 CHAPTER XIII. His Events Followed Absalom the son of David had a beautiful cousin whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the son of David loved her, and Amnon grieved until he made himself ill because of Tamar his cousin, for she was a maiden. But it was difficult in the opinion of Amnon to acquire her in any way. Amnon however had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Shamiah, the brother of David. Because Jonadab was a very crafty man, so he asked him, Why now are you like this, a king's son, downhearted morning after morning, why not tell me? So Amnon said to him, It is about Tamar, the cousin of Absalom, whom I love. Jonadab however replied, Lie on your bed and sham sickness, when your father will come to see you. Then said to him, Will you send Tamar, my cousin, and let her make cakes before my eyes, so that I may see it, and I will eat from her hand. Amnon consequently lay down, as if sick, and the king came to see him, when Amnon said to him, I wish you to send Tamar, my cousin, and let her prepare food, and do the cooking before my sight, so that I may see it, and I will eat after her hand. David therefore sent to Tamar at her house to say, Come to the house of Amnon your cousin and make him cakes. Tamar therefore went to the house of Amnon her cousin, and he was lying down. Then she took the dough and kneaded it, and made pancakes, and baked the cakes, and took the frypan and the dough to him, but he refused to eat. Suddenly Amnon exclaimed, Let everyone go out for me. They all went out from him. Then Amnon said to Tamar, Bring me the cakes to the chamber, and I will eat them from your hand. So Tamar took the pancakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her cousin in the chamber, and she offered him the food. But he seized her and said, Come to me, lie with me, my cousin. But she replied, No, my cousin, I will not, for such a thing should not be done in Israel. Do not commit such a crime as that, and would you expose me to scorn, and expose yourself as one of the black guards in Israel? But you speak, I pray, to the king, for he would not refuse me to you. But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than her, he overpowered and violated her. Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred, for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the lust with which he had lusted for her. And Amnon said to her, Get up, be off! But she replied to him, Do not add to this great wrong that you have done to me by driving me out! He would not however listen to her, but called to an attendant who waited upon him, and said, Drive this woman out at once from me into the street, and lock the door after her! Now she wore a long-sleeved robe, such as the daughters of the king wore, with a maiden's cloak, yet his valet sent her out into the street, and locked the door after her. Then Tamar threw dust on her head, and tore the long-sleeved robe she wore, and spread her hands over her face, and went weeping. But Absalom her cousin asked her, Has Amnon your cousin been with you? However at present keep silent, my cousin, for he is your relative. Do not lay this matter to your heart. Consequently Tamar was quiet and secluded herself in the house of Absalom her cousin. When King David heard the whole of these things, he was very angry. Absalom however said nothing for bad or good to Amnon about the wrong he had done to his cousin Tamar. But when two years had passed, and they were shearing for Absalom at Bel-Khatsar, which is in Ephraim, Absalom invited all the sons of the king. Absalom also went to the king, and said, There is a shearing-feast with your servant. Will the king and his ministers come to your servant? But the king answered Absalom, No my boy, all of us cannot go now. We will not burden you. Then he pressed him, but he would not go, but thanked him. So Absalom said, If not, let Amnon my brother go with us. And the king asked him, Why should he go with you? But Absalom pressed him till he sent Amnon and all the king's sons with him. Then Absalom instructed his attendants, saying Watch till you see Amnon's heart merry with wine, and when I say to you Stab Amnon and kill him, be bold and strong-hearted. The attendants of Absalom consequently did to Amnon as Absalom commanded. Then all the sons of the king got up and mounted each on his mule and fled. But while they were on the road, a report reached David, saying Absalom has stabbed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left. Then the king arose and tore his clothes and laid on the ground, and all his ministers stood tearing their clothing. But Jonadab, the son of Shemaya, the brother of David, interposed and said, Do not let my prince think that all the young princes have been killed, for Amnon only has been killed. For that has been determined by Absalom from the day he ravished his cousin Tamar. So now let not the king lay this matter on his heart, thinking all the sons of the king are killed, for except Amnon none have been killed, and Absalom has fled. Then the man on the lookout raised his eyes and looked, and saw a great crowd of people coming along from the further road at the side of the hill. Jonadab consequently said to the king, See, the princes are coming as your servant said, These are they. And by the time he had ceased speaking the king's sons arrived and lifted up their voices and wept, and the king and all his ministers also wept, a very great weeping, and he mourned over his son all the year. Absalom however had fled and went to Taumai Ben Amekor, king of Geshu'ur. Thus Absalom fled and went to Geshu'ur and was there three years. Then David however longed for Absalom after he was consoled for the death of Amnon. CHAPTER XIV And Joab Ben Zeruia knew that the heart of the king was upon Absalom, so Joab sent to Tikua and brought a clever woman from there and said to her, I want you to disarrange yourself and clothe yourself in widow's weeds and not to tidy yourself with oil, but seem like a woman distressed for a long time over death. The king to speak to him this speech. Then Joab put the words into her mouth. The woman of Tikua accordingly appealed to the king and fell on her face to the earth and lay there and exclaimed, Save me, king! Consequently the king asked her, What is your affair? And she answered, I am a desolate widow woman whose husband died, but your servant had two sons who fought in the field when there was no separator between them, and the one struck the other and killed him. So all the clan arose against your servant and said, Give up the murderer of his brother, and we will kill him for the life of his brother whom he has murdered. Thus the property will be desolated, and my heir will be destroyed, and the only coal left to me to continue my husband's name will be extinguished on the ground. But the king said to the woman, Go to your home, and I will give orders about you. Then the tico and woman answered the king, Let the fault fall upon me, your majesty, and on the house of my fathers, and let the king and his throne be innocent. So the king replied, Whoever threatens you, bring him to me, and he shall never again injure you. However, she said, King, remember your everliving god, mighty