022:021 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the
half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of
the thousands of Israel,
022:022 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and
Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in
transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
022:023 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the
LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering,
or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself
require it;
022:024 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing,
saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our
children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of
Israel?
022:025 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye
children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the
LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from
fearing the LORD.
022:026 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar,
not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
022:027 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our
generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD
before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices,
and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say
to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
022:028 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say
to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say
again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our
fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but
it is a witness between us and you.
022:029 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn
this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt
offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the
altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
022:030 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the
congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were
with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the
children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased
them.
022:031 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the
children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the
children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is
among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against
the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of
the hand of the LORD.
022:032 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes,
returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of
Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to
the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
022:033 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children
of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against
them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of
Reuben and Gad dwelt.
022:034 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the
altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD
is God.
023:001 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given
rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that
Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
023:002 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and
for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers,
and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
023:003 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all
these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that
hath fought for you.
023:004 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that
remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan,
with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great
sea westward.
023:005 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you,
and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess
their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
023:006 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is
written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not
aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
023:007 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among
you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause
to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto
them:
023:008 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this
day.
023:009 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and
strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before
you unto this day.
023:010 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God,
he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
023:011 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the
LORD your God.
023:012 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant
of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall
make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to
you:
023:013 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive
out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be
snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and
thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land
which the LORD your God hath given you.
023:014 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and
ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one
thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your
God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and
not one thing hath failed thereof.
023:015 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are
come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall
the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have
destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God
hath given you.
023:016 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God,
which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods,
and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD
be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off
the good land which he hath given unto you.
024:001 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and
called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for
their judges, and for their officers; and they presented
themselves before God.
024:002 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God
of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood
in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father
of Nachor: and they served other gods.
024:003 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the
flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and
multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
024:004 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau
mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went
down into Egypt.
024:005 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to
that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
024:006 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the
sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with
chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
024:007 And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you
and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered
them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and
ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
024:008 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt
on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave
them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I
destroyed them from before you.
024:009 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred
against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to
curse you:
024:010 But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you
still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
024:011 And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men
of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the
Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered
them into your hand.
024:012 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from
before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with
thy sword, nor with thy bow.
024:013 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and
cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the
vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
024:014 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in
truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the
other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
024:015 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you
this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your
fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for
me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
024:016 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should
forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
024:017 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our
fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage,
and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us
in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people
through whom we passed:
024:018 And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the
Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve
the LORD; for he is our God.
024:019 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for
he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive
your transgressions nor your sins.
024:020 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will
turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done
you good.
024:021 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the
LORD.
024:022 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against
yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And
they said, We are witnesses.
024:023 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are
among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
024:024 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we
serve, and his voice will we obey.
024:025 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set
them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
024:026 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God,
and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that
was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
024:027 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall
be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the
LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness
unto you, lest ye deny your God.
024:028 So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his
inheritance.
024:029 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of
Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten
years old.
024:030 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in
Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of
the hill of Gaash.
024:031 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the
days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known
all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
024:032 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought
up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground
which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem
for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance
of the children of Joseph.
024:033 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a
hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him
in mount Ephraim.
Book 07 Judges
001:001 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the
children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for
us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
001:002 And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered
the land into his hand.
001:003 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into
my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I
likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with
him.
001:004 And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and
the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek
ten thousand men.
001:005 And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against
him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
001:006 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught
him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
001:007 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their
thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under
my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they
brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
001:008 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and
had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and
set the city on fire.
001:009 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against
the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south,
and in the valley.
001:010 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron:
(now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
001:011 And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and
the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
001:012 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it,
to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
001:013 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took
it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
001:014 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him
to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her
ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
001:015 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given
me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave
her the upper springs and the nether springs.
001:016 And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up
out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into
the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and
they went and dwelt among the people.
001:017 And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the
Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it.
And the name of the city was called Hormah.
001:018 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with
the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
001:019 And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants
of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of
the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
001:020 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he
expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
001:021 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites
that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the
children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
001:022 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and
the LORD was with them.
001:023 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name
of the city before was Luz.)
001:024 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they
said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the
city, and we will shew thee mercy.
001:025 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote
the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man
and all his family.
001:026 And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a
city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name
thereof unto this day.
001:027 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean
and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants
of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her
towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the
Canaanites would dwell in that land.
001:028 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the
Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
001:029 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in
Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
001:030 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor
the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among
them, and became tributaries.
001:031 Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the
inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of
Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
001:032 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants
of the land: for they did not drive them out.
001:033 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh,
nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the
Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the
inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries
unto them.
001:034 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain:
for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
001:035 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in
Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so
that they became tributaries.
001:036 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to
Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
002:001 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and
said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you
unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I
will never break my covenant with you.
002:002 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land;
ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my
voice: why have ye done this?
002:003 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before
you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods
shall be a snare unto you.
002:004 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these
words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted
up their voice, and wept.
002:005 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they
sacrificed there unto the LORD.
002:006 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel
went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
002:007 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all
the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all
the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
002:008 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died,
being an hundred and ten years old.
002:009 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in
Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of
the hill Gaash.
002:010 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:
and there arose another generation after them, which knew not
the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
002:011 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD,
and served Baalim:
002:012 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought
them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the
gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed
themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
002:013 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
002:014 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he
delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them,
and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about,
so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
002:015 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against
them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn
unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
002:016 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them
out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
002:017 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they
went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto
them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers
walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did
not so.
002:018 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was
with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their
enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD
because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed
them and vexed them.
002:019 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they
returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in
following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them;
they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn
way.
002:020 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said,
Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I
commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
002:021 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of
the nations which Joshua left when he died:
002:022 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep
the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep
it, or not.
002:023 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them
out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of
Joshua.
003:001 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel
by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars
of Canaan;
003:002 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might
know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew
nothing thereof;
003:003 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites,
and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount
Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.
003:004 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they
would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he
commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
003:005 And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites,
Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and
Jebusites:
003:006 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave
their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.
003:007 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD,
and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the
groves.
003:008 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he
sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of
Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served
Chushanrishathaim eight years.
003:009 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD
raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered
them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
003:010 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged
Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered
Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his
hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
003:011 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of
Kenaz died.
003:012 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against
Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
003:013 And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and
went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
003:014 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab
eighteen years.
003:015 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD
raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite,
a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a
present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
003:016 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit
length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right
thigh.
003:017 And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon
was a very fat man.
003:018 And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away
the people that bare the present.
003:019 But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by
Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king:
who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out
from him.
003:020 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer
parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have
a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
003:021 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his
right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
003:022 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed
upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of
his belly; and the dirt came out.
003:023 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of
the parlour upon him, and locked them.
003:024 When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw
that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said,
Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.
003:025 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he
opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a
key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down
dead on the earth.
003:026 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the
quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
003:027 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet
in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went
down with him from the mount, and he before them.
003:028 And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath
delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they
went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab,
and suffered not a man to pass over.
003:029 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all
lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.
003:030 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the
land had rest fourscore years.
003:031 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the
Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also
delivered Israel.
004:001 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the
LORD, when Ehud was dead.
004:002 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan,
that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera,
which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
004:003 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had
nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily
oppressed the children of Israel.
004:004 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged
Israel at that time.
004:005 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and
Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to
her for judgment.
004:006 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of
Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of
Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and
take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali
and of the children of Zebulun?
004:007 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the
captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude;
and I will deliver him into thine hand.
004:008 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will
go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
004:009 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the
journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for
the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And
Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
004:010 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went
up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with
him.
004:011 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the
father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites,
and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by
Kedesh.
004:012 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone
up to mount Tabor.
004:013 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine
hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with
him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
004:014 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which
the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the
LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount
Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
004:015 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all
his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that
Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his
feet.
004:016 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto
Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell
upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
004:017 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the
wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin
the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
004:018 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in,
my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in
unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
004:019 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to
drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and
gave him drink, and covered him.
004:020 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it
shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say,
Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
004:021 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an
hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the
nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he
was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
004:022 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet
him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man
whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold,
Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
004:023 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the
children of Israel.
004:024 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and
prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had
destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
005:001 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day,
saying,
005:002 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people
willingly offered themselves.
005:003 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing
unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
005:004 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out
of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens
dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
005:005 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai
from before the LORD God of Israel.
005:006 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael,
the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked
through byways.
005:007 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel,
until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
005:008 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a
shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
005:009 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered
themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.
005:010 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment,
and walk by the way.
005:011 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the
places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the
righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the
inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people
of the LORD go down to the gates.
005:012 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise,
Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
005:013 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles
among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the
mighty.
005:014 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after
thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down
governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the
writer.
005:015 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar,
and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the
divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
005:016 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings
of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great
searchings of heart.
005:017 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships?
Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
005:018 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives
unto the death in the high places of the field.
005:019 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in
Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
005:020 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought
against Sisera.
005:021 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the
river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
005:022 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings,
the pransings of their mighty ones.
005:023 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly
the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of
the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
005:024 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite
be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
005:025 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth
butter in a lordly dish.
005:026 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the
workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she
smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through
his temples.
005:027 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he
bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
005:028 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through
the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry
the wheels of his chariots?
005:029 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to
herself,
005:030 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every
man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a
prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of
needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take
the spoil?
005:031 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that
love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And
the land had rest forty years.
006:001 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD:
and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven
years.
006:002 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because
of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens
which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
006:003 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came
up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even
they came up against them;
006:004 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of
the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance
for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
006:005 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they
came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their
camels were without number: and they entered into the land to
destroy it.
006:006 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites;
and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
006:007 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto
the LORD because of the Midianites,
006:008 That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel,
which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I
brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the
house of bondage;
006:009 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out
of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from
before you, and gave you their land;
006:010 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not
obeyed my voice.
006:011 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak
which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite:
and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it
from the Midianites.
006:012 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto
him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
006:013 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us,
why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his
miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the
LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken
us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
006:014 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might,
and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites:
have not I sent thee?
006:015 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save
Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the
least in my father's house.
006:016 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and
thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
006:017 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight,
then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
006:018 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and
bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I
will tarry until thou come again.
006:019 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes
of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put
the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak,
and presented it.
006:020 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the
unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out
the broth. And he did so.
006:021 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that
was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened
cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed
the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD
departed out of his sight.
006:022 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD,
Gideon said, Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an
angel of the LORD face to face.
006:023 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou
shalt not die.
006:024 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it
Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the
Abiezrites.
006:025 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto
him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock
of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy
father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
006:026 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this
rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and
offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou
shalt cut down.
006:027 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD
had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his
father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not
do it by day, that he did it by night.
006:028 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning,
behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut
down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon
the altar that was built.
006:029 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And
when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of
Joash hath done this thing.
006:030 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son,
that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal,
and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
006:031 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead
for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let
him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god,
let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his
altar.
006:032 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let
Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
006:033 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of
the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in
the valley of Jezreel.
006:034 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a
trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
006:035 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was
gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and
unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet
them.
006:036 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine
hand, as thou hast said,
006:037 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the
dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth
beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine
hand, as thou hast said.
006:038 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust
the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a
bowl full of water.
006:039 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against
me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee,
but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the
fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
006:040 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece
only, and there was dew on all the ground.
007:001 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were
with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod:
so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of
them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
007:002 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee
are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands,
lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand
hath saved me.
007:003 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people,
saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and
depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the
people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten
thousand.
007:004 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many;
bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee
there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This
shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of
whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the
same shall not go.
007:005 So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD
said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his
tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself;
likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
007:006 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to
their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the
people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
007:007 And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that
lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine
hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his
place.
007:008 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets:
and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent,
and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian
was beneath him in the valley.
007:009 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto
him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered
it into thine hand.
007:010 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant
down to the host:
007:011 And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine
hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he
down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men
that were in the host.
007:012 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of
the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for
multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand
by the sea side for multitude.
007:013 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a
dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream,
and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of
Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and
overturned it, that the tent lay along.
007:014 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save
the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for
into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
007:015 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and
the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned
into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath
delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
007:016 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and
he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and
lamps within the pitchers.
007:017 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and,
behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be
that, as I do, so shall ye do.
007:018 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then
blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and
say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
007:019 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto
the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch;
and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the
trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
007:020 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the
pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the
trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried,
The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
007:021 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp;
and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
007:022 And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set
every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the
host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the
border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.
007:023 And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of
Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and
pursued after the Midianites.
007:024 And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim,
saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them
the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of
Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto
Bethbarah and Jordan.
007:025 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb;
and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at
the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the
heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.
008:001 And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us
thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight
with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
008:002 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of
you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than
the vintage of Abiezer?
008:003 God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb
and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then
their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
008:004 And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three
hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
008:005 And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves
of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint,
and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
008:006 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and
Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto
thine army?
008:007 And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah
and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with
the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
008:008 And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise:
and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had
answered him.
008:009 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come
again in peace, I will break down this tower.
008:010 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with
them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all
the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an
hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.
008:011 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on
the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the
host was secure.
008:012 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and
took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and
discomfited all the host.
008:013 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the
sun was up,
008:014 And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of
him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the
elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.
008:015 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah
and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the
hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should
give bread unto thy men that are weary?
008:016 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the
wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of
Succoth.
008:017 And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the
city.
008:018 Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were
they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so
were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
008:019 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my
mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I
would not slay you.
008:020 And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But
the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was
yet a youth.
008:021 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for
as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew
Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on
their camels' necks.
008:022 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us,
both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast
delivered us from the hand of Midian.
008:023 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither
shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
008:024 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you,
that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For
they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
008:025 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they
spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings
of his prey.
008:026 And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a
thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments,
and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of
Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels'
necks.
008:027 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even
in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it:
which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
008:028 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that
they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in
quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
008:029 And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own
house.
008:030 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten:
for he had many wives.
008:031 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a
son, whose name he called Abimelech.
008:032 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was
buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the
Abiezrites.
008:033 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the
children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after
Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.
008:034 And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God,
who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies
on every side:
008:035 Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal,
namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had
shewed unto Israel.
009:001 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his
mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the
family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
009:002 Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem,
Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of
Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over
you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your
bone and your flesh.
009:003 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the
men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to
follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
009:004 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of
the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and
light persons, which followed him.
009:005 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his
brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten
persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the
youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
009:006 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the
house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the
plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
009:007 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top
of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said
unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may
hearken unto you.
009:008 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and
they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
009:009 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness,
wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted
over the trees?
009:010 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over
us.
009:011 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my
sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the
trees?
009:012 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over
us.
009:013 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which
cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
009:014 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign
over us.
009:015 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me
king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and
if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the
cedars of Lebanon.
009:016 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye
have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with
Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to
the deserving of his hands;
009:017 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far,
and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
009:018 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and
have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one
stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant,
king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
009:019 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and
with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let
him also rejoice in you:
009:020 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the
men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out
from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and
devour Abimelech.
