and

Jer.41.17.

9 choose.

ITh.5.26.

10 Chimhan.

i ver. 11-15.

why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?f 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, h Ge.31.55. 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. 38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatso-1 Ju.8.1. ever thou shalt 9 require of me, that will I do for thee.

k ver. 12.

39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed h Bar-a zillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and 10 Chimham went on with him and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

11 set us at light.

Ja.3.2-10.

(CHAP. 20.)

ch. 19.43. 1Ki. 12.16. Lu. 19. 14.

b Ps.62.9.

41 T And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our bre-d thren the men of Judah, stolen thee away, and have i brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kink 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?

43 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 11 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.

CHAPTER XX.

c ch.19.41.

2 Ch.10.17.

ch. 15. 16. 16.21,22.

1 an house of ward.

e Ge.40.3,4,7.

2 bound.

3 in widow hood of life.

Call. fch.19. 13.

g ch.11.11.

1Ki. 1.33.

5 deliver himself from our eyes.

By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba h 1Ki. 1.38. maketh a party in Israel.

AND there happened to be there i Lu.22.47.

a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trum-1 pet, and said, We have no part a in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2 Sob every man of Israel went

k 1Ki.2.5.

ch.2.23.

doubled not

his stroke.

Sheba's revolt.

up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah c clave unto their king, from Jordan even toJerusalem. 3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, d whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in 1 ward, e and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were 2 shut up unto the day of their death, 3 living in widowhood.

4 T Then said the king to Amasa, 4 Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

5 So Amasa went f to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.

6 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, g and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and 5 escape us.

7 And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, h and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

8 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.

9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss i him.

10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he k smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and 6 struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

11 And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.

12 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.

13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

Sheba is beheaded.

14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, m and to Beth-maachalı, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.

15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank n against the city, and it stood 7 in the trench: and all the people that were with Joabbattered the wall, to throw it down.

16 T 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. 17 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. answered, I do hear.

And he

18 Then she spake, saving, 9 They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel and so they ended the matter.

2Ch.16.4.

n 2Ki.19.32. or, against the outmost

wall.

8 marred to throw down. 9 or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel,

and so make an end. De.20.11.

o Ju.5.7.

10 his name. p Ec.9.14-16. 11 were scattered.

LORD?

20 And Joab answered and said. Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, (Sheba the son of Bichri by 10 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.

22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. p 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 11 retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

12or, remem

brancer.

13 or, a prince

ch.8.18.
Ge.41.45.
Ex.2.16.

(CHAP. 21.) sought the face, Nu.27.21.

a 1Sa.22.19. b Jos.9.3-21.

2

c ch.20.19.

or, It is not
silver nor
gold that
we have to

do with
Saul, or

neither

Three years' famine, &c.

year after year; and David 1 inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.a

2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were b 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.)

3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall 1 do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance c of the LORD?

4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, 2 We will have no silver & nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 5 And they answered the king. The man that consumed us, and that 3 devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

6 Let seven men of his sons e be

delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah f of Saul, 4 whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath g that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah h the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of 5 Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

9 And he delivered them into the his house; hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before i the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barleyharvest.

pertains it to us to kill. d Fs.49.6,7. 3or,cut us off

f 18a. 10.26. 4 chosen of the LORD. g Isa.20.15. h ch.3.7.

5or, Michal's

sister. 6 bare to Adriel, 1Sa.18.19. 1Sa. 15.33.

10 T And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

Jos. 18.28.

m ch.24.25. or, Rapha. 8 the staff. or,

the head.

n ch. 18.3.

candle, or,

lamp. o 1Ki. 11.36.

p 1Ch.20.4. 10 or, Sippai, 11 or, Rapha. 12 or, Jair.

13 or, Rapha. 14 or, reproached, 1Sa. 17.10. 25,26.

14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, 7 in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated m for the land. 15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. 16 And Ishbi-benob, (which was q 1Sa. 16.9, of the sons of the giant, the Shammah. weight of 8 whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight,) he being girded with a (CHAP. 22.) new sword, thought to have slain a Ps. 116.2.3. David.

b Ps. 18, title.

c Deut.32.4.

17 But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then d Ps.91.2. the men of David sware unto him, e Ge. 15.1. saying, Thou shalt go no more Ps.84.11. out with us to battle, that thou fLuke 1.69. quench not the 9 lighto of Israel.

g Pr. 18.19. h Ps. 46.1,11.

Jer. 16. 19.

or, pangs.

