David confesseth his sin. cause thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold I will raise up evil against thee out

Before

CHRIST

cir. 1034.

of thine own house, and I will i take i Deut. 28. thy wives before thine eyes, and 30. give them unto thy neighbour, and ch. 16. 22. he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou didst it secretly: k but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

13 l'And David said unto Nathan, m I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath o put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD P to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

15 ¶ And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David f fasted, and went in, and a lay all night upon the earth.

17 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.

18 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

k ch. 16. 22.

1 See 1 Sam. 15. 24. ch. 24. 10. 32. 5. & 51.

Job 7.20. Ps.

4. Prov. 28.

13.
och. 24. 10.

Ps. 32. 1. Job 7. 21. Mic.

7. 18. Zech.

3. 4.

p Is. 52. 5. Ezek. 36. 20,

23. Rom. 2.

24.

+ Heb. fasted a fast. q ch. 13. 31.

20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and r anointed r Ruth 3. 3. himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the

LORD, and worshipped: then he s Job 1. 20. came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

21 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.

22 And he said, While the child

was yet alive, I fasted, and wept:

t for I said, Who can tell whether t See Is. 38. God will be gracious to me, that 1, 5. Jonah the child may live?

3.9.

23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but u heu Job 7. 8, 9, shall not return to me.

10.

1033.

24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and x shex Matt. 1. 6. Il

Before

CHRIST

cir. 1034.

y 1 Chr. 22.

9.

That is, Beloved of the LORD.

z 1 Chr. 20. 1.

a Deut. 3.

11.

Rabbah taken by David. bare a son, and y he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name || Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26 T And Joab fought against a Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest 1 take the city, and †it be called after name be call-my name. ed upon it.

cir. 1032.

a ch. 8. 2, 3.

b 1 Chr. 3.

29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbab, and fought against it, and took it.

30 b 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.

31 And he brought forth the peo ple that were therein, and put them under saws and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people return ed unto Jerusalem.

CHAPTER XIII.

1 Amnon loving Tamar, by Jonadab' counsel feigning himself sick, ravisheth her. 15 He hateth her, and shamefully turneth her away. 19 Absalom entertaineth her, and concealeth his purpose. 23 At a sheep-shearing, among all the king's sons, he killeth Amnon. 30 David grieving at the news is comforted by Jonadab. 37 Absalom fleeth to Talmai at Geshur.

AND it came to pass after this,

a that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was b Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 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 any thing to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, flean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

5 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.

6 So Amnon lay down, and

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and Or, paste. kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said,

e Have out all men from me. And e Gen. 45. 1. they went out every man from him.

10 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.

11 And when she had brought

them unto him to eat, he ftook hold f Gen. 39. 12. of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

humble me.

Gen. 34. 2. g Lev. 18. 9,

12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not † force me; for + Heb. gf no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this h folly. 13 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 h Gen. 34. 7. not withhold me from thee.

1. & 20. 17. Heb. it ought not so to be done.

Judg. 19. 23. & 20. 6.

14 Howbeit, he would not hearken i See Lev. unto her voice: but being stronger than she, k forced her, and lay with

her.

15 T Then Amnon hated her † ex-+ ceedingly; 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.

16 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.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

18. 9, 11. k Deut. 22.

25. See ch. 12. 11.

Heb. with great hatred greatly.

Before

He is slain by Absalom's command. 21 But when king David heard CHRIST of all these things, he was very wroth.

cir. 1032.

o Gen. 24. 50. & 31. 24. p Lev. 19. 17, 18.

1030.

q See Gen. 38. 12, 13. Sam. 25. 4,

136.

22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom p hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom q had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers: let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

25 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: how beit he would not go, but blessed him.

26 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?

27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

28 T Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's rheart is merry with wine, and when I say him, fear not: have not I comunto you, Smite Amnon; then kill manded you? be courageous, and be † valiant.

29 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.

30 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.

31 Then the king arose, and stare his garments and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

32 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

forced his sister Tamar.

19 And Tamar put m ashes on Josh. 7.6. her head, and rent her garment of ch. 1. 2. divers colours that was on her, and Job 2. 12. n laid her hand on her head, and❘n Jer. 2. 37. went on crying.

20 And Absalom her brother said + Heb. unto her, Hath † Amnon thy brother Aminon. been with thee? but hold now thy + Heb. set peace, my sister: he is thy brother; not thy regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

heart. + Heb. and desolate.

x ch. 19. 19.

y ver. 38

+ Heb.

33 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.

34 y 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.

35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: according tot as thy servant said, so it is. the word of 36 And it came to pass, as soon thy servant. as he had made an end of speaking,

Joab's artifice to

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.

37 1 But Absalom fled, and went to z Talmai, the son of || Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled, and went to a Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

CHAPTER XIV.

1 Joab, suborning a widow of Tekoah, by a parable to incline the king's heart to fetch home Absalom, bringeth him to Jerusalem. 25 Absalom's beauty, hair, and children. 28 After two years, Absalom by Joab is brought into the king's presence.

NOW Joab the son of Zeruiah

perceived that the king's heart

was a toward Absalom.

1027.

34.

In Judg. 20.

2.

a ch. 13. 39.q Num. 35.

2 And Joab sent to b Tekoah, b 2 Chr. 11. and fetched thence a wise woman, 6. and said unto her, I pray thee, feign

thyself to be a mourner, cand put c See Ruth on now mourning apparel, and a-3. 3. noint not thyself with oil, but be

as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him.

