33,354 verses contain “the” (in the KJV: 32,434, in the BSB: 26,201) — showing 8,001–8,100
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And David sent forth a third part of
the people under
the hand of
Joab, and a third part under
the hand of
Abishai the son of Zeruiah,
Joab’s brother, and a third part under
the hand of Ittai
the Gittite. And
the king said unto
the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
He sent out
the troops, a third under
Joab, a third under
Joab’s brother
Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai
the Gittite. And
the king said to
the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
But
the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we
flee away,
they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will
they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us:
therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of
the city.
But
the people
pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to
flee,
they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die,
they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from
the city.”
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
And
the king commanded
Joab and
Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with
the young man, even with
Absalom. And all
the people heard when
the king gave all
the captains charge concerning
Absalom.
Now
the king had commanded
Joab,
Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat
the young man
Absalom gently for my sake.” And all
the people heard
the king’s orders to each of
the commanders regarding
Absalom.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
So David’s army marched into
the field to
engage Israel in
the battle, which took place in
the forest of Ephraim.
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men.
For
the battle was
there scattered over
the face of all
the country: and
the wood
devoured more people that day than
the sword
devoured.
The battle spread over
the whole
countryside, and that day
the forest
devoured more people than
the sword.
And
Absalom met
the servants of David. And
Absalom rode upon a
mule, and
the mule went under
the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of
the oak, and he was taken up between
the heaven and
the earth; and
the mule that was under him went away.
Now
Absalom was riding on his
mule when he met
the servants of David, and as
the mule went under
the thick branches of a large oak,
Absalom’s head was caught fast in
the tree.
The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair.
And a certain man saw it, and told
Joab, and said, Behold, I saw
Absalom hanged in an oak.
When one of
the men saw this, he told
Joab, “I just saw
Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
And
Joab said unto
the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why
didst thou not
smite him
there to
the ground? and I would have given
thee ten shekels of silver, and a
girdle.
“You just saw him!”
Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to
the ground right
there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a
warrior’s belt!”
And
the man said unto
Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against
the king’s son: for in our hearing
the king charged
thee and
Abishai and Ittai, saying,
Beware that none touch
the young man
Absalom.
The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were
weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against
the son of
the king. For we heard
the king command you and
Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect
the young man
Absalom for my sake.’
Otherwise I should have wrought
falsehood against mine own life: for
there is no matter
hid from
the king, and thou
thyself wouldest have set
thyself against me.
If I had
jeopardized my own life—and nothing is hidden from
the king—you would have abandoned me.”
Then said
Joab, I may not
tarry thus with
thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust
them through
the heart of
Absalom, while he was yet alive in
the midst of
the oak.
But
Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust
them through
the heart of
Absalom while he was still alive in
the oak tree.
And
Joab blew the trumpet, and
the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for
Joab held back
the people.
Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and
the troops broke off
their pursuit of Israel because
Joab had restrained
them.
And
they took
Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in
the wood, and laid a very great
heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
They took
Absalom, cast him into a large pit in
the forest, and piled a huge
mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all
the Israelites fled, each to his home.
Now
Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a
pillar, which is in
the king’s
dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in
remembrance: and he called
the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day,
Absalom’s place.
During his lifetime,
Absalom had set up for himself a
pillar in
the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve
the memory of my name.” So he gave
the pillar his name, and to this day it is called
Absalom’s Monument.
Then Ahimaaz son of
Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell
the king
the good news that
the LORD has
avenged him of his enemies.”
And
Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear
tidings this day, but thou shalt bear
tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no
tidings, because
the king’s son is dead.
But
Joab replied, “You are not
the man to take good news
today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so
today, because
the king’s son is dead.”
Then said
Joab to Cushi, Go tell
the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto
Joab, and ran.
So
Joab said to a
Cushite, “Go, tell
the king what you have seen.”
The Cushite bowed to
Joab and took off running.
Ahimaaz son of
Zadok, however,
persisted and said to
Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind
the Cushite!” “My son,”
Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”
But
howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run.
Then Ahimaaz ran by
the way of
the plain, and overran Cushi.
“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “
Then run!”
Joab told him. So
Ahimaaz ran by way of
the plain and outran
the Cushite.
And David sat between
the two gates: and
the watchman went up to
the roof over
the gate unto
the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
Now David was sitting between
the two gates when
the watchman went up to
the roof of
the gateway by
the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
And
the watchman cried, and told
the king. And
the king said, If he be alone,
there is
tidings in his mouth. And he came
apace, and drew near.
