II SAMUEL CHAPTER 1 - 8

2 SAMUEL 1

1 It happened after that Saul died
When David returned from the side
Of slaughtering Amalekites,
And David for two days and nights
Had been in Ziklag, 2 it occurred
On the next day that is the third,
Behold a man came from the camp
From Saul with his clothes torn in stamp
And dust upon his head, and when
He came to David, he fell then
To the earth in prostration’s clamp.
3 And David asked him, “Where have you
Come from?” He said without ado,
“Out of Israel’s camp so I flew.”
4 And David asked him, “What’s the news?
Tell me please about all your views.”

The worse the news, the more the human heart
Yearns for the voice to recite in its part
The gores and shames that do not fail to send
Hundreds of men into Hades to spend
Their innocence in agonies that cry
Up to You, my Beloved, because they die.
So David eagerly asks for the news
When he had better go back to tattoos.
A moment more of ignorance is best,
And let the dying world take up the rest.
Beloved, I do not stray into the fray,
I do not seek the bloody awful way,
And yet I find a moment when I pray
For news of what has happened to today.

He answered, “The folk have all fled
From the battle, and many dead
There where they fell, and Saul and son
Jonathan are dead, gone and done.”
5 Said David to the young man who
Brought him the news, “Now how do you
Know that Saul and Jonathan who
Is his son are dead to be true?”
6 And the young man who told the tale
Said to him, “I happened to sail
On Mount Gilboa, and indeed,
There Saul leaned on his spear in need
And hard pressed by the chariots’ speed
And horsemen pressing him in greed.
7 “And as he looked behind him he
Saw me there, then he called to me
And I said ‘Behold, here I be.’
8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ And I
Said ‘I’m an Amalekite sly.’

Ah, what mistake and fatal that he said
That he was an Amelekite who fed
As a stranger among the good folk bred
As Israelite and chosen and well led!
It might not ring untrue to spill the beans
That make one a good servant behind scenes,
But the young man does not know David’s hand
Is unwashed from the slaying of the band
Of Amelekite brigands in the land
Who took his wives and children at a stand.
Take no pride in a heritage, I say,
Lest it turn and snap at the heels for pay,
And in the battle, unbeknownst, return
And take an enemy, no time to learn.

9 “And he said to me, ‘Stand, please do,
Over me and without ado
Kill me and set my body free
From my wound and the agony.’
10 “So I stood by him and I made
To kill him, since I was afraid
He could not live once he was struck,
And I took the crown from the truck,
That had been on his head and yet
The bracelet on his arm, you bet,
And brought them here where we have met.”
11 And David took hold of his clothes
And tore them, and all those who rose
With him, they also tore their clothes.
12 And they lamented, and they wept
And fasted till the evening swept
Upon them, for Saul and for his
Son Jonathan, for the sad biz
Of Judah’s people, and the tent
Of Israel slain by the sword leant.

I wonder what the wives who must repair
The torn up clothing thought under the glare
Of male lament, I wonder if they share
The sorrow of the men in the same measure.
They cannot take their sadness in their leisure,
When handspun clothing has been so ill used
By dust and ash and rending and abused
With tears and poundings on the chest. Oh no,
I think the women’s sorrow is no show,
But true tears for the work the sad display
Uselessly casts up in the women’s way.
Beloved, customs of men are foolish things,
Their carpeting, their gilding, and their kings.
Take me to rest empty beneath Your wings.

13 Then David asked the young man who
Brought the news to him, “Where are you
From?” And he said in answer, “I
Am son of an Amaleki
Sojourner in Israel, am I.”
14 Then David asked him, “How was it
You were not afraid then to hit
With your hand YHWH’s anointed kit?”
15 David called one of his young men
And said “Go over there again
And attack him.” And so he did
And he died. 16 And then said David
To him, “Your blood be on your own
Head, since your mouth witnessed alone
Against you, saying ‘I have killed
YHWH’s anointed one, though unskilled.’”

Who joins the folk to live in peace awhile
Must abide by not only law but style
Of the host company and not revile
Authority, but submit to its guile.
The young man thought to take reward by lie
That he had killed David’s foe on the sly.
He did not realize or think the man
Was Your anointed, and that foiled his plan.
To survive I must think as do the grand
Who rule by deceit and stealth every land,
Now that the sword is laid up on the wall,
And only pistols and rifles appal
The shopper in the street. I do not flee
Nor dare to turn my back on killing spree.

17 And David in lament set out
This lamentation, one about
Saul and his son Jonathan dead.
18 And he commanded to teach it
To the sons of Judah and fit,
In the Book of Jasher it’s writ.
19 Set up memorial for those,
O Israel, who on your heights
Were killed, and how the mighty chose
To fall! 20 Tell it not in the sites
Of Gath, publish it not in streets
Of Ashkelon, lest in deceits
The daughters of the Philistines
Rejoice, the uncircumcised swine’s
Daughters triumph. 21 Gilboa’s hills,
Let not rain nor dew that distils
Descend on you, nor fruitful field,
For there was cast the mighty shield,
The shield of Saul all gone unoiled.
22 From the blood of the slain unsoiled,
From the fat of the mighty coiled,
Jonathan’s bow did not turn back,
The sword of Saul returned not slack.
23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved
And beautiful, they were not shoved
Apart, pleasant in life were they,
And in their death they did not stray,
Swifter than eagles to the prey,
Stronger than lions in the way.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul
Who clothed you in the scarlet caul,
And with adorning ornaments
On your apparel with incense.
25 How are the mighty fallen here
In midst of battle they appear!
O Jonathan, even the slain
On your high places in bloodstain!
26 My grief for you, my brother Jon,
Is great, you were lovely and wan,
Your love to me was better than
Even the love of a woman.
27 How are the mighty fallen down,
Perished weapons of war and crown!

I have no Jonathan for whom to weep,
Nor king who made my fleeing footsteps keep
To the wilderness holes to hide and seek.
I’m well-provided for Your harsh critique.
Lament, I tell my soul, and still the buds
Of spring raise joy in me along with floods
Of melted ice that beckons by the road.
The literary critic lays the load
Of blame on me, that I fail to take note
Of post-modern despair and worse for vote
The cynical hedonism that claims
To be a new thing since its bloody flames
Address the net computers foot the sill.
Beloved, I cannot lament to my fill.

