David

19Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, "Let me run and tell the king the news. The LORD has saved him from his enemies."

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

NoteZadok was a priest, a man who led people in worshiping God. There were no phones then, so news was carried by fast runners. When LORD is printed in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

20Joab said, "You are not the one to carry news today. You may do it another day. But not today, because the king's son is dead."

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.

NoteA runner who brought happy news often got a reward. A runner with sad news could face an angry king.

21Then Joab said to a man from Cush, "Go and tell the king what you saw." The man bowed to Joab and started running.

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

NoteCush was a land far to the south, in Africa. Bowing was a way of showing respect.

22Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, asked Joab again. He said, "No matter what, please let me run after him too." Joab said, "Why run, my son? Your news will not earn you any reward."

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

23"No matter what, I want to run," he said. Joab said, "Then run." So Ahimaaz ran along the flat road and passed the other man.

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.

NoteOne road went over hills and one went along flat ground. The flat road was longer but much easier to run.

24David was sitting between the two gates of the city. A guard climbed up to the roof over the gate. He looked out and saw a man running alone.

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.

NoteCity gates had an outer gate and an inner gate, with a space between. From the roof above, a guard could see far down the road.

25The guard shouted the news down to the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he is bringing news." The runner came closer and closer.

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.

NoteOne man running alone means a messenger. A whole crowd running would mean the army had lost and was fleeing.

26Then the guard saw another man running. He called down to the gatekeeper, "Look, another man is running alone!" The king said, "He is bringing news too."

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.

NoteThe gatekeeper was the man who opened and shut the city gate.

27The guard said, "The first man runs like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man. He is bringing good news."

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.

28Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, "Praise the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who fought against you, my king."

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.

NoteLying face down on the ground was how people showed great respect to a king.

29The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me, I saw a lot of noise and rushing about. But I did not know what it was."

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.

Note"The king's servant" here means the other runner, the man from Cush.

30The king said to him, "Step aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood still.

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31Then the man from Cush arrived. He said, "Good news, my king! Today the LORD has saved you from everyone who fought against you."

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.

32The king asked him, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The man answered, "May all your enemies end up like that young man. May everyone who wants to hurt you end up like him."

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.

NoteHe does not say it straight out. He is telling David that Absalom is dead.

33The king shook with sadness. He went up to the room over the gate and cried. As he walked, he said, "Oh, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you. Oh Absalom, my son, my son!"

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!

NoteThe room over the gate was a small room built above the gateway.

1Someone told Joab, "The king is crying. He is very sad about Absalom."

And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

NoteJoab was the leader of David's army. Absalom was David's son. He had tried to take his father's throne, and he died in the battle.

2The army had won the battle that day. But everyone felt sad instead of glad. They heard that the king was grieving for his son.

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.

3The soldiers crept quietly into the city that day. They acted ashamed, like men who run away from a fight.

And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

Note"Gat them by stealth" means they slipped in quietly. The soldiers had won, but they came home like men who had lost.

4But the king covered his face. He cried out loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my 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!

5Joab came into the house to the king. He said, "Today you shamed all the men who serve you. They saved your life today. They saved your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your other wives.

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;

NoteThe King James word "concubines" means wives who had a lower place in the family. The rendering calls them "your other wives."

6You love the people who hate you. You hate the people who love you. Today you showed that your leaders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I see it. If Absalom were alive and all of us dead, you would be glad.

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.

7So get up now. Go outside and speak kindly to your men. I promise before the LORD, if you stay inside, not one man will be with you tonight. That would be worse for you than every bad thing since you were young."

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.

Note"Speak comfortably" in the King James means speak kind, gentle words. It does not mean comfy.

8So the king got up and sat in the city gate. People told everyone, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then all the people came to him. The soldiers had run home.

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.

NoteThe city gate was a wide doorway in the town wall. It was the place where a king met his people and settled arguments. Sitting there showed he was back at work as king.

9All through the tribes of Israel people argued with each other. They said, "The king saved us from our enemies. He saved us from the Philistines. Now he has run out of the land because of Absalom.

