Holy Orthodox Bible, Volume II(b)

[Panayioti]

II Kingdom (LXX)

Chapter 20

And there was a so called iniquitous son there, and his name was * Sabee, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, the son of Bochori, and he trumpeted with the * horn, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to thy tents, O Israel!

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abee”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “trumpet”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 20

And there was a so called iniquitous son there, and his name was * Sabee, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, the son of Bochori, and he trumpeted with the * horn, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to thy tents, O Israel! 2 And all the men of Israel went up from behind David to follow after * Sabee the son of Bochori, but the men of Judah adhered to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David went into his house at Jerusalem: and the king took the ten women, his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and he gave them over into a house of confinement, and supported them, but he did not go in to them; and they remained in confinement until the day of their death, living as widows. 4 And the king said to * Amessai, Call to me the men of Judah for three days, and stand here yourself. 5 And * Amessai went to call Judah, and delayed beyond the time which David appointed him. 6 And David said to * Amessai, Now shall * Sabee the son of Bochori do us more harm than Abessalom, and now, take thou with thee the servants of thy lord, and follow after him, lest he find for himself strong cities, and will overshadow our eyes. 7 And there went out after him * the men of Joab, and the Cherethites, and the Phelethites, and all the powerful men, and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after * Sabee the son of Bochori. 8 And they were beside the great stone that is in Gabaon, and * Amessai went in before them. And Joab was wearing a woolen cloak over his apparel, and over it he was girded with a dagger fastened upon his waist in its sheath, and the dagger came out and fell. 9 And Joab said to * Amessai, Art thou in good health, * brother? And the right hand of Joab took hold of the beard of * Amessai to kiss him. 10 And * Amessai did not protect himself against the dagger that was in the hand of Joab, and Joab struck him with it in his loins, and his bowels poured out upon the ground, and there was no need to stab him a second time, and he died. And Joab and * Abessai his brother pursued after * Sabee the son of Bochori. 11 And there stood over him one of the servants of Joab, and said, Who is he that is for Joab, and whoever is for David have him follow Joab! 12 And * Amessai was drenched in blood in the midst of the way. And a man saw that all the people has stopped, and he removed * Amessai out of the path into a field, and he threw a cloak upon him, because he saw every one who came by him standing still. 13 And when he proceeded off the road, every man of Israel passed on after Joab to pursue after * Sabee the son of Bochori. 14 And * he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Baithmacha, and all * in Charri too were assembled, and they came behind * him. 15 And * they came and besieged * him in Abel and Baithmacha, * and they poured out a mound against the city and it stood within the outer wall, and all the people with Joab were devising to throw down the wall. 16 And a wise woman cried from the * wall, and said, Listen! * Listen! Truly say to Joab, Draw near here, and I will speak to him. 17 And he drew near to her, and the woman said to him, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am. And she said to him, Hear the words of thy servant. And Joab said, I am listening. 18 And she spoke, saying, from the beginning they said thus, When they asked, it was asked in Abel, and in Dan, whether they had abandoned what the faithful of Israel had established. When inquiring, they shall inquire in Abel, even in like manner, whether they have abandoned it. 19 I am a peaceful one who supports Israel, but thou seek to destroy a city and a metropolis in Israel; why do * choke the inheritance of the Lord? 20 And Joab answered and said, * Be gracious to me; be gracious to me, if I shall choke it and if I shall destroy it.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abee”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “trumpet”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Abessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus adds: “Abessa and”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abee”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “my brother Amessai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “my brother”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Abessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Amesai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abessaei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Amesai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* i.e. Sabee.

* i.e. Sabee.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “in Charri too”.

* i.e. Joab and Abessa.

* i.e. Sabee.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “and they placed a siege mound…”

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “city”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “truly” or “indeed”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “swallow up”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “May it not be to me to swallow it, and shall I destroy it?

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 20

And there was a so called iniquitous son there, and his name was * Sabee, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, the son of Bochori, and he trumpeted with the * horn, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to thy tents, O Israel! 2 And all the men of Israel went up from behind David to follow after * Sabee the son of Bochori, but the men of Judah adhered to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem. 3 And David went into his house at Jerusalem: and the king took the ten women, his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and he gave them over into a house of confinement, and supported them, but he did not go in to them; and they remained in confinement until the day of their death, living as widows. 4 And the king said to * Amessai, Call to me the men of Judah for three days, and stand here yourself. 5 And * Amessai went to call Judah, and delayed beyond the time which David appointed him. 6 And David said to * Amessai, Now shall * Sabee the son of Bochori do us more harm than Abessalom, and now, take thou with thee the servants of thy lord, and follow after him, lest he find for himself strong cities, and will overshadow our eyes. 7 And there went out after him * the men of Joab, and the Cherethites, and the Phelethites, and all the powerful men, and they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after * Sabee the son of Bochori.
8 And they were beside the great stone that is in Gabaon, and * Amessai went in before them. And Joab was wearing a woolen cloak over his apparel, and over it he was girded with a dagger fastened upon his waist in its sheath, and the dagger came out and fell. 9 And Joab said to * Amessai, Art thou in good health, * brother? And the right hand of Joab took hold of the beard of * Amessai to kiss him. 10 And * Amessai did not protect himself against the dagger that was in the hand of Joab, and Joab struck him with it in his loins, and his bowels poured out upon the ground, and there was no need to stab him a second time, and he died. And Joab and * Abessai his brother pursued after * Sabee the son of Bochori. 11 And there stood over him one of the servants of Joab, and said, Who is he that is for Joab, and whoever is for David have him follow Joab! 12 And * Amessai was drenched in blood in the midst of the way. And a man saw that all the people has stopped, and he removed * Amessai out of the path into a field, and he threw a cloak upon him, because he saw every one who came by him standing still. 13 And when he proceeded off the road, every man of Israel passed on after Joab to pursue after * Sabee the son of Bochori. 14 And * he went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Baithmacha, and all * in Charri too were assembled, and they came behind * him. 15 And * they came and besieged * him in Abel and Baithmacha, * and they poured out a mound against the city and it stood within the outer wall, and all the people with Joab were devising to throw down the wall. 16 And a wise woman cried from the * wall, and said, Listen! * Listen! Truly say to Joab, Draw near here, and I will speak to him. 17 And he drew near to her, and the woman said to him, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am. And she said to him, Hear the words of thy servant. And Joab said, I am listening. 18 And she spoke, saying, from the beginning they said thus, When they asked, it was asked in Abel, and in Dan, whether they had abandoned what the faithful of Israel had established. When inquiring, they shall inquire in Abel, even in like manner, whether they have abandoned it. 19 I am a peaceful one who supports Israel, but thou seek to destroy a city and a metropolis in Israel; why do you * choke the inheritance of the Lord? 20 And Joab answered and said, * Be gracious to me; be gracious to me, if I shall choke it and if I shall destroy it. 21 This is not the case! For there is a man of Mount Ephraim, * Sabee, son of Bochori, is his name, and he has lifted up his hand against King David? Give him only to me, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. 22 And the woman went in to all the people, and she spoke to the entire city in her wisdom; and she took off the head of Sabee, the son of Bochori; and threw it to Joab. And he trumpeted with the * horn and they scattered from the city, every man to his tent, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king. 23 And Joab was over all the forces of Israel; and * Banaias, the son of Jodae, was over the Chereththi and over the Pheleththi. 24 And Adoniram was over the tribute, and Josaphat, the son of Achilouth was the recorder. 25 And Sousa was scribe, and Sadok and Abiathar were priests. 26 Moreover Iras the Iarin was David’s priest.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abee”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “trumpet”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Abessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus adds: “Abessa and”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abee”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “my brother Amessai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “my brother”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisaei”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Abessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Amesai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abessaei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Amesai”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* i.e. Sabee.

