Delphi Septuagint

by Lancelot C L Brenton (ed)

  [28] And David heard of it afterwards, and said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord even for ever of the blood of Abenner the son of Ner. [29] Let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all the house of his father; and let there not be wanting of the house of Joab one that has an issue, or a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that wants bread. [30] For Joab and Abessa his brother laid wait continually for Abenner, because he slew Asael their brother at Gabaon in the battle.

  [31] And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and lament before Abenner. And king David followed the bier. [32] And they bury Abenner in Chebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at his tomb, and all the people wept for Abenner.

  [33] And the king mourned over Abenner, and said, Shall Abenner die according to the death of Nabal? [34] Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet were not put in fetters: one brought thee not near as Nabal; thou didst fall before children of iniquity. [35] And all the people assembled to weep for him. And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day: and David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I eat bread or any thing else before the sun goes down. [36] And all the people took notice, and all things that the king did before the people were pleasing in their sight. [37] So all the people and all Israel perceived in that day, that it was not of the king to slay Abenner the son of Ner.

  [38] And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that a great prince is this day fallen in Israel? [39] And that I am this day a mere kinsman of his, and as it were a subject; but these men the sons of Saruia are too hard for me: the Lord reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.

  Chapter 4

  [1] And Jebosthe the son of Saul heard that Abenner the son of Ner had died in Chebron; and his hands were paralyzed, and all the men of Israel grew faint. [2] And Jebosthe the son of Saul had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baana, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Remmon the Berothite of the children of Benjamin; for Beroth was reckoned to the children of Benjamin. [3] And the Berothites ran away to Gethaim, and were sojourners there until this day.

  [4] And Jonathan Saul’s son had a son lame of his feet, five years old, and he was in the way when the news of Saul and Jonathan his son came from Jezrael, and his nurse took him up, and fled; and it came to pass as he hasted and retreated, that he fell, and was lamed. And his name was Memphibosthe.

  [5] And Rechab and Baana the sons of Remmon the Berothite went, and they came in the heat of the day into the house of Jebosthe; and he was sleeping on a bed at noon. [6] And, behold, the porter of the house winnowed wheat, and he slumbered and slept: and the brothers Rechab and Baana went privily into the house: [7] And Jebosthe was sleeping on his bed in his chamber: and they smite him, and slay him, and take off his head: and they took his head, and went all the night by the western road.

  [8] And they brought the head of Jebosthe to David to Chebron, and they said to the king, Behold the head of Jebosthe the son of Saul thy enemy, who sought thy life; and the Lord has executed for my lord the king vengeance on his enemies, as it is this day: even on Saul thy enemy, and on his seed.

  [9] And David answered and Rechab and Baana his brother, the sons of Remmon the Berothite, and said to them, As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all affliction; [10] he that reported to me that Saul was dead, even he was as one bringing glad tidings before me: but I seized him and slew him in Sekelac, to whom I ought, as he thought, to have given a reward for his tidings. [11] And now evil men have slain a righteous men in his house on his bed: now then I will require his blood of your hand, and I will destroy you from off the earth. [12] And David commanded his young men, and they slay them, and cut off their hands and their feet; and they hung them up at the fountain in Chebron: and they buried the head of Jebosthe in the tomb of Abenezer the son of Ner.

  Chapter 5

  [1] And all the tribes of Israel come to David to Chebron, and they said to him, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. [2] And heretofore Saul being king over us, thou was he that didst lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be for a leader to my people Israel. [3] And all the elders of Israel come to the king to Chebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Chebron before the Lord; and they anoint David king over all Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. [5] Seven years and six months he reigned in Chebron over Juda, and thirty-three years he reigned over all Israel and Juda in Jerusalem.

  [6] And David and his men, departed to Jerusalem, to the Jebusite that inhabited the land: and it was said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither: for the blind and the lame withstood him, saying, David shall not come in hither. [7] And David took first the hold of Sion: this is the city of David. [8] And David said on that day, Every one that smites the Jebusite, let him attack with the dagger both the lame and the blind, and those that hate the soul of David. Therefore they say, The lame and the blind shall not enter into the house of the Lord. [9] And David dwelt in the hold, and it was called the city of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and he built his own house. [10] And David advanced and became great, and the Lord Almighty was with him.

  [11] And Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and carpenters, and stone-masons: and they built a house for David. [12] And David knew that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

  [13] And David took again wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, after he came from Chebron: and David had still more sons and daughters born to him. [14] And these are the names of those that were born to him in Jerusalem; Sammus, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon. [15] And Ebear, and Elisue, and Naphec, and Jephies. [16] And Elisama, and Elidae, and Eliphalath, (16A) Samae, Jessibath, Nathan, Galamaan, Jebaar, Theesus, Eliphalat, Naged, Naphec, Janathan, Leasamys, Baalimath, Eliphaath.