2 SAMUEL 2

1 It happened after this that he,
David enquired of YHWH to see,
Saying “Shall I go up into
One of Judah’s cities to view?”
And YHWH said to him, “Go up then”
And David said “Go where and when?”
And He said “To Hebron again.”
2 So David went up to Hebron,
And both his wives, Ahinoam
The Jezreelitess, Abigail
The wife of Carmelite Nabal.
3 And the men who were with him, each
One and his family to reach
And live on Hebron’s cities’ beach.
4 So Judah’s men came to anoint
David there to reign and appoint
Over the house of Judah, and
They told David, saying “The manned
Of Jabesh-Gilead were they
Who buried Saul on that sad day.”
5 And David sent messengers to
The men of Jabesh Gilead’s crew,
And said to them, “Blessèd are you
Of YHWH, that you have shown this good
To your lord Saul, just as you should,
And buried him. 6 “And now may YHWH
Show kindness and truth to you too,
And I shall also for my part
Repay this kindness of your heart.
7 “But now let your hands be made strong,
And be valiant, though Saul through wrong
Is dead, your master all along,
And yet the house of Judah came
And anointed me in their name
As king after Saul in his claim.”

What could David say, my Beloved, that would
Ingratiate him when a people stood
In favour of the last king on the block?
Was not his claim illegal in its stock?
Is not the king’s son better far the one
To rule a country if a king must run?
Kingship itself breeds violence and greed
Even when loyalty goes up in need.
Behind the machinations of the hand
Of David and Abner, I see the stand
Invisible of Your own will not late
To favour good among the evil state.
Today as well as then, as men recall
The hand to power, I see Your judgement fall.

8 But Abner son of Ner, captain
Of Saul’s army, took hand to win
Ishbosheth son of Saul and brought
Him to Mahanaim as taught,
9 And made him king in Gilead,
And over the Ashurites pad,
And over Jezreel and on
Ephraim and over all the spawn
Of Benjamin and over all
Israel. 10 Ishbosheth Saul’s son tall
Was forty years old when he started
To reign over Israel and parted
After he reigned two years. But all
Judah followed on David’s call.
11 The space that David was the king
In Hebron over Judah’s thing
Was seven years and six months’ time.
12 And Abner son of Ner and all
The servants of Ishbosheth’s stall,
The son he was went out from Saul,
They came from Mahanaim when done
To sit down flat in Gibeon.
13 And Joab son of Zeruiah,
And servants of David messiah,
Went out and met them by the pool
Of Gibeon, sat down to cool,
The one on one side of the pool,
The other across it like fool.
As soon as confrontation is set out
Beside the pool, even of Kauthar, doubt
Not that the end will be in violence
Instead of wisdom and appeal to sense.
Olympic game or warfare outright makes
But little difference for human sakes,
But only the awareness that You hold
The key to knowledge will make truth be bold.
There is no I but You, Beloved, to share
The power and goodness on an earth made bare.
Who see the I shine in the other’s face
Alone is able to make peace apace.
Let no I rise in myth to take the throne,
Be You the king and judge, be You alone.

14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let
The young men rise, I pray, well met,
And joust before us.” Joab said
“Let them get up, not go to bed.”
15 So twelve got up and came across
Of Benjamin’s folk from their boss
Ishbosheth son of Saul and twelve
Of David’s servants come to delve.
And each one grasped him by the head
And drove the sword in side instead
So that each pair fell down apiece.
So that place was named for caprice
The portion of treachery’s fleece.
17 The battle was bloody that day,
And Abner beaten in the way
Along with Israel before
The servants of David in store.
18 And the three sons of Zeruiah
Were there, Joab and Abishaia
And Asahel, and Asahel
Was swift of foot like a gazelle.
19 And Asahel pursued Abner
And turned not right nor left to spur
From following after Abner.
20 And Abner looked back and said “Are
You Asahel?” “I am that star,”
He answered. 21 And Abner then told
Him, “Turn aside and don’t be bold,
To left or right and lay you hold
On one of the young men, and take
His armour.” But he’d not forsake,
Would not Asahel to turn back
From following him in the slack.
22 And Abner said once more unto
Asahel, “Turn aside, please do,
From following me, why should I
Strike you to the ground, how should I
Lift up my face to Joab’s why?”
23 But he refused to turn aside,
And so Abner his spear end plied
Against his abdomen, the spear
Came out behind him, and the dear
Fell down and died in the same place.
It happened those who arrived there
Where Asahel fell down to spare,
They all remained and stood still there.

A general is loathe to raise a spear
Against a young lad, though the man appear
To run like a gazelle in joy of youth.
Even a general has times of truth.
But such let pass occasion to repair
The violence left on the head and hair,
And live to strike again, and not to spare.
Beloved, look on officers everywhere.
The blood of Asahel, no matter what
Revenge his brother Joab can in glut
Is still an innocent voice from the sod
That cried to You, Beloved, yes, cries to God.
Beloved, receive the life that was snuffed out,
While officer and brother live in doubt.

24 But Joab and Abashai came
Pursuing Abner as in blame
And the sun went down on the same
When they had come to Ammah’s hill
That lies before Giah and still
By the road of the wilderness
Of Gibeon in its address.
25 The sons of Benjamin came to
Gather after Abner in crew
Standing atop a hill in view.
26 Then Abner called Joab and said
“Shall the sword always eat like bread?
Do you not know what bitterness
Will be the end of this address?
When will you make the people turn
From following brother to spurn?”
27 And Joab said “As Ælohim
Lives, if you had not spoken scheme,
Then surely by the morning come
All the folk had gone wearisome,
Each from following quarrelsome.”
28 So Joab blew the horn and all
The fold stood still to hear the call,
And followed Israel no more,
Nor fought again to even score.
29 And Abner and his men went all
That night through the plain to the fall
To cross Jordan and went through all
Bithron, and they came to the stall
In Mahanaim. 30 And Joab turned
From following Abner concerned,
And when he gathered all the folk
There lacked of David’s men the stroke
Of nineteen servants and the youth
Asahel, whom Abner gave tooth.
32 And they took Asahel in hand
And buried him in his dad’s tomb.
And Joab went all night in band,
And when the dawn rose in its bloom
It found them in Hebron for room.

