 CHAPTER XXI. And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David sought the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah said, It is for Saul and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gideonites, and the king called the Gideonites and said unto them, Now the Gideonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the children of Israel had sworn unto them, and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. And David said unto the Gideonites, What shall I do for you, and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah? And the Gideonites said unto him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house, neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel, and he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you? And they said unto the king, A man that consumed us, and that devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel. But seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto Jehovah in Gibbia of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah, and the king said, I will give them. But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of Jehovah's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aya, whom she bear unto Saul, Armani and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michael, the daughter of Saul, whom she bear to Adriel, the son of Barzali, the Meholothite, and he delivered them into the hands of the Gideonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Jehovah, and they fell all seven together, and they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days at the beginning of barley harvest. And Rizpah, the daughter of Aya, took sackcloth and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured upon them from heaven. And she suffered neither the birds of the heavens, to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. And it was told David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aya, the concubine of Saul, had done. And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan, his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Bathshan where the Philistines had hanged them, and the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa. 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. And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan, his son, in the country of Benjamin, in Zealah, and the sepulchre of Kish, his father, and they performed all that the king commanded, and after that God was entreated for the land. And the Philistines had war again with Israel, and David went down in his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines, and David waxed faint. And Ish, Bib, and Ab, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass and weight, he being girded with a new sword thought to have slain David, but Abishai, the son of Zariah, suckered him, and smote the Philistines and killed him. And the men of David swear unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel. And it came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gab, then Sibachai, the Hushethite, slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant, and there was again war with the Philistines at Gab, and El Hanan, the son of Ja, Re, or Agim, the Bethlehemite, slew Goliath, the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam, and there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number, and he also was born to the giant, and when he defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shamai, David's brother, slew him. These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22. And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul, and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine. God, my rock, and him will I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, thou savest me from violence. I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from mine enemies. For the waves of death compassed me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The cords of shield were round about me. The snares of death came upon me. In my distress, I called upon Jehovah. Yea, I called unto my God, and he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down, and thick darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly. Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. Jehovah thundered from heaven, and the most high uttered his voice, and he sent out arrows and scattered them, lightning and discomforted them. Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Jehovah at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from them that hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but Jehovah was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his ordinances were before me, and as for his statutes I did not depart from them. I was also perfect toward him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful. With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself forward. And the afflicted people thou wilt save. But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah, and Jehovah will lighten my darkness. For by thee I run upon a troop. By my God do I leap over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Jehovah is tried. He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him. For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God? God is my strong fortress. And he guided the perfect in his way. He maketh his feet like hind's feet, and seteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that my arms do bend a bow of brass. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my feet have not slipped. I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them. Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise. Yea, they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle. Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, that I might cut off them that hate me. They looked, but there was none to save, even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth. I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad. Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people. Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations, a people whom I have not known shall serve me. The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places. Jehovah liveth, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation. Even the God that executed vengeance for me, and that bringeth down peoples under me, and that bringeth me forth from mine enemies. Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me. Thou deliverest me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, and will sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and showeth loving kindness to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. And of Chapter 22, Chapter 23. Now these are the last words of David. David, the son of Jesse Sayeth, and the man who was raised on high Sayeth, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel. The spirit of Jehovah spake by me, and his word was upon my tongue. The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spake to me, one that ruleth over men righteously, that ruleth in the fear of God. He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springeth out of the earth, through clear shining after rain. Verily my house is not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, for it is all my salvation and all my desire, although he maketh it not to grow. But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, because they cannot be taken with the hand. But the man that toucheth them must be armed with iron, and the staff of a spear, and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place. These are the names of the mighty men whom David had, Joseph, Bas Habef, Atacima Knight, chief of the captains. The same was Adino, the Esnite, against 800 slain at one time, and after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodai, the son of Ehoheit, 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. He arose and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword, and Jehovah wrought a great victory that day, and the people returned after him only to take spoil. And after him was Shema, the son of Agi, Herorite, and the Philistines were gathered together into a troop where was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the plot and defended it, and slew the Philistines, and Jehovah wrought a great victory. And three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in the harvest time, unto the cave of Agilem, and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Refayim, and David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem, and David longed and said, Oh, that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate, and the three mighty men break through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David. But he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah, and he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zariah, was chief of the three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three. Was he not most honorable of the three? Therefore he was made their captain, how be it he attained not unto the first three. And Benaiah, the son of Jehoida, the son of a valiant man of Kabziel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man. And the Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah, the son of Jehoida, and had a name among the three mighty men. He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. Asahel, the brother of Joab, was one of the thirty. Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem. Shama, the Herodite. Alika, the Herodite. Helez, the Paltite. Ira, the son of Ikesh, the Tecawite. Abbeazer, the Ana Thothite. Mebunai, the Hushethite. Zalmin, the Ahohite. Maharari, the Neto Thathite. Heleb, the son of Bena, the Neto Thathite. Itai, the son of Rabbi of Gibbia, of the children of Benjamin. Benaiah, a Pyrethonite. Hidae, of the brooks of Gaash. Abielban, the Arba Thite. Azmaeth, the Barhumite. Eliab, the Sha'albite. The sons of Jason. Jonathan, Shema, the Harorite. Ahiam, the son of Sharar, the Arorite. Elifelet, the son of Ahesh, Bae. The son of the Ma'akathite. Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilenite. Hesro, the Carmelite. Parai, the Arbite. Igal, the son of Nathan, of Zoba. Bani, the Gadite. Zelek, the Ammonite. Nahari, the Birathite. Armourbearers to Joab, the son of Zariah. Ira, the Ithrite. Garib, the Ithrite. Uriah, the Hittite. Thirty and seven in all. End of chapter 23. Chapter 24. And again the anchor of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. And the king said to Joab, the captain of the host, who was with him, go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan, even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people. And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be a hundred fold, and may the eyes of my Lord the king see it. But why doth my Lord the king delight in this thing? Notwithstanding, the king's word prevailed against Joab and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king to number the people of Israel. And they passed over the Jordan and encamped in Aror on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad and unto Jazer. Then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tateem Hadshi. And they came to Danjaan and round about to Sidon and came to the stronghold of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and of the Canaanites. And they went out to the south of Judah at Beersheba. So when they had gone to and fro through all the land, there came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days. And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto the king. And there were in Israel 800,000 valiant men that drew the sword. And the men of Judah were 500,000 men. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Jehovah, I have sinned greatly and that which I have done. But now, O Jehovah, put away I beseech thee the iniquity of thy servant, for I have done very foolishly. And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, go and speak unto David, thus saith Jehovah, I offer thee three things, choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David and told him and said unto him, shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? Or wilt thou flee three months before thy foes while they pursue thee? Or shall there be three days pestilence in thy land? And now advise thee and consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me? And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait, let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah, for his mercies are great, and let me not fall into the hand of man. So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed, and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba, 70,000 men. And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil and said to the angel that destroyed the people, it is enough. Now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing floor of Aruna, the Jebusite. And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people and said, lo, I have sinned and I have done perversely, but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand I pray thee, be against me and against my father's house. And Gad came that day to David and said unto him, go up, rear and alter unto Jehovah in the threshing floor of Aruna, the Jebusite. And David went up according to the saying of Gad as Jehovah commanded, and Aruna looked forth and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him, and Aruna went out and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. And Aruna said, wherefore is my Lord the king come to his servant? And David said, to buy the threshing floor of thee, to build an altar unto Jehovah that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Aruna said unto David, let my Lord the king take an offer up what seemeth good unto him. Behold the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing instruments and the yolks of the oxen for the wood. All this, O king, death Aruna give unto the king. And Aruna said unto the king, Jehovah, thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Aruna, nay, but I will verily buy it of thee at a price. Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto Jehovah, my God, which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto Jehovah and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Jehovah was entreated for the land and the plague was stayed from Israel. End of chapter 24 and also the end of second Samuel, American Standard Version.