7,497 verses contain “Not” (in the KJV: 6,841, in the BSB: 5,241) — showing 1,501–1,600
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Then Saul fell
straightway all along on the earth, and was
sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground,
terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had
not eaten anything all that day and night.
But he refused, and said, I will
not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he
hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
Saul refused, saying, “I will
not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in
urging him, and he
heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this
not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until
today I have found no fault in him.”
And the princes of the Philistines were
wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him
not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an
adversary to us: for
wherewith should he
reconcile himself unto his master? should it
not be with the heads of these men?
But the commanders of the Philistines were
angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must
not go down with us into battle only to become our
adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?
Is
not this David, of whom they
sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul
slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.
Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”
And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until
today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
And had taken the women
captives, that were therein: they
slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
They had taken
captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had
not killed
anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way.
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so
faint that they could
not go over the
brook Besor.
because two hundred men were too exhausted to cross the
brook. But David and four hundred men continued in pursuit.
And they gave him a piece of a
cake of figs, and two clusters of
raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor
drunk any water, three days and three nights.
a piece of a fig
cake and two clusters of
raisins. So he
ate and was revived, for he had
not had any food or water for three days and three nights.
And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said,
Swear unto me by God, that thou
wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.
“Will you lead me to these raiders?” David asked. And the man replied, “
Swear to me by God that you will
not kill me or deliver me into the hand of my master, and I will lead you to them.”
And David
smote them from the
twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped
not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which
rode upon camels, and fled.
And David struck them down from
twilight until the evening of the next day.
Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels.
And there was
nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither
spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter, or any of the
plunder the
Amalekites had taken. David brought everything back.
And David came to the two hundred men, which were so
faint that they could
not follow David, whom they had made also to
abide at the
brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he
saluted them.
When David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him from the
Brook of Besor, they came out to meet him and the troops with him. As David approached the men, he
greeted them,
Then answered all the wicked men and men of
Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went
not with us, we will
not give them ought of the
spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
but all the wicked and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, “Because they did
not go with us, we will
not share with them the
plunder we recovered, except for each man’s wife and children. They may take them and go.”
Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
But David said, “My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiders who came against us.
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through
therewith; lest these
uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and
abuse me. But his armourbearer would
not; for he was
sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
Then Saul said to his
armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these
uncircumcised men will come and run me through and
torture me!” But his
armor-bearer was
terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
So I stood upon him, and
slew him, because I was sure that he could
not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the
bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them
hither unto my lord.
So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could
not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
And David said unto him, How
wast thou
not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S
anointed?
So David asked him, “Why were you
not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s
anointed?”
Ye mountains of
Gilboa, let there be no
dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is
vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had
not been
anointed with oil.
O mountains of
Gilboa, may you have no
dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was
defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer
anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan turned
not back, and the sword of Saul returned
not empty.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan did
not retreat, and the sword of Saul did
not return empty.
Saul and
Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were
not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
Saul and
Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were
not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
And
Asahel pursued after
Abner; and in going he turned
not to the right hand nor to the left from following
Abner.
and he
chased Abner,
not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.
And
Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But
Asahel would
not turn aside from following of him.
Then
Abner called to
Joab, and said, Shall the sword
devour for ever? knowest thou
not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then,
ere thou
bid the people return from following their brethren?
Then
Abner called out to
Joab: “Must the sword
devour forever? Do you
not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
And
Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
“As surely as God lives,”
Joab replied, “if you had
not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
Then was
Abner very
wroth for the words of
Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do
shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have
not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Abner was
furious over
Ish-bosheth’s
accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been
loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have
not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you
accuse me of
wrongdoing with this woman!
So do God to
Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath
sworn to David, even so I do to him;
May God
punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do
not do for David what the LORD has
sworn to him:
And he could
not answer
Abner a word again, because he feared him.
And for fear of
Abner,
Ish-bosheth did
not dare to say another word to him.