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle withi the Philistines at Gob: then Sib-1 bechai p the Hushathite slew: 2 Belial. 10 Saph, which was of the sons of 11 the giant.

3 or, cords.

19 And there was again a battle i Jon.2.2. in Gob with the Philistines, where k Ps.34.6,15. Eihanan the son of 12 Jaare-oregim, 1 Ju.5.4. a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother Hab.3.6, 10. of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of m Job 26.11. whose spear was like a weaver's 4 by. beam. n Ps.97.3,4. 20 And there was yet a battle in o Is.64.1. Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six p Ps.97.2. fingers, and on every foot six toes, q Eze.9.3. four and twenty in number; and r Ps. 104.3. he also was born to 13 the giant.

5 binding of

21 And when he 14defied Israel, waters. Jonathan the son of Shimeah, g thes Ps. 29.3. brother of David, slew him. Is.30.30. 22 These four were born to the t De.32.23. giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his

u Nahum 1.4.

6 or, anger, Ps.74.1.

or, great.

A psalm of thanksgiving for God's powerful deliverance and manifold v Is.43.2. blessings.

him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2 And he said, the LORD is my rock, c and my fortress, d and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust; he is my shield, e and the homf of my salvation, my high tower, g and my refuge, h my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be Saved from mine enemies.

5 When the 1 waves of death compassed me, the floods of 2 ungodly men made me afraid.

6 The 3 sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

7 In my distress i I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear k my voice out of This temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

8 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven m moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9 There went up a smoke 4 out of his nostrils, and fire out n of his mouth devoured: coals were kindied by it.

10 He bowed o the heavens also, and came down; and darkness p was under his feet.

11 And he rode upon a cherub, q and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings r of the wind.

12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, 5 dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14 The LORD thundered s from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15 And he sent out arrows, t and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16 And the channels of the sea u appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his 6 nostrils.

17 He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of 7 many waters; v

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

David's psalm

of thanksgiving.

21 The LORD rewarded me according a to my righteousness : according to the y cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22 For I have kept z the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

w ch. 15.26.

1Sa.26.23. y Job 17.9. z Pr.8.32.

a Ps. 119.30.
8 to him.
9 before his
eyes.

b Mat.5.7.
c Lev.26.23.
10 or,wrestle.
Dan.4.37.

23 For a all his judgments were before me and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright 8 before him, and have kept myself from mined iniquity. 25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness 9 in his eye-sight.

26 With the merciful b thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.

27 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward c thou wilt 10 show thyself

unsavoury.

28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save but thine eyes are upon the haughty, d that thou mayest bring them down.

29 For thou art my 11 lamp, O LORD and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 For by thee I have 12 run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is 13 tried he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

11 or, candle. 12 or, broken. 13 or,refined. 14 riddeth, or

looseth.

15 equalleth. e Hab.3.19. for the war, 17 multiplied

me.

18 ankles. f Mal.4.3. g Ps.44.5.

19 caused to bow.

h Ge.49.8. Jos. 10.24. i Pr.1.28. Mi.3.4.

k 2Ki.13.7.

7 Mi.7.10. m ch.3.1.

19.9,14. 20.1,2,22.

n Ps.2.8. 20 Sons of the stranger.

21 he,or,yield feigned obedience, De.33.29. Ps.66.3.

32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power: and he 14 maketh my way perfect. 34 He 15 maketh my feet e like 22 giveth ahinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

35 He teacheth my hands 16 to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath 17 made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my 18 feet did not slip.

38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

o Mi.7.17.

p

vengement for me, ch. 18.19,31. ISa. 25.39. Ps.52.1,5,8. 2Th, 3.2.

Ps.89.29,36. (CHAP. 23.) a Ps.78.70,71. Lu.24.44.

c 2 Pet. 1.21.

or, Bethou ruler, &c. Ps. 110.2. d Pr.31.9. e Ex. 18.21. 2Ch.19.7,9.

39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they f Pr.4.18. could not arise: yea, they areg Ps.72.6. fallen funder my feet.

40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them g that

h ch.7.14-16. Is.55.3.

41 Thou hast also given me the h necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42 They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but 2 he answered them not.

43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust k of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire l'of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings m of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen; n a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45 20 Strangers shall 21 submit themselves unto me; as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient

50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

51 He is the tower of salvation for his king and showeth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.q

CHAPTER XXIII. David in his last words professeth his faith in God's promises.

TOW these be the last words of David David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised a up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist b of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit c of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, 1 He that ruleth over men must be just, d ruling in the fear e of God.

4 And he shall be as the light ƒ of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.g 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an h everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my