009:021 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt
there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
009:022 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
009:023 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of
Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with
Abimelech:
009:024 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of
Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech
their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem,
which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
009:025 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of
the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by
them: and it was told Abimelech.
009:026 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over
to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in
him.
009:027 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their
vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into
the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed
Abimelech.
009:028 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is
Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of
Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the
father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
009:029 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I
remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine
army, and come out.
009:030 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal
the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
009:031 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold,
Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and,
behold, they fortify the city against thee.
009:032 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with
thee, and lie in wait in the field:
009:033 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is
up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold,
when he and the people that is with him come out against thee,
then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
009:034 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him,
by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four
companies.
009:035 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering
of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people
that were with him, from lying in wait.
009:036 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there
come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said
unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they
were men.
009:037 And Gaal spake again, and said, See there come people down by
the middle of the land, and another company come along by the
plain of Meonenim.
009:038 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith
thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is
not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray
now, and fight with them.
009:039 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with
Abimelech.
009:040 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many
were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the
gate.
009:041 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and
his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
009:042 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out
into the field; and they told Abimelech.
009:043 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies,
and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the
people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against
them, and smote them.
009:044 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed
forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city:
and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were
in the fields, and slew them.
009:045 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he
took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat
down the city, and sowed it with salt.
009:046 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they
entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
009:047 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of
Shechem were gathered together.
009:048 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the
people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his
hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and
laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were
with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I
have done.
009:049 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and
followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold
on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem
died also, about a thousand men and women.
009:050 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez,
and took it.
009:051 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled
all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it
to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
009:052 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and
went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
009:053 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon
Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
009:054 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer,
and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say
not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him
through, and he died.
009:055 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they
departed every man unto his place.
009:056 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did
unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
009:057 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon
their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of
Jerubbaal.
010:001 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son
of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in
Shamir in mount Ephraim.
010:002 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir.
010:003 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel
twenty and two years.
010:004 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they
had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day,
which are in the land of Gilead.
010:005 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
010:006 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria,
and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of
the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and
forsook the LORD, and served not him.
010:007 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold
them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of
the children of Ammon.
010:008 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel:
eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the
other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in
Gilead.
010:009 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight
also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the
house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
010:010 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We
have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our
God, and also served Baalim.
010:011 And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I
deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from
the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
010:012 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did
oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of
their hand.
010:013 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I
will deliver you no more.
010:014 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them
deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
010:015 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned:
do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us
only, we pray thee, this day.
010:016 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served
the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
010:017 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and
encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled
themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
010:018 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What
man is he that will begin to fight against the children of
Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
011:001 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he
was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
011:002 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up,
and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt
not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a
strange woman.
011:003 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of
Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went
out with him.
011:004 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of
Ammon made war against Israel.
011:005 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war
against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah
out of the land of Tob:
011:006 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we
may fight with the children of Ammon.
011:007 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate
me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come
unto me now when ye are in distress?
011:008 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn
again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight
against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the
inhabitants of Gilead.
011:009 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me
home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the
LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
011:010 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be
witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
011:011 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people
made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all
his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.
011:012 And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of
Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art
come against me to fight in my land?
011:013 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the
messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when
they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and
unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again
peaceably.
011:014 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the
children of Ammon:
011:015 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away
the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
011:016 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the
wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
011:017 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let
me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom
would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto
the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode
in Kadesh.
011:018 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the
land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side
of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon,
but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the
border of Moab.
011:019 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites,
the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we
pray thee, through thy land into my place.
011:020 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but
Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz,
and fought against Israel.
011:021 And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people
into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel
possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of
that country.
011:022 And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon
even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
011:023 So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites
from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
011:024 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee
to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out
from before us, them will we possess.
011:025 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of
Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or
did he ever fight against them,
011:026 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and
her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts
of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not
recover them within that time?
011:027 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me
wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day
between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
011:028 Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto
the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
011:029 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed
over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead,
and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of
Ammon.
011:030 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou
shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine
hands,
011:031 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of
my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children
of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up
for a burnt offering.
011:032 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight
against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.
011:033 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith,
even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with
a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were
subdued before the children of Israel.
011:034 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his
daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances:
and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor
daughter.
011:035 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his
clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me
very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have
opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
011:036 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy
mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath
proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken
vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of
Ammon.
011:037 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me:
let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the
mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
011:038 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she
went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the
mountains.
011:039 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she
returned unto her father, who did with her according to his
vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a
custom in Israel,
011:040 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the
daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
012:001 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went
northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou
over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not
call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee
with fire.
012:002 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great
strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye
delivered me not out of their hands.
012:003 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my
hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the
LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come
up unto me this day, to fight against me?
012:004 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and
fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim,
because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim
among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.
012:005 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the
Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which
were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said
unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
012:006 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said
Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then
they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and
there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two
thousand.
012:007 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the
Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
012:008 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
012:009 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent
abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons.
And he judged Israel seven years.
012:010 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
012:011 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged
Israel ten years.
012:012 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the
country of Zebulun.
012:013 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged
Israel.
012:014 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on
threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight
years.
012:015 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was
buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the
Amalekites.
013:001 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the
Philistines forty years.
013:002 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the
Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and
bare not.
013:003 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said
unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but
thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
013:004 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor
strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
013:005 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor
shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto
God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of
the hand of the Philistines.
013:006 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God
came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of
an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he
was, neither told he me his name:
013:007 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a
son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any
unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from
the womb to the day of his death.
013:008 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the
man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach
us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
013:009 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God
came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah
her husband was not with her.
013:010 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and
said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that
came unto me the other day.
013:011 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the
man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the
woman? And he said, I am.
013:012 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we
order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
013:013 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said
unto the woman let her beware.
013:014 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither
let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing:
all that I commanded her let her observe.
013:015 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let
us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
013:016 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain
me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a
burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah
knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
013:017 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name,
that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?
013:018 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus
after my name, seeing it is secret?
013:019 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon
a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and
Manoah and his wife looked on.
013:020 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from
off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the
flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and
fell on their faces to the ground.
013:021 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to
his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
013:022 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we
have seen God.
013:023 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill
us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat
offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all
these things, nor would as at this time have told us such
things as these.
013:024 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the
child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
013:025 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the
camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
014:001 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of
the daughters of the Philistines.
014:002 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said,
I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the
Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
014:003 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a
woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my
people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised
Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me;
for she pleaseth me well.
014:004 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the
LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for
at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
014:005 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to
Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a
young lion roared against him.
014:006 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent
him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his
hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had
done.
014:007 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased
Samson well.
014:008 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside
to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm
of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
014:009 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came
to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat:
but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the
carcase of the lion.
014:010 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there
a feast; for so used the young men to do.
014:011 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought
thirty companions to be with him.
014:012 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto
you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days
of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty
sheets and thirty change of garments:
014:013 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty
sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him,
Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
014:014 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and
out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in
three days expound the riddle.
014:015 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto
Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us
the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with
fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
014:016 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but
hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto
the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he
said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my
mother, and shall I tell it thee?
014:017 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast
lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told
her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to
the children of her people.
014:018 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day
before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? And what
is stronger than a lion? and he said unto them, If ye had not
plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
014:019 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to
Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil,
and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the
riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his
father's house.
014:020 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used
as his friend.
015:001 But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat
harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said,
I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would
not suffer him to go in.
015:002 And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly
hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her
younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead
of her.
015:003 And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless
than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
015:004 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took
firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in
the midst between two tails.
015:005 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into
the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the
shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and
olives.
015:006 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they
answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he
had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the
Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
015:007 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will
I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
015:008 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he
went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
015:009 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread
themselves in Lehi.
015:010 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And
they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as
he hath done to us.
015:011 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock
Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the
Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast
done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so
have I done unto them.
015:012 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we
may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson
said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me
yourselves.
015:013 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee
fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not
kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought
him up from the rock.
015:014 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against
him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and
the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was
burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
015:015 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand,
and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
015:016 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps,
with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
015:017 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that
he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that
place Ramathlehi.
015:018 And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said,
Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy
servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the
hand of the uncircumcised?
015:019 But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there
came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came
again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof
Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.
015:020 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty
years.
016:001 Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in
unto her.
016:002 And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither.
And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in
the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In
the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
016:003 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took
the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went
away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders,
and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before
Hebron.
016:004 And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the
valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
016:005 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said
unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength
lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we
may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one
of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
016:006 And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy
great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to
afflict thee.
016:007 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green
withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as
another man.
016:008 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven
green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with
them.
016:009 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the
chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee,
Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken
when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
016:010 And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and
told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou
mightest be bound.
016:011 And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that
never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another
man.
016:012 Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and
said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there
were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them
from off his arms like a thread.
016:013 And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me,
and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound.
And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my
head with the web.
016:014 And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The
Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his
sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the
web.
016:015 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when
thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three
times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
016:016 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her
words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
016:017 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath
not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite
unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my
strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like
any other man.
016:018 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she
sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come
up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the
lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money
in their hand.
016:019 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a
man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his
head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from
him.
016:020 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he
awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other
times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD
was departed from him.
016:021 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and
brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass;
and he did grind in the prison house.
016:022 Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was
shaven.
016:023 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for
to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to
rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our
enemy into our hand.
016:024 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they
said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the
destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
016:025 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they
said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they
called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them
sport: and they set him between the pillars.
016:026 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer
me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth,
that I may lean upon them.
016:027 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of
the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about
three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made
sport.
016:028 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord God,
remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only
this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the
Philistines for my two eyes.
016:029 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the
house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his
right hand, and of the other with his left.
016:030 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords,
and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which
he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his
life.
016:031 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down,
and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah
and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he
judged Israel twenty years.
017:001 And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
017:002 And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of
silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst,
and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with
me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the
LORD, my son.
017:003 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver
to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the
silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven
image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto
thee.
017:004 Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took
two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder,
who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they
were in the house of Micah.
017:005 And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and
teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his
priest.
017:006 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did
that which was right in his own eyes.
017:007 And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family
of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.
017:008 And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to
sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount
Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
017:009 And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto
him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn
where I may find a place.
017:010 And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a
father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of
silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals.
So the Levite went in.
017:011 And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the
young man was unto him as one of his sons.
017:012 And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his
priest, and was in the house of Micah.
017:013 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good,
seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
018:001 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days
the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell
in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen
unto them among the tribes of Israel.
018:002 And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from
their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to
spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them,
Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to
the house of Micah, they lodged there.
018:003 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of
the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said
unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in
this place? and what hast thou here?
018:004 And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me,
and hath hired me, and I am his priest.
018:005 And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God,
that we may know whether our way which we go shall be
prosperous.
018:006 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is
your way wherein ye go.
018:007 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the
people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the
manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no
magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any
thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no
business with any man.
018:008 And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and
their brethren said unto them, What say ye?
018:009 And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we
have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye
still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the
land.
018:010 When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large
land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where
there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.
018:011 And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out
of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with
weapons of war.
018:012 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah:
wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day:
behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
018:013 And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the
house of Micah.
018:014 Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of
Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is
in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image,
and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.
018:015 And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the
young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and
saluted him.
018:016 And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war,
which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of
the gate.
018:017 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and
came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and
the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in
the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were
appointed with weapons of war.
018:018 And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved
image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then
said the priest unto them, What do ye?
018:019 And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon
thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest:
is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one
man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in
Israel?
018:020 And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and
the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of
the people.
018:021 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the
cattle and the carriage before them.
018:022 And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men
that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered
together, and overtook the children of Dan.
018:023 And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their
faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest
with such a company?
018:024 And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the
priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what
is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?
018:025 And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be
heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou
lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.
018:026 And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw
that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back
unto his house.
018:027 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest
which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at
quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the
sword, and burnt the city with fire.
018:028 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and
they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley
that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt
therein.
018:029 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of
Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name
of the city was Laish at the first.
018:030 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan,
the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were
priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of
the land.
018:031 And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all
the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
019:001 And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in
Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side
of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of
Bethlehemjudah.
019:002 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away
from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was
there four whole months.
019:003 And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly
unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him,
and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's
house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced
to meet him.
019:004 And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and
he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and
lodged there.
019:005 And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early
in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's
father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a
morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.
019:006 And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them
together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be
content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart
be merry.
019:007 And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged
him: therefore he lodged there again.
019:008 And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart;
and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray
thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both
of them.
019:009 And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and
his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto
him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you
tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge
here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you
early on your way, that thou mayest go home.
019:010 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and
departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and
there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was
with him.
019:011 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the
servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us
turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
019:012 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither
into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of
Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.
019:013 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to
one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in
Ramah.
019:014 And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down
upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to
Benjamin.
019:015 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in
Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of
the city: for there was no man that took them into his house
to lodging.
019:016 And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the
field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he
sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.
019:017 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in
the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest
thou? and whence comest thou?
019:018 And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah
toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went
to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the
LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.
019:019 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there
is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for
the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of
any thing.
019:020 And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all
thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
019:021 So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the
asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
019:022 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of
the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about,
and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house,
the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine
house, that we may know him.
019:023 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and
said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so
wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not
this folly.
019:024 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them
I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them
what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a
thing.
019:025 But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his
concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her,
and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the
day began to spring, they let her go.
019:026 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down
at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was
light.
019:027 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of
the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman
his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and
her hands were upon the threshold.
019:028 And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none
answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man
rose up, and gat him unto his place.
019:029 And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid
hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her
bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of
Israel.
019:030 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such
deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel
came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of
it, take advice, and speak your minds.
020:001 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation
was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba,
with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
020:002 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of
Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of
God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.
020:003 (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of
Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of
Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?
020:004 And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain,
answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to
Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
020:005 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house
round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me:
and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.
020:006 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her
throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for
they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
020:007 Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice
and counsel.
020:008 And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any
of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his
house.
020:009 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we
will go up by lot against it;
020:010 And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the
tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand
out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that
they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according
to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.
020:011 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit
together as one man.
020:012 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of
Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among
you?
020:013 Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial,
which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put
away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not
hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.
020:014 But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out
of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the
children of Israel.
020:015 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of
the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside
the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred
chosen men.
020:016 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men
lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth,
and not miss.
020:017 And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four
hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of
war.
020:018 And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of
God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go
up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And
the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.
020:019 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and
encamped against Gibeah.
020:020 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and
the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against
them at Gibeah.
020:021 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and
destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty
and two thousand men.
020:022 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and
set their battle again in array in the place where they put
themselves in array the first day.
020:023 (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD
until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go
up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my
brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)
020:024 And the children of Israel came near against the children of
Benjamin the second day.
020:025 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second
day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of
Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
020:026 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up,
and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before
the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
020:027 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark
of the covenant of God was there in those days,
020:028 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood
before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to
battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I
cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver
them into thine hand.
020:029 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.
020:030 And the children of Israel went up against the children of
Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against
Gibeah, as at other times.
020:031 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and
were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the
people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which
one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in
the field, about thirty men of Israel.