And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
And, Behold, the servants of David and
Joab came from pursuing a
troop, and brought in a great
spoil with them: but
Abner was
not with David in
Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
Just then David’s soldiers and
Joab returned from a
raid, bringing with them a great
plunder. But
Abner was
not with David in
Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace.
And when
Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after
Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it
not.
As soon as
Joab had left David, he sent messengers after
Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it.
Let it rest on the head of
Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there
not fail from the house of
Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a
leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
May it
whirl over the heads of
Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of
Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”
Thy hands were
not bound, nor thy feet put into
fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people
wept again over him.
Your hands were
not bound, your feet were
not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” And all the people
wept over him even more.
And all the people took
notice of it, and it pleased them: as
whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was
not of the king to
slay Abner the son of
Ner.
So on that day all the troops and all Israel were
convinced that the king had no part in the murder of
Abner son of
Ner.
And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
Then the king said to his servants, “Do you
not realize that a great prince has fallen
today in Israel?
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the
lame, thou shalt
not come in
hither: thinking, David cannot come in
hither.
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and
lame can
repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
And David said on that day,
Whosoever getteth up to the
gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the
lame and the blind, that are
hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the
lame shall
not come into the house.
On that day he said, “
Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the
lame and blind who are
despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the
lame will never enter the palace.”
And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt
not go up; but
fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the
mulberry trees.
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do
not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the
balsam trees.
So David would
not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-
edom the Gittite.
So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-
edom the Gittite.
Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling.
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye
not me an house of
cedar?
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to
shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why
haven’t you built Me a house of
cedar?’
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way.
And the king said, Is there
not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may
shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king,
Jonathan hath yet a son, which is
lame on his feet.
So the king asked, “Is there
anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still
Jonathan’s son, who is
lame in both feet.”
And David said unto him, Fear
not: for I will surely
shew thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
“Do
not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father
Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your
grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
And the princes of the children of
Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David
doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath
not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to
spy it out, and to overthrow it?
the princes of the
Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has
not David instead sent his servants to
explore the city,
spy it out, and overthrow it?”
And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is
not this Bath-
sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
But Uriah
slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went
not down to his house.
But Uriah
slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did
not go down to his house.
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went
not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou
not from thy journey? why then
didst thou
not go down unto thine house?
And David was told, “Uriah did
not go home.” “
Haven’t you just arrived from a journey?” David asked Uriah. “Why didn’t you go home?”
And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah,
abide in tents; and my lord
Joab, and the servants of my lord, are
encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will
not do this thing.
Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master
Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will
not do such a thing!”
And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him
drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went
not down to his house.
Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah
drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his
cot with his master’s servants, but he did
not go home.
And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so
nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye
not that they would shoot from the wall?
if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you
not realize they would shoot from
atop the wall?
Who
smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did
not a woman cast a piece of a
millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye
nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Who was the one to strike
Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it
not a woman who dropped an upper
millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’”
Then David said unto the
messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto
Joab, Let
not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and
encourage thou him.
But the poor man had
nothing, save one little
ewe lamb, which he had bought and
nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and
drank of his own cup, and lay in his
bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
but the poor man had
nothing except one small
ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and
drank from his cup; it
slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him.
And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy
bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
And David said unto
Nathan, I have
sinned against the LORD. And
Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt
not die.
Then David said to
Nathan, “I have
sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,”
Nathan replied. “You will
not die.
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would
not hearken unto our voice: how will he then
vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would
not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even
harm himself.”
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son,
lean from day to day?
wilt thou
not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother
Absalom’s sister.
so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother
Absalom’s sister.”
And she answered him,
Nay, my brother, do
not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do
not thou this folly.
“No, my brother!” she
cried. “Do
not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do
not do this disgraceful thing!
And I,
whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will
not withhold me from thee.
Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will
not withhold me from you.”
Howbeit he would
not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
But Amnon refused to
listen to her, and being stronger, he
violated her and lay with her.
