For wewill surely die andbecomelike water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does nottake away a life; but Hedevises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.

15 Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.

16 For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the manwhowoulddestroy me and my son together from theinheritance of God.’

17 Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; foras the angel of God, soismy lord the king indiscerning good and evil. And may theLordyour God be with you.’ ”

18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.”

And the woman said, “Please, let my lord the king speak.”

19 So the king said, “Isthe hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “Asyou live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, andhe put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.

20 To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lordiswise,according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything thatisin the earth.”

21 And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”

22 Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and thanked the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”

23 So Joab aroseand went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

24 And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, butdo not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.

David Forgives Absalom

25 Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks.From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

26 And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cutitbecause it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.

27 To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose namewasTamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem,but did not see the king’s face.

29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

30 So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.

31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

32 And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur?Itwouldbebetter for metobethere still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; butif there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”

33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the kingkissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Treason

1 After thisit happened that Absalomprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate.Soit was, whenever anyone who had alawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What cityareyou from?” And he would say, “Your servantisfrom such and such a tribe of Israel.”

3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your caseisgood and right; butthereisno deputy of the king to hear you.”

4 Moreover Absalom would say,“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

5 Andsoit was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him andkiss him.

6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment.So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 Now it came to passafter forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go toHebron and pay the vow which I made to theLord.

8 For your servanttook a vowwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If theLordindeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve theLord.’ ”

9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalomreigns in Hebron!’ ”

11 And with Absalom went two hundred meninvited from Jerusalem, and theywent along innocently and did not know anything.

12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite,David’s counselor, from his city—fromGiloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalomcontinually increased in number.

David Escapes from Jerusalem

13 Now a messenger came to David, saying,“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 So David said to all his servants whowerewith him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let usflee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Weareyour servants,readytodowhatever my lord the king commands.”

16 Thenthe king went out with all his household after him. But the king leftten women, concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.

18 Then all his servants passed before him;and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites,six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

19 Then the king said toIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For youarea foreigner and also an exile from your own place.

20 In fact, you cameonlyyesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I goI know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truthbewith you.”

21 But Ittai answered the king and said,“AstheLordlives, andasmy lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones whowerewith him crossed over.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of thewilderness.

24 There wasZadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing theark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, andAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of theLord, Hewill bring me back and show mebothit andHis dwelling place.

26 But if He says thus: ‘I have nodelight in you,’ here I am,let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Areyounotaseer? Return to the city in peace, andyour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See,I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

30 So David went up by the Ascent of theMountofOlives, and wept as he went up; and hehad his head covered and wentbarefoot. And all the people whowerewith himcovered their heads and went up,weeping as they went up.

31 Thensomeonetold David, saying,“Ahithophelisamong the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “OLord, I pray,turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

32 Now it happened when David had come to the topofthemountain,where he worshiped God—there was Hushai theArchite coming to meet himwith his robe torn and dust on his head.

33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will becomea burden to me.

34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom,‘I will be your servant, O king;asIwasyour father’s servant previously, so Iwillnow alsobeyour servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

35 Anddoyou nothaveZadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will bethatwhatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell toZadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 Indeedtheyhavetherewith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’sson,and Jonathan, Abiathar’sson;and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

37 So Hushai,David’s friend, went into the city.And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Mephibosheth’s Servant

1 WhenDavid was a little past the topofthemountain,there wasZiba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundredloavesof bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?”

# So Ziba said, “The donkeysarefor the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine forthose who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”

3 Then the king said, “And whereisyourmaster’s son?”

# And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”

4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all thatbelongsto Mephiboshethisyours.”

And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you,thatI may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”

Shimei Curses David

5 Now when King David came toBahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose namewasShimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.

6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty menwereon his right hand and on his left.

7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man,you rogue!

8 TheLordhasbrought upon you allthe blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and theLordhas delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now youarecaughtin your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should thisdead dogcurse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

10 But the king said,“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, becausetheLordhas said to him, ‘Curse David.’Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See howmy son whocame from my own body seeks my life. How much more nowmaythisBenjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so theLordhas ordered him.

12 It may be that theLordwill look on my affliction, and that theLordwillrepay me withgood for his cursing this day.”

13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.

14 Now the king and all the people whowerewith him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

The Advice of Ahithophel

15 MeanwhileAbsalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophelwaswith him.

16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite,David’s friend, came to Absalom, thatHushai said to Absalom, “Longlive the king!Longlive the king!”

