David's thanksgiving, &c. Chap. xxiii. 25 Therefore the LORD hath recom-| pensed me according to my righteouf nefs; according to my cleannefs in his eye fight. 26 With the merciful thou wilt fhew thyfelf merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt fhew thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt fhew thyfelf pure; and with the froward thou wilt fhew thyfeif unfavoury. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt fave: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. 30 For by thee I have 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 tried: he is a buckler to all them that truft in him. 32 For who is God, fave the LORD? and who is a rock, fave our God? 33 God is my ftrength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 34 He maketh my feet like hind's feet and fetteth me upon my high places. 35 He teacheth my hands to war; fo that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou haft alfo given me the fhield of thy falvation : and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou haft enlarged my steps under me; fo that my feet did not flip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and deftroyed them; and turned not again until I had confumed them. 39 And I have confumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou haft girded me with ftrength to battle: them that rose up against me haft thou fubdued under me. 41 Thou haft alfo given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might deftroy them that bate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to fave; even unto the LORD, but he anfwered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as fmall as the duft of the earth, I did ftamp them as the mire of the ftreet, and did spread them abroad. 44 Thou alfo haft delivered me from the ftrivings of my people, thou haft kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not fhall ferve me. 45 Strangers fhall fubmit themselves unto me: as foon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46 Strangers fhall fade away, and they hall be afraid out of their clofe places. His last words. 47 The LORD liveth; and bleffed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my falvation. 48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou alfo haft lifted me up on high above them that rofe up againft me; thou haft delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will fing praifes unto thy name. 51 He is the tower of falvation for his king: and fheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his feed for evermore. CHAP. XXIII. I David profeffeth his faith in God's promifes. 8 A catalogue of his mighty men. OW Now thefe be the last words of David. David the fon of Jeffe faid, and the man who was raifed up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the fweet pfalmift of Ifrael, faid, 2 The Spirit of the LORD fpake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Ifrael faid, the Rock of Ifrael fpake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the fun rifeth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grafs Springing out of the earth by clear fhining after rain. 5 Although my house be not fo with God; yet he hath made with me an everlafting covenant, ordered in all things, and fure: for this is all my falvation, and all my defire, although he make it not to grow. 6 But the fons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thruft away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that fhall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a fpear; and they fhall be utterly burned with fire in the fame place. 8 ¶ These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that fat in the feat, chief among the captains; the fame as Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he flew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the fon of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philiftines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Ifrael were gone away: 10 He arofe, and fmote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the fword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. A catalogue of David's worthies. II. SAMUEL. He numbereth the people. of the thirty; Elhanan the fon of Dodo of Beth-lehem, 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the 11 And after him was Shammah the fon of Agee the Hararite. And the Philiftines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full | Harodite, of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philiftines. 12 But he ftood in the midft of the ground, and defended it, and flew the Philiftines and the LORD wrought a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief went! down, and came to David in the harveft time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philiftines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrifon of the Philiflines avas then in Beth-lehem. 15 And David longed, and faid, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the hoft of the Philiftines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I fhould do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the fon of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his fpear against three hundred, and new them, and had the name among three. 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkefh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Huthathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the fon of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the fons of Jafhen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the fon of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the fon of Ahafbai, the fon of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 36 Igal the fon of Nathan of Zobak, Bani the Gadite, 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the fon of Zeruiah, 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,' 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all. CHAP. XXIV. David numbereth the people. 10 He, hav ing three plagues propounded by Gad, repenteth, and choofeth the three days' peftilence. 17 His interceffion to God. again the of the Was henot molt honourable of three? A was kindled against Ifracl, and he therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the fon of Jehoiada, the fon of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he flew two lion-like men of Moab: he went down alfo and flew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of fnow: 21 And he flew an Egyptian, a goodly man and the Egyptian had a fpear in his hand; but he went down to him with a ftaff, and plucked the fpear out of the Egyptian's hand, and flew him with his own spear. 22 Thefe things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David fet him over his guard. 24 Afahel the brother of Joab was one moved David against them to fay, Go, number Ifrael and Judah. 2 For the king faid to Joab the captain of the hoft, which was with him, Go` now through all the tribes of Ifrael, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3 And Joab faid unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many foever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may fee it but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? 4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed againft Joab, and against the captains of the hoft. And Joab and the captains of the hoft went out from the prefence of the king, to number the people of Ifrael. s And they paffed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right fide of the The three days' peftilence. Chap. xxiv. Araunah's generofity. city that lieth in the midft of the river of LORD repented him of the evil, and said Gad, and toward Jazer: to the angel that deftroyed the people, It is enough: ftay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebufite. 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; ard they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zilon, 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the fouth of Judah, even to Beer-fheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerufalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave up the fum of the Aumber of the people unto the king: and There were in Ifrael eight hundred thoufand valiant men that drew the fword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 17 And David fpake unto the LORD when he faw the angel that fmote the people, and faid, Lo, I have finned, and I have done wickedly: but these fheep, what have they done? let thine hand, pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 18 And Gad came that day to David, and faid unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebufite. 19 And David, according to the fay ing of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. 10 T And David's heart fmote him after that he had numbered the people. 