redeemer of bloodshed, and let them not destroy my son. When he replied, By the life of the everliving not a hair of your son shall fall to the ground. But the woman repeated, Let your handmaid now speak a word to his majesty the king. And he said, Speak to me, when the woman continued. But why have you thought like this about the people of God? Why has the king spoken thus when he is in fault by not having brought back his own fugitive? For the dead who has died is like water poured upon the earth which cannot be recovered until God raises the soul. And a thought, when thought is and thrown out, goes from us. So now why I have come to speak with your majesty this speech was because I am afraid of the people, so your servant said, I will speak to the king, my chief. The king will do the thing he says for his handmaid. And the king has listened, and will deliver his subject from the hand of the man who would destroy her, and her only son from the estate of God. Your handmaid also said, The promise of his majesty the king will be a gift for his majesty is like a messenger of God listening to good and bad. So may your ever living God be with you. Then he interrupted her and said to the woman, Do not hide from me I pray what I ask of you. And the woman replied, Speak then, your majesty. When the king asked, Is not the hand of Joab in all this? And the woman answered, By the life of your soul, your majesty, there is not to the right or left of all that has been spoken to your majesty anything but what your servant Joab has instructed me. He put into the mouth of your handmaid all these speeches with the purpose of using my mouth for an object. Your servant Joab made these addresses, and my prince is wise with the wisdom of the messenger of God who knows all upon earth. The king consequently said to Joab, Since then you have contrived this conversation with me. Go and bring back the young man Absalom. So Joab bent his face to the earth and bowed and thanked the king. Then Joab said, I know today that I have found favor in your eyes, your majesty, because the king has made such a promise to his servant. Joab accordingly arose and went to Gesheur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. But the king commanded, Let him reside in his own house, for he shall not see my face. Absalom therefore resided in his own house and did not see the face of the king. Absalom was, however, the handsomest man in all Israel, very splendid. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was not a defect in him. When they cut his hair, and it was cut every year, he cut it because it was heavy upon him. When they cut the hair of his head it was valued at two hundred shekels by the royal standard. Absalom had three sons and one daughter born to him, and her name was Tamar. She was a woman of great beauty. Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king. Then Absalom sent to Joab to introduce him to the king, but he would not go to him. So he sent a second time, but he would not come. Consequently he said to his servants, You see Joab's cornfields are alongside mine, and he has sown barley. Go and set it on fire! And Absalom's servants set it on fire. Then Joab moved and came to Absalom's house and asked him, Why have you ordered your servants to fire my standing crops? And Absalom answered Joab, Because I said to you saying, Come here, and I will send you to the king to ask, Why have I been brought from Gesheur? It would be as well for me to be there yet. So now I wish to see the face of the king, And if there is a fault in me, let me be put to death. Joab consequently went to the king and informed him, and he invited Absalom, who went to the king and bowed to him, with his face earthward to the face of the king, and the king was reconciled to Absalom. CHAPTER XV It was after this that Absalom procured himself chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And early in the mornings Absalom placed himself at the side of the street of the High Court, and when any man who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision Absalom would invite him to himself and ask, From what village do you come? When he would answer, Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel. Then Absalom would say to him, Look, your case is good and right, but there is no one appointed by the king to hear it for you. Next he would explain, If I were appointed as a judge in the country and any man came to me who had a wrong, I would decide and rectify it for you. And when a person approached to bow to him, he would stretch out his hand and seize his, and salute him. And by this means Absalom made himself popular to all Israel who came for justice to the king. Thus Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel. When four years had passed Absalom said to the king, I wish to go now and pay in Hebron the vows which I vowed to the ever living. For your servant vowed a vow while I resided in Geshore in the land of Edom saying, If the ever living will restore me to Jerusalem I will serve the ever living. So the king replied, Go in peace. He therefore arose and went. Absalom then sent secret agents to all the tribes of Israel to say, When you hear the sound of the trumpet, then exclaim, Absalom reigns in Hebron. There went also two hundred persons from Jerusalem with Absalom, invited guests and honest men who knew nothing about all the affair. But Absalom had sent for Akitophel, the Gailanite, the counselor of David from the town of Gilan, for him to sacrifice the sacrifices. So there was a powerful conspiracy and the people came and crowded to Absalom. Information however came to David reporting, The heart of the people of Israel is gone after Absalom. Consequently David said to all his ministers who were with him at Jerusalem, Let us arise and fly, for there will be no safety for us before Absalom, expedite the journey for fear he should hasten and rush, and drive on to us with ferocity and assail the city with a sword. And the king's ministers answered the king, Whatever his majesty the king chooses, his ministers will do it. The king and all his family therefore went out on their feet, but the king left ten of his slave wives to take care of the palace. Thus the king with all his forces went out on their feet and halted at Beth Merkak, and all his ministers walked at his side with the guards and couriers. And the 600 gardeners who came on foot from the garden marched along before the face of the king. But the king said to Atai, the gardener, Why do you especially go with us? Return and settle with that king, for you are a foreigner, so why not return to your own home? Formerly you came and today you are a wanderer with us on the march, for I am marching to wherever I can go. Return and settle with your relatives, and kindness and truth go with you. But Atai answered the king and said, By the life of the ever living and by the life of your majesty the king, I will be at the place wherever your majesty the king is, whether for life or death, there will your servant be. Then David said to Atai, march and pass over. So Atai the gardener and all his men and all the children with them passed over. And all the land wept with a loud voice when the force passed with the king