22 And he faid, While the Child was yet alive, I fafted and wept for I faid, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the Child may live?

23 But now he is dead, wherefore fhould I faft? can I bring him back again? I fhall go to him, but he shall not

return to me.

24 And David comforted Bath-fheba his Wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her and fhe bare a Son, and he called his Name Solomon; and the LORD loved him.

25 And he sent by the Hand of Nathan the Prophet; and he called his Name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the Children of Ammon, and took the royal City.

27 And Joab fent Meffengers to David, and faid, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the City of Waters. 28 Now therefore gather the reft of the People together, and encamp against the City, and take it: left I take the City, and it be called after my Name.

29 And David gathered all the People together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

CHA P. XIII.

1 Ammon loving Tamar, by Jonadab's Counsel feigning himself fick, ravisheth her: 15 He hateth her, and turneth her away: 23 Is flain by Abfalom.

CHA P. XIV.

Joab fuborning a Widow of Tekoah to incline the King's Heart to fetch home Abfalom, 23 bringeth him to Jerufalem.

CHA P. XV.

Abfalom frealeth the Hearts of Ifrael: 10 He maketh a Confpiracy. 15 David fleeth from Jerusalem.

Ver. 1 A

ND it came to pafs after this, that Abfalom prepared him Chariots, and Horfes, and fifty Men

to run before him.

2 And Abfalom rofe up early, and ftood befide the Way of the Gate and it was fo, that when any Man, that had a Controverfy, came to the King for Judgment, then Abfalom

:

called

called unto him, and faid, Of what City art thou? And he faid, Thy Servant is of one of the Tribes of Ifrael.

3 And Abfalom faid unto him, See, thy Matters are good and right, but there is no Man deputed of the King to hear thee.

4 Abfalom said moreover, Oh that I were made Judge in the Land, that every Man which hath any Suit or Caufe, might come unto me, and I would do him Juftice.

5 And it was fo, that when any Man came nigh to him to do him Obeifance, he put forth his Hand, and took him and kiffed him.

6 And on this manner did Abfalom to all Ifrael that came to the King for Judgment: fo Abfalom ftole the Hearts of the Men of Ifrael.

7 And it came to pafs after forty Years, that Abfalom faid unto the King, I pray thee, let me go and pay my Vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD in Hebron.

8 For thy Servant vowed a Vow while I abode at Gefhur in Syria, faying, If the LORD fhall bring me again indeed to Jerufalem, then I will ferve the LORD.

9 And the King faid unto him, Go in Peace. So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 But Abfalom fent Spies throughout all the Tribes of Ifrael, faying, Affoon as ye hear the Sound of the Trumpet, then ye fhall fay, Abfalom reigneth in Hebron.

II And with Abfalom went two hundred Men out of Jerufalem, that were called, and they went in their SIMPLI CITY, and they knew not any thing.

12 And Abfalom fent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's Counseller: and the Confpiracy was strong; for the People increased continually with Abfalom.

13 And there came a Meffenger to David, faying, The Hearts of the Men of Ifrael are after Abfalom.

14 8 And David faid unto

SPSA L. III.

Abfalom his Son.

LD, how are they increa'ed
that trouble me? many are they
that ri'e up against me.
soul, There is NO HELP for him ia
2 Many there be which fay of my
GOD.

all his Servants that were with A Pfalm of David when he fled from him at Jerufalem, Arife, and let us flee; for we fhall not elfe escape from Abfalom: make speed to depart, left he overtake us fuddenly, and bring Evil upon us, and smite the City with the Edge of the Sword.

3 But thou, O LORD, art a SHIELD for me; MY GLORY, and the Lifter

up of mine Head.

4 I cried unto the LORD with my 15 And

Hhh

Voice, and he heard me out of his holy Hill.

I laid me down and flept; I a waked, for the LORD SUSTAINED me,

6 I will not be AFRAID of ten thoufands of People, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arife, O LORD, SAVE ME, Omy GOD; for thou haft fmitten all mine haft broken the Teeth of the UnEnemies upon the Cheek bone: thou godly.

8 SALVATION belongeth unto the LORD thy Bleffing is upon thy People.

17 And the King went forth, and all the People after him, and tarried in a Place that was far off.

18 And all his Servants paffed on befide him;`fix hundred Men which came after him from Gath, paffed on before the King.

23 And all the Countrey wept with a loud Voice, and all the People paffed over the King also himself paffed over the Brook Kidron, and all the People paffed over toward the way of the Wilderness.