Abner is hard, but like the army now
Is not willing to kill in wanton row.
That is prerogative of youth and fire
And politician set out to conspire.
And so he wants to stop the battle when
There is still hope of saving his own men.
Ah my Beloved, what battles rage about
The soul for merely plying play and shout!
I too for pride awaken at the call
Demanding conflict over the truth’s wall.
Beloved, let me like stone remain to seal
The fate of blood and soul with help and heal.
Beloved, let me remain beside the pool
Of Kauthar where the warrior is the rule.

2 SAMUEL 3

1 And so there was long war between
The house of Saul and the house keen
Of David, and David’s house grew
Stronger, but house of Saul and crew
Grew ever weaker. 2 Then were born
To David sons in Hebron’s thorn,
And his first-born boy-child was of
Ahinoam, Jezreelite love,
Amnon his name, of the above.
3 And his second, Chileab of
Abigail who was the wife of
Nabal the Carmelite, the third
Was Absalom son of Maacah
Daughter of Talmai king in awe
Of Geshur, 4 and the fourth to come
Was Adonijah who in sum
Was son of Haggith, and number
Five was Shephatiah the fer
Of Abital, 5 and then number
Six was Ithream of Eglah
David’s wife. These were born to draw
For David in Hebron. 6 It came
To pass while there was war and blame
Between the house of Saul for shame
And David’s house, that Abner’s claim
In Saul’s house strengthened on amain.

David seems to be a good shot indeed,
With six sons of six wives to preserve seed
Without a double, twin or even daughter.
The man gets right along and does not potter.
Their names are taught in puns for one or two
Beyond counsellor of peace in his pew.
For Adonijah, Jah is my Lord, read
A railway sleeper not yet gone with greed.
For Ithream, remainder of the folk,
Read he became enangered at a stroke.
Six sons appear in residue at last
To make a work week that has not yet passed.
May David and I enter in that rest
That You reserve to both lowly and best.

7 And Saul had a concubine whose
Name was Rizpah, daughter to choose
Of Aiah, and Ishbosheth’s bane
Was to say to Abner, “Why did
You go into my father’s bid
To sleep where his concubine hid?”
8 But Abner raged at Ishbosheth
And at his words, and so he saith
“Am I a dog’s head that belongs
To Judah? And I do no wrongs
Today, but kindness to Saul’s house,
Your father, brothers, friends and mouse,
And have not given you up to
The house of David with your crew,
And do you seek cause of offence
Against me for a wench’s sense?
9 “God do so to Abner and more,
If as YHWH once to David swore
I do not do for him before
10 “To take away the kingdom from
The house of Saul to raise in sum
The throne of David over all
Israel and over Judah’s stall
From Dan to Beersheba a wall.”
11 And he could not answer Abner
Another word, he feared to stir.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to
David straight off, saying then, “Who
Rules the land?” And he also said
“Agree with me, and see I’ve led
All Israel to you instead.”
13 And he said “Fine, I’ll make a league,
In one thing only I’ll renege,
That is you shall not see my face
Except you bring into the place
Michal Saul’s daughter when you come
To see my face.” 14 David was rum
To send messengers on the run
To Ishbosheth who was Saul’s son
Saying “Give me my wife Michal
Whom I betrothed to me for all
Of a hundred foreskins I took
From Philistines beyond the brook.”
15 And Ishbosheth sent for and took
Her from her husband Paltiel
The son of Laish for a spell.
16 And her husband went with her weeping
As far as Bahurim in keeping,
Until Abner told him, “Go back.”
Then he returned and hit the sack.

Look, my Beloved, at all this scandal done
In name of heroes and in kingdoms won.
The wickedness of Saul and David bore
Ill fruit in not only Philistine gore,
But in the trading off of daughters like
Cattle sent to market upon a spike.
Michal is sent to David for the sum
Of one hundred foreskins cut off the bum.
And then she’s taken from the man by force
And given to another man, of course,
And soon as she is loved and in return
Loves him, David steps in again to spurn.
Beloved, Your kings are scandalous, I see,
While You look on, what’s Your word faithfully?

17 And Abner confided among
The elders of Israel and sung,
“In days past you sought David to
Reign as a regent over you,
18 “And now perform it, for now YHWH
Has spoken of David to say
‘By My servant David’s hand’s sway
I’ll save Israel from the foe’s way.’”
19 And Abner also spoke in ear
Of Benjamin, and Abner’s clear
Went to the ear of David in
Hebron of all that seemed to win
In Israel and to the whole
House of Benjamin in the poll.
20 Then Abner came to David in
Hebron and twenty men in bin.
And David made for Abner there
And his men a feast for their share.
21 And Abner said to David, “I
Will rise and go and gather by
All Israel to my lord the king,
That they may make a treaty thing
With you, and you shall reign on all
Your soul desires to keep in stall.”
And David sent Abner away,
And in peace he went on his way.

The man Abner, officer of the great,
Was a man for sale to the strongest mate.
When David was small he came out not late
To fight him and take prisoner of state
Or kill him in the field, whatever Saul
Wished was Abner’s command and doubtless call.
When house of Saul was weak, he found the gate
To the hareem, and then fat in the stall
Cursed son of the king who had fed his plate.
With such a man David is ready to
Make covenant to get what he thinks due
Because of what You promised him in rate.
If this is after Your own heart and will,
Beloved, let me live outside on the hill.

22 See David’s servants and the man
Joab arrived from caravan
And brought great spoil with them in can,
But Abner was not with the man
David in Hebron, because he
Had sent him away in his fee
And in peace he went gratefully.
23 When Joab and his army came,
All of them, they heard the acclaim
To Joab, saying “Abner came,
The son of Ner to David, and
David has let him leave the land,
And he has gone in peaceful brand.”
24 Then Joab came before the king,
And said “What, have you done this thing?
See Abner came to you, why did
You let him go, and now he hid?
25 “You know the mischief of that man,
Abner son of Ner, what he can
Do to deceive you, and to know
Your going out and come to show,
And finding out to where you go.”
26 Joab came out from David’s view
And sent messengers out to do
Abner, bring him from Sirah’s well,
But David did not know the spell.
27 And when Abner came back to where
David was in Hebron, with care
Joab took him aside quite near
The gate to speak into his ear,
And struck him in the abdomen,
And so he died a specimen
For the blood of Asahel who
Was Joab’s brother and was true.
28 And afterwards when David heard,
He said “I and my kingdom shirred
Are guiltless before YHWH ever
From Abner’s blood, the son of Ner.

