"The LORDwill returnhis bloodon his own head,becausehe fellupon twomenmorerighteousand betterthanhe and killedthem with the sword,while my fatherDaviddid not know[it]: Abnerthe sonof Ner,commanderof the armyof Israel,and Amasathe sonof Jether,commanderof the armyof Judah.
"Nowyou are cursedfrom the ground,whichhas openedits mouthto receiveyour brother'sbloodfrom your hand.
Reubenansweredthem, saying,"Did I not tellyou, 'Do not sinagainst the boy;and you would not listen?Nowcomesthe reckoningfor his blood."
"Whoever shedsman'sblood,By manhis bloodshall be shed,For in the imageof GodHe mademan.
Davidsaidto him, "Your bloodis on your head,for your mouthhas testifiedagainst you, saying,'I have killedthe LORD'Sanointed.'"
AbsalomsetAmasaoverthe armyin placeof Joab.Now Amasawas the sonof a manwhose namewas Ithrathe Israelite,whowentin to Abigailthe daughterof Nahash,sisterof Zeruiah,Joab'smother.
"May it fallon the headof Joaband on allhis father'shouse;and may there not failfrom the houseof Joabone who has a discharge,or who is a leper,or who takesholdof a distaff,or who fallsby the sword,or who lacksbread."
So allthe peopleand allIsraelunderstoodthat daythat it had not been[the will] of the kingto putAbnerthe sonof Nerto death.
"I am weaktoday,though anointedking;and thesementhe sonsof Zeruiahare toodifficultfor me. May the LORDrepaythe evildoeraccording to his evil."
"Howmuchmore,whenwickedmenhave killeda righteousmanin his own houseon his bed,shall I not nowrequirehis bloodfrom your handand destroyyou from the earth?"
The kingalso saidto Shimei,"You knowallthe evilwhichyou acknowledgein your heart,whichyou didto my fatherDavid;therefore the LORDshall returnyour evilon your own head.
"Now you alsoknowwhatJoabthe sonof Zeruiahdidto me, whathe didto the twocommandersof the armiesof Israel,to Abnerthe sonof Ner,and to Amasathe sonof Jether,whom he killed;he also shedthe bloodof warin peace.And he putthe bloodof waron his beltabout his waist,and on his sandalson his feet.
then hearin heavenand actand judgeYour servants,condemningthe wickedby bringinghis wayon his own headand justifyingthe righteousby givinghim according to his righteousness.
but have walkedin the wayof the kingsof Israel,and have caused Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalemto playthe harlotas the houseof Ahabplayedthe harlot,and you have alsokilledyour brothers,your own family,who were betterthanyou,
behold,the LORDis going to strikeyour people,your sons,your wivesand allyour possessionswith a greatcalamity;
"Ifit pleasesthe king,let a royaledictbe issuedby him and let it be writtenin the lawsof Persiaand Mediaso that it cannotbe repealed,that Vashtimay nolonger comeinto the presenceof KingAhasuerus,and let the kinggiveher royalpositionto anotherwho is moreworthythanshe.
His mischiefwill returnupon his own head,And his violencewill descendupon his own pate.
I will givethanksto the LORDaccording to His righteousnessAnd will singpraiseto the nameof the LORDMostHigh.
Therefore,thussaysthe LordGOD,"As I live,surelyMy oathwhichhe despisedand My covenantwhichhe broke,I will inflicton his head.
"But ifyou will not doso,behold,you have sinnedagainst the LORD,and be sureyour sinwill findyou out.
so that the violencedone to the seventysonsof Jerubbaalmight come,and their bloodmight be laidon Abimelechtheir brother,whokilledthem, and on the menof Shechem,whostrengthenedhis handsto killhis brothers.
Also Godreturnedallthe wickednessof the menof Shechemon their heads,and the curseof Jothamthe sonof Jerubbaalcameupon them.
So Samuelsaidto him, "The LORDhas tornthe kingdomof Israelfrom you todayand has givenit to your neighbor,who is betterthanyou.
