David and Bath-sheba

111 And it cometh to pass, at the revolution of the year—at the time of the going out of the messengers—that David sendeth Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel, and they destroy the Bene-Ammon, and lay siege against Rabbah. And David is dwelling in Jerusalem, 2 and it cometh to pass, at evening-time, that David riseth from off his couch, and walketh up and down on the roof of the king's house, and seeth from the roof a woman bathing, and the woman 'is' of very good appearance, 3 and David sendeth and inquireth about the woman, and saith, 'Is not this Bath-Sheba, daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah the Hittite?' 4 And David sendeth messengers, and taketh her, and she cometh unto him, and he lieth with her—and she is purifying herself from her uncleanness—and she turneth back unto her house; 5 and the woman conceiveth, and sendeth, and declareth to David, and saith, 'I 'am' conceiving.'

6 And David sendeth unto Joab, 'Send unto me Uriah the Hittite,' and Joab sendeth Uriah unto David; 7 and Uriah cometh unto him, and David asketh of the prosperity of Joab, and of the prosperity of the people, and of the prosperity of the war. 8 And David saith to Uriah, 'Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet;' and Uriah goeth out of the king's house, and there goeth out after him a gift from the king, 9 and Uriah lieth down at the opening of the king's house, with all the servants of his lord, and hath not gone down unto his house. 10 And they declare to David, saying, 'Uriah hath not gone down unto his house;' and David saith unto Uriah, 'Hast thou not come from a journey? wherefore hast thou not gone down unto thy house?' 11 And Uriah saith unto David, 'The ark, and Israel, and Judah, are abiding in booths, and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, on the face of the field are encamping; and I—I go in unto my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife!—thy life, and the life of thy soul—if I do this thing.' 12 And David saith unto Uriah, 'Abide in this 'place' also to-day, and to-morrow I send thee away;' and Uriah abideth in Jerusalem, on that day, and on the morrow, 13 and David calleth for him, and he eateth before him, and drinketh, and he causeth him to drink, and he goeth out in the evening to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, and unto his house he hath not gone down.

14 And it cometh to pass in the morning, that David writeth a letter unto Joab, and sendeth by the hand of Uriah; 15 and he writeth in the letter, saying, 'Place ye Uriah over-against the front of the severest battle, and ye have turned back from after him, and he hath been smitten, and hath died.' 16 And it cometh to pass in Joab's watching of the city, that he appointeth Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men 'are'; 17 and the men of the city go out and fight with Joab, and there fall 'some' of the people, of the servants of David; and there dieth also Uriah the Hittite. 18 And Joab sendeth and declareth to David all the matters of the war, 19 and commandeth the messenger, saying, 'At thy finishing all the matters of the war to speak unto the king, 20 then, it hath been, if the king's fury ascend, and he hath said to thee, Wherefore did ye draw nigh unto the city to fight? did ye not know that they shoot from off the wall? 21 Who smote Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast on him a piece of a rider from the wall, and he dieth in Thebez? why drew ye nigh unto the wall? that thou hast said, Also thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.' 22 And the messenger goeth, and cometh in, and declareth to David all that with which Joab sent him, 23 and the messenger saith unto David, 'Surely the men have been mighty against us, and come out unto us into the field, and we are upon them unto the opening of the gate, 24 and those shooting shoot at thy servants from off the wall, and 'some' of the servants of the king are dead, and also, thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead. 25 And David saith unto the messenger, 'Thus dost thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing be evil in thine eyes; for thus and thus doth the sword devour; strengthen thy warfare against the city, and throw it down—and strengthen thou him.' 26 And the wife of Uriah heareth that Uriah her husband 'is' dead, and lamenteth for her lord; 27 and the mourning passeth by, and David sendeth and gathereth her unto his house, and she is to him for a wife, and beareth to him a son; and the thing which David hath done is evil in the eyes of Jehovah.

