The Second Book of Shemu'el
1:1It happened after the death of Sha'ul, when David was returned
from the slaughter of the `Amaleki, and David had abode two days in
Tziklag; 1:2it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the
camp from Sha'ul, with his clothes torn, and dirt on his head: and so it
was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
1:3David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of
the camp of Yisra'el am I escaped. 1:4David said to him,
How went the matter? Please tell me. He answered, The people are fled from
the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Sha'ul
and Yonatan his son are dead also. 1:5David said to the
young man who told him, How know you that Sha'ul and Yonatan his son are
dead? 1:6The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on Mount
Gilboa, behold, Sha'ul was leaning on his spear; and, behold, the chariots
and the horsemen followed hard after him.
1:7When
he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I.
1:8He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an `Amaleki.
1:9He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for
anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.
1:10So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he
could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on
his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here
to my lord.
1:11Then David took hold on his clothes,
and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him:
1:12and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Sha'ul,
and for Yonatan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house
of Yisra'el; because they were fallen by the sword.
1:13David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you? He
answered, I am the son of a foreigner, an `Amaleki.
1:14David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand
to destroy the LORD's anointed? 1:15David called one
of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so
that he died.
1:16David said to him, Your blood be on
your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain
the LORD's anointed.
1:17David lamented with this lamentation over Sha'ul and over Yonatan
his son 1:18(and he bade them teach the children of Yehudah the song of
the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Yashar):
1:19Your glory, Yisra'el, is slain on your high places!
How are the mighty fallen!
1:20Don't tell it in Gat,
Don't publish it in the streets of Ashkelon;
Lest the daughters of the Pelishtim rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
1:21You mountains of Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings:
For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,
The shield of Sha'ul, not anointed with oil.
1:22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Yonatan didn't turn back,
The sword of Sha'ul didn't return empty.
1:23Sha'ul and Yonatan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,
In their death they were not divided:
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
1:24You daughters of Yisra'el, weep over Sha'ul,
Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,
Who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
1:25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
Yonatan is slain on your high places.
1:26I am distressed for you, my brother Yonatan:
Very pleasant have you been to me:
Your love to me was wonderful,
Passing the love of women.
1:27How are the mighty fallen,
The weapons of war perished!
2:1It happened after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying,
Shall I go up into any of the cities of Yehudah? the LORD said to him, Go
up. David said, Where shall I go up? He said, To Chevron.
2:2So David went up there, and his two wives also, Achino'am the
Yizre`elite, and Avigayil the wife of Naval the Karmelite.
2:3His men who were with him did David bring up, every man with his
household: and they lived in the cities of Chevron.
2:4The
men of Yehudah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of
Yehudah. They told David, saying, The men of Yavesh-Gil`ad were those who
buried Sha'ul.
2:5David sent messengers to the men of
Yavesh-Gil`ad, and said to them, Blessed be you of the LORD, that you have
shown this kindness to your lord, even to Sha'ul, and have buried him.
2:6Now the LORD show loving kindness and truth to you: and I also
will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
2:7Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for
Sha'ul your lord is dead, and also the house of Yehudah have anointed me
king over them.
2:8Now Aviner the son of Ner, captain
of Sha'ul's host, had taken Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, and brought him
over to Machanayim;
2:9and he made him king over Gil`ad,
and over the Ashuri, and over Yizre`el, and over Efrayim, and over
Binyamin, and over all Yisra'el. 2:10Ish-Boshet,
Sha'ul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Yisra'el,
and he reigned two years. But the house of Yehudah followed David.
2:11The time that David was king in Chevron over the house of Yehudah
was seven years and six months. 2:12Aviner the son of
Ner, and the servants of Ish-Boshet the son of Sha'ul, went out from
Machanayim to Giv`on. 2:13Yo'av the son of
Tzeru'yah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool
of Giv`on; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the
other on the other side of the pool.
2:14Aviner
said to Yo'av, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Yo'av
said, Let them arise. 2:15Then they arose
and went over by number: twelve for Binyamin, and for Ish-Boshet the son
of Sha'ul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2:16They
caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his
fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called
Chelkat-Hatztzurim, which is in Giv`on.
2:17The
battle was very severe that day: and Aviner was beaten, and the men of
Yisra'el, before the servants of David.
2:18The
three sons of Tzeru'yah were there, Yo'av, and Avishai, and `Asa'el: and `Asa'el
was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
2:19`Asa'el
pursued after Aviner; and in going he didn't turn to the right hand nor to
the left from following Aviner. 2:20Then Aviner
looked behind him, and said, Is it you, `Asa'el? He answered, It is I.