020:032 And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down
before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said,
Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.
020:033 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put
themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of
Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows
of Gibeah.
020:034 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of
all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that
evil was near them.
020:035 And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of
Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five
thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.
020:036 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for
the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they
trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside
Gibeah.
020:037 And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the
liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city
with the edge of the sword.
020:038 Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and
the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with
smoke rise up out of the city.
020:039 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin
began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty
persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before
us, as in the first battle.
020:040 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a
pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and,
behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.
020:041 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin
were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
020:042 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel
unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them;
and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the
midst of them.
020:043 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased
them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward
the sunrising.
020:044 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these
were men of valour.
020:045 And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock
of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five
thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew
two thousand men of them.
020:046 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and
five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of
valour.
020:047 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the
rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.
020:048 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of
Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well
the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to
hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.
021:001 Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall
not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.
021:002 And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till
even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;
021:003 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in
Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in
Israel?
021:004 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early,
and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and
peace offerings.
021:005 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the
tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto
the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that
came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be
put to death.
021:006 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their
brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this
day.
021:007 How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have
sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters
to wives?
021:008 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that
came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came
none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
021:009 For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of
the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.
021:010 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the
valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the
inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with
the women and the children.
021:011 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly
destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
021:012 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four
hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any
male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is
in the land of Canaan.
021:013 And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children
of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call
peaceably unto them.
021:014 And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives
which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and
yet so they sufficed them not.
021:015 And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the
LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
021:016 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for
wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out
of Benjamin?
021:017 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be
escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of
Israel.
021:018 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the
children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that
giveth a wife to Benjamin.
021:019 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh
yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the
east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem,
and on the south of Lebonah.
021:020 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go
and lie in wait in the vineyards;
021:021 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to
dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch
you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to
the land of Benjamin.
021:022 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come
unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable
unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man
his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this
time, that ye should be guilty.
021:023 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives,
according to their number, of them that danced, whom they
caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and
repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
021:024 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every
man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from
thence every man to his inheritance.
021:025 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that
which was right in his own eyes.
Book 08 Ruth
001:001 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that
there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of
Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and
his wife, and his two sons.
001:002 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his
wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion,
Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country
of Moab, and continued there.
001:003 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her
two sons.
001:004 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the
one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they
dwelled there about ten years.
001:005 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman
was left of her two sons and her husband.
001:006 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might
return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the
country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in
giving them bread.
001:007 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and
her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to
return unto the land of Judah.
001:008 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each
to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye
have dealt with the dead, and with me.
001:009 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the
house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up
their voice, and wept.
001:010 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto
thy people.
001:011 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with
me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be
your husbands?
001:012 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to
have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should
have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
001:013 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay
for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it
grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is
gone out against me.
001:014 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah
kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
001:015 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her
people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in
law.
001:016 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and
where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God:
001:017 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the
LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee
and me.
001:018 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her,
then she left speaking unto her.
001:019 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to
pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was
moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
001:020 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for
the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
001:021 I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty:
why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified
against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
001:022 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in
law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and
they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
002:001 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of
wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
002:002 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the
field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall
find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
002:003 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the
reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field
belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
002:004 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the
reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD
bless thee.
002:005 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers,
Whose damsel is this?
002:006 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and
said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out
of the country of Moab:
002:007 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the
reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued
even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in
the house.
002:008 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go
not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but
abide here fast by my maidens:
002:009 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou
after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall
not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the
vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
002:010 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
002:011 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed
me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the
death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and
thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a
people which thou knewest not heretofore.
002:012 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee
of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to
trust.
002:013 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for
that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken
friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of
thine handmaidens.
002:014 And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat
of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat
beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she
did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
002:015 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young
men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and
reproach her not:
002:016 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and
leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
002:017 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she
had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
002:018 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in
law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave
to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
002:019 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned
to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take
knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom
she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought
to day is Boaz.
002:020 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the
LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to
the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto
us, one of our next kinsmen.
002:021 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt
keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my
harvest.
002:022 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my
daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet
thee not in any other field.
002:023 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end
of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her
mother in law.
003:001 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall
I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
003:002 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou
wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the
threshingfloor.
003:003 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment
upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not
thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating
and drinking.
003:004 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the
place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover
his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou
shalt do.
003:005 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
003:006 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all
that her mother in law bade her.
003:007 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he
went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came
softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
003:008 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and
turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
003:009 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine
handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for
thou art a near kinsman.
003:010 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for
thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the
beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether
poor or rich.
003:011 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that
thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that
thou art a virtuous woman.
003:012 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there
is a kinsman nearer than I.
003:013 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he
will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do
the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a
kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee,
as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
003:014 And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up
before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be
known that a woman came into the floor.
003:015 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and
hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of
barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
003:016 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art
thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done
to her.
003:017 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he
said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
003:018 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the
matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he
have finished the thing this day.
004:001 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and,
behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he
said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned
aside, and sat down.
004:002 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit
ye down here. And they sat down.
004:003 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of
the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our
brother Elimelech's:
004:004 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the
inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt
redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then
tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it
beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem
it.
004:005 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of
Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife
of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his
inheritance.
004:006 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I
mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for
I cannot redeem it.
004:007 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning
redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things;
a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and
this was a testimony in Israel.
004:008 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he
drew off his shoe.
004:009 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are
witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was
Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the
hand of Naomi.
004:010 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I
purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon
his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from
among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are
witnesses this day.
004:011 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders,
said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come
into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did
build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah,
and be famous in Bethlehem:
004:012 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare
unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this
young woman.
004:013 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in
unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
004:014 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath
not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be
famous in Israel.
004:015 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a
nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which
loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath
born him.
004:016 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became
nurse unto it.
004:017 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is
a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the
father of Jesse, the father of David.
004:018 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
004:019 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
004:020 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
004:021 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
004:022 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Book 09 1 Samuel
001:001 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount
Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son
of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
001:002 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the
name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but
Hannah had no children.
001:003 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to
sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons
of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were
there.
001:004 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to
Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,
portions:
001:005 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah:
but the LORD had shut up her womb.
001:006 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her
fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
001:007 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house
of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did
not eat.
001:008 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest
thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?
am not I better to thee than ten sons?
001:009 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after
they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post
of the temple of the LORD.
001:010 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD,
and wept sore.
001:011 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt
indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember
me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine
handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all
the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his
head.
001:012 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD,
that Eli marked her mouth.
001:013 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but
her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been
drunken.
001:014 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away
thy wine from thee.
001:015 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a
sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink,
but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
001:016 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of
the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken
hitherto.
001:017 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel
grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
001:018 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So
the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was
no more sad.
001:019 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before
the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
001:020 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after
Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name
Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
001:021 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto
the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
001:022 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will
not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring
him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for
ever.
001:023 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee
good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD
establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck
until she weaned him.
001:024 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with
three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine,
and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the
child was young.
001:025 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
001:026 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am
the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
001:027 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my
petition which I asked of him:
001:028 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he
liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the
LORD there.
002:001 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD,
mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over
mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
002:002 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee:
neither is there any rock like our God.
002:003 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out
of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed.
002:004 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled
are girded with strength.
002:005 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and
they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born
seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
002:006 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the
grave, and bringeth up.
002:007 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and
lifteth up.
002:008 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the
beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to
make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the
earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
002:009 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be
silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
002:010 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of
heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the
ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king,
and exalt the horn of his anointed.
002:011 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did
minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
002:012 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the
LORD.
002:013 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any
man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the
flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his
hand;
002:014 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot;
all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself.
So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came
thither.
002:015 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and
said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the
priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
002:016 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the
fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth;
then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now:
and if not, I will take it by force.
002:017 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the
LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
002:018 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded
with a linen ephod.
002:019 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to
him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to
offer the yearly sacrifice.
002:020 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give
thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the
LORD. And they went unto their own home.
002:021 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare
three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before
the LORD.
002:022 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all
Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
002:023 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of
your evil dealings by all this people.
002:024 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make
the LORD's people to transgress.
002:025 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but
if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him?
Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their
father, because the LORD would slay them.
002:026 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the
LORD, and also with men.
002:027 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus
saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy
father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
002:028 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my
priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an
ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father
all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
002:029 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which
I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons
above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the
offerings of Israel my people?
002:030 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy
house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for
ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that
honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be
lightly esteemed.
002:031 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the
arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man
in thine house.
002:032 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the
wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an
old man in thine house for ever.
002:033 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine
altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine
heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the
flower of their age.
002:034 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy
two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die
both of them.
002:035 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do
according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I
will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine
anointed for ever.
002:036 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in
thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver
and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee,
into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of
bread.
003:001 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And
the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no
open vision.
003:002 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in
his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not
see;
003:003 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD,
where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
003:004 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
003:005 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst
me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and
lay down.
003:006 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and
went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And
he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
003:007 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of
the LORD yet revealed unto him.
003:008 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose
and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
003:009 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be,
if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy
servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
003:010 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,
Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant
heareth.
003:011 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in
Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it
shall tingle.
003:012 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have
spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an
end.
003:013 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for
the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made
themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
003:014 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the
iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor
offering for ever.
003:015 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the
house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
003:016 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he
answered, Here am I.
003:017 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto
thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and
more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things
that he said unto thee.
003:018 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And
he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
003:019 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none
of his words fall to the ground.
003:020 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was
established to be a prophet of the LORD.
003:021 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed
himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
004:001 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out
against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside
Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
004:002 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel:
and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the
Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four
thousand men.
004:003 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of
Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before
the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the
LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it
may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
004:004 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from
thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which
dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant
of God.
004:005 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the
camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth
rang again.
004:006 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they
said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp
of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD
was come into the camp.
004:007 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come
into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not
been such a thing heretofore.
004:008 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these
mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with
all the plagues in the wilderness.
004:009 Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that
ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you:
quit yourselves like men, and fight.
004:010 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they
fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great
slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
004:011 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni
and Phinehas, were slain.
004:012 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to
Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon
his head.
004:013 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside
watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when
the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried
out.
004:014 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What
meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily,
and told Eli.
004:015 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim,
that he could not see.
004:016 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army,
and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there
done, my son?
004:017 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the
Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among
the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are
dead, and the ark of God is taken.
004:018 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God,
that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the
gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man,
and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
004:019 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near
to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark
of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband
were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came
upon her.
004:020 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her
said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she
answered not, neither did she regard it.
004:021 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed
from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of
her father in law and her husband.
004:022 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark
of God is taken.
005:001 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from
Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
005:002 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into
the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
005:003 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold,
Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of
the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
005:004 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon
was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the
LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands
were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was
left to him.
005:005 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into
Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto
this day.
005:006 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he
destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and
the coasts thereof.
005:007 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The
ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand
is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
005:008 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the
Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark
of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the
God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the
ark of the God of Israel about thither.
005:009 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand
of the LORD was against the city with a very great
destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and
great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
005:010 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to
pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God
of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
005:011 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel,
and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and
our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all
the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
005:012 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and
the cry of the city went up to heaven.
006:001 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines
seven months.
006:002 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,
saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us
wherewith we shall send it to his place.
006:003 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel,
send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass
offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to
you why his hand is not removed from you.
006:004 Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we
shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and
five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the
Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
006:005 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of
your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the
God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off
you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
006:006 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and
Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully
among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
006:007 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on
which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart,
and bring their calves home from them:
006:008 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and
put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass
offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away,
that it may go.
006:009 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to
Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not,
then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it
was a chance that happened to us.
006:010 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to
the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
006:011 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the
coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.
006:012 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh,
and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned
not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of
the Philistines went after them unto the border of
Bethshemesh.
006:013 And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in
the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark,
and rejoiced to see it.
006:014 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and
stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the
wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto
the LORD.
006:015 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer
that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put
them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered
burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto
the LORD.
006:016 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they
returned to Ekron the same day.
006:017 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines
returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod
one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron
one;
006:018 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities
of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced
cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of
Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone
remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the
Bethshemite.
006:019 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked
into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty
thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented,
because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great
slaughter.
006:020 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before
this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
006:021 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim,
saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the
LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
007:001 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of
the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the
hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the
LORD.
007:002 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim,
that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the
house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
007:003 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye
do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away
the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare
your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will
deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
007:004 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth,
and served the LORD only.
007:005 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray
for you unto the LORD.
007:006 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and
poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and
said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged
the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
007:007 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel
were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines
went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard
it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
007:008 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry
unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the
hand of the Philistines.
007:009 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt
offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD
for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
007:010 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the
Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the
Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten
before Israel.
007:011 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the
Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
007:012 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen,
and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the
LORD helped us.
007:013 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into
the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the
Philistines all the days of Samuel.
007:014 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel
were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the
coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the
Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the
Amorites.
007:015 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
007:016 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and
Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
007:017 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and
there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the
LORD.
008:001 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his
sons judges over Israel.
008:002 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his
second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
008:003 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after
lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
008:004 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,
and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
008:005 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not
in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the
nations.
008:006 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a
king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
008:007 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the
people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not
rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not
reign over them.
008:008 According to all the works which they have done since the day
that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day,
wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do
they also unto thee.
008:009 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest
solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that
shall reign over them.
008:010 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that
asked of him a king.
008:011 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall
reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for
himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some
shall run before his chariots.
008:012 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains
over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap
his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and
instruments of his chariots.
008:013 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to
be cooks, and to be bakers.
008:014 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your
oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his
servants.
008:015 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
008:016 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and
your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his
work.
008:017 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his
servants.
008:018 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye
shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that
day.
008:019 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel;
and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
008:020 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king
may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
008:021 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed
them in the ears of the LORD.
008:022 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and
make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go
ye every man unto his city.
009:001 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son
of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of
Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
009:002 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and
a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a
goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was
higher than any of the people.
009:003 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said
to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and
arise, go seek the asses.
009:004 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the
land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed
through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he
passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them
not.
009:005 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his
servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my
father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
009:006 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man
of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh
surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can
shew us our way that we should go.
009:007 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what
shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels,
and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what
have we?
009:008 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have
here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will
I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
009:009 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus
he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now
called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
009:010 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So
they went unto the city where the man of God was.
009:011 And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young
maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the
seer here?
009:012 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before
you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there
is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
009:013 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find
him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people
will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the
sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now
therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
009:014 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into
the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up
to the high place.
009:015 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul
came, saying,
009:016 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the
land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over
my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand
of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because
their cry is come unto me.
009:017 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the
man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my
people.
009:018 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me,
I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
009:019 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up
before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to
day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all
that is in thine heart.
009:020 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not
thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the
desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's
house?
009:021 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the
smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of
all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then
speakest thou so to me?
009:022 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into
the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among
them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
009:023 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave
thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
009:024 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it,
and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is
left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it
been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So
Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
009:025 And when they were come down from the high place into the
city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
009:026 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of
the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house,
saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and
they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
009:027 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel
said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he
passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee
the word of God.