over the brook Kidron. Thus all the train passed in the direction of the desert. There were also Zadok and all the Levites with him carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. But they set down the Ark and helped Abiyathar until all the forces had passed out from the city. The king however said to Zadok, Take back the Ark of God to the city, If I find favor in the sight of the ever living and he brings me back, I shall see it and his dwelling. But if he decides not to restore me to you, let him do to me what is good in his sight. The king also said to Zadok the priest, Cheer up and return quietly to the city with Akimats your son and Jonathan Ben Abiyathar's two sons with you. You see, I shall be waiting at Aboth in the pastures until the coming of news from you to inform me. Zadok and Abiyathar therefore returned the Ark of God to Jerusalem and went back there. But David ascended the Mount of Zathim, going up and weeping with his head covered. He marched with his head covered and all the troops with him also veiled their heads and went ascending and weeping. Then it was reported to David that Akitophel was in the conspiracy with Absalom when David exclaimed, Lord, frustrate the councils of Akitophel. But when David came to the peak where they worshiped God, Hushai the Archai came to meet him, tearing his robes and with earth on his head. David, however, said to him, If you go along with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, I was a minister of the king your father and will be the same to you, then you can be of service to me and can break the contrivances of Akitophel for me. Will not Zadok and Abiyathar the priests be assisting you, so that all the talk you hear in the king's palace you can communicate to Zadok and Abiyathar the priests. They have also two lads, Akimats with Zadok and Jahanathan with Abiyathar and they will transmit by their hand to me everything that you may hear. Hushai consequently went to watch for David in the city after Absalom came to Jerusalem. Chapter 16. When David passed a little beyond the hill-tops, there came Zayba the steward of Mephibosheth to meet him with a troop of asses loaded and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred bundles of vegetables and a skin of wine. But the king asked Zayba, whence have you come? When Zayba answered, the asses are for the family of the king to ride and the bread and raisins for your attendance to eat and the wine to drink if exhausted in the desert. Then the king asked, where is your prince's son? And Zayba replied to the king, he has gone back to Jerusalem for he said, the house of Israel will now restore to me the kingship of my father. The king consequently said to Zayba, attend, all belonging to Mephibosheth I give to you. And Zayba replied, I bow to you for I have found favor in the eyes of the king. From there David proceeded to Bakhorim and a man of the clan of the family of Saul came out from it, whose name was Shemai Ben-Gerah, who advanced cursing and throwing stones at David and all of David's officers and at the people and the guards on the right and left of him. Shemai also shouted aloud thus, get off, get off you man of blood, you black guard. The everliving has turned upon you all the blood of the family of Saul whom you reign instead of. And the everliving has given the kingship to the hand of Absalom your son. Look at your miseries for you are a man of blood. Abishai Ben-Zeroiah consequently asked the king, why should this dead dog bark at your majesty the king? Let me run over and cut off his head. But the king replied, what does it matter to me and you son of Zeroiah, what he cries or what the everliving tells him to call David? And what he says, have I not done it? Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, you see the son who came out of my body seeks my life, so since the son of my right hand assails me, as for that fellow, let him abuse, for the everliving tells him, the Lord sees me in my depression and the everliving will return me blessings instead of the cursing of today. So David and his men went on their way and Shemai marched on the side of the hill near him walking and throwing stones and dirt at him. In this way the king and all his people went wearily and depressed in mind. But Absalom and all the forces of the men of Israel advanced to Jerusalem and Akithophel along with them. Then Hushai the Archai, the friend of David came to Absalom and Hushai exclaimed to Absalom, long live the king, long live the king. But Absalom asked Hushai, is this your love for your friend? Why have you not gone with your friend? When Hushai replied to Absalom, no, for whoever the everliving and the people choose and all the men of Israel are with, I shall stop with him. And for the rest, whom shall I be serving? Shall I not serve before his son as I served before your father? For I shall be before you? Absalom then said to Akithophel, come on with you, advise me what I should do. And Akithophel replied to Absalom, go to the slave wives of your father who are here to take care of the palace and all Israel will hear that you have outraged your father and it will strengthen the hands of all who are with you. Absalom consequently erected a bed upon a veranda and Absalom violated his father's wives in the sight of all Israel, for in those times the advice of Akithophel, when he advised, was like inquiring from the word of God. Such were all the contrivances of Akithophel both for David and for Absalom. CHAPTER XVII Then Akithophel said to Absalom, act at once, twelve thousand men, and I will start and pursue David tonight and come on him whilst he is weary and weak-handed, when I shall terrify him, and all the force with him will fly, and I will kill the king alone, then I shall turn all the people to you as all the men whom you have sought have turned, the other people will be quiet. All this advice was right in the opinion of Absalom and the opinion of all the nobles of Israel. Absalom however said, Let us now call Hushai the Archive, for I would also hear what is his idea. So they brought Hushai to Absalom, when Absalom said to him, This is the advice of Akithophel. Shall I act upon his advice? If not, what is your advice? And Hushai answered Absalom, The advice that Akithophel has advised is not good for this reason. Then Hushai continued, You know your father and the men who are with him, that they are soldiers and sore in mind like a bear robbed of her welps in the field, and your father is a man of war, so will not lodge with the forces. You see this, he will hide in some cave or some tower, and it may be we might miss him by accident, and it will be heard of and said, There has been a defeat of the people who are following Absalom. He is himself also a bold man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion. Then the power of Israel will melt, for it knows that your father is a hero, and how brave a man he is. Consequently I advise you to collect yourself the army of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for number, and let them march before you in a mass, and come upon him secretly at the place where he may be found, and assail him like rain falling on the ground, so that he cannot escape, or any one