David laments for Saul.

II. SAMUEL. crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

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

12 And they mourned and wept, and 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.

He is made king of Judah.

CHAP. II.

ND it came to pass after this, that

David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

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 13 ¶ And David said unto the young David bring up, every man with his houseman that told him, Whence art thou? And hold: and they dwelt in the cities of Hehe answered, I am the son of a stranger, bron. an Amalekite.

4 And the men of Judah came, and 14 And David said unto him, How wast there they anointed David king over the thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand house of Judah. And they told David, to destroy the LORD's anointed? saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead

15 And David called one of the young were they that buried Saul. 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 of the uncircumcised triumph.

5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even 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.

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.

8 ¶ But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son was forty of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield years old when he began to reign over of Saul, as though he had not beer anoint- Israel, and reigned two years: but. the ed with oil. house of Judah followed David.

returned not empty.

22 From the blood of the slain, from 11 And the time that David was king the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan in Hebron, over the house of Judah, was turned not back, and the sword of Saul seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, pleasant in their lives, and in their death went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. they were not divided: they were swifter 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and than eagles, they were stronger than the servants of David went out, and met lions. together by the pool of Gibeon and they 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over sat down, the one on the one side of the Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with pool, and the other on the other side of other delights; who put on ornaments of the pool. gold upon your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thy high places.

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.

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

15 Then there arose, and went over by number, twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 And they caught every one his fel27 How are the mighty fallen, and the low by the head, and thrust his sword in weapons of war perished! This fellow's side: so they fell down to

Abner slays Asahel.

CHAP. III.

Abner revolts to Davril,

gether: wherefore that place was called that three hundred and threescore men Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

died.

17 And there was a very sore battle that 32 T And they took up Asahel, and day; and Abner was beaten, and the men buried him in the sepulchre of his father, of Israel, before the servants of David. which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and 18 And there were three sons of Ze- his men went all night, and they came to ruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asa- Hebron at break of day. hel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a

wild roe.

OW

CHAP. III.

ild rotid Asahel pursued after Abner; Now there was long war between the

and in going he turned not to the right vid: but David waxed stronger and hand nor to the left from following Abner. stronger, and the house of Saul waxed 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and weaker and weaker. said, Art thou Asahel? And be answered, 1 am.

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

21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and 3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail lay thee hold on one of the young men, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the and take thee his armour. But Asahel third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the would not turn aside from following him. daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

22 And Abner said again to Asahel, 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Turn thee aside from following me: where- Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son fore should I smite thee to the ground? of Abital;

how then should I hold up my face to Joab 5 And the sixth Ithream, by Eglah, Dathy brother? vid's wife. These were born to David in 23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: Hebron. wherefore Abner with the hinder end of 6 And it came to pass, while there the spear smote him under the fifth rib, was war between the house of Saul and that the spear came out behind him; and the house of David, that Abner made he fell down there, and died in the same himself strong for the house of Saul. place and it came to pass, that as many 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose as came to the place where Asahel fell name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and down and died, stood still. | Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast

24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after thou gone in unto my father's concubine? Abner and the sun went down when 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the they were come to the hill of Ammah, words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a that lieth before Giah, by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon."

25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.

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?

dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his triends, 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 27 And Joab said, As God liveth, un-Dan even to Beer-sheba. less thou hadst spoken, surely then in the 11 And he could not answer Abner à morning the people had gone up every one word again, because he feared him. from following his brother.

12 And Abner sent messengers to Da28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the vid on his behalf, saying, Whose is the people stood still, and pursued after Israel land? saying also, Make thy league with no more, neither fought they any more. me, and behold, my hand shall be with 29 And Abner and his men walked all thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. that night through the plain, and passed. over Jordan, and went through all Bith-ron, and they came to Mahanaim.

13 T And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my 30 And Joab returned from following face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's Abner and when he had gathered all the daughter, when thou comest to see iny face. people together, there lacked of David's 14 And David sent messengers to Ishservants nineteen men, and Asahel. bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my 31 But the servants of David had smit- wife Michal, which I espoused to me for ten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

Joab kills Abner.