010:001 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head,
and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath
anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
010:002 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find
two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at
Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou
wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the
care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I
do for my son?
010:003 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come
to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men
going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and
another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a
bottle of wine:
010:004 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread;
which thou shalt receive of their hands.
010:005 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the
garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when
thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a
company of prophets coming down from the high place with a
psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;
and they shall prophesy:
010:006 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt
prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
010:007 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou
do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
010:008 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I
will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to
sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou
tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
010:009 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from
Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came
to pass that day.
010:010 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of
prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he
prophesied among them.
010:011 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw
that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the
people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the
son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
010:012 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their
father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the
prophets?
010:013 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the
high place.
010:014 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither
went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that
they were no where, we came to Samuel.
010:015 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said
unto you.
010:016 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the
asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof
Samuel spake, he told him not.
010:017 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
010:018 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God
of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you
out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all
kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
010:019 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you
out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have
said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore
present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your
thousands.
010:020 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come
near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
010:021 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their
families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of
Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be
found.
010:022 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should
yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid
himself among the stuff.
010:023 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among
the people, he was higher than any of the people from his
shoulders and upward.
010:024 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD
hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?
And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
010:025 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and
wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel
sent all the people away, every man to his house.
010:026 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a
band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
010:027 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us?
And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held
his peace.
011:001 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make
a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
011:002 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will
I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your
right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
011:003 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days'
respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of
Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come
out to thee.
011:004 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the
tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted
up their voices, and wept.
011:005 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and
Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they
told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
011:006 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those
tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
011:007 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent
them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of
messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and
after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear
of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one
consent.
011:008 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel
were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty
thousand.
011:009 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say
unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun
be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed
it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
011:010 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out
unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto
you.
011:011 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three
companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the
morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the
day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were
scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
011:012 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall
Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to
death.
011:013 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day:
for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
011:014 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal,
and renew the kingdom there.
011:015 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul
king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed
sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul
and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
012:001 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto
your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king
over you.
012:002 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and
grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have
walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
012:003 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and
before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have
I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or
of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes
therewith? and I will restore it you.
012:004 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us,
neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
012:005 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and
his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought
in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
012:006 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced
Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the
land of Egypt.
012:007 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before
the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did
to you and to your fathers.
012:008 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto
the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought
forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this
place.
012:009 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the
hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the
hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of
Moab, and they fought against them.
012:010 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned,
because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and
Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies,
and we will serve thee.
012:011 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and
Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on
every side, and ye dwelled safe.
012:012 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon
came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign
over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
012:013 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye
have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
012:014 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice,
and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall
both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue
following the LORD your God:
012:015 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel
against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of
the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
012:016 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD
will do before your eyes.
012:017 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and
he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see
that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight
of the LORD, in asking you a king.
012:018 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and
rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and
Samuel.
012:019 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants
unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto
all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
012:020 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all
this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD,
but serve the LORD with all your heart;
012:021 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain
things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
012:022 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's
sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
012:023 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the
LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good
and the right way:
012:024 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your
heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
012:025 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both
ye and your king.
013:001 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over
Israel,
013:002 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two
thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a
thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the
rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
013:003 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in
Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the
trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
013:004 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of
the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination
with the Philistines. And the people were called together
after Saul to Gilgal.
013:005 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with
Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen,
and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude:
and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from
Bethaven.
013:006 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for
the people were distressed,) then the people did hide
themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in
high places, and in pits.
013:007 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad
and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the
people followed him trembling.
013:008 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that
Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the
people were scattered from him.
013:009 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace
offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
013:010 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of
offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul
went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
013:011 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I
saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou
camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines
gathered themselves together at Michmash;
013:012 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me
to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I
forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
013:013 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast
not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he
commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy
kingdom upon Israel for ever.
013:014 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought
him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him
to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that
which the LORD commanded thee.
013:015 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of
Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with
him, about six hundred men.
013:016 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were
present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the
Philistines encamped in Michmash.
013:017 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in
three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth
to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
013:018 And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another
company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the
valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
013:019 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them
swords or spears:
013:020 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and
his mattock.
013:021 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters,
and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.
013:022 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was
neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people
that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with
Jonathan his son was there found.
013:023 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of
Michmash.
014:001 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul
said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us
go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other
side. But he told not his father.
014:002 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a
pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were
with him were about six hundred men;
014:003 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of
Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing
an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
014:004 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over
unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the
one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of
the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
014:005 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against
Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
014:006 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come,
and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised:
it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no
restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
014:007 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine
heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy
heart.
014:008 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men,
and we will discover ourselves unto them.
014:009 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we
will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
014:010 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for
the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be
a sign unto us.
014:011 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of
the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews
come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
014:012 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his
armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a
thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after
me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
014:013 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and
his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and
his armourbearer slew after him.
014:014 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer
made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of
land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
014:015 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among
all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also
trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great
trembling.
014:016 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and,
behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating
down one another.
014:017 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now,
and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered,
behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.
014:018 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the
ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
014:019 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that
the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and
increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
014:020 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled
themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every
man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great
discomfiture.
014:021 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before
that time, which went up with them into the camp from the
country round about, even they also turned to be with the
Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.
014:022 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in
mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even
they also followed hard after them in the battle.
014:023 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over
unto Bethaven.
014:024 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had
adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any
food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So
none of the people tasted any food.
014:025 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey
upon the ground.
014:026 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey
dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people
feared the oath.
014:027 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with
the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was
in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand
to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
014:028 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly
charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man
that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
014:029 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I
pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I
tasted a little of this honey.
014:030 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of
the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not
been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
014:031 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to
Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
014:032 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen,
and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did
eat them with the blood.
014:033 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against
the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye
have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
014:034 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say
unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his
sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the
LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought
every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
014:035 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first
altar that he built unto the LORD.
014:036 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night,
and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a
man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto
thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
014:037 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?
But he answered him not that day.
014:038 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the
people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
014:039 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in
Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man
among all the people that answered him.
014:040 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and
Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said
unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
014:041 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a
perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people
escaped.
014:042 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And
Jonathan was taken.
014:043 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And
Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey
with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must
die.
014:044 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt
surely die, Jonathan.
014:045 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath
wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the
LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the
ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people
rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
014:046 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the
Philistines went to their own place.
014:047 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all
his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the
children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of
Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he
turned himself, he vexed them.
014:048 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and
delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
014:049 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua:
and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the
firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
014:050 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of
Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner,
the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
014:051 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner
was the son of Abiel.
014:052 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of
Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he
took him unto him.
015:001 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to
be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken
thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
015:002 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did
to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came
up from Egypt.
015:003 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they
have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant
and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
015:004 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in
Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of
Judah.
015:005 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the
valley.
015:006 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from
among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye
shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came
up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the
Amalekites.
015:007 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest
to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
015:008 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly
destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
015:009 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the
sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs,
and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but
every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed
utterly.
015:010 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
015:011 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is
turned back from following me, and hath not performed my
commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the
LORD all night.
015:012 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was
told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set
him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone
down to Gilgal.
015:013 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be
thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the
LORD.
015:014 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep
in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
015:015 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for
the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to
sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly
destroyed.
015:016 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what
the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say
on.
015:017 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight,
wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the
LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
015:018 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly
destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them
until they be consumed.
015:019 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but
didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the
LORD?
015:020 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the
LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have
brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed
the Amalekites.
015:021 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of
the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to
sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
015:022 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than
the fat of rams.
015:023 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is
as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word
of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
015:024 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have
transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words:
because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
015:025 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with
me, that I may worship the LORD.
015:026 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for
thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath
rejected thee from being king over Israel.
015:027 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the
skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
015:028 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of
Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of
thine, that is better than thou.
015:029 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for
he is not a man, that he should repent.
015:030 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee,
before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn
again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
015:031 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the
LORD.
015:032 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the
Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said,
Surely the bitterness of death is past.
015:033 And Samuel said, As the sword hath made women childless, so
shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed
Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
015:034 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to
Gibeah of Saul.
015:035 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his
death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD
repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
016:001 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for
Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse
the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his
sons.
016:002 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill
me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am
come to sacrifice to the LORD.
016:003 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what
thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name
unto thee.
016:004 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to
Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming,
and said, Comest thou peaceably?
016:005 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD:
sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he
sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the
sacrifice.
016:006 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on
Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
016:007 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or
on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for
the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
016:008 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel.
And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
016:009 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath
the LORD chosen this.
016:010 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And
Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
016:011 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he
said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he
keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch
him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
016:012 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal
of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the
LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
016:013 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the
midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon
David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to
Ramah.
016:014 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil
spirit from the LORD troubled him.
016:015 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit
from God troubleth thee.
016:016 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee,
to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it
shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon
thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be
well.
016:017 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can
play well, and bring him to me.
016:018 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have
seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in
playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and
prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with
him.
016:019 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me
David thy son, which is with the sheep.
016:020 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine,
and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
016:021 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him
greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
016:022 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand
before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
016:023 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon
Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so
Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed
from him.
017:001 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle,
and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to
Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
017:002 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and
pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array
against the Philistines.
017:003 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and
Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a
valley between them.
017:004 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six
cubits and a span.
017:005 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed
with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five
thousand shekels of brass.
017:006 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of
brass between his shoulders.
017:007 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his
spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one
bearing a shield went before him.
017:008 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said
unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am
not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man
for you, and let him come down to me.
017:009 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we
be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him,
then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
017:010 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day;
give me a man, that we may fight together.
017:011 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine,
they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
017:012 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah,
whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went
among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
017:013 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to
the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the
battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab,
and the third Shammah.
017:014 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed
Saul.
017:015 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's
sheep at Bethlehem.
017:016 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and
presented himself forty days.
017:017 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren
an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run
to the camp of thy brethren;
017:018 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their
thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their
pledge.
017:019 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the
valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
017:020 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep
with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him;
and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the
fight, and shouted for the battle.
017:021 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array,
army against army.
017:022 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the
carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his
brethren.
017:023 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the
champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the
armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same
words: and David heard them.
017:024 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from
him, and were sore afraid.
017:025 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come
up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that
the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great
riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's
house free in Israel.
017:026 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What
shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and
taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of
the living God?
017:027 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So
shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
017:028 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men;
and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why
camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those
few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the
naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou
mightest see the battle.
017:029 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
017:030 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the
same manner: and the people answered him again after the
former manner.
017:031 And when the words were heard which David spake, they
rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
017:032 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of
him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
017:033 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this
Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he
a man of war from his youth.
017:034 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep,
and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the
flock:
017:035 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out
of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by
his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
017:036 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he
hath defied the armies of the living God.
017:037 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw
of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver
me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto
David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
017:038 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of
brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
017:039 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to
go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I
cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David
put them off him.
017:040 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth
stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag
which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand:
and he drew near to the Philistine.
017:041 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the
man that bare the shield went before him.
017:042 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he
disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a
fair countenance.
017:043 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou
comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by
his gods.
017:044 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give
thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the
field.
017:045 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a
sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee
in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of
Israel, whom thou hast defied.
017:046 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will
smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the
carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the
fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
017:047 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with
sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will
give you into our hands.
017:048 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and
drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward
the army to meet the Philistine.
017:049 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone,
and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that
the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to
the earth.
017:050 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a
stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was
no sword in the hand of David.
017:051 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took
his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew
him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines
saw their champion was dead, they fled.
017:052 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and
pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to
the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell
down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
017:053 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the
Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
017:054 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to
Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
017:055 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he
said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is
this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I
cannot tell.
017:056 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
017:057 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine,
Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of
the Philistine in his hand.
017:058 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And
David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the
Bethlehemite.
018:001 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto
Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of
David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
018:002 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home
to his father's house.
018:003 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him
as his own soul.
018:004 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him,
and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and
to his bow, and to his girdle.
018:005 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved
himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he
was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the
sight of Saul's servants.
018:006 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from
the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of
all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul,
with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
018:007 And the women answered one another as they played, and said,
Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
018:008 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he
said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me
they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more
but the kingdom?
018:009 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
018:010 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from
God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the
house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and
there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
018:011 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David
even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his
presence twice.
018:012 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him,
and was departed from Saul.
018:013 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain
over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the
people.
018:014 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD
was with him.
018:015 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely,
he was afraid of him.
018:016 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and
came in before them.
018:017 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her
will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and
fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be
upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
018:018 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my
father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the
king?
018:019 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter
should have been given to David, that she was given unto
Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
018:020 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul,
and the thing pleased him.
018:021 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to
him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.
Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in
law in the one of the twain.
018:022 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David
secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and
all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in
law.
018:023 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David.
And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's
son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
018:024 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner
spake David.
018:025 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth
not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to
be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make
David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
018:026 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David
well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not
expired.
018:027 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of
the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their
foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that
he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal
his daughter to wife.
018:028 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that
Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
018:029 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became
David's enemy continually.
018:030 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to
pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more
wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was
much set by.
019:001 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants,
that they should kill David.
019:002 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan
told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now
therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the
morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
019:003 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field
where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and
what I see, that I will tell thee.
019:004 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and
said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant,
against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and
because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
019:005 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou
sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin
against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
019:006 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware,
As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
019:007 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those
things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his
presence, as in times past.
019:008 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with
the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and
they fled from him.
019:009 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in
his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with
his hand.
019:010 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the
javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he
smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped
that night.
019:011 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him,
and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told
him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow
thou shalt be slain.
019:012 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and
fled, and escaped.
019:013 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a
pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a
cloth.
019:014 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is
sick.
019:015 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring
him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
019:016 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an
image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his
bolster.
019:017 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and
sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered
Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
019:018 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and
told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went
and dwelt in Naioth.
019:019 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in
Ramah.
019:020 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the
company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as
appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers
of Saul, and they also prophesied.
019:021 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they
prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third
time, and they prophesied also.
019:022 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is
in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David?
And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
019:023 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God
was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he
came to Naioth in Ramah.
019:024 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before
Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all
that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the
prophets?
020:001 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before
Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is
my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
020:002 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold,
my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he
will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from
me? it is not so.
020:003 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly
knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith,
Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as
the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step
between me and death.
020:004 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I
will even do it for thee.
020:005 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new
moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but
let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third
day at even.
020:006 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked
leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there
is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
020:007 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but
if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by
him.
020:008 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou
hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with
thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me
thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
020:009 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew
certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon
thee, then would not I tell it thee?
020:010 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy
father answer thee roughly?
020:011 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the
field. And they went out both of them into the field.
020:012 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I
have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third
day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then
send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
020:013 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my
father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send
thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with
thee, as he hath been with my father.
020:014 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness
of the LORD, that I die not:
020:015 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for
ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David
every one from the face of the earth.
020:016 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying,
Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
020:017 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved
him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
020:018 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and
thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
020:019 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down
quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself
when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone
Ezel.
020:020 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I
shot at a mark.