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.

NoteIsrael was made up of twelve big family groups called tribes. The Philistines were a people who lived nearby and often fought against Israel.

10And Absalom, the man we made king by pouring oil on him, died in the battle. So why is nobody talking about bringing David back?"

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

NoteTo anoint someone was to pour oil on his head. It was the way people showed that this man was now their king.

11King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests who served God for the people. He said, "Ask the leaders of Judah this. Why are you the last to bring the king home? All Israel is already talking about it.

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.

NoteA priest was a man who led worship and prayed to God for the people. Judah was one of the twelve tribes, and it was David's own tribe.

12You are my brothers. You are my own family. So why are you the last to bring the king back?"

Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

Note"Ye are my bones and my flesh" was a way of saying "you are my own family."

13"And tell Amasa this: You are my own family too. May God punish me if I do not make you leader of my army from now on, in place of Joab."

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.

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. David is offering the top job to the man who had just fought against him.

14David won over the hearts of all the men of Judah. They all agreed as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Come back, you and all your men."

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.

15So the king started home and came to the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They would help him cross the river.

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.

NoteThe Jordan was the big river David had to cross to get home. Gilgal was a town near that river.

16Shimei son of Gera hurried down with the men of Judah. He was from Bahurim, from the tribe of Benjamin. He came to meet King David.

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.

NoteShimei had thrown stones at David and shouted at him when David ran away from Jerusalem. Benjamin was the tribe of Saul, the king before David.

17A thousand men of Benjamin came with him. So did Ziba, who ran Saul's household. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurried down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

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.

NoteZiba was the servant who took care of Saul's land and household.

18They crossed at the shallow place to carry the king's family over. They wanted to do whatever pleased him. When Shimei crossed the Jordan, he bowed low 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;

19He said, "My king, please do not count me guilty. Please forget the wrong I did to you. I did it the day you left Jerusalem. Please do not hold it against me.

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.

20I know that I did wrong. So today I am the first of all the northern families of Israel to come and meet you."

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.

NoteThe "house of Joseph" meant the tribes living in the north of the country.

21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei die for this? He cursed the king that God chose."

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?

Note"The LORD's anointed" means the king God had chosen. Cursing him was treated as a very serious crime.

22David said, "Sons of Zeruiah, why are you against me today? No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know that I am king over Israel."

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?

NoteZeruiah was David's sister. Her sons Joab and Abishai were David's nephews and fought in his army.

23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king made him a promise.

Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

24Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet since the king left. He had not trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes. He waited until the king came home safely.

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.

NoteMephibosheth was the son of David's friend Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. People showed deep sadness by not washing, not trimming their hair, and wearing dirty clothes.

25He came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why did you not come with me?"

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?

26He answered, "My king, my legs do not work. I said, 'Saddle my donkey so I can ride and go with the king.' But my servant tricked 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.

27He told lies about me to you, my king. But you are like an angel of God. So do what seems right to you.

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.

NoteSaying someone is "as an angel of God" was a polite way of saying he is wise and fair.

28My grandfather's whole family deserved death from you. Yet you let me eat at your own table. So what more can I ask you for?"

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?

NoteEating at the king's table meant you were cared for like part of his family.

29The king said to him, "You do not need to say more. I have decided. You and Ziba will split the land."

And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

NoteThe land had belonged to King Saul. David had given it to Mephibosheth, and later gave it to Ziba instead.

30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let Ziba take it all. You have come home safely, and that is enough for me."

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.

31Barzillai from Gilead came down from his town, Rogelim. He went with the king to the Jordan to send him on his way.

And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

NoteGilead was the land on the far side of the Jordan River. Rogelim was Barzillai's town there.

32Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He was a very rich man. He had given the king food while David stayed at Mahanaim.

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.

Note"Fourscore" in the King James means eighty. A score is twenty. Mahanaim was the town where David stayed while he was away from Jerusalem.

33The king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me. I will take care of you in Jerusalem."

And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

34Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left? Why should I go up to Jerusalem with you?

