 撒下:1.(2sm)[撒慕爾紀下]    [2 Samuel]   [共 24 章]   [思高聖經]
    
 撒下:1.1    [撒烏耳父子陣亡噩耗]  撒烏耳死後，達味擊殺阿瑪肋克人回來，在漆刻拉格住了兩天。
 撒下:1.2    第三天，有個人從撒烏耳營中跑來，衣服撕爛，滿頭灰塵，來到達味前，伏地叩拜。
 撒下:1.3    達味問他說：「你從那裏來﹖」他答說：「我從以色列營中逃命而來。」
 撒下:1.4    達味又問他說：「戰事怎樣﹖請告訴我! 」他答說：「軍民從戰場上逃跑了，許多人陣亡，撒烏耳和他的兒子約納堂也死了。」
 撒下:1.5    達味問那報信的少年人說：「你怎麼知道撒烏耳和他兒子約納堂死了呢﹖」
 撒下:1.6    那報信的少年人答說：「我無意中來到基耳波亞山上，看見撒烏耳伏在自己的槍上，戰車和騎兵都快要迫近他。
 撒下:1.7    他轉身見了我，就招呼我。我答說：我在這裏。
 撒下:1.8    他問我說：你是誰﹖我答說：我是阿瑪肋克人。
 撒下:1.9    他向我說：「來我身邊，殺了我罷! 我現在雖還完全活著，但十分暈眩。
 撒下:1.10   我就來到他身邊，明知他倒下後，決不能生存，便殺了他；取下他頭上的王冠，腕上的手鐲，帶到這裏來奉獻給我主。」
 撒下:1.11   達味就抓住自己的衣服撕破了；同他在一起的人也照樣作了。
 撒下:1.12   大家為撒烏耳和他的兒子約納堂，以及上主的百姓和以色列的家族，舉哀痛哭，禁食直到晚上，哀悼他們喪身刀下。
 撒下:1.13   [報信者的報應]  達味又問那報信的少年說：「你是那裏的﹖」他答說：「我是阿瑪肋克僑民的兒子。」
 撒下:1.14   達味向他說：「怎麼你不怕伸手殺害上主的受傅者﹖」
 撒下:1.15   達味遂叫一個少年人來，向他說：「前來，殺了他! 」少年把他一刀砍死了。
 撒下:1.16   同時達味對他說：「你的血應歸在你頭上，因為你親口作供說：我殺死了上主的受傅者。」
 撒下:1.17   [哀弔撒烏耳父子]  事後，達味作了這首哀歌，追悼撒烏耳和他的兒子約納堂，
 撒下:1.18   命令猶大子弟學習這首哀歌，這歌載在「壯士書」上：
 撒下:1.19   以色列的榮華，倒在你的高岡上；葷英雄怎會陣亡﹖
 撒下:1.20   不要在加特報告，不要在阿市刻隆街市宣揚，免得培肋舍特的女子歡樂，免得未受割損者的女郎維雀躍!
 撒下:1.21   基耳波亞山，不祥的山野! 在你那裏露不再降，雨不再下! 因為英雄的盾牌，受了褻瀆，撒烏耳的盾牌，那傅油者的武器。
 撒下:1.22   對傷者的血，英雄的脂油，約納堂的弓總不後轉，撒烏耳的劍決不空還。
 撒下:1.23   撒烏耳與約納堂，相親相愛，生相聚，死不離，神速過鷹，勇猛勝獅。
 撒下:1.24   以色列女郎! 應痛悼撒烏耳，他給你們披上了愉快的紫衣，在你們衣服上點綴了金飾。
 撒下:1.25   英雄怎會在戰鬥中陣亡! 哎，約納堂! 對你的死，我極度哀痛!
 撒下:1.26   我的兄弟約納堂，我為你萬分悲傷! 你愛我之情，何等甜蜜! 你對我的愛，勝於婦女之愛。
 撒下:1.27   英雄怎會陣亡! 戰爭的武器怎會喪亡! 」
    
           後編達味君王史（2－24）
    
 撒下:2.1    [達味受傅為猶大王]  這事以後，達味求問上主說：「我是否可以上猶大的一座城中去﹖」上主對他說：「可以。」達味又問說：「我上何處去﹖」答說：「往赫貝龍去。」
 撒下:2.2    於是達味帶著他兩個妻子：依次勒耳人阿希諾罕和作過加爾默耳人納巴耳妻子的阿彼蓋耳，上那裏去了。
 撒下:2.3    凡跟隨達味的人，他也叫他們各帶家眷一起上去，住在赫類龍城各區內。
 撒下:2.4    以後，猶大人來，在那裏給達味傅油，立他作猶大家族的君王。 [感謝雅貝人安葬敔王]  有人告訴達味，基肋阿得雅貝士人埋葬了撒烏耳。
 撒下:2.5    達味就派遣使者到基肋阿得雅貝士人那裏，向他們說：「願上主祝福 你們! 因為你們對你們的主上撒烏耳行了這件善事，將他埋葬了。
 撒下:2.6    願上主對你們顯示他的慈愛和忠信! 因為你們作了這事，我也要恩待你們。
 撒下:2.7    現在你們要加強自己的力量，作勇敢的人，因為你們的主上撒烏耳已經陣亡，但 猶大家族已給我傅油，立我做了他們的君王。」
 撒下:2.8    [依市巴耳為以色列王]  那時，撒烏耳的軍長，乃爾的兒子阿貝乃爾，已帶領撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳過河，到了瑪哈納殷，
 撒下:2.9    立他為基肋阿得、革叔爾、依次勒耳、厄弗辣因、本雅明，全以色列的君王。
 撒下:2.10   撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳為以色列王時，已四十歲，為王兩年。此時隨 從達味的，只有猶大家族。
 撒下:2.11   達味在赫貝龍作猶大家族君王的年數，共七年零六個月。
 撒下:2.12   [依市巴耳和味衝突]  乃爾的兒子阿貝乃爾和撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳的臣僕，從瑪哈納殷來到基貝紅。
 撒下:2.13   責魯雅的兒子約阿布和達味的臣僕，也從赫貝龍出發，彼此在基貝紅池旁相遇，雙方就都停下，各立在水池一邊。
 撒下:2.14   阿貝乃爾對約阿布說：「讓青年人出來，在我們面前比比武! 」約阿布答說：「好，叫他們出來! 」
 撒下:2.15   他們就出來，點了人數，十二個本雅明人在撒烏耳 的兒子依市巴耳一面，由達味的僕味的僕從中，也出來十二個人。
 撒下:2.16   每人抓住對方的頭，用力猛刺對方的腰，雙方都同時倒下；因此那地方叫作匝得平原，離基貝紅不遠。
 撒下:2.17   那天也發生了很激烈的戰鬥，阿貝乃爾和以色列人，竟為達味的臣僕打敗。
 撒下:2.18   責魯雅的三個兒子約阿布、阿彼瑟與阿撒耳，那時都在場，阿撒耳的腿快捷像野羚羊。
 撒下:2.19   阿撒耳便去追趕阿貝乃爾，不左不右，直追阿貝乃爾。
 撒下:2.20   阿貝乃爾轉過身來問說：「你是阿撒耳嗎﹖」他答說：「我是。」
 撒下:2.21   阿貝乃爾對他說：「你轉左或轉右，捉住一個青年，奪取他的裝備罷! 」但阿撒耳卻不肯放鬆他。
 撒下:2.22   阿貝乃爾就再對阿撒耳說：「你不要再追趕我了，為什麼逼我將你擊倒在地，叫我日後怎有臉再見你的兄弟約阿布﹖
 撒下:2.23   阿撒耳仍不肯罷休。阿貝乃爾就調過槍來，擊中了他的腹部，槍由背後穿出，他就倒在那裏，當下死了。凡來到阿撒耳倒斃的地方的人，都站住了。
 撒下:2.24   [雙方議和收兵]  約阿布和阿彼瑟仍在追趕阿貝乃爾，當他們來到往革巴曠野去的路上，基亞前的阿瑪山崗時，太陽就快要西落。
 撒下:2.25   本雅明人集結成隊，跟在阿貝乃爾後邊，站在一座小山頭上。
 撒下:2.26   阿貝乃爾向約阿布喊說：「刀劍豈能永遠擊殺﹖你豈不知結局更為不幸﹖幾時你纔命眾人轉身，不再追趕自己的兄弟﹖」
 撒下:2.27   約阿布答說：「上主永在! 若你不發言，眾人直到早晨，連一個也不會停止追趕自己的兄弟! 」
 撒下:2.28   約阿布遂吹號，眾人就停下，不再追趕以色列人，不再進攻。
 撒下:2.29   阿貝乃爾同他的人，那一整夜走過了阿辣巴平原，過了約但河，以後，又走了一上午，終于到了瑪哈納殷。
 撒下:2.30   約阿布追趕阿貝乃爾回來，召集了自己的人，達味僕人中，除阿撒耳外，少了十九人。
 撒下:2.31   但阿貝乃爾所帶的本雅明人中，有三百六十人，為達味的臣僕殺死。
 撒下:2.32   人遂將阿撒耳的屍體帶回，埋在白冷他父親的墳墓內。約阿布同他的人走了一夜，天亮時已到赫貝龍。
    
 撒下:3.1    [達味在赫貝龍生的兒子]  撒烏耳家與達味家間的戰爭相持很久；但達味家逐漸強盛，撒烏耳家 卻日趨衰弱。
 撒下:3.2    達味在赫貝龍生的兒子：長子阿默農，是依次勒耳人阿希諾 罕所生；
 撒下:3.3    次子基肋阿布，是曾作加爾默耳人納巴耳妻子的阿彼蓋耳所生；
 撒下:3.4    四子阿多尼雅，是哈基特所生；五子舍法提雅，是阿彼塔耳所生；
 撒下:3.5    六子依特蘭，是達味妻子厄革拉所生：以上是達味在赫貝龍所生的兒子。
 撒下:3.6    [依市巴耳指摘阿貝乃爾]  撒烏 耳家同達味家戰爭期間，阿貝乃爾獲得操縱撒烏耳家的權柄。
 撒下:3.7    撒烏耳有一妾名叫黎茲帕，是阿雅的女兒，阿貝乃爾娶了她；依市巴耳對阿貝乃爾說： 「你為什麼親近我父親的妾﹖」
 撒下:3.8    為了依市巴耳這句話，阿貝乃爾勃然大怒說：「莫非我是猶大的狗頭﹖直到今天我憐恤你父親撒烏耳，和他的兄弟及他的朋友，沒有使你落在達味手裏；你今天竟為了一個女人挑我的錯!
 撒下:3.9    若我今後不依照上主對達味所誓許的去行：
 撒下:3.10   廢除撒烏耳家的王位，建立 達味的寶座，使他由丹直到貝爾舍巴，統治全以色列和猶大，願天主如此， 並加倍地懲罰我! 」
 撒下:3.11   依市巴耳因為怕阿貝乃爾，連一句話也不敢回答。
 撒下:3.12   [阿貝爾與達味協商]  阿貝乃爾立即派使者到赫貝龍見達味說：「這地是誰的﹖」是說：「只 要你與我訂立盟約，我必伸手援助你，使全以色列都歸順你。」
 撒下:3.13   達味答 說：「好! 我願與你訂立盟約，但是，我要求你一個條件：就是你來見我時 ，若不把撒烏耳的女兒米加耳帶來，你休想見我。」
 撒下:3.14   隨後，達味就派使 者到撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳那裏說：「請把我的妻米加耳歸還給我，她是我 以一百培肋特舍人的包皮聘定的。」
 撒下:3.15   依市巴耳就派人，從拉依士的兒子 帕耳提耳，她丈夫那裏把她帶來。
 撒下:3.16   她的丈夫與她同行，一邊走一邊哭， 送她到了巴胡凌。阿貝乃爾向他說：「你回去罷! 」他就回去了。
 撒下:3.17   阿貝 乃爾同以色列的長老商議說：「你們早已渴望達味作你們的君王。
 撒下:3.18   現在 你們就進行罷! 因為上主曾論及達味說：我要藉我的僕人達味，從培肋舍特 人及一切仇敵手中，拯救我的百姓以色列。」
 撒下:3.19   阿貝乃爾也遊說了本雅明 人；以後阿貝乃爾去赫貝龍見達味，向他報告以色列和本雅明全家共同贊成 的事。
 撒下:3.20   阿貝乃爾遂率領二十人去赫貝龍見達味。達味設宴款待了阿貝乃 爾和他的隨員。
 撒下:3.21   阿貝乃爾向達味說：「我要動身去號召全以色列，來擁 護我主大王，使他們與你立約：這樣你能依照你的心願來統治一切。」事後 ，達味放阿貝乃爾平安走了。
 撒下:3.22   [約阿布殺阿貝乃爾]  達味的臣僕和約阿布出征回來，帶回了很 多戰利品。那時，阿貝乃爾已不在赫貝龍達味那裏了，因為達味放他平安走 了。
 撒下:3.23   約阿布和他率領的軍隊一來到，就有人告訴他說：「乃爾的兒子阿 貝乃爾曾來到君王前，君王放他平安走了。」
 撒下:3.24   約阿布就去見君王說：「 你作的是什麼事﹖阿貝乃爾到你這裏來，你為什麼放他平安走了﹖
 撒下:3.25   你豈 不認識乃爾的兒子阿貝乃爾﹖他來是為欺騙你，願探聽你的出入，知道你的 一切行動。」
 撒下:3.26   約阿布離開達味就打發差役去追趕阿貝乃爾。他們從息辣 的旱井旁，把他帶回來，。達味一點也不知道。
 撒下:3.27   阿貝乃爾一回到赫貝龍 ，約阿布就領他到大門旁，彷彿要與他暗地交談，就在那裏一刀剌穿了他的 肚腹，他立即死了；這樣替他兄弟阿撒耳報了血仇。
 撒下:3.28   [達味痛悼阿貝乃爾]  事後，達味一聽說 這事，就說：「我和我的國家，對乃爾的兒子阿貝乃爾的血案，在上主面前 ，永遠是無罪的!
 撒下:3.29   願這罪歸在約阿布的頭上和他父的全家! 願約阿布家 中不斷有患淋症，長癩病，只會紡線，喪身刀下和缺糧的人! 」
 撒下:3.30   約阿布 和他的兄弟阿彼瑟暗殺了阿貝乃爾，是因為他在基貝紅打仗時，殺死了他們 的兄弟阿撒耳。
 撒下:3.31   達味向約阿布和同他在一起的民眾說：「要撕裂你們的 衣服，穿上喪服，為阿貝乃爾舉哀! 」達味王也跟在靈柩後送葬。
 撒下:3.32   他們 在赫貝龍埋葬了阿貝乃爾；君王在阿貝乃爾墓旁放聲大哭，民眾也都哭了。
 撒下:3.33   君王作哀歌弔阿貝乃爾說：「阿貝乃爾豈應像傻瓜一樣死去﹖
 撒下:3.34   你的 手並未束拷，你的腳也沒帶鐐，怎麼你斃命，竟如兇犯斃命一樣! 」為此民 眾更加痛哭。
 撒下:3.35   隨後，眾人前來勸君王進食，那時還是白天，達味卻發誓 說：「若我在日落前進食，或嘗什麼東西，願天主如此，並加倍地懲罰我!  」
 撒下:3.36   眾人見到此事，都心悅誠服，因為凡君王所行的，無不叫眾人心悅誠 服。
 撒下:3.37   如此，眾人和全以色列當天都知道，殺乃爾的兒子阿貝乃爾，不是 出於君王的命令。
 撒下:3.38   達味向他的臣僕說：「你們不知道今天在以色列喪失 了一位將領和偉人嗎﹖
 撒下:3.39   我今天雖是傅油的君王，仍年幼無力，責魯雅的 兒子們又比我剛強；願上主依照人所行的邪惡，來施行報復! 」
    
 撒下:4.1    [嚴忝殺依市巴耳刺客]  撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳，一聽見阿貝乃爾死在赫貝龍，就慌了手腳， 全以色列大驚。
 撒下:4.2    撒烏耳的兒子依市巴耳有兩個土匪頭目：一個名叫巴阿納 ，一個名叫勒加布，是本雅明子孫貝洛特人黎孟的兒子，──貝洛特被認為 是本雅明族，
 撒下:4.3    因為貝洛特人逃到了基塔殷，僑居在那裏，直到今日。
 撒下:4.4    撒烏耳的兒子約納堂有個兒子雙足跛了，當撒烏耳與約納堂的凶信由依次勒耳 傳來時，他只有五歲，他的乳母帶他逃跑，在慌張逃跑中，他跌瘸了腿；他 名叫默黎巴耳。
 撒下:4.5    貝洛特人黎孟的兒子勒加布和巴阿納出去，正當中午炎熱 的時候，到了依市巴耳家裏，他正在床上睡午覺。
 撒下:4.6    看門的女僕在篩麥子， 也打盹睡著了。此時勒加布和他兄弟巴阿納溜進去，
 撒下:4.7    到了屋內，見依市巴 耳正睡在臥室的床上，便將他打死，砍下他的頭，帶著頭，在阿辣巴的大路 上走了一夜。
 撒下:4.8    他們帶著依市巴耳的頭，到了赫貝龍見達味王說：「大王的 仇人撒烏耳常謀害你的性命；看，他兒子依市巴耳的頭；上主今天為我主向 撒烏耳和他的後代報了仇。」
 撒下:4.9    但是，達味答覆貝洛特人黎孟的兒子勒加布 和他兄弟巴阿納說：「我指著那救我脫離了一切患難的永生上主起誓：
 撒下:4.10   那告訴我說：撒烏耳死了的，自以為是報喜信，我卻拿住他，在漆刻拉格殺 了，作為他報信的賞報；
 撒下:4.11   那麼，現在這些匪徒，偷進人屋，殺了睡在床 上的義人，我豈不更該從你們手中追討他的血債，將你們由地上剷除﹖」
 撒下:4.12   達味遂命自己的僮僕，殺了他們，砍去他們的手足，掛在赫貝龍的池旁；至 於依市巴耳的頭，叫人拿去葬在赫貝龍，阿貝乃爾的墳墓內。
    
 撒下:5. 1   [各支派承認達味為王]  以色列各支派聚集到赫貝龍，來見達味說：「看，我們都是你的骨肉。
 撒下:5. 2   以前，連撒烏耳當我們的君王時，也是你率領以色列出入征討；上主曾對你說過：你應牧養我的百姓以色列，作以色列的領袖。」
 撒下:5. 3   隨後，以色列所有的長老都到赫貝龍來見君王，達味君王就在赫貝龍，當上主的面同他們立了盟約；他們便給達味傅油，立他為以色列王。
 撒下:5. 4   達味登極時已三十歲，做王四十年；
 撒下:5. 5   在赫貝龍做猶大王，七年零六個月；在耶路撒冷做全以色列和猶大王三十三年。
 撒下:5. 6   [達味佔領耶路撒冷]  以後，達味和他的人向耶路撒冷進發，攻打住在那地方的耶步斯人，有人告訴達味說：「你決攻不進去，因為瞎眼瘸腿的也會把你趕走。」這是說：「達味決攻不進去。」
 撒下:5. 7   但是達味卻佔領了熙雍山堡，即達味城。
 撒下:5. 8   那日達味宣佈說：「凡攻打耶步斯人，從水道首先到達味所惱恨的那些瘸腿瞎眼的人那裏的，他要升為軍長和元帥。」責魯雅的兒子約阿布首先上去了，因而成了元帥。但為此有句俗語說：「有瞎眼瘸腿的在此，人是進不去的! 」
 撒下:5. 9   [建達味城]  達味住在那山堡內，稱之為達味城。達味又從米羅往裏，四周加建了城牆。
 撒下:5.10   達味日漸強盛，上主萬軍的天主與他同在。
 撒下:5.11   提洛王希蘭派使臣來見達味，給他送來了香柏木，派來了木匠石匠，為他建造宮室。
 撒下:5.12   那時，達味知道上主已堅定他為以色列王，並為了自己的百姓以色列，提高了他的王位。
 撒下:5.13   達味從赫貝龍遷來以後，在耶路撒冷又娶了妻妾，生了一些子女。
 撒下:5.14   他在耶路撒冷所生兒子的名字如下：沙慕亞、芍巴布、納堂、撒羅滿、
 撒下:5.15   依貝哈爾、厄里叔亞、乃費格、雅非亞、
 撒下:5.16   厄里沙瑪、厄肋雅達和厄里培肋特。
 撒下:5.17   [兩次戢勝培肋舍特]  培肋舍特人聽說：達味受傅作了以色列王，遂都上來向達味尋釁；達味一聽說，便下到堡壘中。
 撒下:5.18   培肋舍特人來到後，散布在勒法因平原內。
 撒下:5.19   那時達味求問上主說：「我可以上去攻打培肋舍特人嗎﹖你將他們交在我手中嗎﹖」上主回答達味說：「你上去，我必將培肋舍特人交在你手中。」
 撒下:5.20   達味於是來到巴耳培辣親，在那裏擊敗了他們。達味因此說：「上主使我的敵人在我面前崩潰，如水破堤。」為此，後人稱這地方為巴耳培辣親。
 撒下:5.21   培肋舍特人把自己的神像都遺棄在那裏，達味和他的人便將這些神像都帶走了。
 撒下:5.22   培肋舍特人又上來，散布在勒法因平原內。
 撒下:5.23   達味又求問上主，上主說：「不要上去，但要繞到他們後方，從桑林那邊抄他們的後路。
 撒下:5.24   當你聽到桑樹梢上有腳步聲時，你就趕快行動，因為那時正是上主在你前面出擊培肋舍特人的軍隊。」
 撒下:5.25   達味就照上主所命的行了，擊殺培肋舍特人，從基貝紅直到革則爾。
    