* i.e. Sabee.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “in Charri too”.

* i.e. Joab and Abessa.

* i.e. Sabee.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “and they placed a siege mound…”

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “city”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “truly” or “indeed”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “swallow up”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “May it not be to me to swallow it, and shall I destroy it?

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sabeai”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “trumpet”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Baneas”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 21

And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, There is iniquity upon Saul and his house because of his blood guiltiness, because he murdered the Gabaonites. 2 And * King David called the Gabaonites, and spoke to them; now the Gabaonites are not the sons of Israel, but are of the remnant of the * Amorrite, and the sons of Israel had sworn an oath to them, but Saul sought to strike them down in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah. 3 And David said to the Gabaonites, What shall I do for you? And by what means shall I make atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord? 4 And the Gabaonites said to him, For us it is not about silver or gold with Saul and with his house; and for us there is no man to put to death from * Israel. 5 And he said, What say ye? Speak, and I will do it for you. And they said to the king, The man who would have made an end of us, and persecuted us, who plotted against us to destroy us, let us do away with him, so that he shall have no standing in all the boarders of Israel. 6 Let one give us seven men of his sons, and let us hang them in the sun to the Lord in Gabaon of Saul, as chosen out for the Lord. And the king said, I will give them to you.
7 But the king spared Memphibosthe, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, even between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the King”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amorrite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “all of”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 21

And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, There is iniquity upon Saul and his house because of his blood guiltiness, because he murdered the Gabaonites. 2 And * King David called the Gabaonites, and spoke to them; now the Gabaonites are not the sons of Israel, but are of the remnant of the * Amorrite, and the sons of Israel had sworn an oath to them, but Saul sought to strike them down in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah.
3 And David said to the Gabaonites, What shall I do for you? And by what means shall I make atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord? 4 And the Gabaonites said to him, For us it is not about silver or gold with Saul and with his house; and for us there is no man to put to death from * Israel. 5 And he said, What say ye? Speak, and I will do it for you. And they said to the king, The man who would have made an end of us, and persecuted us, who plotted against us to destroy us, let us do away with him, so that he shall have no standing in all the boarders of Israel. 6 Let one give us seven men of his sons, and let us hang them in the sun to the Lord in Gabaon of Saul, as chosen out for the Lord. And the king said, I will give them to you. 7 But the king spared Memphibosthe, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, even between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 And the king took the two sons of Respha, the daughter of Aia, whom she bore to Saul, Ermoni and Memphibosthe, and the five sons of Michol, the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to * Esdriel, the son of Berzelli the Moulathite. 9 And he gave them into the hand of the Gabaonites, and they hung them up to the sun on the mountain before the lord. And they fell, even the seven together. And they were put to death in the days of harvest at the commencement, in the beginning of the barley harvest. 10 And Respha, the daughter of Aia, took sackcloth, and fixed it for herself on the rock in the beginning of the barley harvest, until water dripped upon them * from out of the sky, and she did not allow the birds of the sky to rest upon them by day, neither the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told to David what Respha, the daughter of Aia the concubine of Saul, had done, and they were released, and Dan, the son of Joa of the offspring of the giants, overtook them. 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of the sons of Jabis Galaad, who stole them from the square of Baithsan, for the * Philistines set them there, in the day when the * Philistines struck down Saul in Gelboue. 13 And he brought up thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and gathered the bones of those who were hung in the sun. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and the bones of those who were hung in the sun, in the land of Benjamin, in the side of the hill, in the tomb of Kis his father, and they did all the things that the king commanded. And after this, God hearkened to the prayers of the land. 15 And there was still war between the * Philistines and Israel. And David went down and his servants with him, and they fought with the * Philistines, and David grew faint. 16 And Jesbi *, who was of the progeny of * Rapha, and the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, who also was fitted with a * mace, even he thought to strike down David. 17 And * Abessa, the son of Sarouia helped him and struck down the * Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore an oath, saying, Thou shall not any longer go out with us to battle, and thou shall not quench the lamp of Israel. 18 And after this there was a battle again with the * Philistines in * Geth; then * Sebocha, the * Astatothite, struck down * Seph of the progeny of * Rapha. 19 And the battle was in * Gom with the * Philistines. And * Eleanan, the son of Ariorgim the Bethlehemite, struck down * Goliath the Giththite, and the staff of his spear was as a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was still war in Geth. And there was a man of Madon, and the fingers of his hands and the toes of his feet were six on each, four and twenty in number, and truly he was * born to Rapha. 21 And he reproached Israel, and Jonathan, the son of * Semei, the brother of David, struck him down. 22 These four were born as descendants of the giants in Geth, to the house of Rapha, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the King”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amorrite”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “all of”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Serei”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Adriel”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “from God”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “of Nob”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “giants”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “sash”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Absaei”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Aousastonthel”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Asothi”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sephe”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “those assembled”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “giants”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Nob”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Oebocha”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Rom”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ellanan”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Godolian”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the progeny of titans”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Semeei”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Samaa”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 22