of the men who are with him. But if he is in a tower, collect and carry all the army of Israel into that tower with ropes, and drag it into the river by which it is built, and destroy it. And Absalom and all the princes of Israel said, The advice of Hushai the Archai is better than the advice of Akitophel. But the Everliving had suggested it to destroy the good advice of Akitophel, because the Everliving intended to bring punishment upon Absalom. Hushai next informed Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Akitophel has advised Absalom and the nobles of Israel in this way, but I have advised him in that. So now be quick and inform David saying, Do not stay tonight at the fort of the desert, but pass over it, for fear the king should be destroyed, and all his forces with him. Now Jonathan and Akimatz were posted at Ain Rogel, and a girl was sent to inform them, and they went to inform King David so that none might be able to see them leaving the city. A young man, however, saw them and reported to Absalom. The two, however, ran quickly and came to the house of a man in Bakurim who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down it. Then the man took and closed the lid over the top of the well and spread thrashing corn over it so that it was not seen. So when the officers of Absalom came to the man's house and asked, Where are Jonathan and Akimatz? The man replied to them, They have passed the brook of water. They therefore sought for them, but not finding they returned to Jerusalem. But after they had gone, then those came up from the well and proceeded and informed David and said to David, Start and pass quickly over the water, for Akitaphel has advised thus against you. Consequently David and all the people with him arose and were crossing the Jordan until daybreak until there were none left to pass the Jordan. But when Akitaphel saw that his advice was not being acted upon, he saddled his ass and started and went to his own home at his village and arranged his affairs, then hung himself and died and they buried him in the tomb of his father. Meantime David went to Makhan Naim, so Absalom crossed the Jordan and all the army of Israel with him. But Absalom had appointed Amasa to command the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, a Jezralite who married Abigail, the daughter of Nakash, sister of Zeruaya, the mother of Joab. Thus Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilad. When David arrived at Makhan Naim, Shobai, the son of Nakash, from Rabath of the Benai Amon, and Makir Ban Amel of Lodobar, and Barziliy the Giladite of Rogalim, came with beds and blankets and furniture, cups and wheat and barley and flour and oats and beans and lentils and fuel with honey and butter and sheep and cow's cheese for food and advanced to meet David and the forces with him, for they said, The people are hungry and exhausted. Chapter 18 So they met in the pastures where David and the force with him had halted, and he appointed colonels of regiments and captains of companies over them. Afterward David arranged the forces, one third under Joab and one third under Abishai and one third under Atai the Gardener, and the king then said to the forces, I also will march with you. But the army said, You shall not go, for if we are defeated, they will not set their heart upon us, and if they kill half of us, they will not set their heart upon us, for you are worth ten thousand of us, so it is better you should help by directing us from the city. The king consequently replied, Whatever is good in your opinion, I will do. Therefore the king stood at the side of the gate and all the force went out by companies and regiments, but the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Atai, saying, Spare the lad Absalom for me, and all the army heard the king's orders about Absalom to all the officers. Thus the force went into the field to meet Israel and the battle occurred in the forest of Ephraim where the army of Israel was routed before the generals of David, and in the great rout of that day twenty thousand perished for the battle was spread over all the district and more of the people were destroyed in the forest than what the sword destroyed at the moment. Absalom also fled before the officers of David. Absalom was mounted upon a mule and the mule ran under the boughs of a great oak tree and his head was caught in the oak so that he hung between the sky and the earth, but the mule that was under him passed on. One of the men of David however saw him and informed Joab and said, I have seen Absalom hanging in an oak tree when Joab said to the man, show him to me and where you have seen him, but why did you not strike him to the earth? For then I would have given you ten silvers and a girdle. But the man replied to Joab, even if you jingled a thousand silvers on my hand I would not assail the son of the king for in our hearing the king commanded to you and Abishai and Atai saying, spare for me the lad Absalom. If I had done I should have been false to my life for no event is hidden from the king and you would have set yourself against me. Joab however replied, I can't dawdle in this way with you and took the three darts in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom whilst he yet lived in the middle of the oak. Then two of Joab's guards surrounded him and stabbed Absalom and killed him. Joab afterwards sounded the trumpet and the forces returned from pursuing Israel for Joab restrained the men. But they took Absalom and flung him down in the forest into a great pit and piled over him a very great heap of stones. Thus all Israel fled each to his home. Absalom however in his lifetime had erected the column which is in the king's plane for he said, I have no son to continue the memory of my name. So he named the column by his own name and it is called the finger of Absalom to this day. Then Akimatz Benzadok said, I will run and announce to the king that the ever living has done him justice against the hand of his enemies. But Joab replied to him, No man shall announce this event today. You shall however announce it tomorrow but today you shall not announce it because the son of the king has been killed. Joab however afterwards said to Kusai, Go inform the king what you have seen and Kusai turned from Joab and ran. Yet Akimatz Benzadok continued to importune and said to Joab, May I not now also myself run after Kusai? And Joab replied, What good for you to run my boy? There is no runner in the country better than him. But yet I wish to run. Then he said to him, Run. So he ran and Akimatz ran by the road of the pastures and passed beyond Kusai. David was at this time sitting between the two gates and a watchman was posted on the roof of the gateway on the ramparts who raised his eyes and saw a man running alone. The sentinel accordingly called and informed the king and the king asked, If alone is it towards the wall that he comes and approaches? Then the sentinel saw another man running so he cried from the gate and said, I see a man running after. When the king replied, He also was a messenger of good news. Then the sentinel said, I recognize the running of the first runner as the running of Akimatz Benzadok. And the king answered, He is a good man and he will bring good news. Then Akimatz called out and said to the king, Peace! And bowed to the king with his face to the earth and said, Thank your ever-lending God who has delivered the men who rose against you to the hand of your majesty the king. When the king asked, Is the lad Absalom safe? And Akimatz replied, I saw a great crowd about the king's general Joab and your officers, but I knew not why. The king therefore said, Turn and station yourself there. So he turned and stood. Then Kusai came and Kusai said, There is good news for your majesty the king for the ever-living has granted you justice today from the hands of your enemies all who rose against you. But the king asked of Kusai, Is the lad Absalom safe? When Kusai answered, May all the enemies of your majesty the king be like that young man and all who rise against you for evil. The end of chapters 13 through 18 of the second book of Samuel recording by Mark Penfold. Chapters 19 through 24 of the second book of Samuel from the Holy Bible in modern English. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Mark Penfold. The Holy Bible in modern English translated by Farrar Fenton. The second book of Samuel chapters 19 through 24. Chapter 19. Then the king trembled and went up the stairs of the gate and wept and exclaimed, You have got my son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. I wish I myself had died instead of you. Absalom, my son, my son. But it was reported to Joab. The king is weeping and lamenting over Absalom. Consequently today's victory will become a sorrow to all the army. For the army will hear it said now that the king laments it because of his son and the forces will have to skulk into the city today like an army skulks in when it is ashamed by flying from battle. For the king hides his face and the king shrieks with a loud voice, my son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son. Joab consequently went to the king into the house and asked, Do you wish to insult to their faces today all your officers who have preserved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and the lives of your slave wives? You love your enemies and hate your friends. For you make it clear today that your officers and soldiers are nothing to you. For I now perceive if Absalom were alive and all of us had been killed today it would have been right in your eyes. But however, get up and go out and speak to the hearts of your soldiers. For by the ever living I swear to you that if you delay it there will not be a single man with you tonight. And that will be worse for you than all the suffering that has come upon you from your youth until now. The king consequently arose and sat at the gate and it was reported to the army. The king is now sitting at the gate. So the whole force passed in before the king but Israel fled each to his own home. All the people however were discussing in all the tribes of Israel saying, the king delivered us from the hands of all our enemies and he protected us from the power of the Philish dim and now he has been chased from the country on account of Absalom. But Absalom whom he consecrated over us has been killed in battle. So why are you silent now about restoring the king? King David however sent to Zadok and Abayathar the priests to say, speak to the judges of Judah asking why do you hang back from restoring the king to his house when all Israel demand the return of the king to his home? You are my relatives, my bones and my flesh. Then why are you hanging back from restoring the king? And he said to Amasa, are you not my bones and my flesh? God do this to me and more than it if you shall not be perpetual commander of the army before me in place of Joab. Then the heart of the people of Judah turned as one man and they sent to the king. Let yourself return with all your servants. The king consequently returned and came to the Jordan and Judah came to Gilgal marching to meet the king to bring the king over Jordan. Shamai Ben-Gerah the Benjaminite of Bakurim also made haste and went down with Judah to meet King David and a thousand men with him from Benjamin. Also Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his 15 sons and 20 attendants and they crossed the Jordan in the presence of the king. They crossed in a ferry boat to carry over the family of the king and behaved well in his sight. Then Shamai Ben-Gerah fell down before the king on his crossing the Jordan and said to the king, do not let your majesty imputed as a crime to me and do not remember how your servant offended at the time when your majesty came out from Jerusalem. Let not the king lay at heart for your servant knows that he sinned. Consequently I have now come the first of all the house of Judah to descend to meet the king that Abishai the son of Zeruaia interrupted and asked, shall not Shamai be put to death for that? For he cursed the consecrated of the ever living. David however answered, what is there between you and I sons of Zeruaia that you should today be inciting me to kill people in Israel? For do I not recognize now that I am king over Israel? Then the king said to Shamai, you shall not die. And the king promised him. Mithibosheth Ben-Saul also came down to meet the king and to pay his respects. He had not changed his clothes from the day the king went away until the day when he returned in peace. And when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, why did you not go away with me Mithibosheth? When he answered, your majesty the king, my servant deceived me for your servant ordered him to saddle my ass and I would mount it and follow the king for your servant is a cripple. But instead of it, he libeled your servant to your majesty the king. However, your majesty is like a messenger of God. Therefore do what is good in your opinion for all my father's family would have been dead men but for your majesty. You also appointed your servant to eat at your table and what right was there ever for me to appeal to the king? Then the king replied, why should you say more? I will order that you and Ziba must divide the property. But Mithibosheth answered the king, let him take the whole since your majesty has come back in peace to your home. Barziliy the Giladite also came down from Rogalim and advanced to the Jordan with the king to help him over the Jordan. Barziliy however was very old, 80 years of age and he had provided for the king at his own residence at Makhanim for he was a very great man. Consequently the king said to Barziliy, you served me and provided for me so I will provide for you with myself in Jerusalem. But Barziliy I answered the king. How long would be the years of my life if I were to go up with the king to Jerusalem? I am 80 years old today. Can I distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant in the taste of what I eat and what I drink? Can I even hear the tones of men and women singers? Then why should your servant continue to burden the king? How little it costs passing the king over the Jordan. So why should the king pay me wages for it? Let your servant return and I will stay in my own village near the tomb of my father and mother. But however your servant Kimham can go with your majesty and do to