 撒下:6.1    約櫃運往熬貝得厄東家]  達味又調集了以色列所有的精兵，共三萬人。
 撒下:6.2     味和他身邊所有的人，起身到猶大巴阿拉去，要從那裏將天主的約櫃運上來。這約櫃名叫「坐於革魯賓上的萬軍的上主。」
 撒下:6.3     遂將天主的約櫃，從丘陵上的阿彼納達布家裏抬出，放在一輛新車上，阿彼納達布的兩個兒子，烏匝和阿希約駕駛新車。
 撒下:6.4     匝走在天主約櫃的後面，阿希約走在前面。
 撒下:6.5     味和以色列全家在上主面前興高彩烈地舞蹈作樂，彈琴、擊弦、敲鼓、搖鈴、擊鈸。
 撒下:6.6     他們來到納貢的禾場時，因為牛幾乎使天主的約櫃傾倒，烏匝便伸手扶住。
 撒下:6.7     了他一時的冒失，上主就向烏匝發怒，將他擊殺，他更死在天主的約櫃旁。
 撒下:6.8     味因為上主擊殺了烏匝，很覺悲傷，於是那地方名叫培勒茲烏匝，直到今日。
 撒下:6.9     天，達味對上主害了怕，心想：「上主的約櫃如何能進入我那裏﹖」
 撒下:6.10    此，達味不願上主的約櫃遷入達味城自己那裏，卻運往加特人敖貝得厄東家中。
 撒下:6.11    主的約櫃在加特人敖貝得厄東家中，存放了三個月，上主祝福了敖貝得厄東和他的全家。
 撒下:6.12   遷入達味城]  有人告訴達味，上主為了天主的約櫃祝福了敖貝得厄東的家，和他所有的一切。達味就去將天主的約櫃，由貝得厄東家興高彩烈地抬上達味城來。
 撒下:6.13    當抬上主約櫃的人走六步，他就祭獻一頭牛和一隻肥羊。
 撒下:6.14    時達味束著細麻的「厄弗得，」在上主面前盡力跳舞。
 撒下:6.15    樣，達味與以色列全家大聲歡呼，吹起號筒，將上主的約櫃迎上來。
 撒下:6.16    上主的約櫃進入達味城時，撒烏耳的女兒米加耳，由窗內窺看，見達味王在上主面前跳躍舞蹈，心中就輕視他。
 撒下:6.17    們將上主的約櫃抬來，安置在預備好的地方，停在達味為約櫃建立的帳幕中央；達味給上主奉獻了全燔祭與和平祭。
 撒下:6.18    味獻完了全燔祭與和平祭後，以萬軍上主的名祝福了百姓。
 撒下:6.19    後，分給所有百姓，全以色列民眾，不論男女，每人一塊餅，一塊肉，一塊葡萄乾餅。然後百姓各自回了本家。
 撒下:6.20   米加耳與達味]  達味回來祝福本家時，撒烏耳的女兒米加耳出來迎接達味說：「以色列的君王今天多麼榮耀! 他今天在臣僕的婢女前赤身露體，活像一個赤身露體的小丑。」
 撒下:6.21    味回答米加耳說：「在廢棄你父他全家，而選拔了我的上主面前，在派我為上主百姓以色列首領的上主面前，我甘願舞蹈，
 撒下:6.22    願加倍卑賤我自己! 我在你眼中被視為卑賤，但在你所說的婢女們前，我必受到尊敬。」
 撒下:6.23    此撒烏耳的女兒米加耳，到死再沒有生育。
    
 撒下:7.1    [達味建立聖殿]  那時，君王住在宮殿裏，上主賜他安享太平，不為四周仇敵所侵擾，
 撒下:7.2    君王遂對納堂先知說：「請看，我住在香柏木的宮殿，而天主的約櫃卻在帳幕內。」
 撒下:7.3    納堂回答君王說：「你心內打算的，你全可照辦! 因為上主與你同在。」
 撒下:7.4    但是，當夜就有上主的話傳於納堂說：
 撒下:7.5    「你去告訴我的僕人達味，上主這樣說：你要建築一座殿宇給我居住嗎﹖
 撒下:7.6    我自從埃及領以色列子民上來那一天起，直到今日，從沒有居住過殿宇，只隨帳棚和會幕漂泊。
 撒下:7.7    我與去色列子民同行時，我何嘗向我立為牧養我民以色列的一個民長說過：你們為什麼不為我建造一座香柏木的殿宇﹖
 撒下:7.8    [上主許給達味源恩]  現在，你要對我的僕人達味說：萬軍的上主這樣說：是我揀選你離開牧場，離開放羊的事，作我民以色列的領袖。
 撒下:7.9    你不論到那裏去，我總是偕同你，由你面前消滅你的一切仇敵；我要使你成名，像世上出名的大人物；
 撒下:7.10   我要把我民以色列安置在一個地方，裁培他們，在那裏久住，再也不受驚恐，再也不像先前受惡人的欺壓，
 撒下:7.11   有如自從我為我民以色列立了民長以來一樣；我要賜他們安寧，不受仇敵的騷擾。上主也告訴你：他要為你建立家室。
 撒下:7.12   當你的日子滿期與你祖先長眠時，我必在你以後興起一個後裔，即你所生的兒子；我必鞏固他的王權。
 撒下:7.13   是他要為我的名建立殿宇；我要鞏固他的王位直到永遠。
 撒下:7.14   我要作他的父親，他要作我的兒子；若是他犯了罪，我必用人用的鞭，世人用的棍，來懲戒他；
 撒下:7.15   但我決不由他收回我的恩情，就如在你以前由撒烏耳收回我的恩情一樣。
 撒下:7.16   你的家室和王權，在我面前永遠存在，你的王位也永遠堅定不移。」
 撒下:7.17   納堂便照這一切話，將整個啟示告訴了達味。
 撒下:7.18   達味王就進去，端坐在上主面前說：「我主上主! 我是誰﹖我的家族又算什麼，你竟領我到了這個地步﹖
 撒下:7.19   我主上主! 這在你眼中還以為太小，而你又說明了你僕人的家族未來的遠景，並將此事顯示給我這個人，我主上主!
 撒下:7.20   達味還對你說什麼﹖我主上主! 你認識你的僕人。
 撒下:7.21   你為了你的預許，按照你的心意，成就了這些偉大的事，為叫你的僕人認識清楚。
 撒下:7.22   我主上主! 為此，你是偉大的，沒有與你相似的；按照我耳所聽的，除了你以外，沒有別的神。
 撒下:7.23   世上又那裏有一個民族能比得上你的民族以色列﹖天主親自去解救他們出來，作為自己的民族；為使他們成名，在你從埃及解救出來的人民前，行了大而可畏的奇事，驅除異民以及他們的神。
 撒下:7.24   你將你民以色列永遠堅定為你的民族，你，上主做了他們的天主。
 撒下:7.25   我主上主! 現在，求你永遠堅持你論及你的僕人和他的家室所說的話，按照你所說的履行罷!
 撒下:7.26   願你的名永遠受尊崇! 人要說：萬軍的上主是以色列的天主! 願你僕人達味的家室，永遠堅家在你面前!
 撒下:7.27   萬軍的上主，以色列的天主! 因為你曾啟示你的僕人說：我要建立你的家室，因此，你的僕人纔敢在你面前向你如此祈禱。
 撒下:7.28   我主上主，惟有你是天主! 你的話是真理，是你向你僕人應許了這些恩惠。
 撒下:7.29   求你如今就祝福你僕人的家室，使永遠你面前存立，因為是你，我主上主所預許的，因此，你僕人的家室，必因你的祝福永遠獲得祝福。」
    
 撒下:8.1    [達味的武功]  此後，達味攻打培肋舍特人，將他們克服，由他們手中奪得了京城的治權。
 撒下:8.2    他也打敗了摩阿布人，叫他們躺在地上，用繩子來量，兩繩子內的人處死，一繩內的人生存；如此，摩阿布人遂臣服達味，給他納貢。
 撒下:8.3    當勒曷布的兒子，祚巴王哈達德則爾向幼發拉的河伸展自己的勢力時，達味也打敗了他，
 撒下:8.4    擄獲了他的馬兵一千七百，步兵兩萬，割斷了所有拉戰車的馬蹄筋，只留下了足以拉一百輛車的馬。
 撒下:8.5    後有大馬士革的阿蘭人，
 撒下:8.6    達味遂在大馬士革阿蘭屯兵駐守，阿蘭也臣服於達味，給他進貢。達味無論往那裏去，上主總是輔助他。
 撒下:8.7    達味奪了哈達德則爾臣僕所帶的金盾牌，送到耶路撒冷。
 撒下:8.8    達味王又由貝塔和貝洛泰，哈達德則爾的兩座城內，奪取了大量的銅。
 撒下:8.9    當哈瑪特王托烏，聽說達味打敗了哈達德則爾，
 撒下:8.10   便派自己的兒子哈多蘭到達味王那裏，向他致敬，祝賀他攻打了哈達德則爾，並將他打敗，因為哈達德則爾原是托烏的敵人。哈多蘭帶來了一些金器銀器和銅器。
 撒下:8.11   達味也把這一切金銀，和他從所征服的民族：
 撒下:8.12   即阿蘭、摩阿布、阿孟子民、培肋舍特人、阿瑪肋克和祚爾王勒曷布之子哈達德則爾的戰利品中所得，且已奉獻了的金銀，一同獻給了上主。
 撒下:8.13   達味戰勝阿蘭人歸來時，在鹽谷又擊殺了一萬八千厄東人，他的聲譽就更大了。
 撒下:8.14   他遂屯兵厄東，全厄東都臣服了達味；達味無論往那裏去，上主總是輔助他。
 撒下:8.15   [重要的官員]  達味統治了全以色列，對自己所有的人民秉公行義。
 撒下:8.16   責魯雅的兒子約阿布統領軍隊，阿希路得的兒子約沙法特為後御史。
 撒下:8.17   阿希突布的兒子匝多克及阿希默肋客的兒子厄貝雅塔爾作司祭，沙委沙作秘書，
 撒下:8.18   約雅達的兒子貝納雅管理革勒提和培肋提人；達味的兒子也作司祭。
    
 撒下:9.1    [達味善待約納堂之子]  達味問說：「撒烏耳家中還有剩下的人嗎﹖為了約納堂，我要對他表示慈愛。」
 撒下:9.2    撒烏耳家有一個僕人，名叫漆巴，有人把他帶到達味前；君王又問他說：「你是漆巴嗎﹖」他答說：「你的僕人是。」
 撒下:9.3    君王又問他說：「撒烏耳家中還有什麼人在嗎﹖我好對他表示天主的慈愛。」漆巴回答君王說：「還有約納堂的一個雙腳跛瘸的兒子。」
 撒下:9.4    君王向他說：「他在那裏﹖」漆巴回答君王說：「他在羅德巴爾，阿米耳的兒子瑪基爾家裏。」
 撒下:9.5    達味派人從羅德巴爾，阿米耳的兒子瑪基爾家裏把他接來。
 撒下:9.6    撒烏耳的孫子、約納堂的兒子，默黎巴耳來到達味前，就俯伏在地，叩拜君王。達味說：「默黎巴耳! 」他答：「你的僕人在這裏。」
 撒下:9.7    達味向他說：「你不要害怕，為了你的父親約納堂，我要恩待你，將你祖父撒烏耳所有的土地全歸還給你；你以後要享用我桌上的食物。」
 撒下:9.8    他伏首至地叩拜說：「你的僕人算什麼﹖你竟來眷顧像我這樣的一個死狗。」
 撒下:9.9    君王把撒烏耳的僕人漆巴召來，向他說：「撒烏耳和他全家所有的一切，我全給了你主人的兒子。
 撒下:9.10   所以，你和你的兒子以及你的僕役，應為他耕種田地，將收穫供給你主人的家庭作食糧；但你主人的兒子默黎巴耳要常享用我桌上的食物。」漆巴有十五個兒子，二十個僕役。
 撒下:9.11   漆巴回答君王說：「凡我主大王吩咐你僕人的，你的僕人必全依照遵行。」如此，默黎巴耳享用君王桌上的食物，就如君王的一個兒子。
 撒下:9.12   默黎巴耳有個小兒，名叫米加。凡住在漆巴家裏的人，無不服事默黎巴耳。
 撒下:9.13   默黎巴耳常住在耶路撒冷，因為他應常享用君王桌上的食物，只是他的雙腳跛了。
    
 撒下:10.1   [達味戰勝聯軍]  此後，阿孟子民的君王死了，他的兒子哈農繼位為王。
 撒下:10.2   達味心想：「我要善待納哈士的兒子哈農，像他父親善待我一樣。」於是達味派自己的臣僕去慰問他，追悼他的父親。當達味的臣僕來到阿孟子民國內時，
 撒下:10.3   阿孟子民的公卿，對他們的主上哈農說：「達味派人來慰問你，你想他是為尊敬你的父親嗎﹖達味派臣僕到你這裏來，豈不是來調查、探聽、破壞城池嗎﹖」
 撒下:10.4   哈農遂拿住達味的臣僕，將他們的鬍鬚剃去一半，又將他們下半截衣服割去，直到臀部；然後放他們走了。
 撒下:10.5   有人把這事告訴了達味，王遂打發人去迎接他們，因為這些人很覺羞恥；王便吩咐他們說：「你們暫且留在耶里哥，等鬍鬚長起後再回來。」
 撒下:10.6   阿孟子民見自己在達味跟前惹下仇恨，便遣人去，向貝特勒曷布和祚巴的阿蘭人僱了兩萬步兵，向瑪阿加君王僱了一千人，向托布人僱了一萬二千人。
 撒下:10.7   達味聽說這事，便派出約阿布和全隊士兵和勇士。
 撒下:10.8   阿孟子民出來，在城門前擺了陣，祚巴和勒曷布的阿蘭人和托布人與瑪阿加人，分別在田野間擺了陣。
 撒下:10.9   約阿布見自己前後受敵，就由以色列勁旅中，選一隊精兵擺陣進攻阿蘭人，
 撒下:10.10  將其餘的軍隊，交給自己的兄弟阿彼瑟指揮，叫他列陣進攻阿孟子民，
 撒下:10.11  並對他說：「若我打不下阿蘭人，你就來援助我；若你打不下阿孟子民，我就來援助你。
 撒下:10.12  要勇敢奮鬥，為了我們的民族，為了我們天主的城池，我們應奮鬥! 願上主成就他認為好的事! 」
 撒下:10.13  然後約阿布和跟隨他的軍隊，向前進攻阿蘭人，阿蘭人就在他們前逃走了。
 撒下:10.14  阿孟子民見阿蘭人逃走，他們也在阿彼瑟前逃走，退入城中。約阿布便不再進攻阿孟子民，回了耶路撒冷。
 撒下:10.15  阿蘭人見自己為以色列打敗，便再聯合起來。
 撒下:10.16  哈達德則爾派人去，將大河那邊的阿蘭人也調來，都到了赫藍，由哈達德則爾的元帥芍巴客率領。
 撒下:10.17  達味一得了情報，就調集所有的以色列人，渡過約但河，來到赫藍。阿蘭人遂列陣進攻達味，與他交戰。
 撒下:10.18  阿蘭人在以色列面前潰退。達味擊殺了阿蘭人的七百匹拉車的馬，和四萬馬兵；又攻擊了他們的元帥芍巴客，他便死在那裏。
 撒下:10.19  所有臣屬哈達德則爾的王子，一見自己敗於以色列，便與以色列講和，臣服於他們；從此阿蘭人再不敢援助阿孟子民了。
    
 撒下:11. 1  [達味與巴特舍巴]  年初，正當諸王出征的季節，達味派約阿布率領他的將官和以色列人出征；他們蹂躪了阿孟子民，就包圍辣巴。當時達味住在耶路撒冷。
 撒下:11. 2  一天傍晚，達味由床上起來，在宮殿的房屋頂上散步；從房頂上看見一個女人在沐浴，這女人容貌很美。
 撒下:11. 3  達味遂派人打聽這女人是誰；有人告訴他說：「這不是厄里安的女兒，赫特人烏黎雅的妻子巴特舍巴嗎﹖
 撒下:11. 4  達味便派人將他接來；她來到他那裡，達味就與她同寢，那時她的月經剛潔淨了。事後，她便回了家。
 撒下:11. 5  不久，那女人自覺懷孕，就打發人告訴達味說：「我懷了孕。」
 撒下:11. 6  達味派人給約阿布說：「打發赫特人烏黎雅來見我。」約阿布就打發烏黎雅去見達味。
 撒下:11. 7  烏黎雅一來到他跟前，達味就問：「約阿布近來如何﹖士兵好嗎﹖戰事怎樣﹖」
 撒下:11. 8  達味向烏黎雅說：「你下到家中洗洗腳吧! 」烏黎雅剛離開皇宮，隨後就送來了王的飲食。
 撒下:11. 9  烏黎雅卻同他的主人的僕役一起睡在宮門旁，沒有下到家裡。
 撒下:11.10  有人報告達味說：「烏黎雅並沒有回到自己家裡。」達味便向烏黎雅說：「你不是由遠道回來的嗎，為什麼不下到你家裡去呢﹖」
 撒下:11.11  烏黎雅回答達味說：「約櫃，以色列和猶大人都住在帳幕裡，我主約阿布和我主的僕人都在野外露宿，我豈能回家吃喝，和我妻子一起睡覺﹖上主永在，陛下萬歲! 我絕不做這樣的事。」
 撒下:11.12  達味向烏黎雅說：「今天你還留在這裡，明天我要打發你回去。」烏黎雅那天就留在耶路撒冷。第二天，
 撒下:11.13  達味召他來與自己一起飲宴，將他灌醉，傍晚，烏黎雅出去，仍與他主人的僕役睡在一起，並沒有到家裡去。
 撒下:11.14  [陷害忠良]  到了早晨，達味給約阿布寫了一封信，要烏黎雅親手帶去。
 撒下:11.15  他在信上寫說：「你應派烏黎雅到戰事最激烈的前線，然後，在他後邊撤退，讓他受攻擊陣亡。」
 撒下:11.16  約阿布察看那城以後，知道那裡有最強悍的敵人，就派烏黎雅到那裡去了。
 撒下:11.17  城內的人出來，與約阿布交戰，達味的僕役中，有些人陣亡了，赫特人烏黎雅也陣亡了。
 撒下:11.18  約阿布派人去向達味報告這次戰事的一切經過，
 撒下:11.19  他吩咐使者說：「若你把戰事的經過向君王報告完了以後，
 撒下:11.20  王若向你發怒說：為什麼你們靠近城牆作戰﹖你們不知道有人會由城牆上射擊嗎﹖
 撒下:11.21  誰擊殺了耶魯巴耳的兒子阿彼默肋客﹖不是一個女人從城牆上把一塊磨石丟在他身上﹖他就死在特貝茲嗎﹖為什麼你們靠近城牆呢﹖你就答說：你的僕人赫特人烏黎雅也陣亡了。」
 撒下:11.22  使者就前來見達味，把約阿布打發他報告的一切全向達味報告了。達味對約阿布大怒，向使者說：「你們為什麼靠近城牆作戰﹖你們不知道有人會由城牆上射擊嗎﹖誰射擊了耶魯巴耳的兒子阿彼默肋客﹖不是一個女人從城牆上把一塊磨石丟在他身上，他就死在特貝茲嗎﹖為什麼你們靠近城牆呢﹖」
 撒下:11.23  報信的人向達味說：「那些人向我們衝來，下到平原來攻打我們，我們就追擊他們到城門邊，
 撒下:11.24  射手就從城牆上射擊我們.君王的僕役大約死了十八人，你的僕人烏黎雅，那個赫特人也死了。
 撒下:11.25  「達味向報信的人說：「你去告訴約阿布說：不必對這事過傷心，因為刀劍有時砍這人，也有時砍那人；你只管加緊攻城，將城毀滅。你要鼓勵他。
 撒下:11.26  [娶巴特舍巴為妻]  「烏黎雅的妻子聽說他丈夫陣亡了，就為他丈夫舉哀。居喪期一滿，達味就派人將他接到自己的宮中，成了他的妻子，給他生了一個兒子。達味這樣行事，使上主大為不悅。
    
 撒下:12.1   [納堂指摘達味]  於是上主打發納堂先知去見達味；他一來到他跟前，就對他說：「在一座城裡有兩個人，一富一貧；
 撒下:12.2   富的有很多牛羊；
 撒下:12.3   貧的，除一隻小母羊外，什麼也沒有。這隻小母羊是他買來餵養的，在他和他兒女身邊長大，吃他自己的食物，喝他自己杯中的飲料，睡在他的懷裡，帶他如同自己的女兒一樣。
 撒下:12.4   有一個客人，來到富人那裡，他捨不得拿自己的牛羊，款待那來到他這裡的旅客，卻取了那貧窮人的母羊，來款待那到他這裡來的人。」
 撒下:12.5   達味對這人大發憤怒，向納堂說：「上主永在! 做這事的人該死!
 撒下:12.6   並且，因為他這樣行事，捨不得自己的牛羊，他應七倍償還」。
 撒下:12.7   約納堂對達味說：「這人就是你! 以色列的天主上主這樣說：是我給你傅油，立你作以色列的君王，是我由撒烏耳手中將你救出，
 撒下:12.8   是我將你主人的家室賜給你；我把你主人的妻妾放在你懷裏，把以色列和猶大的家族也賜給了你；若還以為太少，我願再給你這樣那樣的恩惠。
 撒下:12.9   你為什麼輕視上主，作出祂眼中視為邪惡的事，借刀殺了赫特人烏黎雅，為佔取他的妻子，據為己有﹖你借阿孟子民的刀殺了烏黎雅。
 撒下:12.10  從此刀劍永不離開你家! 因為你輕視了我，佔取了赫特的妻子，據為己有。
 撒下:12.11  上主這樣說：看，我要由自己的家裏激起災禍反對你，我要當你的眼前拿你的妻妾給與你的近人，他要在光天化日之下與你的妻妾同寢。
 撒下:12.12  你暗中行的事，我卻要叫這事在眾以色列前和太陽下進行」。
 撒下:12.13  達味對約納堂說：「我得罪了上主! 」約納堂對達味說：「上主已赦免了你的罪惡，你不致於死；
 撒下:12.14  但是你在這事上蔑視了上主，給你生是那個孩子，必要死去」。
 撒下:12.15  [巴特舍巴的兒子夭亡]  以後，約納堂就回家去了。上主打擊了烏黎雅給達味所生的孩子，使他患病甚重。
 撒下:12.16  達味就為孩子懇求天主，並且禁食，進入房內，穿著苦衣躺在地上過夜。
 撒下:12.17  皇室的長老到他前，要將他從地上扶起來，他卻不願意，也不與他們一起吃飯。
 撒下:12.18  到了第七天，孩子竟然死了。達味的臣僕怕告訴他孩子死了，因為他們說：「孩子活著的時候，我們勸他，他還不聽我們的話；我們若告訴他孩子死了，豈不是更使他痛苦﹖」
 撒下:12.19  達味見自己的臣僕低聲耳語，就曉得孩子死了，便問臣僕說：「孩子死了嗎﹖」他們答說：「死了! 」
 撒下:12.20  達味就由地上起來，沐浴、抹油、更衣，進了上主的庭院朝拜了；然後回到家裏，叫人給他擺上飯來，他就吃了。
 撒下:12.21  他的臣僕對他說：「你這是作的什麼事。孩子著，你為他禁食哀哭；孩子死了你反而起來吃飯」。
 撒下:12.22  他答說：「孩子活著，我禁食悲哭，因為我想：也許上主會可憐我，使孩子生存，有誰知道﹖
 撒下:12.23  如今，他死了，我為什麼還要禁食﹖難道我能叫他回來﹖是我要到他那裏去，他不會回到我這裏來了! 」
 撒下:12.24  [撒羅滿生]  事後，達味安慰了妻子巴特舍巴，再走近她，與她同寢；她又生了一個兒子，給他起名叫撒羅滿；上主也喜愛他，
 撒下:12.25  派了先知約納堂去，代替上主給他起了個別號，叫耶狄狄雅。
 撒下:12.26  [達味攻取辣巴城]  那時，約阿布正攻打阿孟子民的辣巴，佔據了水城。
 撒下:12.27  約阿布就派使者到達味那裏說：「攻打辣巴，已佔了水城；
 撒下:12.28  如今你快調集其餘的軍隊來圍攻，佔領這座城市，免得我攻下了，人拿我的名字作城名」。
 撒下:12.29  達味遂召集了所有的軍隊，開到辣巴，攻取了那城。
 撒下:12.30  達味從米耳公神的頭上，取下了那重一「塔冷通」的金冠來，上面嵌有一塊寶石，達味將這寶石戴在自己頭上，並由城中運走了大批勝利品。
 撒下:12.31  至於城內的居民，根將他們帶走，叫他們拉鋸、操斧、劈石、做磚；達味對待阿孟子民所有的城市都是如此。然後率領自己的軍隊回了耶路撒冷。
    