See, my Beloved, how wisely Joab speaks
To tell the king what secrets Abner seeks.
And yet his word’s informed by lust to kill
In vengeance for his brother on the hill.
How many sweet things I myself have said
That seemed the right thing in the ear well-bred,
And yet served only deceit of the heart.
Beloved, keep me from that deceitful part.
Deceit tends toward the lying down in wait
To snuff out lives evil enough in state.
Let me leave vengeance to Your name and throne,
Since You keep record written as on stone.
Forgive who come to You in penitence,
Judge those who wait the coming just sentence.

29 Let it fall on to Joab’s head,
And all his father’s house instead,
And let not be lacking within
Joab’s house one that has a spin,
A leper or leans on a staff,
Or falls by sword or eats the chaff.”
30 For Joab and Abashai his
Brother killed Abner for the quiz
Of him killing their brother late
Asahel in the battle rate
At Gibeon with their rage great.
31 And David said to Joab and
To all the people at a stand,
“Rend clothes and dress you in sackcloth,
And wail for Abner and his wroth.”
And king David followed the bier.
32 In Hebron they buried Abner,
And the king lifted voice to stir,
And wept at Abner’s grave and all
The people wept to hear the call.
33 The king lamented for Abner,
And said “Should it ever occur
That Abner die death of a churl,
And not the death of knight and earl?
34 “Your hands were untied, and your feet
Were not in fetters, as one meet
The sons of wickedness you fell.”
And still the people wept a spell.

Your servant David always comes in grief,
Lamenting more his foes, robber and thief
Than child and friend. It only goes to show
How much he regarded the people’s woe,
And the opinion of the folk to be
His vassals. So it is eternally
With presidents and kings. Hypocrisy
Is the best face of our diplomacy.
But David is sincere, I wot, in what
He says to praise Abner for what he got.
He recognizes statesmanship and skill
In harbouring the court life to its fill.
Beloved, safe-guard both prophet, yes, and king
From the sin of the folk and following.

35 And all the people came to make
David eat bread for his health’s sake
While it was still day at the wake.
But David swore and said “God do
So to me and more also too,
If I eat bread or anything
Before the sun goes down a ring.
36 And all the folk took notice and
All that the king did in the land
Before the folk pleased them at hand.
37 All the folk and Israel all saw
That day that is was not the law
Of the king to kill Abner son
Of Ner before that day was done.
38 And the king told his servants, “Do
You not know that a great prince drew
His death today in Israel?
39 “And I am weak today to tell
I have just been anointed king,
And these men sons of Zeruiah
Are too hard for me in pariah,
May YHWH reward the wicked one
According to the deed he’s done.”

I too fast, my Beloved, upon the day
I see the wicked fall upon the prey.
I too fast to find that the innocent
Is deprived of the bread and wealth once meant
For them in righteousness and nourishment.
Beloved, the sun is slow upon the sky
To sink toward the wine and apple pie.
The rumbling of my tummy sets apace
The hope the funeral will win the race.
Even a king may not reach out a hand
To the avenger come in rightful band.
In violence all things come to a stand.
Too late I weep for what was evil planned,
Such things must be snipped out in early grace.

2 SAMUEL 4

1 When Saul’s son heard Abner was dead
In Hebron, his hand turned to lead,
And Israel’s folk were filled with dread.
2 And Saul’s son had two men that were
Captains of bands, the first one’s slur
Was Baanah, and the other’s name
Was Rechab, sons of Rimmon’s claim,
The Beerothith of Benjamin
In tribe, for Beeroth was in fame
Considered Benjamite to win.
3 The Beerothites fled to Gittaim
And lived in that place to this frame.
4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, was sire
To a son lame in his feet’s hire.
He was five years old when the news
Of Saul and Jonathan in views
Came from Jezreel, and his nurse took
Him up and fled, and so mistook
As she made haste, that he fell down
And became crippled around town,
And his name was Mephibosheth.
5 The sons of Rimmon Beerothite,
Rechab and Baanah, came in sight
In the heat of the day up to
The house of Ishbosheth to view
Him sleeping on a bed at noon.
6 And they came into the house soon
Pretending to fetch wheat, and they
Stuck him in the stomach, and then
Rechab and Baanah fled the den,
Both brothers got away again.

Though I am not a king, I sleep at night,
And on occasion perhaps in the light
Of noon, though where I live it isn’t hot.
So I like every man am in the pot
Of those who lie and vulnerable on
The bed to sleep at evening and at dawn.
The wicked rove the cities where I spend
My time between sojourning on the bend
Of peninsula where the woodlands start
And all the islands sprinkle on the chart.
Beloved, keep me in safety from the men
Who claim to be my foes or friends again.
I wander whirling through my dreams of sky
And lay my fate down with blueberry pie.

7 And when they came into the house,
As he lay on his bed in drowse
Inside his bedroom, they struck him
And killed him and beheaded him,
And took his head, went away grim,
By way of the plain all that night.
8 And they brought the head of the wight
Ishbosheth to Hebron and to
The hand of David, in their due
They said to the king, “See, the head
Of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, is dead
Your enemy who sought your life,
And YHWH avenged all of the strife
Against my lord the king today
On his enemies in the way,
Even on Saul your enemy,
And on his seed and family.”
9 And David answered Rechab and
Baanah his brother, of the band
Of Rimmon the Beerothite and
Said to them, “As YHWH lives to stand
Redeeming me from sorrow’s land,
10 “The one who brought the news that Saul
Was dead and hoped in glad recall,
I seized that one and killed him in
Ziklag instead of giving win
And reward for his news. 11 “And now
When wicked men have struck the brow
Of a righteous man in his tent
And on his bed, shall I not vent
On you for his blood and take you
Away from the earth and its view?”
12 So David commanded his youth,
And they killed them and without ruth
Cut off their hands and feet to hang
Them up beside the pool to clang
In Hebron, and they buried that
Head of Ishbosheth in the vat
Of Hebron where Abner too sat.

David is not to trust, those who return
With good news for his kingdom, often burn.
He lies between the knowledge of Your heart
And the expediency of polished art.
That is the rate of good men everywhere.
Sometimes they act upon the golden stair
And sometimes by the worldly rate of fair.
They’re not to be trusted, their acts of hate
Rise up as unexpected in the state.
The wicked are predictable to share
Whatever’s in their interest on the plate.
But not the righteous. My Beloved, let me
Be as consistent as the wicked flea
And sit in time as in eternity.