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, in the day in which the Lord rescued him from out of the hand of all his enemies, and from out of the hand of Saul. 2 And he said: O Lord, my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 my God shall be my guard, I will trust in Him, He is my protector, and the horn of my salvation, my supporter, and my refuge; Thou shall save me from the unjust man. 4 I will call upon the Lord for He is worthy to be praised, and I shall be saved from my enemies. 5 For the afflictions of death encompassed me, the rushing torrents of iniquity astound me; 6 * the pangs of death surrounded me, the shackles of death anticipated me. 7 When I am afflicted I will call upon the Lord, and I will cry out to my God, and He shall hear my voice from out of His temple, and my cry shall come into His ears. 8 And the earth was shaken up and quaked, and the foundations of the sky were confounded and torn asunder, because the Lord was angered with them. 9 There went up a smoke in His wrath, and fire out of His mouth devours; coals were kindled from Him. 10 And He bent the heavens, and came down, and there was darkness under His feet. 11 And He mounted upon the cherubim and did fly, and was seen upon wings of wind. 12 And He made darkness His hiding place around Him; His tabernacle was a darkness of waters, He condensed it with clouds of air. 13 From the brightness before Him coals of fire were kindled. 14 The Lord thundered from out of heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice. 15 And He sent forth arrows, and scattered them, and He flashed lightning, and astounded them. 16 And the currents of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of the Lord, by the blast of the breath of His * anger. 17 He sent from on high, and took me; He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from the strength of my enemies, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I. 19 They confronted me in the days of my * affliction, but the Lord was my support. 20 And He brought me into a wide place, and delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 And the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; even according to the purity of my hands did He reward me. 22 Because, I kept the ways of the Lord, and did not wickedly depart from my God. 23 For all His judgments and His * ordinances were before me, I did not departed from them. 24 And I shall be blameless before him, and will keep myself from my iniquity. 25 And the Lord will reward me according to my righteousness and according to the purity of my hands before His eyes. 26 With the holy ones thou will be deemed holy, and * with the perfect man thou will be deemed perfect, 27 and with the select thou will be select, and with the crooked thou will be crooked. 28 And thou will save the * poor people, and will lower your eyes on the haughty. 29 For thou, Lord, art my lamp and the Lord will illuminate for me my darkness. 30 For in thee I shall run as a lightly armed man, and in my God shall I scale a wall.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “The ropes of Hades surrounded me”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “rage”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “destruction” or “calamity”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “orders”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “with the innocent ones thou will be deemed innocent”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “gentle”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 22

And David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, in the day in which the Lord rescued him from out of the hand of all his enemies, and from out of the hand of Saul. 2 And he said: O Lord, my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 my God shall be my guard, I will trust in Him, He is my protector, and the horn of my salvation, my supporter, and my refuge; Thou shall save me from the unjust man. 4 I will call upon the Lord for He is worthy to be praised, and I shall be saved from my enemies. 5 For the afflictions of death encompassed me, the rushing torrents of iniquity astound me; 6 * the pangs of death surrounded me, the shackles of death anticipated me. 7 When I am afflicted I will call upon the Lord, and I will cry out to my God, and He shall hear my voice from out of His temple, and my cry shall come into His ears. 8 And the earth was shaken up and quaked, and the foundations of the sky were confounded and torn asunder, because the Lord was angered with them. 9 There went up a smoke in His wrath, and fire out of His mouth devours; coals were kindled from Him. 10 And He bent the heavens, and came down, and there was darkness under His feet. 11 And He mounted upon the cherubim and did fly, and was seen upon wings of wind. 12 And He made darkness His hiding place around Him; His tabernacle was a darkness of waters, He condensed it with clouds of air. 13 From the brightness before Him coals of fire were kindled. 14 The Lord thundered from out of heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice. 15 And He sent forth arrows, and scattered them, and He flashed lightning, and astounded them. 16 And the currents of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of the Lord, by the blast of the breath of His * anger. 17 He sent from on high, and took me; He drew me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from the strength of my enemies, from those who hated me, for they were stronger than I. 19 They confronted me in the days of my * affliction, but the Lord was my support. 20 And He brought me into a wide place, and delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 And the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; even according to the purity of my hands did He reward me. 22 Because, I kept the ways of the Lord, and did not wickedly depart from my God. 23 For all His judgments and His * ordinances were before me, I did not departed from them. 24 And I shall be blameless before him, and will keep myself from my iniquity. 25 And the Lord will reward me according to my righteousness and according to the purity of my hands before His eyes. 26 With the holy ones thou will be deemed holy, and * with the perfect man thou will be deemed perfect, 27 and with the select thou will be select, and with the crooked thou will be crooked. 28 And thou will save the * poor people, and will lower your eyes on the haughty. 29 For thou, Lord, art my lamp and the Lord will illuminate for me my darkness. 30 For in thee I shall run as a lightly armed man, and in my God shall I scale a wall. 31 The Mighty One, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is * strong, tried in the fire; He is a protector to all who place their trust on Him. 32 * Who is strong except the Lord? And who will be a Creator except our God? 33 It is * The Mighty One who strengthens me with power, and has shaken my way clear of blemishes, 34 making my feet like the feet of a deer, and setting me upon the high places, 35 teaching my hands for war, and breaking the bronze bow with my arm. 36 And thou have given me a shield for my salvation, and thy answer to my prayer has increased me, 37 and you have widened my footsteps under me, and my legs did not totter. 38 I will pursue my enemies, and will utterly destroy them; and I will not turn again until I have finished them. 39 And I will crush them, and they shall not rise; and they shall fall under my feet. 40 And thou shall strengthen me with power for battle; thou shall cause those who rise up against me to bow down under me. 41 And thou have caused my enemies to flee before me, even those who hated me, and thou have killed them. 42 They shall shout, and there shall be no helper; to the Lord, but He did not hearken to them. 43 And I ground them down like the dust of the earth; I beat them fine like the dirt of the streets. 44 And thou shall deliver me from * disputes with peoples; thou shall keep me to be the head of the nations; a people that I did not know was subject to me. 45 Foreign sons deceived me; however, with a hearing ear they * obeyed me. 46 Foreign sons shall be cast away, and shall stumble out of their * confinements. 47 As the Lord lives! * And blessed be my guardian! And my God, the keeper of my salvation shall be exalted! 48 The Lord who avenges me is strong, chastening the nations underneath me, 49 and bringing me out from my enemies. And thou shall set me on high from among those that rise up against me; thou shall deliver me from the man of transgressions. 50 Therefore will I acknowledge Thee, O Lord, among the nations, and sing forth Thy name in praise. 51 He magnifies the deliverance of his king, and does mercy towards His anointed, even to David and to his seed forever.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “The ropes of Hades surrounded me”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “rage”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “destruction” or “calamity”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “orders”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “with the innocent ones thou will be deemed innocent”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “gentle”.
II Kingdoms 23

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omit: “strong”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “For who is God except the Lord?”

