The Amalekiter spoil Ziklag CHAP. XXX. The spoll recovered y sight, as an angel of God: not-, of Egypt, servant to an Amalekre withstanding the princes of the Phi- and my master left me, because three Jestines have said, He shall not go up days agone I fell sick. with us to the battle. 10 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. 1 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. CHAP. XXX. ND it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the AmaJekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 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. 3 So David and his inen came to the city, and behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives. Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 14 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. 15 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 1 will bring thee down to this company. 16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, sating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spot! that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. 17 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. 18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away and David rescued his two wives. 19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nos any thing that they had taken to them. David recovered all. 20 And David took all the flocks ant the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This s David's spoil. 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of storing him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons, and 21 And David came to the two hunfor his daughters: but David encou-dred men, which were so faint that raged himself in the LORD his God. they could not follow David, whom 7 And David said to Abiathar the they had made also to abide at the priest, Abimelech's son, I pray thee, brook Besor. and they went forth to bring me hither the ephod. And Abi-meet David, and to meet the people athar brought thither the ephod to that were with him and when David David. came near to the people, he saluted them. 8 Ana David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? stall overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 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. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men for two hundred abode bebind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. 11 And they found an Egyptian the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water; 12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins and when he had eaten, his spii came again to hin: for he had eaten no bread, nor drune any water. coree days and three nights. 22 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 aught or the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead then away, and départ. 23 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. 24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall bis part be that tarrieta by the stuif they shall part alike. 25 And it was so from that day for ward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. 26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders 13 And David said unto bim, Toot Jurtab, even to his friends, saying, whom belongest thou? and whet.ce art Behold a present for you of the spoil thon? And he said, I am a young man of the enemies of the LORD; Saut and his sons slain. IL SAMUEL. The Philistines triumph. 27 To them which were in Beth-el,, sore afraid. Therefore Saul took and to them which were in south sword, and fell upon it. Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir, 28 And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa, 29 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, 30 And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chor-asban, and to them which were in Athach, 31 And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt. Now CHAP. XXXI. OW the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel ded from before the Philistines, and fell down stain in mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons. 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he. was sore wounded of the archers. 4 Then said Saul unto his armourDearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was 5 And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, be fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, that same day together. 7 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 Bed, and that Saul and his sons were dead they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saol and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 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 ido's and among the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 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 Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. CHAP. I. 6 And the young man that told him Now it came to pass after the death said, as 1 happened by chance upon of Sauf, when David was re-mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned turned from the slaughter of the Ama- upon his spear, and lo, the chariots lekites, and David had abode two days and horsemen followed hard after him. in Ziklag; e 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. 3 And David said unto him, From whence comert thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped I 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And answered, Here am I. 8 And be said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 9 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. 10 So I stood upon him, and slew 4 And David said unto him, How him, because I was sure that he could went the matter? I pray thee, te!! me.not live after that he was fallen and And he answered, That the people are I took the crown that was upon his ted from the battle, and many of the head, and the bracelet that was on people also are fallen and dead; and his arm, and have brought them hiSaul and Jonathan his son are deadther unto my lord. also. 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for CHAP. II. David's lamentation for Saul. Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the nouse of Is rael: because they were fallen by the sword. 13 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. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and tall upon hun. And he smote him that be died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, have slain the LORD's anointed. 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) Ish-bosheth made king reelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron, 4 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 Jabesb-gilead were they that buried Saul. 5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, 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. 6 And now the LORD shew kind1ness and truth unto you and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 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. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanain.; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, 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. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron, over the house of Judah, was seven years and six months. 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 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. 94 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the with other delights, who put on or-young inen now arise, and play before Lainents of gold upon your apparel. us. And Joab said, Let thein arise, 25 How are the mighty fallen in 15 Then there arose and went over the midst of the battie O Jonathan, by number twelve of Benjamin, which thou wast slain in thine high plaçes. pertained to Ish-hosherh the son of 261 am distressed for thee, my bro-Saul, and twelve of the servants of ther Jonathan: very pleasant hastDavia. tuou been unto me thy love to me 16 And they caught every one his was wonderful, passing the love of Unto Hebron. fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side: so they fell down together: waerefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israci, before the servants of David. 18 And there were three sons of Zerurah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. ? So David went up thither, and his 19 And Asahe! pursued after Abner: two wives also, Ahinoam the Jez-and in going he turned not to tig 249 L* Joab pursueth Abner.. II. SAMUEL. Abner revoltech to David right hand nor to the left from follow-; in Hebron; and his first-born was An ug Abner. non, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 20 Then Abner looked behind him, I 3 And his second, Chileab, of Ahiand said, Art thou Asabel i And he gail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite answered, I am. and the third, Absalom the son of Maacab, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 21 And Abner said to him, Turn chee aside to thy right hand or to thy .eft, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour., But Aahel would not turn aside from following of him. 29 And Abner said again to Asahel, Tuin thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joal, thy brother? 23 Howbeit he refused to turn eside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote hin under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind Im; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place were Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner and the sun went down when they were come to the bill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after! Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. 26 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? 27 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. 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought bey any more. 29 And Abner and his men walked ail that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. 30 And Joab returned from following Abner and when he had ga thered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had staitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died. 39 and they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lebem. And Joab and bis men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day. CHAP. III. NOW there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but Davia waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. 2 And unto David were sons born 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son, of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abitad; 5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David's whe. These were boin to David, in Hebron. 6 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. 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and sud, Ama 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 ine to-day with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the LORD hath swoin, to David, even so I do to him; 10 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 Beer-sheba. il And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he reared him. 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all, Israel unto thee. 13 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. 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. 15 And Isb-bosheth sent, and tock her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 Now theh 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. 19 And Abner also spake in the ears Joab kelleth Abner. CHAP IV. Ish-bosheth murdered. of Benjamin: and Abner went also toner, and said, Died Abner as a fool speak in the ears of David in Hebron dieth all that seemed good to Israel, and 34 Thy hands were not bound, nor that seemed good to the whole house thy feet put into fetters: as a man of Benjamin. fafleth before wicked men, so fellest 20 So Abner came to David to He-thou. And all the people wept again bron, and twenty men with him. And over him. David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. 21 And Abner said unto David, will arise and go, ard 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 abine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. 22 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told 39 And I am this day weak, though Joab, saying, Abner the son of Neranointed king; and these men the sons came to the king, and he hath sent of Zergiah be too hard for me the him away, and he is gone in peace. LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. 24 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? 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. 26 And when Joab was come out From David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it zot. 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote bim there under the fifth ib, that he died, for the blood of Asabe! his brother. 29 And afterward when David beard it, he said, I and my kingdom ere guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: 29 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 Jacketh bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother eiew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 32 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. 33 And the king lamented over Ab CHAP. IV. AND when Saul's son beard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israciites were troubled. 2 And Sanl'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 Ecerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: 3 And the Beerotkites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 4 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 fied: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he rell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and caine about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-hosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 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. 7 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. 8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the hea of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life and the LORD bath avenged ny lord the king this day of Saul, and of bis seed. 9 And David answered Rechab and |