2 SAMUEL 5

1 Then Israel’s tribes all came to where
David was in Hebron to share
Saying “See, we are your bone and
Your flesh. 2 “In times past when the king
Was Saul, it was you did the thing
In leading out and bringing in
Israel to war, and YHWH told you,
‘You’ll feed My people Israel, too,
And you will be leader to win
My people Israel.’” 3 So all
The elders of Israel in call
Came to Hebron to see the king,
And King David made treatying
With them in Hebron before YHWH,
And they anointed David too
King over Israel as due.

Beloved, note this. You chose the worthy man
To be a king. But nothing in Your plan
Could take place unless fickle elders came
And anointed the one who had the flame.
You chose me too to preach Your flaming word,
And gave me grace and taught to see unblurred
The sense and meaning of the sacred text.
You anointed me, but left me perplexed.
The church and mosque refused to foot the bill,
Refused to hear the word I proclaim still,
And thus turn to rebellion and to sin.
Beloved, though I am not a chosen king,
I am one chosen to reveal a thing.
Judge who reject Your word from off my chin.

4 David was thirty years old when
He began to reign, and reigned then
For forty years. 5 For seven years
And six months he in Hebron’s cheers
Reigned over Judah, and then in
Jerusalem he reigned with din
Over all Israel and all
Judah. 6 And David followed call
With his men to Jerusalem
Against the Jebusites in hem
Who lived in the land, and they said
To David, “You will not be led
To come here, for the lame and blind
Suffice to repel all your kind.”
For they said to themselves “He’ll not
Succeed in entering our plot.”

I too see scorn, Beloved, when I step out
Into the limelight to give word about
The glories of Your oneness and the claim
You have on humankind to play the game.
You insist that we see in every face
Reflection of Your creative retrace.
I must see Your Self in the foe who starts
To destroy that message with evil darts.
I have no weapon to deter the thing
But Your own name in everything I sing.
I have no love, no rhetoric, no power,
And the opposing faction hits me sour.
When I refuse to accept faction then
The evil breaks out once more among men.

7 But David took the stronghold first,
This is David’s city, not worst.
8 But David said that day, “Each one
That strikes the Jebusite or son,
Let him put dagger in the lame
And in the blind who hated name
Of David,” and that’s why they say
“Let no lame and blind come the way
To enter YHWH’s house or to stay.”

The empty word of wrathful pride, disdain
Comes rolling on the hills and back again.
It never stops, it seems, and yet Your way
Takes up the stronghold, bears and saves the day.
I take hold of David’s strong words and play,
Crush trinity and sect and hold the sway
That I am nothing but Your own to be
Proof that You only hold divinity,
But that divinity is every man’s
And woman’s that is revealed in Your plans.
Beloved, I hold the universe in hand,
And see it crumbling at the edges planned,
And build the dykes and patch the broken wall,
And stand to hear Your summons and Your call.

9 And David stayed in the stronghold,
And it was called David’s house told,
And David built it all around
From Millo inward on the ground.

Beloved, though I am put out from the church
And left with burning message in the lurch,
I still hold fast to that stronghold that You
Bring in the Decalogue before my view.
Though I am stricken, I shall not strike back
In anger and deceit for what they lack.
Instead I strike with the whip from Your hand,
The message that You are One in the land,
And have no partner, and while You still stand,
Humanity is also one united
Without sect or without strife yet ignited.
Beyond the strident traditions that seek
Both to honour You and at start of week
To destroy unity, I see You lighted.

10 And David became greater still,
For YHWH Ælohim of hosts will
Was with him and to foot the bill.

Beloved, I too become great, though no king,
And though few hear me praise Your name and sing.
Some say all faiths are right and good and true,
Some say only one sect of all may do,
And in those sayings all rebel and fail,
I shall not leave the wall, but shall prevail.
My greatness is in knowing You are One,
And that humankind set out under sun
Is one in their reflection of Creator,
Within the image along with the satyr.
All things proclaim Your sovereignty and yet
Illusion blinds my fellows where I get
The greatness of Kauthar where I lose self
In the greatness You set up beyond elf.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent some
Messenger to David a-run,
And cedar trees and carpenters,
And masons, and they built with whirs
A house for David. 12 David saw
That YHWH established him in awe
As king over Israel and that
He exalted his kingdom flat
For His folk Israel’s sake at bat.
13 And David took more concubines
And wives from Jerusalem’s lines
After he came from Hebron, and
More sons and daughters to his hand
Were born to David in the land.
14 And these are the names of those that
Were born to him in caveat
Of Jerusalem, Shammua and
Shobab, and Nathan and well-manned
Solomon, 15 And Ibhar and yet
Elishua and Nepheg set,
And Japhia, 16 Elishama,
And Eliada, Eliphelet,
(Naged, Naphec, Janathan’s paw,
Leasamys, Baalimath,
And finally Eliphaath.)

Beloved, the eastern king sent me the things
To build my house and give Your message wings.
He set to work both mason with his jewels
And carpenter with sweet woods under tools.
The proclamation that You are one and
None shares with You the throne of Your command,
But prophets You have sent and here they stand,
And divine guides still lurk on silver sand,
All these I set forth with the notice that
You hold men countable for where they sat.
That’s why I rejoice in oppression’s vale
And take up with courage the broken sail.
Beloved, the eastern king from arid land
Is more than just a far off cunning tale.

17 And when the Philistines heard that
David was anointed king at
Israel, all the Philistines went
Up searching for what David meant,
And David heard of it and went
Down to the stronghold in cement.
18 And the Philistines came and spread
Themselves in the valley as led
Of Rephaim. 19 Then David asked
YHWH saying “Shall I go unmasked
Against the Philistines, will You
Give them into my hands a few?”
And YHWH said to David, “Go now
Up, for I’ll give them anyhow,
The Philistines into your hands.”
20 David came to Baal-perazim,
And there attacked them in their bands,
And said “YHWH has broken with vim
My enemies before my face,
Just like the breach of waters’ trace.”
And that’s why the name of the place
Was called Baal-perazim a space.
21 And they abandoned their gods there
And David and his men in share
Carried them all away from there.
22 The Philistines came up again
And spread themselves and all their men
Across Rephaim’s valley’s glen.
23 When David asked of YHWH, He said
“Do not go up, but go behind
And come against them from the blind
Of mulberry trees fruited and vined.
24 “And when it happens that you hear
The sound of marching as of fear
In the tops of the mulberry trees,
Then stir yourself up in the breeze,
For then YHWH has gone out before
You to battle Philistine gore.”
25 And David did as YHWH told him
And struck the Philistines with vim
From Giba as far as the land
Of Gezer by the Lord’s command.