2:21Aviner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your
left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor.
But `Asa'el would not turn aside from following him.
2:22Aviner said again to `Asa'el, Turn you aside from following me:
why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face
to Yo'av your brother? 2:23However he
refused to turn aside: therefore Aviner with the hinder end of the spear
struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell
down there, and died in the same place: and it happened, that as many as
came to the place where `Asa'el fell down and died stood still.
2:24But Yo'av and Avishai pursued after Aviner: and the sun went down
when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giach by the
way of the wilderness of Giv`on. 2:25The children of
Binyamin gathered themselves together after Aviner, and became one band,
and stood on the top of a hill. 2:26Then Aviner
called to Yo'av, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know
that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then,
before you bid the people return from following their brothers?"
2:27Yo'av said, As G-d lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in
the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother.
2:28So Yo'av blew the shofar; and all the people
stood still, and pursued after Yisra'el no more, neither fought they any
more. 2:29Aviner and his men went all that night through the `Aravah; and
they passed over the Yarden, and went through all Bitron, and came to
Machanayim.
2:30Yo'av returned from following Aviner:
and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's
servants nineteen men and `Asa'el. 2:31But the servants
of David had struck of Binyamin, and of Aviner's men, so that three
hundred sixty men died. 2:32They took up `Asa'el,
and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Beit-Lechem. Yo'av
and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Chevron.
3:1Now there was long war between the house of Sha'ul and the house
of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Sha'ul
grew weaker and weaker. 3:2To David were sons
born in Chevron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Achino'am the Yizre`elite;
3:3and his second, Chileab, of Avigayil the wife of Naval the
Karmelite; and the third, Avshalom the son of Ma`akhah the daughter of
Talmai king of Geshur; 3:4and the fourth,
Adoniyahu the son of Chaggit; and the fifth, Shefatyah the son of Avital;
3:5and the sixth, Yitre`am, of `Eglah, David's wife. These were born
to David in Chevron. 3:6It happened, while
there was war between the house of Sha'ul and the house of David, that
Aviner made himself strong in the house of Sha'ul.
3:7Now
Sha'ul had a concubine, whose name was Ritzpah, the daughter of Ayah: and
Ish-Boshet said to Aviner, Why have you gone in to my father's
concubine? 3:8Then was Aviner very angry for the words of Ish-Boshet, and said,
Am I a dog's head that belongs to Yehudah? This day do I show kindness to
the house of Sha'ul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and
have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this
day with a fault concerning this woman.
3:9God
do so to Aviner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I
don't do even so to him; 3:10to transfer the
kingdom from the house of Sha'ul, and to set up the throne of David over
Yisra'el and over Yehudah, from Dan even to Be'er-Sheva.
3:11He could not answer Aviner another word, because he feared him.
3:12Aviner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is
the land? saying also, Make your league with me, and, behold, my
hand shall be with you, to bring about all Yisra'el to you.
3:13He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I
require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring
Mikhal, Sha'ul's daughter, when you come to see my face.
3:14David sent messengers to Ish-Boshet, Sha'ul's son, saying,
Deliver me my wife Mikhal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one
hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim.
3:15Ish-Boshet
sent, and took her from her husband, even from Palti'el the son of Layish.
3:16Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her
to Bachurim. Then said Aviner to him, Go, return: and he returned.
3:17Aviner had communication with the elders of Yisra'el, saying, In
times past you sought for David to be king over you:
3:18now then do it; for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the
hand of my servant David I will save my people Yisra'el out of the hand of
the Pelishtim, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
3:19Aviner also spoke in the ears of Binyamin: and Aviner went also
to speak in the ears of David in Chevron all that seemed good to Yisra'el,
and to the whole house of Binyamin.
3:20So
Aviner came to David to Chevron, and twenty men with him. David made
Aviner and the men who were with him a feast.
3:21Aviner
said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Yisra'el to my
lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may
reign over all that your soul desires. David sent Aviner away; and he went
in shalom.
3:22Behold, the servants of David and
Yo'av came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but
Aviner was not with David in Chevron; for he had sent him away, and he was
gone in shalom.
3:23When Yo'av and all the host who
was with him had come, they told Yo'av, saying, Aviner the son of Ner came
to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in shalom.
3:24Then Yo'av came to the king, and said, What have you done?
behold, Aviner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he
is quite gone?
3:25You know Aviner the son of Ner,
that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming
in, and to know all that you do. 3:26When Yo'av was
come out from David, he sent messengers after Aviner, and they brought him
back from the well of Sirah: but David didn't know it.
