23 Saul and Jonathan Were lovely and pleasant in their lives, They were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen, 2 And the weapons of war perished! AND 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, 3 and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities 4 of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that 5 buried SauÏ. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness 6 unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because 7 ye have done this thing. 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 3 Saul's host, took 4 Ish-bosheth the 9 son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over 10 Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of 11 Judah followed David. 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, 13 went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 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 14 side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and 15 play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of 16 Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 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 7 Helkath-hazzurim, which is in 17 Gibeon. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.'" 18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: 19 and Asahel was as light of foot 9 as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left 10 from 20 following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? 21 And he answered, I am.. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee 22 his 11 armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 1 Or, sweet. 2 Heb. be ye the sons of valour. 3 Heb. the host which was Saul's. 4 Or, Esh-baal, 1 Chron. viii. 33, &c. 5 Heb. number of days. 7 That is, The field of strong men. 8 Heb. of his fect. And 9 Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field. 10 Heb. from after Abner. 11 Or, spoil. Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab 23 thy brother? 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 24 stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, 26 and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. 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 27 people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up 28 every one from following his brother. 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 30 over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people 31 together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three 32 hundred and threescore men died. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. 3 NOW there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed 2 weaker and weaker. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his 3 first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; and his second, 3 Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of 4 Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; and the fourth, Adonijah 5 the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. 6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the 7 house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's con8 cubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to-day with a fault concern9 ing this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath 10 sworn to David, even so I do to him; to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from 11 Dan even to Beer-sheba. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be 18 with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. 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 face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to 14 see my face. And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins 15 of the Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even 16 from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her 6 along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought 1 Heb. from the morning. 2 Or, gone away. 3 Or, Daniel, 1 Chron. iii. 1. 51 Sam. xxv. 44, Phalti. 18 for David in times past to be king over you now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their 19 enemies. 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, 20 and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the 21 men that were with him a feast. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 22 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 23 Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone 24 in peace. 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 25 quite gone? 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. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless 29 before the LORD for ever from the 3 blood of Abner the son of Ner: let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a 30 staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 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 32 David himself followed the 5 bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people 33 wept. 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 6 wicked men, so fellest thou. 35 And all the people wept again over him. 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 aught else, till the sun be down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it 7 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 38 king to slay Abner the son of Ner. And the king said unto his servants, Know 39 ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. 4 AND when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul's son had two men that 2 were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the 9 other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: 5 9 4 B.C. 1048. 2 SAMUEL V. 3 (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: and the Beerothites fled to And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon THEN came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: 4thinking, David cannot 7 come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is 8 the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. 5 Wherefore they said, The blind and 9 the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 10 And David 6 went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and 12 carpenters, and 7 masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 11 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; 15 8 Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and 9 Elishua, 16 and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and 10 Eliada, and Eliphalet. 1 Or, Merib-baal, 1 Chron. 2 Heb. he was in his own not, &c. 5 Or, Because they had said, 6 Heh. went going and growing. 7 Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall. 8 Or, Shimea, I Chron. iii. 5. 10 Or, Beeliada, 1 Chron. xiv.7. 9 Or, Elishama, 1 Chron. iii. 6. 1 17 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 18 went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in 19 the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine 20 hand. 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 21 of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. And 22 there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before 25 thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from 9 Geba until thou come to Gazer. 6 3 AGAIN, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him 2 from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, 5 whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubim. And they 6 set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in 7 Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of 4 Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, 8 accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio_went 5 before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, 6 and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and 7 took hold of it; for the oxen 10 shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his 11 error; and there he 8 died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had 12 made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place 13 Perez-uzzah 9 to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall 10 the ark of the LORD come to me? 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 11 of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household. 12 So And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into 13 the city of David with gladness. And it was so, that when they that bare the 14 ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with 15 a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 17 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had 14 pitched for it and David offered burnt 18 offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the 19 people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to 1 That is, The plain of 2 Or, took them away. 5 Or, at which the name, even 8 Heb. with. 91 Chron. xiii. 9, Chidon. 10 Or, stumbled. 11 Or, rashness. 1 12 Heb. broken. 13 That is, The breach of Uzzah. 14 Heb. stretched. |