020:021 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the
arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows
are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there
is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
020:022 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are
beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
020:023 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of,
behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
020:024 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was
come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
020:025 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a
seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's
side, and David's place was empty.
020:026 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he
thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely
he is not clean.
020:027 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of
the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto
Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to
meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
020:028 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me
to go to Bethlehem:
020:029 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a
sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to
be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let
me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he
cometh not unto the king's table.
020:030 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said
unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I
know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own
confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
020:031 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou
shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send
and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
020:032 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him,
Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
020:033 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan
knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
020:034 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat
no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for
David, because his father had done him shame.
020:035 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out
into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little
lad with him.
020:036 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I
shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
020:037 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which
Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is
not the arrow beyond thee?
020:038 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not.
And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his
master.
020:039 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew
the matter.
020:040 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto
him, Go, carry them to the city.
020:041 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place
toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and
bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and
wept one with another, until David exceeded.
020:042 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have
sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be
between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for
ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the
city.
021:001 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech
was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art
thou alone, and no man with thee?
021:002 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath
commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man
know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and
what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants
to such and such a place.
021:003 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of
bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
021:004 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common
bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the
young men have kept themselves at least from women.
021:005 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth
women have been kept from us about these three days, since I
came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the
bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified
this day in the vessel.
021:006 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread
there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD,
to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
021:007 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day,
detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite,
the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
021:008 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under
thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword
nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required
haste.
021:009 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom
thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped
in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it:
for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is
none like that; give it me.
021:010 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went
to Achish the king of Gath.
021:011 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David
the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him
in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David
his ten thousands?
021:012 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore
afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
021:013 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself
mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate,
and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
021:014 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad:
wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
021:015 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to
play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into
my house?
022:001 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave
Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house
heard it, they went down thither to him.
022:002 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in
debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves
unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were
with him about four hundred men.
022:003 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the
king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come
forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
022:004 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt
with him all the while that David was in the hold.
022:005 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold;
depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David
departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
022:006 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that
were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in
Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were
standing about him;)
022:007 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear
now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of
you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of
thousands, and captains of hundreds;
022:008 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none
that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of
Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or
sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against
me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
022:009 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the
servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to
Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
022:010 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals,
and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
022:011 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of
Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in
Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
022:012 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered,
Here I am, my lord.
022:013 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou
and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a
sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise
against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
022:014 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so
faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's
son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in
thine house?
022:015 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me:
let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all
the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all
this, less or more.
022:016 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and
all thy father's house.
022:017 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn,
and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is
with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not
shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put
forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
022:018 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the
priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the
priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that
did wear a linen ephod.
022:019 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of
the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and
oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
022:020 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named
Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
022:021 And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's
priests.
022:022 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg
the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have
occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
022:023 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life
seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
023:001 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight
against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
023:002 Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and
smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and
smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
023:003 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in
Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the
armies of the Philistines?
023:004 Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD
answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will
deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
023:005 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the
Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them
with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of
Keilah.
023:006 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled
to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his
hand.
023:007 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul
said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut
in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
023:008 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to
Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
023:009 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against
him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the
ephod.
023:010 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath
certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to
destroy the city for my sake.
023:011 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul
come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I
beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will
come down.
023:012 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men
into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver
thee up.
023:013 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose
and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could
go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah;
and he forbare to go forth.
023:014 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and
remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul
sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
023:015 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and
David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
023:016 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the
wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
023:017 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father
shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I
shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
023:018 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode
in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
023:019 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the
hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
023:020 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire
of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him
into the king's hand.
023:021 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have
compassion on me.
023:022 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where
his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me
that he dealeth very subtilly.
023:023 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places
where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the
certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass,
if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout
all the thousands of Judah.
023:024 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and
his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the
south of Jeshimon.
023:025 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David;
wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after
David in the wilderness of Maon.
023:026 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his
men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get
away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David
and his men round about to take them.
023:027 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and
come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
023:028 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went
against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Selahammahlekoth.
023:029 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at
Engedi.
024:001 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the
Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in
the wilderness of Engedi.
024:002 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel,
and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild
goats.
024:003 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave;
and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men
remained in the sides of the cave.
024:004 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which
the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy
into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem
good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of
Saul's robe privily.
024:005 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him,
because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
024:006 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do
this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch
forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the
LORD.
024:007 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered
them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the
cave, and went on his way.
024:008 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and
cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul
looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth,
and bowed himself.
024:009 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words,
saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
024:010 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had
delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some
bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I
will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the
LORD's anointed.
024:011 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my
hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed
thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor
transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against
thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
024:012 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of
thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
024:013 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth
from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
024:014 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost
thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
024:015 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee,
and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
024:016 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking
these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my
son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
024:017 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou
hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
024:018 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well
with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into
thine hand, thou killedst me not.
024:019 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?
wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done
unto me this day.
024:020 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine
hand.
024:021 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not
cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my
name out of my father's house.
024:022 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and
his men gat them up unto the hold.
025:001 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered
together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at
Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of
Paran.
025:002 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel;
and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep,
and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
025:003 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife
Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a
beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in
his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
025:004 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his
sheep.
025:005 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the
young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet
him in my name:
025:006 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace
be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be
unto all that thou hast.
025:007 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy
shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was
there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in
Carmel.
025:008 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the
young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good
day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto
thy servants, and to thy son David.
025:009 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according
to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
025:010 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David?
and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days
that break away every man from his master.
025:011 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I
have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know
not whence they be?
025:012 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and
came and told him all those sayings.
025:013 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword.
And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded
on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred
men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
025:014 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying,
Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute
our master; and he railed on them.
025:015 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt,
neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant
with them, when we were in the fields:
025:016 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while
we were with them keeping the sheep.
025:017 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is
determined against our master, and against all his household:
for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to
him.
025:018 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two
bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five
measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins,
and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
025:019 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I
come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
025:020 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by
the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came
down against her; and she met them.
025:021 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this
fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of
all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for
good.
025:022 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave
of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that
pisseth against the wall.
025:023 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the
ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to
the ground,
025:024 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let
this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak
in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
025:025 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even
Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and
folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men
of my lord, whom thou didst send.
025:026 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul
liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to
shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now
let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as
Nabal.
025:027 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto
my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow
my lord.
025:028 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the
LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord
fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found
in thee all thy days.
025:029 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but
the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with
the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall
he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
025:030 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my
lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning
thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
025:031 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart
unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or
that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall
have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
025:032 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel,
which sent thee this day to meet me:
025:033 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast
kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging
myself with mine own hand.
025:034 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath
kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and
come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by
the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
025:035 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him,
and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have
hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
025:036 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his
house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry
within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him
nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
025:037 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out
of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his
heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
025:038 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote
Nabal, that he died.
025:039 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be
the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the
hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the
LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.
And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him
to wife.
025:040 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel,
they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take
thee to him to wife.
025:041 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and
said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet
of the servants of my lord.
025:042 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five
damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the
messengers of David, and became his wife.
025:043 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of
them his wives.
025:044 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to
Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
026:001 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon?
026:002 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,
having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek
David in the wilderness of Ziph.
026:003 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before
Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and
he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
026:004 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was
come in very deed.
026:005 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched:
and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son
of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench,
and the people pitched round about him.
026:006 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to
Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will
go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will
go down with thee.
026:007 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold,
Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in
the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round
about him.
026:008 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy
into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I
pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I
will not smite him the second time.
026:009 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be
guiltless?
026:010 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall
smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend
into battle, and perish.
026:011 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against
the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear
that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
026:012 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's
bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew
it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep
sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
026:013 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top
of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
026:014 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner,
saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and
said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
026:015 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who
is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept
thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to
destroy the king thy lord.
026:016 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD
liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your
master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's
spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
026:017 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my
son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
026:018 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
026:019 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against
me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of
men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me
out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD,
saying, Go, serve other gods.
026:020 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the
face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a
flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
026:021 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I
will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in
thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have
erred exceedingly.
026:022 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let
one of the young men come over and fetch it.
026:023 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his
faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day,
but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's
anointed.
026:024 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD,
and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
026:025 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou
shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So
David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
027:001 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the
hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I
should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and
Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of
Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
027:002 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men
that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of
Gath.
027:003 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man
with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
027:004 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he
sought no more again for him.
027:005 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine
eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country,
that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in
the royal city with thee?
027:006 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag
pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
027:007 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the
Philistines was a full year and four months.
027:008 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and
the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of
old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even
unto the land of Egypt.
027:009 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman
alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses,
and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to
Achish.
027:010 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David
said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the
Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
027:011 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings
to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did
David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in
the country of the Philistines.
027:012 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people
Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant
for ever.
028:001 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines
gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with
Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that
thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
028:002 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy
servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I
make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
028:003 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and
buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put
away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of
the land.
028:004 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and
pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and
they pitched in Gilboa.
028:005 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid,
and his heart greatly trembled.
028:006 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not,
neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
028:007 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And
his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor.
028:008 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he
went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by
night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto
thee.
028:009 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul
hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar
spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then
layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
028:010 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth,
there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
028:011 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he
said, Bring me up Samuel.
028:012 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice:
and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived
me? for thou art Saul.
028:013 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest
thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out
of the earth.
028:014 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old
man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul
perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to
the ground, and bowed himself.
028:015 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring
me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the
Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me,
and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams:
therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto
me what I shall do.
028:016 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing
the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
028:017 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD
hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy
neighbour, even to David:
028:018 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor
executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the
LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
028:019 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the
hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons
be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel
into the hand of the Philistines.
028:020 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was
sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no
strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor
all the night.
028:021 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore
troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath
obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have
hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
028:022 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice
of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before
thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest
on thy way.
028:023 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants,
together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto
their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
028:024 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and
killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake
unleavened bread thereof:
028:025 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and
they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
029:001 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to
Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in
Jezreel.
029:002 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by
thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward
with Achish.
029:003 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these
Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the
Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king
of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years,
and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto
this day?
029:004 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and
the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow
return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast
appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest
in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should
he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with
the heads of these men?
029:005 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances,
saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
029:006 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the
LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy
coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have
not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me
unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
029:007 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not
the lords of the Philistines.
029:008 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what
hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with
thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the
enemies of my lord the king?
029:009 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art
good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the
princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with
us to the battle.
029:010 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's
servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up
early in the morning, and have light, depart.
029:011 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning,
to return into the land of the Philistines. And the
Philistines went up to Jezreel.
030:001 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to
Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the
south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with
fire;
030:002 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew
not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and
went on their way.
030:003 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was
burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their
daughters, were taken captives.
030:004 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their
voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
030:005 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
030:006 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of
stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved,
every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David
encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
030:007 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray
thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither
the ephod to David.
030:008 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after
this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him,
Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail
recover all.
030:009 So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him,
and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind
stayed.
030:010 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred
abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over
the brook Besor.
030:011 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to
David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him
drink water;
030:012 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters
of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to
him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three
days and three nights.
030:013 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence
art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to
an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone
I fell sick.
030:014 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and
upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of
Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
030:015 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this
company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt
neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master,
and I will bring thee down to this company.
030:016 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread
abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing,
because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the
land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
030:017 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening
of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save
four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
030:018 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away:
and David rescued his two wives.
030:019 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor
great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any
thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
030:020 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave
before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
030:021 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint
that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to
abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David,
and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came
near to the people, he saluted them.
030:022 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those
that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us,
we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have
recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that
they may lead them away, and depart.
030:023 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that
which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and
delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
030:024 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part
is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that
tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
030:025 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute
and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
030:026 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the
elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present
for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;
030:027 To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south
Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,
030:028 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in
Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,
030:029 And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in
the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the
cities of the Kenites,
030:030 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in
Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,
030:031 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where
David himself and his men were wont to haunt.
031:001 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of
Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain
in mount Gilboa.
031:002 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons;
and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and
Melchishua, Saul's sons.
031:003 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit
him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
031:004 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and
thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and
thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would
not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and
fell upon it.
031:005 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell
likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
031:006 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and
all his men, that same day together.
031:007 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the
valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that
the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead,
they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came
and dwelt in them.
031:008 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came
to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons
fallen in mount Gilboa.
031:009 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and
sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish
it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
031:010 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they
fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
031:011 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which
the Philistines had done to Saul;
031:012 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the
body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
031:013 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at
Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Book 10 2 Samuel
001:001 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was
returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had
abode two days in Ziklag;
001:002 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man
came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and
earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David,
that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
001:003 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said
unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
001:004 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee,
tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the
battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and
Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
001:005 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest
thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
001:006 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance
upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and,
lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
001:007 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me.
And I answered, Here am I.
001:008 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an
Amalekite.
001:009 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay
me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole
in me.
001:010 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he
could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown
that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm,
and have brought them hither unto my lord.
001:011 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and
likewise all the men that were with him:
001:012 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.
001:013 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art
thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an
Amalekite.
001:014 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch
forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
001:015 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and
fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
001:016 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.
001:017 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son:
001:018 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the
bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
001:019 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are
the mighty fallen!
001:020 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.
001:021 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there
be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the
shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul,
as though he had not been anointed with oil.
001:022 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the
bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul
returned not empty.
001:023 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and
in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than
eagles, they were stronger than lions.
001:024 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in
scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold
upon your apparel.
001:025 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O
Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
001:026 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.
001:027 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
002:001 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired 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.
002:002 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
002:003 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man
with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
002:004 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 Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
002:005 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, 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.
002:006 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also
will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this
thing.
002:007 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.
002:008 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took
Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
002:009 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and
over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over
all Israel.
002:010 Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to
reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of
Judah followed David.
002:011 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of
Judah was seven years and six months.
002:012 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the
son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
002:013 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went
out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat
down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on
the other side of the pool.
002:014 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play
before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
002:015 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin,
which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of
the servants of David.
002:016 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust
his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together:
wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in
Gibeon.
002:017 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was
beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
002:018 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai,
and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
002:019 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to
the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
002:020 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And
he answered, I am.
002:021 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 his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from
following of him.
002:022 And 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 thy brother?
002:023 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the
hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that
the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and
died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as
came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
002:024 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.
002:025 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together
after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an
hill.
002:026 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?
002:027 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely
then in the morning the people had gone up every one from
following his brother.
002:028 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and
pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
002:029 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain,
and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they
came to Mahanaim.
002:030 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had
gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's
servants nineteen men and Asahel.
002:031 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of
Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
002:032 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of
his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went
all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
003:001 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 weaker and weaker.
003:002 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was
Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
003:003 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the
Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the
daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
003:004 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth,
Shephatiah the son of Abital;
003:005 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born
to David in Hebron.
003:006 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of
Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong
for the house of Saul.
003:007 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter
of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou
gone in unto my father's concubine?
003:008 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and
said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew 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 concerning
this woman?
003:009 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath
sworn to David, even so I do to him;
003:010 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up
the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even
to Beersheba.
