King

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel King of Shinar, Arioch King of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer King of Elam, and Tidal King of nations;

That these made war with Bera King of Sodom, and with Birsha King of Gomorrah, Shinab King of Admah, and Shemeber King of Zeboiim, and the King of Bela, which is Zoar.

And there went out the King of Sodom, and the King of Gomorrah, and the King of Admah, and the King of Zeboiim, and the King of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

With Chedorlaomer the King of Elam, and with Tidal King of nations, and Amraphel King of Shinar, and Arioch King of Ellasar; four kings with five.

And the King of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the King's dale.

• Hospitality
• Melchizedek
• Priest

And Melchizedek King of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

• Liberality
• Unselfishness

And the King of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

And Abram said to the King of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

• Deception
• Falsehood

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech King of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

• Famine

And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech King of the Philistines unto Gerar.

And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech King of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any King over the children of Israel.

• Punishment

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the King's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

• Art

And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the King of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the King of Egypt.

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the King of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh King of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Now there arose up a new King over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

And the King of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

And the King of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

And it came to pass in process of time, that the King of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

• Government

And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the King of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

And I am sure that the King of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

And the King of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

Go in, speak unto Pharaoh King of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh King of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

These are they which spake to Pharaoh King of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh King of Egypt all that I say unto thee.

• PHARAOH
• Character
• Government

And it was told the King of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh King of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the King of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

• Grape

Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the King's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

And when King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon King of the Amorites, saying,

• Grape

Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the King's high way, until we be past thy borders.

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the King of the Amorites, who had fought against the former King of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.

Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon King of the Amorites.

And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the King of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon King of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

• Government

And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was King of the Moabites at that time.

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, King of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the King of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

• Jacob
• Perfection

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his King shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon King of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og King of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.

And King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

After he had slain Sihon the King of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the King of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon King of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,

• Sihon
• Heart

But Sihon King of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the King of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon King of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the King of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

• Inhabitants
• Massacre

And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon King of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.

• Iron

For only Og King of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon King of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:

And they possessed his land, and the land of Og King of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt.

And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the King of Egypt, and unto all his land;

When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a King over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

• Strangers

Thou shalt in any wise set him King over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set King over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.

The LORD shall bring thee, and thy King which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the King of Heshbon, and Og the King of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:

And he was King in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

And it was told the King of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

And the King of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the King thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the King of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

And thou shalt do to Ai and her King as thou didst unto Jericho and her King: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.

And it came to pass, when the King of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

And the King of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

• Captive
• Punishment

And the King of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon King of Heshbon, and to Og King of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek King of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her King, so he had done to Ai and her King; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

Wherefore Adonizedek King of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham King of Hebron, and unto Piram King of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia King of Lachish, and unto Debir King of Eglon, saying,

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the King of Jerusalem, the King of Hebron, the King of Jarmuth, the King of Lachish, the King of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the King of Jerusalem, the King of Hebron, the King of Jarmuth, the King of Lachish, and the King of Eglon.

And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the King thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the King of Makkedah as he did unto the King of Jericho.

And the LORD delivered it also, and the King thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the King thereof as he did unto the King of Jericho.

Then Horam King of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the King thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.

And he took it, and the King thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the King thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her King.

And it came to pass, when Jabin King of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab King of Madon, and to the King of Shimron, and to the King of Achshaph,

And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the King thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.

Sihon King of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

And the coast of Og King of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon King of Heshbon.

The King of Jericho, one; the King of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

The King of Jerusalem, one; the King of Hebron, one;

The King of Jarmuth, one; the King of Lachish, one;

The King of Eglon, one; the King of Gezer, one;

The King of Debir, one; the King of Geder, one;

The King of Hormah, one; the King of Arad, one;

The King of Libnah, one; the King of Adullam, one;

The King of Makkedah, one; the King of Bethel, one;

The King of Tappuah, one; the King of Hepher, one;

The King of Madon, one; the King of Hazor, one;

The King of Shimronmeron, one; the King of Achshaph, one;

The King of Taanach, one; the King of Megiddo, one;

The King of Kedesh, one; the King of Jokneam of Carmel, one;

The King of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the King of the nations of Gilgal, one;

The King of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

And all the cities of Sihon King of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;

And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon King of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.

And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon King of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og King of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:

Then Balak the son of Zippor, King of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim King of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim King of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

• Alliances
• Armies
• Assassination

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the King of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees. So the children of Israel served Eglon the King of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the King of Moab. read more But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he brought the present unto Eglon King of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O King: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them. When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath. And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. show less

So the children of Israel served Eglon the King of Moab eighteen years.

