be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

CHAPTER XX.

1 By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba maketh a party in Israel. 3 David's ten concubines are shut up in perpetual prison. 4 Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab. 14 Joab pursueth Sheba unto Abel. 16 A wise woman saveth the city by Sheba's head. 23 David's officers.

A

ND there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, "We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

b

2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

с

3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in tward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were † shut up unto +Heb. bound the day of their death, † living in widowhood.

+ Heb. an house of ward.

+ Heb. in widowhood

of life.

d ch. 19. 13. +Heb. Call.

ech. 11. 11. 1 Kings 1.33.

4 Then said the king to Amasa, d+Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

5 So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

e

6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest +Heb. deliver he get him fenced cities, and † escape us. 7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the 'Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

himself from our eyes.

( ch. 8, 18. 1 Kings 1.38.

Luke 22. 47.

8 When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

10 But Amasa took no heed to the 1 Kings 2. 5. Sword that was in Joab's hand: so hhe

Amasa is slain by Joab.

Before CHRIST cir. 1022.

smote him therewith 'in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and † struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued +Heb.doubled after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-2 Kings 15. maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they 1cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab + battered the wall, to throw it down.

16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. 18 Then she spake, saying, were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

1Kings 4. 6.

4 ch. 8. 16.

1 Kings 4. 3. Or, remembrancer.

* ch. 8. 17.

23 Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:

24 And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was || recorder:

25 And Sheva was scribe: and 'Zadok 1 Kings 4. 4. and Abiathar were the priests:

⚫ ch. 23. 38.

Or, a prince.

Gen. 41. 45. Exod. 2. 16. ch. 8. 18.

cir. 1021.

26 And Ira also the Jairite was chief ruler about David.

CHAPTER XXI.

a

1 The three years' famine for the Gibeonites ceaseth, by hanging seven of Saul's sons. 10 Rizpah's

kindness unto the dead. 12 David burieth the

TH

bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father's sepulchre. 15 Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four valiants of David slay four giants. THEN there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after +Heb. sought year; and David † enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

the face, &c. See Numb. 27. 21.

Seven of Saul's sons hanged.

the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8 But the king took the two sons of 'Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of || Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she † brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

Before CHRIST cir. 1021.

1 Sam. 18. 3. & 20. 8, 15, 42. & 23. 18.

ch. 3. 7.

Or, Michal's + Heb. bare to

sister.

Adriel.

1 Sam. 18.19.

1019.

ver. 8.

9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they ch. 6. 17. fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, 'from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

k

ch. 3. 7.

See Deut.21.

1 23.

k1 Sam. 31.11, 12, 13.

12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had 1 Sam. 31.10. hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa :

13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

m

14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in "Zelah, in the sepulchre of Josh. 18. 28. Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that "God was intreated for the land.

15 ¶ Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.

16 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David ch. 18. 3. sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

P1 Kings 11. 36. & 15. 4. Ps. 132. 17. +Heb. candle, or, lamp.

ch. 3. 1. & 5. 1. & 19. 9,14.

a

с

b

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou † subdued under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

d

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

f

43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

g

h

44 Thou also hast delivered me from & 20.1, 2, 22. the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

i Deut. 28. 13. ch.8. 1-14.

Ps. 2. 8.

Isai. 55. 5. + Heb. Sons of the stranger

|| Or, yield

feigned
obedience.

+ Heb. lie:
See Deut.
33. 29.

Ps. 66. 3. &
81. 15.

1 Mic. 7. 17.
Ps. 89. 26.

+ Heb. giveth

avengement
for me.

1 Sam. 25.39.
ch. 18. 19,31.

" Ps. 144. 2.

• Ps. 140. 1.

P Rom. 15.9.

Ps. 144. 10.

Ps. 89. 20. 'ch. 7. 12, 13.

Ps. 89. 29.

45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid 'out of their close places.

47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the mrock of my salvation.

48 It is God that † avengeth me, and that "bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the ° violent man.

8 ¶ These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: || The Tachmon-Or, Josheb ite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hun- || See 1 Chron. dred, † whom he slew at one time.

9 And after him wash Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:

10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his_hand clave unto the sword and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

:

i

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together || into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the

U u

A catalogue of David's mighty men.

Before CHRIST 1018.

11 Chron. 11. 15.

|| Or, the three

captains
over the
thirty.

m 1 Sam. 22, 1.

n ch. 5. 18.

• 1 Sam. 22.

4, 5.

P Lev. 17. 10.

1 Chron. 11. 20.

+ Heb. slain.

Philistines and the LORD wrought a great victory.

m

13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam : and the troop of the Philistines pitched in "the valley of Rephaim.

14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.

15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!

16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.

27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,

30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the || brooks of Gaash,

y

Before CHRIST

1018.

|| Or, valleys. Deut. 1. 24.

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azma- Judg. 2. 9. veth the Barhumite,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,

a

* ch. 20. 26.

38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and ch. 11. 3, 6. seven in all.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 David, tempted by Satan, forceth Joab to number the people. 5 The captains, in nine months and twenty days, bring the muster of thirteen hundred thousand fighting men. 10 David, having three plagues propounded by Gad, repenteth, and chooseth the three days' pestilence. 15 After the death of threescore and ten thousand, David by repentance preventeth the destruction of Jerusalem. 18 David, by Gad's direction, purchaseth Araunah's threshingfloor; where having sacrificed, the plague stayeth.

a

AND again the anger of the LORD

was kindled against Israel, and he ch. 21. 1. moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah.

See 1 Chron. 21. 1.

Jam. 1.13, 14.

Chron. 27.

23, 24.

Or, Compass.

© Judg. 20. 1.

2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number Jer. 17. 5. of the people.

3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the

d