tine said unto David, "Am I a dog, that "thou comest to me with staves ?" and the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44. 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." 45. 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. "46. 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. "47. 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." 48. And it came to pass when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49. And David put his hand into 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. 50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with

CHAP. XII.

a stone, and smote the Philistine and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51. 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. 52. 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 of Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent. 55. And (b) 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." 56. And the king said, " Enquire thou whose son this "stripling is." 57. 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. 58. 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."

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AND the LORD (c) 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. "2. The rich man had exceeding many "flocks and herds: 3. But the poor man had nothing save one little ewe"lamb, which he had bought and nou"rished up and it grew up together "with him, and with his children; it "did eat of his own meat, and drank of

(b) v. 55. to the end is omitted in Sept.

"6. And he shall restore the lamb four"fold, because he did this thing, and "because he had no pity." 7. And Nathan said to David, "Thou art the "man." ." "Thus saith the LORD God of "Israel, "I anointed thee king over Is“rael, and I delivered thee out of the "hand of Saul: 8. 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 more"over have given unto thee such and "such things (d). 9. 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

and it was very sick. 16. David therefore besought God for the child, and David fasted, and went in, and 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 vex himself, if we tell him that "the child is dead?" 19. But when David saw that his servants whispered,

David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants,

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"Ammon. 10. Now therefore the sword "shall never depart from thine house; "because thou hast despised me, and "hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hit"tite to be thy wife. 11. "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 neigh"bour, and he shall lie (g) with thy "wives in the sight of this sun. 12. For "thou didst it secretly: but I will do "this thing before all Israel, and before "the sun." 13. 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. 14. Howbeit, be"cause by this deed thou hast given

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great occasion to the enemies of the "LORD 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,

(d) v. 8. "Such and such things," i. e. even greater things than these."

(e) v. 9. "Of the children of Ammon." David first committed adultery with Uriah's wife, and then gave directions that Uriah, who was in his army, should be put in the front of the hottest battle against the children of Ammon, and be there deserted, that he might be smitten and die :

"He is dead." 20. 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. 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: for I said, "Who can tell "whether God will be gracious to me, "that the child may live." 23. But now "he is dead, wherefore should I fast? "can I bring him back again? I shall

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by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah (h), because (i) of the LORD. 26. And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the (k) royal city. 27. And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rab"bah, and have (1) taken the city of 66 waters. 28. 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." 29. And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. 30 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 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.

(h) v. 25. "Jedidiah," i. e. " beloved of the Lord."

(i) "Because, &c." or "because the "Lord loved him."

(k) v. 26. "The royal city," i. e. (probably) not the whole, but the lower part, where the royal palace might be, and which lay near the water; that part which is called in the next verse "the city of waters." Had the whole city been taken, how could he be sending for David, as in verse 28. to come and encamp against the city and take it?

voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom,

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my son, my son." 5. 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 con"cubines: 6. 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. "7. Now therefore arise, go forth, and

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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

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worse unto thee than all the evil that "befell thee from thy youth until now." 8. Then the king rose, and sat in the gate: and they told unto all the people, saying, "Behold, the king doth sit in "the (o) gate:" and all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent. 9. 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. "10. And Absalom, whom we anointed 66 over us, is dead in battle: now there"fore why speak ye not a word of bring"ing the king back (p)." 11. 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

(1) v. 27. "Taken, &c." or "deprived "the city of its water." See Josephus Antiq. B. 7. c. 7. sed quære.

(m) v. 1. Before Christ 1023.

(n)" The king," i. e. "David." He was at Mahanaim.

(o) v. 8. "The gate," i. e. " of the city "of Mahanaim."

(p) v. 10. "Back," i. e. " to Jerusalem," from whence he had fled.

PP

"his house? (seeing the speech of all "Israel is come to the king, even to his "house.) 12. Ye are my brethren, ye "are my bones and my flesh: where"fore then are ye the last to bring "back the king? 13. And say ye to "Amasa (q), 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." 14. 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." 15. 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.

16. 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. 17. 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. 18. 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; 19. and said unto the king, "Let not my lord im"pute iniquity unto me, neither do "thou remember that which thy servant "did (r) perversely the day that my "lord the king went out of Jerusalem, "that the king should take it to his

(q) v. 13. "Amasa, who had been "captain of Absalom's host. 2 Sam. xvii. "25." David's indignation against Joab was, because he had killed Absalom: and Joab might address him in a spirit likely to increase that indignation. David had given him charge before the battle, "Deal "gently for my sake with the young man, 66 even with Absalom. 2 Sam. xviii. 5."

(r) v. 19. "Did perversely." He had cursed David, and cast stones at him and his servants. 1 Sam. xvi. 5, 6.

(s) v. 20. "Joseph," with whom the Benjamites were associated in their encampments. Under the standard of the

"heart. 20. For thy servant doth "know that I have sinned: therefore "behold, I am come the first this day "of all the house of Joseph (s), to go "down to meet my lord the king." 21. 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?" 22. 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

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day in Israel? for do not I know that "I am this day king over Israel?" 23. Therefore the king said unto Shimei, "Thou shalt not die :" and the king sware unto him. 24. And Mephibosheth the (t) 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. 25. 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?" 26. And he answered, "My lord, O king, my "servant (u) deceived me: for thy

camp of Ephraim were the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons), and the tribe of Benjamin. Numb. ii. 18 to 24.

(t) v. 24. "Mephibosheth:" there were two of this name; one, a son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul; and another, a son of Saul. See post, 580. 2 Sam. xxi. 7, 8.

(u) v. 26. "My servant," i. e. "Ziba." (x)" Said, I will saddle, &c." or "said "to him, saddle me an ass, &c. Sept."

(y) v. 27. "Slandered." Ziba had told David that Mephibosheth abode at Jerasalem under the hope that the house of Israel would restore to him the kingdom of his father Saul. See 1 Sam. xvi. S.

"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?" 29. And the king said unto him,"

Why speakest thou any more "of thy matters? I have said, "Thou " and Ziba divide the land." 30. 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." 31. And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. 32. 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. 33. And the king said unto Barzillai, "Come thou over with 66 me, and I will feed thee with me in "Jerusalem." 34. And Barzillai said unto the king, "How long have I to "live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem. 35. 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? 36. Thy servant will go "a little way over Jordan with the "king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? "37. 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,

(z) v. 40. "The people of Judah," i. e. "the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin." "The people of Israel," i. e. "the other "ten tribes."

(a) v. 1. "A famine." It began before Christ 1021.

(b) Inquired." These inquiries were not unfrequent in those times; and God, except in special instances, vouchsafed to answer them. "When Saul" (who had forfeited all claim by disobedience) "in

"and do to him what shall seem good "unto thee." 38. And the king, answered, "Chimham shall go over with

me, and I will do to him that which "shall seem good unto thee: and what"soever thou shalt require of me, that "will I do for thee." 39. 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. 40. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah (2) conducted the king, and also half the (z) people of Israel. 41. And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, "Why have our brethren the 66 men of Judah stolen thee away, and "have brought the king and his house"hold, and all David's men with him "over Jordan ?" 42. 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?" 43. 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.

CHAP. XXI.

THEN there was a (a) famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired (b) of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It

quired of the Lord, the Lord answered "him not, neither by dreams, nor by urim, "nor by prophets. 1 Sam. xxviii. 6." And in Ezekiel's time God commands him to "speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, "Thus saith the Lord, "Are ye come to inquire of me? As I "live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. Ezek. xx. 3." And see Ezek. xx. 31. and xiv. 3. Instances in PP 2

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