3:27When Aviner was returned to Chevron, Yo'av took him aside into
the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in
the body, so that he died, for the blood of `Asa'el his brother.
3:28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are
guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Aviner the son of Ner:
3:29let it fall on the head of Yo'av, and on all his father's house;
and let there not fail from the house of Yo'av one who has an issue, or
who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who
lacks bread.
3:30So Yo'av and Avishai his brother
killed Aviner, because he had killed their brother `Asa'el at Giv`on in
the battle.
3:31David said to Yo'av, and to all the
people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth,
and mourn before Aviner. King David followed the bier.
3:32They buried Aviner in Chevron: and the king lifted up his voice,
and wept at the grave of Aviner; and all the people wept.
3:33The king lamented for Aviner, and said,
Should Aviner die as a fool dies?
3:34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters:
As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall.
All the people wept again over him.
3:35All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet
day; but David swore, saying, G-d do so to me, and more also, if I taste
bread, or anything else, until the sun be down.
3:36All
the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king
did pleased all the people. 3:37So all the people
and all Yisra'el understood that day that it was not of the king to kill
Aviner the son of Ner. 3:38The king said to
his servants, "Don't you know that there a prince and a great man has
fallen this day in Yisra'el? 3:39I am this day
weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Tzeru'yah are too
hard for me. May the LORD reward the evil-doer according to his
wickedness."
4:1When Ish-Boshet, Sha'ul's son, heard that Aviner was dead
in Chevron, his hands became feeble, and all the Yisra'elites were
troubled. 4:2Ish-Boshet, Sha'ul's son, had
two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was Ba`anah, and
the name of the other Rechav, the sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, of the
children of Binyamin (for Be'erot also is reckoned to Binyamin:
4:3and the Be'erotites fled to Gittayim, and have lived as
foreigners there until this day). 4:4Now Yonatan,
Sha'ul's son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old
when the news came of Sha'ul and Yonatan out of Yizre`el; and his nurse
took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he
fell, and became lame. His name was Mefivoshet.
4:5The
sons of Rimmon the Be'erotite, Rechav and Ba`anah, went, and came about
the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Boshet, as he took his rest at
noon. 4:6They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would
have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechav and
Ba`anah his brother escaped. 4:7Now when they came
into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him,
and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way
of the `Aravah all night. 4:8They brought the
head of Ish-Boshet to David to Chevron, and said to the king, Behold, the
head of Ish-Boshet, the son of Sha'ul, your enemy, who sought your life;
and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Sha'ul, and of his
seed. 4:9David answered Rechav and Ba`anah his brother, the sons of Rimmon
the Be'erotite, and said to them, As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my
soul out of all adversity, 4:10when one told me,
saying, Behold, Sha'ul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took
hold of him, and killed him in Tziklag, which was the reward I gave him
for his news.
4:11How much more, when wicked men have
slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now
require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
4:12David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off
their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Chevron.
But they took the head of Ish-Boshet, and buried it in the grave of Aviner
in Chevron.
5:1Then came all the tribes of Yisra'el to David to Chevron, and
spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
5:2In times past, when Sha'ul was king over us, it was you who led
out and brought in Yisra'el: and the LORD said to you, You shall be
shepherd of my people Yisra'el, and you shall be prince over Yisra'el.
5:3So all the elders of Yisra'el came to the king to Chevron; and
king David made a covenant with them in Chevron before the LORD: and they
anointed David king over Yisra'el. 5:4David was thirty
years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5:5In Chevron he reigned over Yehudah seven years and six months;
and in Yerushalayim he reigned thirty-three years over all Yisra'el and
Yehudah. 5:6The king and his men went to Yerushalayim against the Yevusi, the
inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away
the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here; thinking, David can't
come in here.
5:7Nevertheless David took the stronghold
of Tziyon; the same is the city of David.
5:8David
said on that day, Whoever strikes the Yevusi, let him get up to the
watercourse, and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated of
David's soul. Therefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he
can't come into the house. 5:9David lived in the
stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built round about from
Millo and inward.
5:10David grew greater and greater;
for the LORD, the G-d Tzva'ot,, was with him.
5:11Chiram king of Tzor sent messengers to David, and cedar trees,
and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
5:12David perceived that the LORD had established him king over
Yisra'el, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Yisra'el's
sake. 5:13David took him more concubines and wives out of Yerushalayim,
after he was come from Chevron; and there were yet sons and daughters born
to David. 5:14These are the names of those who were born to him in
Yerushalayim: Shammua, and Shovav, and Natan, and Shlomo,
5:15and Yivchar, and Elishua, and Nefeg, and Yafia,
5:16and Elishama, and Elyada, and Elifelet.