II. SAMUEL. The Israelites mourn for him.

15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her fail from the house of Joab one that hath from her husband, even from Phaltiel the an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth son of Laish. on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or

16 And her husband went with her that lacketh bread. along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

17 And Abner had communication 31 And David said to Joab, and to with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought all the people that were with him, Rend for David in times past to be king over you: your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, 18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath and mourn before Abner. And king Daspoken of David, saying, By the hand of vid himself followed the bier. my servant David I will save my people 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at and out of the hand of all their enemies. the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 19 And Abner also spake in the ears of 33 And the king lamented over Abner, Benjamin and Abner went also to speak and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? in the ears of David in Hebron all that 34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy seemed good to israel, and that seemed feet put into fetters: as a man falleth begood to the whole house of Benjamin. fore wicked men, so fellest thou. And all 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, the people wept again over him. and twenty men with him and David 35 And when all the people came to made Abner, and the men that were with cause David to eat meat while it was yet him, a feast. day, David sware, saying, So do God to

:

21 And Abner said unto David, I will me, and more also, ifI taste bread or aught arise and go, and will gather all Israel else, till the sun be down.

unto my lord the king, that they may make 36 And all the people took notice of it, a league with thee, and that thou mayest and it pleased them: as whatsoever the reign over all that thy heart desireth. king did pleased all the people. And David sent Abner away; and he 37 For all the people and all Israel unwent in peace.

derstood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

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

22 T And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in 39 And I am this day weak, though peace. anointed king; and these men the sons of 23 When Joab and all the host that was Zeruiah be too hard for me. The LORD with him were come, they told Joab, say-shall reward the doer of evil according to ing, Abner the son of Ner came to the his wickedness. king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

CHAP. IV.

24 Then Joab came to the king, and AND when Saul's son heard that Abner

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

was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, that he came to deceive thee, and to know the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the thy going out and thy coming in, and to children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also know all that thou doest. was reckoned to Benjamin:

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.

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 27 And when Abner was returned to old when the tidings came of Saul and Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate. Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took to speak with him quietly, and smote him him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as there under the fifth rib that he died, for she made haste to flee, that he fell, and the blood of Asahel his brother. became lame. And his name was Mephi

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beeroth

28 T And afterward when David heard bosheth. it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of ite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came Abner the son of Ner: about the heat of the day to the house of 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. on all his father's house; and let there not, 6 And they came thither into the midst

The tribes choose David king.

CHAP. V.

He takes Zian of the house, as though they would have hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. fetched wheat; and they smote him under 8 And David said on that day, Whosothe fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his ever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth brother escaped. the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, 7 For when they came into the house, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and chief and captain. Wherefore they said, they smote him, and slew him, and be- The blind and the lame shall not come headed him, and took his head, and gat, into the house. them away through the plain all night.

9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called 8 And they brought the head of Ish- it, The city of David. And David built bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to round about from Millo and inward. the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth 10 And David went on, and grew great,

the son of Saul thy enemy, which sought and the LORD God of hosts was with him. thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my 11 ¶ And Hiram king of Tyre sent meslord the king this day of Saul and of his seed. sengers to David, and cedar-trees, and 9 And David answered Rechab and carpenters, and masons: and they built Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon David a house.

the Beerothite, and said unto them, As 12 And David perceived that the LORD the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my had established him king over Israel, and soul out of all adversity, that he had exalted his kingdom for his

10 When one told me, saying, Behold, people Israel's sake. Saul is dead, (thinking to have brought 13 And David took him more concugood tidings,) I took hold of him, and slew bines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he him in Ziklag, who thought that I would was come from Hebron: and there were have given him a reward for his tidings: yet sons and daughters born to David.

11 How much more, when wicked men 14 And these be the names of those that have slain a righteous person in his own were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shamhouse upon his bed? shall I not therefore muah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solenow require his blood of your hand, and mon, take you away from the earth?