So Joab d put the words in herd ver. 19. mouth.

Ex. 4. 15.

4 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she e felle 1 Sam. 20. on her face to the ground, and 41. ch. 1. 2. did obeisance, and said, †fHelp, + Heb. Save. O king.

f See 2 Kin.

5 And the king said unto her, 6. 26, 28. What aileth thee? And she an

swered, I am indeed a widow wo-g See ch. 12. man, and mine husband is dead.

6 And thy handmaid had two

sons, and they two strove together

in the field, and there was none + Heb. no to part them, but the one smote the deliverer beother, and slew him. tween them.

12.

7 And behold, the whole fa-h Num. 35. mily is risen against thine handmaid, 19. Deut. 19. 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.

8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

Heb. upon the face of the earth.

i Gen. 27. 13. 24. Matt. 27. 1 Sam. 25.

15, 25, 28.

↑ Heb. for rest.

rver. 20. ch. 19. 27.

1 Heb.

to hear.

s ver. 3.

t ver. 17. ch. 19. 27.

9 And the woman of Tekoah said! unto the king, My lord, O king, i the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: k and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10 And the king said, Whosoever k ch. 3. 28, saith aught unto thee, bring him to 29. Kings blessed. me, and he shall not touch thee 2. 33.

25.

+ Heb. that the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy. Num. 35.

19.

+ Heb.

Or, thy,

uch. 13. 37.

12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.

13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against n 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 o his banished.

14 For we P 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 q devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

15 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.

16 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.

17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for ras an angel of God, so is my lord the king † to discern good and bad. therefore the LORD thy God will be with thec.

18 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.

19 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 aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and she put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

20 To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing and my lord is wise, taccording to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things

that are in the earth.

21 ¶ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

22 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.

23 So Joab arose " and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

Absalom's return.

24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him x not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.

Before

Before

1027.

x Gen. 43. 3.

ch. 3. 13.

Heb. And

1024.

there was

25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Ab-as Absalom salom for his beauty: y from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 26 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 polledit;) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.

d Rom. 16.

nance.

28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, a and saw not a ver. 24. the king's face.

29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have him sent to the king;| but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

30 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.

31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?

32 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.

33 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.

Heb. near my place.

1025.

b Gen. 33. 4. & 45. 15. Luke 15. 20.

1024.

ND a it came to pass after this, a ch. 12. 11. that Absalom prepared him b1 Kings 1. chariots and horses, and fifty men 5. to run before him.

+ Heb.

2 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 Ab- to come. salom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, I

1.

1023.

His conspiracy.

Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 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!

5 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.

6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: dso Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass e after e1 Sam. 16. 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.

9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 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

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went k in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, 1 David's counsellor, from his city, even from m Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people n'increased continually with Absalom.

13 T And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us P 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.

15 And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy ser. vants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall † appoint.

16 And 4 the king went forth, and all his household † after him. And the king left rten women which were concubines to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18 And all his servants passed on beside him; s and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and

David fleeth from Jerusalem. all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

Before

19 1 Then said the king to t Ittait ch. 18. 2. 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.

20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make + Heb. make thee go up and down with us? see-thee wander ing I go u whither I may; return in going. thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 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.

22 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.

23 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 y wilder

ness.

u 1 Sam. 23.

13.

x Ruth 1. 16, 17. Prov. 17. 17. & 18. 24.

Called, John 18. 1, Cedron.

y ch. 16. 2.

24 1 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, z bear-z Num. 4. ing the ark of the covenant of God: 15. and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 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 a will bring a Ps. 43. 3. me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

26 But if he thus say, I have no

b delight in thee; behold, here amb Num. 14. I, let him do to me as seemeth 8.2 Sam. 22. 20. 1 Kings good unto him.

9. 8. Is. 62.

27 The king said also unto Zadok 10. 9. 2 Chr. the priest, Art not thou a d seer? 4. return into the city in peace, and c 1 Sam. 3. e your two sons with you, Ahimaaz 18. thy son, and Jonathan the son of d 1 Sam. 9. Abiathar.

28 See, fI will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem and they tarried there.

30 And David went up by the

9.

e See ch. 17.

17.

fch. 17. 16.

Hushai sent back with instructions. of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai then Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

33 Unto whom David said, It thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be p a burden unto me:

34 But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, q 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.

35 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, r thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 Behold, they have there s with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Ábiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 So Hushai, David's friend. came into the city, " and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

CHAPTER XVI.

1 Ziba, by presents and false suggestions, obtaineth his master's inheritance. 5 At Bahurim Shimei curseth David. 9 David with patience abstaineth, and restraineth others, from revenge. 15 Hushai insinuateth himself into Absalom's counsel. 20 Ahithophel's counsel.

ach. 15. 30, AND a when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, bZiba 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.

c ch. 15. 23. & 17. 29.

2 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, c that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

3 And the king said, And where 1 ch. 19. 27. is thy master's son? d And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Esth. 6. 12.

as he went up, and g had his head up, and covered, and he went h barefoot: weeping. and all the people that was with c. 19. 4. him i covered every man his head,h Is. 20. 2, 4. and they went up, k weeping as they i Jer. 14. 3, went up.

4.

obeisance.

find grace in thy sight, my lord, king.

5 ¶ And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was

1 Kin. 2. 8, 44.

Or, he still came forth and cursed.

he

came forth, and cursed still as he

came.

6 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.