So he called out and told
the king. “If he is alone,”
the king replied, “he bears good news.” As
the first
runner drew near,
And
the watchman saw another man running: and
the watchman called unto
the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And
the king said, He also bringeth
tidings.
the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to
the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said
the king.
And
the watchman said, Me thinketh
the running of
the foremost is like
the running of
Ahimaaz the son of
Zadok. And
the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good
tidings.
The watchman said, “
The first man appears to me to be running like
Ahimaaz son of
Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said
the king. “He comes with good news.”
And
Ahimaaz called, and said unto
the king, All is well. And he fell down to
the earth upon his face before
the king, and said, Blessed be
the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up
the men that lifted up
their hand against my lord
the king.
Then Ahimaaz called out to
the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before
the king. He continued, “Blessed be
the LORD your God! He has delivered up
the men who raised
their hands against my lord
the king.”
And
the king said, Is
the young man
Absalom safe? And
Ahimaaz answered, When
Joab sent
the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great
tumult, but I knew not what it was.
The king asked, “Is
the young man
Absalom all right?” And
Ahimaaz replied, “When
Joab sent
the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great
tumult, but I do not know what it was.”
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
“Move aside,” said
the king, “and stand here.” So he
stepped aside.
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said,
Tidings, my lord
the king: for
the LORD hath
avenged thee this day of all
them that rose up against
thee.
Just
then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord
the king hear
the good news:
Today the LORD has
avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
And
the king said unto Cushi, Is
the young man
Absalom safe? And Cushi answered,
The enemies of my lord
the king, and all that rise against
thee to do
thee hurt, be as that young man is.
The king asked
the Cushite, “Is
the young man
Absalom all right?” And
the Cushite replied, “May what has become of
the young man happen to
the enemies of my lord
the king and to all who rise up against you to
harm you.”
And
the king was much moved, and went up to
the chamber over
the gate, and
wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son
Absalom, my son, my son
Absalom! would God I had died for
thee, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
The king was
shaken and went up to
the gate chamber and
wept. And as he walked, he
cried out, “O my son
Absalom! My son, my son
Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O
Absalom, my son, my son!”
And it was told
Joab, Behold,
the king weepeth and mourneth for
Absalom.
And
the victory that day was turned into
mourning unto all
the people: for
the people heard say that day how
the king was
grieved for his son.
And that day’s victory was turned into
mourning for all
the people, because on that day
they were told, “
The king is
grieving over his son.”
But
the king covered his face, and
the king
cried with a loud voice, O my son
Absalom, O
Absalom, my son, my son!
But
the king covered his face and
cried out at
the top of his voice, “O my son
Absalom! O
Absalom, my son, my son!”
And
Joab came into
the house to
the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day
the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and
the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and
the lives of thy wives, and
the lives of thy concubines;
Then Joab went into
the house and said to
the king, “
Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and
the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines.
In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if
Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day,
then it had pleased
thee well.
You love those who
hate you and
hate those who love you! For you have made it clear
today that
the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know
today that if
Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!
Now
therefore arise, go forth, and speak
comfortably unto thy servants: for I
swear by
the LORD, if thou go not forth,
there will not
tarry one with
thee this night: and that will be worse unto
thee than all
the evil that
befell thee from thy youth until now.
Now
therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I
swear by
the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you
tonight. This will be worse for you than all
the adversity that has
befallen you from your youth until now!”
Then the king arose, and sat in
the gate. And
they told unto all
the people, saying, Behold,
the king
doth sit in
the gate. And all
the people came before
the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.
And all
the people were at
strife throughout all
the tribes of Israel, saying,
The king saved us out of
the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of
the hand of
the Philistines; and now he is fled out of
the land for
Absalom.
And all
the people throughout
the tribes of Israel were
arguing, “
The king
rescued us from
the hand of our enemies and delivered us from
the hand of
the Philistines, but now he has fled
the land because of
Absalom.
And
Absalom, whom we
anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now
therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing
the king back?
But
Absalom,
the man we
anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring
the king?”
And king David sent to
Zadok and to
Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto
the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye
the last to bring
the king back to his house? seeing
the speech of all Israel is come to
the king, even to his house.
Then King David sent this message to
Zadok and
Abiathar,
the priests: “Say to
the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be
the last to restore
the king to his palace, since
the talk of all Israel has reached
the king at his quarters?
Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’
And say ye to
Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of
the host before me continually in
the room of
Joab.
And say to
Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God
punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not
the commander of my army in place of
Joab!’”
And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
So he
swayed the hearts of all
the men of Judah as though
they were one man, and
they sent word to
the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”
So
the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to
Gilgal, to go to meet
the king, to conduct
the king over Jordan.