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “God”.

* The phrase “disputes with peoples” (μάχης λαῶν) has a militaristic sense. The word “peoples” (λαῶν) probably refers more specifically to an army.

* The word “obeyed” (ἤκουσάν) is literally translated as “heard” or “listened”, but has the sense that once people hear of David and his exploits they become fearful and submit to his rule without putting up a fight.

* The word “confinements” (συγκλεισμῶν) has a strong connotation of “prison”. The foreigner’s besieged cities are seen as their prisons because of David’s military might against them.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “And blessed be He who shaped me”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 23

And these are the last words of David: Faithful is David, the son of Jesse, and faithful the man, whom the Lord raised up to be the anointed of the God of Jacob, and * befitting are the psalms of Israel. 2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke in me, and His word was upon my tongue. * 3 The God of Israel spoke thus, The protector of Israel spoke to me saying, Speak a parable among men; how might ye strengthen fear of God? 4 And by God may the sun rise in the morning at the light of dawn; the morning did not pass from brightness, and as it were after the rain of the tender grass upon the earth. 5 For is my house not so with * The Mighty One? For he has made an everlasting covenant with me, * ready and guarded at all time; * for my entire salvation and my every desire is, that the lawless should not flourish. 6 All these are as a thorn-bush being thrust forth, for they shall not be taken by hand, 7 and a man shall not labor among them; and one shall have a spear shaft that is fully armed with iron, and they shall be burned with fire, and they shall be burned in their shame.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “The God of Israel spoke to me, saying, Rule justly among men, and be a ruler with the fear of God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “to save me”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “for my entire salvation and my every desire is in the Lord, for the lawless shall not flourish”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 23

And these are the last words of David: Faithful is David, the son of Jesse, and faithful the man, whom the Lord raised up to be the anointed of the God of Jacob, and * befitting are the psalms of Israel. 2 The Spirit of the Lord spoke in me, and His word was upon my tongue. * 3 The God of Israel spoke thus, The protector of Israel spoke to me saying, Speak a parable among men; how might ye strengthen fear of God? 4 And by God may the sun rise in the morning at the light of dawn; the morning did not pass from brightness, and as it were after the rain of the tender grass upon the earth. 5 For is my house not so with * The Mighty One? For he has made an everlasting covenant with me, * ready and guarded at all time; * for my entire salvation and my every desire is, that the lawless should not flourish. 6 All these are as a thorn-bush being thrust forth, for they shall not be taken by hand, 7 and a man shall not labor among them; and one shall have a spear shaft that is fully armed with iron, and they shall be burned with fire, and they shall be burned in their shame. 8 These are the names of the powerful men of David: Jebosthe the Chananite, commander of the third part, Adinon the Asonite, he drew his broadsword against eight hundred soldiers at once. 9 And after him is * Eleanan the son of his father’s brother, the son of * Souditis, who was among the three powerful men. He was with David in Serran, and when they reproached him among the * Philistines, they were gathered there for battle, and all the men of Israel went up. 10 He arose and struck down the * Philistines, until his hand grew tired, and his hand stuck to the dagger, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance in that day; and the people stayed behind him only * to strip the slain. 11 And after him Samaia, the son of * Asa, the * Arouchite. And the * Philistines were gathered at * Theria; and there was there a portion of the field full of lentils; and the people fled from before the face of the * Philistines. 12 And he stood firm in the midst of the portion, and delivered it, and struck down the * Philistines, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance. 13 And three from out of the Thirty * went down, and came into * Kason to David, into the cave of Odollam; and there was a contingent of the * Philistines encamped in the valley of * Raphaim. 14 And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the * Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed and said, Who will give me water to drink out of the well that is in Bethlehem by the gate? But the garrison of the * Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 16 And the three powerful men broke through into the camp of the * Philistines, and drew water out of the well that was in Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and came to David. And he would not drink it, but poured it out as a libation to the Lord. 17 And he said, be gracious to me, O Lord, for doing this. Should I drink of the blood of the men who went at the risk of their own lives? And he would not drink it. These things the three powerful men did do. 18 And * Abessa, the brother of Joab, the son of Sarouia, he was chief among the three, and he awakened his spear against three hundred who were slain, and he * had a name among Three. 19 Of those Three he was most honorable, and he became a chief over them, but he did not come from among the Three. 20 And * Banaias, the son of * Jodae, * he was a man abundant in deeds, from Kabeseel, and he struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the midst of the pit on a snowy day. 21 He struck down the Egyptian man, an impressive-looking man, and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear, as tall as a wooden ladder, and he went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear from out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 22 These things did * Banaias, the son of Jodae, and he * had a name among the Three powerful men. 23 He was greatly honored among the Three, but he did not attain to the first Three. And David * appointed him as his reporter. And these are the names of King David’s powerful men: 24 Asael Joab’s brother; he was among the thirty, Eleanan the son of Doudi his father’s brother in Bethlehem. 25 * Samai the Aroudite, Elika the Arodite. 26 * Selles the Kelothite, * Iras the son of Ekkas the Thekoite. 27 Abiezer the * Anathothite, of the sons of the * Asothite. 28 * Ellon the Aoite, * Moore the Netophathite, 29 * Eththi the son of Riba of Gabaeth, the son of Benjamin, 30 * Banaias the Pharathenite, * Ouri of Nahaligaias, 31 * Abiel the son of the Arabothite, Azmoth the Barsamite, 32 * Eliasou the Salabonite, the sons of Jaban, Jonathan, 33 * Samnan the Arodite, Achian the son of Arai the Saraourite. 34 * Aliphaleth the son of Asbites, the son of the Maachathi, Eliab the son of Achitophel the Gelonite. 35 * Asrai the Karmelite, Pharai the Erchi. 36 * Gaal the son of Nathan who comes from valiant stock, the son of Galaadei, 37 * Elie the Ammanite, Gelorai the Berothaite, armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Sarouia. 38 * Iras the Iethiraite, Gareb the Eththenaite, 39 Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “The God of Israel spoke to me, saying, Rule justly among men, and be a ruler with the fear of God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “to save me”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “for my entire salvation and my every desire is in the Lord, for the lawless shall not flourish”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Eleazar”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Sousei”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Doudi”, other LXX codices read: “Doudei”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “for the despoilment of the corpses”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Agoa”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Aga”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Ararite”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* The word Θηρία is literally translated as “Wild Beasts” or “Animals.” In this instance it can be properly translated as “The Place of the Wild Beasts” as it carried the connotation of a place name.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “rulers”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Kadon”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Kasoar”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “titans”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text read: “Raphain”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Abeisa”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Abisai”.