 撒下:13.1   [阿默農強姦異母姊妹]  此後，還發生了一件事：達味的兒子阿貝沙隆有個妹妹，名叫塔瑪爾，很是美麗，達味的兒子阿默農很愛她。
 撒下:13.2   阿默農為了他妹妹塔瑪爾的緣故，竟憂愁悶成疾；因為她還是處女，所以在阿默農看來，對她行事幾乎不可能。
 撒下:13.3   阿默農有個朋友，名叫約納達布，是達味的兄弟史默亞的兒子。約納達布是一個很狡滑的人。
 撒下:13.4   他向阿默農說：「太子，為什麼你一天一天如此萎靡不振﹖你不肯告訴我嗎﹖」阿默農回答說：「我愛上我兄弟阿貝沙隆的妹妹塔瑪爾」。
 撒下:13.5   約納達布向他說：「你在躺床裝病，你父親來看你時，你就對他說：我很希望我的妹妹塔瑪爾來，給我準備食物，她要在我眼前準備，叫我看看著，並且由她手中取食。
 撒下:13.6   阿默農就臥床裝病，君王來看他時，阿默農向君王說：「求你叫我妹妹塔瑪爾來，在我前做兩塊餅，好叫我從她手中取食」。
 撒下:13.7   達味就派人到塔瑪爾房中說：「請妳到妳哥哥房裏去，給他準備食物」。
 撒下:13.8   塔瑪爾到了她哥哥阿默農房裏，他正躺在床上。她取了麵，在他眼前和好，烤成餅。
 撒下:13.9   她就拿過鍋來，在他面前將餅倒出，他卻推辭不吃。阿默農說：「妳叫眾人都由面前出去」。眾人就都由他面前出去了。
 撒下:13.10  阿默農對塔瑪爾說：「妳給我把食物拿到內室來，好叫我由妳手中取食」。塔瑪爾拿著她做的餅，進了內室，送到她哥哥阿默農前。
 撒下:13.11  她正遞給他時，他就抓住她說：「我的妹妹，來與我同寢! 」
 撒下:13.12  她回答說：「我的哥哥! 不可這樣，不要作賤我! 在以色列不應作這樣木事，不要作這愚蠢的事!
 撒下:13.13  我帶著這恥辱到哪裏去呢﹖你在以色列也成了一個愚妄人。請你向君王說明，他決不會拒絕使我屬於你的! 」
 撒下:13.14  他卻不肯聽她的話，又比她有力，就強姦了她。
 撒下:13.15  事後，阿默農立即十分憎恨她，並且他如今對她的憎恨，遠超過以前對她的愛戀，就向她說：「起來，走吧! 」
 撒下:13.16  她答說：「我的哥哥，那不可以。氮趕我走，比你對我所行的，更為無理! 」他卻石聽從她，
 撒下:13.17  就叫服侍自己的僕人來，向他說：「把這女人從我這裏趕出去! 她走後，隨鎖上門! 」
 撒下:13.18  她那時穿著彩色長衣，因為君王的女兒，在未出嫁以前，昔日都是如此裝束。他的僕人將她趕出去，隨後鎖上了門。
 撒下:13.19  塔瑪爾把灰撒在頭上，撕破自己所穿的彩色長衣，雙手抱著頭，一路邊哭邊走。
 撒下:13.20  她的哥哥阿貝沙隆問她說：「莫非妳的哥哥阿默農與妳同寢了﹖妹妹，暫且不要出聲，因為他是好的兄弟，不可把這事放在心上! 」塔瑪爾從此就憂悶不樂，住在她哥哥阿貝沙隆家裏。
 撒下:13.21  達味聽說了這一切事，十分生氣；怛他不願傷他兒子阿默農的心，因為他是長子，格外愛他。
 撒下:13.22  至於，無論好話歹話，一句也不向阿默農說。他惱恨阿默農，因為他污辱了他妹妹塔瑪爾。
 撒下:13.23  [阿貝沙隆計殺阿默農]  過了兩年，當阿貝沙隆在厄弗辣因的巴耳哈祚爾剪羊毛的時節，阿貝沙隆邀請了君王所有的兒子。
 撒下:13.24  阿貝沙隆來到君王前說：「看，你的僕人剪羊毛的時節，請君王帶著臣僕都到你僕人那裏去! 」
 撒下:13.25  君王回答阿貝沙隆說：「我兒，不必如此! 我們不必都去麻煩你」。他雖然懇求，君王仍不願去，只祝福了他。
 撒下:13.26  阿貝沙隆便說：「至少讓我的兄弟阿默農同我們一起去! 」君王回答說：「為什麼要他同你一起去﹖」
 撒下:13.27  阿貝沙隆還是再三懇求，達味便派阿默農和君王所有的兒子，同他一起去了。阿貝沙隆擺設筳席，好像御筳。
 撒下:13.28  阿貝沙隆吩咐僕人說：「你們要注意! 阿默農暢飲的時候，我向你們說：刺死阿默農! 你們就打死他，不要害怕，是我吩咐了你們，要大膽勇敢」。
 撒下:13.29  阿貝沙隆的僕人，就照他所吩咐的，對阿默農做了。君王所有的兒子遂起來，各自騎上騾子逃跑了。
 撒下:13.30  他們還在路上，消息已傳到達味前說：「阿貝沙隆殺了君王所有的兒子，沒有一個幸免」。
 撒下:13.31  君王便起來，撕裂了自己的衣服，俯伏在地；他身邊的臣僕，也都撕裂了自己的衣服。
 撒下:13.32  達味的兄弟史默亞的兒子說道：「我主不要想：所有的青年，君王所有兒子都被殺了；其實只有阿默農一人死了。自從阿默農污辱了他的妹妹塔瑪爾那日起，阿貝沙隆就決定了這事。
 撒下:13.33  主君王，且不要將這事放在心上，以為君王所有的兒子都死了，因為只有阿默農一人死了」。
 撒下:13.34  逃走了。守衛的僕人舉目一望，看見在往曷洛納因山坡的路上，有一大群人下來。守衛的就去報告君王說：「我看見一群人，從曷洛納因山坡的路上下來了」。
 撒下:13.35  約納達布就向君王說：「看，執行的兒子回來了，正如你僕人所說的，現在實現了」。
 撒下:13.36  他剛說完這話，君王的兒子都來到了，放聲大哭；君王和眾臣僕也都號咷痛哭。
 撒下:13.37  [阿貝沙隆逃往革叔爾]  同時，阿貝沙隆逃到革叔爾王阿米胡得的兒子塔取買那裏去了。君王天天哀悼自己的兒子。
 撒下:13.38  阿貝沙隆逃到革叔爾，在那裏住了三年。
 撒下:13.39  此時，君王的心漸漸不再惱怒阿貝沙隆，對阿默農的死，也不再難過了。
    
 撒下:14.1   [約阿布設計召回阿貝沙隆]  責魯雅的兒子約阿布看透了君王懷念阿貝沙隆的心，
 撒下:14.2   就派人到特科亞去，從那裏叫來一位明智的婦人，對她說：「請妳裝作一個居喪的婦心，穿上喪服，別抹油，像一個居喪很多自己婦人，
 撒下:14.3   然後去見君王，對他這樣這樣說....」約阿布就把要說的話，口授給她。
 撒下:14.4   科特亞的婦人一來到君王前，便俯伏在地，叩拜喊說：「大王，救命! 」
 撒下:14.5   君王對她說：「妳有什麼事﹖「她答說：「哎! 我是個寡婦，我的丈夫死了。
 撒下:14.6   你的婢女有兩個兒子，他們倆在田野裏爭鬥，無人解勸，彼此對打，竟將一個打死了。
 撒下:14.7   全族的人都起來反對你的婢女說：將那打死自己兄弟的交出來，讓我們殺了他，抵償他所殺的兄弟的命，既便是後嗣，我們也要消滅。這樣，他們連我所剩下的一星之火，也要熄滅，不讓我的丈夫在世上留名，或者留後」。
 撒下:14.8   執行對婦人說：「妳回家去吧! 我會為妳下令查辦」。
 撒下:14.9   特科亞的婦人立即對君王說：「我主，大王! 願此罪歸於我及我父家，與大王，與陛下無干」。
 撒下:14.10  君王說：「凡向妳再出言恐嚇的，你把他帶到我這裏來，誰也不敢再麻煩妳了」。
 撒下:14.11  她繼續說：「望大王提及上主你的天主名，不許報復血仇的人再從事破壞，不將我的兒子消滅」。他答說：「我指著永生的上主起誓：妳兒子的一根頭髮，也決不會落在地上」。
 撒下:14.12  婦人接著說：「望我主大王，許你的婢女再進一言! 」他答說：「說吧! 」
 撒下:14.13  婦人說：「為什麼大王想出這樣的事來，反對天主的百姓。君王說出這話，若不將自己放逐的人召回來，就不免有罪了!
 撒下:14.14  我們原來都該死，如同潑在地，上的水，不能再收回，天主也不再給人生命；所以大王要設法不使那放逐的人，成為一個永不能再回家的人。
 撒下:14.15  我現今到這裏來，向我主大王提及此事，是因為有些人恐嚇我，為此你的婢女想：我得向君王說明，也許君王會實踐他婢女的請求。
 撒下:14.16  因為大王必會聽從我，從那由天主產業中剷除和我兒子之人的手中，救出自己的婢女來。
 撒下:14.17  所以你的婢女說：我主大王的話，實能安慰人心，因為我主大王對於分辨善惡，實如同天主的使者。望上主你的天主，與你同在! 」
 撒下:14.18  君王回答婦人說：「我有一事問妳，妳可不要對我隱瞞」。婦人答說：「我主大王，請說! 」
 撒下:14.19  君王問說：「在這一切事上，是不是約阿布的手在妳後面﹖」婦人答說：「我一王萬歲! 我主君王所說的，絲毫不差，正是你的僕人約阿布吩咐了我，是他將這一切話，口授給你的婢女。
 撒下:14.20  事實改變真相的，確是你的僕人約阿布所做的；但是我主賢明，賢明得如同天主的使者，曉得地上所有的事」。
 撒下:14.21  王便對約阿布說：「好，現在我就履行此事，召回孩子阿貝沙隆來! 」
 撒下:14.22  約阿布就俯首至地，叩拜祝福君王，隨後說：「我主大王，今天今日你的僕人知道，我在你眼前蒙得了寵幸，因為大王實踐了他僕人的請求」。
 撒下:14.23  約阿布就起身，往革叔爾去，將阿貝沙隆領回耶路撒冷。
 撒下:14.24  君王說：「叫他回自己家裏去吧! 不要來見我」。於是阿貝沙隆回到自己家裏，不是見君王的面。
 撒下:14.25  [阿貝沙隆得見君王]  在全以色列中，沒有一人像阿貝沙隆那樣英俊，堪受讚美的，在他身上，自踵至頂，沒有一默缺陷。
 撒下:14.26  他剪髮以後，──他每年年底剪髮一次，因為頭上積髮太多，他必須剪去，──稱了稱剪的頭髮，依王家的衡制，重二百「協刻耳」。
 撒下:14.27  阿貝沙隆有三個兒子，一個女兒；女兒名叫塔瑪爾，是個很美麗的女子。
 撒下:14.28  阿貝沙隆在耶路撒冷住了兩年，仍未得見君王的面。
 撒下:14.29  阿貝沙隆遂派人到約阿布那裏，求他引自己去見君王。但是，約阿布不願到他那裏去，他又派人去，他仍是不肯來。
 撒下:14.30  他於是對的僕人說：「你們看，約阿布的莊田與我的相接，他在那裏種了大麥，你們去放火燒田」。阿貝沙隆的僕人於是放火燒了田。
 撒下:14.31  約阿布就起身來到阿貝沙隆的家裏，對他說：「你的僕人為什麼燒了我的田﹖」
 撒下:14.32  阿貝沙隆回答約阿布說：「看，我派人到你那裏說：請你到這裏來，我願派你去見君王，問他為什麼叫我從革叔爾回來﹖假如我仍留在那裏，為我豈不更好﹖! 如今我願見君王的面，我若有罪，他可殺我! 」
 撒下:14.33  約阿布便去見君王，稟告了這些話。王遂召見阿貝沙隆；他來到君王前，俯首至地，叩拜君王；君王就吻了阿貝沙隆。
    
 撒下:15.1   [阿貝沙隆離間民心]  這事以後，阿貝沙隆準備了車輛和駿馬，並叫五十個為他開道。
 撒下:15.2   阿貝沙隆常清早起來，站在進城門的大路旁；凡有爭訟，要到君王前去要裁判的人，阿貝沙隆就把他叫到自己跟前來問說：「你是那一城裏的人﹖」他答說：「你僕人是以色列某支派的人」。
 撒下:15.3   阿貝沙隆就向他說：「看你的案件是正直有理的，但是君王沒有派人來聽取你的案件」。
 撒下:15.4   阿貝沙隆又接著說：「唉! 誰若立我作了國家的判官，凡是有訴和案件的，來到我這裏，我必使他獲得公正的裁判」。
 撒下:15.5   若有人前來叩拜他，他就伸手將他抱住，與他親吻。
 撒下:15.6   凡尸要到君王前去告狀的以色列人，心是這樣對待他們；如此他獲得了以色列人的心。
 撒下:15.7   [阿貝沙隆造反]  四年以後，阿貝沙隆向君王說：「我要求大王讓我去赫貝龍，向上主所許的願，
 撒下:15.8   因為你的僕人住在阿蘭革叔爾時，曾願許說：若上主領我再回耶路撒冷，我要在赫貝龍崇拜上主」。
 撒下:15.9   君王向他說：「你平安去吧! 」阿貝沙隆便往赫貝龍去了。
 撒下:15.10  阿貝沙隆打發特務到以色列各支派說：「你們一聽見號聲，就喊說：阿貝沙隆在赫貝龍為王了! 」
 撒下:15.11  由耶路撒冷與阿貝沙隆同來的，還有二百人，他們因為被請，就好心好意的來了，對於事情的真相，卻一點不知道。
 撒下:15.12  當阿貝沙隆祭獻時，就派人將達味的參謀，基羅人阿希托費耳由他的本城基羅請來參與祭祀。這樣，叛亂就更形擴大，隨從阿貝沙隆的民眾也逐漸加多。
 撒下:15.13  [達味逃亡]  有報信的人來到達味前說：「以色列人的心都歸向阿貝沙隆了」。
 撒下:15.14  達味就對所有跟在耶路撒冷的臣僕說：「我們趕快逃跑，不然，我們就來不及逃避阿貝沙隆了。你們趕快上路，免得他忽然趕到，殘害我們，用刀屠殺全城的人」。
 撒下:15.15  王的臣僕向君王說：「凡我主大王所決定的，你的臣僕必都照辦」。
 撒下:15.16  君王帶著全家徒步出走，只留下十個嬪妃看守王宮。
 撒下:15.17  君王徒步前行，他的軍民都跟著他；到了最後的住宅區，君王站住了。
 撒下:15.18  所有的軍民都由他身邊走過，所有的革勒提人和培肋提人，還有從加特跟隨依泰來的六百人，也都由君王面前過去。
 撒下:15.19  君王逐向加特人依泰說：「你m口我們一起出走﹖你回去協同新王國吧! 因為你是個離鄉背井的，流徙在外的僑民。
 撒下:15.20  你昨天來了，今天我就要你同我們一起漂流嗎﹖我還不知道我要往哪裏去﹖你領著你的兄弟們一起回去吧! 願上主仁慈忠誠對待你! 」
 撒下:15.21  依泰回答君王說：「上主永在! 我主大王萬歲! 在我主大王所在的地方，無論生死，你的僕人也必在那裏! 」
 撒下:15.22  達味向依泰說：「好，你過去吧! 」加特人依泰與他率領的人民，和他全家也都過去了。
 撒下:15.23  人民過去時，遍地一片哭聲；君王停在克德龍谷中，人民在他面前過去，向曠野的路上走去。
 撒下:15.24  [大司祭回京]  匝多克和所有的肋未人抬著天主的結約之櫃來了，他們把天主的約櫃放在厄貝雅塔爾面前，等由城中出來的人民全都走過。
 撒下:15.25  君王對匝多克說：「你將天主的約櫃抬回城去，放在原處! 若我在上主眼中蒙恩，祂必會領我回來，再能見約櫃和祂的聖所。
 撒下:15.26  但若上主說：我不喜歡你，看，我在這裏，祂看著怎樣好，就怎樣處置吧! 」
 撒下:15.27  君王又向匝多克司祭「看，你和厄貝雅塔爾可以平安回城，你的兒子阿希瑪茲和厄貝雅塔爾的兒子約納堂，你們的兩個兒子，也應隨你們回去。
 撒下:15.28  我願在曠野中的渡口暫並住下，等侯你們來給我報告消息」。
 撒下:15.29  匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾抬著天主的約櫃回了耶路撒冷，且住在那裏。
 撒下:15.30  以後，達味上了橄欖山：一邊上，一邊哭，蒙著頭赤著腳；隨著人民也都蒙著頭，哭著上山。
 撒下:15.31  [胡瑟銜命回京]  忽有人報告達味說：「阿希托費耳也跟隨了阿貝沙隆，雜在叛黨中」。根遂說：「上主，我求你使阿希托費耳的計謀轉為愚策」。
 撒下:15.32  達味一到了山頂，敬拜天主的地方，見他的朋友阿爾基人胡瑟穿著撕裂的衣服，頭上頂灰，出來迎接他。
 撒下:15.33  達味向他說：「你若跟隨，為我反是負擔；
 撒下:15.34  但你若回去，向阿貝沙隆說：大王，我願作你的僕人，先我是你父親的人，如今我作你的僕人；這樣你反能為我破壞阿希托費耳的計謀。
 撒下:15.35  在那裏同你一起的，還有司祭匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾司祭。
 撒下:15.36  與他們在一起的，還有他們的兩個兒子，匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲和厄貝雅塔爾的兒子約納堂，託他們把你們所聽到的傳報給我」。
 撒下:15.37  達味的朋友胡瑟就回了城，同時也到了耶路撒冷。
    
 撒下:16.1   [漆巴詐騙達味]  達味剛走過山頂不遠，看，默黎巴耳的僕人漆巴正牽著一對備好鞍子的驢，馱著兩百個餅，一百串葡萄乾，一百鮮果和一皮囊酒，前來迎接君王。
 撒下:16.2   君王對漆巴說：「你帶這些東西來作什麼﹖」漆巴說：「驢是為君王的家眷騎的，餅和水果是為僮僕吃的，酒是為在曠野裏疲倦了的人喝的」。
 撒下:16.3   君王問說：「你主人的兒子在哪裏﹖」漆巴回答君王說：「他仍留在耶路撒冷，因為他說：今日以色列家會將我父親的王位歸還給我了! 」
 撒下:16.4   君王對漆巴說：「看，凡屬默黎巴耳的，都歸你所有! 」漆巴答說：「我屈膝叩拜我主一王! 願我在你眼中獲得寵幸」。
 撒下:16.5   [史米辱罵達味]  達味王來到巴胡陵時看，出來一個撒烏耳家族的人，是革辣的兒子，名叫史米的。他罵著走來，
 撒下:16.6   投石襲擊達味和達味的眾臣僕，雖然百姓和勇士都圍在王的左右，他毫不畏懼。
 撒下:16.7   史米這樣罵君王說：「滾吧! 滾吧! 你這個殺人王! 你這個敗類!
 撒下:16.8   上主將撒烏耳一家的血都歸在你身上，你奪了他的王位，現在，上主將王權交在你兒子阿貝沙隆手裏，使你陷入絕境，足見你是個殺人王」。
 撒下:16.9   責魯雅的兒子阿彼瑟對君王說：「為什麼讓這死狗辱罵我主大王﹖讓我去砍下他的頭來! 」
 撒下:16.10  君王說：「責魯雅的兒子，我和我和你們有什麼關係﹖讓他罵吧! 如果上主吩咐他說：你咒罵達味! 誰還敢說：你為什麼這樣做﹖」
 撒下:16.11  達味對阿彼瑟和他的臣僕說：「唉! 我親生的兒子，尚且謀害我的生命，這個本雅明人更將如何﹖讓他罵吧! 因為上主吩咐了他。
 撒下:16.12  也許上主會憐恤我的困苦，會將他今日的咒罵，變成我的幸福」。
 撒下:16.13  達味與跟隨的人沿路前行，史米也沿著山路與他平排進行，邊走邊罵，向他拋石撒土。
 撒下:16.14  君王與跟隨他的眾人，來到約旦河岸，非常疲倦，就在那裏暫且休息。
 撒下:16.15  [阿貝沙隆進京]  阿貝沙隆與跟隨他的眾以色列人進了耶路撒冷，阿希托費耳也同他在一起，
 撒下:16.16  當達味的朋友阿爾基人胡瑟來見阿貝沙隆時，便對阿貝沙隆說：「大王萬歲! 「大王萬歲! 」
 撒下:16.17  阿貝沙隆對胡瑟說：「這是你對你朋友的恩情嗎﹖為什麼沒有去跟隨你的朋友﹖」
 撒下:16.18  胡瑟回答阿貝沙隆說：「不，因為凡上主和這個民族以及全以色列人所揀選的，我就跟隨他，與他住在一起。
 撒下:16.19  再者，我要事奉的是誰呢﹖先前我怎樣服事了你父親，也願怎樣服事你」。
 撒下:16.20  阿貝沙隆對阿希托費耳說：「你們商討一下，我們該做什麼」
 撒下:16.21  阿希托費耳對阿貝沙隆說：「你應去親近你父親留下看守宮殿的嬪妃，叫全以色列人知道你已惹下了你父親的仇恨，那些支持你的人，就必更加堅強」。
 撒下:16.22  於是人們在屋頂上，給阿貝沙隆支搭了一座帳棚；阿貝沙隆當著眾以色列人的面，親近了他父親的嬪妃。
 撒下:16.23  那時，阿希托費耳所出的主意，好像是詢問天主得來的神諭。凡阿希托費耳所出的主意，無論對達味，或對阿貝沙隆，都是如此。
    