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Isthis your loyalty to your friend?Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom theLordand this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19 Furthermore,whom should I serve?ShouldInotservein the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said toAhithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”

21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’sconcubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that youare abhorred by your father. Thenthe hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubinesin the sight of all Israel.

23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days,wasas if one had inquired at the oracle of God. Sowasall the advice of Ahithophelboth with David and with Absalom.

1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.

2 I will come upon him while heisweary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people whoarewith him will flee, and I willstrike only the king.

3 Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”

4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all theelders of Israel.

The Advice of Hushai

5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what hesays too.”

6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”

7 So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has givenisnot good at this time.

8 For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that theyaremighty men, and theyareenraged in their minds, likea bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your fatherisa man of war, and will not camp with the people.

9 Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in someotherplace. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hearsitwill say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’

10 And even hewhoisvaliant, whose heartislike the heart of a lion, willmelt completely. For all Israel knows that your fatherisa mighty man, andthosewhoarewith himarevaliant men.

11 Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you,from Dan to Beersheba,like the sand thatisby the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.

12 So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men whoarewith him there shall not be left so much as one.

13 Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we willpull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”

14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Architeisbetter than the advice of Ahithophel.” FortheLordhad purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that theLordmight bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai Warns David to Escape

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.

16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this nightin the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people whoarewith him be swallowed up.’ ”

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaazstayed atEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.

18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s housein Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.

19 Then the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.

20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “WhereareAhimaaz and Jonathan?”

# Sothe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.”

And when they had searched and could not findthem,they returned to Jerusalem.

21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David,“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”

22 So David and all the people whowerewith him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home tohis house, to his city. Then he put hishousehold in order, andhanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

24 Then David went toMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.

25 And Absalom madeAmasa captain of the army instead of Joab. This Amasawasthe son of a man whose namewasJithra, an Israelite, who had gone in toAbigail the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.

26 So Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, thatShobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon,Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, andBarzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,

28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parchedgrainand beans, lentils and parchedseeds,

29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people whowerewith him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirstyin the wilderness.”

Absalom’s Defeat and Death

1 And David numbered the people whowerewith him, andset captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 Then David sent out one third of the people under the hand of Joab,one third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the hand ofIttai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I also will surely go out with you myself.”

3 But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. Butyouareworth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”

4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.

5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Dealgently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom.

6 So the people went out into the field of battle against Israel. And the battle was in thewoods of Ephraim.

7 The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day.

8 For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

9 Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, andhis head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule whichwasunder him went on.

10 Now a certain man sawitand told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”

11 So Joab said to the man who told him, “You just sawhim!And why did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have given you tenshekelsof silver and a belt.”

12 But the man said to Joab, “Though I were to receive a thousandshekelsof silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son.For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyonetouchthe young man Absalom!’

13 Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself againstme.”

14 Then Joab said, “I cannot linger with you.” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he wasstillalive in the midst of the terebinth tree.

15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.

16 So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.

17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, andlaid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israelfled, everyone to his tent.

18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, whichisinthe King’s Valley. For he said,“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19 ThenAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how theLordhas avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.”

So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,”hesaid,“let me run.”

So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David was sitting between thetwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.

25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If heisalone,thereisnews in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

26 Then the watchman sawanotherman running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There isanotherman, running alone!”

And the king said, “He also brings news.”

27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

# And the king said, “Heisa good man, and comes withgood news.”

28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said,“BlessedbetheLordyour God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant andmeyour servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know whatitwasabout.”

30 And the king said, “Turn asideandstand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For theLordhas avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be likethatyoung man!”

David’s Mourning for Absalom

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus:“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son,my son!”

1 And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping andmourning for Absalom.”

2 So the victory that day wasturnedintomourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”

3 And the people stole backinto the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

4 But the kingcovered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice,“O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 ThenJoab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,

6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.

7 Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by theLord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”

8 Then the king arose and sat in thegate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king.

# For everyone of Israel hadfled to his tent.

David Returns to Jerusalem

9 Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of ourenemies, he delivered us from the hand of thePhilistines, and now he hasfled from the land because of Absalom.

10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

11 So King David sent toZadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to hisveryhouse?

12 Youaremy brethren, youaremy bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’

13 And say to Amasa, ‘Areyou not my bone and my flesh?God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ”

14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah,just astheheartofone man, so that they sentthiswordto the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

15 Then the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came toGilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the kingacross the Jordan.