* i.e. “gained fame among the Three”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Baneas”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Joiadae”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “the son of a powerful man, who was abundant in deeds, from Kabeseel”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Baneas”.

* i.e. “gained fame among the Three powerful men”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “established”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Saima the Roudite”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sammai the Aroudite, Enaka the Arodite”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Elles the Phelothi”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Eiras the son of Eiska”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Anothite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Anothite”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Sellom the Aoeite”, Alfred Rahlfs’ Septuaginta reads: “Selmon the Aoite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Noere the Entophateite”, * Codex Vaticanus reads: “Maeraei the Nepophatheite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Maharai the Netophathite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Esthaei the son of Reibaek of Gabaeth, the son of Benjamin the Ephrathaite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Eththi the son of Ribai from the mountain of Benjamin”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Aththai of Naaleas”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Hdai of Nahaligaias”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Asboth the Bardiameite”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Aeielbon the Arbotheite, Moth the Baromeite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Abi-Albon the Arabothite, Azmoth the Barhmite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Emasou the Salabonite, the sons of Asan”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Eliab the Salabonite, the sons of Jaban”, Alfred Rahlfs’ Septuaginta reads: “Eliasou the Salabonite, the sons of Jasan”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Eliaba the Salabonite, the sons of Jasen”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Samnan the Arodite, Amnan the son of Arai the Saraoureite”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Samnas the Arodite, Amnan the son of Arad the Arareite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Sama the Arorite, Achiam the son of Sarar the Aradite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Aliphaleth the son of Asbites, the son of the Machachaachei, Eliab the son of Acheitophel the Geloneite”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Eliphalet the son of Aitite of the Machatai, Oueliaph the son of Achitophel the Geilonite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Eliphalet the son of Achasbai, the son of the Maachathi, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gelonite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Asarai the Karmelite the son of Ouraioerchei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Asarai the Karmelite, Pharaei the Aracheieite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Asare the Karmelite, Phaarai the Arbite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Gaal the son of Nathan who comes from valiant stock, the son of Galaaddei”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Gaal the son of Nathan who comes from valiant stock, the son of Gaddi”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Igaal the son of Nathan of Zouba, Bani the Gadite”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Elie the Ammanite, Gelore the Bethoraite, armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Sarouia”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Zblegi the Amonite, Gelore the Berothaite, armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Sarouia”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Zelek the Amonite, Nahari the Berothaite, armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Sarouia”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “Eiras the Aitheiraite, Gerab the Eththenaite”, Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Eiras the Etheiraite, Gareth the Tethrite”, the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Iras the Iethraite, Gareb the Iethraite”.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 24

And the anger of the Lord proceeded to burn forth against Israel, and * the Devil stirred up David against them, saying, Go, count Israel and Judah.

* The phrase “the Devil” is not present in the text, but the text does state that someone stirred up or incited David against Israel. The parallel text in 1 Paralipomenon 21:1 says: “Καὶ ἔστη διάβολος ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐπέσεισε τὸν Δαυὶδ τοῦ ἀριθμῆσαι τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ.” (And the Devil rose up in Israel, and stirred up David to count Israel). The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text is even clearer by using the word “σαταν” (Satan) in describing who is inciting David against Israel. Thus, a logical connection can be made that it was the Devil that stirred up David against Israel, and can be so identified in the text of II Kingdoms 24:1.

[Panayioti]

II Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 24

And the anger of the Lord proceeded to burn forth against Israel, and * he stirred up David against them, saying, Go, count Israel and Judah. 2 And the king said to Joab commander of the army, who was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel * and Judah, from Dan and unto Bersabee, and inspect the people, and I will know the number of the people. 3 And Joab said to the king, Now may the Lord * God add to the people a hundred-fold just as they are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it! But why does my lord the king desire this thing? 4 And the word of the king prevailed against Joab against the commanders of the army. And Joab and the commanders of the army went out before the king to inspect the people of Israel. 5 And they crossed the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer on the right side of the city which is in the midst of the valley of Gad and Eliezer. * 6 And they came to Galaad, and into the land of Thabason, which is Adasai, and they came to Danidan and Oudan, and went around to Sidon. 7 And they came to * Mapsar of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Evite and the Canaanite, and they came by * the South of Judah to * Bersabee. 8 And they went around the whole land, and they arrived at Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave the number of the inspection of the people to the king, and Israel consisted of eight hundred thousand men of might that drew the broadsword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men of war. 10 And the heart of David struck him after he had numbered the people, and David said to the Lord, I have sinned exceedingly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, remove the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have been very foolish. 11 And David rose early in the morning, and the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, the seer *, saying, 12 Go, and speak to David, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I bring one of three things upon thee, now choose thee one of them, and I will do it to thee. 13 And Gad went in to David, and told him, and said to him, Choose for thyself what shall befall thee, whether there shall come upon thee for three years famine in thy land; or that thou should flee three months before thy enemies, and they should pursue thee; or that there should be for three days * death in thy land. Now then decide, and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me. 14 And David said to Gad, It is an exceedingly narrow choice for me on every side; I shall fall now into the hands of the Lord, for His compassions are very many, but I will not fall into the hands of man. 15 And David chose for himself * death. And they were the days of wheat harvest, and the Lord gave * a pestilence upon Israel from morning till noon, and the plague began among the people, and there died of the people from Dan even unto to Bersabee seventy thousand men. 16 And the angel * of God stretched out his hand towards Jerusalem to destroy her, but the Lord * relented over the evil, and said to the angel who was destroying among the people, It is enough now, withhold thy hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Orna the Jebousite. 17 And David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel striking among the people, and he said, Behold, it is I that have done wrong, I am the sheppard, I did evil, but these are the sheep; what have they done? Now let Thy hand be against me, and against my father’s house. 18 And Gad came to David in that day, and said to him, Go up, and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Orna the Jebousite. 19 And David went up according to the word of Gad *, according as the Lord commanded him. 20 And Orna looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming near onto him, and Orna went forth, and did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground. 21 And Orna said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy from thee the threshing floor in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be stopped from over the people. 22 And Orna said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up to the Lord that which is good in his eyes; behold, the oxen are for a whole burnt offering, and the wheels and equipment of the oxen are for wood. 23 Orna gave all to the king, and Orna said to the king, May the Lord thy God bless thee. 24 And the king said to Orna, Not so, I will buy it by buying it from thee at a fair price, and I will not offer to the Lord my God a whole burnt offering without payment. So David purchased the threshing floor and the oxen with fifty silver shekels. 25 And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered up whole burnt offerings and peace offerings. And Solomon made an addition to the altar afterwards, for it was little at first. And the Lord hearkened to the land, and the plague was stayed from upon Israel.