So
the king returned, and when he arrived at
the Jordan,
the men of Judah came to
Gilgal to meet him and
escort him across
the Jordan.
And Shimei
the son of
Gera, a
Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with
the men of Judah to meet king David.
Then Shimei son of
Gera, a
Benjamite from Bahurim,
hurried down with
the men of Judah to meet King David,
And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba
the steward of
the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants.
They rushed down to
the Jordan before
the king
And
there went over a
ferry boat to carry over
the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei
the son of
Gera fell down before
the king, as he was come over Jordan;
and crossed at
the ford to carry over
the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of
Gera crossed
the Jordan, he fell down before
the king
And said unto
the king, Let not my lord
impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did
perversely the day that my lord
the king went out of Jerusalem, that
the king should take it to his heart.
and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s
wrongdoing on
the day my lord
the king left Jerusalem. May
the king not take it to heart.
For thy servant
doth know that I have
sinned:
therefore, behold, I am come
the first this day of all
the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord
the king.
For your servant knows that I have
sinned, so here I am
today as
the first of all
the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord
the king.”
But
Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he
cursed the LORD’S
anointed?
But
Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he
cursed the LORD’s
anointed?”
And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be
adversaries unto me? shall
there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my
adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel
today? Am I not indeed aware that
today I am king over Israel?”
Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And
the king
sware unto him.
So
the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And
the king
swore an oath to him.
And Mephibosheth
the son of Saul came down to meet
the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor
trimmed his
beard, nor washed his clothes, from
the day
the king departed until
the day he came again in peace.
Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet
the king. He had not cared for his feet or
trimmed his
mustache or washed his clothes from
the day
the king had left until
the day he returned safely.
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”
And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant
deceived me: for thy servant said, I will
saddle me an
ass, that I may
ride thereon, and go to
the king; because thy servant is
lame.
“My lord
the king,” he replied, “because I am
lame, I said, ‘I will have my
donkey saddled so that I may
ride on it and go with
the king.’ But my servant Ziba
deceived me,
And he hath
slandered thy servant unto my lord
the king; but my lord
the king is as an angel of God: do
therefore what is good in thine eyes.
and he has
slandered your servant to my lord
the king. Yet my lord
the king is like
the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.
For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord
the king: yet
didst thou set thy servant among
them that did eat at thine own table. What right
therefore have I yet to cry any more unto
the king?
For all
the house of my
grandfather deserves death from my lord
the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right,
then, do I have to keep appealing to
the king?”
And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
The king replied, “Why say any more? I
hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide
the land.”
And Mephibosheth said unto
the king,
Yea, let him take all,
forasmuch as my lord
the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even
fourscore years old: and he had provided
the king of
sustenance while he lay at
Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for
the king while he stayed in
Mahanaim.
And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
I am this day
fourscore years old: and can I
discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more
the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore
then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord
the king?
I am now eighty years old. Can I
discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear
the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord
the king?
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with
the king: and why should
the king
recompense it me with such a reward?
Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”
And
the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto
thee: and
whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for
thee.
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”
And all
the people went over Jordan. And when
the king was come over,
the king
kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
So all
the people crossed
the Jordan, and
then the king crossed over.
The king
kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.
Then the king went on to
Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all
the people of Judah conducted
the king, and also half
the people of Israel.
Then the king went on to
Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All
the troops of Judah and half
the troops of Israel
escorted the king.
And, behold, all
the men of Israel came to
the king, and said unto
the king, Why have our brethren
the men of Judah
stolen thee away, and have brought
the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?
Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
And all
the men of Judah answered
the men of Israel, Because
the king is near of
kin to us: wherefore
then be ye
angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of
the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?
And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”
And
the men of Israel answered
the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in
the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why
then did ye
despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And
the words of
the men of Judah were fiercer than
the words of
the men of Israel.
“We have ten shares in
the king,” answered
the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why
then do you
despise us? Were we not
the first to speak of restoring our king?” But
the men of Judah pressed even harder than
the men of Israel.
And
there happened to be
there a man of
Belial, whose name was
Sheba,
the son of Bichri, a
Benjamite: and he
blew a
trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in
the son of
Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
Now a worthless man named
Sheba son of Bichri, a
Benjamite, happened to be
there, and he
blew the ram’s horn and
shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in
Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”
So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed
Sheba the son of Bichri: but
the men of Judah
clave unto
their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
So all
the men of Israel deserted David to follow
Sheba son of Bichri. But
the men of Judah stayed by
their king all
the way from
the Jordan to Jerusalem.
