David pursues the Amalekites, I. SAMUEL.

and recovers the spoil. ing, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I and men of Belial, of those that went with overtake them? And he answered him, David, and said, Because they went not Pursue for thou shalt surely overtake them, with us, we will not give them ought of the and without fail recover all. spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

9 ¶ So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.

23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24 For who will hearken unto you in 11 And they found an Egyptian in the this matter? but as his part is that goeth field, and brought him to David, and gave down to the battle, so shall his part be him bread, and he did eat; and they made that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part him drink water;

alike.

12 And they gave him a piece of a cake 25 And it was so from that day forward, of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and that he made it a statute and an ordinancé when he had eaten, his spirit came again to for Israel unto this day. him for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk 26 ¶ And when David came to Ziklag, any water, three days and three nights. he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you, of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;

13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.

27 To them which were in Beth-el, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,

28 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,

15 And David said to him, Canst thou 29 And to them which were in Rachal, bring me down to this company? And he and to them which were in the cities of the said, Swear unto me by God, that thou Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the the cities of the Kenites,

hands of my master, and I will bring thee 30 And to them which were in Hormah, down to this company. and to them which were in Chor-ashan, and

16 ¶ And when he had brought him to them which were in Athach, down, behold, they were spread abroad up- 31 And to them which were in Hebron, on all the earth, eating and drinking, and and to all the places where David himself dancing, because of all the great spoil that and his men were wont to haunt. they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

CHAP. XXXI.

17 And David smote them from the twi-NOW the Philistines fought against Is

rael and the men of Israel fled from light even unto the evening of the next day: before the Philistines, and fell down slain and there escaped not a man of them, save in mount Gilboa. four hundred young men, which rode upon 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon camels, and fled. Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons.

18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.

3 And the battle went sore against Sal, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing 4 Then said Saul unto his armour-bearthat they had taken to them: David reco-er, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through vered all. therewith; lest these uncircumcised come 20 And David took all the flocks and the and thrust me through, and abuse me. herds, which they drave before those other But his armour-bearer would not for he cattle, and said, This is David's spoil. was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a 21 And David came to the two hundred sword, and fell upon it. men, which were so faint that they could 5 And when his armour-bearer saw that not follow David, whom they had made Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his also to abide at the brook Besor: and they sword, and died with him. went forth to meet David, and to meet the 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and people that were with him: And when his armour-bearer, and all his men, that David came near to the people, he saluted same day together.

them. 7 ¶ And when the men of Israel that 22 ¶ Then answered all the wicked men, were on the other side of the valley, and

Saul and his sons are slain.

CHAP. I.

David laments for Saul. they that were on the other side Jordan saw 10 And they put his armour in the house that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body and his sons were dead, they forsook the to the wall of Beth-shan. cities, and fled; and the Philistines came 11 And when the inhabitants of Jaand dwelt in them. besh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul,

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain,

12 All the valiant men arose, and went that they found Saul and his three sons all night, and took the body of Saul, and the fallen in mount Gilboa. bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth9 And they cut off his head, and stripped shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them off his armour, and sent into the land of there. the Philistines round about, to publish it 13 And they took their bones, and buriin the house of their idols, and among the ed them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted people. seven days.

¶ The Second Book of SAMUEL, otherwise called, The Second Book of the KINGS.

TOW

CHAP. I.

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag ;

fasted until even, for Saul and for Jonathan

his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 ¶ And David said unto the young

2 It came even to pass on the third day, man that told him, Whence art thou? And that behold, a man came out of the camp he answered, I am the son of a stranger, from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth an Amalekite.

upon his head: and so it was, when he 14 And David said unto him, How wast came to David, that he fell to the earth, thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand and did obeisance. to destroy the LORD's anointed?

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.

17 ¶ And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his

son.

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters

7 And when he looked behind him, he of the uncircumcised triumph. saw me, and called unto me. And 1 answered, Here am I.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, 8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? nor fields of offerings: for there the shield And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray of Saul, as though he had not been anointed thee, upon me, and slay me; for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. his

11 Then David took hold on clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12 And they mourned and wept, and

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights; who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

David is made king of Judah.

II. SAMUEL.

Abner slays Asahel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the 15 Then there arose, and went over by midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast number, twelve of Benjamin, which perslain in thine high places. tained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! CHAP. II.

16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side: so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17 And there was a very sore battle that

AND it came to pass after this, that Da-day; and Abner was beaten, and the men vid inquired of the LORD, saying, of Israel, before the servants of David. Shall I go up into any of the cities of Ju- 18 And there were three sons of Zedah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. ruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and AsaAnd David said, Whither shall I go up? hel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a And he said, Unto Hebron. wild roe.

2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

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

19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner;

20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? and he answered, I am.

21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee 4 And the men of Judah came, and there aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and they anointed David king over the house lay thee hold on one of the young men, of Judah. And they told David, saying, and take thee his armour. But Asahel That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they would not turn aside from following of him. that buried Saul. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel,

5 ¶ And David sent messengers unto the Turn thee aside from following me: wheremen of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, fore should I smite thee to the ground? Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have how then should I hold up my face to Joab shewed this kindness unto your lord, even thy brother? unto Saul, and have buried him.

6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.

7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain Abner: and the sun went down when they of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; before Giah, by the way of the wilderness 9 And made him king over Gilead, and of Gibeon.

over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and 25 And the children of Benjamin gaover Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over thered themselves together after Abner, and all Israel. became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

10 Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years: but the

house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, was seven years and six months.

12 ¶ And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

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

26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab returned from following

Abner revolts to David.

CHAP. III.

Joab kills Abner. Abner: and when he had gathered all the wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an people together, there lacked of David's hundred foreskins of the Philistines. servants nineteen men, and Asahel. 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her 31 But the servants of David had smitten from her husband, even from Phaltiel the of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that son of Laish. three hundred and threescore men died.

16 And her husband went with her along

32 And they took up Asahel, and buri- weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then ed him in the sepulchre of his father, which said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men returned. went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

CHAP. III.

NOW there was long war between the

17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath

house of Saul and the house of Da-spoken of David, saying, By the hand of vid: but David waxed stronger and strong- my servant David I will save my people Iser, and the house of Saul waxed weaker rael out of the hand of the Philistines, and and weaker. out of the hand of all their enemies.

2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him: and David made 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Abner, and the men that were with him, Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

a

feast.

21 And Abner said unto David, I will 5 And the sixth Ithream, by Eglah Da- arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto vid's wife. These were born to David in my lord the king, that they may make a Hebron. league with thee, and that thou mayest 6¶ And it came to pass, while there was reign over all that thine heart desireth. And war between the house of Saul and the house David sent Abner away; and he went in of David, that Abner made himself strong peace.

for the house of Saul.

22 ¶ And behold, the servants of David 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and brought in a great spoil with them: but Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast Abner was not with David in Hebron; for thou gone in unto my father's concubine? he had sent him away, and he was gone in 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the peace.

words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a 23 When Joab and all the host that was dog's head, which against Judah do shew with him were come, they told Joab, saying, kindness this day unto the house of Saul Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, he hath sent him away, and he is gone in and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault concerning this woman?

9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.

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

peace.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the 27 And when Abner was returned to land? saying also, Make thy league with Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to me, and behold, my hand shall be with speak with him quietly, and smote him thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. there under the fifth rib that he died, for the 13 And he said, Well; I will make a blood of Asahel his brother.

league with thee; but one thing I require 28 And afterward when David heard of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless except thou first bring Michal Saul's daugh- before the LORD for ever from the blood of ter, when thou comest to see my face. Abner the son of Ner: 14 And David sent messengers to Ish

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my on all his father's house; and let there not

Baanah and Rechab

II. SAMUEL.

slay Ish-bosheth. fail from the house of Joab one that hath fetched wheat; and they smote him under an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or brother escaped.

that lacketh bread. 7 For when they came into the house, 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and Abner, because he had slain their brother they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.

31 ¶ And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

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

33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

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

35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or ought else, till the sun be down.

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

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed.

9 ¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, (thinking to have brought good tidings,) I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:

11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron. CHAP. V.

39 And I am this day weak, though THE HEN came all the tribes of Israel to anointed king; and these men the sons of David unto Hebron, and spake, sayZeruiah be too hard for me. The LORD ing, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. shall reward the doer of evil according to 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king his wickedness. over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel,

CHAP. IV.

AND when Sal's son
ND when Saul's son heard that Abner

feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

to

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the 2 ¶ And Saul's son had two men that were king to Hebron; and king David made a captains of bands: the name of the one league with them in Hebron before the was Baanah, and the name of the other LORD: and they anointed David king over Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, Israel. of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth 4 ¶ David was thirty years old when he also was reckoned to Benjamin: began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet: he was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jo- 6 ¶ And the king and his men went to nathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took Jerusalem unto the Jebusites the inhabithim up, and fled: and it came to pass, as ants of the land: which spake unto David, she made haste to flee, that he fell, and be- saying, Except thou take away the blind came lame. And his name was Mephibo- and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: sheth. thinking, David cannot come in hither.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beeroth- 7 Nevertheless, David took the strong ite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. about the heat of the day to the house of 8 And David said on that day, Whoso Ish-bosheth who lay on a bed at noon. ever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth 6 And they came thither into the midst the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, of the house, as though they would have that are hated of David's soul, he shall be