15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg,

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

12 And David commanded his young and Japhia. 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.

17 T But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went

HEN came all the tribes of Israel to down to the hold.

David unto Hebron, and spake, say- 18 The Philistines also came and spread ing, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king 19 And David inquired of the LORD, over us, thou wast he that leddest out and saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said wilt thou deliver them into my hand? to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, And the LORD said unto David, Go up: and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the into thy hand. king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 ¶ David was thirty years old when be 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.

20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.

21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

22 T And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

6 And the king and his men went to 23 And when David inquired of the Jerusalem unto the Jebusites the inhabit- LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up: but ants of the land: which spake unto Da- fetch a compass behind them, and come vid, saying, Except thou take away the upon them over against the mulberry-trees. blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the hither: thinking, David cannot come in sound of a going in the tops of the mulberhither. ry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thy7 Nevertheless, David took the strong self: for then shall the LORD go out he

David brings the ark

From Kirjath-jearm.

II. SAMUEL. fore thee, to smite the host of the Philis- 15 So David and all the house of Israel tines. brought up the ark of the LORD with shout25 And David did so as the LORD had ing, and with the sound of the trumpet. commanded him; and smote the Philis- 16 And as the ark of the LORD came tines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. into the city of David, Michal. Saul's CHAP. VI. daughter, looked through a window, and GAIN, David gathered together all saw king David leaping and dancing bethe chosen men of Israel, thirty thou-fore the LORD; and she despised him in

A

sand.

her heart.

2 And David arose, and went with all 17 And they brought in the ark of the the people that were with him from Baale LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark the tabernacle that David had pitched for of God, whose name is called by the name it: and David offered burnt-offerings and of The LORD of hosts that dwelleth between peace-offerings before the LORD.

the cherubims.

18 And as soon as David had made an

3 And they set the ark of God upon a end of offering burnt-offerings and peacenew cart, and brought it out of the house offerings, he blessed the people in the of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uz-name of the LORD of hosts. zah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drave 19 And he dealt among all the people, the new cart. even among the whole multitude of Israel, 4 And they brought it out of the house as well to the women as men, to every of Abinadab, which was at Gibeah, accom- a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, panying the ark of God: and Ahio went and a flagon of wine. So all the people before the ark. departed every one to his house.

one

5 And David and all the house of Israel 20 T Then David returned to bless big played before the LORD on all manner of household. And Michal the daughter of instruments made of fir-wood, even on Saul came out to meet David, and said, karps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, and on cornets, and on cymbals. who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes 6 And when they came to Nachon's of the handmaids of his servants, as one of threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth to the ark of God, and took hold of it: for himself!

the oxen shook it.

21 And David said unto Michal, It was 7 And the anger of the LORD was kin- before the LORD, which chose me before dled against Uzzah, and God smote him thy father, and before all his house, to apthere for his error; and there he died by point me ruler over the people of the LORD, the ark of God. over Israel: therefore will I play before 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD. the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and he called the name of the place Perez-and will be base in mine own sight: and uzzah to this day. of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken 9 And David was afraid of the LORD of, of them shall I be had in honour. that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death. CHAP. VII.

ND it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his

11 And the ark of the LORD continued enemies, in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite 2 That the king said unto Nathan the three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within

edom and all his household.

12 And it was told king David, say- curtains. ing, The LORD hath blessed the house of 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, de Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto all that is in thy heart: for the LORD is him, because of the ark of God. So Da- with thee.

vid went and brought up the ark of God 4 And it came to pass that night, that from the house of Obed-edom into the city the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, of David with gladness.

saying,

13 And it was so, that when they that 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus bare the ark of the LORD had gone six saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me a paces, be sacrificed oxen and fatlings. house for me to dwell in?

14 And David danced before the LORD 6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house with all his might; and Daviu was girded since the time that I brought up the chilwith a linen ephod. dren of Israel out of Egypt, even to this