And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

35I am eighty years old today. Can I still tell what is good and what is not? Can I even taste my food or drink? Can I still hear men and women singing? Why should I be a heavy load for my 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?

NoteKings kept singers to sing at their meals. Barzillai is saying he is too old to enjoy them now.

36I will only go a little way past the Jordan with you. Why should the king pay me back with such a big reward?

Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37Please let me go back home. I want to die in my own town. I want to be buried near my father and mother. But here is Chimham, who serves me. Let him go across with you. Do for him whatever seems good to you."

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.

NoteFamilies were buried together in one place. Being buried beside your parents mattered very much to people then.

38The king answered, "Chimham will come across with me. I will do for him whatever you want. And I will do anything you ask of me."

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.

39All the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.

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.

NoteA kiss on the cheek was a normal way for men to say hello or goodbye.

40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the men of Judah walked with the king. Half the men of Israel came too.

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.

1A troublemaker was there named Sheba son of Bichri. He came from the family group called Benjamin. He blew a ram's horn, a loud call to gather people. He shouted, "We want no part of David! We get nothing from Jesse's son! Israel, everyone go home!"

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.

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Each one came from a son of a man named Jacob. Benjamin was one of them. Jesse was David's father. Calling the king "Jesse's son" instead of "the king" was a rude way to talk about him.

2So the men of Israel left David and followed Sheba. But the men of Judah stayed with their king. They stayed with him from the Jordan River all the way to Jerusalem.

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.

NoteJudah was one of the twelve family groups. It was the biggest one in the south, and David came from it. Here "Israel" means all the other family groups. They often did not get along with Judah.

3David came back to his house in Jerusalem. He had left ten women there to care for the house. They were his concubines, wives who held a lower place in the family. He put them in a house with guards. He gave them food and all they needed. But he never slept with them again. They stayed shut in there until they died. They lived like widows, women whose husbands are gone.

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.

NoteAbsalom was David's son. He had tried to take his father's place as king. He had also taken these ten women for himself in front of everyone. That is why David did not live with them as wives again.

4Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah to come to me. Do it within three days. Be here yourself too."

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

NoteAmasa had been the leader of Absalom's army. After Absalom died, David forgave him and made him leader of his own army instead.

5So Amasa went to call the men of Judah. But he took longer than the king had told him.

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

6David said to Abishai, "Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom did. Take my servants and go after him. If he reaches strong walled cities, he will get away from us."

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.

NoteAbishai was Joab's brother. Both of them were David's soldiers and had fought for him for years. A walled city had thick high walls all around it. Once a man got inside one, it was very hard to catch him.

7So Joab's men marched out after Sheba. The Cherethites and the Pelethites went too. All the best fighters went with them. They left Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bichri.

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.

NoteThe Cherethites and the Pelethites were David's own guards. They came from other lands and were paid to protect the king.

8They stopped at the big rock near the town of Gibeon. Amasa came out to meet them there. Joab was wearing his soldier clothes and a belt. A sword in its cover was tied to the belt. As Joab stepped forward, the sword slipped out into his hand.

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.

NoteGibeon was a town a few miles north of Jerusalem. The big rock there was a landmark everyone knew, a good place to meet.

9Joab said to Amasa, "Are you well, my brother?" With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard to kiss him.

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

NoteTaking hold of a man's beard and kissing his cheek was a warm hello between friends. It was like giving someone a hug today. So Amasa was not expecting any trouble.

10Amasa was not watching the sword in Joab's hand. Joab pushed it into his belly. Amasa's insides spilled onto the ground. Joab did not have to strike him again. Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

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.

NoteThe King James says Joab struck him "in the fifth rib." That means the soft part of the belly, just under the ribs.

11One of Joab's young men stood near the body. He called out, "Everyone who likes Joab and stands with David, follow Joab!"

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.

12Amasa lay in his own blood in the middle of the road. The man saw that all the soldiers stopped there to look. So he pulled the body off the road into a field. Then he threw a cloth over it.

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.