 撒下:17.1   [胡瑟破計]  阿希托費耳向說：「讓我選拔一萬二千人，今夜起程去追趕達味。
 撒下:17.2   正當他困乏疲倦時，我忽然趕到，使他驚惶失措，隨從他的人，必會逃散，我只把君王一人殺了，
 撒下:17.3   然後人民來歸順你，像新娘回到新郎那裏；你只須害一人的性命，全民眾就都和平無事了」。
 撒下:17.4   阿貝沙隆和以色列的眾長老，對這提議都很贊成。
 撒下:17.5   阿貝沙隆說：「讓把阿爾基人胡瑟召來，我們也願聽聽他說什麼」。
 撒下:17.6   胡瑟來到阿貝沙隆前，阿貝沙隆向他說：「阿希托費耳說出這樣的話，我們應按他的主意去行嗎﹖請你提議吧! 」
 撒下:17.7   胡瑟回答阿貝沙隆說：「阿希托費耳這次所出的計謀卻是不妙」。
 撒下:17.8   胡瑟接著說：「你知道你父親和隨從他的人，都是勇將，現在心情惱怒，好像田野間喪子的母熊；何況，你父親又是歷戰陣的人，夜間決不會讓軍民安睡。
 撒下:17.9   他現在必藏在一個山洞裏，或另一個地方；若起初我們的人就有傷亡，人們聽見必要說：跟隨阿貝沙隆的人，慘遭失敗；
 撒下:17.10  那麼，連性情兇猛如獅子的壯士，也要灰心喪膽，因為全以色列人都知道你父親是個勇將，跟隨他的人，也都是驍勇的人。
 撒下:17.11  我的計劃，是先把所有的以色列人集合在你身邊，從丹直到貝爾舍巴，像海邊沙粒那樣多，然後由你親自率領，前去征討；
 撒下:17.12  他不論到那裏，我們也突然到那裏；像露一樣襲擊他，使他和跟隨他的人一個也不留下。
 撒下:17.13  若他退入一座城內，全以色列就帶著繩索去攻擊那城，將那城拉到山谷裏，連一塊小石也不剩下」。
 撒下:17.14  阿貝沙隆和全以色列人都說：「阿爾基人胡瑟的計謀比阿希托費耳的更為可取」。原是上主決定了要破壞阿希托費耳是好計謀，為給阿彼瑟降下災禍。
 撒下:17.15  [達味得信渡河]  隨後，胡瑟報告匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾說：「阿希托費耳給阿貝沙隆和以色列長老出了那樣的計謀，我卻出了這樣的計謀。
 撒下:17.16  現在，快派人去報告達味說：今夜不可在曠野的渡口露宿，要趕快過河，免得君王和隨從他的人民都遭殲滅」。
 撒下:17.17  那時，約納堂和阿希瑪茲已在洛革泉傍等候，因怕被人看見，不敢進城；有個使女出來給他們傳信，他們就去報告達味君王。
 撒下:17.18  但有一個少年人看見了他們，便向阿貝沙隆報告了；他們二人就急速逃匿，來到巴胡陵的一個人家裏，他院子裏有一口井，他們便下到井裏。
 撒下:17.19  那家的婦女取了一個蓋子蓋在井口上，蓋子上又撒了些麥粒，免得有人注意。
 撒下:17.20  阿貝沙隆的差役來到那家的婦女前問說：「阿希瑪茲和約納堂在哪裏﹖那婦女答說：「他們早過了蓄水池」。差役就去搜索他們，卻沒有找著，便回了耶路撒冷。
 撒下:17.21  差役走了以後，兩人就為井裏上來；去給達味君王報信，對達味說：「起身，趕快過河，因為阿希托費耳為害你們出了這樣的計謀」。
 撒下:17.22  達味和隨從他的人就起身過了約旦河。到天亮時，沒有一個沒有過約旦河的。
 撒下:17.23  阿希托費耳看見人不依從他的計謀，就備上驢，動身回家，回了本城，安排了自己的家務以後，就上吊死了。人將他埋在他父親的墳墓裏。
 撒下:17.24  [阿貝沙隆渡河追趕]  阿貝沙隆率領以色列人過約旦河時，達味已到了瑪哈納因。
 撒下:17.25  阿貝沙隆派阿瑪撒代約阿布為統帥。阿瑪撒是依市瑪耳人依特辣的兒子。依特辣曾走近過葉瑟的女兒，約阿布的母親，責魯雅的姐妹阿彼蓋耳。
 撒下:17.26  以色列人同阿貝沙隆在基肋阿得一帶紮了營。
 撒下:17.27  [友邦慰勞達味]  當達味來到瑪哈納因時，納哈士的兒子芍彼，由阿孟人民的辣巴城，阿米爾的兒子瑪基爾由羅德巴爾城，基肋阿得人巴爾齊來由洛革林城，
 撒下:17.28  帶來了床、鋪蓋、杯盤、炊具、小麥、麵粉、炒麥、豆子、扁豆、
 撒下:17.29  蜂蜜、奶油、奶餅、牛肉和羊肉，供給達味和他的的人吃用，因為他們想：這些人經過了曠野，必定感到飢餓和疲勞。
    
 撒下:18.1   [阿貝沙隆慘敗]  達味檢閱了跟隨他的人，給他們委派了千夫長和百夫長，
 撒下:18.2   將軍人分為三隊：一隊由約阿布率領，一隊由責魯特的兒子，約阿布的兄弟阿彼瑟率領，一隊由加特人依泰率領；然後君王對軍人說：「我自己也要同你們一起出征」。
 撒下:18.3   軍人回答說：「你萬不可去! 因為若我們逃散，無人對我們介意，既使我們死了一半，也無人對我們介意；但是，你一個卻抵我們一萬，所以，現今你更好留在城內，設法援助我們」。
 撒下:18.4   君王對他們說：「你們看看怎樣好，我就怎樣做」。君王站在門旁，軍人整隊出發，或百人一阻，或千人一組﹖
 撒下:18.5   君王命令約阿布、阿阿彼瑟和依泰說：「對少年阿貝沙隆，你們應給我留情」。軍人都聽見了君王關於阿貝沙隆，給眾將領所出的命令。
 撒下:18.6   軍人出發，來到平原，攻打以色列；在厄弗辣因森林發生了戰事。
 撒下:18.7   以色列人在那裏為達味的臣僕打敗，那天死傷慘重，陣亡的有二萬人。
 撒下:18.8   戰爭蔓廷全境，樹林內死的人，比刀劍所殺的人還多。
 撒下:18.9   [阿貝沙隆慘死]  阿貝沙隆正遇上了達味的臣僕，他那時騎著一匹驢子，由大橡樹的叢枝下經過，他的頭髮被橡樹枝纏住，身懸在天地間，所騎的驢子已跑走。
 撒下:18.10  有一個人看見，就告訴約阿布說：「我看見阿貝沙隆懸在橡樹上」。
 撒下:18.11  約阿布對那向他報信的人說：「你看見了，為什麼不把他砍倒在地﹖那麼我必賞你十「協刻耳」銀子和一條腰帶」。
 撒下:18.12  那人對約阿布說：「即使交在我手裏一千「協刻耳」銀子，我也不願伸手加害君王的兒子，因為我們親聽見君王吩咐你、阿彼瑟和依泰說：你們應為了我，保全少年阿貝沙隆。
 撒下:18.13  並且，若我冒性命的危險，做錯了事，也決不能瞞過君王，那時你也許不會保護我」。
 撒下:18.14  約阿布說：「不願在你面前這樣耽擱時間! 」他就手裏拿了三根短箭，射在阿貝沙隆心中，那時，他在橡樹上還著。
 撒下:18.15  約阿布的十個少年圍上前來，將阿貝沙隆擊斃。
 撒下:18.16  約阿布遂次起號角，軍人便回來，不再追趕以色列人，因為約阿布願顧惜人民。
 撒下:18.17  人們取下阿貝沙隆，將他塊在樹林中的一個大坑內，在他上面堆了一大堆石頭。眾以色列人各自回本家去了。
 撒下:18.18  阿貝沙隆活著時，在君王山谷就為自己建立一石柱說：「我沒有兒子，來懷念我的名字；」所他給那石柱起了自己的名字。直至今日，人還稱那石柱為阿貝沙隆記念碑。
 撒下:18.19  [向達味報信]  匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲對約阿布說：「讓我跑去，將上主對王的仇敵替王伸冤的喜信，稟報給君王」。
 撒下:18.20  約阿布卻對他說：「今日你不是報喜的人，改天再去報吧! 因為君王的兒子死了，今日你不可去報信」。
 撒下:18.21  約阿布遂對一個雇士人說：「你去將所見的事報告君王」。雇士人就拜別約阿布跑去信。
 撒下:18.22  匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲又對約阿布說：「無論如何，我得跟著雇士人去! 」約阿布答說：「為什麼你要去﹖我兒，為這喜訊你得到什麼報酬! 」
 撒下:18.23  他說：「我無論如何要去! 」他答說：「去吧! 」阿希瑪茲就沿著約旦平原的大路跑去，跑過了雇士人。
 撒下:18.24  那時達味正坐在兩門中間，守衛士兵上了門樓頂。守衛兵舉目一望，見一人獨自跑來，
 撒下:18.25  就大聲喊叫．君王君王。王說：「若是一人，必有喜訊傳報」。他越來越近了。
 撒下:18.26  守衛又看見一個人跑來，守衛兵立刻對看門的大聲喊說：「看，又有一人獨自跑來」。王說：「這也是來報喜信的」。
 撒下:18.27  守衛兵說：「我看見前一個人的跑法，像匝多克的兒子阿希瑪茲的跑法」。王說：「他是個好人，必是來報喜信的」。
 撒下:18.28  阿希瑪茲上前對君王說：「安好! 」就俯首至地，叩拜君王，接著說：「上主，你的天主是可讚美的，因為祂消滅了反抗我主大王的人」。
 撒下:18.29  王問說：「少年阿貝沙隆是否無恙﹖」阿希瑪茲答說：「當大王的臣僕約阿布打發你的僕人時，我見有大騷動，但不是什麼事﹖」
 撒下:18.30  王說：「你退在一邊，站在那裏」。他便退在一邊，站在那裏。
 撒下:18.31  雇士人也來到了，雇士人說：「有喜信報告給我主大王! 上主今日對一切起來反抗你的的人為你伸了冤」。
 撒下:18.32  王問雇士人說：「少年阿貝沙隆是否無恙﹖」雇士人答說：「願我主大王的仇敵，以及凡心懷惡意起來反抗你的人，都相似這個少年人! 」
    
 撒下:19.1   [達味哭弔逆子]  君王一聽這話，不勝悲傷，就上了門樓痛哭；他哭著說：我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒! 我兒阿貝沙隆，巴不得我替你死了，我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒! 」
 撒下:19.2   有人報告約阿布說：「看，君王在痛哭哀悼阿貝沙隆。」
 撒下:19.3   那天的勝利為全軍竟變成了悲哀，因為他們那天聽說君王為自己的兒子悲傷。
 撒下:19.4   因此，那天軍人暗暗地進了城，好像由戰埸上受辱回來的軍隊。
 撒下:19.5   此時君王正在掩面大聲哀哭說：「我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒阿貝沙隆! 我兒! 」
 撒下:19.6   [約阿布警戒達味]  約阿布進去對君王說：「你今天大傷你僕人們的臉面，他們救了你的性命，你兒女的性命，你妻妾的性命；
 撒下:19.7   然而恨你的，你反而愛他；愛你的，你反恨他。今天你已明確表示：王侯和臣民為你不算什麼。也明明看出：阿貝沙隆今天若能活著，我們我們都死了，你才安心呢!
 撒下:19.8   現今你快起來，出去，說幾句使你僕人們安心的話吧! 我指著上主起誓，如果你不出去，今夜再沒有一個人同你一起了。這禍患於你要超過你從小到大所遭遇的一切禍患」。
 撒下:19.9   君王就起來，坐在大門口。遂有人向軍民傳報說：「君王已坐在門口! 」軍人都聚齊，來到君王前。
 撒下:19.10  [達味回京]  以色列各自逃回自己的營幕。那時，以色列各支派的民眾紛紛議論說：「君王從仇人手中拯救了我們，現在，他竟為阿貝沙隆離開了本國。
 撒下:19.11  我們給阿貝沙隆曾傅過油為管理我們，他已經戰死。現今你們等什麼，遇不把君王接回來﹖」
 撒下:19.12  全以色列這提議傳到君王那裏。達味遂派人對司祭匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾說：「你們應向猶大長老說：為什麼你們等到最後才去迎接君王回宮呢﹖
 撒下:19.13  你們是我的兄弟，我的骨肉，為什麼你們等到最後才去迎接君王呢﹖
 撒下:19.14  你們要向阿瑪撒說：你不是我的骨肉嗎﹖若我不叫你一生代替約阿布作元帥，願天主這樣罰我，且更加倍地罰我! 」
 撒下:19.15  那時，全猶大人都同心合意，一致派使者到君王說：「請你和你的臣僕回來吧!
 撒下:19.16  [史米和漆巴來迎]  君王動身回來了，到了約旦河。這時迎接君王的猶大人來到了基耳加耳，協助君王渡約旦河。
 撒下:19.17  那時，巴胡陵的本雅明人革辣的兒子史米，也趕快來同那些猶大人歡迎達味君王。
 撒下:19.18  同他來的，還有一千本雅明人。撒烏耳的家僕，漆巴和他十五個兒子同二十個僕人，也來到約旦河歡迎君王﹖
 撒下:19.19  他們都到渡口那邊，協助君王的家族過河。聽君王的調動；君王快要過約旦河時，革辣的兒子史米就俯伏在君王前，
 撒下:19.20  向他說：「我主；，請不要歸罪於我，求你不要懷念大王出離耶路撒冷時，你僕人所犯的罪；願大王不要把這事放在心上!
 撒下:19.21  因為你的僕人自知犯了罪。看，如今我是若瑟全家族中，首先來歡迎我主大王的」。
 撒下:19.22  責雅的兒子阿瑟立即發言說：「史米辱罵了上主的受傅者，難道為了他這番話就不該死嗎﹖」
 撒下:19.23  達味卻答說：「責魯雅的兒子們，我與你們有什麼關係﹖竟使你們今天與我作對! 今天還可以將一個以色列人處死嗎﹖難道不知道，我今天又作了以色列的君王﹖」
 撒下:19.24  然後君王向史米說：「伓不會死! 」君王遂向起了誓。
 撒下:19.25  [默黎巴耳的辯白]  撒烏耳的孫子默黎巴耳也下來歡迎君王；他自從君王出走的那日起，直到平安回來的這一天，沒有洗腳，沒有修鬚，也沒有人換洗自己的衣服。
 撒下:19.26  他由耶路撒冷來君王時，君王問他說：「默黎巴耳! 你為什麼不同我一起出走呢﹖」
 撒下:19.27  他答說：「我主大王! 我的僕人哄騙了我，你僕人曾向他說：給我備一匹驢，我好騎著跟王一齊走，因為你僕腳跛。
 撒下:19.28  他又在我主大王前誹謗了你的僕人；但我主大王像天主的天使，你看怎樣好，就怎樣作吧!
 撒下:19.29  因為我父全家對於我主大王，都是該死的人，你反而使你的僕人與你同桌共，食我那裏還有名分來向大王訴苦﹖」
 撒下:19.30  君王對他說：「你何必再說﹖我已決定，你該與巴平分產業」。
 撒下:19.31  默黎巴耳回答君王說：「我主大王既然平安回朝，讓他全佔有吧! 」
 撒下:19.32  [達味與巴爾齊來]  基肋阿得人巴爾齊從洛格林下來，陪伴君王過了約旦河，在約旦河岸與他辭別。
 撒下:19.33  巴爾齊來年紀很老，已八十歲。君王住在瑪哈納殷時，他供給了君王的吃用，他原很富有。
 撒下:19.34  君王向巴爾齊來說：「你同我一起去吧! 我願在耶路撒冷供養你的老年」。
 撒下:19.35  巴爾齊來回答君王說：「既使我同大王上耶路撒冷去，我還能活幾年﹖
 撒下:19.36  我現年已八十，還能分辨美醜麼﹖你的僕人還能嚐出吃喝的味道來麼﹖還能細聽伶女和歌女的樂聲麼﹖你的為什麼還要拖累我主大王﹖
 撒下:19.37  你的僕人陪著大王過約旦河，只是一點小意思，為什麼大王要給我一個這樣的報答﹖
 撒下:19.38  請讓你的僕人回去，叫我死在靠近我父母墳墓的故鄉! 看，你的僕人基默罕在這裏，他可跟我主大王同去，你看著怎樣好，就怎樣對待他吧! 」
 撒下:19.39  達味答說：「那麼，讓默基罕跟我去好了，你看著怎樣好，我就怎樣待他；凡你向我所所要求的，我必為你做到」。
 撒下:19.40  眾人都過了約旦河，君王也過去了；然後與巴爾齊來親吻，祝福道別。巴爾齊來遂回了本鄉。
 撒下:19.41  [猶大與以色列起衡突]  君王繼續向基耳加耳前行，基默罕跟他同來。猶大全民眾和一半以色列人陪著君王前行。
 撒下:19.42  眾以色列人來到君王前，向君王說：「為什麼我們的兄弟猶大人將君王劫了去，領君王和君王的眷屬過了約旦河。所有屬達味的人不都是他的百姓嗎﹖」
 撒下:19.43  猶大人回答以色列人說：「因為君王是我們的親族，你們為什麼因此憤怒﹖我們豈是吃過君王的飯，或是領過他的俸祿﹖」
 撒下:19.44  以色列人回覆猶大人說：「我們對君王有十倍權利，那麼，我們對達味的名分也多過你們，你們為什麼輕視我們﹖不是我們首先提議，要迎回我們的君王嗎﹖」然後猶大的答覆比以色列人所說的話，更為激烈。
    
 撒下:20.1   [舍巴叛亂]  當時，在那裏有個敗類，始叫舍尸巴，是本雅明人彼革黎的兒子。吹著號，喊說：「我們和達味沒有關係，對葉瑟兒子的產業沒有分子。以色列人! 各自回本家吧!
 撒下:20.2   因此，眾以色列人離開達味，跟隨了彼革黎的兒子舍巴；但猶大人仍然緊隨他們的君王，由約旦河直到了耶路撒冷。
 撒下:20.3   達味王進了耶路撒冷的宮殿，就將他留下看守宮殿的十個個嬪妃，留在禁官裏，養活她們，卻不再親近她們。她們被禁在冷官內，一直到死，終身守寡。
 撒下:20.4   [約阿布計殺阿瑪撒]  王對阿瑪撒說：「三天之內，你應給我召集猶大人，你也親自也該來到這裏」。
 撒下:20.5   阿彼撒去召集猶大人，但他遲延耽擱，過了君王他所定的期限。
 撒下:20.6   達味就對阿彼撒說：「現今彼革黎的兒子舍巴危害我們，恐怕甚於阿貝沙隆。你快去領你主人的軍隊去追趕他，免得他佔了設防的城，由我們眼前逃脫」。
 撒下:20.7   約阿布的部下，革肋提人和培肋提人，以及所有的勇士，都跟阿彼撒去了。他們由耶路撒冷出發，趕走彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
 撒下:20.8   當他們來到基貝紅的大石旁，阿瑪撒也迎面而來。約阿布身穿戰袍，束著腰帶，腰間掛著一把帶鞘的刀。約阿布的刀出鞘落地。
 撒下:20.9   約阿布對阿瑪撒說：「吾兄，你好﹖」約阿布遂用石手抓住阿瑪撒的鬍鬚，與他親吻。
 撒下:20.10  阿瑪撒沒有提防約阿布手中的刀；約阿布就用刀刺穿了他的肚腹，五臟傾流在地上，沒有再刺第二下，他就死了。約阿布與自己的兄弟阿彼瑟，便往前追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
 撒下:20.11  看守阿瑪撒屍首的約阿布的一個兵士喊說：「誰喜愛約阿布，誰屬達味，就跟約阿布去! 」
 撒下:20.12  阿瑪撒此時臥在路中血泊中，那人見眾人停留不前，就將阿瑪撒的屍首，由路上搬到田裏，上面蓄上一件衣服，因為他見軍人到了那裏，就停在屍首前。
 撒下:20.13  屍首由路上搬走後，軍人就都過去，跟隨約阿布追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
 撒下:20.14  [阿貝耳城獻出舍巴首級]  舍巴走遍了以色列各支派，人都不理他。隨後到了貝特瑪阿加的阿貝耳，眾彼革黎人卻聚集起來，跟隨了他。
 撒下:20.15  約阿布大軍前來，把他包圍在貝特瑪阿加的阿貝內，興築攻城的壁壘。跟隨約阿布的大軍遂下手挖城牆，使牆倒塌。
 撒下:20.16  當時城中有個聰明的婦人，站在城牆上喊說：「請聽! 請聽! 你們對約阿布說：來這裏，我有話對你說」。
 撒下:20.17  約阿布來到她那裏，婦人便問說：「你是約阿布嗎﹖」他答說：「我是」。她便對他說：「請你聽你婢女一言! 」他答說：「我聽」。
 撒下:20.18  她說：「從前有句話說：你去問問阿貝耳，事便可解決。
 撒下:20.19  我在以色列算是一座和平忠厚的城，你卻圖謀消滅一座以色列的母城。為什麼你要吞滅上主的產業﹖」
 撒下:20.20  約阿布答說：「決無此事，我決無意消滅或破壞。
 撒下:20.21  完全不是這麼一回事；只因厄弗辣因山地的一人，即彼革黎的兒子名叫舍巴的，造反抗拒達味王；只要你們將他交來，我即撤離此城」。婦人對約阿布說：「請看，他的頭由城上拋給你」。
 撒下:20.22  婦人就去憑自己的智慧勸說眾百姓。他們便砍了彼革黎的兒子舍巴的頭，拋給約阿布。約阿布遂吹起號角，撤兵離城，各自了本家。約阿布也回了耶路撒冷君王那裏。
 撒下:20.23  [達味重要官員]  約阿布統率以色列的眾軍隊；約雅達的兒子貝納雅管理革勒提人和培肋提人；
 撒下:20.24  阿多蘭管理奴役；阿希路得的兒子約沙法特作御史；
 撒下:20.25  史沙作書記；匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾作司祭；
 撒下:20.26  此外，雅提爾人依辣也也作達味的司祭。
    