5:17When
the Pelishtim heard that they had anointed David king over Yisra'el, all
the Pelishtim went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down
to the stronghold.
5:18Now the Pelishtim had come and
spread themselves in the valley of Refa'im.
5:19David
inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up against the Pelishtim? will
you deliver them into my hand? the LORD said to David, Go up; for I will
certainly deliver the Pelishtim into your hand.
5:20David
came to Ba`al-Peratzim, and David struck them there; and he said, the LORD
has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he
called the name of that place Ba`al-Peratzim.
5:21They
left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
5:22The Pelishtim came up yet again, and spread themselves in the
valley of Refa'im.
5:23When David inquired of the LORD,
he said, You shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come on them
over against the mulberry trees. 5:24It shall be, when
you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that
then you shall bestir yourself; for then is the LORD gone out before you
to strike the host of the Pelishtim.
5:25David
did so, as the LORD commanded him, and struck the Pelishtim from Geva
until you come to Gezer.
6:1David again gathered together all the chosen men of Yisra'el,
thirty thousand.
6:2David arose, and went with all the
people who were with him, from Ba`ale-Yeudah, to bring up from there the
ark of G-d, which is called by the Name, even the name of the LORD of
Hosts who sits above the Keruvim.
6:3They
set the ark of G-d on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of
Avinadav that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav,
drove the new cart.
6:4They brought it out of the house
of Avinadav, which was in the hill, with the ark of G-d: and Achyo went
before the ark.
6:5David and all the house of
Yisra'el played before the LORD with all manner of instruments made of
fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with
castanets, and with cymbals. 6:6When they came to
the threshing floor of Nakhon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark
of G-d, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.
6:7The
anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and G-d struck him there for
his error; and there he died by the ark of G-d.
6:8David
was displeased, because the LORD had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called
that place Peretz-Uzzah, to this day.
6:9David
was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, How shall the ark of the
LORD come to me?
6:10So David would not remove the ark
of the LORD to him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into
the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
6:11The
ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three
months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.
6:12It was told king David, saying, the LORD has blessed the house of
Obed-edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of G-d. David
went and brought up the ark of G-d from the house of Obed-edom into the
city of David with joy. 6:13It was so, that,
when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed
an ox and a fattened calf. 6:14David danced
before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen efod.
6:15So David and all the house of Yisra'el brought up the ark of the
LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the shofar.
6:16It was so, as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David,
that Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul looked out at the window, and saw king
David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her
heart. 6:17They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, in
the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered
burnt offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD.
6:18When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the
peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.
6:19He dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of
Yisra'el, both to men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, and a
portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed
everyone to his house. 6:20Then David
returned to bless his household. Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul came out to
meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Yisra'el today, who
uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as
one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
6:21David said to Mikhal, It was before the LORD, who chose me
above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the
people of the LORD, over Yisra'el: therefore will I play before the LORD.
6:22I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own
sight: but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honor me.
6:23Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul had no child to the day of her
death.
7:1It happened, when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had
given him rest from all his enemies round about,
7:2that
the king said to Natan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar,
but the ark of G-d dwells within curtains.
7:3Natan
said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with
you. 7:4It happened the same night, that the word of the LORD came to
Natan, saying,
7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus says
the LORD, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in?
7:6for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up
the children of Yisra'el out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked
in a tent and in a tent. 7:7In all places in
which I have walked with all the children of Yisra'el, spoke I a word with
any of the tribes of Yisra'el, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my
people Yisra'el, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
7:8Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says the
LORD of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep,
that you should be prince over my people, over Yisra'el;
7:9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all
your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the
name of the great ones who are in the earth.
7:10I
will appoint a place for my people Yisra'el, and will plant them, that
they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the
children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,
7:11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my
people Yisra'el; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies.
Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house.
7:12When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your
fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
7:13He
shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his
kingdom forever.
7:14I will be his father, and he
shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of
men, and with the stripes of the children of men;
7:15but
my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Sha'ul,
whom I put away before you. 7:16Your house and
your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be
established forever. 7:17According to all
these words, and according to all this vision, so did Natan speak to
David. 7:18Then David the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he
said, Who am I, Lord G-d, and what is my house, that you have brought me
thus far? 7:19This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord G-d; but you have
spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come; and this
too after the manner of men, Lord G-d!
7:20What
can David say more to you? for you know your servant, Lord G-d.
7:21For your word's sake, and according to your own heart, have you
worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
7:22Therefore you are great, LORD G-d: for there is none like you,
neither is there any G-d besides you, according to all that we have heard
with our ears.