NotePeople stopped and stared at the body lying in the road. Covering a dead person with a cloth was the kind and respectful thing to do. It also let the soldiers keep walking.

13Once the body was off the road, all the men went on with Joab. They kept chasing Sheba son of Bichri.

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

14Sheba went through all the family groups of Israel. He came to the town of Abel Beth Maacah. He passed through the whole land of the Berites. Those people came together and followed him.

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

NoteAbel Beth Maacah was a town far in the north of Israel. Sheba ran about as far from Jerusalem as he could get.

15Joab's soldiers came and shut Sheba inside that town. They piled up dirt into a ramp against the outer wall. All of Joab's men pounded the wall to knock it down.

And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, 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.

NoteWhen an army shut a town inside its own walls, no food or water could get in. That was called a siege. The soldiers piled dirt into a long ramp so they could reach the top of the wall.

16Then a wise woman called out from inside the town. "Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here. I want to talk with him."

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.

NoteA wise woman was someone the town trusted for good advice. When she spoke, people listened, even the soldiers outside.

17Joab came close to her. The woman asked, "Are you Joab?" He said, "I am." She said, "Listen to what I have to say." He said, "I am listening."

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.

NoteIn the King James she calls herself "thine handmaid," which means your servant. It was a polite way to talk to an important man.

18Then she said, "Long ago people had a saying. They said, 'Go ask for advice at Abel.' That is how arguments were settled.

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.

NoteThis town of Abel was famous for wise people. When two towns argued, they would come here and ask what to do. The woman is reminding Joab that her town helps people, it does not fight them.

19I am one of the peaceful, faithful people of Israel. You are trying to destroy a town that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up what belongs to the LORD?"

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?

NoteCalling a town "a mother in Israel" meant it was old and important. Smaller towns nearby looked up to it, the way children look up to a mother. "Swallow up" means to wipe out completely. "What belongs to the LORD" means the land God gave to his people.

20Joab answered, "No, never! I do not want to swallow up or destroy anything.

And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

21That is not what this is about. A man from the hills of Ephraim has turned against the king. His name is Sheba son of Bichri. He raised his hand against David. Just hand him over, and I will leave the town." The woman said to Joab, "We will throw his head to you over the wall."

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.

NoteEphraim was another of the twelve family groups. Its land was a hilly place north of Jerusalem. To "raise your hand" against the king means to fight him.

22Then the woman went and spoke wisely to all the people in the town. They cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. Joab blew the ram's horn. His men left the town and each one went home. Then Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

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.

1While David was king, there was no food for three years in a row. Crops failed year after year. David asked the LORD why. The LORD said, "It is because of Saul and his family. Saul killed the people of Gibeon."

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.

NoteA famine is a long time when crops will not grow. People go hungry because there is not enough food. When the story says David "enquired of the LORD," it means he asked God a question. Kings did this through a priest, a man whose job was to serve God and help people talk to him.

2So King David called the people of Gibeon and talked with them. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were the last of a people called the Amorites. Long ago Israel had made a solemn promise to them. But Saul had tried to kill them, because he cared only for Israel and Judah.

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.)

NoteLong before this, the people of Gibeon had made a deal with Israel. Israel promised in God's name never to hurt them. A promise made that way was meant to last forever. Saul broke it when he tried to kill them.

3David asked them, "What can I do for you? How can I make this wrong right? Then you can ask God to bless the people who belong to him."

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

Note"How can I make this wrong right?" is one word in the old text: atonement. It means doing something to fix a wrong you or your family did. Back then, a family who lost someone could say what would make things right again.

4The Gibeonites said, "We do not want silver or gold from Saul's family. And we may not just kill any man in Israel." David said, "Tell me what you want, and I will do it."

And the Gibeonites said unto him, 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.

NoteIn those days a family could take silver or gold instead. It was a payment for someone who had been killed. The Gibeonites said no to money.

5They said to the king, "Saul was the man who destroyed us. He made a plan to wipe us out so none of us would be left anywhere in Israel.

