thereby made him so great a name, or done things so very great and wonderful, driving out before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, the Heathens and their gods? 24. For thou hast decreed for thyself thy people Israel to be a people to thee for ever: and thou, Eternal, art become their God. 25. And now, O Eternal God, establish the word thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and his house, for ever, and do as thou hast said. 26. So shall thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Eternal God of hosts is the God of Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. 27. For since thou, O Eternal God of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will give thee a notable posterity, hence hath thy servant presumed to make this prayer to thee. 28. And now, O Eternal God, thou art the God, and thy words are true, and thou hast promised this goodness to thy servant: 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: since thou, O Eternal God, hast promised it, with thy blessing let thy servant's house be blessed for

ever.

CHAP VIII.

DAVID SUBDUES THE PHILISTINES.

AFTER this David smote the Philistines; and took Metheg-ammah from them. 2. He smote also Moab, and laying them on the ground, measured them with a line, casting them even with the ground; with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one to keep alive: so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought tribute.

3. David smote also Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to extend his border at the river Euphrates. 4. And took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and he houghed all the

chariot-horses, but an hundred (to unfit them for war).

5. And the Syrians of Damascus coming to succour Hadadezer, king of Zoba, David slew of them twenty-two thousand. 6. He also put garrisons in Syria; and the Syrians became his servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Eternal favoured David wherever he went. 7. He brought the golden shields that were on Hadadezer's servants to Jerusalem. 8. From Betah, and Berothai, cities of, Hadadezer, he took exceeding much brass.

9. When Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had smitten all Hadadezer's hosts, 10. He sent Joram, his son, to him, to salute him, and bless him for it; for Hadadezer was at war with Toi: he also brought him vessels of silver, and gold, and brass; 11. Which he also dedicated to the Eternal, with all the silver and gold he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12. Of Syria, Moab, the Amonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, and of Hadadezer's spoil, son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13. So David, when he returned from smiting the Syrians, set up a monument. Joab slew in the valley of Melah eighteen thousand Edomites, Psal. xl.

14. Then he put garrisons thro' all Edom, and they became his servants; for the Eternal favoured David wherever he went. 15. So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice to all his people.

16. And Joab, Zeruiah's son, was over the host; and Jehoshaphat, Ahilud's son, was writer of chronicles; 17. And Zadok, Ahitub's son, and Abiather, Ahimelech's son, were the priests; and Seraiah was the secretary; 18. And Benaiah, Jehoida's son, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the king's guards; and David's sons were his mini

sters.

CHAP. IX.

DAVID'S KINDNESS TO JONATHAN'S SON.

Now David said, Is there yet any remaining of Saul's family, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake ?2. Now there was a servant of Saul's house, named Ziba; who being called to David, the king said to him, Art thou Ziba? Then he said, Thy servant is he. 3. Then the king said, Is there yet any of Saul's house, that I may shew a god-like 1 kindness to him? And Ziba said, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame in his feet. 4. Then the king said, Where is he? And Ziba said, Lo he is in the house of Machir, Ammiel's son, in Lo-debar.

5. Then king David sent, and fetched him from thence. 6. Now, when Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell on his face, doing homage. Then David said, Mephibosheth! And he answered, Behold thy servant.

7. Then David said to him, Fear noth 'ng, for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake; and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy grand-father; and thou shalt eat at my table continually. 8. Then he bowed himself, saying, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest regard such a dead dog as me?

9. Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, I have given thy master's grandson all that pertaineth to Saul, and to all his house, 10. Therefore, thou, and thy sons, and servants, (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants), shall till the land for him, and bring in the fruits, that he may have food to eat; but he may eat bread always at my table.

11. Then Ziba said to the king, According to all that my lord king hath commanded his servant, so shall he do. So Mephibosheth ate at the king's table as one of the king's sons,

12. Mephibosheth had a young son, named Micah: all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were Mephibosheth's servants; 13. But he dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table; and was lame in both his feet.

CHAP. X.

THE AMMONITE WAR.

AFTER this Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2. Then said David, I will shew kindness to Hanun, as his father did to me. So he sent to comfort him for his father's death.

3. But the chiefs said to Hanun their lord, Think'est thou that David honours thy father, in his sending comforters to thee? Hath he not rather sent his servants to thee, to search and spy the city, to overthrow it? 4. Therefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their garments by the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.

5. When they told David, he sent to meet them, 'because they were greatly ashamed; and he said, Tarry at Jericho till your beards be grown, and then return.

6. Now the Ammonites saw they were made odious to David, so they sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and those of Zoba, twenty thousand men, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand. 7. Now David hearing it sent Joab, with all the host of the valiant men,

8. And the Ammonites came, and formed in battle array before the gate; and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob, and Maacalı, were by themselves in the field.

9. When Joab saw he had a front of battle both before and behind, he chose some of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Sy

rians. 10. But the rest of the people he committed to Abishai his brother, that he might array them; against the Ammonites. 11. Then he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, thou shalt help me; but if the Ammonites be too strong for thee, I will come and help thee. 12. Be of good courage, and let us act like men for our people, and for the cities: of our God: and the Eternal will do what seemeth right to him.

13. So Joab, and they that were with him, approached the battle against the Syrians; who fled before him. 14. Now the Ammonites seeing that the Syrians fled, they fled also before Abishai, and returned to the city; so Joab returned from the Ammonites to Jerusalem.

15. Now the Syriaus, seeing they were smitten before Israel, assembled. 16. And Hadarezer sent to bring those that were beyond the river, and they came to Helam; and Shobach, the captain of Ha darezer's host, fled before them. 17. David being now told, he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, to Helam; where the Syrians set themselves in array, and fought with him. 18. But the Syrians fled before Israel: and David slew of the Sy-: rians seven hundred chariots of horsemen, and forty thousand foot, and smote Shobach the chief cap-. сарtain of their host, who died there. 19. So all the. kings that were servants to Hadarezer, seeing they, were smitten before israel, male peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the Ammonites any more.

CHAP. XI.

THE WAR CONTINUED.

On the return of the year, the season when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, with his other servants, and all Israel; these wasted the Ammo nites country, and besieged Rabbah, but David tarried still at Jerusalem.