 撒下:21.1   [基貝紅人要求報仇]  達味在位時，飢荒連接二年，他求問了上主，上主答說：「在撒烏耳和他家中尚有血債，因為他殺了基貝紅人」。
 撒下:21.2   君王遂將基貝紅人召來，詣問。──基貝紅不屬以色列人，他們原是阿摩黎人的遺民。以色列子民曾向起過誓，但撒烏耳為表示愛以色列和猶大的熱情，曾設法屠殺他們。
 撒下:21.3   達味向基貝紅人說：「我該為你們作什麼﹖該怎樣贖罪才可以使你們祝福上主的遺產﹖」
 撒下:21.4   基貝紅人回答他說：「我們和撒烏耳和他家不是金銀的問題，也不願在以色列殺一個人。」達味說：「你們論什麼，我必為你們作到。」
 撒下:21.5   他們向君王說：「破壞我們，設法消滅我們，我們不在以色列任何中存在的人，
 撒下:21.6   要將他七個子孫交給我們，我們要在基貝紅的山上，將他們懸掛在上主面前」。君王答說：「我必將他們交出來」。
 撒下:21.7   君王為了自己同撒烏耳的兒子約納堂間向上主所起的誓約，饒恕了撒烏耳的孫子，約納堂的兒子默黎巴耳，
 撒下:21.8   只將阿雅的女兒黎茲帕給撒烏耳所生的兩個兒子阿爾摩尼和默黎巴耳，以及撒烏耳的女兒默辣布給默曷拉人巴爾齊來的兒子阿德黎耳所生的五個兒子，
 撒下:21.9   交給基貝紅人手裏；基貝紅人把他們在山上懸掛在上主面前；他們七人死在一處，死在收割初期。
 撒下:21.10  [撒烏耳與子孫合葬]  阿雅的女兒了麻衣，舖在石上，開始收割大麥，直到雨從天上落到屍首上，白天她不讓飛鳥飛近，夜間不讓野獸起近。
 撒下:21.11  有人把阿雅的女身兒，撒烏耳的妾黎茲帕所行的事，報告給達味。
 撒下:21.12  君王就去把撒烏耳和他的兒子約納堂的遺骸，從雅貝士基肋阿得的居民那裏收殮起來；這骨骸是他們從貝特商偷來的。原來培肋舍特人那天在基耳波殺了撒烏耳，將他們懸在廣場上。
 撒下:21.13  達味那裏將撒烏耳和他的兒子的遺骸，那七個被懸掛的遺骸，一同運了回來，
 撒下:21.14  與撒烏耳和他兒子約納堂的遺骸，一同埋在本雅明地方的責拉，撒烏耳的父親克的墳墓內。人門全依照君王所吩咐的作了；以後，天主才憐憫了那地方。
 撒下:21.15  [四次擊敗培肋舍特人]  培肋舍特人與以色列人之間又發生戰事，達味帶著他的軍隊下來，駐紮在哥布，攻打培肋舍特人。正當達味疲乏時，約阿士的兒子多多出來了，
 撒下:21.16  他是辣法巨人的後裔，他所持的矛的銅有三百「協刻耳」重，腰間佩著一把新劍，揚言要擊殺達味。
 撒下:21.17  責魯雅的兒子阿彼瑟就來協助達味，打敗了那培肋舍特人，將他殺死。那時，達味的臣僕向他起誓說：「你可可跟隨我們出征打戰，怕你熄滅了以色列的明燈」。
 撒下:21.18  此後，又在哥布和發生了戰事，這次胡沙人息貝開擊殺了撒夫，他也是辣法巨人的後裔。
 撒下:21.19  以後，在哥布又與培肋舍特人交戰，白冷人雅依爾的兒子厄耳哈，殺了加特城人哥肋雅的兄弟拉赫米；這人的長矛粗如織布機的橫軸。
 撒下:21.20  此後，在加特又了戰事，在那裏有一巨人，兩手各有六指，兩腳也各有六趾，共有二十四個，也是辣法巨人的。
 撒下:21.21  由於他辱罵了以色列，達味的兄弟史默亞的兒子約納堂，便擊殺了他：
 撒下:21.22  以上四人，都是加特城辣法巨的後裔，都喪身在達味和他的臣僕的手下。
    
 撒下:22.1   [達味的凱歌]  當上主救達味脫離了仇敵和撒烏耳的毒手時，達味向上主唱了詩歌
 撒下:22.2   說：「上主，我的盤石，我的保障，我的避難所；
 撒下:22.3   我的天主是我所倚靠的盤石，是我的盾牌，我的大救主，我的堡壘，我的藏身處。我的救主，是你救我脫離了強暴。
 撒下:22.4   [化險為夷]  我一呼求應受頌揚的上主，我便獲救，脫離了我的仇敵。
 撒下:22.5   死亡的波濤圍繞我，凶險的急流驚嚇我，
 撒下:22.6   陰府的繩索纏住中我，死亡的羅網絆住我；
 撒下:22.7   在急難中我呼求上主，向我的天主呼號，祂由殿中聽了我的聲音，我的呼聲達入祂耳中。
 撒下:22.8   因祂盛大作，大地震動戢慄，上主的基礎動盪搖撼，
 撒下:22.9   由祂的鼻孔湧出濃煙，由祂的口中噴出烈火，由祂的身上射出火炭，
 撒下:22.10  使天低垂親自降下，在祂的腳下濃雲密佈。
 撒下:22.11  祂乘坐革魯賓飛騰，藉著風的翼羽翱翔。
 撒下:22.12  祂四周以黑暗做帷幔，以豪雨濃雲為帳幕。
 撒下:22.13  閃電在祂前閃爍，紅炭發出了火光。
 撒下:22.14  上主由高天興雷，至高者發出了呼聲。
 撒下:22.15  祂射出羽箭，使敵人四散，發閃電，使敵人驚擾。
 撒下:22.16  上主的呵斥一發，鼻孔的怒氣一出，蒼海的海低即出現，大地的地基也外露。
 撒下:22.17  祂由高處伸手將我拉住，由大水中將我提出。
 撒下:22.18  救我脫離了我的勁敵，擺脫了強於我的仇人。
 撒下:22.19  他們在我困厄之日，襲擊了我，然而上主卻作了我的後盾；
 撒下:22.20  祂引我步坦途，因喜愛我而救了我。
 撒下:22.21  [善有善報]  上主照我的正義酬報了我，按我雙手的清白報答了我；
 撒下:22.22  因我遵行了上主的正道，沒有作惡離棄我的天主。
 撒下:22.23  祂的一切法令在我前，我未曾違過祂的誡命；
 撒下:22.24  我祂前常保成全，自知提防各種不義。
 撒下:22.25  因此，上主照我的正義，我在祂的純潔，賞報了我。
 撒下:22.26  仁慈的人，你待他仁慈；正直的人，你待他正直；
 撒下:22.27  純的人，你待他純樸；乖戾的人，你待他乖戾。
 撒下:22.28  卑微的人，你必拯救；傲慢的人，你必睥視。
 撒下:22.29  上主，你是我的火炬，我的天主，照明我的黑暗。
 撒下:22.30  仗著你，我衝入了敵營；靠著我的天主，我跳過了牆垣。
 撒下:22.31  天主的道路是完善的；上主的言語是純淨的；凡投祂的人，祂怍他們的後盾。
 撒下:22.32  [惟天主施救]  上主以外，還有誰是天主﹖除我的的天主外，還有誰的盤石﹖
 撒下:22.33  是天主賜我毅力，使我一路順利，
 撒下:22.34  使我的腳快如鹿蹄，使我屹立高地，
 撒下:22.35  教導我手作戰，使臂膊能開銅弓。
 撒下:22.36  你你的救生盾賜了我，你的長甲作了我的掩護。
 撒下:22.37  你為我的腳步拓寬了路，我的腳從未顛簸。
 撒下:22.38  我追趕仇敵，消滅他們；不滅絕他們，決不返回。
 撒下:22.39  我將他們打得一蹶不振，盡都倒斃在我腳下
 撒下:22.40  你賜我毅力勇作戰，把我的對手屈伏我下，
 撒下:22.41  使我的敵人在前轉背而逃，使我殲滅了一切仇恨我的人。
 撒下:22.42  他們呼號，卻無人施救；呼號上主，也不獲應允。
 撒下:22.43  我搗碎他們地上的灰塵，踐踏他們像道上的泥土。
 撒下:22.44  你由百姓的叛亂中救拔了我，立我做了列國的首領；我不知道的人民竟給我服役；
 撒下:22.45  外邦的子民諂媚奉承我，一聽到是我，即服從我；
 撒下:22.46  外的子民驚惶失色，戰戰兢兢走的堡壘。
 撒下:22.47  [謝恩歌]  上主萬歲! 願我的盤石受讚美，願救我的的天主受頌揚!
 撒下:22.48  天主是你為我報了仇，使萬民屈伏於我，
 撒下:22.49  是你救我脫離了我的仇敵，提拔我凌駕我的對手之上，救我脫免了強暴的人。
 撒下:22.50  為此，上主! 我要在異民中稱謝你，歌頌你的聖名。
 撒下:22.51  因為祂使自己的君大獲勝利，對自己的受傅者達味和他的子孫，廣施仁慈，直到永遠」。
    
 撒下:23.1   [達味的最後遺言]  達味的最後遺言如下：葉的兒子達味的神諭，至高者所舉揚的人，雅各伯的天主的受傅者，以色列的善歌詠者的神諭：
 撒下:23.2   上主的神藉著我說話，的話語在我的唇舌上。
 撒下:23.3   雅各伯的天主說過，以色列的磐石曾向我說：那以正義統治人的，那以敬畏天主之情統治人的，
 撒下:23.4   有如日出時的晨光，無雲的黎明，雨後射在綠草地上的光輝。
 撒下:23.5   的確，我的家必屹立在天主前，因為祂與我結了永久的盟約，妥善而有保證的盟約，祂豈能不給我產生救恩和喜樂。
 撒下:23.6   但匪徒敗類必像被拋棄的荊棘，誰也不敢去用手拿；
 撒下:23.7   誰若去觸動，必用刀或槍柄打伐，而後用火燒盡」。
 撒下:23.8   [達味的三傑]  以下是達味勇將的名單：哈革摩尼人依市巴耳是三傑之首，他一次揮矛擊殺了八百人。
 撒下:23.9   其次為阿曷亞人多多的兒子厄肋阿匝爾，也是三傑之一。有一次他同達味在帕斯達明，當培肋舍特人正在那裏集合準備交戰時，以色列人退卻，
 撒下:23.10  他卻固守陣地，擊殺培肋舍特人，直到他的手麻痺無力，貼在刀柄上。上主在那一天使他大獲勝利，民眾折回，在他身後專奪財物。
 撒下:23.11  再其次是哈辣黎人厄拉的兒子沙瑪。那時，培肋舍特人在肋希集合；在口有一塊長滿扁豆的田地。當民眾由培肋舍特心面前逃走時，
 撒下:23.12  他獨自立在田間，保護了那塊田地，殺敗了培肋舍特人：如上主又使他大獲勝利。
 撒下:23.13  [三個冒險者]  在開始收割時，培肋舍特的軍隊在勒法因平原紮了營，三十勇士中，有三位下到阿杜藍山岩，來見達味。
 撒下:23.14  達味恰在山岩內，而培肋舍特人當時在白冷駐防。
 撒下:23.15  達味渴望著說：「誰能為白冷城門旁的井中，給我打一點水來喝﹖」
 撒下:23.16  那三位勇士就衝過培肋舍特人的營幕，從白冷城門旁的井裏打了水，將水取來，帶到達味前，但他不肯喝，反而將水奠於上主前，
 撒下:23.17  說：「上主決不許我做這事；我豈能喝那些冒生命危險者的血﹖」所以他不止喝。這是這三位勇士的事。
 撒下:23.18  [阿彼瑟與見納雅]  責魯雅兒子，約阿布的兄弟，阿彼瑟是三十勇士的領袖，他揮舞長矛擊殺了三百人，因此，在三十勇士中出了名。
 撒下:23.19  他是三十勇士中最出名的，所以做了他們的領袖，但尚不及前三傑。
 撒下:23.20  約雅達的兒子貝納雅原是卡貝責耳人，是一位英勇，大有作為的人。他擊殺了摩阿布人阿黎耳的兩個兒子，又在下雪天，下到旱井裏打死一隻獅子。
 撒下:23.21  他也曾打死了一個埃及大漢。這埃及人手中拿著長矛，他只拿著一棍子，就下去與他對抗，從那埃及人手裏把長矛奪過來，用那長矛將他殺死。
 撒下:23.22  這是約雅達的兒子貝納雅做的事，因此，他在三十勇士中也出了名。
 撒下:23.23  他比三十勇士更有名望，但尚不及前三傑。達味派他作侍衛長。
 撒下:23.24  [其他勇士]  約雅布的兄弟阿撒耳也是三十勇士中的一位，還有白冷人多多的兒子厄耳哈難，
 撒下:23.25  哈洛得人沙瑪，哈洛得人厄里卡，
 撒下:23.26  帕耳提人赫肋茲，特科亞人依刻士兒子依辣，
 撒下:23.27  阿納托特人阿彼厄則爾，胡沙人息貝開，
 撒下:23.28  阿曷亞人匝耳孟，乃托法人瑪哈賴，
 撒下:23.29  乃托法人巴托阿納兒子赫肋得，本雅明族基貝亞人黎拜的兒子依泰，
 撒下:23.30  丕辣通人貝納雅，加阿士溪人希待，
 撒下:23.31  貝特阿辣巴人阿彼巴耳，巴胡陵人阿次瑪委特，
 撒下:23.32  沙耳賓人厄里亞巴，基宗人雅笙，
 撒下:23.33  哈辣黎人沙瑪的兒子約納堂，哈辣黎人沙辣爾的兒子阿希揚，
 撒下:23.34  貝特瑪阿加人阿哈斯拜的兒子厄里培肋特，基羅人阿希托費的兒子厄里安，
 撒下:23.35  加爾默耳人赫茲賴，阿辣布人帕阿賴，
 撒下:23.36  祚巴人約堂的兒子依加耳，加得人巴尼，
 撒下:23.37  阿孟人責肋克，貝厄洛特人納赫賴，他是責魯貝的兒子約阿布的持戟者；
 撒下:23.38  雅提爾人依辣，雅提爾人加勒布，
 撒下:23.39  赫特人烏黎雅：共計三十七人。
    
 撒下:24.1   [統計人口獲罪上主]  上主對以色列又大發憤怒，遂激動達味去難為他們，並向他們說：「你去統計以色列和猶大人口」。
 撒下:24.2   王遂對在自己身邊的約阿布和其餘的軍長說：「你們應走遍以色列各支派，由丹直到具爾舍巴，統計人民，我好知道人民的號目」。
 撒下:24.3   約阿布對君王說：「願上主你的天主將目前的百姓增加百倍，願我主大王親眼見到! 但我主大王，為什麼要行此事﹖」
 撒下:24.4   可是君王堅持向約阿布和眾軍長所出命令，約阿布和眾軍長便離開君王，去統計以色列百姓。
 撒下:24.5   他們過了約旦河，由阿洛厄爾及山谷間城市開始，經過加得直到雅則爾，
 撒下:24.6   而後來來到基肋阿得及赫特人地方的刻德士，再由此到丹，轉到漆東。
 撒下:24.7   以後來到提洛的堡壘，希威人和客納罕人的各城，然後經過猶大南部，來到了貝爾舍巴。
 撒下:24.8   他們走遍了全國，經過九個月零二十天，回到了耶路撒冷。
 撒下:24.9   約阿布將統計的人民的數目，呈報給君王：以色列能執刀的士兵有八十萬人，猶大有五十萬人﹖
 撒下:24.10  達味統計人民以後，心中感到不安，遂向上主說：「做這事，實在是犯了重罪。上主，現在我求你，赦免你僕人的罪，因為我所行實在昏愚」。
 撒下:24.11  達味清早一起來，上主有話向先知加得──達味的先見者說：
 撒下:24.12  「你去告訴達味：上主這樣說：我給你提出三件事，任你揀選一件，我好向你實行」。
 撒下:24.13  加得來到達味前，告訴他說：「你要在國內三年飢荒呢﹖或要三個月逃避趕你的敵人呢﹖或者要在國內發生三天瘟疫呢﹖現在請你考慮一下，決定我應向那派我來者回覆什麼」。
 撒下:24.14  達味對加得說：「我很作難! 我們寧願落在上主的手中，因為祂富於仁慈，而不願落在人手中」。
 撒下:24.15  [瘟疫之罰]  達味就揀選了瘟疫；正當收割麥子時，上主遂使瘟疫降於以色列，為早晨直到規定的時期，由丹直到貝爾舍巴，民間死了七萬人。
 撒下:24.1617當時，上主派一位使者往耶路撒冷去，要毀滅那座城。達味看見那打擊人民的使者，遂向上主說：「是我犯了罪，行了不義，而這些羊作了什麼﹖請你伸手打擊我和我的父家」。上主後悔降災，遂吩咐那毀滅人民的使者說：「夠了，現今收回你的手! 」那時，上主的使者正站在耶步斯人敖爾難的打禾場上。
 撒下:24.18  [建築祭平息主怒]  那一天，加得來到達味前，對他說：「你上去，在敖爾難的打禾場上，為上主建立一座祭壇」。
 撒下:24.19  達味便照加奉上主所吩咐的話上去了。
 撒下:24.20  敖爾難望見君王和他的臣僕向他走來，敖爾難就上前去，俯首至地叩拜君王說：
 撒下:24.21  「我主大王，為什麼到祂僕人這裏來﹖」達味回答說：「願你買這禾場，給上主建立一座祭壇，為平息民間的災禍」。
 撒下:24.22  敖爾難對達味說：「我主大王看著好的，就拿去祭獻吧! 看，這裏有牛可作全燔祭，有打禾場和牛軛可作木柴。
 撒下:24.23  大王，敖爾難願將這一切獻於大王! 」繼而又對君王說：「願上主你的天主悅納你的祭獻! 」
 撒下:24.24  君王對敖爾難說：「不成，我非用錢向你買不可，我不願用不化錢的全燔祭，獻給上主我的天主」。於是達味以五十「協刻耳」銀子，買了那塊打禾場和牛。
 撒下:24.25  達味在那裏為上主建立了一座祭壇，奉獻了全燔祭與和平祭。這樣上主才憐恤了那地，以色列間的災禍遂告平息。　 [撒慕爾下完篇]

 2sm:1.    [2 Samuel]  24 chapters   [撒慕爾記下]   [英文版]
   
 2sm:1.1    After the death of Saul, David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag.
 2sm:1.2    On the third day a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage.
 2sm:1.3    David asked him, "Where do you come from?" He replied, "I have escaped from the Israelite camp."
 2sm:1.4    "Tell me what happened," David bade him. He answered that the soldiers had fled the battle and that many of them had fallen and were dead, among them Saul and his son Jonathan.
 2sm:1.5    Then David said to the youth who was reporting to him, "How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?"
 2sm:1.6    The youthful informant replied: "It was by chance that I found myself on Mount Gilboa and saw Saul leaning on his spear, with chariots and horsemen closing in on him.
 2sm:1.7    He turned around and, seeing me, called me to him. When I said, 'Here I am,'
 2sm:1.8    he asked me, 'Who are you?' and I replied, 'An Amalekite.'
 2sm:1.9    Then he said to me, 'Stand up to me, please, and finish me off, for I am in great suffering, yet fully alive.'
 2sm:1.10   So I stood up to him and dispatched him, for I knew that he could not survive his wound. I removed the crown from his head and the armlet from his arm and brought them here to my lord."
 2sm:1.11   David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise.
 2sm:1.12   They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
 2sm:1.13   Then David said to the young man who had brought him the information, "Where are you from?" He replied, "I am the son of an Amalekite immigrant."
 2sm:1.14   David said to him, "How is it that you were not afraid to put forth your hand to desecrate the LORD'S anointed?"
 2sm:1.15   David then called one of the attendants and said to him, "Come, strike him down"; and the youth struck him a mortal blow.
 2sm:1.16   Meanwhile David said to him, "You are responsible for your own death, for you testified against yourself when you said, 'I dispatched the LORD'S anointed.'"
 2sm:1.17   Then David chanted this elegy for Saul and his son Jonathan,
 2sm:1.18   which is recorded in the Book of Jashar to be taught to the Judahites. He sang:
 2sm:1.19   "Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul, slain upon your heights; how can the warriors have fallen!
 2sm:1.20   "Tell it not in Gath, herald it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Lest the Philistine maidens rejoice, lest the daughters of the strangers exult!
 2sm:1.21   Mountains of Gilboa, may there be neither dew nor rain upon you, nor upsurgings of the deeps! Upon you lie begrimed the warriors' shields, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
 2sm:1.22   "From the blood of the slain, from the bodies of the valiant, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, or the sword of Saul return unstained.
 2sm:1.23   Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished, separated neither in life nor in death, swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
 2sm:1.24   Women of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and in finery, who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
 2sm:1.25   "How can the warriors have fallen-- in the thick of the battle, slain upon your heights!
 2sm:1.26   "I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother! most dear have you been to me; More precious have I held love for you than love for women.
 2sm:1.27   "How can the warriors have fallen, the weapons of war have perished!"
   
 2sm:2.1    After this David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?" The LORD replied to him, "Yes." Then David asked, "Where shall I go?" He replied, "To Hebron."
 2sm:2.2    So David went up there accompanied by his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
 2sm:2.3    David also brought up his men with their families, and they dwelt in the cities near Hebron.
 2sm:2.4    Then the men of Judah came there and anointed David king of the Judahites.A report reached David that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul.
 2sm:2.5    So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them: "May you be blessed by the LORD for having done this kindness to your lord Saul in burying him.
 2sm:2.6    And now may the LORD be kind and faithful to you. I, too, will be generous to you for having done this.
 2sm:2.7    Take courage, therefore, and prove yourselves valiant men, for though your lord Saul is dead, the Judahites have anointed me their king."
 2sm:2.8    Abner, son of Ner, Saul's general, took Ishbaal, son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim,
 2sm:2.9    where he made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and the rest of Israel.
 2sm:2.10   Ishbaal, son of Saul, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. The Judahites alone followed David.
 2sm:2.11   In all, David spent seven years and six months in Hebron as king of the Judahites.
 2sm:2.12   Now Abner, son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal, Saul's son, left Mahanaim for Gibeon.
 2sm:2.13   Joab, son of Zeruiah, and David's servants also set out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the opposite side.
 2sm:2.14   Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men rise and perform for us." Joab replied, "All right!"
 2sm:2.15   So they rose and were counted off: twelve of the Benjaminites of Ishbaal, son of Saul, and twelve of David's servants.
 2sm:2.16   Then each one grasped his opponent's head and thrust his sword into his opponent's side, and all fell down together. And so that place, which is in Gideon, was named the Field of the Sides.
 2sm:2.17   After a very fierce battle that day, Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's servants.
 2sm:2.18   The three sons of Zeruiah were there-Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel, who was as fleet of foot as a gazelle in the open field,
 2sm:2.19   set out after Abner, turning neither right nor left in his pursuit.
 2sm:2.20   Abner turned around and said, "Is that you, Asahel?" He replied, "Yes."
 2sm:2.21   Abner said to him, "Turn right or left; seize one of the young men and take what you can strip from him." But Asahel would not desist from his pursuit.
 2sm:2.22   Once more Abner said to Asahel: "Stop pursuing me! Why must I strike you to the ground? How could I face your brother Joab?"
 2sm:2.23   Still he refused to stop. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the heel of his javelin, and the weapon protruded from his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, came to a halt.
 2sm:2.24   Joab and Abishai, however, continued the pursuit of Abner. The sun had gone down when they came to the hill of Ammah which lies east of the valley toward the desert near Geba.
 2sm:2.25   Here the Benjaminites rallied around Abner, forming a single group, and made a stand on the hilltop.
 2sm:2.26   Then Abner called to Joab and said: "Must the sword destroy to the utmost? Do you not know that afterward there will be bitterness? How much longer will you refrain from ordering the people to stop the pursuit of their brothers?"
 2sm:2.27   Joab replied, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, the soldiers would not have been withdrawn from the pursuit of their brothers until morning."
 2sm:2.28   Joab then sounded the horn, and all the soldiers came to a halt, pursuing Israel no farther and fighting no more.
 2sm:2.29   Abner and his men marched all night long through the Arabah, crossed the Jordan, marched all through the morning, and came to Mahanaim.
 2sm:2.30   Joab, after interrupting the pursuit of Abner, assembled all the men. Besides Asahel, nineteen other servants of David were missing.
 2sm:2.31   But David's servants had fatally wounded three hundred and sixty men of Benjamin, followers of Abner.
 2sm:2.32   They took up Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men made an all-night march, and dawn found them in Hebron.
   