And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,

6So give us seven men from his family. We will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah, Saul's own town. Saul was the man the LORD once chose to be king." The king said, "I will give them to you."

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

NoteGibeah was the town Saul came from. Long ago, people thought a whole family shared the blame for what one man did. That is why Saul's sons and grandsons were asked for.

7But the king kept Mephibosheth safe. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David saved him because of the promise he and Jonathan had made before the LORD.

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

NoteJonathan was Saul's son and David's closest friend. The two of them had promised, with God listening, to look after each other's families. David kept that promise here.

8The king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons Rizpah had borne to Saul. Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah. He also took five sons of Saul's daughter, whom she had borne to Adriel. Adriel was the son of Barzillai from Meholah.

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

NoteOld copies of this book do not all say the same name here. Some say Michal, and some say her sister Merab. Both were daughters of Saul.

9He handed the seven men over to the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the hill before the LORD. All seven died together. It happened at the start of harvest time, when the barley was first cut.

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before 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 barley harvest.

NoteBarley is a grain, like wheat, that people ground up to make bread. It was cut in the spring, near the start of the growing year.

10Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took rough cloth and spread it on a rock. She stayed there from the start of harvest until rain fell from the sky. She would not let birds land on the bodies by day. She would not let wild animals near them by night.

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.

NoteRough cloth means sackcloth, scratchy cloth people wore when they were very sad. Rizpah spread it out to sit on. Guarding the bodies from birds and animals was her way of caring for her sons. And rain falling at last meant the dry years were over.

11Someone told David what Rizpah had done. She had been one of Saul's wives, but with a lower place in his house.

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

12Then David went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. He got them from the men of Jabesh-gilead. Those men had taken the bodies from the town square of Beth-shan. The Philistines had hung them there after they killed Saul at Mount Gilboa.

And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived near the sea. They fought against Israel again and again. Long before this they had killed Saul and hung his body up in a town so everyone would see. The men of Jabesh-gilead took it down because Saul had once saved their town.

13David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan back from that place. They also gathered the bones of the seven men who had been hanged.

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.

14They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, at a town called Zelah. They laid them in the grave of Kish, Saul's father. They did everything the king had told them to do. After that, God answered the prayers for the land.

And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

NoteA grave like this was a small cave where one family laid their dead. Being buried with your father and grandfather was a way of coming home.

15Later the Philistines went to war against Israel again. David and his men went down and fought them. But David grew very tired and weak.

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.

16A Philistine named Ishbi-benob came from a family of giants. The metal head of his spear weighed about eight pounds. He carried a new sword, and he meant to kill David.

And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.

NoteThe old text says the spear head weighed three hundred shekels. A shekel was a small weight, a little less than half an ounce. "Sons of the giant" means a family known for men who were very tall and strong.

17But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, came to help David. He struck that Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men made him promise something. They said, "You must never go out to battle with us again. The lamp of Israel must not go out."

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

NoteA lamp was a small clay dish of oil with a burning wick. Calling David the lamp of Israel was a way of saying he kept the country going. If he died, it would feel like the light going out.

18Some time later there was another battle with the Philistines at a place called Gob. There Sibbechai from Hushah killed Saph, another man from the family of giants.

And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

19There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Elhanan, the son of Jaare-oregim from Bethlehem, killed the brother of Goliath from Gath. The pole of that man's spear was as thick as a heavy bar on a weaving machine.

And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

NoteA weaving machine, or loom, had a thick wooden bar across it. Saying the spear was like that bar means it was as heavy as a fence post. Gath was one of the main Philistine cities.

20There was still another battle, this one at Gath. A very big man was there. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. That is twenty-four in all. He also came from the family of giants.

And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

21He made fun of Israel and dared them to fight. So Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of Shimeah, who was David's brother.

And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.

Note"Defied" means he shouted at Israel and dared them to fight him. Soldiers did this before a battle to make the other side afraid.

22These four men all came from the giant of Gath. David and his men killed every one of them.

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

1David sang this song to the LORD. God had saved him from all his enemies. God had also saved him from Saul.