him whatever is good in your eyes. So the king replied, Kimham shall go with me and I will benefit him as I see right and all that you choose I will do for you. Then all the forces passed over the Jordan when the king had passed. The king afterwards saluted Barzilei and thanked him and he returned to his home. The king then advanced to Gilgal and Kimham his minister with him and all the forces of Judah advanced with the king and also a part of the forces of Israel. And then all the men of Israel came to the king and asked him, why have our relatives, the men of Judah stolen you and brought the king and his family over the Jordan and all the princes of David with him? When all the men of Judah retorted upon the men of Israel, who drove the king to us and why are you furious over this business? Have we eaten anything with the king except what we brought ourselves? And the men of Israel rejoined to the men of Judah. We have 10 parts in the kingdom and also more in David than you. Then why have you slighted and not sent a message first to us about restoring our king? But the words of the men of Judah were more bitter than the words of the men of Israel. Chapter 20. So Sheba Ben Bikrai, a man of Benjamin, cried out and sounded a trumpet and exclaimed, We have no part in David and no share in the son of Jesai. Israel, everyone to your tents. So all the officers of Israel went from following David to follow after Sheba Ben Bikrai. But the officers of Judah continued with the king and went to Jerusalem. When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, the king took the 10 slave wives whom he had appointed to take care of the palace and placed them in a house apart and provided for them, but he went not to them. And they were in confinement to the day of their death. They lived as widows. The king then said to Amasa, Summon to me the officers of Judah in three days time and you appear with them. Amasa accordingly went and convoked Judah but was delayed beyond the time appointed. Then David addressed Amasa, You know that Sheba Ben Bikrai may injure us more than Absalom. Therefore take the soldiers of your prince and follow after him for fear he should find some fortified towns and escape from our control. The men of Joab however had followed him. So the guards and the light infantry and all the heavy also proceeded from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba Ben Bikrai as far as the great stone that is near Gibeon. And Amasa marched before them where he met Joab with his belt over his armor and a sword on the belt braced up to his waist and he bowed. Then Joab asked, Are you well brother Amasa? And Joab took the beard of Amasa in his right hand as if to kiss him. But Amasa did not notice the sword that Joab had in his hand. So he struck him with it in the belly and his bowels fell out on the earth for he could not resist him but died. Joab and Abashai his brother were pursuing Sheba Ben Bikrai. And a man of the staff of Joab stood near him and exclaimed, Whoever sides with Joab and whoever with David let him follow Joab. But Amasa was wallowing in blood in the middle of the highway. So when the man saw that the forces halted he rolled Amasa from the highway into the fields and threw a cloak over him because he saw that all who came to him halted. When he was removed out of the road the men followed Joab to pursue Sheba Ben Bikrai who had passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abla and Bethmakah and all the Bareem who had collected and followed him. They however pursued and besieged him in Abla of Bethmakah and built an embankment against the citadel and filled up the moat. But while the army with Joab were battering to breach the wall a clever woman called out from the city, Listen, listen. I wish to speak to Joab. Come here and I will speak to him. He accordingly approached and she asked, Are you Joab? And he answered, I am. When she replied, listen to what I say. And he answered, I will listen. When she continued, formerly they used to say when discussing a matter make an inquiry at Abel and that ended it. I am one of the peaceful crowd in Israel. You are seeking to murder a city and mother in Israel. Why would you desolate the Lord's estate? But Joab answered and said to her, It would be a terror at night to me if I should destroy or desolate it. Do not say so. But a man from Mount Ephraim named Sheba Ben-Bikri has raised his hand against King David. Only give him to me and I will leave the town. The woman therefore answered Joab, Then I will fling you his head over the wall. The woman therefore went to some of the soldiers on the wall and they cut off the head of Sheba Ben-Bikri and flung it to Joab who blew a trumpet and they retired from the city, each to his tent, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. Then Joab was appointed over the whole army of Israel and Ben-Ia Ben-Jahoyedah over the guards and light infantry, and Adaram Ben-Aqailud was Chancellor and Sheba Secretary and Zadok and Abiathar Priests, and Ira the Jarite was Priest to David. Chapter 21 There was once a famine in the time of David for three years, year after year, so David sought the presence of the ever-living, and the ever-living said, It is for Saul and his murderous house, because he killed the Gibyanites. The king consequently sent for the Gibyanites and asked them, for the Gibyanites were not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites to whom the children of Israel had sworn, but Saul wished to exterminate them in his zeal for the children of Israel and the ever-living. David asked the Gibyanites, What can I do for you, and by what can I make amends, so that you will bless the inheritance of the ever-living? And the Gibyanites replied to him, We will not take silver or gold from Saul or his family, and no man shall be killed in Israel for us. Then he said, Whatever you ask, I will do for you. And they answered the king, The man who destroyed us and who wasted us so that we are prohibited from residing in any part of Israel, Let there be given to us seven men from his children, and we will hang them for the ever-living in Gibath of Saul, the elect of the ever-living. And the king said, I will give them. But the king refrained from Mephibosheth, the son of Jehanathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath of the ever-living that was between David and Jehanathan, the son of Saul. But the king took the two sons of Rizvah, the daughter of Aaya, whom she had born to Saul, Armonai and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Mikal, the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel ben Barzilai, the Makolothite, and delivered them into the hands of the Gibyanites, and they hung them on a hill before the ever-living, and the seven fell at once and were killed at the time of harvest before they began to cut the barley. Rizvah, the daughter of Aaya, however, took sackcloth and covered the rock with it from the beginning of harvest until the rain fell on them from the sky and would not allow a bird of the air to alight upon them by day or a wild beast of the field by night. And it was reported to David what Rizvah, the daughter of Aaya, the slave life of Saul, was doing. So David sent