Nathan Reproves David

121 And Jehovah sendeth Nathan unto David, and he cometh unto him, and saith to him: 'Two men have been in one city; One rich and one poor; 2 The rich hath flocks and herds very many; 3 And the poor one hath nothing, Except one little ewe-lamb, Which he hath bought, and keepeth alive, And it groweth up with him, And with his sons together; Of his morsel it eateth, And from his cup it drinketh, And in his bosom it lieth, And it is to him as a daughter; 4 And there cometh a traveller to the rich man, And he spareth to take Of his own flock, and of his own herd, To prepare for the traveller Who hath come to him, And he taketh the ewe-lamb of the poor man, And prepareth it for the man Who hath come unto him.' 5 And the anger of David burneth against the man exceedingly, and he saith unto Nathan, 'Jehovah liveth, surely a son of death 'is' the man who is doing this, 6 and the ewe-lamb he doth repay fourfold, because that he hath done this thing, and because that he had no pity.' 7 And Nathan saith unto David, 'Thou 'art' the man! Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, I anointed thee for king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 and I give to thee the house of thy lord, and the wives of thy lord, into thy bosom, and I give to thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if little, then I add to thee such and such 'things'. 9 'Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do the evil thing in His eyes? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten by the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to thee for a wife, and him thou hast slain by the sword of the Bene-Ammon. 10 'And now, the sword doth not turn aside from thy house unto the age, because thou hast despised Me, and dost take the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be to thee for a wife; 11 thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am raising up against thee evil, out of thy house, and have taken thy wives before thine eyes, and given to thy neighbour, and he hath lain with thy wives before the eyes of this sun; 12 for thou hast done 'it' in secret, and I do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.' 13 And David saith unto Nathan, 'I have sinned against Jehovah.' And Nathan saith unto David, 'Also—Jehovah hath caused thy sin to pass away; thou dost not die; 14 only, because thou hast caused the enemies of Jehovah greatly to despise by this thing, also the son who is born to thee doth surely die.'

15 And Nathan goeth unto his house, and Jehovah smiteth the lad, whom the wife of Uriah hath born to David, and it is incurable; 16 and David seeketh God for the youth, and David keepeth a fast, and hath gone in and lodged, and lain on the earth. 17 And the elders of his house rise against him, to raise him up from the earth, and he hath not been willing, nor hath he eaten with them bread; 18 and it cometh to pass on the seventh day, that the lad dieth, and the servants of David fear to declare to him that the lad is dead, for they said, 'Lo, in the lad being alive we spake unto him, and he did not hearken to our voice; and how do we say unto him, The lad is dead?—then he hath done evil.' 19 And David seeth that his servants are whispering, and David understandeth that the lad is dead, and David saith unto his servants, 'Is the lad dead?' and they say, 'Dead.' 20 And David riseth from the earth, and doth bathe and anoint 'himself', and changeth his raiment, and cometh in to the house of Jehovah, and boweth himself, and cometh unto his house, and asketh and they place for him bread, and he eateth. 21 And his servants say unto him, 'What 'is' this thing thou hast done? because of the living lad thou hast fasted and dost weep, and when the lad is dead thou hast risen and dost eat bread.' 22 And he saith, 'While the lad is alive I have fasted, and weep, for I said, Who knoweth?—Jehovah doth pity me, and the lad hath lived; 23 and now, he hath died, why 'is' this—I fast? am I able to bring him back again? I am going unto him, and he doth not turn back unto me.' 24 And David comforteth Bath-Sheba his wife, and goeth in unto her, and lieth with her, and she beareth a son, and he calleth his name Solomon; and Jehovah hath loved him, 25 and sendeth by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and calleth his name Jedidiah, because of Jehovah.

David Captures Rabbah

26 And Joab fighteth against Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and captureth the royal city, 27 and Joab sendeth messengers unto David, and saith, 'I have fought against Rabbah—also I have captured the city of waters; 28 and now, gather the rest of the people, and encamp against the city, and capture it, lest I capture the city, and my name hath been called upon it.' 29 And David gathereth all the people, and goeth to Rabbah, and fighteth against it, and captureth it; 30 and he taketh the crown of their king from off his head, and its weight 'is' a talent of gold, and precious stones, and it is on the head of David; and the spoil of the city he hath brought out, very much; 31 and the people who 'are' in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes of iron, and hath caused them to pass over into the brick-kiln; and so he doth to all the cities of the Bene-Ammon; and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