* i.e. “The Devil” according to I Paralipomenon 21:1, which states: “Καὶ ἔστη διάβολος ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐπέσεισε τὸν Δαυὶδ τοῦ ἀριθμῆσαι τὸν ᾿Ισραήλ.” (And the Devil rose up in Israel, and stirred up David to count Israel). The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “σαταν” (Satan).

* Codex Vaticanus omits: “and Judah”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “thy God”.

* Codex Vaticanus reads: “And they came to Galaad, and into the land of Thabason, which is Adasai, and they came to Dan Eidan and Oudan, and went around to Sidon”. Codex Alexandrinus reads: “And they came to Galaad, and into the land of Ethaon of Adasai, and they came to Dan Jaran and Judah, and went around to Greater Sidon”. The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “And they came to Galaad, and into the land of Hettim Hadis, and they came to Dan, and went around Sidon”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Mabsar”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “the Jordan”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Bersabaie”.

* Codex Vaticanus adds: “of David”.

* i.e. “Plague”.

* i.e. “Plague”.

* Literally: “death”.

* Codex Alexandrinus omits: “of God”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “changed His mind”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text adds: “the prophet”.

[Panayioti]

The Book of
III Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 1

And King David was old and advanced in days, and they covered him with clothes, and he was not warmed. 2 And his servants said, Let them search for our lord the king a young virgin, and she shall wait on the king, and keep him warm, and lay with him, and our lord the king shall be warmed. 3 And they sought for a beautiful girl from every border of Israel and they found Abisak the Somanite, and they brought her to the king. 4 And the girl was extremely beautiful, and she kept the king warm, and ministered to him, but the king did not know her. 5 And Adonias the son of Aggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king, and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run along before him. 6 And his father never at any time hindered him, saying, Why have thou done thus? And he was also very youthful in appearance, and she bore him after Abessalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Sarouia, and with Abiathar the priest and they supported Adonias. 8 But Sadok the priest and Banaias the son of * Jodae and Nathan the prophet and Semei, and Resi, and the powerful men of David, were not * behind Adonias.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Joiadae”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “with”.

[Panayioti]

III Kingdoms 1 (LXX)

Chapter 1

And King David was old and advanced in days, and they covered him with clothes, and he was not warmed. 2 And his servants said, Let them search for our lord the king a young virgin, and she shall wait on the king, and keep him warm, and lay with him, and our lord the king shall be warmed. 3 And they sought for a beautiful girl from every border of Israel and they found Abisak the Somanite, and they brought her to the king. 4 And the girl was extremely beautiful, and she kept the king warm, and ministered to him, but the king did not know her. 5 And Adonias the son of Aggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king, and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run along before him. 6 And his father never at any time hindered him, saying, Why have thou done thus? And he was also very youthful in appearance, and she bore him after Abessalom. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Sarouia, and with Abiathar the priest and they supported Adonias. 8 But Sadok the priest and Banaias the son of * Jodae and Nathan the prophet and Semei, and Resi, and the powerful men of David, were not * behind Adonias. 9 And Adonias sacrificed sheep and calves and lambs by the stone of Zoeleth, which was near Rogel, and he invited all his brothers, and all the prominent men of Judah, servants of the king. 10 But Nathan the prophet, and Banaias, and the king’s bodyguards, and Solomon his brother, he did not invite. 11 And Nathan spoke to Beersheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Have you not heard that Adonias the son of Aggith reigns, and our lord David does not know it? 12 And now come, let me I truly give thee counsel, and thou shall rescue thy life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 13 Come, and go in to King David, and thou shall speak to him, saying, Did not thou, my lord, O king, swear to thine handmaid, saying, Thy son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonias reign? 14 And behold, while thou art still speaking there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and will confirm thy words. 15 So Beersheba went in to the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abisak the Somanite was ministering to the king. 16 And Beersheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, What is thy request? 17 And she said, My lord O king, thou swore by the Lord thy God to thine handmaid, saying, Thy son Solomon shall be king after me, and shall sit upon my throne. 18 And now, behold, Adonias reigns, and thou, my lord, O king, do not know this. 19 And he has sacrificed calves and lambs and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander-in-chief of the army, but Solomon thy servant he has not called. 20 And thou, my lord, O king, —the eyes of all Israel are towards thee, to tell them who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 And it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and Solomon my son shall be * considered offenders. 22 And behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet entered. 23 And it was announced to the king, Behold, Nathan the prophet is here. And he came in to the king’s presence, and did obeisance to the king with his face to the ground. 24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, did thou say, Adonias shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 25 For he has gone down this day, and has sacrificed calves and lambs and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and they said, Long live King Adonias. 26 But he did not invite me thy servant, and Sadok the priest, and Banaias the son of Jodae, and Solomon thy servant. 27 Has this matter happened by the authority of my lord the king, and have thou not made known to thy servant who shall sit upon the throne of my lord the king after him? 28 And King David answered and said, Summon to me Beersheba. And she came in before the king, and stood before him. 29 And the king swore, and said, As the Lord lives, Who redeemed my soul out of all affliction, 30 as I swore to thee by the Lord God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall be king after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day. 31 And Beersheba bowed with her face to the ground, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord King David live forever. 32 And King David said, Summon to me Sadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Jodae. And they came in before the king. 33 And the king said to them, Take the servants of your lord with you, and mount my son Solomon upon my own mule, and bring him down to Gion. 34 And there let Sadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him to be king over Israel, and do ye sound the trumpet, and ye shall say, Long live King Solomon! 35 And he shall sit upon my throne, and be king in my stead, and that I command that he be ruler over Israel and Judah. 36 And Banaias the son of Jodae answered the king and said, So be it! May the Lord God of my lord the king confirm it. 37 As the Lord was with my lord the king, so let Him be with Solomon, and May He make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David. 38 And Sadok the priest went down, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Jodae, and the Cherethite, and the Phelethite, and they mounted Solomon upon the mule of King David, and led him away to Gion. 39 And Sadok the priest took the horn of oil from out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon, and blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Let King Solomon live. 40 And all the people went up after him, and they danced in choirs, and rejoiced with great joy, and the earth quaked with their voice. 41 And Adonias and all his guests heard, and they had just finished eating. And Joab heard the sound of the horn, and said, Why is the sound of the city resounding? 42 While he was yet speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came in. And Adonias said, Come in, for thou art a mighty man, and thou brings good news. 43 And Jonathan answered and said, Truly our lord King David has made Solomon king, 44 and the king has sent with him Sadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Jodae, and the Cherethite, and the Phelethite, and they have mounted him on the king’s mule; 45 and Sadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him in Gion, and have gone up from there rejoicing, and the city resounded. This is the sound which ye have heard. 46 And Solomon is seated upon the throne of the kingdom. 47 And the servants of the king have gone in to bless our lord King David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne; and the king did obeisance on his bed. 48 Moreover thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has given this day one of my seed to sit now on my throne, and my eyes to see it. 49 And all the guests of Adonias were dismayed and rose up, and every man went his way. 50 And Adonias was afraid before the face of Solomon, and arose, and departed, and laid hold of the horns of the altar. 51 And it was reported to Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonias fears King Solomon, and holds the horns of the altar, saying, Let * Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the broadsword. 52 And Solomon said, If he should be a * loyal subject, there shall not a hair of his fall to the ground; but if evil be found in him, he shall die. 53 And King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar; and he went in and did obeisance to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, Go to thy house.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Joiadae”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “with”.