and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jehanathan, his son, from the masters of Jabesh-Gilad, which they had taken from the walls of Beth-Shan, where the Philishtim had hung them at the time that the Philishtim defeated Saul at Gilboa, and brought from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jehanathan, his son, and included the bones of those who were hung, and buried the bones of Saul and Jehanathan, his son, in the district of Benjamin at the side of the tomb of Kish, his father. All that the king ordered was done. Then he entreated God for the country after that. But there was war again between the Philishtim and Israel, and David went down with his forces and fought the Philishtim, and David became exhausted. Then Banab, who was of the race of the Rafa, and had a spear weighing three hundred shekels of brass and was clothed in new armor, stood up and declared he would kill David. But Abishai Ben-Zeruaya helped him and struck the Philishtim and killed him. David's generals consequently swore to him, saying, You shall not go again with us into battle, so that the light of Israel may not be extinguished. But after this there was again a battle at Gabb with the Philishtim, when Sibchi killed Suf, who was of the race of the Rafa. And there was again a battle at Gabb with the Philishtim, and Abqanon Ben-Jarai, the weaver of Bethlehem, defeated Galitha the Githite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. There was also another battle with the Philishtim at Gaff, where there was a man of Midian with six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet, twenty-four in number. And he was also of the race of the Rafa, and he challenged Israel, but Jonathan Ben-Shemai, the brother of David, defeated him. These four were born of the Rafaim in Gaff, and fell by the hand of David and by the hands of his officers. David recited the words of this song to the ever-living, when the ever-living had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and said, The Lord was a rock and fortress and refuge to me, God is my fort, I will trust in him, my shield and buckler, my tower and hold, my savior who saved from oppression. In despair I will cry to the Lord, and I shall be saved from my foemen. When death's waves enclosed and wild torrents sucked in, the graves ropes entangling and fearing death's traps, In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and cried out aloud to my God, and my voice from his temple he heard, and my shouts reached his ears. Then the earth trembled and quaked, the supports of the heavens were shaken, and quivered because of his wrath. A cloud was sent forth by his breath, and devouring fire from his mouth, before him fierce coals were inflamed, and he bent down the skies and descended, and darkness was under his feet. And he rode on the whirlwind and flew, and was seen on the wings of the wind, and put on his covering of darkness, collecting black watery cloud, and bright streams of fire burnt before him, and thundered the Lord from the skies. The highest thus uttered his thunders, and shot lightnings, arrows and darts, and torrents of water were seen, and the base of the world was laid bare before the supreme in his anger, by the whiff of the breath of his mouth. He sent from on high, and he took me, pulled me out from the powerful seas, from my enemies strong he redeemed me, from haters more strong than myself. In the day of distresses he helped me, the Lord was himself my support, and brought me again into freedom. He drilled me because he approved, for my virtues the Lord gave reward, my honor renewed to my hand, for I kept to the path of the Lord, and I went not astray from my God, for all his decrees I kept with me, and turned not away from his laws, and to him I always was faithful, so the Lord gave my goodness reward, because I was pure in his sight. To the merciful you will show mercy, and with the upright you are straight, you are pure to those who are pure, but with the rebellious you strive, and you save the oppressed of the people, and look down with scorn on the proud, and you, Lord, alone are my light. Lord, therefore enlighten my gloom, for by that I an army can chase, and with God can leap over a wall. The pathway of God is a straight one, the words of the Lord are refined, he is to all trusting a shield. For who is a God but the Lord, and who is a rock but our God? The God who is mighty in strength, whose pathway is perfectly straight, who makes my feet like to a stag, who supports me in mounting the hills, who instructed my hands in the fighting, and to break a steel bow with my arms, and you are my shield of salvation, and imparting your power to myself, you stretch out my stridings below me, so my ankles will never slip down, I can chase all my foes and destroy them, and never turn back till they're done. I assail them and strike till they rise not, for under my feet they fall down. You gird me with strength for the war, and my legs under me are kept straight, but you throw my enemies backwards, so that I can destroy those who hate. They shout, but they have no defender, to the Lord, but he answers them not. While I grind them like dust of the earth, I stamp them like mire in the streets. You saved from the strife of my people, and kept at the head of the tribes, a people I never knew serve me, and sons of the strangers bow down, to hear me with listening ears, and the children of foreigners run, their robes closely girt by their belts. Let the Lord live, bless my rock, I forever exult in my God, and rejoice in God's fortress that saved me, the God who has given me my right, who subjected the nations beneath me, freed from foes and has raised me on high, and redeemed from the men who opposed. For this I will praise you, O Lord, and chant of your name to the heathen, your salvation exult in my heart, and the kindness you show your Messiah, and David's enduring heir. Chapter 23 And these are the last words of David, says David the son of Jesai, and the speech of the man raised on high, and whom Jacob's God had approved, and sweetly to Israel who sings. For to me the Lord's Spirit has spoken, and this has declared by my tongue, and Israel's God has informed me, and Israel's hope has revealed, as a guide to the righteous of men, as a guide to the reverence of God, like the light of the morning at sunrise, as a bright shining dawn without clouds, with showers for the meadows of earth. Though my house is not perfect with God, yet he made a long treaty with me, extending and sure in all things, for it perfectly saves and delights, and will he not cause it to flourish? But the vile he will fling out like thorns, which cannot be taken by hand, but the man who approaches to them must take staves of iron or wood, and put them to burn in the fire. The following are the names of the heroes whom David appointed officers. Jasheb Bashabeth, the Takmonai, chief of the staff, with Adino, the Atsnite over the 800. He was lame of one foot, and after him, Al-Azhar Ben-Dodai, Ben-Akokai, one of the three generals who were with David when they defied the Philistim who had drawn out for battle, and the men of Israel had fled. He arose and fought the Philistim until his hand was cramped, and his hand