16 AndShimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, whowasfrom Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 Therewerea thousand men ofBenjamin with him, andZiba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.

18 Then a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.

19 Then he said to the king,“Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember whatwrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king shouldtakeitto heart.

20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of allthe house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this,because hecursed theLord’s anointed?”

22 And David said,“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today?Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today Iamking over Israel?”

23 Thereforethe king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 NowMephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.

25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him,“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servantislame.

27 Andhe has slandered your servant to my lord the king,but my lord the kingislike the angel of God. Therefore dowhatisgood in your eyes.

28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king.Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”

30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 AndBarzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.

32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. Andhe had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for hewasa very rich man.

33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 Iamtodayeighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?

36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay mewithsuch a reward?

37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servantChimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”

39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the kingkissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

The Quarrel About the King

40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away andbrought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the kingisa close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’sexpense?Or has he given us any gift?”

43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said,“We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have morerightto David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”

# Yetthe words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

The Rebellion of Sheba

1 And there happened to be there a rebel, whose namewasSheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. And he blew a trumpet, and said:

# “We have no share in David,

Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse;

# Every man to his tents, O Israel!”

2 So every man of Israel deserted David,andfollowed Sheba the son of Bichri. But themen of Judah, from the Jordan as far as Jerusalem, remained loyal to their king.

3 Now David came to his house at Jerusalem. And the king took the ten women,his concubines whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in seclusion and supported them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.

4 And the king said to Amasa,“Assemble the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”

5 So Amasa went to assemblethemenofJudah. But he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed him.

6 And David said toAbishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Takeyour lord’s servants and pursue him, lest he find for himself fortified cities, and escape us.”

7 So Joab’s men, with theCherethites, the Pelethites, andall the mighty men, went out after him. And they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 When theywereat the large stone whichisin Gibeon, Amasa came before them. Now Joab was dressed in battle armor; on it was a beltwitha sword fastened in its sheath at his hips; and as he was going forward, it fell out.

9 Then Joab said to Amasa, “Areyou in health, my brother?”And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa did not notice the sword thatwasin Joab’s hand. Andhe struck him with itin the stomach, and his entrails poured out on the ground; and he did notstrikehim again. Thus he died.

Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 Meanwhile one of Joab’s men stood near Amasa, and said, “Whoever favors Joab and whoeverisfor David—follow Joab!”

12 But Amasa wallowed inhisblood in the middle of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came upon him halted.

13 When he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel toAbel and Beth Maachah and all the Berites. So they were gathered together and also went afterSheba.

15 Then they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maachah; and theycast up a siege mound against the city, and it stood by the rampart. And all the people whowerewith Joab battered the wall to throw it down.

16 Then a wise woman cried out from the city, “Hear, hear! Please say to Joab, ‘Come nearby, that I may speak with you.’ ”

17 When he had come near to her, the woman said, “Areyou Joab?”

He answered, “Iam.”

Then she said to him, “Hear the words of your maidservant.”

And he answered, “I am listening.”

18 So she spoke, saying, “They used to talk in former times, saying, ‘They shall surely seekguidanceat Abel,’ and so they would enddisputes.

19 Iamamongthepeaceableandfaithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow upthe inheritance of theLord?”

20 And Joab answered and said, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy!

21 Thatisnot so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city.”

So the woman said to Joab, “Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

22 Then the womanin her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threwitout to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

David’s Government Officers

23 AndJoabwasover all the army of Israel; Benaiah the son of Jehoiadawasover the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

24 Adoramwasin charge of revenue;Jehoshaphat the son of Ahiludwasrecorder;

25 Shevawasscribe;Zadok and Abiatharwerethe priests;

26 and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David.

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and Davidinquired of theLord. And theLordanswered, “Itisbecause of Saul andhisbloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeoniteswerenot of the children of Israel, butof the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill themin his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may blessthe inheritance of theLord?”

4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”

So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us,thatwe should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel,

6 let seven men of his descendants be deliveredto us, and we will hang them before theLordin Gibeah of Saul,whomtheLordchose.”

And the king said, “I will givethem.”

7 But the king sparedMephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because oftheLord’s oath thatwasbetween them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons ofRizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;

9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hillbefore theLord. So they fell,allseven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the firstdays,in the beginning of barley harvest.

10 NowRizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock,from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men ofJabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where thePhilistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.

13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.

14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin inZelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after thatGod heeded the prayer for the land.