And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

NoteSaul was the king before David. He chased David for years and tried to kill him. When LORD is printed in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

2He said, "The LORD is my rock. He is my safe fort. He sets me free.

And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

NoteCalling God a rock does not mean a small stone. It means a huge cliff of rock. People climbed up into the rocks to hide from enemies. A fort was a strong building with thick walls to keep people safe.

3My God is my rock. I hide in him. He is my shield. He is the strong horn that saves me. He is my high tower and my safe place. He saves me from people who want to hurt me.

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

NoteA shield was a big piece of wood and leather. A soldier held it up to stop arrows and swords. "The horn that saves me" is a picture from animals. A bull or a ram uses its horns to fight and win. So a horn was a way of saying strong power. A high tower was a tall stone building. People ran inside it when enemies came.

4I call out to the LORD. He deserves every bit of praise. And he saves me from my enemies.

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

5Death came at me like huge waves. Floods of wicked ruin rushed at me and made me afraid.

When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

NoteThe song calls the floods 'floods of Belial,' an old word for worthless, wicked ruin.

6Ropes from the place of the dead wrapped around me. Traps of death were right in front of me.

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

Note"The place of the dead" was how people talked about where people go when they die. The song says it felt like ropes tying David up.

7When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD. I cried out to my God. From his temple, his house, he heard my voice. My cry reached his ears.

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

NoteA temple is a special building where people go to worship God. Here it means God's own home up in heaven.

8Then the earth shook and rocked. The bottoms of the sky trembled. They shook because God was angry.

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

NoteLong ago people pictured the sky resting on huge pillars, like a house on posts. So the song says even those posts shook.

9Smoke came up from his nose. Fire came out of his mouth and burned things up. Hot coals blazed.

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

NoteSmoke from the nose is a picture of being very angry. We say someone is "steaming" when they are mad. This is the same idea.

10He opened up the sky and came down. Dark clouds were under his feet.

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

NoteThis is a word picture of a storm. A big dark storm looks like the sky bending down close to the ground.

11He rode on a cherub, a winged creature that serves God, and flew. He was seen on the wings of the wind.

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

NoteA cherub is a strong winged creature that serves God. The song pictures God riding one like a horse.

12He made the darkness into a tent around him. Dark water and thick clouds hid him.

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

NoteA tent is made of cloth held up on poles. Here the dark storm clouds are the tent that hides God.

13A bright light shone in front of him. Out of it, coals of fire blazed.

Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14The LORD thundered from heaven. The Most High God let his voice be heard.

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

Note"Most High" is a name for God. It means he is above everything and everyone.

15He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies. He sent lightning, and they ran away.

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

NoteLightning is the arrows in this picture. Soldiers shot arrows from bows to scatter an enemy.

16The bottom of the sea could be seen. The deep parts of the world lay open. This happened when the LORD spoke sharply and breathed out hard.

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

17He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of deep water.

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

18He saved me from my strong enemy. He saved me from people who hated me. They were too strong for me.

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

19They came at me on my worst day. But the LORD held me up.

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

20He brought me out to a wide open place. He saved me because he was glad with me.

He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21The LORD paid me back for doing what is right. My hands were clean, so he was good to me.

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

Note"Clean hands" does not mean washed with soap. It means David had not done wrong or cruel things.

22I have followed the LORD's ways. I have not turned away from my God to do wrong.

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

23I keep all his rules in front of me. I did not turn away from his laws.

For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24I did what was right in front of him. I kept myself from doing wrong.

I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25So the LORD was good to me because I did what is right. He saw that my hands were clean.

Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26To people who are kind, you show that you are kind. To people who do right, you show that you do right.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

27To people who are pure, you show that you are pure. But to people who are twisted, you act clever against them.

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

NoteTwisted means crooked, not straight. It describes people who cheat and trick others.

28You save people who are hurting. But you watch proud people and bring them down.

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

29LORD, you are my lamp. You turn my darkness into light.

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

NoteA lamp was a little clay bowl of oil with a burning wick. It was the only light people had at night.