* Meaning: “treated as traitors,” or “considered as enemies of the state.” Literally: “sinners”.

* Codex Alexandrinus adds: “King”.

* Literally: “son of power”.
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Sorry for the long absence. Things are now back on track.

[Panayioti]

III Kingdoms (LXX)

Chapter 2

And the days of David drew near that he should die, and he commanded his son Solomon, saying, 2 I am going by way of all the earth. But thou shall be strong, and thou shall become a man, 3 and you shall keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments and the ordinances and the judgments * which are written in the Law of Moses so that thou may understand what thou shall do in all things that I command thee; 4 so that the Lord may establish His word which He spoke, saying, If thy sons shall take heed to their way to walk before Me in truth with their whole heart, * I promise thee, saying, there shall not be utterly destroyed for thee a man from upon the throne of Israel.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “and His testimonies”.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “and their whole soul”.

[Panayioti]

III Kingdoms

Chapter 2

And the days of David drew near that he should die, and he commanded his son Solomon, saying, 2 I am going by way of all the earth. But thou shall be strong, and thou shall become a man, 3 and you shall keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments and the ordinances and the judgments * which are written in the Law of Moses so that thou may understand what thou shall do in all things that I command thee; 4 so that the Lord may establish His word which He spoke, saying, If thy sons shall take heed to their way to walk before Me in truth with their whole heart, * I promise thee, saying, there shall not be utterly destroyed for thee a man from upon the throne of Israel. 5 Moreover thou know all that Joab the son of Sarouia did to me, what he did to the two captains of the forces of Israel, to Abenner the son of Ner, and to * Amessai the son of Jether, that he killed them, and * shed the blood of war in peace, and put innocent blood on his girdle that was about his waist, and on his sandal that was on his foot. 6 Therefore thou shall deal with him according to thy wisdom, and thou shall not bring down his grey hair in peace to Hades. 7 But thou shall deal mercifully with the sons of Berzelli the Galaadite, and they shall be among those that eat at thy table, for thus they drew near to me when I fled from the face of thy brother Abessalom. 8 And, behold, there is with thee Semei the son of Gera, the son of a Benjamite from Baourim, and he cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went into the Camps, and he came down to the Jordan to meet me, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the broadsword. 9 But thou shall by no means hold him guiltless, for thou art a wise man, and will know what thou shall do to him, and shall bring down his grey hair with blood to Hades. 10 And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 And Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was established greatly. 13 And Adonias the son of Aggith came in to Beersheba the mother of Solomon, and did obeisance to her. And she said, Does thou enter in peace? And he said, Peace. 14 And he said, May I have a word with thee. And she said to him, Speak. 15 And he said to her, Thou know that the kingdom was mine, and all Israel set their face toward me for a king; but the kingdom was turned from me and became my brother’s, for it was appointed to him from the Lord. 16 And now I make one request of thee, do not turn away thy face. And Beersheba said to him, Speak on. 17 And he said to her, Speak now to King Solomon, for he will not turn away his face from thee, and let him give me Abisak the Somanite for a wife. 18 And Beersheba said, Well, I will speak for thee to the king. 19 And Beersheba went in to King Solomon to speak to him concerning Adonias. And the king rose up to meet her, and kissed her, and sat on the throne, and a throne was set for the mother of the king, and she sat on his right. 20 And she said to him, I ask of thee one little request; turn not away thy face. And the king said to her, Ask, my mother, and I will not refuse thee. 21 And she said, Let now Abisak the Somanite be given to Adonias thy brother as a wife. 22 And King Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why have thou asked Abisak for Adonias? Ask for him the kingdom also! For he is my elder brother, and he has for his companion Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Sarouia the commander-in-chief. 23 And King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if it be not that Adonias has spoken this word against his own life. 24 And now as the Lord lives who has established me, and set me on the throne of my father David, and he has made me a house, as the Lord spoke, this day shall Adonias be put to death. 25 So King Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias the son of Jodae, and he killed him, and Adonias died on that day. 26 And the king said to Abiathar the priest, Depart thou quickly to Anathoth to thy farm, for thou art worthy of death this day; but I will not kill thee, because thou have carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord before my father, and because thou were afflicted with all the hardships with which my father was afflicted. 27 And Solomon banished Abiathar from being a priest of the Lord, so that the word of the Lord may be fulfilled, which He spoke concerning the house of Eli in Selom. 28 And the report came to Joab the son of Sarouia; for Joab had * supported Adonias, and did not * support Solomon. And Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And it was related to Solomon, saying, Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar. * And King Solomon sent to Joab, saying, What happened to thee, that thou have fled to the altar? And Joab said, Because I was afraid from before they face, and fled for refuge to the Lord. And Solomon sent Banaias the son of Jodae, saying, Go and kill him, * and bury him. 30 And Banaias the son of Jodae came to Joab to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. And Joab said, I will not come forth, for I will die here. And Banaias the son of Jodae returned and spoke to the king, saying, Thus has Joab spoken, and thus has he answered me. 31 And the king said to him, Go, and do to him as he has spoken, and kill him, and thou shall bury him, and thou shall remove this day the blood which he shed without cause, from me and from the house of my father. 32 And the Lord has returned upon his own head the blood of his unrighteousness, inasmuch as he fell upon the two men who were more righteous and better than himself, and killed them with the broadsword, and my father David knew not of their blood, even Abenner the son of Ner, the commander-in-chief * of Israel, and * Amessa the son of Jether, the commander-in-chief of Judah. 33 And their blood is returned upon his head and upon the head of his seed forever. And to David, and his seed, and his house, and his throne, may there be peace forever from the Lord. 34 So Banaias the son of Jodae went up, and attacked him, and killed him, and buried him at his house in the wilderness. 