  [17] And the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel; and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the strong hold. [18] And the Philistines came, and assembled in the valley of the giants.

  [19] And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? and the Lord said to David, Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thine hands. [20] And David came from Upper Breaches, and smote the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches. [21] And they leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took them.

  [22] And the Philistines came up yet again, and assembled in the valley of Giants. [23] And David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, Thou shalt not go up to meet them: turn from them, and thou shalt meet them near the place of weeping. [24] And it shall come to pass when thou hearest the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then thou shalt go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before thee to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines. [25] And David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Gabaon as far as the land of Gazera.

  Chapter 6

  [1] And David again gathered all the young men of Israel, about seventy thousand. [2] And David arose, and went, he and all the people that were with him, and some of the rulers of Juda, on an expedition to a distant place, to bring back thence the ark of God, on which the name of the Lord of Host who dwells between the cherubs upon it is called. [3] And they put the ark of the Lord on a new waggon, and took it out of the house of Aminadab who lived on the hill, and Oza and his brethren the sons of Aminadab drove the waggon with the ark. [4] And his brethren went before the ark. [5] And David and the children of Israel were playing before the Lord on well-tuned instruments mightily, and wi
th songs, and with harps, and with lutes, and with drums, and with cymbals, and with pipes.

  [6] And they come as far as the threshing floor of Nachor: and Oza reached forth his hand to the ark of God to keep it steady, and took hold of it; for the ox shook it out of its place. [7] And the Lord was very angry with Oza; and God smote him there: and he died there by the ark of the Lord before God. [8] And David was dispirited because the Lord made a breach upon Oza; and that place was called the breach of Oza until this day. [9] And David feared the Lord in that day, saying, How shall the ark of the Lord come in to me? [10] And David would not bring in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to himself into the city of David: and David turned it aside into the house of Abeddara the Gethite. [11] And the ark of the Lord lodged in the house of Abeddara the Gethite three months, and the Lord blessed all the house of Abeddara, and all his possessions.

  [12] And it was reported to king David, saying, The Lord has blessed the house of Abeddara, and all that he has, because of the ark of the Lord. And David went, and brought up the Ark of the Lord from the house of Abeddara to the city of David with gladness. [13] And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs. [14] And David sounded with well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David was clothed with a fine long robe. [15] And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet.

  [16] And it came to pass as the ark arrived at the city of David, that Melchol the daughter of Saul looked through the window, and saw king David dancing and playing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

  [17] And they bring the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle which David pitched for it: and David offered whole-burnt-offerings before the Lord, and peace-offerings. [18] And David made an end of offering the whole-burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts. [19] And he distributed to all the people, even to all the host of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, both men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a joint of meat, and a cake from the frying-pan: and all the people departed every one to his home.

  [20] And David returned to bless his house. And Melchol the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and saluted him, and said, How was the king of Israel glorified to-day, who was to-day uncovered in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the dancers wantonly uncovers himself! [21] And David said to Melchol, I will dance before the Lord. Blessed be the Lord who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to make me head over his people, even over Israel: therefore I will play, and dance before the Lord. [22] And I will again uncover myself thus, and I will be vile in thine eyes, and with the maid-servants by whom thou saidst that I was not had in honour. [23] And Melchol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death.

  Chapter 7

  [1] And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him an inheritance on every side free from all his enemies round about him; [2] that the king said to Nathan the prophet, Behold now, I live in a house of cedar, and the ark of the Lord dwells in the midst of a tent. [3] And Nathan said to the king, Go and do all that is in thine heart, for the Lord is with thee.

  [4] And it came to pass in that night, that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, [5] Go, and say to my servant David, Thus says the Lord, Thou shalt not build me a house for me to dwell in. [6] For I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt to this day, but I have been walking in a lodge and in a tent, [7] wheresoever I went with all Israel. Have I ever spoken to any of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to tend my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of Cedar?

  [8] And now thus shalt thou say to my servant David, Thus says the Lord Almighty, I took thee from the sheep-cote, that thou shouldest be a prince over my people, over Israel. [9] And I was with thee wheresoever thou wentest, and I destroyed all thine enemies before thee, and I made thee renowned according to the renown of the great ones on the earth. [10] And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell by themselves, and shall be no more distressed; and the son of iniquity shall no more afflict them, as he has done from the beginning, [11] from the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thine enemies, and the Lord will tell thee that thou shalt build a house to him. [12] And it shall come to pass when thy days shall have been fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, even thine own issue, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build for me a house to my name, and I will set up his throne even for ever. [14] I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And when he happens to transgress, then will I chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of men. [15] But my mercy I will not take from him, as I took it from those whom I removed from my presence. [16] And his house shall be made sure, and his kingdom for ever before me, and his throne shall be set up for ever.