stuck to his sword. But the Everliving produced a great victory on that day for him, and the forces that stuck behind like his skin. And after him, Shama Ben-Aga of Hararai. Once when the Philistim had gone out to raid, and were posted in a part of a field full of lentils, and the force fled before the Philistim, he stood in the open and reformed it, and attacked the Philistim when the Everliving granted a great victory. These three had descended with their troop of thirty, and came and harvest time to David at the cave of Adulam. And the troops of the Philistim were encamped in the plain of Refayim. For David at that time was in the cave, and the Philistim then occupied Bethlehem. David, however, desired, and said, Who will get me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem that is near the gate? When the three heroes passed through the camp of the Philistim, and drew water from the well that is near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Everliving, and said, The Everliving would punish me if I did that. It is the blood of the men who risked their lives, so I will not drink it. These were the actions of these three heroes. Abishai, also the brother of Joab Benzeruaya, was a great hero, for he raised his spear against three hundred and defeated them. He was not considered equal to the three. However, he had honor with the three and became their commander, but he did not equal the three. Benaya also was a brave man of many deeds, of Kabzal. He defeated the two champions of Moab. He descended and overpowered a lion in a pit on a snowy day. He also defeated the Mitsurite officer whom he met. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he ran at him with a club, and pulled the spear from the hands of the Egyptian, and killed him with his own spear. Benaya Benzeruaya performed these deeds, therefore he was stationed with the three heroes. He was honored with the thirty, but became not one of the three. David, however, made him his counselor. Asahel, the brother of Joab, was in the thirty. Alkanan Ben Dodo, the Bethlehemite. Kalitz, the Flatite. Ira Ben Akash, the Tecovite. Abayazar of Anathaf. Mbunai the Kushite. Tsalgon the Akokite. Makrai the Natophithite. Kaleb Benbana, the Natophithite. Atay bin Rabbi of Gibbaf, sons of Benjamin. Benaya the Fraffonite. Hadai from the Rock of Gash. Abay Alban the Arbithite. Asmuth the Barkumite. Alaykaba the Shalbonite. Jonathan the son of Joshem. Shama the Harahite. Ayam ben Shara'al of Hahor. Alifalit ben Akasbai, son of the Makathilai. Alayam ben Akithafel, the Gilomite. Katsurai the Carmelite. Farai the Arabian. Igal ben Nathan, with Zobel, sons of the Gadite. Celeg the Ammonite. Nakurai the Barothite, squire to Joab Benzeruaya. Ira the Ithorite. Garab the Ithorite. Uraya the Hittite. In all, thirty-seven. Chapter twenty-four. The Everliving, however, was again angry with Israel, when David turned and commanded to go and make a conscription of Israel and Judah, for the king ordered Joab, commander of his forces, to whip them up in all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and brigade in the forces that I may know the number of my forces. But Joab answered the king, May your everliving god increase the forces by enlistment a hundredfold, that the eyes of your majesty may see, but your majesty, why are you inclined to this thing? The order of the king, however, prevailed over Joab and the officers of the army, so Joab and the officers of the army went from the presence of the king to conscript Israel for the forces. They also passed over the Jordan and encamped at Aror on the south of the city, which is in the mid-valley of Gad and Jazeir. Thence he went to Gilgal and the lowlands of Qadchi, and came to Dan and around to Zidane. From there they went to the fortress of Tsuor, and all the villages of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went to the south of Judah to Beersheba, and whipped up the whole country, and came to a finish on the tenth day of the ninth month at Jerusalem, when Joab delivered the number enrolled in the forces to the king, and in Israel it was 800,000 men strong to draw the sword, and of the men of Judah 500,000 men. Then the heart of David reproved him after he had conscripted the people, and David said to the Everliving, I have done grievously by what I have done, but now, Lord, pass over the fault of your servant, for I have been foolish. When David arose in the morning, then the word of the Everliving came to Gad, the reciter, David's preacher, to say, Go and speak to David, thus says the Everliving, I will lay three loads for you, choose one of them, and I will make it for you. Gad consequently went to David and informed him, and asked, Shall seven years of famine come for you upon the country, or will you fly for three months before your enemies while they pursue you, or shall there be three days' destruction on your country? Now instruct me and show what reply I shall return to my sender. When the king replied to Gad, It is very hard for me. Let me, however, fall into the hand of the Everliving, for his mercies are many, for I would not fall into the hand of man. The Everliving, therefore, sent a destruction to Israel from daybreak until afternoon, and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba, seventy-seven thousand men. But when the messenger stretched his hand to Jerusalem to desolate it, he had pity for the flock, and said to the messenger, Enough of the people are desolated now, withdraw your hand! And the messenger of the Everliving was near the thrashing floor of Arowana, the Jebusite. But David appealed to the Everliving when he saw the messenger who assailed the people, exclaiming, I myself have sinned, and I myself have offended. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, be on me and upon my father's house! Then Gad came at that moment and said to him, Go up, raise an altar to the Everliving at the granary of Arowana, the Jebusite. Consequently David went up as the Everliving ordered him, and Arowana, looking forward, saw the king and his officers approaching to him. So Arowana went and bowed to the king with face earthward. Then Arowana asked, Why does his majesty come to his servant? And David replied, To buy from you this granary, to build an altar to the Everliving, to remove the plague from off the people. Arowana said to David, Take it, and let the king offer up what is good in his eyes. See, there are the oxen for a sacrifice, and the thrashing machine and yokes of the oxen for wood. Arowana, as a king, gives the whole to the king, and Arowana added to the king. May your Everliving god accept you! David, however, replied to Arowana, No, but I will buy them of you by payment, for I will not offer to my Everliving god an offering costing me nothing. So David bought the granary and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, and David built there an altar to the Everliving, and offered a burnt offering and thank offering when the Everliving was entreated for the land, and removed the plague from the country. The end of chapters nineteen through twenty-four, and the end of the second book of Samuel from the Holy Bible in modern English, translated by Farrar Fenton. Recording by Mark Penfold.