7:23What one nation in the earth is
like your people, even like Yisra'el, whom G-d went to redeem to himself
for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and
awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you
out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
7:24You did establish to yourself your people Yisra'el to be a people
to you forever; and you, LORD, became their G-d.
7:25Now,
LORD G-d, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and
concerning his house, confirm you it forever, and do as you have spoken.
7:26Let your name be magnified forever, saying, the LORD of hosts is
G-d over Yisra'el; and the house of your servant David shall be
established before you. 7:27For you, LORD of
Hosts, the G-d of Yisra'el, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will
build you a house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray
this prayer to you. 7:28Now, O Lord G-d,
you are G-d, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good
thing to your servant: 7:29now therefore let
it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue
forever before you; for you, Lord G-d, have spoken it: and with your
blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.
8:1After this it happened that David struck the Pelishtim, and
subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand
of the Pelishtim.
8:2He struck Mo'av, and measured them
with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two
lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Mo`avim became
servants to David, and brought tribute.
8:3David
struck also Hadad`ezer the son of Rechov, king of Tzovah, as he went to
recover his dominion at the River. 8:4David took from
him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and
David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one
hundred chariots.
8:5When the Aram of Dammesek came to
help Hadad`ezer king of Tzovah, David struck of the Aram two and twenty
thousand men.
8:6Then David put garrisons in Aram of
Dammesek; and the Aram became servants to David, and brought tribute. The
LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
8:7David
took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadad`ezer, and
brought them to Yerushalayim. 8:8From Betach and
from Berotai, cities of Hadad`ezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
8:9When To`i king of Chamat heard that David had struck all the host
of Hadad`ezer,
8:10then To`i sent Yoram his son to
king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against
Hadad`ezer and struck him: for Hadad`ezer had wars with To`i. Yoram
brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of
brass: 8:11These also did king David dedicate to the LORD, with the silver
and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;
8:12of Aram, and of Mo'av, and of the children of `Ammon, and of the
Pelishtim, and of `Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadad`ezer, son of Rechov,
king of Tzovah.
8:13David got him a name when he
returned from smiting the Aram in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen
thousand men.
8:14He put garrisons in Edom; throughout
all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edom became servants to David. The
LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
8:15David
reigned over all Yisra'el; and David executed justice and righteousness to
all his people.
8:16Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah was
over the host; and Yehoshafat the son of Achilud was recorder;
8:17and Tzadok the son of Achituv, and Achimelekh the son of Avyatar,
were kohanim; and Serayah was scribe;
8:18and Benayah the son of Yehoiada was over the Kereti and
the Peleti; and David's sons were chief ministers.
9:1David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Sha'ul,
that I may show him kindness for Yonatan's sake?
9:2There
was of the house of Sha'ul a servant whose name was Tziva, and they called
him to David; and the king said to him, Are you Tziva? He said, Your
servant is he.
9:3The king said, Is there not yet any of
the house of Sha'ul, that I may show the kindness of G-d to him? Tziva
said to the king, Yonatan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.
9:4The king said to him, Where is he? Tziva said to the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Makhir the son of `Ammi'el, in Lo-Devar.
9:5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Makhir
the son of `Ammi'el, from Lo-Devar. 9:6Mefivoshet, the
son of Yonatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, and fell on his face,
and did obeisance. David said, Mefivoshet. He answered, Behold, your
servant! 9:7David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will surely
show you kindness for Yonatan your father's sake, and will restore you all
the land of Sha'ul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table
continually."
9:8He did obeisance, and said, "What is
your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"
9:9Then the king called to Tziva, Sha'ul's servant, and said to him,
"All that pertained to Sha'ul and to all his house have I given to your
master's son.
9:10You shall till the land for him, you,
and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in the fruits,
that your master's son may have bread to eat: but Mefivoshet your master's
son shall eat bread always at my table." Now Tziva had fifteen sons and
twenty servants.
9:11Then said Tziva to the king,
According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your
servant do. As for Mefivoshet, said the king, he shall eat at my
table, as one of the king's sons. 9:12Mefivoshet had a
young son, whose name was Mikha. All that lived in the house of Tziva were
servants to Mefivoshet. 9:13So Mefivoshet
lived in Yerushalayim; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was
lame in both his feet.
10:1It happened after this, that the king of the children of `Ammon
died, and Chanun his son reigned in his place.
10:2David
said, I will show kindness to Chanun the son of Nachash, as his father
shown kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him
concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children
of `Ammon.