I ask You, my Beloved, if I shall go
Out before the Philistine cart and show
To defy all the whelps that flaunt Your worth
With pagan trinities upon the earth.
Shall I gather up idols from the path
And take them hence before Your garnered wrath?
Beloved, the better part is that I speak,
And failing speech to write the words I seek,
That conscience might awaken to the heat
Of what is true and what is right and meet.
Beloved, I hear Your spirit move the trees
And pass before me in the rocking breeze,
And so I cantillate Your name once more
To even up the fragile, fragment score.

2 SAMUEL 6

1 Again David gathered the men
All chosen from Israel, in yen
About thirty thousand again.
2 David got up and went with all
The people with him from the stall
Of Baal-judah, to bring up
From there the ark of God to sup,
Upon which is recited name,
The name of YHWH of hosts, the same
Sits on the cherubim in flame.
3 They put the ark of Ælohim
On a new wagon, it would seem,
Took it from Aminadab’s place,
Who lived upon the hill in trace,
And Uzzah and Ahio, sons
Of Abinadab beat their buns
To drive the new cart in its runs.
4 They brought it from Abinadab’s
House, which was on the hill for grabs,
Along with ark of Ælohim,
And Ahio led the whole team.
5 David and all Israel’s house played
Before YHWH with all kinds of made
Instruments of cypress wood and
With harps and psalteries in hand
And timbrels and with sistra, and
On cymbals as David had planned.
6 When they came to the threshing floor
Of Nachon, Uzzah reached to shore
The ark of Ælohim and took
Hold of it for the oxen shook
It stumbling. 7 And the anger rose
From YHWH kindled against his pose,
And Ælohim struck Uzzah there
For his error, and so that’s where
He died by God’s ark without prayer.

Familiarity with Your presence
From childhood onward in his father’s tents
Made Uzzah careless of the ark that seemed
To him a common thing, or so he deemed.
The wagon shifted, and without a thought,
He reached out hand irreverent and caught
The golden space where glory sat untaught.
Death hid behind the careless veil unsought.
Beloved, I took walk by the common train,
Along the green and golden path in vain
Perhaps to see each day the glories turn
Again and once again to make heart burn
With exaltation. It’s not always so.
Sometimes I lean on You as common show.

If my hand in Your own, and my heart grown
Entwined in Yours, forget Your glory’s throne,
And so spring me in death as I reach out
To touch Your presence near me like a shout,
I make complaint of love, no more than that,
Well satisfied to live where You are at
Or die in the place where Your glory sat.
Beloved, irreverent angel and bird song
Also coils on the roadway all along
My journey, still I feel no ill or wrong.
The blessed shekinah veiled beside my part
Shifts and balances, and gives me a start.
I raise my hand and die against Your heart.

9 And David was afraid of YHWH
That day, saying “How shall I do
To bring to me the ark of YHWH?”
10 So David would not move the ark
Of YHWH to him into the park
Of David’s city, but David
Carried it aside, David did,
Into the house of the Gittite,
Obed-edom and out of sight.
11 And YHWH’s ark stayed there in the house
Of Obed-edom the Gittite
For three months and YHWH blessed the site
Of Obed-edom, all his house.

Fortuitous it may seem that You came
To stay within the chamber where the flame
Of my heart recalls all Your pomp and fame.
You were a passer-by and stumbled here
To live beneath my roof and camp with gear.
I welcome You to my stone walls and bare,
To the small flame of faith and love I share
With nightingale and hedgehog on the shore
Of grass and thicket grown about my door.
Beloved, bless my three months of unlooked for
Happiness when Your journey was cut off.
Bless all my house, my children and the trough,
The granite threshold, lilac and the bud
Of cherry and of apple by well’s flood.

12 They told King David, saying “YHWH
Has blessed Obed-edom’s house too,
And all he has, because the ark
Of Ælohim came there to park.”
And David went and brought the ark
Of Ælohim up from the dark
House of Obed-edom to stay
In David’s city with glad sway.
13 It happened when they who bore it,
The ark of YHWH, had gone a bit,
About six paces, then they stopped
To sacrifice an ox untopped
And fattened sheep, as they saw fit.
14 And David danced before YHWH with
All his strength, and David forthwith
Was wearing a linen ephod,
As he stepped out upon the sod.

Beloved, let me too dance as David did,
And let me also dance with all my might.
I turn toward Your house as David did,
I cover my left foot beneath my right
And enter in the place of sacrifice
To give my head to You in sacrifice.
My throat is cut, my skin is torn away.
My self is wounded sore and flies away.
A spark up from the altar I shall fly,
And whirling, whirling upward as I die,
I dance before You in the gathering night,
And dance before Your face in whirling flight.
And so I shall return and be as One
With You, Belovèd, when my dance is done.

15 And David and all Israel’s house
Brought up the ark of YHWH with dowse
Of shouting and with trumpet sound.
16 It happened when the ark arrived
At David’s city, she contrived,
Did Michal Saul’s daughter to look
Out at the window, and she shook
To see King David leaping and
Dancing before YHWH and the band,
And she despised him in her heart.
They brought YHWH’s ark and set it in
Its place, in the tent and the bin
That David pitched for it, and there
David offered burnt-offerings’ share,
And peace-offerings to YHWH, no spare.
18 When David finished offering
Burnt-offerings and peace-offerings’ sting,
He blessed the people in the name
Of YHWH of hosts and in His claim.
19 He gave out to all the folk there,
To the whole multitude to share
In Israel both men and wench,
To everyone a loaf of bread,
Also a cake made in a trench,
As well as a slice of sweetbread,
So all the folk departed fed
Each one to his own house and bench.