 2sm:3.1    There followed a long war between the house of Saul and that of David, in which David grew stronger, but the house of Saul weaker.
 2sm:3.2    Sons were born to David in Hebron: his first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam from Jezreel;
 2sm:3.3    the second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
 2sm:3.4    the fourth, Adonijah, son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, son of Abital;
 2sm:3.5    and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
 2sm:3.6    During the war between the house of Saul and that of David, Abner was gaining power in the house of Saul.
 2sm:3.7    Now Saul had had a concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal, son of Saul, said to Abner, "Why have you been intimate with my father's concubine?"
 2sm:3.8    Enraged at the words of Ishbaal, Abner said, "Am I a dog's head in Judah? At present I am doing a kindness to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers and his friends, by keeping you out of David's clutches; yet this day you charge me with a crime involving a woman!
 2sm:3.9    May God do thus and so to Abner if I do not carry out for David what the LORD swore to him--
 2sm:3.10   that is, take away the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
 2sm:3.11   In his fear of Abner, Ishbaal was no longer able to say a word to him.
 2sm:3.12   Then Abner sent messengers to David in Telam, where he was at the moment, to say, "Make an agreement with me, and I will aid you by bringing all Israel over to you."
 2sm:3.13   He replied, "Very well, I will make an agreement with you. But one thing I require of you. You must not appear before me unless you bring back Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to present yourself to me."
 2sm:3.14   At the same time David sent messengers to Ishbaal, son of Saul, to say, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I espoused by paying a hundred Philistine foreskins."
 2sm:3.15   Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,
 2sm:3.16   who followed her weeping as far as Bahurim. But Abner said to him, "Go back!" And he turned back.
 2sm:3.17   Abner then said in discussion with the elders of Israel: "For a long time you have been seeking David as your king.
 2sm:3.18   Now take action, for the LORD has said of David, 'By my servant David I will save my people Israel from the grasp of the Philistines and from the grasp of all their enemies.'"
 2sm:3.19   Abner also spoke personally to Benjamin, and then went to make his own report to David in Hebron concerning all that would be agreeable to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
 2sm:3.20   When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him.
 2sm:3.21   Then Abner said to David, "I will now go to assemble all Israel for my lord the king, that they may make an agreement with you; you will then be king over all whom you wish to rule." So David bade Abner farewell, and he went away in peace.
 2sm:3.22   Just then David's servants and Joab were coming in from an expedition, bringing much plunder with them. Abner, having been dismissed by David, was no longer with him in Hebron but had gone his way in peace.
 2sm:3.23   When Joab and the whole force he had with him arrived, he was informed, "Abner, son of Ner, came to David; he has been sent on his way in peace."
 2sm:3.24   So Joab went to the king and said: "What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go peacefully on his way?
 2sm:3.25   Are you not aware that Abner came to deceive you and to learn the ins and outs of all that you are doing?"
 2sm:3.26   Joab then left David, and without David's knowledge sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern of Sirah.
 2sm:3.27   When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him privately. There he stabbed him in the abdomen, and he died in revenge for the killing of Joab's brother Asahel.
 2sm:3.28   Later David heard of it and said: "Before the LORD; I and my kingdom are forever innocent.
 2sm:3.29   May the full responsibility for the death of Abner, son of Ner, be laid to Joab and to all his family. May the men of Joab's family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or a leper, or one unmanly, one falling by the sword, or one in need of bread!"
 2sm:3.30   (Joab and his brother Abishai had lain in wait for Abner because he killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon.)
 2sm:3.31   Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Rend your garments, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn over Abner." King David himself followed the bier.
 2sm:3.32   When they had buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at the grave of Abner, and the people also wept.
 2sm:3.33   And the king sang this elegy over Abner: "Would Abner have died like a fool?
 2sm:3.34   Your hands were not bound with chains, nor your feet placed in fetters; As men fall before the wicked, you fell." And all the people continued to weep for him.
 2sm:3.35   Then they went to console David with food while it was still day. But David swore, "May God do thus and so to me if I eat bread or anything else before sunset."
 2sm:3.36   All the people noted this with approval, just as they were pleased with everything that the king did.
 2sm:3.37   So on that day all the people and all Israel came to know that the king had no part in the killing of Abner, son of Ner.
 2sm:3.38   The king then said to his servants: "You must recognize that a great general has fallen today in Israel.
 2sm:3.39   Although I am the anointed king, I am weak this day, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too ruthless for me. May the LORD requite the evildoer in accordance with his evil deed."
   
 2sm:4.1    When Ishbaal, son of Saul, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he ceased to resist and all Israel was alarmed.
 2sm:4.2    Ishbaal, son of Saul, had two company leaders named Baanah and Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the tribe of Benjamin. (Beeroth, too, was ascribed to Benjamin:
 2sm:4.3    the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, where they have been resident aliens to this day.
 2sm:4.4    Jonathan, son of Saul, had a son named Meribbaal with crippled feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. But in their hasty flight, he fell and became lame.)
 2sm:4.5    The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, came into the house of Ishbaal during the heat of the day, while he was taking his siesta.
 2sm:4.6    The portress of the house had dozed off while sifting wheat, and was asleep. So Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped past
 2sm:4.7    and entered the house while Ishbaal was lying asleep in his bedroom. They struck and killed him, and cut off his head. Then, taking the head, they traveled on the Arabah road all night long.
 2sm:4.8    They brought the head of Ishbaal to David in Hebron and said to the king: "This is the head of Ishbaal, son of your enemy Saul, who sought your life. Thus has the LORD this day avenged my lord the king on Saul and his posterity."
 2sm:4.9    But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite: "As the LORD lives, who rescued me from all difficulty,
 2sm:4.10   in Ziklag I seized and put to death the man who informed me of Saul's death, thinking himself the bearer of good news for which I ought to give him a reward.
 2sm:4.11   How much more now, when wicked men have slain an innocent man in bed at home, must I hold you responsible for his death and destroy you from the earth!"
 2sm:4.12   So at a command from David, the young men killed them and cut off their hands and feet, hanging them up near the pool in Hebron. But he took the head of Ishbaal and buried it in Abner's grave in Hebron.
   
 2sm:5.1    All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: "Here we are, your bone and your flesh.
 2sm:5.2    In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'"
 2sm:5.3    When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.
 2sm:5.4    David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years:
 2sm:5.5    seven years and six months in Hebron over Judah, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah.
 2sm:5.6    Then the king and his men set out for Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the region. David was told, "You cannot enter here: the blind and the lame will drive you away!" which was their way of saying, "David cannot enter here."
 2sm:5.7    But David did take the stronghold of Zion, which is the City of David.
 2sm:5.8    On that day David said: "All who wish to attack the Jebusites must strike at them through the water shaft. The lame and the blind shall be the personal enemies of David." That is why it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not enter the palace."
 2sm:5.9    David then dwelt in the stronghold, which was called the City of David; he built up the area from Millo to the palace.
 2sm:5.10   David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.
 2sm:5.11   Hiram, king of Tyre, sent ambassadors to David; he furnished cedar wood, as well as carpenters and masons, who built a palace for David.
 2sm:5.12   And David knew that the LORD had established him as king of Israel and had exalted his rule for the sake of his people Israel.
 2sm:5.13   David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem after he had come from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him in Jerusalem.
 2sm:5.14   These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
 2sm:5.15   Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
 2sm:5.16   Elishama, Baaliada, and Eliphelet.
 2sm:5.17   When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they all took the field in search of him. On hearing this, David went down to the refuge.
 2sm:5.18   The Philistines came and overran the valley of Rephaim.
 2sm:5.19   David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I attack the Philistines--will you deliver them into my grip?" The LORD replied to David, "Attack, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your grip."
 2sm:5.20   David then went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated them. He said, "The LORD has scattered my enemies before me like waters that have broken free." That is why the place is called Baal-perazim.
 2sm:5.21   They abandoned their gods there, and David and his men carried them away.
 2sm:5.22   But the Philistines came up again and overran the valley of Rephaim.
 2sm:5.23   So David inquired of the LORD, who replied: "You must not attack frontally, but circle their rear and meet them before the mastic trees.
 2sm:5.24   When you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mastic trees, act decisively, for the LORD will have gone forth before you to attack the camp of the Philistines."
 2sm:5.25   David obeyed the LORD'S command and routed the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.
   
 2sm:6.1    David again assembled all the picked men of Israel, thirty thousand in number.
 2sm:6.2    Then David and all the people who were with him set out for Baala of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD of hosts enthroned above the cherubim.
 2sm:6.3    The ark of God was placed on a new cart and taken away from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, guided the cart,
 2sm:6.4    with Ahio walking before it,
 2sm:6.5    while David and all the Israelites made merry before the LORD with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.
 2sm:6.6    When they came to the threshing floor of Nodan, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and steadied it, for the oxen were making it tip.
 2sm:6.7    But the LORD was angry with Uzzah; God struck him on that spot, and he died there before God.
 2sm:6.8    David was disturbed because the LORD had vented his anger on Uzzah. (The place has been called Perez-uzzah down to the present day.)
 2sm:6.9    David feared the LORD that day and said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"
 2sm:6.10   So David would not have the ark of the LORD brought to him in the City of David, but diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
 2sm:6.11   The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his whole house.
 2sm:6.12   When it was reported to King David that the LORD had blessed the family of Obed-edom and all that belonged to him, David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David amid festivities.
 2sm:6.13   As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
 2sm:6.14   Then David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
 2sm:6.15   as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.
 2sm:6.16   As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.
 2sm:6.17   The ark of the LORD was brought in and set in its place within the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered holocausts and peace offerings before the LORD.
 2sm:6.18   When he finished making these offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
 2sm:6.19   He then distributed among all the people, to each man and each woman in the entire multitude of Israel, a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat, and a raisin cake. With this, all the people left for their homes.
 2sm:6.20   When David returned to bless his own family, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has honored himself today, exposing himself to the view of the slave girls of his followers, as a commoner might do!"
 2sm:6.21   But David replied to Michal: "I was dancing before the LORD. As the LORD lives, who preferred me to your father and his whole family when he appointed me commander of the LORD'S people, Israel, not only will I make merry before the LORD,
 2sm:6.22   but I will demean myself even more. I will be lowly in your esteem, but in the esteem of the slave girls you spoke of I will be honored."
 2sm:6.23   And so Saul's daughter Michal was childless to the day of her death.
   
 2sm:7.1    When King David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
 2sm:7.2    he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!"
 2sm:7.3    Nathan answered the king, "Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."
 2sm:7.4    But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
 2sm:7.5    "Go, tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in?
 2sm:7.6    I have not dwelt in a house from the day on which I led the Israelites out of Egypt to the present, but I have been going about in a tent under cloth.
 2sm:7.7    In all my wanderings everywhere among the Israelites, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'
 2sm:7.8    "Now then, speak thus to my servant David, 'The LORD of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.
 2sm:7.9    I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
 2sm:7.10   I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
 2sm:7.11   since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.
 2sm:7.12   And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm.
 2sm:7.13   It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever.
 2sm:7.14   I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements;
 2sm:7.15   but I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor Saul, whom I removed from my presence.
 2sm:7.16   Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'"
 2sm:7.17   Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.
 2sm:7.18   Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, "Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point?
 2sm:7.19   Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!
 2sm:7.20   What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD!
 2sm:7.21   For your servant's sake and as you have had at heart, you have brought about this entire magnificent disclosure to your servant.
 2sm:7.22   And so-- "Great are you, Lord GOD! There is none like you and there is no God but you, just as we have heard it told.
 2sm:7.23   What other nation on earth is there like your people Israel, which God has led, redeeming it as his people; so that you have made yourself renowned by doing this magnificent deed, and by doing awe-inspiring things as you cleared nations and their gods out of the way of your people, which you redeemed for yourself from Egypt?
 2sm:7.24   You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
 2sm:7.25   And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised.
 2sm:7.26   Your name will be forever great, when men say, 'The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,' and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
 2sm:7.27   It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, 'I will build a house for you.' Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
 2sm:7.28   And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant.
 2sm:7.29   Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord GOD, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever."
   
 2sm:8.1    After this David attacked the Philistines and conquered them, wresting. . . from the Philistines.
 2sm:8.2    He also defeated Moab and then measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. He told off two lengths of line for execution, and a full length to be spared. Thus the Moabites became tributary to David.
 2sm:8.3    Next David defeated Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to reestablish his dominion at the Euphrates River.
 2sm:8.4    David captured from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And he hamstrung all the chariot horses, preserving only enough for a hundred chariots.
 2sm:8.5    When the Arameans of Damascus came to the aid of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David slew twenty-two thousand of them.
 2sm:8.6    David then placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subjects, tributary to David. The LORD brought David victory in all his undertakings.
 2sm:8.7    David also took away the golden shields used by Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem. (These Shishak, king of Egypt, took away when he came to Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam, son of Solomon.)
 2sm:8.8    From Tebah and Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David removed a very large quantity of bronze.
 2sm:8.9    When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the forces of Hadadezer,
 2sm:8.10   he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him for his victory over Hadadezer in battle, because Toi had been in many battles with Hadadezer. Hadoram also brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze.
 2sm:8.11   These, too, King David consecrated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold he had taken from every nation he had conquered:
 2sm:8.12   from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites, from the Philistines, from the Amalekites, and from the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
 2sm:8.13   On his return, David became famous for having slain eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley;
 2sm:8.14   after which he placed garrisons in Edom. Thus all the Edomites became David's subjects, and the LORD brought David victory in all his undertakings.
 2sm:8.15   David reigned over all Israel, judging and administering justice to all his people.
 2sm:8.16   Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was chancellor.
 2sm:8.17   Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests. Shawsha was scribe.
 2sm:8.18   Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites. And David's sons were priests.
   
 2sm:9.1    David asked, "Is there any survivor of Saul's house to whom I may show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?"
 2sm:9.2    Now there was a servant of the family of Saul named Ziba. He was summoned to David, and the king asked him, "Are you Ziba?" He replied, "Your servant."
 2sm:9.3    Then the king inquired, "Is there any survivor of Saul's house to whom I may show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still Jonathan's son, whose feet are crippled."
 2sm:9.4    The king said to him, "Where is he?" and Ziba answered, "He is in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodebar."
 2sm:9.5    So King David sent for him and had him brought from the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
 2sm:9.6    When Meribbaal, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he fell prostrate in homage. David said, "Meribbaal," and he answered, "Your servant."
 2sm:9.7    "Fear not," David said to him, "I will surely be kind to you for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the lands of your grandfather Saul, and you shall always eat at my table."
 2sm:9.8    Bowing low, he answered, "What is your servant that you should pay attention to a dead dog like me?"
 2sm:9.9    The king then called Ziba, Saul's attendant, and said to him: "I am giving your lord's son all that belonged to Saul and to all his family.
 2sm:9.10   You and your sons and servants must till the land for him. You shall bring in the produce, which shall be food for your lord's family to eat. But Meribbaal, your lord's son, shall always eat at my table." Ziba, who had fifteen sons and twenty servants,
 2sm:9.11   said to the king, "Your servant shall do just as my lord the king has commanded him." And so Meribbaal ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.
 2sm:9.12   Meribbaal had a young son whose name was Mica; and all the tenants of Ziba's family worked for Meribbaal.
 2sm:9.13   But Meribbaal lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table. He was lame in both feet.
   
 2sm:10.1    Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king.
 2sm:10.2    David thought, "I will be kind to Hanun, son of Nahash, as his father was kind to me." So David sent his servants with condolences to Hanun for the loss of his father. But when David's servants entered the country of the Ammonites,
 2sm:10.3    the Ammonite princes said to their lord Hanun: "Do you think that David is honoring your father by sending men with condolences? Is it not rather to explore the city, to spy on it, and to overthrow it, that David has sent his messengers to you?"
 2sm:10.4    Hanun, therefore, seized David's servants and, after shaving off half their beards and cutting away the lower halves of their garments at the buttocks, sent them away.
 2sm:10.5    When he was told of it, King David sent out word to them, since the men were quite ashamed. "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow," he said, "and then come back."
 2sm:10.6    In view of the offense they had given to David, the Ammonites sent for and hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and twelve thousand men from Tob.
 2sm:10.7    On learning this, David sent out Joab with the entire levy of trained soldiers.
 2sm:10.8    The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah remained apart in the open country.
 2sm:10.9    When Joab saw the battle lines drawn up against him, both front and rear, he made a selection from all the picked troops of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.
 2sm:10.10   He placed the rest of the soldiers under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
 2sm:10.11   Joab said, "If the Arameans are stronger than I, you shall help me. But if the Ammonites are stronger than you, I will come to help you.
 2sm:10.12   Be brave; let us prove our valor for the sake of our people and the cities of our God; the LORD will do what he judges best."
 2sm:10.13   When Joab and the soldiers who were with him approached the Arameans for battle, they fled before him.
 2sm:10.14   The Ammonites, seeing that the Arameans had fled, also fled from Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab then ceased his attack on the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.
 2sm:10.15   Then the Arameans responded to their defeat by Israel with a full mustering of troops;
 2sm:10.16   Hadadezer sent for and enlisted Arameans from beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach, general of Hadadezer's army, at their head.
 2sm:10.17   On receiving this news, David assembled all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. The Arameans drew up in formation against David and fought with him.
 2sm:10.18   But the Arameans gave way before Israel, and David's men killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand of the Aramean foot soldiers. Shobach, general of the army, was struck down and died on the field.
 2sm:10.19   All of Hadadezer's vassal kings, in view of their defeat by Israel, then made peace with the Israelites and became their subjects. And the Arameans were afraid to give further aid to the Ammonites.
   
 2sm:11.1    At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem.
 2sm:11.2    One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.
 2sm:11.3    David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, "She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of (Joab's armor-bearer) Uriah the Hittite."
 2sm:11.4    Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her, at a time when she was just purified after her monthly period. She then returned to her house.
 2sm:11.5    But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, "I am with child."
 2sm:11.6    David therefore sent a message to Joab, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David.
 2sm:11.7    When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well.
 2sm:11.8    David then said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and bathe your feet." Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king's table.
 2sm:11.9    But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house.
 2sm:11.10   David was told that Uriah had not gone home. So he said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why, then, did you not go down to your house?"
 2sm:11.11   Uriah answered David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are lodged in tents, and my lord Joab and your majesty's servants are encamped in the open field. Can I go home to eat and to drink and to sleep with my wife? As the LORD lives and as you live, I will do no such thing."
 2sm:11.12   Then David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, I shall dismiss you tomorrow." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the day following,
 2sm:11.13   David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed among his lord's servants, and did not go down to his home.
 2sm:11.14   The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah.
 2sm:11.15   In it he directed: "Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead."
 2sm:11.16   So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong.
 2sm:11.17   When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David's army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.
 2sm:11.18   Then Joab sent David a report of all the details of the battle,
 2sm:11.19   instructing the messenger, "When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle,
 2sm:11.20   the king may become angry and say to you: 'Why did you go near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall above?
 2sm:11.21   Who killed Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal? Was it not a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall above, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?' Then you in turn shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'"
 2sm:11.22   The messenger set out, and on his arrival he relayed to David all the details as Joab had instructed him.
 2sm:11.23   He told David: "The men had us at a disadvantage and came out into the open against us, but we pushed them back to the entrance of the city gate.
 2sm:11.24   Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall above, and some of the king's servants died, among them your servant Uriah."
 2sm:11.25   David said to the messenger: "This is what you shall convey to Joab: 'Do not be chagrined at this, for the sword devours now here and now there. Strengthen your attack on the city and destroy it.' Encourage him."
 2sm:11.26   When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband had died, she mourned her lord.
 2sm:11.27   But once the mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her into his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done.
   
 2sm:12.1    The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: "Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.
 2sm:12.2    The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.
 2sm:12.3    But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him.
 2sm:12.4    Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man's ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor."
 2sm:12.5    David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!
 2sm:12.6    He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity."
 2sm:12.7    Then Nathan said to David: "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul.
 2sm:12.8    I gave you your lord's house and your lord's wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more.
 2sm:12.9    Why have you spurned the LORD and done evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites.
 2sm:12.10   Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.'
 2sm:12.11   Thus says the LORD: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
 2sm:12.12   You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.'"
 2sm:12.13   Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.
 2sm:12.14   But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die."
 2sm:12.15   Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill.
 2sm:12.16   David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.
 2sm:12.17   The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.
 2sm:12.18   On the seventh day, the child died. David's servants, however, were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said: "When the child was alive, we spoke to him, but he would not listen to what we said. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do some harm!"
 2sm:12.19   But David noticed his servants whispering among themselves and realized that the child was dead. He asked his servants, "Is the child dead?" They replied, "Yes, he is."
 2sm:12.20   Rising from the ground, David washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the house of the LORD and worshiped. He returned to his own house, where at his request food was set before him, and he ate.
 2sm:12.21   His servants said to him: "What is this you are doing? While the child was living, you fasted and wept and kept vigil; now that the child is dead, you rise and take food."
 2sm:12.22   He replied: "While the child was living, I fasted and wept, thinking, 'Perhaps the LORD will grant me the child's life.'
 2sm:12.23   But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
 2sm:12.24   Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went and slept with her; and she conceived and bore him a son, who was named Solomon. The LORD loved him
 2sm:12.25   and sent the prophet Nathan to name him Jedidiah, on behalf of the LORD.
 2sm:12.26   Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured this royal city.
 2sm:12.27   He sent messengers to David with the word: "I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the water-city.
 2sm:12.28   Therefore, assemble the rest of the soldiers, join the siege against the city and capture it, lest it be I that capture the city and it be credited to me."
 2sm:12.29   So David assembled the rest of the soldiers and went to Rabbah. When he had fought against it and captured it,
 2sm:12.30   he took the crown from Milcom's head. It weighed a talent, of gold and precious stones; it was placed on David's head. He brought out immense booty from the city,
 2sm:12.31   and also led away the inhabitants, whom he assigned to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, or put to work at the brickmold. This is what he did to all the Ammonite cities. David and all the soldiers then returned to Jerusalem.
   