35 And the king appointed Banaias the son of Jodae to take his place over the army, and the kingdom was being established in Jerusalem, and the king appointed the priest Sadok as the foremost priest in the place of Abiathar. * 35a And the Lord gave understanding to Solomon, and very much wisdom, and breadth of mind, like the sand which is by the sea. 35b And the wisdom of Solomon abounded exceedingly beyond the wisdom of all the sons of old, and beyond all the wise ones of Egypt. 35c And he took the daughter of Pharaoh, and brought her into the city of David, until he had finished building his own house, and the house of the Lord first, and the wall of Jerusalem all around; in seven years he made and finished them. 35d And Solomon had seventy thousand common laborers and eight thousand stonecutters in the hill country. 35e And Solomon made the sea, and the bases, and the great washbasins, and the pillars, and the fountain of the court, and the bronze sea. 35f And he built the citadel as its defenses, he cut through the city of David; thus the daughter of Pharaoh used to go up from the city of David to her house which he built for her. Then he built the citadel. 35g And Solomon would offer up three whole burnt offerings in the year, and peace offerings on the altar which he built to the Lord, and he would burn incense before the Lord. And finished the house. 35h And these are the chief officers who were appointed over the works of Solomon: three thousand and six hundred overseers of the people that did the works. 35i And he built Assour, and Magdo, and Gazer, and upper Baithoron, and Baalath; 35k only after he had built the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem all around, afterwards he built these cities. 35l And while David was still alive, he charged Solomon, saying, Behold, there is with thee Semei the son of Gera, a son of the seed of Benjamin out of Hebron; 35m he cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went into the Camps, 35n and he would come down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying, I will not kill thee with the broadsword. 35o But now do not hold him guiltless, for thou art a prudent man, and thou will know what thou shall do to him, and thou shall bring his grey head down with blood to Hades. 36 And the king summoned Semei, and said to him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and stay there, and thou shall not go out from there to any place whatever. 37 And it shall come to pass on the day that thou shall go forth and cross over the torrent stream of Kedron, know by understanding that thou shall die by death; thy blood shall be upon thine head. And the king caused him to swear on that day. 38 And Semei said to the king, Good is the word that thou have spoken, my lord O king; thus will thy servant do. And Semei stayed in Jerusalem three years. 39 And it came to pass after the three years, that two servants of Semei ran away to Anchous the son of Maacha the King of Geth, and it was told to Semei, saying, Behold, thy servants are in Geth. 40 And Semei rose up, and saddled his donkey, and went to Geth to Anchous to seek out his servants, and Semei went, and brought his servants out of Geth. 41 And it was reported to Solomon, saying, Semei went from Jerusalem to Geth and brought back his servants. 42 And the king sent and summoned Semei, and said to him, Did I not make thee swear by the Lord, and testify to thee, saying, In whatever day thou shall go out of Jerusalem, and go to the right or left, understand by knowing that thou shall die by death? * 43 And why have thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment which I commanded thee? 44 And the king said to Semei, Thou know all thy evil which thy heart knew, which thou did to David my father, and the Lord has repaid thy evil on thine own head. 45 And King Solomon is blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. 46 And King Solomon commanded Banaias the son of Jodae, and he went forth and did away with him, and he died. 46a And King Solomon was very prudent and wise, and Judah and Israel were very many, like the sand which is by the sea for multitude, eating, and drinking, and rejoicing, 46b and Solomon was ruler in all the kingdoms, and they brought gifts, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 46c And Solomon began to open the resources of Lebanon, 46d and he built Thermai in the wilderness. 46e And this was the midday meal of Solomon, thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of ground meal, ten choice calves, and twenty oxen from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides deer and gazelles, and choice fatted birds. 46f For he was ruler everywhere across the river from Raphi unto Gaza, among all the kings across the river, 46g and he had peace on all sides all around, and Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each under his vine and under his fig tree, eating and drinking, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 46h And these were the officials of Solomon: Azariou the son of Sadok the priest, and Orniou the son of Nathan chief of the officers, and Edram who is over his house, and Souba, the scribe, and Basa the son of Achithalam, the recorder, and Abi the son of Joab, the commander-in-chief, and Achire the son of Edrai who is over the levies, and Banaias the son of Jodae who is over the main court and over the brickworks and Zachour the son of Nathan, the counselor. 46i And Solomon had forty thousand brood mares for his chariots, and twelve thousand * horses. 46k And he reigned over all the kings from the river and to the land of the * Philistines, and to the borders of Egypt. 46l Solomon the son of David reigned over Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “and His testimonies”.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “and their whole soul”.

* Codex Alexandrinus reads: “Ammesa”, Codex Vaticanus reads: “Amessaia”, and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amessa”.

* Literally: “called forth” or “ordered up”.

*Literally: “leaned after” or “inclined after”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “And King Solomon sent to Joab, saying, What happened to thee, that thou have fled to the altar? And Joab said, Because I was afraid from before thy face, and fled for refuge to the Lord”.

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text omits: “and bury him”.

* Codex Alexandrinus omits: “of Israel, and Amessa the son of Jether, the commander-in-chief…”

* The Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text reads: “Amasa”.

* Codex Vaticanus adds: “And Solomon son of David reigned over Israel and Judah in Jerusalem. And the Lord gave understanding to Solomon, and very much wisdom, and largeness of heart, like the sand by the sea shore”.

* Codex Alexandrinus and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text add: “And ye said to me, Good is the word, which I have heard”.

* Alfred Rahlfs’ Septuaginta and the Complutesian Polyglot’s LXX text read: “horsemen”.

* This word is used in the Septuagint as a distinct reference to “Philistines”, but is literally translated as “foreigners”, or “those of another people or tribe”.