11 And it was told David, what Respha the daughter of Aia, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 And David went, and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabes Galaad, who had stolen them from the street of Bethsan, where the Philistines had hanged them when they had slain Saul in Gelboe.

13 And he brought from thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered up the bones of them that were crucified.

14 And they buried them with the bones of Saul, and of Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin, in the side, in the sepulchre of Cis his father and they did all that the king had commanded, and God shewed mercy again to the land after these things.

15 And the Philistines made war again against Israel, and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David growing faint,

4 'I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised and I shall be saved from my enemies. 5 For the pangs of death have surrounded me: the floods of Belial have made me afraid. 6 The cords of hell compassed me: the snares of death prevented me.

7 In my distress I will call upon the Lord, and I will cry to my God: and he will hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry shall come to his ears 8 The earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the mountains were moved, and shaken, because he was angry with them.

9 A smoke went up from his nostrils, and a devouring fire out of his mouth: coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens, and came down : and darkness was under his feet. 11 And he rode upon the Cherubims, and flew: and slid upon the wings of the wind. 12 He made darkness a covering round about him: dropping waters out of the clouds of the heavens.

17 And Abisai the son of Sarvia rescued him, and striking the Philistine killed him. Then David's men swore unto him, saying: Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, lest thou put out the lamp of Israel.

18 There was also a second battle in Gob against the Philistines: then Sobochai of Husathi slew Saph of the race of Arapha of the family of the giants.

19 And there was a third battle in Gob against the Philistines, in which Adeodatus the son of the Forrest an embroiderer of Bethlehem slew Goliath the Gethite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

20 A fourth battle was in Geth: where there was a man of great stature, that had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, four and twenty in all, and he was of the race of Arapha.

21 And he reproached Israel: and Jonathan the son of Samaa the brother of David slew him. 22 These four were born of Arapha in Geth, and they fell by the hand of David, and of his

servants.

CHAP. XXII.

14 The Lord shall thunder from heaven: and the most high shall give forth his voice. 15 He shot arrows and scattered them: lightning, and consumed them.

16 And the overflowings of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid open at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the spirit of his wrath.

17 He sent from on high, and took me, and drew me out of many waters.

18 He delivered me from my most mighty enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 He prevented me in the day of my affliction, and the Lord became my stay. 20 And he brought me forth into a large place, he delivered me, because I pleased him. 21 The Lord will reward me according to my justice and according to the cleanness of my hands he will render to me.

22 Because I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments are in my sight: and his precepts I have not removed from me. 24 And I shall be perfect with him: and shall keep myself from my iniquity.

ance from all his enemies.

27 With the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse thou wilt be perverted.

28 And the poor people thou wilt save: and with thy eyes thou wilt humble the haughty. 29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and thou, O Lord, wilt enlighten my darkness.

the son of Isai said: The man to whom it

32 Who is God but the Lord: and who is strong but our God?

33 God who hath girded me with strength and made my way perfect.

34 Making my feet like the feet of harts, and setting me upon my high places.

35 He teacheth my hands to war: and maketh my arms like a bow of brass.

36 Thou hast given me the shield of my salvation and thy mildness hath multiplied me. 37 Thou shalt enlarge my steps under me: and my ancles shall not fail.

38 I will pursue after my enemies, and crush them and will not return again till I consume them.

39 I will consume them and break them in pieces, so that they shall not rise: they shall fall under my feet.

40 Thou hast girded me with strength to battle: thou hast made them that resisted me to bow under me.

41 My enemies thou hast made to turn their back to me: them that hated me, and I shall destroy them.

42 They shall cry, and there shall be none to save: to the Lord, and he shall not hear them. 43 I shall beat them as small as the dust of the earth: I shall crush them and spread them abroad like the mire of the streets.

44 Thou wilt save me from the contradictions of my people: thou wilt keep me to be the head of the Gentiles: the people which I know not, shall serve me.

45 The sons of the stranger will resist me, at the hearing of the ear they will obey me. 46 The strangers are melted away, and shall be straitened in their distresses.

47 The Lord liveth, and my God is blessed: and the strong God of my salvation shall be exalted.

48 God who giveth me revenge, and bringest down people under me.

49 Who bringest me forth from my enemies, and liftest me up from them that resist me: from the wicked man thou shalt deliver me. 50 Therefore will I give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy

Ps. 143. 1.-b Ps. 17. 49. Rom. 15. 9.-d Acts, 2. 30.- 1 Par. 11. 201 Par. 11. 15.

Ch. 23. v. 4. As the light, &c. So shall be the kingdom of Christ.

Ver. 5. Neither is my house, &c. As if he should say: This everlasting covenant was not due to my house: but purely owing to his bounty; who is all my salvation, and my will: that is, who hath always saved me, and granted me what I beseeched of him; so that I and my house, through his blessing, have sprung up, and succeeded in all things.