 2sm:13.1    Some time later the following incident occurred. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her.
 2sm:13.2    He was in such straits over his sister Tamar that he became sick; since she was a virgin, Amnon thought it impossible to carry out his designs toward her.
 2sm:13.3    Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, who was very clever.
 2sm:13.4    He asked him, "Prince, why are you so dejected morning after morning? Why not tell me?" So Amnon said to him, "I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."
 2sm:13.5    Then Jonadab replied, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to visit you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and encourage me to take food. If she prepares something appetizing in my presence, for me to see, I will eat it from her hand.'"
 2sm:13.6    So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to visit him, Amnon said to the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and prepare some fried cakes before my eyes, that I may take nourishment from her hand."
 2sm:13.7    David then sent home a message to Tamar, "Please go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some nourishment for him."
 2sm:13.8    Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was in bed. Taking dough and kneading it, she twisted it into cakes before his eyes and fried the cakes.
 2sm:13.9    Then she took the pan and set out the cakes before him. But Amnon would not eat; he said, "Have everyone leave me." When they had all left him,
 2sm:13.10   Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the nourishment into the bedroom, that I may have it from your hand." So Tamar picked up the cakes she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.
 2sm:13.11   But when she brought them to him to eat, he seized her and said to her, "Come! Lie with me, my sister!"
 2sm:13.12   But she answered him, "No my brother! Do not shame me! That is an intolerable crime in Israel. Do not commit this insensate deed.
 2sm:13.13   Where would I take my shame? And you would be a discredited man in Israel. So please, speak to the king; he will not keep me from you."
 2sm:13.14   Not heeding her plea, he overpowered her; he shamed her and had relations with her.
 2sm:13.15   Then Amnon conceived an intense hatred for her, which far surpassed the love he had had for her. "Get up and leave," he said to her.
 2sm:13.16   She replied, "No, brother, because to drive me out would be far worse than the first injury you have done me." He would not listen to her,
 2sm:13.17   but called the youth who was his attendant and said, "Put her outside, away from me, and bar the door after her."
 2sm:13.18   Now she had on a long tunic, for that is how maiden princesses dressed in olden days. When his attendant put her out and barred the door after her,
 2sm:13.19   Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long tunic in which she was clothed. Then, putting her hands to her head, she went away crying loudly.
 2sm:13.20   Her brother Absalom said to her: "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be still now, my sister; he is your brother. Do not take this affair to heart." But Tamar remained grief-stricken and forlorn in the house of her brother Absalom.
 2sm:13.21   King David, who got word of the whole affair, became very angry. He did not, however, spark the resentment of his son Amnon, whom he favored because he was his first-born.
 2sm:13.22   Absalom, moreover, said nothing at all to Amnon, although he hated him for having shamed his sister Tamar.
 2sm:13.23   After a period of two years, Absalom had shearers in Baalhazor near Ephraim, and he invited all the princes.
 2sm:13.24   Absalom went to the king and said: "Your servant is having shearers. Please, your majesty, come with all your retainers to your servant."
 2sm:13.25   But the King said to Absalom, "No, my son, all of us should not go lest we be a burden to you." And though Absalom urged him, he refused to go and began to bid him good-bye.
 2sm:13.26   Absalom then said, "If you will not come yourself, please let my brother Amnon come to us." The king asked him, "Why should he go to you?"
 2sm:13.27   At Absalom's urging, however, he sent Amnon and all the other princes with him. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for royalty.
 2sm:13.28   But he had instructed his servants: "Now watch! When Amnon is merry with wine and I say to you, 'Kill Amnon,' put him to death. Do not be afraid, for it is I who order you to do it. Be resolute and act manfully."
 2sm:13.29   When the servants did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded, all the other princes rose, mounted their mules, and fled.
 2sm:13.30   While they were still on the road, a report reached David that Absalom had killed all the princes and that not one of them had survived.
 2sm:13.31   The king stood up, rent his garments, and then lay on the ground. All his servants standing by him also rent their garments.
 2sm:13.32   But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up: "Let not my lord think that all the young princes have been killed! Amnon alone is dead, for Absalom was determined on this ever since Amnon shamed his sister Tamar.
 2sm:13.33   So let not my lord the king put faith in the report that all the princes are dead. Amnon alone is dead."
 2sm:13.34   Meanwhile, Absalom had taken flight. Then the servant on watch looked about and saw a large group coming down the slope from the direction of Bahurim. He came in and reported this, telling the king that he had seen some men coming down the mountainside from the direction of Bahurim.
 2sm:13.35   So Jonadab said to the king: "There! The princes have come. It is as your servant said."
 2sm:13.36   No sooner had he finished speaking than the princes came in, weeping aloud. The king, too, and all his servants wept very bitterly.
 2sm:13.37   But Absalom, who had taken flight, went to Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur,
 2sm:13.38   and stayed in Geshur for three years.
 2sm:13.39   The king continued during all that time to mourn over his son; but his longing reached out for Absalom as he became reconciled to the death of Amnon.
   
 2sm:14.1    When Joab, son of Zeruiah, observed how the king felt toward Absalom,
 2sm:14.2    he sent to Tekoa and brought from there a gifted woman, to whom he said: "Pretend to be in mourning. Put on mourning apparel and do not anoint yourself with oil, that you may appear to be a woman who has been long in mourning for a departed one.
 2sm:14.3    Then go to the king and speak to him in this manner." And Joab instructed her what to say.
 2sm:14.4    So the woman of Tekoa went to the king and fell prostrate to the ground in homage, saying, "Help, your majesty!"
 2sm:14.5    The king said to her, "What do you want?" She replied: "Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
 2sm:14.6    Your servant had two sons, who quarreled in the field. There being no one to part them, one of them struck his brother and killed him.
 2sm:14.7    Then the whole clan confronted your servant and demanded: 'Give up the one who killed his brother. We must put him to death for the life of his brother whom he has slain; we must extinguish the heir also.' Thus they will quench my remaining hope and leave my husband neither name nor posterity upon the earth."
 2sm:14.8    The king then said to the woman: "Go home. I will issue a command on your behalf."
 2sm:14.9    The woman of Tekoa answered him, "Let me and my family be to blame, my lord king; you and your throne are innocent."
 2sm:14.10   Then the king said, "If anyone says a word to you, have him brought to me, and he shall not touch you again."
 2sm:14.11   But she went on to say, "Please, your majesty, keep in mind the LORD your God, that the avenger of blood may not go too far in destruction and that my son may not be done away with." He replied, "As the LORD lives, not a hair of your son shall fall to the ground."
 2sm:14.12   The woman continued, "Please let your servant say still another word to my lord the king." He replied, "Speak."
 2sm:14.13   So the woman said: "Why, then, do you think of this same kind of thing against the people of God? In pronouncing as he has, the king shows himself guilty, for not bringing back his own banished son.
 2sm:14.14   We must indeed die; we are then like water that is poured out on the ground and cannot be gathered up. Yet, though God does not bring back life, he does take thought how not to banish anyone from him.
 2sm:14.15   And now, if I have presumed to speak of this matter to your majesty, it is because the people have given me cause to fear. And so your servant thought: 'Let me speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant the petition of his maidservant.
 2sm:14.16   For the king must surely consent to free his servant from the grasp of one who would seek to destroy me and my son as well from God's inheritance.'"
 2sm:14.17   And the woman concluded: "Let the word of my lord the king provide a resting place; indeed, my lord the king is like an angel of God, evaluating good and bad. The LORD your God be with you."
 2sm:14.18   The king answered the woman, "Now do not conceal from me anything I may ask you!" The woman said, "Let my lord the king speak."
 2sm:14.19   So the king asked, "Is Joab involved with you in all this?" And the woman answered: "As you live, my lord the king, it is just as your majesty has said, and not otherwise. It was your servant Joab who instructed me and told your servant all these things she was to say.
 2sm:14.20   Your servant Joab did this to come at the issue in a roundabout way. But my lord is as wise as an angel of God, so that he knows all things on earth."
 2sm:14.21   Then the king said to Joab: "I hereby grant this request. Go, therefore, and bring back young Absalom."
 2sm:14.22   Falling prostrate to the ground in homage and blessing the king, Joab said, "This day I know that I am in good favor with you, my lord the king, since the king has granted the request of his servant."
 2sm:14.23   Joab then went off to Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
 2sm:14.24   But the king said, "Let him go to his own house; he shall not appear before me." So Absalom went off to his house and did not appear before the king.
 2sm:14.25   In all Israel there was not a man who could so be praised for his beauty as Absalom, who was without blemish from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
 2sm:14.26   When he shaved his head--which he used to do at the end of every year, because his hair became too heavy for him--the hair weighed two hundred shekels according to the royal standard.
 2sm:14.27   Absalom had three sons born to him, besides a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
 2sm:14.28   Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without appearing before the king.
 2sm:14.29   Then he summoned Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. Although he summoned him a second time, Joab refused to come.
 2sm:14.30   He therefore instructed his servants: "You see Joab's field that borders mine, on which he has barley. Go, set it on fire." And so Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Joab's farmhands came to him with torn garments and reported to him what had been done.
 2sm:14.31   At this, Joab went to Absalom in his house and asked him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"
 2sm:14.32   Absalom answered Joab: "I was summoning you to come here, that I may send you to the king to say: 'Why did I come back from Geshur? I would be better off if I were still there!' Now, let me appear before the king. If I am guilty, let him put me to death."
 2sm:14.33   Joab went to the king and reported this. The king then called Absalom, who came to him and in homage fell on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed him.
   
 2sm:15.1    After this Absalom provided himself with chariots, horses, and fifty henchmen.
 2sm:15.2    Moreover, Absalom used to rise early and stand alongside the road leading to the gate. If someone had a lawsuit to be decided by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city are you?" And when he replied, "Your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel,"
 2sm:15.3    Absalom would say to him, "Your suit is good and just, but there is no one to hear you in the king's name."
 2sm:15.4    And he would continue: "If only I could be appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a lawsuit to be decided might come to me and I would render him justice."
 2sm:15.5    Whenever a man approached him to show homage, he would extend his hand, hold him, and kiss him.
 2sm:15.6    By behaving in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king for judgment, Absalom was stealing away the loyalties of the men of Israel.
 2sm:15.7    After a period of four years, Absalom said to the king: "Allow me to go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.
 2sm:15.8    For while living in Geshur in Aram, your servant made this vow: 'If the LORD ever brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.'"
 2sm:15.9    The king wished him a safe journey, and he went off to Hebron.
 2sm:15.10   Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "When you hear the sound of the horn, declare Absalom king in Hebron."
 2sm:15.11   Two hundred men had accompanied Absalom from Jerusalem. They had been invited and went in good faith, knowing nothing of the plan.
 2sm:15.12   Absalom also sent to Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, an invitation to come from his town, Giloh, for the sacrifices he was about to offer. So the conspiracy gained strength, and the people with Absalom increased in numbers.
 2sm:15.13   An informant came to David with the report, "The Israelites have transferred their loyalty to Absalom."
 2sm:15.14   At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: "Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword."
 2sm:15.15   The king's officers answered him, "Your servants are ready, whatever our lord the king chooses to do."
 2sm:15.16   Then the king set out, accompanied by his entire household, except for ten concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace.
 2sm:15.17   As the king left the city, with all his officers accompanying him, they halted opposite the ascent of the Mount of Olives, at a distance,
 2sm:15.18   while the whole army marched past him.As all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and the six hundred men of Gath who had accompanied him from that city, were passing in review before the king,
 2sm:15.19   he said to Ittai the Gittite: "Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and you, too, are an exile from your own country.
 2sm:15.20   You came only yesterday, and shall I have you wander about with us today, wherever I have to go? Return and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD be kind and faithful to you."
 2sm:15.21   But Ittai answered the king, "As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant shall be wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life."
 2sm:15.22   So the king said to Ittai, "Go, then, march on." And Ittai the Gittite, with all his men and all the dependents that were with him, marched on.
 2sm:15.23   Everyone in the countryside wept aloud as the last of the soldiers went by, and the king crossed the Kidron Valley with all the soldiers moving on ahead of him by way of the Mount of Olives, toward the desert.
 2sm:15.24   Zadok, too (with all the Levite bearers of the ark of the covenant of God), and Abiathar brought the ark of God to a halt until the soldiers had marched out of the city.
 2sm:15.25   Then the king said to Zadok: "Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor with the LORD, he will bring me back and permit me to see it and its lodging.
 2sm:15.26   But if he should say, 'I am not pleased with you,' I am ready; let him do to me as he sees fit."
 2sm:15.27   The king also said to the priest Zadok: "See to it that you and Abiathar return to the city in peace, and both your sons with you, your own son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar's son Jonathan.
 2sm:15.28   Remember, I shall be waiting at the fords near the desert until I receive information from you."
 2sm:15.29   So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.
 2sm:15.30   As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All those who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went.
 2sm:15.31   When David was informed that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom, he said, "O LORD, turn the counsel of Ahithophel to folly!"
 2sm:15.32   When David reached the top, where men used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him, with rent garments and dirt upon his head.
 2sm:15.33   David said to him: "If you come with me, you will be a burden to me.
 2sm:15.34   But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'Let me be your servant, O king; I was formerly your father's servant, but now I will be yours,' you will undo for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
 2sm:15.35   You will have the priests Zadok and Abiathar there with you. If you hear anything from the royal palace, you shall report it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar,
 2sm:15.36   who have there with them both Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. Through them you shall send on to me whatever you hear."
 2sm:15.37   So David's friend Hushai went into the city of Jerusalem as Absalom was about to enter it.
   
 2sm:16.1    David had gone a little beyond the top when Ziba, the servant of Meribbaal, met him with saddled asses laden with two hundred loaves of bread, an ephah of cakes of pressed raisins, an ephah of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
 2sm:16.2    The king said to Ziba, "What do you plan to do with these?" Ziba replied: "The asses are for the king's household to ride on. The bread and summer fruits are for your servants to eat, and the wine for those to drink who are weary in the desert."
 2sm:16.3    Then the king said, "And where is your lord's son?" Ziba answered the king, "He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Now the Israelites will restore to me my father's kingdom.'"
 2sm:16.4    The king therefore said to Ziba, "So! Everything Meribbaal had is yours." Then Ziba said: "I pay you homage, my lord the king. May I find favor with you!"
 2sm:16.5    As David was approaching Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera of the same clan as Saul's family, was coming out of the place, cursing as he came.
 2sm:16.6    He threw stones at David and at all the king's officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David's right and on his left.
 2sm:16.7    Shimei was saying as he cursed: "Away, away, you murderous and wicked man!
 2sm:16.8    The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer."
 2sm:16.9    Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king: "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, please, and lop off his head."
 2sm:16.10   But the king replied: "What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, 'Why are you doing this?'"
 2sm:16.11   Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: "If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.
 2sm:16.12   Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day."
 2sm:16.13   David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.
 2sm:16.14   The king and all the soldiers with him arrived at the Jordan tired out, and stopped there for a rest.
 2sm:16.15   In the meantime Absalom, accompanied by Ahithophel, entered Jerusalem with all the Israelites.
 2sm:16.16   When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, he said to him: "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
 2sm:16.17   But Absalom asked Hushai: "Is this your devotion to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
 2sm:16.18   Hushai replied to Absalom: "On the contrary, I am his whom the LORD and all this people and all Israel have chosen, and with him I will stay.
 2sm:16.19   Furthermore, as I was in attendance upon your father, so will I be before you. Whom should I serve, if not his son?"
 2sm:16.20   Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Offer your counsel on what we should do."
 2sm:16.21   Ahithophel replied to Absalom: "Have relations with your father's concubines, whom he left behind to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears how odious you have made yourself to your father, all your partisans will take courage."
 2sm:16.22   So a tent was pitched on the roof for Absalom, and he visited his father's concubines in view of all Israel.
 2sm:16.23   Now the counsel given by Ahithophel at that time was as though one had sought divine revelation. Such was all his counsel both to David and to Absalom.
   
 2sm:17.1    Ahithophel went on to say to Absalom: "Please let me choose twelve thousand men, and be off in pursuit of David tonight.
 2sm:17.2    If I come upon him when he is weary and discouraged, I shall cause him panic. When all the people with him flee, I shall strike down the king alone.
 2sm:17.3    Then I can bring back the rest of the people to you, as a bride returns to her husband. It is the death of only one man you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace."
 2sm:17.4    This plan was agreeable to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
 2sm:17.5    Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Archite also; let us hear what he too has to say."
 2sm:17.6    When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him: "This is what Ahithophel proposed. Shall we follow his proposal? If not, speak up."
 2sm:17.7    Hushai replied to Absalom, "This time Ahithophel has not given good counsel."
 2sm:17.8    And he went on to say: "You know that your father and his men are warriors, and that they are as fierce as a bear in the wild robbed of her cubs. Moreover, since your father is skilled in warfare, he will not spend the night with the people.
 2sm:17.9    Even now he lies hidden in one of the caves or in some other place. And if some of our soldiers should fall at the first attack, whoever hears of it will say, 'Absalom's followers have been slaughtered.'
 2sm:17.10   Then even the brave man with the heart of a lion will lose courage. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave.
 2sm:17.11   "This is what I counsel: Let all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba, who are as numerous as the sands by the sea, be called up for combat; and go with them yourself.
 2sm:17.12   We can then attack him wherever we find him, settling down upon him as dew alights on the ground. None shall survive--neither he nor any of his followers.
 2sm:17.13   And if he retires into a city, all Israel shall bring ropes to that city and we can drag it into the gorge, so that not even a pebble of it can be found."
 2sm:17.14   Then Absalom and all the Israelites pronounced the counsel of Hushai the Archite better than that of Ahithophel. For the LORD had decided to undo Ahithophel's good counsel, in order thus to bring Absalom to ruin.
 2sm:17.15   Then Hushai said to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "This is the counsel Ahithophel gave Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I counseled.
 2sm:17.16   So send a warning to David immediately, not to spend the night at the fords near the desert, but to cross over without fail. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be destroyed."
 2sm:17.17   Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, since they could not risk being seen entering the city. A maidservant was to come with information for them, and they in turn were to go and report to King David.
 2sm:17.18   But an attendant saw them and informed Absalom. They sped on their way and reached the house of a man in Bahurim who had a cistern in his courtyard. They let themselves down into this,
 2sm:17.19   and the housewife took the cover and spread it over the cistern, strewing ground grain on the cover so that nothing could be noticed.
 2sm:17.20   When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman replied, "They went by a short while ago toward the water." They searched, but found no one, and so returned to Jerusalem.
 2sm:17.21   As soon as they left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan came up out of the cistern and went on to inform King David. They said to him: "Leave! Cross the water at once, for Ahithophel has given the following counsel in regard to you."
 2sm:17.22   So David and all his people moved on and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed.
 2sm:17.23   When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not acted upon, he saddled his ass and departed, going to his home in his own city. Then, having left orders concerning his family, he hanged himself. And so he died and was buried in his father's tomb.
 2sm:17.24   Now David had gone to Mahanaim when Absalom crossed the Jordan accompanied by all the Israelites.
 2sm:17.25   Absalom had put Amasa in command of the army in Joab's place. Amasa was the son of an Ishmaelite named Ithra, who had married Abigail, daughter of Jesse and sister of Joab's mother Zeruiah.
 2sm:17.26   Israel and Absalom encamped in the territory of Gilead.
 2sm:17.27   When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi, son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir, son of Ammiel from Lodebar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite from Rogelim,
 2sm:17.28   brought couches, coverlets, basins and earthenware, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,
 2sm:17.29   honey, butter and cheese from the flocks and herds, for David and those who were with him to eat; for they said, "The people have been hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."
   
 2sm:18.1    After mustering the troops he had with him, David placed officers in command of groups of a thousand and groups of a hundred.
 2sm:18.2    David then put a third part of the soldiers under Joab's command, a third under command of Abishai, son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, and a third under command of Ittai the Gittite. The king then said to the soldiers, "I intend to go out with you myself."
 2sm:18.3    But they replied: "You must not come out with us. For if we should flee, we shall not count; even if half of us should die, we shall not count. You are equal to ten thousand of us. Therefore it is better that we have you to help us from the city."
 2sm:18.4    So the king said to them, "I will do what you think best"; and he stood by the gate as all the soldiers marched out in units of a hundred and of a thousand.
 2sm:18.5    But the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai and Ittai: "Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake." All the soldiers heard the king instruct the various leaders with regard to Absalom.
 2sm:18.6    David's army then took the field against Israel, and a battle was fought in the forest near Mahanaim.
 2sm:18.7    The forces of Israel were defeated by David's servants, and the casualties there that day were heavy--twenty thousand men.
 2sm:18.8    The battle spread out over that entire region, and the thickets consumed more combatants that day than did the sword.
 2sm:18.9    Absalom unexpectedly came up against David's servants. He was mounted on a mule, and, as the mule passed under the branches of a large terebinth, his hair caught fast in the tree. He hung between heaven and earth while the mule he had been riding ran off.
 2sm:18.10   Someone saw this and reported to Joab that he had seen Absalom hanging from a terebinth.
 2sm:18.11   Joab said to his informant: "If you saw him, why did you not strike him to the ground on the spot? Then it would have been my duty to give you fifty pieces of silver and a belt."
 2sm:18.12   But the man replied to Joab: "Even if I already held a thousand pieces of silver in my two hands, I would not harm the king's son, for the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai in our hearing to protect the youth Absalom for his sake.
 2sm:18.13   Had I been disloyal and killed him, the whole matter would have come to the attention of the king, and you would stand aloof."
 2sm:18.14   Joab replied, "I will not waste time with you in this way." And taking three pikes in hand, he thrust for the heart of Absalom, still hanging from the tree alive.
 2sm:18.15   Next, ten of Joab's young armor-bearers closed in on Absalom, and killed him with further blows.
 2sm:18.16   Joab then sounded the horn, and the soldiers turned back from the pursuit of the Israelites, because Joab called on them to halt.
 2sm:18.17   Absalom was taken up and cast into a deep pit in the forest, and a very large mound of stones was erected over him. And all the Israelites fled to their own tents.
 2sm:18.18   During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it for himself in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to perpetuate my name." The pillar which he named for himself is called Yadabshalom to the present day.
 2sm:18.19   Then Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, said, "Let me run to take the good news to the king that the LORD has set him free from the grasp of his enemies."
 2sm:18.20   But Joab said to him: "You are not the man to bring the news today. On some other day you may take the good news, but today you would not be bringing good news, for in fact the king's son is dead."
 2sm:18.21   Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed to Joab and sped away.
 2sm:18.22   But Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, said to Joab again, "Come what may, permit me also to run after the Cushite." Joab replied: "Why do you want to run, my son? You will receive no reward."
 2sm:18.23   But he insisted, "Come what may, I want to run." Joab said to him, "Very well." Ahimaaz sped off by way of the Jordan plain and outran the Cushite.
 2sm:18.24   Now David was sitting between the two gates, and a lookout mounted to the roof of the gate above the city wall, where he looked about and saw a man running all alone.
 2sm:18.25   The lookout shouted to inform the king, who said, "If he is alone, he has good news to report." As he kept coming nearer,
 2sm:18.26   the lookout spied another runner. From his place atop the gate he cried out, "There is another man running by himself." And the king responded, "He, too, is bringing good news."
 2sm:18.27   Then the lookout said, "I notice that the first one runs like Ahimaaz, son of Zadok." The king replied, "He is a good man; he comes with good news."
 2sm:18.28   Then Ahimaaz called out and greeted the king. With face to the ground he paid homage to the king and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king."
 2sm:18.29   But the king asked, "Is the youth Absalom safe?" And Ahimaaz replied, "I saw a great disturbance when the king's servant Joab sent your servant on, but I do not know what it was."
 2sm:18.30   The king said, "Step aside and remain in attendance here." So he stepped aside and remained there.
 2sm:18.31   When the Cushite came in, he said, "Let my lord the king receive the good news that this day the LORD has taken your part, freeing you from the grasp of all who rebelled against you."
 2sm:18.32   But the king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom safe?" The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!"
   