10:3But the princes of the children of `Ammon
said to Chanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in
that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you
to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
10:4So Chanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of
their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their
buttocks, and sent them away. 10:5When they told it
to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king
said, Wait at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
10:6When the children of `Ammon saw that they were become odious to
David, the children of `Ammon sent and hired the Aram of Beit-Rechov, and
the Aram of Tzovah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Ma`akhah with
one thousand men, and the men of Tov twelve thousand men.
10:7When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av, and all the host of the
mighty men.
10:8The children of `Ammon came out, and
put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Aram of
Tzovah and of Rechov, and the men of Tov and Ma`akhah, were by themselves
in the field.
10:9Now when Yo'av saw that the battle was
set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of
Yisra'el, and put them in array against the Aram:
10:10The
rest of the people he committed into the hand of Avishai his brother; and
he put them in array against the children of `Ammon.
10:11He said, If the Aram be too strong for me, then you shall help
me; but if the children of `Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come
and help you.
10:12Be of good courage, and let us
play the man for our people, and for the cities of our G-d: and the LORD
do that which seems him good. 10:13So Yo'av and the
people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Aram: and
they fled before him. 10:14When the
children of `Ammon saw that the Aram were fled, they likewise fled before
Avishai, and entered into the city. Then Yo'av returned from the children
of `Ammon, and came to Yerushalayim.
10:15When
the Aram saw that they were put to the worse before Yisra'el, they
gathered themselves together. 10:16Hadad`ezer sent,
and brought out the Aram who were beyond the River: and they came to
Chelam, with Shovakh the captain of the host of Hadad`ezer at their head.
10:17It was told David; and he gathered all Yisra'el together, and
passed over the Yarden, and came to Chelam. The Aram set themselves in
array against David, and fought with him.
10:18The
Aram fled before Yisra'el; and David killed of the Aram the men of
seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shovakh
the captain of their host, so that he died there.
10:19When
all the kings who were servants to Hadad`ezer saw that they were put to
the worse before Yisra'el, they made shalom with Yisra'el, and served
them. So the Aram feared to help the children of `Ammon any more.
11:1It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go
out to battle, that David sent Yo'av, and his servants with him,
and all Yisra'el; and they destroyed the children of `Ammon, and besieged
Rabbah. But David stayed at Yerushalayim.
11:2It
happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the
roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and
the woman was very beautiful to look on.
11:3David
send and inquired after the woman. One said, Is not this Bat-Sheva, the
daughter of Eli`am, the wife of Uriyah the Chittite?
11:4David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and
he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she
returned to her house. 11:5The woman
conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
11:6David sent to Yo'av, saying, Send me Uriyah the Chittite.
Yo'av sent Uriyah to David. 11:7When Uriyah was
come to him, David asked of him how Yo'av did, and how the people fared,
and how the war prospered. 11:8David said to
Uriyah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. Uriyah departed out of
the king's house, and there followed him a mess of food from the
king. 11:9But Uriyah slept at the door of the king's house with all the
servants of his lord, and didn't go down to his house.
11:10When they had told David, saying, Uriyah didn't go down to his
house, David said to Uriyah, Haven't you come from a journey? why did you
not go down to your house? 11:11Uriyah said to
David, The ark, and Yisra'el, and Yehudah, abide in booths; and my lord
Yo'av, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall
I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as
you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.
11:12David said to Uriyah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will
let you depart. So Uriyah abode in Yerushalayim that day, and the next
day. 11:13When David had called him, he ate and drink before him; and he
made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the
servants of his lord, but didn't go down to his house.
11:14It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Yo'av,
and sent it by the hand of Uriyah.
11:15He
wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriyah in the forefront of the hottest
battle, and retire you from him, that he may be struck, and die.
11:16It happened, when Yo'av kept watch on the city, that he assigned
Uriyah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
11:17The men of the city went out, and fought with Yo'av: and there
fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriyah the
Chittite died also. 11:18Then Yo'av sent
and told David all the things concerning the war;
11:19and
he charged the messenger, saying, "When you have made an end of telling
all the things concerning the war to the king,
11:20it
shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he tells you, 'Why did you
go so near to the city to fight? Didn't you know that they would shoot
from the wall?
11:21who struck Avimelekh the son of
Yerubeshet? Didn't a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall,
so that he died at Tevetz? Why did you go so near the wall?' then shall
you say, 'Your servant Uriyah the Chittite is dead also.'"
11:22So the messenger went, and came and shown David all that Yo'av
had sent him for.
11:23The messenger said to David, The
men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were
on them even to the entrance of the gate.
11:24The
shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king's
servants are dead, and your servant Uriyah the Chittite is dead also.