• Prayer

But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the King of Moab.

• Eglon
• Corpulency

And he brought the present unto Eglon King of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.

But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O King: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin King of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the King of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

So God subdued on that day Jabin the King of Canaan before the children of Israel.

And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the King of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin King of Canaan.

Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a King.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech King, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

• Anointing

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a King over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

• Anointing

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me King over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech King, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

• Abimelech
• Homicide

And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, King over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

And Jephthah sent messengers unto the King of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?

And the King of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the King of the children of Ammon:

Then Israel sent messengers unto the King of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the King of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the King of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon King of the Amorites, the King of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, King of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

Howbeit the King of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

In those days there was no King in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

In those days there was no King in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

• Adultery
• Beneficence

And it came to pass in those days, when there was no King in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there. read more And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again. And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them. And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home. But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him. And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah. And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah. And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging. And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites. And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house. Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing. And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street. So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place. And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds. show less

In those days there was no King in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a King to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a King to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the King that shall reign over them.

• Art
• Food

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a King. And he said, This will be the manner of the King that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. read more And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your King which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a King over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our King may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a King. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. show less

And he said, This will be the manner of the King that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your King which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

• Self-will

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a King over us;

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our King may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a King. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a King over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

• Joy

And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the King.

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul King before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a King over you.

And now, behold, the King walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the King of Moab, and they fought against them.

And when ye saw that Nahash the King of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a King shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your King.

Now therefore behold the King whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a King over you.

If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the King that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a King.

• Intercession

And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a King.

But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your King.

• Saul
• Anointing

Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be King over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

And he took Agag the King of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

• Saul
• Backsliders
• Samuel

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be King: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee King over Israel?

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the King of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

• Saul
• Reprobacy
• Self-will

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being King.

And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being King over Israel.

Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the King of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

• Friendship
• Samuel

And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul King over Israel.

• Friendship
• Government
• Samuel

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a King among his sons.

• Armies

And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the King will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O King, I cannot tell.

And the King said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.

• Art
• Women

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the King?

And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the King hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the King's son in law.

And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a King's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The King desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the King's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the King's son in law: and the days were not expired.

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the King, that he might be the King's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the King sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good:

And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the King at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the King sat him down to eat meat.

And the King sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the King's table.

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The King hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the King's business required haste.

• Fugitives

And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the King of Gath.

And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the King of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the King of Gath.

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the King of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

And he brought them before the King of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

Then the King sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the King.

Then Ahimelech answered the King, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the King's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the King impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

• Friendship

And the King said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. And the King said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the King would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

And the King said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the King would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

And the King said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be King over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the King. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

• David
• Humility

After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be King, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

• Nabal
• Drunkenness
• Nabal

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a King; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the King?

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the King? for there came one of the people in to destroy the King thy lord.

• Pillow

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the King's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O King.

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the King hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

• David
• Humility

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the King of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

And David answered and said, Behold the King's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, King of Gath.

And the King said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

• Hebrew

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the King of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the King?

• David
• Anointing

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David King over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.

Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me King over them.

And made him King over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

And the time that David was King in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai King of Geshur;

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be King over you:

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the King, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

• Israelites
• Talebearer

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the King, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

Then Joab came to the King, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

• Abner
• Burial
• Mourning

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the bier.

• Weeping

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the King lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

And the King lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

• David
• Popularity

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the King did pleased all the people.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the King to slay Abner the son of Ner.

And the King said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

And I am this day weak, though anointed King; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the King, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the King this day of Saul, and of his seed.

Also in time past, when Saul was King over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

• David
• Anointing
• Government

So all the elders of Israel came to the King to Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David King over Israel.

• Jerusalem
• Siege

And the King and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

• Art
• Cedar
• Diplomacy

And Hiram King of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

And David perceived that the LORD had established him King over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David King over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

And it was told King David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

• Family
• Women

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

• David
• Family
• Irony

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the King of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

And it came to pass, when the King sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

• Ark
• David
• Liberality

That the King said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

And Nathan said to the King, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

Then went King David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, King of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer King of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took exceeding much brass.

When Toi King of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

• Diplomacy

Then Toi sent Joram his son unto King David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

• David
• Liberality

Which also King David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, King of Zobah.

And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the King said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

• Mephibosheth
• Orphan

And the King said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the King, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

And the King said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the King, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

Then King David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

Then the King called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

Then said Ziba unto the King, According to all that my lord the King hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the King, he shall eat at my table, as one of the King's sons.

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the King's table; and was lame on both his feet.

And it came to pass after this, that the King of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the King said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

• Confederated
• Armies
• Mercenaries

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of King Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

• Bath-sheba
• Beauty
• House

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the King's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the King's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the King.