 2sm:19.1    The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
 2sm:19.2    Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;
 2sm:19.3    and that day's victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.
 2sm:19.4    The soldiers stole into the city that day like men shamed by flight in battle.
 2sm:19.5    Meanwhile the king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom! My son, my son!"
 2sm:19.6    Then Joab went to his residence and said: "Though they saved your life and your sons' and daughters' lives, also the lives of your wives and those of your concubines, you have put all your servants to shame today
 2sm:19.7    by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have shown today that officers and servants mean nothing to you. Indeed I am now certain that if Absalom were alive today and all of us dead, you would think that more suitable.
 2sm:19.8    Now then, get up! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a single man will remain with you overnight, and this will be a far greater disaster for you than any that has afflicted you from your youth until now."
 2sm:19.9    So the king stepped out and sat at the gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the gate, they came into his presence. Now the Israelites had fled to their separate tents,
 2sm:19.10   but throughout the tribes of Israel all the people were arguing among themselves, saying to one another: "The king delivered us from the clutches of our enemies, and it was he who rescued us from the grip of the Philistines. But now he has fled from the country before Absalom,
 2sm:19.11   and Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. Why, then, should you remain silent about restoring the king to his palace?" When the talk of all Israel reached the king,
 2sm:19.12   David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah: 'Why should you be last to restore the king to his palace?
 2sm:19.13   You are my brothers, you are my bone and flesh. Why should you be last to restore the king?'
 2sm:19.14   Also say to Amasa: 'Are you not my bone and flesh? May God do thus and so to me, if you do not become my general permanently in place of Joab.'"
 2sm:19.15   He won over all the Judahites as one man, and so they summoned the king to return, with all his servants.
 2sm:19.16   When the king, on his return, reached the Jordan, Judah had come to Gilgal to meet him and to escort him across the Jordan.
 2sm:19.17   Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the Judahites to meet King David,
 2sm:19.18   accompanied by a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba, too, the servant of the house of Saul, accompanied by his fifteen sons and twenty servants, hastened to the Jordan before the king.
 2sm:19.19   They crossed over the ford to bring the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei, son of Gera, crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king
 2sm:19.20   and said to him: "May my lord not hold me guilty, and may he not remember and take to heart the wrong that your servant did the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.
 2sm:19.21   For your servant knows that he has done wrong. Yet realize that I have been the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down today to meet my lord the king."
 2sm:19.22   But Abishai, son of Zeruiah, countered: "Shimei must be put to death for this. He cursed the LORD'S anointed."
 2sm:19.23   David replied: "What has come between you and me, sons of Zeruiah, that you would create enmity for me this day? Should anyone die today in Israel? Am I not aware that today I am king of Israel?"
 2sm:19.24   Then the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king gave him his oath.
 2sm:19.25   Meribbaal, son of Saul, also went down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until he returned safely.
 2sm:19.26   When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why did you not go with me, Meribbaal?"
 2sm:19.27   He replied: "My lord the king, my servant betrayed me. For your servant, who is lame, said to him, 'Saddle the ass for me, that I may ride on it and go with the king.'
 2sm:19.28   But he slandered your servant before my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what you judge best.
 2sm:19.29   For though my father's entire house deserved only death from my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among the guests at your table. What right do I still have to make further appeal to the king?"
 2sm:19.30   But the king said to him: "Why do you go on talking? I say, 'You and Ziba shall divide the property.'"
 2sm:19.31   Meribbaal answered the king, "Indeed let him have it all, now that my lord the king has returned safely to his palace."
 2sm:19.32   Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim and escorted the king to the Jordan for his crossing, taking leave of him there.
 2sm:19.33   It was Barzillai, a very old man of eighty and very wealthy besides, who had provisioned the king during his stay in Mahanaim.
 2sm:19.34   The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I will provide for your old age as my guest in Jerusalem."
 2sm:19.35   But Barzillai answered the king: "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
 2sm:19.36   I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks, or still appreciate the voices of singers and songstresses? Why should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king?
 2sm:19.37   In escorting the king across the Jordan, your servant is doing little enough! Why should the king give me this reward?
 2sm:19.38   Please let your servant go back to die in his own city by the tomb of his father and mother. Here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you will."
 2sm:19.39   Then the king said to him, "Chimham shall come over with me, and I will do for him as you would wish. And anything else you would like me to do for you, I will do."
 2sm:19.40   Then all the people crossed over the Jordan but the king remained; he kissed Barzillai and bade him Godspeed as he returned to his own district.
 2sm:19.41   Finally the king crossed over to Gilgal, accompanied by Chimham. All the people of Judah and half of the people of Israel had escorted the king across.
 2sm:19.42   But all these Israelites began coming to the king and saying, "Why did our brothers the Judahites steal you away and escort the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?"
 2sm:19.43   All the Judahites replied to the men of Israel: "Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry over this affair? Have we had anything to eat at the king's expense? Or have portions from his table been given to us?"
 2sm:19.44   The Israelites answered the Judahites: "We have ten shares in the king. Also, we are the first-born rather than you. Why do you slight us? Were we not first to speak of restoring the king?" Then the Judahites in turn spoke even more fiercely than the Israelites.
   
 2sm:20.1    Now a rebellious individual from Benjamin named Sheba, the son of Bichri, happened to be there. He sounded the horn and cried out, "We have no portion in David, nor any share in the son of Jesse. Every man to his tent, O Israel!"
 2sm:20.2    So all the Israelites left David for Sheba, son of Bichri. But from the Jordan to Jerusalem the Judahites remained loyal to their king.
 2sm:20.3    When King David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the palace and placed them in confinement. He provided for them, but had no further relations with them. And so they remained in confinement to the day of their death, lifelong widows.
 2sm:20.4    Then the king said to Amasa: "Summon the Judahites for me within three days. Then present yourself here."
 2sm:20.5    Accordingly Amasa set out to summon Judah, but delayed beyond the time set for him by David.
 2sm:20.6    Then David said to Abishai: "Sheba, son of Bichri, may now do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your lord's servants and pursue him, lest he find fortified cities and take shelter while we look on."
 2sm:20.7    So Joab and the Cherethites and Pelethites and all the warriors marched out behind Abishai from Jerusalem to campaign in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.
 2sm:20.8    They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa met them. Now Joab had a belt over his tunic, from which was slung, in its sheath near his thigh, a sword that could be drawn with a downward movement.
 2sm:20.9    And Joab asked Amasa, "How are you, my brother?" With his right hand Joab held Amasa's beard as if to kiss him.
 2sm:20.10   And since Amasa was not on his guard against the sword in Joab's other hand, Joab stabbed him in the abdomen with it, so that his entrails burst forth to the ground, and he died without receiving a second thrust. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba, son of Bichri.
 2sm:20.11   One of Joab's attendants stood by Amasa and said, "Let him who favors Joab and is for David follow Joab."
 2sm:20.12   Amasa lay covered with blood in the middle of the highroad, and the man noticed that all the soldiers were stopping. So he removed Amasa from the road to the field and placed a garment over him, because all who came up to him were stopping.
 2sm:20.13   When he had been removed from the road, everyone went on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba, son of Bichri.
 2sm:20.14   Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth-maacah. Then all the Bichrites assembled and they too entered the city after him.
 2sm:20.15   So David's servants came and besieged him in Abel Beth-maacah. They threw up a mound against the city, and all the soldiers who were with Joab began battering the wall to throw it down.
 2sm:20.16   Then a wise woman from the city stood on the outworks and called out, "Listen, listen! Tell Joab to come here, that I may speak with him."
 2sm:20.17   When Joab had come near her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he replied, "Yes." She said to him, "Listen to what your maidservant has to say." He replied. "I am listening."
 2sm:20.18   Then she went on to say: "There is an ancient saying, 'Let them ask if they will in Abel
 2sm:20.19   or in Dan whether loyalty is finished or ended in Israel.' You are seeking to beat down a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you wish to destroy the inheritance of the LORD?"
 2sm:20.20   Joab answered, "Not at all, not at all! I do not wish to destroy or to ruin anything.
 2sm:20.21   That is not the case at all. A man named Sheba, son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim has rebelled against King David. Surrender him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." Then the woman said to Joab, "His head shall be thrown to you across the wall."
 2sm:20.22   She went to all the people with her advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He then sounded the horn, and they scattered from the city to their own tents, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
 2sm:20.23   Joab was in command of the whole army of Israel. Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites.
 2sm:20.24   Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the chancellor.
 2sm:20.25   Shawsha was the scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.
 2sm:20.26   Ira the Jairite was also David's priest.
   
 2sm:21.1    During David's reign there was a famine for three successive years. David had recourse to the LORD, who said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and his family because he put the Gibeonites to death."
 2sm:21.2    So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but survivors of the Amorites; and although the Israelites had given them their oath, Saul had attempted to kill them off in his zeal for the men of Israel and Judah.)
 2sm:21.3    David said to the Gibeonites, "What must I do for you and how must I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?"
 2sm:21.4    The Gibeonites answered him, "We have no claim against Saul and his house for silver or gold, nor is it our place to put any man to death in Israel." Then he said, "I will do for you whatever you propose."
 2sm:21.5    They said to the king, "As for the man who was exterminating us and who intended to destroy us that we might have no place in all the territory of Israel,
 2sm:21.6    let seven men from among his descendants be given to us, that we may dismember them before the LORD in Gibeon, on the LORD'S mountain." The king replied, "I will give them up."
 2sm:21.7    The king, however, spared Meribbaal, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that formed a bond between David and Saul's son Jonathan.
 2sm:21.8    But the king took Armoni and Meribbaal, the two sons that Aiah's daughter Rizpah had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merob that she had borne to Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite,
 2sm:21.9    and surrendered them to the Gibeonites. They then dismembered them on the mountain before the LORD. The seven fell at the one time; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest--that is, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
 2sm:21.10   Then Rizpah, Aiah's daughter, took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock from the beginning of the harvest until rain came down on them from the sky, fending off the birds of the sky from settling on them by day, and the wild animals by night.
 2sm:21.11   When David was informed of what Rizpah, Aiah's daughter, the concubine of Saul, had done,
 2sm:21.12   he went and obtained the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead, who had carried them off secretly from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them at the time they killed Saul on Gilboa.
 2sm:21.13   When he had brought up from there the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan, the bones of those who had been dismembered were also gathered up.
 2sm:21.14   Then the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan were buried in the tomb of his father Kish at Zela in the territory of Benjamin. After all that the king commanded had been carried out, God granted relief to the land.
 2sm:21.15   There was another battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his servants and fought the Philistines, but David grew tired.
 2sm:21.16   Dadu, one of the Rephaim, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels, was about to take him captive. Dadu was girt with a new sword and planned to kill David,
 2sm:21.17   but Abishai, son of Zeruiah, came to his assistance and struck and killed the Philistine. Then David's men swore to him, "You must not go out to battle with us again, lest you quench the lamp of Israel."
 2sm:21.18   After this there was another battle with the Philistines in Gob. On that occasion Sibbecai, from Husha, killed Saph, one of the Rephaim.
 2sm:21.19   There was another battle with the Philistines in Gob, in which Elhanan, son of Jair from Bethlehem, killed Goliath of Gath, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's heddle-bar.
 2sm:21.20   There was another battle at Gath in which there was a man of large stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He too was one of the Rephaim.
 2sm:21.21   And when he insulted Israel, Jonathan, son of David's brother Shimei, killed him.
 2sm:21.22   These four were Rephaim in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his servants.
   
 2sm:22.1    David sang the words of this song to the LORD when the LORD had rescued him from the grasp of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
 2sm:22.2    This is what he sang: I "O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,
 2sm:22.3    my God, my rock of refuge! My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior, from violence you keep me safe.
 2sm:22.4    'Praised be the LORD,' I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.
 2sm:22.5    "The breakers of death surged round about me, the floods of perdition overwhelmed me;
 2sm:22.6    The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.
 2sm:22.7    In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry reached his ears.
 2sm:22.8    "The earth swayed and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and shook when his wrath flared up.
 2sm:22.9    Smoke rose from his nostrils, and a devouring fire from his mouth; he kindled coals into flame.
 2sm:22.10   He inclined the heavens and came down, with dark clouds under his feet.
 2sm:22.11   He mounted a cherub and flew, borne on the wings of the wind.
 2sm:22.12   He made darkness the shelter about him, with spattering rain and thickening clouds.
 2sm:22.13   From the brightness of his presence coals were kindled to flame.
 2sm:22.14   "The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High gave forth his voice.
 2sm:22.15   He sent forth arrows to put them to flight; he flashed lightning and routed them.
 2sm:22.16   Then the wellsprings of the sea appeared, the foundations of the earth were laid bare, At the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the wind of his wrath.
 2sm:22.17   "He reached out from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of the deep waters.
 2sm:22.18   He rescued me from my mighty enemy, from my foes, who were too powerful for me.
 2sm:22.19   They attacked me on my day of calamity, but the LORD came to my support.
 2sm:22.20   He set me free in the open, and rescued me, because he loves me.
 2sm:22.21   "The LORD rewarded me according to my justice; according to the cleanness of my hands he requited me.
 2sm:22.22   For I kept the ways of the LORD and was not disloyal to my God.
 2sm:22.23   For his ordinances were all present to me, and his statutes I put not from me;
 2sm:22.24   But I was wholehearted toward him, and I was on my guard against guilt.
 2sm:22.25   And the LORD requited me according to my justice, according to my innocence in his sight.
 2sm:22.26   "Toward the faithful you are faithful; toward the wholehearted you are wholehearted;
 2sm:22.27   Toward the sincere you are sincere; but toward the crooked you are astute.
 2sm:22.28   You save lowly people, though on the lofty your eyes look down.
 2sm:22.29   You are my lamp, O LORD! O my God, you brighten the darkness about me.
 2sm:22.30   For with your aid I run against an armed band, and by the help of my God I leap over a wall.
 2sm:22.31   God's way is unerring; the promise of the LORD is fire-tried; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him."
 2sm:22.32   "For who is God except the LORD? Who is a rock save our God?
 2sm:22.33   The God who girded me with strength and kept my way unerring;
 2sm:22.34   Who made my feet swift as those of hinds and set me on the heights;
 2sm:22.35   Who trained my hands for war till my arms could bend a bow of brass.
 2sm:22.36   "You have given me your saving shield, and your help has made me great.
 2sm:22.37   You made room for my steps; unwavering was my stride.
 2sm:22.38   I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, nor did I turn again till I made an end of them.
 2sm:22.39   I smote them and they did not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
 2sm:22.40   "You girded me with strength for war; you subdued my adversaries beneath me.
 2sm:22.41   My enemies you put to flight before me and those who hated me I destroyed.
 2sm:22.42   They cried for help-but no one saved them; to the LORD--but he answered them not.
 2sm:22.43   I ground them fine as the dust of the earth; like the mud in the streets I trampled them down.
 2sm:22.44   "You rescued me from the strife of my people; you made me head over nations. A people I had not known became my slaves;
 2sm:22.45   as soon as they heard me, they obeyed.
 2sm:22.46   The foreigners fawned and cringed before me; they staggered forth from their fortresses."
 2sm:22.47   "The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be my God, rock of my salvation.
 2sm:22.48   O God, who granted me vengeance, who made peoples subject to me
 2sm:22.49   and helped me escape from my enemies, Above my adversaries you exalt me and from the violent man you rescue me.
 2sm:22.50   Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations, and I will sing praise to your name,
 2sm:22.51   You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever."
   
 2sm:23.1    These are the last words of David: "The utterance of David, son of Jesse; the utterance of the man God raised up, Anointed of the God of Jacob, favorite of the Mighty One of Israel.
 2sm:23.2    The spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.
 2sm:23.3    The God of Israel spoke; of me the Rock of Israel said, 'He that rules over men in justice, that rules in the fear of God,
 2sm:23.4    Is like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.'
 2sm:23.5    Is not my house firm before God? He has made an eternal covenant with me, set forth in detail and secured. Will he not bring to fruition all my salvation and my every desire?
 2sm:23.6    But the wicked are all like thorns to be cast away; they cannot be taken up by hand.
 2sm:23.7    He who wishes to touch them must arm himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they must be consumed by fire."
 2sm:23.8    These are the names of David's warriors. Ishbaal, son of Hachamoni, was the first of the Three. It was he who brandished his battle-ax over eight hundred slain in a single encounter.
 2sm:23.9    Next to him, among the Three warriors, was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was with David at Ephes-dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. The Israelites had retreated,
 2sm:23.10   but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew tired and became cramped, holding fast to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory on that day; the soldiers turned back after Eleazar, but only to strip the slain.
 2sm:23.11   Next to him was Shammah, son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled at Lehi, where there was a plot of land full of lentils. When the soldiers fled from the Philistines,
 2sm:23.12   he took his stand in the middle of the plot and defended it. He slew the Philistines, and the LORD brought about a great victory. Such were the deeds of the Three warriors.
 2sm:23.13   During the harvest three of the Thirty went down to David in the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine clan was encamped in the Vale of Rephaim.
 2sm:23.14   At that time David was in the refuge, and there was a garrison of Philistines in Bethlehem.
 2sm:23.15   Now David had a strong craving and said, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem!"
 2sm:23.16   So the Three warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern that is by the gate of Bethlehem. But when they brought it to David he refused to drink it, and instead poured it out to the LORD,
 2sm:23.17   saying: "The LORD forbid that I do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" So he refused to drink it.
 2sm:23.18   Abishai, brother of Joab, son of Zeruiah, was at the head of the Thirty. It was he who brandished his spear over three hundred slain. He was listed among the Thirty
 2sm:23.19   and commanded greater respect than the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.
 2sm:23.20   Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a stalwart from Kabzeel, was a man of great achievements. It was he who slew the two lions in Moab. He also went down and killed the lion in the cistern at the time of the snow.
 2sm:23.21   It was he, too, who slew an Egyptian of large stature. Although the Egyptian was armed with a spear, he went against him with a club and wrested the spear from the Egyptian's hand, then killed him with his own spear.
 2sm:23.22   Such were the deeds performed by Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. He was listed among the Thirty warriors
 2sm:23.23   and commanded greater respect than the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.
 2sm:23.24   Asahel, brother of Joab. . . .Among the Thirty were: Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
 2sm:23.25   Shammah from En-harod; Elika from En-harod;
 2sm:23.26   Helez from Beth-pelet; Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa;
 2sm:23.27   Abiezer from Anathoth; Sibbecai from Hushah;
 2sm:23.28   Zalmon from Ahoh; Maharai from Netophah;
 2sm:23.29   Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah; Ittai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of the Benjaminites;
 2sm:23.30   Benaiah from Pirathon; Hiddai from Nahale-gaash;
 2sm:23.31   Abibaal from Beth-arabah; Azmaveth from Bahurim;
 2sm:23.32   Eliahba from Shaalbon; Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan,
 2sm:23.33   son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, son of Sharar the Hararite;
 2sm:23.34   Eliphelet, son of Ahasbai, from Beth-maacah; Eliam, son of Ahithophel, from Gilo;
 2sm:23.35   Hezrai from Carmel; Paarai the Arbite;
 2sm:23.36   Igal, son of Nathan, from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
 2sm:23.37   Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth, armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah;
 2sm:23.38   Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;
 2sm:23.39   Uriah the Hittite-thirty-seven in all.

 2sm:24.1    The LORD'S anger against Israel flared again, and he incited David against the Israelites by prompting him to number Israel and Judah.
 2sm:24.2    Accordingly the king said to Joab and the leaders of the army who were with him, "Tour all the tribes in Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the people, that I may know their number."
 2sm:24.3    But Joab said to the king: "May the LORD your God increase the number of people a hundredfold for your royal majesty to see it with his own eyes. But why does it please my lord the king to order a thing of this kind?"
 2sm:24.4    The king, however, overruled Joab and the leaders of the army, so they left the king's presence in order to register the people of Israel.
 2sm:24.5    Crossing the Jordan, they began near Aroer, south of the city in the wadi, and went in the direction of Gad toward Jazer.
 2sm:24.6    They continued on to Gilead and to the district below Mount Hermon. Then they proceeded to Dan; from there they turned toward Sidon,
 2sm:24.7    going to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites, and ending up at Beer-sheba in the Negeb of Judah.
 2sm:24.8    Thus they toured the whole country, reaching Jerusalem again after nine months and twenty days.
 2sm:24.9    Joab then reported to the king the number of people registered: in Israel, eight hundred thousand men fit for military service; in Judah, five hundred thousand.
 2sm:24.10   Afterward, however, David regretted having numbered the people, and said to the LORD: "I have sinned grievously in what I have done. But now, LORD, forgive the guilt of your servant, for I have been very foolish."
 2sm:24.11   When David rose in the morning, the LORD had spoken to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying:
 2sm:24.12   "Go and say to David, 'This is what the LORD says: I offer you three alternatives; choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you.'"
 2sm:24.13   Gad then went to David to inform him. He asked: "Do you want a three years' famine to come upon your land, or to flee from your enemy three months while he pursues you, or to have a three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider and decide what I must reply to him who sent me."
 2sm:24.14   David answered Gad: "I am in very serious difficulty. Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man."
 2sm:24.15   Thus David chose the pestilence. Now it was the time of the wheat harvest when the plague broke out among the people. (The LORD then sent a pestilence over Israel from morning until the time appointed, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beer-sheba died.)
 2sm:24.16   But when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD regretted the calamity and said to the angel causing the destruction among the people, "Enough now! Stay your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
 2sm:24.17   When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the LORD: "It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred."
 2sm:24.18   On the same day Gad went to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."
 2sm:24.19   Following Gad's bidding, David went up as the LORD had commanded.
 2sm:24.20   Now Araunah looked down and noticed the king and his servants coming toward him while he was threshing wheat. So he went out and paid homage to the king, with face to the ground.
 2sm:24.21   Then Araunah asked, "Why does my lord the king come to his servant?" David replied, "To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be checked among the people."
 2sm:24.22   But Araunah said to David: "Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever he may wish. Here are oxen for holocausts, and threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for wood.
 2sm:24.23   All this does Araunah give to the king." Araunah then said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept your offering."
 2sm:24.24   The king, however, replied to Araunah, "No, I must pay you for it, for I cannot offer to the LORD my God holocausts that cost nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty silver shekels.
 2sm:24.25   Then David built an altar there to the LORD, and offered holocausts and peace offerings. The LORD granted relief to the country, and the plague was checked in Israel. [end of 2 Samuel]
                                                  