24 And lo, Zadok alfo, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ARK of the Covenant of GOD, and they fet down the Ark of GOD; and Abiathar went up, until all the People had done paffing out of the City.

25 And the King faid unto Zadok, Carry back the ARK of God into the City: if I fhall find FAVOUR in the Eyes of the LORD, he will BRING me again, and SHEW me both it, and his Habitation.

26 But if he thus fay, I have no Delight in thee: behold, here AM I, LET him do to me as SEEMETH good un

to HIM.

27 The King faid alfo unto Zadok the Priest, Art not thou a Seer? return into the City in peace, and your two Sons with you, Ahimaaz thy Son, and Jonathan the Son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the Plain of the Wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the Ark of GOD again to Jerufalem; and they tarried there.

30 And David went up by the ASCENT of MOUNT OLIVET, and WEPT as he went up, and had his Head covered, and he went BARE-FOOT and all the People that was with

him, covered every Man his Head, and they went up, WEEPING as they went up.

31 And one told David, faying, Ahithophel is among the Confpirators with Abfalom. And David faid, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the COUNSEL of Ahithophel into FOOLISH

NESS.

32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the Top of the Mount, where he WORSHIPPED GOD, behold, Hufhai the Archite came to meet him, with his Coat rent, and Earth upon his Head:

33 Unto whom David faid, If thou paffeft on with me, then fhalt thou be a Burthen unto me.

34 But if thou return to the City, and fay unto Abfalom, I will be thy Servant, O King, as I have been thy Father's Servant hitherto, fo will I now alfo be thy Servant : then mayeft thou for me DEFEAT the Counsel of Ahithophel.

35 And haft not thou there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the Priests? therefore it fhall be, that what Thing foever thou fhalt hear out of the King's Houfe, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the Priests.

36 Behold, they have there with them their two Sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's Son, and Jonathan Abiathar's Son: and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 So Hufhai David's Friend came into the City, and Abfalom came into Jerufalem.

CHA P. XVI.

Ziba by falfe Suggestions obtaineth his Mafter's Inheritance. 5 Shimei curfeth David. 9 David abftaineth, and restraineth others from Revenge. 20 Ahithophel's Counsel.

1 Abithophel's Counsel overthrown by Hufbai, according to GOD'S Appointment. 15 Secret Intelligence is fent unto David. 23 Abithophel hangeth himself.

1 David viewing the Armies, giveth them Charge of Abfalom. 9 Abfalom is flain by Joab. 33 David lamenteth him.

Ver. 1 ND David numbred the People that were with him, and fet Captains of Thoufands, and Cap

tains of Hundreds over them.

2 And David fent forth a Third part of the People under the Hand of Joab, and a Third part under the Hand of Abifhai the Son of Zeruiah Joab's Brother, and a Third part under the Hand of Ittai the Gittite: and the King faid unto the People, I will furely go forth with you myself alfo.

3 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 fuccour us out of the City.

4 And the King faid unto them, What seemeth you best, I will do. And the King ftood by the Gate-fide, and all the People came out by Hundreds, and by Thousands.

5 And the King commanded Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, faying, Deal gently for my fake with the young Man, even with Abfalom. And all the People heard when the King gave all the Captains Charge concerning Abfalom.

6 So the People went out into the Field against Ifrael: and the Battle was in the Wood Ephraim;

7 Where the People of Ifrael were flain before the Servants of David, and there was there a great Slaughter that Day of twenty thoufand Men.

8 For the Battle was there scattered over the Face of all the Countrey and the Wood devoured more People that Day than the Sword devoured.

9 And Abfalom met the Servants of David; and Abfalom 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.

10 And a certain Man faw it, and told Joab, and faid, Behold, I faw Abfalom hanged in an Oak.

11 And Joab faid unto the Man that told him, And behold, thou faweft him, and why didft thou not fmite him there to the Ground, and I would have given thee ten Shekels of Silver, and a Girdle?

12 And the Man faid unto Joab, Though I fhould receive a thoufand Shekels of Silver in mine Hand, yet would I not put forth mine Hand against the King's Son: for in our

hearing