• Uriah
• Loyalty

But Uriah slept at the door of the King's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.

And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the King,

And if so be that the King's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?

And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the King's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.

• David
• Anointing

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee King over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

• Stones

And he took their King's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the King's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the King was come to see him, Amnon said unto the King, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the King; for he will not withhold me from thee.

• Many-colored
• Dress

And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the King's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the King's sons.

And Absalom came to the King, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the King, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

And the King said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the King said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the King's sons go with him.

• Mule

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the King's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the King's sons, and there is not one of them left.

• Mourning

Then the King arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the King's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Now therefore let not my lord the King take the thing to his heart, to think that all the King's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

And Jonadab said unto the King, Behold, the King's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

• Weeping

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the King's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the King also and all his servants wept very sore.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, King of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

And the soul of King David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

• David
• Parents

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the King's heart was toward Absalom.

And come to the King, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.

And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the King, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O King.

And the King said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.

And the King said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.

And the woman of Tekoah said unto the King, My lord, O King, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the King and his throne be guiltless.

And the King said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.

Then said she, I pray thee, let the King remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.

Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the King. And he said, Say on.

And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the King doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the King doth not fetch home again his banished.

Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the King, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the King; it may be that the King will perform the request of his handmaid.

For the King will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.

• Angel

Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the King shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the King to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.

And the King said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the King, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the King hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:

And the King said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.

And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the King: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O King, in that the King hath fulfilled the request of his servant.

And the King said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the King's face.

• Hair
• Hair
• Shekel

And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the King's weight.

So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the King's face.

Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the King; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.

And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the King, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the King's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.

• David
• Parents

So Joab came to the King, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the King, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the King: and the King kissed Absalom.

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the King for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee.

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the King for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

• Deception

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the King, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.

And the King said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

• Servants
• Servant

And the King's servants said unto the King, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the King shall appoint.

• Concubinage
• Friendship

And the King went forth, and all his household after him. And the King left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

And the King went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the King.

Then said the King to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the King: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

• Ittai
• Loyalty
• Servants

And Ittai answered the King, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the King liveth, surely in what place my lord the King shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

• Israelites
• Citizens
• Israelites

And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the King also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

• Ark

And the King said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

The King said also 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.

But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O King; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

• Fruit
• Food

And the King said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the King's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

• Slander

And the King said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the King, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

• Ark
• Confiscation

Then said the King to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O King.

• Blasphemy
• Shimei
• Imprecation

And when King David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of King David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the King, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the King? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

And the King said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

And the King, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the King, God save the King.

And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the King only:

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the King be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told King David.

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told King David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

• Armies

And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the King said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.

And the King said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the King stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

• David
• Parents

And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the King gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the King's son: for in our hearing the King charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.

Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the King, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.

• Absalom
• Ambition

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the King's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• David
• Bereavement
• Chambers

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!

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

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.

• David
• Bereavement
• Mourning

But the King covered his face, and the King cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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;

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.

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.

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

• Government

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

• Ship

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;

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.

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?

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

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.

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?

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.

• Angel

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.

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?

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

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.

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

• Barzillai
• Citizens
• Liberality

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.

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

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

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?

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.

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.

• Benedictions

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.

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.

And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the King, and said unto the King, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the King, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the King is near of kin 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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

• Armies
• Trumpet

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.

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.)

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,

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.

• Covenant

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.

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:

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.

• Salvation
• Tower

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

For the King said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

• Reproof

And Joab said unto the King, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the King may see it: but why doth my lord the King delight in this thing?

• David
• Self-will

Notwithstanding the King's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the King, to number the people of Israel.

And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the King: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.

And Araunah looked, and saw the King and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the King on his face upon the ground.

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the King come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

• Threshing

And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the King take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

• Benedictions

All these things did Araunah, as a King, give unto the King. And Araunah said unto the King, The LORD thy God accept thee.

And the King said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Now King David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the King a young virgin: and let her stand before the King, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the King may get heat.

So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the King.

• Abishag
• Beauty

And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the King, and ministered to him: but the King knew her not.

• Adonijah
• Ambition
• Adonijah

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be King: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the King's sons, and all the men of Judah the King's servants:

Go and get thee in unto King David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O King, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the King, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

And Bathsheba went in unto the King into the chamber: and the King was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the King.

• Obeisance

And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the King. And the King said, What wouldest thou?

And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the King, thou knowest it not:

And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the King, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

And thou, my lord, O King, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the King after him.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the King shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

And, lo, while she yet talked with the King, Nathan the prophet also came in.

• Prostration

And they told the King, saying, 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.