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and
the king took
the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep
the house, and put
them in ward, and fed
them, but went not in unto
them. So
they were shut up unto
the day of
their death, living in
widowhood.
When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took
the ten concubines he had left to care for
the palace, and he placed
them in a house under guard. He provided for
them, but he no longer
slept with
them.
They were confined until
the day of
their death, living as widows.
Then said
the king to
Amasa,
Assemble me
the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
Then the king said to
Amasa, “
Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here
yourself.”
So
Amasa went to
assemble the men of Judah: but he
tarried longer than
the set time which he had appointed him.
And David said to
Abishai, Now shall
Sheba the son of Bichri do us more
harm than did
Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him
fenced cities, and escape us.
And David said to
Abishai, “Now
Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more
harm than
Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and
elude us.”
And
there went out after him
Joab’s men, and
the Cherethites, and
the Pelethites, and all
the mighty men: and
they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after
Sheba the son of Bichri.
So
Joab’s men, along with
the Cherethites,
the Pelethites, and all
the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of
Sheba son of Bichri.
When
they were at
the great stone which is in
Gibeon,
Amasa went before
them. And
Joab’s garment that he had put on was
girded unto him, and upon it a
girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in
the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
But
Amasa took no
heed to
the sword that was in
Joab’s hand: so he
smote him
therewith in
the fifth rib, and shed out his
bowels to
the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So
Joab and
Abishai his brother pursued after
Sheba the son of Bichri.
And
Amasa wallowed in blood in
the midst of
the highway. And when
the man saw that all
the people stood still, he removed
Amasa out of
the highway into
the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
But
Amasa wallowed in his blood in
the middle of
the road, and when
the man saw that all
the troops were
stopping there, he
dragged the body off
the road into a field and threw a garment over it.
When he was removed out of
the highway, all
the people went on after
Joab, to pursue after
Sheba the son of Bichri.
As soon as
Amasa’s body was removed from
the road, all
the men went on with
Joab to pursue
Sheba son of Bichri.
And he went through all
the tribes of Israel unto
Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all
the Berites: and
they were gathered together, and went also after him.
Sheba passed through all
the tribes of Israel to
Abel-beth-
maacah and through
the entire region of
the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.
And
they came and besieged him in
Abel of Beth-maachah, and
they cast up a bank against
the city, and it stood in
the trench: and all
the people that were with
Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Then cried a wise woman out of
the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto
Joab, Come near
hither, that I may speak with
thee.
a wise woman called out from
the city, “
Listen!
Listen! Please tell
Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”
And when he was come near unto her,
the woman said, Art thou
Joab? And he answered, I am he.
Then she said unto him, Hear
the words of thine
handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
When he had come near to her,
the woman asked, “Are you
Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “
Listen to
the words of your servant,” she said. “I am
listening,” he answered.
Then she spake, saying,
They were
wont to speak in old time, saying,
They shall surely ask counsel at
Abel: and so
they ended
the matter.
Then the woman said, “Long ago
they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at
Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.
I am one of
them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why
wilt thou
swallow up
the inheritance of
the LORD?
I am among
the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you
swallow up
the LORD’s inheritance?”
The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim,
Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against
the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from
the city. And
the woman said unto
Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to
thee over
the wall.
That is not
the case. But a man named
Sheba son of Bichri, from
the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against
the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from
the city.” “Look,”
the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over
the wall.”
Then the woman went unto all
the people in her wisdom. And
they cut off
the head of
Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to
Joab. And he
blew a
trumpet, and
they retired from
the city, every man to his tent. And
Joab returned to Jerusalem unto
the king.
Then the woman went to all
the people with her wise counsel, and
they cut off
the head of
Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to
Joab. So he
blew the ram’s horn and his men
dispersed from
the city, each to his own home. And
Joab returned to
the king in Jerusalem.
Now
Joab was over all
the host of Israel: and Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada was over
the Cherethites and over
the Pelethites:
Now
Joab was over
the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over
the Cherethites and Pelethites;
And Adoram was over
the tribute: and
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
Adoram was in charge of
the forced labor;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was
the recorder;
And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
Then there was a famine in
the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of
the LORD. And
the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his
bloody house, because he
slew the Gibeonites.
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
And
the king called
the Gibeonites, and said unto
them; (now
the Gibeonites were not of
the children of Israel, but of
the remnant of
the Amorites; and
the children of Israel had
sworn unto
them: and Saul sought to
slay them in his zeal to
the children of Israel and Judah.)
At this, David summoned
the Gibeonites and spoke to
them. (Now
the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a
remnant of
the Amorites.
The Israelites had taken an oath concerning
them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill
them.)
