children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before 25 and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me : 30 but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians: 35 and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. And Hadarezer 1 sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River and they 40 came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David 45 slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, that he died there. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. 50 So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

11 1 And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried 55 at Jerusalem. And it came to pass at eventide, that David

1 For Hadarezer read Hadadezer.

arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, 60 the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her.

14 And it came to pass that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and 65 retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were. And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab : and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; 70 and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; and he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king, it shall be that, if the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went 75 ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is 80 dead also. So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.1 And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate. And the shooters shot at thy servants from off 85 the wall; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy

1 Here insert: even all the things concerning the war. And David was angry with Joab, and he said unto the messenger, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall? who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? (S).

servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as 90 another make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it and encourage thou him. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, 95 and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done dis

pleased the LORD.

12 26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.1 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, yea, I have 100 taken the city of waters. Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name. And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it. And he took the crown of their king? 105 from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David's head.3 And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and 110 made them pass through the brickkiln : and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. people returned unto Jerusalem.

3

And David and all the

12 1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; 115 the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one

1 For the royal city read the city of waters.

2 For their king read Milcom (S).

3 For were . . . head read was a precious stone, which was set on David's head.

4 For put them under brickkiln read set them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them to labour at the brick-mould.