30With your help I can charge at an army. With my God I can jump over a wall.

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

NoteTowns had tall stone walls all around them to keep enemies out. Getting over one was a very big deal.

31God's way is perfect. Every word the LORD says is proven true. He is a shield for all who hide in him.

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

32Who is God but the LORD? Who is a rock but our God?

For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

33God is my safe place and my strength. He makes my path clear and safe.

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34He makes my feet quick, like the feet of a deer. He helps me stand on high places.

He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

NoteDeer can run fast on steep rocky hills and not slip. That is why the song picks a deer.

35He teaches my hands how to fight. My arms are strong enough to bend a bow made of bronze.

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

NoteBronze is a hard metal. A bow that stiff would take huge strength to bend.

36You gave me your shield that keeps me safe. Your kindness has made me great.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37You made a wide path for my feet. So my feet did not slip.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

38I chased my enemies and wiped them out. I did not turn back until they were gone.

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

39I struck them down so they could not get up. They fell under my feet.

And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40You made me strong for the fight. You put my enemies down under me.

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

NoteSoldiers tied a belt tight around their waist before a fight. The old words say God tied strength on David like that belt.

41You made my enemies turn and run. I put an end to those who hated me.

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

NoteA winner in battle would put his foot on the neck of the one he beat. It showed everyone who had won.

42They looked for help, but no one saved them. They called to the LORD, but he did not answer.

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

43I ground them up like dust on the ground. I stamped on them like mud in the street.

Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44You saved me from fights among my own people. You kept me as the leader over other nations. People I never met will serve me.

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

Note"Nations" means all the other groups of people around Israel. Each had its own land and its own king.

45People from other lands bow down to me. As soon as they hear me, they obey.

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

NoteThese are people from other countries, not from David's own land of Israel.

46They lose their courage. They come out shaking from their strong hiding places.

Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47The LORD is alive! Praise my rock! Lift up God high, the rock who saves me.

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

Note"The LORD is alive" was a way of saying God is real. Other nations prayed to statues, and statues cannot move or hear.

48God pays back the people who hurt me. He puts other nations under me.

It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,

49He brings me safely away from my enemies. You lift me up high above those who attack me. You save me from cruel men.

And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

50So I will thank you, LORD, in front of other nations. I will sing praise to your name.

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

51God gives great help to his king. He shows steady love to the one he picked to be king. That is David, and his family forever."

He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

NoteWhen a man was made king, oil was poured on his head. That showed God had picked him. "The one he picked" means that. The old word for it is "anointed."

1These are the last words of David, the son of Jesse. God lifted him up high. Oil was poured on his head to show God had chosen him. He wrote sweet songs for Israel. Here is what he said.

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

NoteDavid was a shepherd boy who grew up to be king. Many of his songs are in the Bible book called Psalms.

2The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me. His words were on my tongue.

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

NoteThe Spirit of the LORD is God himself at work in a person. David means God gave him these words to say.

3The God of Israel spoke to me. He is the Rock who keeps Israel safe. He said, "A ruler of people must be fair. He must rule with respect for God."

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

NoteCalling God a Rock is a picture. A rock is strong and does not move. "Fear of God" here does not mean being scared. It means treating God with great respect.

4Such a ruler is like light in the morning when the sun comes up. He is like a bright morning with no clouds at all. He is like new grass shining after rain.

And he shall be as the light 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.

5My own family is not all it should be before God. Even so, God made a promise with me that lasts forever. Every part of it is settled and sure. That promise saves me. It is all I want, even if God does not make it grow now.

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

NoteA covenant is a promise so serious it can never be broken. God had promised David that his family would keep on being kings.

6But wicked people are like thorns thrown out of the way. No one can pick them up with bare hands.

But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:

NoteThe King James says "sons of Belial." That was an old way of saying people who are no good.

7Anyone who touches them needs iron tools or the handle of a spear. The thorns are burned up right where they lie.

But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.

NoteFarmers piled up thorn bushes and burned them. Nobody could pick them up with bare hands.