11:25Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Yo'av,
Don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as
another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it:
and encourage you him. 11:26When the wife of
Uriyah heard that Uriyah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for
her husband.
11:27When the mourning was past, David
sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him
a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
12:1The LORD sent Natan to David. He came to him, and said to him,
"There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
12:2The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
12:3but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which
he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his
children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his
bosom, and was to him like a daughter.
12:4A
traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and
of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but
took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."
12:5David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to
Natan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die!
12:6He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing,
and because he had no pity!"
12:7Natan said to David, "You are the man. This is what the LORD, the
G-d of Yisra'el, says: 'I anointed you king over Yisra'el, and I delivered
you out of the hand of Sha'ul. 12:8I gave you your
master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the
house of Yisra'el and of Yehudah; and if that would have been too little,
I would have added to you many more such things.
12:9Why
have you despised the word of the LORD, to do that which is evil in his
sight? You have struck Uriyah the Chittite with the sword, and have taken
his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the
children of `Ammon. 12:10Now therefore
the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me,
and have taken the wife of Uriyah the Chittite to be your wife.'
12:11This is what the LORD says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against
you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes,
and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the
sight of this sun. 12:12For you did it
secretly, but I will do this thing before all Yisra'el, and before the
sun.'"
12:13David said to Natan, "I have sinned against the LORD."
Natan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin.
You will not die.
12:14However, because by this deed
you have given great occasion to the LORD's enemies to blaspheme, the
child also who is born to you shall surely die."
12:15Natan
departed to his house.
The LORD struck the child that Uriyah's wife bore to
David, and it was very sick. 12:16David therefore
begged G-d for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night
on the earth.
12:17The elders of his house arose,
and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would
not, neither did he eat bread with them.
12:18It
happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David
feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while
the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our
voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is
dead! 12:19But when David saw that his servants were whispering together,
David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants,
Is the child dead? They said, He is dead.
12:20Then
David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed
his clothing; and he came into the house of the LORD, and worshiped: then
he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him,
and he ate.
12:21Then said his servants to him, What
thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child,
while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat
bread. 12:22He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
said, Who knows whether the LORD will not be gracious to me, that the
child may live?
12:23But now he is dead, why should I
fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not
return to me.
12:24David comforted Bat-Sheva his
wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he
called his name Shlomo. The LORD loved him;
12:25and
he sent by the hand of Natan the prophet; and he named him Yedidyah, for
the LORD's sake.
12:26Now Yo'av fought against Rabbah
of the children of `Ammon, and took the royal city.
12:27Yo'av sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against
Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters.
12:28Now
therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the
city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
12:29David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and
fought against it, and took it. 12:30He took the
crown of their king from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent
of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's
head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
12:31He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under
saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them
pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the
children of `Ammon. David and all the people returned to Yerushalayim.
13:1It happened after this, that Avshalom the son of David had a
beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved
her. 13:2Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar;
for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
13:3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Yehonadav, the son of
Shim`a, David's brother; and Yehonadav was a very subtle man.
13:4He said to him, Why, son of the king, are you thus lean from day
to day? Won't you tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother
Avshalom's sister.
13:5Yehonadav said to him, Lay you
down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father comes to
see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to
eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from
her hand. 13:6So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king
was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let her sister Tamar
come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her
hand. 13:7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother
Amnon's house, and dress him food. 13:8So Tamar went to
her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and
kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
13:9She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused
to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from me. They went out every man from
him. 13:10Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may
eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought
them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
13:11When
she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to
her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
13:12She
answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to
be done in Yisra'el. Don't you do this folly.
13:13I,
where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the
fools in Yisra'el. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will
not withhold me from you. 13:14However he would
not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and
lay with her.
13:15Then Amnon hated her with
exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater
than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be
gone. 13:16She said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me
forth is worse than the other that you did to me. But he would not
listen to her.
13:17Then he called his servant who
ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the
door after her.
13:18She had a garment of various
colors on her; for with such robes were the king's daughters who were
virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door
after her.
13:19Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore
her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on
her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
13:20Avshalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been
with you? but now hold your shalom, my sister: he is your brother; don't
take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother
Avshalom's house.
13:21But when king David heard of all
these things, he was very angry. 13:22Avshalom spoke
to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Avshalom hated Amnon, because he had
forced his sister Tamar. 13:23It happened
after two full years, that Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba`al-Chatzor,
which is beside Efrayim: and Avshalom invited all the king's sons.
13:24Avshalom came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has
sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your
servant.
13:25The king said to Avshalom, No, my
son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him:
however he would not go, but blessed him.