003:011 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared
him.
003:012 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 with thee, to bring about all Israel
unto thee.
003:013 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 see my face.
003:014 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying,
Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an
hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
003:015 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Phaltiel the son of Laish.
003:016 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to
Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he
returned.
003:017 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying,
Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
003:018 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 enemies.
003:019 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went
also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed
good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of
Benjamin.
003:020 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And
David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
003:021 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.
003:022 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 peace.
003:023 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 in peace.
003:024 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done?
behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent
him away, and he is quite gone?
003:025 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.
003:026 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.
003:027 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.
003:028 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom
are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner
the son of Ner:
003:029 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 staff,
or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
003:030 So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had
slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
003:031 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with
him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn
before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
003:032 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his
voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people
wept.
003:033 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a
fool dieth?
003:034 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a
man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the
people wept again over him.
003:035 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while
it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more
also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
003:036 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as
whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
003:037 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it
was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
003:038 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is
a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
003:039 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.
004:001 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his
hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
004:002 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the
name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab,
the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin:
(for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.
004:003 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there
until this day.)
004:004 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet.
He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and
Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled:
and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell,
and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
004:005 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah,
went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of
Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
004:006 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though
they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the
fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
004:007 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his
bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded
him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain
all night.
004:008 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron,
and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of
Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath
avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
004:009 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of
Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth,
who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
004:010 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to
have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in
Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for
his tidings:
004:011 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person
in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now
require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the
earth?
004:012 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut
off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the
pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and
buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
005:001 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and
spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
005:002 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he
that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said
to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a
captain over Israel.
005:003 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and
king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD:
and they anointed David king over Israel.
005:004 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned forty years.
005:005 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.
005:006 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: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
005:007 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is
the city of David.
005:008 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.
Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come
into the house.
005:009 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David.
And David built round about from Millo and inward.
005:010 And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts
was with him.
005:011 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar
trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an
house.
005:012 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.
005:013 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.
005:014 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in
Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
005:015 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
005:016 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
005:017 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 down to the hold.
005:018 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley
of Rephaim.
005:019 And David enquired 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 hand.
005:020 And David came to Baalperazim, 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 Baalperazim.
005:021 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned
them.
005:022 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim.
005:023 And when David enquired 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.
005:024 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 thee, to smite
the host of the Philistines.
005:025 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the
Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
006:001 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel,
thirty thousand.
006:002 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with
him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of
God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts
that dwelleth between the cherubims.
006:003 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it
out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and
Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
006:004 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at
Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the
ark.
006:005 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, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on
cymbals.
006:006 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth
his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen
shook it.
006:007 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God
smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of
God.
006:008 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach
upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to
this day.
006:009 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall
the ark of the LORD come to me?
006:010 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 Obededom the Gittite.
006:011 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the
Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all
his household.
006:012 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the
house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because
of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God
from the house of Obededom into the city of David with
gladness.
006:013 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD
had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
006:014 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David
was girded with a linen ephod.
006:015 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the
LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
006:016 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.
006:017 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his
place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched
for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
before the LORD.
006:018 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt
offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the
name of the LORD of hosts.
006:019 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole
multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one
a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of
wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
006:020 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the
daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How
glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself
to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of
the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
006:021 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which
chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to
appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before the LORD.
006:022 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in
mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken
of, of them shall I be had in honour.
006:023 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the
day of her death.
007:001 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the
LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
007:002 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell
in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within
curtains.
007:003 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine
heart; for the LORD is with thee.
007:004 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came
unto Nathan, saying,
007:005 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou
build me an house for me to dwell in?
007:006 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I
brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this
day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
007:007 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children
of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel,
whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build
ye not me an house of cedar?
007:008 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus
saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from
following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
007:009 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut
off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a
great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in
the earth.
007:010 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will
plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and
move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict
them any more, as beforetime,
007:011 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my
people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine
enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an
house.
007:012 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall
proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
007:013 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the
throne of his kingdom for ever.
007:014 I 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:
007:015 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from
Saul, whom I put away before thee.
007:016 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever
before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
007:017 According to all these words, and according to all this
vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
007:018 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said,
Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast
brought me hitherto?
007:019 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but
thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while
to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
007:020 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD,
knowest thy servant.
007:021 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast
thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know
them.
007:022 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like
thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all
that we have heard with our ears.
007:023 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like
Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and
to make him a name, and to do for you great things and
terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou
redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their
gods?
007:024 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a
people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their
God.
007:025 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning
thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever,
and do as thou hast said.
007:026 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of
hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant
David be established before thee.
007:027 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy
servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath
thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
007:028 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true,
and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
007:029 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy
servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou,
O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the
house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
008:001 And after this it came to pass that David smote the
Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out
of the hand of the Philistines.
008:002 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them
down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to
death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the
Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
008:003 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,
as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
008:004 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred
horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all
the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred
chariots.
008:005 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer
king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men.
008:006 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians
became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD
preserved David whithersoever he went.
008:007 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants
of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
008:008 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king
David took exceeding much brass.
008:009 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the
host of Hadadezer,
008:010 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him,
and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and
smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram
brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
vessels of brass:
008:011 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the
silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he
subdued;
008:012 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of
the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer,
son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
008:013 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the
Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
008:014 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he
garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And
the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
008:015 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment
and justice unto all his people.
008:016 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat
the son of Ahilud was recorder;
008:017 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of
Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
008:018 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites
and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
009:001 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of
Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
009:002 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was
Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said
unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
009:003 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul,
that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said
unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his
feet.
009:004 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto
the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of
Ammiel, in Lodebar.
009:005 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of
Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
009:006 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,
was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.
And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy
servant!
009:007 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee
kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee
all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at
my table continually.
009:008 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou
shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
009:009 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto
him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to
Saul and to all his house.
009:010 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the
land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy
master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy
master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had
fifteen sons and twenty servants.
009:011 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord
the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do.
As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table,
as one of the king's sons.
009:012 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And
all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto
Mephibosheth.
009:013 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually
at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
010:001 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children
of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
010:002 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of
Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent
to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And
David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
010:003 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their
lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he
hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his
servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and
to overthrow it?
010:004 Wherefore Hanun 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.
010:005 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because
the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at
Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
010:006 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of
Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen,
and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve
thousand men.
010:007 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of
the mighty men.
010:008 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in
array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,
and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in
the field.
010:009 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him
before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel,
and put them in array against the Syrians:
010:010 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of
Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against
the children of Ammon.
010:011 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou
shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for
thee, then I will come and help thee.
010:012 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people,
and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which
seemeth him good.
010:013 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto
the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
010:014 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled,
then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city.
So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to
Jerusalem.
010:015 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel,
they gathered themselves together.
010:016 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were
beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the
captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
010:017 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together,
and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set
themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
010:018 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of
seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand
horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who
died there.
010:019 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw
that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with
Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the
children of Ammon any more.
011:001 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time
when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his
servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the
children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried
still at Jerusalem.
011:002 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from
off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and
from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman
was very beautiful to look upon.
011:003 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is
not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah
the Hittite?
011:004 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto
him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her
uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
011:005 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I
am with child.
011:006 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And
Joab sent Uriah to David.
011:007 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how
Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
011:008 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy
feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there
followed him a mess of meat from the king.
011:009 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the
servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
011:010 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto
his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy
journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
011:011 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah,
abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord,
are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine
house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou
livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
011:012 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow
I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day,
and the morrow.
011:013 And when David had called him, he did eat 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 went not down to
his house.
011:014 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter
to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
011:015 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the
forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that
he may be smitten, and die.
011:016 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he
assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men
were.
011:017 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and
there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and
Uriah the Hittite died also.
011:018 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the
war;
011:019 And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end
of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
011:020 And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto
thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye
did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
011:021 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman
cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he
died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy
servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
011:022 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab
had sent him for.
011:023 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed
against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were
upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
011:024 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and
some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the
Hittite is dead also.
011:025 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto
Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword
devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong
against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
011:026 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was
dead, she mourned for her husband.
011:027 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to
his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But
the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
012:001 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and
said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich,
and the other poor.
012:002 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
012:003 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which
he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with
him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and
drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him
as a daughter.
012:004 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to
take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the
wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's
lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
012:005 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he
said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done
this thing shall surely die:
012:006 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this
thing, and because he had no pity.
012:007 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the
LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I
delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
012:008 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives
into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of
Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have
given unto thee such and such things.
012:009 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to
do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with
the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast
slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
012:010 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;
because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of
Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
012:011 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee
out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine
eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with
thy wives in the sight of this sun.
012:012 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before
all Israel, and before the sun.
012:013 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.
And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy
sin; thou shalt not die.
012:014 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion
to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that
is born unto thee shall surely die.
012:015 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the
child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
012:016 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted,
and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
012:017 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise
him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat
bread with them.
012:018 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died.
And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child
was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet
alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our
voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the
child is dead?
012:019 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David
perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto
his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
012:020 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed
himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of
the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and
when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
012:021 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou
hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it
was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and
eat bread.
012:022 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept:
for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me,
that the child may live?
012:023 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him
back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
012:024 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her,
and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name
Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
012:025 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called
his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
012:026 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and
took the royal city.
012:027 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought
against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
012:028 Now 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.
012:029 And David gathered all the people together, and went to
Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
012:030 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight
whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it
was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the
city in great abundance.
012:031 And he brought forth the people that 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 unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and
all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
013:001 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David
had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of
David loved her.
013:002 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister
Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him
to do anything to her.
013:003 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of
Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
013:004 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean
from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto
him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
013:005 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make
thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto
him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat,
and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it
at her hand.
013:006 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king
was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee,
let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my
sight, that I may eat at her hand.
013:007 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother
Amnon's house, and dress him meat.
013:008 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid
down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in
his sight, and did bake the cakes.
013:009 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he
refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And
they went out every man from him.
013:010 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber,
that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which
she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her
brother.
013:011 And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of
her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
013:012 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no
such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.
013:013 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee,
thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I
pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me
from thee.
013:014 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being
stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
013:015 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith
he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved
her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
013:016 And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending
me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But
he would not hearken unto her.
013:017 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said,
Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
013:018 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with
such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins
apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the
door after her.
013:019 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of
divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head,
and went on crying.
013:020 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother
been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy
brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in
her brother Absalom's house.
013:021 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very
wroth.
013:022 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad:
for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister
Tamar.
013:023 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had
sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all the king's sons.
013:024 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy
servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and
his servants go with thy servant.
013:025 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now
go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
013:026 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon
go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with
thee?
013:027 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's
sons go with him.
013:028 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now
when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto
you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I
commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
013:029 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had
commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat
him up upon his mule, and fled.
013:030 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings
came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons,
and there is not one of them left.
013:031 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the
earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
013:032 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and
said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the
young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the
appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day
that he forced his sister Tamar.
013:033 Now therefore let not 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.
013:034 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted
up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people
by the way of the hill side behind him.
013:035 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come:
as thy servant said, so it is.
013:036 And it came to pass, 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.
013:037 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king
of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
013:038 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three
years.
013:039 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom:
for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
014:001 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart
was toward Absalom.
014:002 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and
said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and
put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil,
but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
014:003 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So
Joab put the words in her mouth.
014:004 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on
her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O
king.
014:005 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she
answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
014:006 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in
the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote
the other, and slew him.
014:007 And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid,
and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may
kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we
will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal
which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name
nor remainder upon the earth.
014:008 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I
will give charge concerning thee.
014:009 And the woman of Tekoah said unto 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.
014:010 And the king said, Whoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to
me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
014:011 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy
God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to
destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As
the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to
the earth.
014:012 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak
one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
014:013 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a
thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this
thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch
home again his banished.
014:014 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect
any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not
expelled from him.
014:015 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my
lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid:
and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may
be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
014:016 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the
hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out
of the inheritance of God.
014:017 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall
now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the
king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will
be with thee.
014:018 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from
me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the
woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
014:019 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all
this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my
lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left
from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant
Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of
thine handmaid:
014:020 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done
this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an
angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
014:021 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this
thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
014:022 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself,
and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant
knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king,
in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.
014:023 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to
Jerusalem.
014:024 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him
not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw
not the king's face.
014:025 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as
Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the
crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
014:026 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end
that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him,
therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at
two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
014:027 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter,
whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
014:028 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the
king's face.
014:029 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king;
but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the
second time, he would not come.
014:030 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near
mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And
Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
014:031 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said
unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
014:032 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying,
Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say,
Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to
have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's
face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
014:033 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called
for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his
face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed
Absalom.
015:001 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him
chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
015:002 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the
gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy
came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him,
and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is
of one of the tribes of Israel.
015:003 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and
right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
015:004 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land,
that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto
me, and I would do him justice!
015:005 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him
obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed
him.
015:006 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the
king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of
Israel.
015:007 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto
the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have
vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
015:008 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria,
saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem,
then I will serve the LORD.
015:009 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went
to Hebron.
015:010 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel,
saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye
shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
015:011 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that
were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew
not any thing.
015:012 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's
counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered
sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom.
015:013 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the
men of Israel are after Absalom.
015:014 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at
Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else
escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us
suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the
edge of the sword.
015:015 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy
servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall
appoint.
015:016 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And
the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the
house.
015:017 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and
tarried in a place that was far off.
015:018 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the
Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six
hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before
the king.
015:019 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou
also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king:
for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
015:020 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee
go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return
thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with
thee.
015:021 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and
as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the
king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will
thy servant be.
015:022 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the
Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones
that were with him.
015:023 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people
passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook
Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the
wilderness.
015:024 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing
the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of
God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done
passing out of the city.
015:025 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into
the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he
will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
015:026 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am
I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
015:027 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer?
return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
015:028 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there
come word from you to certify me.
015:029 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to
Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
015:030 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as
he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot:
and all the people that was with him covered every man his
head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
015:031 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the
conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray
thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
015:032 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of
the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite
came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
015:033 Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou
shalt be a burden unto me:
015:034 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will
be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant
hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou
for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
015:035 And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the
priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou
shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to
Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
015:036 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz
Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall
send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
015:037 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came
into Jerusalem.
016:001 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold,
Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of
asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and
an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer
fruits, and a bottle of wine.
016:002 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And
Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on;
and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and
the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
016:003 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba
said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he
said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom
of my father.
016:004 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that
pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech
thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
016:005 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a
man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei,
the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
016:006 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king
David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his
right hand and on his left.
016:007 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou
bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
016:008 The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of
Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath
delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and,
behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a
bloody man.
016:009 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should
this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray
thee, and take off his head.
016:010 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of
Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto
him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done
so?
016:011 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my
son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much
more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him
curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
016:012 It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that
the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
016:013 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on
the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and
threw stones at him, and cast dust.
016:014 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came
weary, and refreshed themselves there.
016:015 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to
Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
016:016 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend,
was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save
the king, God save the king.