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the And David faid unto the LORD, I have king and his fervants coming on toward finned greatly in that I have done and him and Araunah went out, and bowed now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away himfelf before the king on his face upon the iniquity of thy fervant; for I have the ground. done very foolishly. F For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's feer, faying, 12 Go and fay unto David, Thus faith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and faid unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' peftilence in thy land? now advise, and fee what anfwer I fhall return to him that fent me. 14 And David faid unto Gad, I am in a great ftrait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15 So the LORD fent a peftilence upon Ifrael from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-fheba feventy thousand men. 16 And when the angel ftretched out his hand upon Jerufalem to deftroy it, the 21 And Araunah faid, Wherefore is my LORD the king come to his fervant? And David faid, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22 And Araunah faid unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what fecmeth good unto him: behold, bere be oxen for burnt facrifice, and threshing inftruments and other inftruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, ás a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king faid unto Araunah, Nay; but I will furely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth coft me nothing. So David bought the threfhingfloor and the oxen for fifty fhekels of filver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Ifrael. THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS, COMMONLY CALLED, THE THIRD BOOK OF THE KINGS. CHAP. I. Abifhag cherisheth David in his extreme ththinah, David's darling, ufurp. eth kingdom. 32 Solomon, by David's appointment, is anointed king by Zadok and Nathan. 50 Adonijah, fleeing to the borns of the altar, is difmiffed by Solomon. NOW king David was old and trick en in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat. 2 Wherefore Adonijah ufurpeth the kingdom. I. KINGS. His treafon difcovered. 2 Wherefore his fervants faid unto obeifance unto the king. And the king him, Let there be fought for my lord the faid, What wouldeft thou? king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bofom, that my lord the king may get heat. 3 So they fought for a fair damfel throughout all the coafts of Ifrael, and found Abihag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.' 4 And the damfel avas very fair, and cherished the king, and miniftered to him but the king knew her not. 5 ¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, faying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horfemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 And his father had not difpleafed him at any time in faying, Why haft thou done fo? and he alfo was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Abfalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the fon of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. 8 But Zadok the prieft, and Benaiah the fon of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. 9 And Adonijah flew fheep and oxen and fat cattle by the ftone of Zoheleth, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brethren the king's fons, and all the men of Judah the king's fervants: IO But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not. 11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathfheba the mother of Solomon, faying, Halt thou not heard that Adonijah the fon of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counfel, that thou mayet fave thine own life, and the life of thy fon Solomon. 13 Go and get thee in unto king David, and fay unto him, Didit not thou, my lord, O king, fwear unto thine handmaid, faying, Affuredly Solomon thy fon fhali reign after ine, and he fhall fit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign? 14 Behold, while thou yet talkeft there with the king, I alfo will come in after thee, and confirm thy words. 15 And Bath-fheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abifhag the Shunammite miniftered unto the king. 16 And Bath-fheba bowed, and did 17 And the faid unto him, My lord, thou fwareft by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Affuredly Solomon thy fon thall reign after me, and he fhall fit upon my throne. 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knoweft it not: 19 And he hath flain oxen and fat cattle and fheep in abundance, and hath called all the fons of the king, and Abiathar the prieft, and Joab the captain of the hoft but Solomon thy fervant hath he not called. 20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Ifrael are upon thee, that thou fhouldeft tell them who fhall fit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it fhall come to pals, when my lord the king fhall fleep with his fathers, that I and my fon Solomon fhall be counted offenders. 22 And, lo, while fhe yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 23 And they told the king, faying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan faid, My lord, O king, haft thou faid, Adonijah thall reign after me, and he fhall fit upon my throne? 25 For he is gone down this day, and hath flain oxen and fat cattle and fheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's fons, and the captains of the hoft, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. 26 But me, even me thy fervant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy fervant Solomon, hath he not called. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou haft not fhewed it unto thy fervant, who fhould fit on the throne of my lord the king after him? 28 Then king David anfwered and faid, Call me Bath-fheba. And the came into the king's prefence, and stood before the king. 29 And the king fware, and faid, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my foul out of all diftrefs, 30 Even as I fware unto thee by the LORD God of Ifrael, faying, Affuredly Solomon thy fon fhall reign after me, and he fhall fit upon my throne in my stead; even fo will I certainly do this day. 31 Then Bath-fheba bowed with her Solomon anointed king. Chap. ii. face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and faid, Let my lord king David live for ever. 32 And king David faid, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the fon of Jehoiada. And they came before the king. 33 The king also faid unto them, Take with you the fervants of your lord, and cause Solomon my fon to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon : 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Ifrael: and blow ye with the trumpet, and fay, God fave king Solomon. 35 Then ye fhall come up after him, that he may come and fit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my ftead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Ifrael and over Judah. 36 And Benaiah the fon of Jehoiada anfwered the king, and faid, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king fay fo too. 37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even fo be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David. 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caufed Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people faid, God fave king Solomon. 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, fo that the earth rent with the found of them. 41 And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the found of the trumpet, he faid, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar? 42 And while he yet fpake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringeft good tidings. 43 And Jonathan anfwered and faid to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. 44 And the king hath fent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the fon of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caufed him to ride upon the king's mule: David's charge to him. 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, fo that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 46 And alfo Solomon fitteth on the throne of the kingdom. 47 And moreover the king's fervants came to blefs our lord king David, faying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed. 48 And alfo thus faid the king, Bleffed be the LORD God of Ifrael, which hath given one to fit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it. 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. 50 ¶ And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arofe, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, faying, Let king Solomon fwear unto me to day that he will not flay his fervant with the fword. 52 And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickednefs fhall be found in him, he fhall die 53 So king Solomon fent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house. CHAP. II. 1 David, having giving a charge to Solo- 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou ftrong therefore, and fhew thyself a man ; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his ftatutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his teftimonies, as it is written in the law of Mofes, that thou mayeft profper in all that thou doeft, and whitherfoever thou turneft thyself: 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, faying, If thy children take heed to their wav, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their foul, there fhall not fail thee (faid he) a man on the 5 More throne of Ifrael. U |