13:26Then
said Avshalom, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. The king
said to him, Why should he go with you?
13:27But
Avshalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with
him. 13:28Avshalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when
Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite Amnon, then
kill him; don't be afraid; haven't I commanded you? be courageous, and be
valiant.
13:29The servants of Avshalom did to Amnon
as Avshalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man
got him up on his mule, and fled. 13:30It happened,
while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Avshalom
has slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.
13:31Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth;
and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
13:32Yehonadav, the son of Shim`a, David's brother, answered, Don't
let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's
sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Avshalom this has
been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
13:33Now therefore don't let my lord the king take the thing to his
heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.
13:34But Avshalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the
hill-side behind him. 13:35Yehonadav said
to the king, Behold, the king's sons are come: as your servant said, so it
is. 13:36It happened, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that
behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the
king also and all his servants wept very sore.
13:37But
Avshalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of `Ammihud, king of Geshur.
David mourned for his son every day.
13:38So
Avshalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
13:39the soul of king David longed to go
forth to Avshalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was
dead.
14:1Now Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah perceived that the king's heart
was toward Avshalom. 14:2Yo'av sent to
Tekoa, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, please act like a
mourner, and put on mourning clothing, Please, and don't anoint yourself
with oil, but be as a woman who has a long time mourned for the dead:
14:3and go in to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Yo'av
put the words in her mouth. 14:4When the woman of
Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did
obeisance, and said, Help, O king. 14:5The king said to
her, What ails you? She answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband
is dead. 14:6Your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the
field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and
killed him.
14:7Behold, the whole family is risen
against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who struck his brother,
that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so
destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and
will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the
earth. 14:8The king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give
charge concerning you. 14:9The woman of
Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my
father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
14:10The king said, Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and
he shall not touch you any more. 14:11Then said she,
Please let the king remember the LORD your G-d, that the avenger of blood
destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As the LORD
lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.
14:12Then the woman said, Please let your handmaid speak a word to my
lord the king. He said, Say on. 14:13The woman said,
Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of G-d? for in
speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does
not bring home again his banished one.
14:14For
we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which can't be
gathered up again; neither does G-d take away life, but devises means,
that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
14:15Now therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my
lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your
handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will
perform the request of his servant.
14:16For
the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who
would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of G-d.
14:17Then your handmaid said, Please let the word of my lord the king
be comfortable; for as an angel of G-d, so is my lord the king to discern
good and bad: and the LORD your G-d be with you.
14:18Then
the king answered the woman, Please don't hide anything from me that I
shall ask you. The woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
14:19The king said, Is the hand of Yo'av with you in all this? The
woman answered, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the
right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken;
for your servant Yo'av, he bade me, and he put all these words in the
mouth of your handmaid; 14:20to change the
face of the matter has your servant Yo'av done this thing: and my lord is
wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of G-d, to know all things that
are in the earth.
14:21The king said to Yo'av, Behold
now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Avshalom
back. 14:22Yo'av fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and
blessed the king: and Yo'av said, Today your servant knows that I have
found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed
the request of his servant. 14:23So Yo'av arose
and went to Geshur, and brought Avshalom to Yerushalayim.
14:24The king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see
my face. So Avshalom turned to his own house, and didn't see the king's
face. 14:25Now in all Yisra'el there was none to be so much praised as
Avshalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of
his head there was no blemish in him.
14:26When
he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut
it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair
of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
14:27To Avshalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose
name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful face.
14:28Avshalom lived two full years in Yerushalayim; and he didn't see
the king's face.
14:29Then Avshalom sent for Yo'av, to
send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a
second time, but he would not come.
14:30Therefore
he said to his servants, Behold, Yo'av's field is near mine, and he has
barley there; go and set it on fire. Avshalom's servants set the field on
fire. 14:31Then Yo'av arose, and came to Avshalom to his house, and said to
him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?
14:32Avshalom
answered Yo'av, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send
you to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it were better for me
to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there
be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
14:33So
Yo'av came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Avshalom,
he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before
the king: and the king kissed Avshalom.
15:1It happened after this, that Avshalom prepared him a chariot and
horses, and fifty men to run before him.
15:2Avshalom
rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that
when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then
Avshalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? He said, Your
servant is of one of the tribes of Yisra'el.
15:3Avshalom
said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man
deputized of the king to hear you. 15:4Avshalom said
moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has
any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
15:5It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he
put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
15:6In this manner Avshalom did to all Yisra'el who came to the king
for judgment: so Avshalom stole the hearts of the men of Yisra'el.
15:7It happened at the end of forty years, that Avshalom said to t