016:017 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy
friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
016:018 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this
people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and
with him will I abide.
016:019 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the
presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's
presence, so will I be in thy presence.
016:020 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what
we shall do.
016:021 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's
concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all
Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then
shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
016:022 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and
Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of
all Israel.
016:023 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those
days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so
was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with
Absalom.
017:001 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out
twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David
this night:
017:002 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed,
and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him
shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
017:003 And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom
thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be
in peace.
017:004 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of
Israel.
017:005 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let
us hear likewise what he saith.
017:006 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him,
saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do
after his saying? if not; speak thou.
017:007 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath
given is not good at this time.
017:008 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that
they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a
bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a
man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
017:009 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and
it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the
first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a
slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
017:010 And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a
lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy
father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant
men.
017:011 Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto
thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the
sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own
person.
017:012 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be
found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the
ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there
shall not be left so much as one.
017:013 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel
bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river,
until there be not one small stone found there.
017:014 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of
Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.
For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of
Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon
Absalom.
017:015 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus
and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of
Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
017:016 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not
this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass
over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that
are with him.
017:017 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not
be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them;
and they went and told king David.
017:018 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went
both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in
Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went
down.
017:019 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's
mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not
known.
017:020 And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house,
they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said
unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they
had sought and could not find them, they returned to
Jerusalem.
017:021 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came
up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said
unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus
hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
017:022 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and
they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not
one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
017:023 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he
saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to
his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself,
and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
017:024 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan,
he and all the men of Israel with him.
017:025 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab:
which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an
Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash,
sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
017:026 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
017:027 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that
Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon,
and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the
Gileadite of Rogelim,
017:028 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and
barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles,
and parched pulse,
017:029 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for
David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they
said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the
wilderness.
018:001 And David numbered the people that were with him, and set
captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds over them.
018:002 And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand
of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of
Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of
Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will
surely go forth with you myself also.
018:003 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we
flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us
die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten
thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour
us out of the city.
018:004 And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do.
And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came
out by hundreds and by thousands.
018:005 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying,
Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.
And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains
charge concerning Absalom.
018:006 So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the
battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
018:007 Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of
David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of
twenty thousand men.
018:008 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the
country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the
sword devoured.
018:009 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a
mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak,
and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up
between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under
him went away.
018:010 And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I
saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
018:011 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou
sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the
ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and
a girdle.
018:012 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand
shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine
hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king
charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none
touch the young man Absalom.
018:013 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own
life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou
thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
018:014 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took
three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of
Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
018:015 And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and
smote Absalom, and slew him.
018:016 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from
pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
018:017 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the
wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all
Israel fled every one to his tent.
018:018 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for
himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I
have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the
pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day,
Absalom's place.
018:019 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear
the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his
enemies.
018:020 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day,
but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou
shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
018:021 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen.
And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
018:022 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But
howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab
said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast
no tidings ready?
018:023 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run.
Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
018:024 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up
to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
018:025 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said,
If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came
apace, and drew near.
018:026 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman
called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running
alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
018:027 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost
is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king
said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
018:028 And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And
he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and
said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the
men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
018:029 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz
answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy
servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
018:030 And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he
turned aside, and stood still.
018:031 And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the
king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that
rose up against thee.
018:032 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe?
And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all
that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man
is.
018:033 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over
the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son
Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for
thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
019:001 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth
for Absalom.
019:002 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the
people: for the people heard say that day how the king was
grieved for his son.
019:003 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as
people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
019:004 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud
voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
019:005 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast
shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day
have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy
daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy
concubines;
019:006 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For
thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither
princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom
had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased
thee well.
019:007 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy
servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there
will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be
worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy
youth until now.
019:008 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto
all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate.
And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled
every man to his tent.
019:009 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of
Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our
enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the
Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
019:010 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now
therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
019:011 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests,
saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the
last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of
all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
019:012 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore
then are ye the last to bring back the king?
019:013 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh?
God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the
host before me continually in the room of Joab.
019:014 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the
heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king,
Return thou, and all thy servants.
019:015 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to
Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over
Jordan.
019:016 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim,
hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
019:017 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba
the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his
twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the
king.
019:018 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's
household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son
of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
019:019 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto
me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did
perversely the day that my lord the king went out of
Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
019:020 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore,
behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of
Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
019:021 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not
Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's
anointed?
019:022 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of
Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall
there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I
know that I am this day king over Israel?
019:023 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And
the king sware unto him.
019:024 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king,
and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor
washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the
day he came again in peace.
019:025 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the
king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou
with me, Mephibosheth?
019:026 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for
thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride
thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
019:027 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but
my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is
good in thine eyes.
019:028 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord
the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did
eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry
any more unto the king?
019:029 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy
matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
019:030 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all,
forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his
own house.
019:031 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went
over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
019:032 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old:
and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at
Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
019:033 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and
I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
019:034 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live,
that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
019:035 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between
good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I
drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and
singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a
burden unto my lord the king?
019:036 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king:
and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
019:037 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die
in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and
of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over
with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto
thee.
019:038 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I
will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and
whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
019:039 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was
come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he
returned unto his own place.
019:040 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him:
and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half
the people of Israel.
019:041 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said
unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen
thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and
all David's men with him, over Jordan?
019:042 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because
the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for
this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath
he given us any gift?
019:043 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We
have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in
David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice
should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the
words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the
men of Israel.
020:001 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was
Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet,
and said, We have no part in David, neither have we
inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O
Israel.
020:002 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed
Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their
king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
020:003 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took
the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the
house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in
unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death,
living in widowhood.
020:004 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah
within three days, and be thou here present.
020:005 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried
longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
020:006 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri
do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's
servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities,
and escape us.
020:007 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites,
and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out
of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
020:008 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa
went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was
girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened
upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it
fell out.
020:009 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And
Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
020:010 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand:
so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his
bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died.
So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of
Bichri.
020:011 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that
favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after
Joab.
020:012 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And
when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed
Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon
him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
020:013 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on
after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
020:014 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to
Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered
together, and went also after him.
020:015 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and
they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the
trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the
wall, to throw it down.
020:016 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I
pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with
thee.
020:017 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou
Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear
the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
020:018 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time,
saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they
ended the matter.
020:019 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel:
thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why
wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
020:020 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that
I should swallow up or destroy.
020:021 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the
son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the
king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart
from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head
shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
020:022 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And
they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it
out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the
city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem
unto the king.
020:023 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
020:024 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of
Ahilud was recorder:
020:025 And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
020:026 And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
021:001 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year
after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD
answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he
slew the Gibeonites.
021:002 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now
the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the
remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn
unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the
children of Israel and Judah.)
021:003 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for
you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may
bless the inheritance of the LORD?
021:004 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor
gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill
any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I
do for you.
021:005 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that
devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining
in any of the coasts of Israel,
021:006 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will
hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD
did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
021:007 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son
of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them,
between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
021:008 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah,
whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five
sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for
Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
021:009 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and
they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell
all seven together, and were put to death in the days of
harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley
harvest.
021:010 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it
for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until
water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither
the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of
the field by night.
021:011 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the
concubine of Saul, had done.
021:012 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of
Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had
stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines
had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in
Gilboa:
021:013 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones
of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that
were hanged.
021:014 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the
country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his
father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And
after that God was intreated for the land.
021:015 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and
David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against
the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
021:016 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight
of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in
weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have
slain David.
021:017 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the
Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto
him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that
thou quench not the light of Israel.
021:018 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle
with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite
slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
021:019 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines,
where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the
brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was
like a weaver's beam.
021:020 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great
stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot
six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to
the giant.
021:021 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the
brother of David slew him.
021:022 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the
hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
022:001 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the
day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his
enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
022:002 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my
deliverer;
022:003 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and
the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my
saviour; thou savest me from violence.
022:004 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall
I be saved from mine enemies.
022:005 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly
men made me afraid;
022:006 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death
prevented me;
022:007 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God:
and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did
enter into his ears.
022:008 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven
moved and shook, because he was wroth.
022:009 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his
mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
022:010 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was
under his feet.
022:011 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon
the wings of the wind.
022:012 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters,
and thick clouds of the skies.
022:013 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
022:014 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his
voice.
022:015 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and
discomfited them.
022:016 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the
world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the
blast of the breath of his nostrils.
022:017 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
022:018 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated
me: for they were too strong for me.
022:019 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was
my stay.
022:020 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me,
because he delighted in me.
022:021 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according
to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
022:022 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly
departed from my God.
022:023 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes,
I did not depart from them.
022:024 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine
iniquity.
022:025 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my
righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
022:026 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with
the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
022:027 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the
froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
022:028 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are
upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
022:029 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my
darkness.
022:030 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I
leaped over a wall.
022:031 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried:
he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
022:032 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our
God?
022:033 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
022:034 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my
high places.
022:035 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken
by mine arms.
022:036 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy
gentleness hath made me great.
022:037 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not
slip.
022:038 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned
not again until I had consumed them.
022:039 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could
not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
022:040 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that
rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
022:041 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I
might destroy them that hate me.
022:042 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD,
but he answered them not.
022:043 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did
stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them
abroad.
022:044 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,
thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I
knew not shall serve me.
022:045 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they
hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
022:046 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of
their close places.
022:047 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the
God of the rock of my salvation.
022:048 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people
under me.
022:049 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast
lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou
hast delivered me from the violent man.
022:050 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the
heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
022:051 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy
to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
023:001 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse
said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of
the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
023:002 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my
tongue.
023:003 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He
that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
023:004 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun
riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass
springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.
023:005 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me
an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for
this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make
it not to grow.
023:006 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust
away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
023:007 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and
the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with
fire in the same place.
023:008 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The
Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the
same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight
hundred, whom he slew at one time.
023:009 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of
the three mighty men with David, when they defied the
Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and
the men of Israel were gone away:
023:010 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary,
and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a
great victory that day; and the people returned after him only
to spoil.
023:011 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And
the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was
a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from
the Philistines.
023:012 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and
slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.
023:013 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in
the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of
the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
023:014 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the
Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
023:015 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of
the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
023:016 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the
Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that
was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David:
nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out
unto the LORD.
023:017 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this:
is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of
their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did
these three mighty men.
023:018 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was
chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three
hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.
023:019 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their
captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
023:020 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of
Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of
Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit
in time of snow:
023:021 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a
spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and
plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him
with his own spear.
023:022 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name
among three mighty men.
023:023 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to
the first three. And David set him over his guard.
023:024 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the
son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
023:025 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
023:026 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
023:027 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
023:028 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
023:029 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of
Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
023:030 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,
023:031 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
023:032 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
023:033 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,
023:034 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite,
Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
023:035 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
023:036 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
023:037 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to
Joab the son of Zeruiah,
023:038 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,
023:039 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.
024:001 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel,
and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and
Judah.
024:002 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was
with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan
even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know
the number of the people.
024:003 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the
people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the
eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the
king delight in this thing?
024:004 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and
against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of
the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the
people of Israel.
024:005 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the
right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of
Gad, and toward Jazer:
024:006 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and
they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,
024:007 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of
the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the
south of Judah, even to Beersheba.
024:008 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to
Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
024:009 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the
king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant
men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five
hundred thousand men.
024:010 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the
people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in
that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away
the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
024:011 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD
came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,
024:012 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three
things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
024:013 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall
seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou
flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue
thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now
advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent
me.
024:014 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall
now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and
let me not fall into the hand of man.
024:015 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning
even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from
Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
024:016 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to
destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the
angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine
hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of
Araunah the Jebusite.
024:017 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote
the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done
wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine
hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's
house.
024:018 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear
an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the
Jebusite.
024:019 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD
commanded.
024:020 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming
on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before
the king on his face upon the ground.
024:021 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his
servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to
build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed
from the people.
024:022 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and
offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for
burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other
instruments of the oxen for wood.
024:023 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king.
And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
024:024 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it
of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto
the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David
bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of
silver.
024:025 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated
for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
Book 11 1 Kings
001:001 Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered
him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
001:002 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for
my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the
king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom,
that my lord the king may get heat.
001:003 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of
Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the
king.
001:004 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and
ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
001:005 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I
will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and
fifty men to run before him.
001:006 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying,
Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and
his mother bare him after Absalom.
001:007 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with
Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
001:008 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and
Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men
which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
001:009 And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone
of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren
the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
001:010 But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and
Solomon his brother, he called not.
001:011 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon,
saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith
doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
001:012 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel,
that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son
Solomon.
001:013 Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst
not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying,
Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall
sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
001:014 Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also
will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
001:015 And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the
king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto
the king.
001:016 And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the
king said, What wouldest thou?
001:017 And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy
God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son
shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
001:018 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king,
thou knowest it not:
001:019 And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance,
and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the
priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy
servant hath he not called.
001:020 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon
thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the
throne of my lord the king after him.
001:021 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall
sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be
counted offenders.
001:022 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the
prophet also came in.
001:023 And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And
when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before
the king with his face to the ground.
001:024 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah
shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
001:025 For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat
cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's
sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest;
and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save
king Adonijah.
001:026 But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not
called.
001:027 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not
shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my
lord the king after him?
001:028 Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she
came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
001:029 And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath
redeemed my soul out of all distress,
001:030 Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying,
Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall
sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do
this day.
001:031 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did
reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live
for ever.
001:032 And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the
prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before
the king.
001:033 The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of
your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own
mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
001:034 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him
there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say,
God save king Solomon.
001:035 Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon
my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have
appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
001:036 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said,
Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
001:037 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he
with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of
my lord king David.
001:038 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the
son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went
down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and
brought him to Gihon.
001:039 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the
tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet;
and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
001:040 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped
with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth
rent with the sound of them.
001:041 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as
they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound
of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city
being in an uproar?
001:042 And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar
the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou
art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
001:043 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord
king David hath made Solomon king.
001:044 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan
the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the
Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to
ride upon the king's mule:
001:045 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him
king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so
that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have
heard.
001:046 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
001:047 And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king
David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy
name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the
king bowed himself upon the bed.
001:048 And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of
Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day,
mine eyes even seeing it.
001:049 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and
rose up, and went every man his way.
001:050 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went,
and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
001:051 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king
Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the
altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he
will not slay his servant with the sword.
001:052 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there
shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness
shall be found in him, he shall die.
001:053 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the
altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and
Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.
002:001 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he
charged Solomon his son, saying,
002:002 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and
shew thyself a man;
002:003 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways,
to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments,
and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses,
that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and
whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
002:004 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning
me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk
before me in truth with all their heart and with all their
soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne
of Israel.
002:005 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to
me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of
Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of
Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and
put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins,
and in his shoes that were on his feet.
002:006 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar
head go down to the grave in peace.
002:007 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,
and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they
came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
002:008 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a
Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in
the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me
at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not
put thee to death with the sword.
002:009 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man,
and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar
head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
002:010 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of
David.