I taste the whirl and dance before Your throne,
Beloved, and see the patterns overgrown
That twist and turn into the universe
Of fire and smoke and veils if nothing worse
To rise and bless, to rise and never curse.
I taste the bread and meat and fill my craw
With raisins of delight from Your own law
And bless my soul that I may stand in awe
With starling at the wing and with jackdaw.
I taste the turn and cake and then I make
My way back to the stronghold of my stake
And my own post along the further wall.
I taste and wake, Beloved, to hear Your call.
I taste and whirl, Beloved, I taste and wake.

20 David came back to bless his house.
And Michal Saul’s daughter like mouse
Came out to meet David and grouse,
And said “How now did Israel’s king
Act to honour himself on wing
Today before the servant girls
Of his servants, and like the churls
Uncover and make himself known
To all and sundry open shown!”
21 And David said to Michal, “Now
Before YHWH that chose me somehow
Above your father and all his
Household appointing me the biz
Of being prince to all the folk
Of YHWH, over both wench and bloke
Of Israel, so before YHWH
I will make merry, that I’ll do.
22 “And I’ll uncover me to be
Even more vile than you now see
And in my own sight, with handmaids
You spoke about and with their blades
I’ll get more honour faithfully.”
So Michal Saul’s daughter had no
Children as long as she did go
Upon the earth up to death’s row.

Some are too fine, I know, to take their lot
Among the dancers of Your garden plot.
The posts are empty, and the dergah floor
Deserted of the ones who danced before.
I see the ancient fires, I hear the calls,
I see the fleeting shadows on the walls,
But memory is faith to know the true,
And in the end and now, there’s none but You.
Beloved, You are my partner in the reel,
Although You have no partner in the seal,
And I seem to whirl all alone and keel.
Beloved, though we are one and single spent,
There is a breach in the veil and a rent,
And You and I breathe as one at the vent.

2 SAMUEL 7

1The king lived safely in his house
When YHWH had given him rest from mouse
And every other enemy,
It happened 2 that the king spoke free
To Nathan the prophet, “Now see,
I’m living in a cedar palace,
While YHWH’s ark’s in a tent for malice.”
3 And Nathan told the king, “Go, do
According to your heart’s review,
And seeing that YHWH is with you.”

Even King David took council from men
Who were known to be prophets in the glen.
He did not trust his own council in all
He thought of doing in the royal hall.
That spirit is what calls forth from the tongue
Of prophet the blessing to climb the rung.
Let me, Beloved, be humble in my right
To learn from those below me in the fight.
Although I’m not a king, there may be some
Somewhere who have a slighter premium.
There is no face but holds Your face to mine
To see reflected exquisite divine.
What if the vision of the night reverse
The blessing of the day? It is no curse.

4 It happened sudden in the night
That the word of YHWH came to light
To Nathan, saying 5 “Go and tell
My servant David, ‘Here’s the spell
That YHWH says, “Will you be the one
To build for Me a house begun
Where I may live for benison?
6 “For I have not lived under roof
From the day I brought up in proof
From Egypt Israel’s folk until
This very day, but have walked still
Beneath a tent and tabernacle.
7 “In every place and without shackle
I’ve walked by Israel’s folk, have I
Spoken a word to any nigh
Of Israel’s tribes whom I commanded
To feed My people Israel branded,
To say ‘Why have you not built me
A palace house of cedar tree?’
So say now to David My servant,
‘This is what YHWH of hosts and fervent
Says, “I took you from the sheepfold,
From following sheep in the cold,
To be a prince over My folk,
Over Israel and at a stroke,
9 “And I have been with you wherever
You went, and before you I sever
Off all your enemies, and I
Will make you a great name foreby,
Like the name of the great ones here
That on the earth come to appear.
10 “And I’ll appoint a place for My
People Israel and also I
Will plant them, so they may stay in
Their own place undisturbed by sin
Nor shall the sons of wickedness
Afflict them with any duress,
As from the first, 11 and in the days
That I commanded judges’ sways
Over My people Israel,
And I’ll give you rest from the spell
Of all your foes, and truth to tell
YHWH says that YHWH will make a castle
For you to stay without the hassle.
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you
Shall sleep with your fathers in crew,
I’ll set you your seed after you,
Who’ll come from your body, and I
Shall set your kingdom and for aye.
13 “He shall build a house for My name,
And I’ll establish for the same
The throne of his kingdom for ever.
14 “I’ll be to him a father clever,
And he shall be to me a son.
If he commit iniquity,
I’ll chasten him with men’s rod free,
And with stripes of children of men.
15 “But My mercy shall not again
Depart from him, as I took it
From Saul, as I put out unfit.
16 “Your house and your kingdom shall be
Made sure for ever where you see,
Your throne shall be established for
All the days that come on the shore.”’”

The son of David on the throne is called
By God Himself also the Son of God.
This is the promise eternal and walled,
And by the story coming, royal prod
Of biological descent plays free
With virtue in conceiving mastery.
In fine, Solomon, while he is God’s Son,
Is also born of David having done
A stroke with Bathsheba after his tears.
To be the Son of God, it now appears
Does not mean to be God Almighty, but
The valid ruler on David’s throne shut.
The man remains a man, and no God yet,
On that a man can lay down his last bet.

17 According to all these words, and
According to this vision’s stand,
Nathan spoke to David in hand.
18 Then King David went in, and sat
Before YHWH, and he said thereat,
“Who am I, O Lord YHWH, and what
Is my house You so far have brought
Me? 19 “Since I was small before You
O Lord YHWH, but You’ve spoken too
Of Your servant’s house for a great
Time to come and by the estate
Of great men, O Lord YHWH. 20 “And what
Can David say more to You sought?
For You know Your servant, Lord YHWH.
21 “For You have spoken for the sake
Of Your servant, and in the wake
Of Your heart You have made this great,
And Your servant to know his state.
22 “Therefore You’re great, YHWH Ælohim,
For there’s none like You in a dream,
Nor is there any God but You,
By all that our ears hear is true.
23 “And who is like Your people too,
Like Israel, a nation one
In the earth, whom Ælohim won
To redeem to Himself a folk,
And to make Him a name in stroke,
To do mighty, tremendous things
For Your land, driving out the kings
Before Your people to redeem
For Yourself from Egyptian stream,
From nations and their gods’ esteem.