  [17] According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

  [18] And king David came in, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord, my Lord, and what is my house, that thou hast loved me hitherto? [19] Whereas I was very little before thee, O Lord, my Lord, yet thou spokest concerning the house of thy servant for a long time to to come. And is this the law of man, O Lord, my Lord? [20] And what shall David yet say to thee? and now thou knowest thy servant, O Lord, my Lord. [21] And thou hast wrought for thy servant’s sake, and according to thy heart thou hast wrought all this greatness, to make it known to thy servant, [22] that he may magnify thee, O my Lord; for there is no one like thee, and there is no God, but thou among all of whom we have heard with our ears. [23] And what other nation in the earth is as thy people Israel? whereas God was his guide, to redeem for himself a people to make thee a name, to do mightily and nobly, so that thou shouldest cast out nations an their tabernacles from the presence of thy people, whom thou didst redeem for thyself out of Egypt? [24] And thou has prepared for thyself thy people Israel to be a people for ever, and thou, Lord, art become their God. [25] And now, O my Lord, the Almighty Lord God of Israel, confirm the word for ever which thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and his house: and now as thou hast said, [26] Let thy name be magnified for ever. [27] Almighty Lord God of Israel, thou hast uncovered the ear of thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore thy servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee. [28] And now, O Lord my Lord, thou art God; and thy words will be true, and thou hast spoken these good things concerning thy servant. [29] And now begin and bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord, my Lord, hast spoken, and the house of thy servant shall be blessed with thy blessing so as to continue for ever.

  Chapter 8

  [1] And it came to pass after this, that David smote the Philistines, and put them to flight, and David took the tribute from out of the hand of the Philistines.

  [2] And David smote Moab, and measured them out with lines, having laid them down on the ground: and there were two lines for slaying, and two lines he kept alive: and Moab became servants to David, yielding tribute.

  [3] And David smote Adraazar the son of Raab king of Suba, as he went to extend his power to the river Euphrates. [4] And David took a thousand of his chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all his chariot horses, and he reserved to himself a hundred chariots. [5] And Syria of Damascus comes to help Adraazar king of Suba, and David smote twenty-two thousand men belonging to the Syrian. [6] And David placed a garrison in Syria near Damascus, and the Syrians became servants and tributaries to David: and the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. [7] And David took the golden bracelets which were on the servants of Adraazar king of Suba, and brought them to Jerusalem. And Susakim king of Egypt took them
, when he went up to Jerusalem in the days of Roboam son of Solomon. [8] And king David took from Metebac, and from the choice cities of Adraazar, very much brass: with that Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the lavers, and all the furniture.

  [9] And Thou the king of Hemath heard that David had smitten all the host of Adraazar. [10] And Thou sent Jedduram his son to king David, to ask him of his welfare, and to congratulate him on his fighting against Adraazar and smiting him, for he was an enemy to Adraazar: and in his hands were vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass. [11] And these king David consecrated to the Lord, with the silver and with the gold which he consecrated out of all the cities which he conquered, [12] out of Idumea, and out of Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalec, and from the spoils of Adraazar son of Raab king of Suba.

  [13] And David made himself a name: and when he returned he smote Idumea in Gebelem to the number of eighteen thousand. [14] And he set garrisons in Idumea, even in all Idumea: and all the Idumeans were servants to the king. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

  [15] And David reigned over all Israel: and David wrought judgment and justice over all his people. [16] And Joab the son of Saruia was over the host; and Josaphat the son of Achilud was keeper of the records. [17] And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech son of Abiathar, were priests; and Sasa was the scribe, [18] and Banaeas son of Jodae was councillor, and the Chelethite and the Phelethite, and the sons of David, were princes of the court.

  Chapter 9

  [1] And David said, Is there yet any one left in the house of Saul, that I may deal kindly with him for Jonathan’s sake? [2] And there was a servant of the house of Saul, and his name was Siba: and they call him to David; and the king said to him, Art thou Siba? and he said, I am thy servant. [3] And the king said, Is there yet a man left of the house of Saul, that I may act towards him with the mercy of God? and Siba said to the king, There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame of his feet. [4] And the king said, Where is he? and Siba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Amiel of Lodabar. [5] And king David went, and took him out of the house of Machir the son Amiel of Lodabar.