002:011 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years:
seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years
reigned he in Jerusalem.
002:012 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his
kingdom was established greatly.
002:013 And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother
of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said,
Peaceably.
002:014 He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she
said, Say on.
002:015 And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that
all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit
the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for
it was his from the LORD.
002:016 And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said
unto him, Say on.
002:017 And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for
he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the
Shunammite to wife.
002:018 And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
002:019 Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him
for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed
himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a
seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right
hand.
002:020 Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray
thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my
mother: for I will not say thee nay.
002:021 And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah
thy brother to wife.
002:022 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why
dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him
the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him,
and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
002:023 Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me,
and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against
his own life.
002:024 Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me,
and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made
me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death
this day.
002:025 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
002:026 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to
Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death:
but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou
barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and
because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was
afflicted.
002:027 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the
LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he
spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
002:028 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah,
though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the
tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the
altar.
002:029 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the
tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then
Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall
upon him.
002:030 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto
him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I
will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again,
saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
002:031 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon
him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent
blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my
father.
002:032 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who
fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew
them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to
wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and
Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
002:033 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and
upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon
his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there
be peace for ever from the LORD.
002:034 So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and
slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the
wilderness.
002:035 And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over
the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of
Abiathar.
002:036 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him,
Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not
forth thence any whither.
002:037 For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest
over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou
shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
002:038 And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord
the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt
in Jerusalem many days.
002:039 And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the
servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of
Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in
Gath.
002:040 And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to
Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his
servants from Gath.
002:041 And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to
Gath, and was come again.
002:042 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him,
Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto
thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out,
and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die?
and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
002:043 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the
commandment that I have charged thee with?
002:044 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the
wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to
David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy
wickedness upon thine own head;
002:045 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David
shall be established before the LORD for ever.
002:046 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went
out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was
established in the hand of Solomon.
003:001 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took
Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David,
until he had made an end of building his own house, and the
house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
003:002 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was
no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
003:003 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David
his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high
places.
003:004 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was
the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon
offer upon that altar.
003:005 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night:
and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
003:006 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my
father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in
truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with
thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that
thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this
day.
003:007 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king
instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I
know not how to go out or come in.
003:008 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast
chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted
for multitude.
003:009 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy
people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is
able to judge this thy so great a people?
003:010 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this
thing.
003:011 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and
hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked
riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies;
but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
003:012 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given
thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none
like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like
unto thee.
003:013 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked,
both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among
the kings like unto thee all thy days.
003:014 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my
commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will
lengthen thy days.
003:015 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to
Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the
LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace
offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
003:016 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king,
and stood before him.
003:017 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in
one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the
house.
003:018 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered,
that this woman was delivered also: and we were together;
there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the
house.
003:019 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid
it.
003:020 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me,
while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid
her dead child in my bosom.
003:021 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold,
it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning,
behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
003:022 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and
the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy
son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the
king.
003:023 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth,
and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son
is the dead, and my son is the living.
003:024 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword
before the king.
003:025 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give
half to the one, and half to the other.
003:026 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king,
for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord,
give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the
other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
003:027 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child,
and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
003:028 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had
judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom
of God was in him, to do judgment.
004:001 So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
004:002 And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of
Zadok the priest,
004:003 Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat
the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
004:004 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok
and Abiathar were the priests:
004:005 And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud
the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's
friend:
004:006 And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of
Abda was over the tribute.
004:007 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which
provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his
month in a year made provision.
004:008 And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
004:009 The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh,
and Elonbethhanan:
004:010 The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all
the land of Hepher:
004:011 The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had
Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
004:012 Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo,
and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from
Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond
Jokneam:
004:013 The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns
of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also
pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore
great cities with walls and brasen bars:
004:014 Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:
004:015 Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of
Solomon to wife:
004:016 Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
004:017 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
004:018 Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
004:019 Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the
country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of
Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.
004:020 Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in
multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
004:021 And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the
land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they
brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
004:022 And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of
fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
004:023 Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an
hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and
fatted fowl.
004:024 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the
river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this
side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
004:025 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine
and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the
days of Solomon.
004:026 And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his
chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
004:027 And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for
all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his
month: they lacked nothing.
004:028 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought
they unto the place where the officers were, every man
according to his charge.
004:029 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much,
and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea
shore.
004:030 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children
of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
004:031 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and
Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame
was in all nations round about.
004:032 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a
thousand and five.
004:033 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon
even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake
also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of
fishes.
004:034 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
005:001 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he
had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his
father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
005:002 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
005:003 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house
unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were
about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the
soles of his feet.
005:004 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so
that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
005:005 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the
LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying,
Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall
build an house unto my name.
005:006 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of
Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto
thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that
thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among
us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
005:007 And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon,
that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this
day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great
people.
005:008 And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the
things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy
desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of
fir.
005:009 My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea:
and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that
thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged
there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish
my desire, in giving food for my household.
005:010 So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to
all his desire.
005:011 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for
food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus
gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
005:012 And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and
there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a
league together.
005:013 And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy
was thirty thousand men.
005:014 And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses:
a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and
Adoniram was over the levy.
005:015 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens,
and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
005:016 Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the
work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the
people that wrought in the work.
005:017 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly
stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
005:018 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and
the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build
the house.
006:001 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year
after the children of Israel were come out of the land of
Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in
the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to
build the house of the LORD.
006:002 And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the
length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof
twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
006:003 And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits
was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house;
and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
006:004 And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
006:005 And against the wall of the house he built chambers round
about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the
temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
006:006 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle
was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad:
for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests
round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the
walls of the house.
006:007 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone
made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was
neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the
house, while it was in building.
006:008 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the
house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle
chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
006:009 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house
with beams and boards of cedar.
006:010 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits
high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
006:011 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
006:012 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt
walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my
commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with
thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
006:013 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not
forsake my people Israel.
006:014 So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
006:015 And he built the walls of the house within with boards of
cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the
ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and
covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
006:016 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the
floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them
for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy
place.
006:017 And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits
long.
006:018 And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and
open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
006:019 And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there
the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
006:020 And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length,
and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height
thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the
altar which was of cedar.
006:021 So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he
made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and
he overlaid it with gold.
006:022 And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had
finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the
oracle he overlaid with gold.
006:023 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree,
each ten cubits high.
006:024 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five
cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part
of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten
cubits.
006:025 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were
of one measure and one size.
006:026 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of
the other cherub.
006:027 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they
stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing
of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other
cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one
another in the midst of the house.
006:028 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
006:029 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with
carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers,
within and without.
006:030 And the floors of the house he overlaid with gold, within and
without.
006:031 And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive
tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
006:032 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them
carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and
overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims,
and upon the palm trees.
006:033 So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive
tree, a fourth part of the wall.
006:034 And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one
door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were
folding.
006:035 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open
flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved
work.
006:036 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone,
and a row of cedar beams.
006:037 In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD
laid, in the month Zif:
006:038 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the
eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts
thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he
seven years in building it.
007:001 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he
finished all his house.
007:002 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length
thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty
cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows
of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
007:003 And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay
on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
007:004 And there were windows in three rows, and light was against
light in three ranks.
007:005 And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and
light was against light in three ranks.
007:006 And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty
cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch
was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were
before them.
007:007 Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even
the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one
side of the floor to the other.
007:008 And his house where he dwelt had another court within the
porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house
for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto
this porch.
007:009 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of
hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from
the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward
the great court.
007:010 And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones,
stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
007:011 And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed
stones, and cedars.
007:012 And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed
stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of
the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.
007:013 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
007:014 He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father
was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with
wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in
brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
007:015 For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high
apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them
about.
007:016 And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the
tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five
cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:
007:017 And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the
chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for
the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
007:018 And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one
network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with
pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
007:019 And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were
of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
007:020 And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also
above, over against the belly which was by the network: and
the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the
other chapiter.
007:021 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he
set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin:
and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof
Boaz.
007:022 And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work
of the pillars finished.
007:023 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the
other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits:
and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
007:024 And under the brim of it round about there were knops
compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about:
the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
007:025 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and
three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the
south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set
above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
007:026 And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was
wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it
contained two thousand baths.
007:027 And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of
one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three
cubits the height of it.
007:028 And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had
borders, and the borders were between the ledges:
007:029 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions,
oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base
above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions
made of thin work.
007:030 And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass:
and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver
were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
007:031 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit:
but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a
cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings
with their borders, foursquare, not round.
007:032 And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of
the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel
was a cubit and half a cubit.
007:033 And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot
wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes,
and their spokes, were all molten.
007:034 And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one
base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.
007:035 And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a
cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and
the borders thereof were of the same.
007:036 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders
thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according
to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
007:037 After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one
casting, one measure, and one size.
007:038 Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty
baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of
the ten bases one laver.
007:039 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five
on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right
side of the house eastward over against the south.
007:040 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So
Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king
Solomon for the house of the LORD:
007:041 The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were
on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover
the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the
pillars;
007:042 And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two
rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls
of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
007:043 And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
007:044 And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;
007:045 And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these
vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the
LORD, were of bright brass.
007:046 In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay
ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
007:047 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were
exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.
007:048 And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house
of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold,
whereupon the shewbread was,
007:049 And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and
five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the
lamps, and the tongs of gold,
007:050 And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the
spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold,
both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place,
and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
007:051 So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house
of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his
father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the
vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the
LORD.
008:001 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads
of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of
Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring
up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of
David, which is Zion.
008:002 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king
Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the
seventh month.
008:003 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the
ark.
008:004 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of
the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the
tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring
up.
008:005 And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that
were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark,
sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor
numbered for multitude.
008:006 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD
unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy
place, even under the wings of the cherubims.
008:007 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place
of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves
thereof above.
008:008 And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were
seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were
not seen without: and there they are unto this day.
008:009 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone,
which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant
with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of
Egypt.
008:010 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the
holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
008:011 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the
cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the
LORD.
008:012 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the
thick darkness.
008:013 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place
for thee to abide in for ever.
008:014 And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the
congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel
stood;)
008:015 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake
with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand
fulfilled it, saying,
008:016 Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of
Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to
build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose
David to be over my people Israel.
008:017 And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house
for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
008:018 And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in
thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well
that it was in thine heart.
008:019 Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that
shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house
unto my name.
008:020 And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am
risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne
of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for
the name of the LORD God of Israel.
008:021 And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the
covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he
brought them out of the land of Egypt.
008:022 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence
of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands
toward heaven:
008:023 And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in
heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and
mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their
heart:
008:024 Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou
promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast
fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
008:025 Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David
my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not
fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so
that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk
before me as thou hast walked before me.
008:026 And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be
verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.
008:027 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and
heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this
house that I have builded?
008:028 Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to
his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and
to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:
008:029 That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day,
even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall
be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy
servant shall make toward this place.
008:030 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of
thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and
hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest,
forgive.
008:031 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid
upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine
altar in this house:
008:032 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants,
condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and
justifying the righteous, to give him according to his
righteousness.
008:033 When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy,
because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to
thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication
unto thee in this house:
008:034 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people
Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest
unto their fathers.
008:035 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they
have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and
confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou
afflictest them:
008:036 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants,
and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way
wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which
thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.
008:037 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence,
blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their
enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever
plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
008:038 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by
all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague
of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this
house:
008:039 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart
thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of
all the children of men;)
008:040 That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the
land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
008:041 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people
Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;
008:042 (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong
hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and
pray toward this house;
008:043 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to
all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of
the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people
Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have
builded, is called by thy name.
008:044 If thy people go out to battle against their enemy,
whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the
LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the
house that I have built for thy name:
008:045 Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication,
and maintain their cause.
008:046 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth
not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the
enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of
the enemy, far or near;
008:047 Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they
were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto
thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying,
We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed
wickedness;
008:048 And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all
their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away
captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou
gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen,
and the house which I have built for thy name:
008:049 Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven
thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,
008:050 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all
their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against
thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them
captive, that they may have compassion on them:
008:051 For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou
broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace
of iron:
008:052 That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy
servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to
hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.
008:053 For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the
earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of
Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of
Egypt, O LORD God.
008:054 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying
all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from
before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with
his hands spread up to heaven.
008:055 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with
a loud voice, saying,
008:056 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people
Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not
failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by
the hand of Moses his servant.
008:057 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let
him not leave us, nor forsake us:
008:058 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his
ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his
judgments, which he commanded our fathers.
008:059 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication
before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night,
that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of
his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:
008:060 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is
God, and that there is none else.
008:061 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to
walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this
day.
008:062 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice
before the LORD.
008:063 And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he
offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the
children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.
008:064 The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that
was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt
offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace
offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD
was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat
offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.
008:065 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with
him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto
the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and
seven days, even fourteen days.
008:066 On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed
the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart
for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his
servant, and for Israel his people.
009:001 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of
the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's
desire which he was pleased to do,
009:002 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had
appeared unto him at Gibeon.
009:003 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy
supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed
this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for
ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
009:004 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked,
in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to
all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and
my judgments:
009:005 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel
for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There
shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
009:006 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your
children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes
which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and
worship them:
009:007 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given
them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will
I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a
byword among all people:
009:008 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it
shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why
hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?
009:009 And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their
God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt,
and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them,
and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all
this evil.
009:010 And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon
had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the
king's house,
009:011 (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar
trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his
desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in
the land of Galilee.
009:012 And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon
had given him; and they pleased him not.
009:013 And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me,
my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this
day.
009:014 And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.
009:015 And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised;
for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and
Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and
Gezer.
009:016 For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and
burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the
city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's
wife.
009:017 And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,
009:018 And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
009:019 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for
his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which
Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in
all the land of his dominion.
009:020 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites,
Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the
children of Israel,
009:021 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the
children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon
those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.
009:022 But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but
they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and
his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
009:023 These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's
work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people
that wrought in the work.
009:024 But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto
her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build
Millo.
009:025 And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings
and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the
LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the
LORD. So he finished the house.
009:026 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is
beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of
Edom.
009:027 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had
knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
009:028 And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four
hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
010:001 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon
concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with
hard questions.
010:002 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels
that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and
when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all
that was in her heart.
010:003 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any
thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
010:004 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and
the house that he had built,
010:005 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants,
and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and
his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the
house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
010:006 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in
mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
010:007 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes
had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom
and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
010:008 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand
continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
010:009 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set
thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel
for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and
justice.
010:010 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold,
and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there
came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen
of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
010:011 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir,
brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and
precious stones.
010:012 And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of
the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries
for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen
unto this day.
010:013 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire,
whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of
his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country,
she and her servants.
010:014 Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was
six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,
010:015 Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of
the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of
the governors of the country.
010:016 And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six
hundred shekels of gold went to one target.
010:017 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound
of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house
of the forest of Lebanon.
010:018 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid
it with the best gold.
010:019 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round
behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of
the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.
010:020 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other
upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any
kingdom.
010:021 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all
the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure
gold; none we |