131 And it cometh to pass afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister, and her name 'is' Tamar, and Amnon son of David loveth her. 2 And Amnon hath distress—even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she 'is' a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her. 3 And Amnon hath a friend, and his name 'is' Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab 'is' a very wise man, 4 and saith to him, 'Wherefore 'art' thou thus lean, O king's son, morning by morning? dost thou not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him, 'Tamar—sister of Absalom my brother—I am loving.' 5 And Jonadab saith to him, 'Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick, and thy father hath come in to see thee, and thou hast said unto him, 'Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so that I see 'it', and have eaten from her hand.' 6 And Amnon lieth down, and feigneth himself sick, and the king cometh in to see him, and Amnon saith unto the king, 'Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come, and she maketh before mine eyes two cakes, and I eat from her hand.' 7 And David sendeth unto Tamar, to the house, saying, 'Go, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and make for him food.' 8 And Tamar goeth to the house of Amnon her brother, and he is lying down, and she taketh the dough, and kneadeth, and maketh cakes before his eyes, and cooketh the cakes, 9 and taketh the frying-pan, and poureth out before him, and he refuseth to eat, and Amnon saith, 'Take ye out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him. 10 And Amnon saith unto Tamar, 'Bring the food into the inner chamber, and I eat from thy hand;' and Tamar taketh the cakes that she hath made, and bringeth in to Amnon her brother, into the inner chamber, 11 and she bringeth nigh unto him to eat, and he layeth hold on her, and saith to her, 'Come, lie with me, my sister.' 12 And she saith to him, 'Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it is not done so in Israel; do not this folly. 13 And I—whither do I cause my reproach to go? and thou—thou art as one of the fools in Israel; and now, speak, I pray thee, unto the king; for he doth not withhold me from thee.' 14 And he hath not been willing to hearken to her voice, and is stronger than she, and humbleth her, and lieth with her. 15 And Amnon hateth her—a very great hatred—that greater 'is' the hatred with which he hath hated her than the love with which he loved her, and Amnon saith to her, 'Rise, go.' 16 And she saith to him, 'Because of the circumstances this evil is greater than the other that thou hast done with me—to send me away;' and he hath not been willing to hearken to her, 17 and calleth his young man, his servant, and saith, 'Send away, I pray thee, this one from me without, and bolt the door after her;' 18 —and upon her 'is' a long coat, for such upper robes do daughters of the king who 'are' virgins put on,—and his servant taketh her out without, and hath bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar taketh ashes for her head, and the long coat that 'is' on her she hath rent, and putteth her hand on her head, and goeth, going on and crying;

Absalom's Revenge and Flight

20 and Absalom her brother saith unto her, 'Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, keep silent, he 'is' thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar dwelleth—but desolate—in the house of Absalom her brother.

21 And king David hath heard all these things, and it is very displeasing to him; 22 and Absalom hath not spoken with Amnon either evil or good, for Absalom is hating Amnon, because that he humbled Tamar his sister. 23 And it cometh to pass, after two years of days, that Absalom hath shearers in Baal-Hazor, which 'is' with Ephraim, and Absalom calleth for all the sons of the king. 24 And Absalom cometh unto the king, and saith, 'Lo, I pray thee, thy servant hath shearers, let the king go, I pray thee, and his servants, with thy servant.' 25 And the king saith unto Absalom, 'Nay, my son, let us not all go, I pray thee, and we are not too heavy on thee;' and he presseth on him, and he hath not been willing to go, and he blesseth him. 26 And Absalom saith, 'If not—let, I pray thee, Amnon my brother go with us;' and the king saith to him, 'Why doth he go with thee?' 27 and Absalom urgeth on him, and he sendeth with him Amnon, and all the sons of the king. 28 And Absalom commandeth his young men, saying, 'See, I pray thee, when the heart of Amnon 'is' glad with wine, and I have said unto you, Smite Amnon, that ye have put him to death; fear not; is it not because I have commanded you? be strong, yea, become sons of valour.' 29 And the young men of Absalom do to Amnon as Absalom commanded, and rise do all the sons of the king, and they ride, each on his mule, and flee.

30 And it cometh to pass—they 'are' in the way—and the report hath come unto David, saying, 'Absalom hath smitten all the sons of the king, and there is not left of them one;' 31 and the king riseth, and rendeth his garments, and lieth on the earth, and all his servants are standing by 'with' rent garments. 32 And Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, answereth and saith, 'Let not my lord say, The whole of the young men, the sons of the king, they have put to death; for Amnon alone 'is' dead, for by the command of Absalom it hath been appointed from the day of his humbling Tamar his sister; 33 and now, let not my lord the king lay unto his heart the word, saying, All the sons of the king have died, for Amnon alone 'is' dead.' 34 And Absalom fleeth, and the young man who is watching lifteth up his eyes and looketh, and lo, much people are coming by the way behind him, on the side of the hill. 35 And Jonadab saith unto the king, 'Lo, the sons of the king have come; as the word of thy servant, so it hath been.' 36 And it cometh to pass at his finishing to speak, that lo, the sons of the king have come, and they lift up their voice, and weep, and also the king and all his servants have wept—a very great weeping. 37 And Absalom hath fled, and goeth unto Talmai, son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, and 'David' mourneth for his son all the days. 38 And Absalom hath fled, and goeth to Geshur, and is there three years; 39 and 'the soul of' king David determineth to go out unto Absalom, for he hath been comforted for Amnon, for 'he is' dead.