4,840 verses contain “then” (in the KJV: 2,747, in the BSB: 3,065) — showing 1,501–1,600
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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.
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at
Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Then they took their bones and buried them under the
tamarisk tree in
Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and
Jonathan his son be dead?
Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son
Jonathan are dead?”
And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and
slay me: for
anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
Then he
begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for
agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
Then David took hold of his own clothes and
tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he
smote him that he died.
Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go,
execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died.
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said,
Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto
Hebron.
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered.
Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To
Hebron,” replied the LORD.
And the men of Judah came, and there they
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of
Jabesh-
gilead were they that buried Saul.
Then the men of Judah came to
Hebron, and there they
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of
Jabesh-
gilead who buried Saul.”
Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye
valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have
anointed me king over them.
Now
then, be strong and
courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has
anointed me as their king.”
And
Abner said to
Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And
Joab said, Let them arise.
Then Abner said to
Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and
compete before us.” “Let them get up,”
Joab replied.
Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which
pertained to
Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and
Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.
And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in
Gibeon.
Then each man
grabbed his
opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his
opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in
Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou
Asahel? And he answered, I am.
And
Abner said again to
Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I
smite thee to the ground? how
then should I hold up my face to
Joab thy brother?
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.”
And they took up
Asahel, and buried him in the
sepulchre of his father, which was in
Bethlehem. And
Joab and his men went all night, and they came to
Hebron at break of day.
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!
And
Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
And David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I
espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
Then David sent messengers to say to
Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I
betrothed to myself for a hundred
Philistine foreskins.”
And her husband went with her along
weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said
Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
Her husband followed her,
weeping all the way to Bahurim.
Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.
Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
And
Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent
Abner away; and he went in peace.
Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed
Abner, and he went in peace.
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.
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold,
Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
So
Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look,
Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!
And David said to
Joab, and to all the people that were with him,
Rend your clothes, and
gird you with
sackcloth, and
mourn before
Abner. And king David himself followed the
bier.
Then David ordered
Joab and all the people with him, “
Tear your clothes, put on
sackcloth, and
mourn before
Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral
bier.
And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David
sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God
punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
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?
And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have
fetched wheat; and they
smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they
stabbed him in the stomach.
Then Rechab and his brother Baanah
slipped away.
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto
Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at
Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the
mulberry trees, that
then thou shalt
bestir thyself: for
then shall the LORD go out before thee, to
smite the host of the Philistines.
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the
balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the
cherubim that are on it.
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place
Perez-uzzah to this day.
Then David became
angry because the LORD had
burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place
Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a
cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a
flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a
loaf of bread, a date
cake, and a
raisin cake. And all the people departed, each for his own home.
Then David returned to
bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel
today, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows
shamelessly uncovereth himself!
As soon as David returned home to
bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself
today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself
today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”
Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the
sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.
Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went.
Then he placed garrisons in
Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
Then Toi sent
Joram his son unto king David, to
salute him, and to
bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and
smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And
Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
he sent his son
Joram to
greet King David and
bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi.
Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may
shew him kindness for
Jonathan’s sake?
Then David asked, “Is there
anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of
Jonathan?”
Then king David sent, and
fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-
debar.
So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-
debar.
Now when Mephibosheth, the son of
Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
And when Mephibosheth son of
Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence.
Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that
pertained to Saul and to all his house.
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth
ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.
Then said David, I will
shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of
Ammon.
And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to
console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the
Ammonites,
When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly
ashamed: and the king said,
Tarry at
Jericho until your beards be grown, and
then return.
When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly
humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in
Jericho until your beards have grown back, and
then return.”
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me,
then thou shalt help me: but if the children of
Ammon be too strong for thee,
then I will come and help thee.
“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said
Joab, “
then you will come to my
rescue. And if the
Ammonites are too strong for you,
then I will come to your
rescue.
And when the children of
Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled,
then fled they also before
Abishai, and entered into the city. So
Joab returned from the children of
Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
When the
Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before
Abishai, and they entered the city. So
Joab returned from fighting against the
Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in
array against David, and fought with him.
When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam.
Then the Arameans
arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was
purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he
slept with her. (Now she had just
purified herself from her uncleanness.)
Then she returned home.
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a
mess of meat from the king.
Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
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 he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the
forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be
smitten, and die.
In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
Joab sent to David a full account of the battle
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.’”
And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And 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.
And the LORD sent
Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
Then the LORD sent
Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
And
Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I
anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I
anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Wherefore hast thou
despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of
Ammon.
Why
then have you
despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the
Ammonites.
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 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.”
Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and
anointed himself, and changed his
apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped:
then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then David got up from the ground, washed and
anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped.
Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he
ate.
Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou
didst fast and
weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou
didst rise and eat bread.
“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and
wept, but when he died, you got up and
ate.”
And David comforted Bath-
sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child
And
Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.
And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight
whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the
spoil of the city in great abundance.
Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It
weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of
plunder from the city.
And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the
brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of
Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the
Ammonite cities.
Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”
And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send
everyone away!” said Amnon. And
everyone went out.
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the
bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s
bedroom.
Then Amnon
hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred
wherewith he
hated her was greater than the love
wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
Then Amnon
hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and
bolt the door after her.
Instead, he called to his
attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and
bolt the door behind her!”
And she had a garment of
divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins
apparelled.
Then his servant brought her out, and
bolted the door after her.
So Amnon’s
attendant threw her out and
bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a
robe of many colors, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters
wore.
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 the servants of
Absalom did unto Amnon as
Absalom had commanded.
Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man
gat him up upon his
mule, and fled.
So
Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as
Absalom had ordered.
Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his
mule.
Then the king arose, and
tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
Then the king stood up,
tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes
torn.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and
wept: and the king also and all his servants
wept very
sore.
And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in,
wailing loudly.
Then the king and all his servants also
wept very bitterly.
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 come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So
Joab put the words in her mouth.
Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And
Joab put the words in her mouth.
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.”
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.”
Then the woman said, Let thine
handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied.
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?
Then thine
handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to
discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to
discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
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 unto
Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man
Absalom again.
Then the king said to
Joab, “I
hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man
Absalom.”
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.
Therefore he said unto his servants, See,
Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And
Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look,
Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” And
Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
Then Joab arose, and came to
Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
Then Joab came to
Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
So
Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for
Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king
kissed Absalom.
So
Joab went and told the king, and David summoned
Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him.
Then the king
kissed Absalom.
And
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment,
then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever
anyone had a
grievance to bring before the king for a decision,
Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
And he would add, “If only someone would
appoint me judge in the land,
then everyone with a
grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
For thy servant
vowed a
vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem,
then I will serve the LORD.
For your servant made a
vow while dwelling in Geshur of
Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in
Hebron.’”