Philistine Giants Destroyed

15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.

16 Then Ishbi-Benob, whowasone of the sons of thegiant, the weight of whose bronze spearwasthree hundredshekels,who was bearing a newsword,thought he could kill David.

17 ButAbishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying,“You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench thelamp of Israel.”

18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. ThenSibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, whowasone of the sons of the giant.

19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, whereElhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killedthebrotherofGoliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spearwaslike a weaver’s beam.

20 Yet againthere was war at Gath, where there was a man ofgreatstature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21 So when hedefied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Praise for God’s Deliverance

1 Then Davidspoke to theLordthe words of this song, on the day when theLordhaddelivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.

2 And hesaid:

# “TheLordismy rock and myfortress and my deliverer;

3 The God of my strength,in whom I will trust;

# Myshield and thehorn of my salvation,

# Mystronghold and myrefuge;

My Savior, You save me from violence.

4 I will call upon theLord,whoisworthyto be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

5 “When the waves of death surrounded me,

The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

6 Thesorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distressI called upon theLord,

And cried out to my God;

# Heheard my voice from His temple,

And my cryenteredHis ears.

8 “Thenthe earth shook and trembled;

# The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,

Because He was angry.

9 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

# And devouringfire from His mouth;

Coals were kindled by it.

10 Hebowed the heavens also, and came down

# Withdarkness under His feet.

11 He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

# And He was seenupon the wings of the wind.

12 He madedarkness canopies around Him,

Dark watersandthick clouds of the skies.

13 From the brightness before Him

Coals of fire were kindled.

14 “TheLordthundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice.

15 He sent outarrows and scattered them;

Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.

16 Then the channels of the seawere seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered,

# At therebuke of theLord,

At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 “Hesent from above, He took me,

He drew me out of many waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me;

For they were too strong for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

# But theLordwas mysupport.

20 He also brought me out into a broad place;

# He delivered me because Hedelighted in me.

21 “TheLordrewarded me according to my righteousness;

# According to thecleanness of my hands

He has recompensed me.

22 For I havekept the ways of theLord,

And have not wickedly departed from my God.

23 For all Hisjudgmentswerebefore me;

AndasforHis statutes, I did not depart from them.

24 I was alsoblameless before Him,

And I kept myself from my iniquity.

25 ThereforetheLordhas recompensed me according to my righteousness,

According to my cleanness in His eyes.

26 “Withthe merciful You will show Yourself merciful;

With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;

27 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;

# Andwith the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

28 You will save thehumble people;

# But Your eyesareonthe haughty,thatYou may bringthemdown.

29 “For Youaremylamp, OLord;

TheLordshall enlighten my darkness.

30 For by You I can run against a troop;

# By my God I can leap over awall.

31 AsforGod,His wayisperfect;

# The word of theLordisproven;

Heisa shield to all who trust in Him.

32 “ForwhoisGod, except theLord?

And whoisa rock, except our God?

33 Godismystrengthandpower,

# And Hemakes my wayperfect.

34 He makes my feetlike thefeetof deer,

# Andsets me on my high places.

35 He teaches my hands to make war,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your gentleness has made me great.

37 Youenlarged my path under me;

So my feet did not slip.

38 “I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them;

Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.

39 And I have destroyed them and wounded them,

So that they could not rise;

# They have fallenunder my feet.

40 For You havearmed me with strength for the battle;

# You have subdued under methose who rose against me.

41 You have also given me thenecks of my enemies,

So that I destroyed those who hated me.

42 They looked, buttherewasnone to save;

# Evento theLord, but He did not answer them.

43 Then I beat them as fineas the dust of the earth;

# I trod themlike dirt in the streets,

AndI spread them out.

44 “Youhave also delivered me from the strivings of my people;

# You have kept me as thehead of the nations.

# A people I have not known shall serve me.

45 The foreigners submit to me;

As soon as they hear, they obey me.

46 The foreigners fade away,

# And come frightenedfrom their hideouts.

47 “TheLordlives!

Blessedbemy Rock!

Let God be exalted,

# TheRock of my salvation!

48 ItisGod who avenges me,

# Andsubdues the peoples under me;

49 He delivers me from my enemies.

You also lift me up above those who rise against me;

# You have delivered me from theviolent man.

50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, OLord, amongthe Gentiles,

# And sing praises to Yourname.

51 “Heis the tower of salvation to His king,

# And shows mercy to Hisanointed,

# To David andhis descendants forevermore.”