The king David sees clearly You are One
Alone and have no equal under sun.
How few see that today, and how few then,
As heathen trinities have claim on men.
Not only did he see that You alone
Are God, but that also the earthly throne
Is given under sovereign will divine
To make one nation holy by design.
That nation is no ethnic folk, but those
Who acclaim You alone in divine pose
And thus become the ummah that arose
From desert and from city at the close.
The third great truth on unity is found
That David’s throne is still upon the ground.

24 “And You have established for You
Your people Israel in due
To be a folk to You for aye,
And You, YHWH, became Ælohim
To them. 25 “And now, YHWH Ælohim,
The word You’ve spoken of Your slave,
And of his house after the grave,
Confirm it now forever, and
Do as You’ve spoken by command.
26 “And let Your name be magnified,
‘Allahu akbar’ be said wide,
‘YHWH of hosts is the Ælohim
Of Israel, and so the theme
Of David’s house, Your servant’s, too,
Shall be established before You.
27 “Almighty YHWH and Ælohim
Of armies and of Israel,
You have revealed Your servant well,
Saying ‘I’ll build your house to gleam,’
That’s why Your servant’s taken heart
To pray this prayer and for Your part.
28 “And now, O Lord YHWH, You alone
Are Ælohim, a God and Your
Words are truth, and You do outpour
This good thing at Your servant’s door.
29 “So therefore let it please to bless
Your servant’s house and his address,
That it may stay forever here
Before You, for You, Lord YHWH dear,
Have spoken it, and as You bless,
Let Your servant’s house not digress
Forever from Your blessing near.”

Again David affirms that You are God
Alone, and never any image clod
Made up of stone or gold, concept or flesh
Can take a place on Your throne and be fresh.
My being in illusion’s here as proof
That there is nowhere a diviner roof
Than Your heart chambered where in refuge flee
The humble and the wise eternally.
Belovèd, You are One, and never three,
And yet the splinters of creation see
The manifold and many on the crest
Of everyone’s perception of the best.
Beloved, You make Your image multiplied
Wherein Your oneness rises on the tide.

2 SAMUEL 8

1 And after this it came to pass,
David attacked Philistines’ ass,
And put them under his domain,
Then David took tribute in gain
From the hand of Philistines’ mass.
2 He then attacked Moab and set
Lines of them on the ground to get
Two rows of them to put to death
And one full row to keep in breath
As servants, and the Moabites
Came to serve David with delights.
3 David attacked Hadadezer
Also, the son of Rehob, fer
As king of Zobah, as he went
To set his rule upon the spent
River Euphrates where it bent.
4 And David took from him in all
A thousand horsemen at the call
And seven hundred more to be
Companion to the footmen, see,
Who numbered twenty thousand men.
And David hamstrung every beast,
The chariot horses, but at least
He spared of them sufficient to
A hundred chariots in view.
5 And when the Syrians came down
From Damascus to help the town
Of Hadadezer, Jobah’s king,
David struck down like anything
Twenty-two thousand of the men
Of the Syrians once again.
6 In Syria of Damascus
David set up forts for the fuss,
And Syrians brought presents to
David and were his servants too.
And YHWH gave David victory
In every place he went to be.
7 And David took the shields of gold
The men of Hadadezer hold,
Brought them to Jerusalem’s fold.
And from Betah and Berothai
Cities of Hadadezer’s vie,
King David took a large amount
Of brass, more than any could count.

The wars of David were not just defence.
He went against the stranger in their tents.
Of course the kings of those were not so kind,
Nor were they pure, but probably well-wined.
They bound their servants to the awful grind,
And when David arrived, he cut them down
And put them out of misery in town.
He also hamstrung horses, those that drew
The chariots of war, and yet he knew
Your pleasure, that the most part of those killed
Were innocent of anything but tilled
Gardens and their obeying the command
Of their leaders in warfare on the land.
Who obey to the death deserve the stand.

9 When Toi, king of Hamath heard that
David had attacked all them at
The army of Hadadezer,
10 Toi sent Joran his son and fer
To King David, and to confer
About his welfare and to say
Congratulations on the way
He’d fought against Hadadezer
And struck him down because the fer
Had wars with Toi, and brought with him
Vessels of silver, gold undim,
And vessels of brass. 11 These also
Did King David consecrate to
YHWH, with the silver and the gold
That he dedicated unsold
From all the nations he subdued,
12 From Syria, from Moab spewed,
The folk of Ammon, and the rude
Philistines, and of Amalek,
And of the spoil taken back from
Hadadezer, son of the bum
Rehob, the king of Zobah come.
13 And David made himself a name
When he came back from killing’s fame,
The slaughter of eighteen thousand
Syrians in Salt Valley’s land.
14 He set up forts in Edom’s land,
Throughout all Edom he put forts,
And all the Edomites for sports
Became servants to David. And
YHWH gave David the victory
Wherever David came to be.

My role is to see in the face of all
Men and all women, even child in stall,
The face divine that You created when
You bent to earth to find Your Self again.
My role is not to slay the brave, the lot
That destroys earth to make a pinch and dot.
My role is not to take on tongue the word
Of violence against man, beast or bird.
That is reserved to You and to the one
Anointed to fulfil destruction done.
Beloved, although I do not share the bow,
The sword, the rifle, bomb, nor stand in glow
Of military glory, mine the show
To applaud David and his on the go.

15 And David reigned over the folk
Of all Israel, and David’s stroke
Of justice and righteousness came
To all his people in God’s name.
16 And Joab son of Zeruiah
Was army general, and crier
And scribe was Jehoshaphat son
Of Ahilud, 17 And Zadok son
Of Ahitub, Ahimelech
Son of Abiathar ran neck
And neck as priests, Seraiah was
The scribe, 18 Benaiah son who was
Of Jehoiada was set over
The Cherethites as well as rover
Pelethites, and David’s sons were
Chief ministers one would infer.

Jehoshaphat was David’s record keeper
For army and nation, overt and peeper.
Mazkir, rememberer, is what the name
Intends, and yet I do not know its fame.
Did David have a man whose function was
To keep zikr as each righteous king does?
I like to think so, here among the rest,
The heroes and the wardens, and the best,
The sons and socialites, the businessmen,
There is a place for such as me again.
Not that I have prodigious memory,
But that I bow to the great mystery,
Remembering to cantillate Your word,
Your name, Your glory, until my heart’s stirred.

AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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