3 The God of Israel said to me, the strong one of Israel spoke, the ruler of men, the just ruler in the fear of God.

4 As the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, shineth in the morning without clouds, and as the grass springeth out of the earth by rain. 5 Neither is my house so great with God, that he should make with me an eternal covenant, firm in all things and assured. For he is all my salvation, and all my will: neither is there ought thereof that springeth not up.

6 But transgressors shall all of them be plucked up as thorns: which are not taken away with hands.

7 And if a man will touch them, he must be armed with iron, and with the staff of a lance: but they shall be set on fire and burnt to nothing. 8 These are the names of the valiant men of David. Jesbaham sitting in the chair was the wisest chief among the three, he was like the most tender little worm of the wood, who killed eight hundred men at one onset. 9 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three valiant men that were with David when they defied the Philistines, and they were there gathered together to battle. 10 And when the men of Israel were gone away, he stood and mote the Philistines till his hand was weary, and grew stiff with the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day: and the people that were the fled away, returned to take spoils of them that were slain. 11 And after him was Semma the son of Age of Arari. And the Philistines were gathered together in a troop: for there was a field full of lentils. And when the people were fled from the face of the Philistines,

12 He stood in the midst of the field, and de fended it, and defeated the Philistines: and the Lord gave a great victory.

13 Moreover also before this the three who were princes famong the thirty, went down and came to David in the harvest time into the cave of Odollam: and the camp of the Philistines was in the valley of the giants.

14 And David was then in a hold: and there was a garrison of the Philistines then in Beth lehem.

15 And David longed, and said: O that some man would get me a drink of the water out of the cistern, that is in Bethlehem, by the gate.

16 And the three valiant men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out

Ver. 8. Jesbaham, the son of Hachamoni. For this was the name of this hero, as appears from 1 Par. 11. -Ibid. Most tender, &c. He appeared like one tender and weak, but was indeed most valiant and strong. It seems the Latin has here given the interpretation of the Hebrew name of the hero, to whom Jesbaham was like. instead of the name itself, which was Adino the Eznite, one much renowned of old for his valour.

Ver. 9. Dodo. In Latin, Patrui ejus, which is the interpretation of the Hebrew name Dodo. The same

occurs in ver. 24.

of the cistern of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and brought it to David: but he would not drink, but offered it to the Lord,

17 Saying: The Lord be merciful to me, that I may not do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that went, and the peril of their lives? therefore he would not drink. These things did these three mighty men.

18 Abisai also the brother of Joab the son of Sarvia, was chief among three: and he lifted up his spear against three hundred, whom he slew, and he was renowned among the three, 19 And the noblest of three, and was their chief, but to the three first he attained not.

20 And Banaias the son of Joiada a most valiant man, of great deeds, of Cabseel: he slew the two lions of Moab, and he went down, and slew a lion in the midst of a pit, in the time of snow. 21 He also slew an Egyptian, a man worthy to be a sight, having a spear in his hand: but he went down to him with a rod, and forced the spear, out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his own spear.

22 These things did Banaias the son of Joiada. 23 And he was renowned among the three valiant men, who were the most honourable among the thirty but he attained not to the first three: and David made him of his privy counsel. 24 Asael the brother of Joab was one of the thirty, Elehanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem. 25 Semma of Harodi, Elica of Harodi, 26 Heles of Phalti, Hira the son of Acces of Thecua,

2 And the king said to Joab the general of his army: Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, and number ye the people that I may know the number of them. 3 And Joab said to the king: The Lord thy God increase thy people, and make them as many more as they are now, and again multiply them a hundred fold in the sight of my lord the king: but what meaneth my lord the king by this kind of thing?

4 But the king's words prevailed over the words of Joab, and of the captains of the army and Joah, and the captains of the soldiers went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

5 And when they had passed the Jordan, they came to Aroer to the right side of the city, which is in the vale of Gad.

6 And by Jazer they passed into Galaad, and to the lower land of Hodsi, and they came into the woodlands of Dan. And going about by Sidon, 7 They passed near the walls of Tyre, and all the land of the Hevite, and the Chanaanite, and they came to the south of Juda into Bersabee: 8 And having gone through the whole land, after nine months and twenty days, they came to Jerusalem.

9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people to the king, and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword: and of Juda five hundred thousand fighting men.

29 Heled the son of Baana, also a Netophathite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gabaath of the children of Benjamin.

30 Banaia the Pharathonite, Heddai of the torrent Gaas,

31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Beromi 32 Eliaba of Salaboni. The sons of Jassen, Jonathan,

33 Semma of Orori, Aliam the son of Sarar the Arorite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Aasbai the son of Machati, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite. 35 Hesrai of Carmel, Pharai of Arbi, 36 Igaal the son of Nathan of Soba, Bonni of Gadi.