And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou
didst unto me. But he would
not hearken unto her.
“No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” But he refused to
listen to her.
And
Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard
not this thing. So Tamar remained
desolate in her brother
Absalom’s house.
Her brother
Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do
not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a
desolate woman in the house of her brother
Absalom.
And the king said to
Absalom,
Nay, my son, let us
not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would
not go, but blessed him.
“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should
not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although
Absalom urged him, he was
not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.
Then said
Absalom, If
not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?
“If
not,” said
Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.
Now
Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is
merry with wine, and when I say unto you,
Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear
not: have
not I commanded you? be
courageous and be
valiant.
Now
Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is
merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do
not be afraid. Have I
not commanded you? Be
courageous and
valiant!”
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that
tidings came to David, saying,
Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is
not one of them left.
While they were on the way, a report reached David: “
Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king;
not one of them is left!”
And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let
not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of
Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must
not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact,
Absalom has
planned this since the day Amnon
violated his sister Tamar.
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
So
Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a
mourner; put on clothes for
mourning and do
not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has
mourned for the dead a long time.
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine
handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that
smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he
slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall
quench my coal which is left, and shall
not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
Now the whole clan has risen up against your
maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would
extinguish my one remaining
ember by
not preserving my husband’s name or
posterity on the earth.”
And the king said,
Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall
not touch thee any more.
“If
anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will
not trouble you again!”
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
“Please,” she replied, “may the king
invoke the LORD your God to prevent the
avenger of blood from increasing the
devastation, so that my son may
not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he
vowed, “
not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”
And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king
doth speak this thing as one which is
faulty, in that the king
doth not fetch home again his banished.
The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he
not convict himself, since he has
not brought back his own banished son?
For we must needs die, and are as water
spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither
doth God respect any person: yet
doth he
devise means, that his banished be
not expelled from him.
For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.
Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
Then the king said to the woman, “I am going to ask you something; do
not conceal it from me!” “Let my lord the king speak,” she replied.
And the king said, Is
not the hand of
Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant
Joab, he
bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine
handmaid:
So the king asked, “Is the hand of
Joab behind all this?” The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says.
Yes, your servant
Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your
maidservant exactly what to say.
And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him
not see my face. So
Absalom returned to his own house, and saw
not the king’s face.
But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must
not see my face.” So
Absalom returned to his own house, but he did
not see the king.
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as
Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no
blemish in him.
Now there was
not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as
Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did
not have a single
flaw.
So
Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw
not the king’s face.
Now
Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king.
Therefore
Absalom sent for
Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would
not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would
not come.
Then he sent for
Joab to send him to the king, but
Joab refused to come to him. So
Absalom sent a second time, but
Joab still would
not come.
And with
Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew
not any thing.
Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied
Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew
nothing about the matter.
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us
flee; for we shall
not else escape from
Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and
smite the city with the edge of the sword.
And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us
flee, or we will
not escape from
Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us,
heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.”
Whereas thou camest but
yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go
whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
In fact, you arrived only
yesterday; should I make you
wander around with us
today while I do
not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.”
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
The king said also unto
Zadok the priest, Art
not thou a
seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you,
Ahimaaz thy son, and
Jonathan the son of
Abiathar.
And hast thou
not there with thee
Zadok and
Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing
soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to
Zadok and
Abiathar the priests.
Will
not Zadok and
Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace.
And
Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou
not with thy friend?
“Is this the
loyalty you show your friend?”
Absalom replied. “Why did you
not go with your friend?”
And Hushai said unto
Absalom,
Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I
abide.
“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
Furthermore, whom should I serve if
not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
And when Hushai was come to
Absalom,
Absalom spake unto him, saying,
Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if
not; speak thou.
So Hushai came to
Absalom, who told him, “
Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If
not, what do you say?”
And Hushai said unto
Absalom, The counsel that
Ahithophel hath given is
not good at this time.
Hushai replied, “This time the advice of
Ahithophel is
not sound.”