37 Selec of Ammoni, Naharai the Berothite, armour-bearer of Joab the son of Sarvia, 38 Ira the Jethrite, Gareb also a Jethrite. 39 Urias the Hethite, thirty and seven in all. CHAP. XXIV.

David numbereth the people: God sendeth a pestilence, which is stopped by David's prayer and sacrifice.

AND the anger of the Lord was again kindled against Israel, and stirred up David among them, saying: Go,number Israel and Juda.

A. M. 2987. A. C. 1017.- 1 Par. 21. 13.- 1 Kin. 24. 6.

Dan. 13. 23.

Ch. 24. v. 1. Stirred up, &c. This stirring up was not the doing of God, but of satan; as it is expressly declared, 1 Par. 21. 1.

Ver. 10. David's heart struck him, after the people were numbered. That is, he was touched with a great remorse for the vanity and pride which had put him upon numbering the people.

11 And David arose in the morning, and the word of the Lord came to Gad the prophet and the seer of David, saying:

12 Go, and say to David: Thus saith the Lord: I give thee thy choice of three things, choose one of them which thou wilt, that I may do it to thee. 13 And when Gad was come to David, he told him, saying: Either seven years of famine shall come to thee in thy land: or thou shalt flee three months before thyadversaries, and they shall pursue thee: or for three days there shall be a pestilence inthyland. Now therefore deliberate and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14 And David said to Gad: I am in a great strait: but it is better that I should fall into the hands of the Lord (for his mercies are many) than into the hands of men.

15 And the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, from the morning unto the time appointed, and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seventy thousand men.

16 And when the angel of the Lord had stretched out his hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord had pity on the affliction, and said to the angel that slew the people: It is enough: now hold thy hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the thrashing floor of Areuna the Jebusite.

17 And David said to the Lord, when he saw

the angel striking the people: It is I, I am he that have sinned, I have done wickedly: these that are the sheep, what have they done? let

killed oxen, and fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king's sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias:

26 But me thy servant, and Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and Solomon thy servant, he hath not invited.

27 Is this word come out from my lord the king, and hast thou not told me thy servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

28 And king David answered and said: Call to me Bethsabee. And when she was come in to the king, and stood before him,

29 The king swore and said: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress, 30 Even as I swore to thee by the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.

31 And Bethsabee bowing with her face to the earth worshipped the king, saying: May my lord David live for ever.

32 King David also said: Call me Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada. And when they were come in before the king,

33 He said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord, and set my son Solomon upon my mule: and bring him to Gihon.

34 And let Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: God save king Solomon.

35 And you shall come up after him, and he shall come, and shall sit upon my throne, and he shall reign in my stead: and I will appoint him to be ruler over Israel and over Juda.

36 And Banaias the son of Joiada answered the king, saying: Amen: so say the Lord the God of my lord the king.

37 As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and make his throne higher than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet went down, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi: and they set Solomon upon the mule of king David, and brought him to Gihon.

39 And Sadoc the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Somon: and they sounded the trumpet, and all the people said: God save king Solomon.

40 And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the noise of their cry.

41 And Adonias, and all that were invited by him, heard it, and now the feast was at an end: Joab also hearing the sound of the trumpet, said: What meaneth this noise of the city in an uproar ?

A. M. 2990. A. C. 1014.-b Deut. 17. 19.-2 Kin. 3. 27. 42 Kin. 20. 10.

Ch. 2. v. 5. Joab. These instructions given by David to his son, with relation to Joab and Semei, proceeded not from any rancour of heart, or private pique; but from a zeal for justice, that crimes so public and heinous might not pass unpunished.

42 While he yet spoke, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came and Adonias said to him: Come in, because thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.

43 And Jonathan answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord king David hath appointed Solomon king.

44 And hath sent with him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi, and they have set him upon the king's mule. 45 And Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again: this is the noise that you have heard. 46 Moreover Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom.

47 And the king's servants going in, nave blessed our lord king David, saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king adored in his bed:

48 And he said: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it. 49 Then all the guests of Adonias were afraid, and they all arose and every man went his way. 50 And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold on the horn of the altar. 51 And they told Solomon, saying: Behold Adonias, fearing king Solomon, hath taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the sword.

52 And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as one hair of his head fall to the ground: but if evil be found in him, he shall die.

53 Then king Solomon sent, and brought him out from the altar: and going in he worshipped king Solomon: and Solomon said to him: Go to thy house.

CHAP. II.

Darid, after giving his last charge to Solomon, ureth. Adonias is put to death, Abiathar is banished: Joab and Semei are slain.

AND the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged his son Solomon, saying:

2 I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and shew thyself a man.

3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayest understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself: 4 That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.

5 Thou knowest also what Joab the son of Sarvia hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether: whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle