Most Popular Bible Verses in 2 Samuel
-
Chapter
2 Samuel Rank:
In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron.
“Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.
“What was the outcome? Tell me,” David asked him.
“The troops fled from the battle,” he answered. “Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites
David asked him, “Where have you come from?”
He replied to him, “I’ve escaped from the Israelite camp.”
When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.
“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,”
When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered: I’m at your service.
David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening
So I stood over him and killed him because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn’t survive. I took the crown that was on his head and the armband that was on his arm, and I’ve brought them here to my lord.”
When King Toi of Hamath
Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind 10 concubines to take care of the palace.
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them,
Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah,
and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar:
Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for I’m mortally wounded,
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood is on your own head
David sang the following lament
But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.
David questioned him, “How is it that you were not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
Then David summoned one of his servants and said, “Come here and kill him!” The servant struck him, and he died.
David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?”
“I’m the son of a foreigner,” he said. “I’m an Amalekite.”
However, a young man did see them and informed Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
“Is this your loyalty to your friend?” Absalom asked Hushai. “Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
let no dew or rain be on you,
or fields of offerings,
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
Saul’s sword never returned unstained,
from the blood of the slain,
from the bodies of the mighty.
don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat.
loved and delightful,
they were not parted in life or in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,
who decked your garments with gold ornaments.
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
“Now therefore, I’ve come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought: I must speak to the king. Perhaps the king will grant his servant’s request.
However, because you treated
I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.
You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
Ahimaaz son of Zadok
Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at Ish-bosheth’s house during the heat of the day while the king was taking his midday nap.
and have not disregarded His statutes.
Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.
David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah,
For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.
He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”
I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,
Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wonderful
than the love of women.
Then Nathan went home.
The Lord struck the baby that Uriah’s
So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house
“Not at all,” Hushai answered Absalom. “I am on the side of the one that the Lord, the people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him.
He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer on behalf of the land,
ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel.
“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you.
These four were descended from the giant
David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”
The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “The Lord bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.
That is not my intention. There is a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, who has rebelled against King David. Deliver this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.”
The woman replied to Joab, “All right. His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”
So Mephibosheth ate at David’s
After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here!” he said.
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
The king will surely listen in order to rescue his servant from the hand of this man who would eliminate both me and my son from God’s inheritance.
Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica.
Then his wife took the cover, placed it over the mouth of the well, and scattered grain on it so nobody would know anything.
from Edom,
“No,” she cried,
Be strong! We must prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God.
King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued
On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”
Now, may the Lord show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to you because you have done this deed.
Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved
These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,
In the letter he wrote:
Put Uriah
David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites
When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were.
They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.
Joab replied to him, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren’t taking good news, because the king’s son is dead.”
They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom and stabbed and killed him. Then they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled by way of the Arabah
So he was not willing to move the ark of the Lord to the city of David;
He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.
Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house
When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?”
“He is dead,” they replied.
Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hittite also died.
At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth?
So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.
Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
“They passed by toward the water,”
He will build a house for My name,
David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward.
He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking.
Then David comforted
He called out and told the king.
The king said, “If he’s alone, he bears good news.”
As the first runner came closer,
During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.
Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army,
He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn.
When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel,
if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?
His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”
He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle—
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head
the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
and David’s sons were chief officials.
After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom
Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was 40 years old when he began his reign over Israel; he ruled for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David.
King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons,
After this, David defeated the Philistines,
while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites—600 men who came with him from Gath
“This is what the Lord says,
Elika the Harodite,
It was reported to King David: “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.
Then the messenger left.
When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell.
David answered, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?
Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah
Therefore, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
Your house and kingdom will endure before Me
May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him:
So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women.
Abner son of Ner and soldiers of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!”
But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!”
When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts.
Ahithophel replied to Absalom, “Sleep with your father’s concubines he left to take care of the palace.
Joab then said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: “In the past you wanted David to be king over you.
and He sent a message through Nathan the prophet, who named
He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live.’
When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the Lord considered what David had done to be evil.
Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the Lord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.
Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, I will also serve in yours.”
You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’”
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”
Now take action, because the Lord has spoken concerning David: ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel’s enemies.’”
He took the crown from the head of their king,
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem.
but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up, living with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
When Joab and all his army arrived, Joab was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace.”
Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God
>
Then the king answered the woman, “I’m going to ask you something; don’t conceal it from me!”
“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman replied.
But My faithful love will never leave him
They brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here’s the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who intended to take your life. Today the Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”
Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching past. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the desert.
Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.
Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.”
Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I a dog’s head
Now Absalom had appointed Amasa
Then King David went in,
Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?
Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”
Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side so that they all died together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is named Field of Blades.
Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman
Some time later, David inquired of the Lord:
The Lord answered him, “Go.”
Then David asked, “Where should I go?”
“To Hebron,”
Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
The woman went to all the people with her wise counsel,
So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one who had not crossed the Jordan.
The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
The king said to Ittai the Gittite,
However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, “Like a bursting flood, the Lord has burst out against my enemies before me.”
David had arrived at Mahanaim by the time Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
Seraiah was court secretary;
So Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s soldiers marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon.
As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David,
Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash
Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were across the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them.
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me your advice. What should we do?”
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices
So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.
“No matter what, I want to run!”
“Then run!” Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured the water supply.
David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?”
When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.
Mephibosheth,
So the king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” Then the king gave him his oath.
So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom
Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
So they got up and were counted off—12 for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and 12 from David’s soldiers.
Your servant thought: May the word of my lord the king bring relief, for my lord the king is able to discern the good and the bad like the Angel of God. May the Lord your God be with you.”
However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
Then David inquired of the Lord:
The Lord replied to David, “Go, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”
So David inquired of the Lord, and He answered, “Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees.
Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back.
But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, the One who has redeemed my life from every distress,
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah
What You have done so far
And who is like Your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for Himself, to make a name for Himself, and to perform for them
The war between the house of Saul and the house of David was long and drawn out, with David growing stronger and the house of Saul becoming weaker.
Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have the young men get up and compete in front of us.”
“Let them get up,” Joab replied.
But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 700 of their charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.
Abner sent messengers as his representatives to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make your covenant with me, and you can be certain I am on your side to hand all Israel over to you.”
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.
So David did exactly as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
Joab fell with his face to the ground in homage and praised the king. “Today,” Joab said, “your servant knows I have found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant.”
I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms,
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal. I was engaged to her for the price of 100 Philistine foreskins.”
When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up in formation to engage David in battle and fought against him.
The battle that day was extremely fierce, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers.
Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.
Because of Your word and according to Your will, You have revealed all these great things to Your servant.
Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?”
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel.
Remember, I’ll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
So the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
This is why You are great,
And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from your hands and wipe you off the earth?”
when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag.
David replied, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. However, there’s one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal
You prove Yourself faithful;
with the blameless man
You prove Yourself blameless;
Why then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider
You established Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.
The watchman said, “The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs.”
“This is a good man; he comes with good news,”
However, if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am—He can do with me whatever pleases Him.”
When Abner and 20 men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.
brought beds, basins,
They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had set up for it.
When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.
When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled.
He and all his troops set out
When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the Lord will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.”
So the Lord sent Nathan to David.
There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”
Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was.”
When the king had settled into his palace
Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman.
Absalom didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments,
the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”
When David returned home to bless his household,
Then Absalom said to his servants, “See, Joab has a field right next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set fire to it!” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
After they had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well and went and informed King David. They told him, “Get up and immediately ford the river, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”
honey, curds, sheep, and cheese
Joab went to the king and told him. So David summoned Absalom, who came to the king and bowed down with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.
Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I ever look your brother Joab in the face?”
Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or left, seize one of the young soldiers, and take whatever you can get from him.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.
the word of the Lord is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
So David gave orders to the young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took Ish-bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.
The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?”
The Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you with evil intent.”
Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”
When all the kings who were Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. After this, the Arameans were afraid to ever help the Ammonites again.
Barzillai the Gileadite
When he shaved his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy for him that he had to shave it off—he would weigh the hair from his head and it would be five pounds
However, the king added, “He may return to his house, but he may not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his house, but he did not see the king.
Sons were born to David in Hebron:
by Ahinoam
He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.
Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he went back.
but Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
“Go to My servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build a house for Me to live in?
Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well,” and then bowed down to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, “May the Lord your God be praised! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king.”
“As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn’t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning.”
Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that You have made to Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised,
So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
David replied to Michal, “I was dancing
David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.
But Asahel refused to turn away, so Abner hit him in the stomach with the end of his spear. The spear went through his body, and he fell and died right there. When all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, they stopped,
The king also said to Zadok the priest,
Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”
Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.”
So David sent his emissaries to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,
They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,
But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them
Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab was unwilling to come. So he sent again, a second time, but he still wouldn’t come.
“If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?”
by Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite;
the third was Absalom,
son of Maacah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;
“Look,” Absalom explained to Joab, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? I’d be better off if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king. If I am guilty, let him kill me.”
So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, “This is Bathsheba,
The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him.
David also defeated Hadadezer
Abner said to David, “Let me now go and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you,
David captured 1,700 horsemen
Saul’s son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. The one who had nursed him
Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: today the Lord has delivered you from all those rising up against you!”
The Benjaminites rallied to Abner; they formed a single unit and took their stand on top of a hill.
David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness.
Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.
However, Ahimaaz son of Zadok persisted and said to Joab, “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”
Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to run since you won’t get a reward?”
Won’t Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report everything you hear from the king’s palace to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Now, please bless Your servant’s house so that it will continue before You forever. For You, Lord God, have spoken, and with Your blessing Your servant’s house will be blessed forever.
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’
Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers
Lord God, You are God; Your words are true, and You have promised this grace to Your servant.
according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness
and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark.
Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?”
“Speak,” he replied.
He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.
Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties: one named Baanah and the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the Benjaminites. Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin,
the sons of Jashen,
Jonathan son of
Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate.
Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace.
Abner also informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth,
Then they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!”
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel,
When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired 20,000 foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 men from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 men from Tob.
From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as My dwelling.
Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?”
since You, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, Your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to You.
So Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning,
Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your activities and everything you’re doing.”
When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He set his affairs in order
So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your heart, for the Lord is with you.”
When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”
so that Your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel.” The house of Your servant David
David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”
So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?”
Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”
Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
When the Arameans of Damascus
and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself.
Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
and with my God I can leap over a wall.
King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah
Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.
There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” he replied.
While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!”
Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”
David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.
The king asked him, “Where is he?”
Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”
and in addition, Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and still live there as foreigners to this very day.
the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his emissaries in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it?”
When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going.
Joab commanded the whole army of Israel;
Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”
So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.
When this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.”
Joab your servant has done this to address the issue indirectly,
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I’ll provide for you
So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.
Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well
Barzillai was a very old man—80 years old—and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.
Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he’s getting away.
May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole house, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease,
they look to the Lord, but He does not answer them.
“March on,” David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him.
When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.
Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
I’m now 80 years old.
David heard about it later and said: “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!”
But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.
The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.
Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king.
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer for Joab son of Zeruiah,
So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home.
During David’s reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord. The Lord answered, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family when he killed the Gibeonites.”
For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table.
The Lord’s anger burned against Israel again, and He stirred up David against them to say: “Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.”
Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward?
Mebunnai the Hushathite,
When David had gone a little beyond the summit,
and my ankles do not give way.
I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.
but Your eyes are set against the proud—
You humble them.
The king asked, “Did Joab put you up to
The woman answered. “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or left from all my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave orders to me; he told your servant exactly what to say.
On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head
His word was on my tongue.
“Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.
After the death of Saul,
David was sitting between the two gates
Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight.
David spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
These are the last words of David:
the declaration of the man raised on high,
the one anointed by the God of Jacob,
the favorite singer of Israel:
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron
David reviewed his troops and appointed commanders of hundreds and of thousands over them.
Adoram
and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
the Lord illuminates my darkness.
Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites,
It was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom.”
Some time passed. David’s son Absalom
Now a wicked man, a Benjaminite named Sheba son of Bichri, happened to be there. He blew the ram’s horn and shouted:
no inheritance in Jesse’s son.
Each man to his tent, Israel!
He said:
These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers.
David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Then Nathan replied to David, “The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.
Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel,
David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed
You prove Yourself pure,
but with the crooked
You prove Yourself shrewd.
Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,
The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 20 ounces
Then someone reported to David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.”
“Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
Then the angel extended his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it,
My shield, the horn of my salvation,
and my Savior, You save me from violence.
We will certainly die
Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.
And who is a rock? Only our God.
So Gad went to David, told him the choices, and asked him, “Do you want three
When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa
No man in all Israel was as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw.
David was dancing
When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera,
He then sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I will also march out with you.”
He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate.
Joab gave the king the total of the registration of the troops. There were 800,000 fighting men from Israel and 500,000 men from Judah.
So the king said to Joab, the commander of his army, “Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba and register the troops so I can know their number.”
David’s conscience troubled him
the Rock of Israel said to me,
“The one who rules the people with justice,
who rules in the fear of God,
Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Gad came to David that day and said to him, “Go up and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
Absalom was riding on his mule when he happened to meet David’s soldiers. When the mule went under the tangled branches of a large oak tree, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so he was suspended in midair.
For He has established an everlasting covenant
ordered and secured in every detail.
Will He not bring about
my whole salvation and my every desire?
David answered Gad, “I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the Lord’s hands because His mercies are great,
The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the people heard the king’s orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
The Gibeonites were not Israelites but rather a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them,
The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?”
Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the desert.”
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and from Dan to Beer-sheba 70,000 men died.
But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah.
Then King David
When four
Then the king instructed Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city.
The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted.
soaring
I will attack him while he is weak and weary, throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will scatter. I will strike down only the king
the watchman saw another man running. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”
“This one is also bringing good news,” said the king.
In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
and I was saved from my enemies.
Benaiah son of Jehoiada
Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.
Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.’”
They went to the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Afterward, they went to the Negev of Judah at Beer-sheba.
That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, “The king is grieving over his son.”
When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the Lord had come to the prophet Gad,
I will sing about Your name.
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it.
Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived
When the woman from Tekoa came
Paarai the Arbite,
Then an informer came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
Gareb the Ithrite,
on a cloudless morning,
the glisten of rain on sprouting grass.”
While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David’s adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite,
When he was alive, Absalom had set up a pillar
Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever he wants
Rizpah, Aiah’s daughter, took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock from the beginning of the harvest
Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city.
Three of the 30 leading warriors went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam,
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog
Shimei said as he cursed: “Get out, get out, you worthless murderer!
So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bichri, but the men of Judah from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem remained loyal to their king.
and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you’re seeking, all
The king replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything?
but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, my king! Previously, I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant,’ then you can counteract Ahithophel’s counsel for me.
Since the Lord had decreed
This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
Afterward, they carried Asahel to his father’s tomb in Bethlehem and buried him. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at dawn.
But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah,
At that time David was in the stronghold,
After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle,
he went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies the day the Philistines killed Saul at Gilboa.
Then David’s forces marched into the field to engage Israel in battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim.
Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant,
My king, Araunah gives everything here to the king.” Then he said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.”
Barzillai replied to the king, “How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines,
Then Absalom sent messengers throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the ram’s horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom has become king in Hebron!’”
They crossed the Jordan and camped in Aroer,
Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,
Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah. All the Berites
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir!’ They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on earth.”
Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops 100 times more than they are
Hushai then told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, “This is what
Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him.
“You must not go!”
When Joab had turned back from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, 19 of David’s soldiers were missing,
When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to the Lord, “Look, I am the one who has sinned; I am the one
At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—24 in all. He, too, was descended from the giant.
For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram,
Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood,
Bani the Gadite,
Was he not more honored than the Three? He became their commander even though he did not become one of the Three.
Shimei son of Gera,
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”
“Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom.
“My lord the king,” he replied, “my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said: ‘I’ll saddle the donkey for myself
David went up in obedience to Gad’s command, just as the Lord had commanded.
Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. Not even one will be left of all the men with him.
I called to my God.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for help reached His ears.
King David sent word to the priests, Zadok and Abiathar:
Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, so he went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground.
They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him.
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?”
Abishai, Joab’s brother and son of Zeruiah,
There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul,
When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the 10 concubines he had left to take care of the palace and placed them under guard.
Joab said, “I’m not going to waste time with you!” He then took three spears in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the oak tree,
they can never be picked up by hand.
So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, and threw stones and dirt at him.
The king said to him, “Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land.”
“Your servant had two sons. They were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
the foundations of the world were exposed
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of the breath
“I will do whatever you think is best,” the king replied to them. So he stood beside the gate while all the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.
a gathering
and said to him, “My lord, don’t hold me guilty, and don’t remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.
but they had killed 360 of the Benjaminites and Abner’s men.
They went to Gilead and to the land of the Hittites
the torrents of destruction terrified me.
Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction
Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them.
The king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!”
“I bow before you,” Ziba said. “May you look favorably on me, my lord the king!”
the Most High projected His voice.
They forded the Jordan to bring the king’s household across and do whatever the king desired.
When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king
Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham:
They were at the great stone in Gibeon when Amasa joined them. Joab was wearing his uniform and over it was a belt around his waist with a sword in its sheath. As he approached, the sword fell out.
When he was removed from the highway, all the men passed by and followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.
When they had gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and 20 days.
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
David replied, “To buy the threshing floor from you in order to build an altar to the Lord, so the plague on the people may be halted.”
Where could I ever go with my disgrace? And you—you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you.”
All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: “The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies,
She replied, “Please, may the king invoke the Lord your God, so that the avenger of blood will not increase the loss, and they will not eliminate my son!”
“As the Lord lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.”
Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.”
So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.
“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed.
and handed them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged
Hushai continued, “You know your father and his men. They are warriors and are desperate like a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier who won’t spend the night with the people.
“Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel.
Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed all your soldiers—those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines.
So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
Joab asked Amasa, “Are you well, my brother?” Then with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.
Yet the king’s order prevailed over Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army left the king’s presence to register the troops of Israel.
let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us so we may hang
The king answered, “I will hand them over.”
He added, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice.”
He threw stones at David and at all the royal
The woman asked, “Why have you devised something similar against the people of God? When the king spoke as he did about this matter, he has pronounced his own guilt. The king has not brought back his own banished one.
Go to the king and speak these words to him.” Then Joab told her exactly what to say.
After this,
and buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in the land of Benjamin in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. After this, God answered prayer for the land.
And tell Amasa,
Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite also. Let’s hear what he has to say as well.”
You subdue my adversaries beneath me.
Then, even a brave man with the heart of a lion
David was extremely thirsty
David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son.
But the king hid his face
But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”
the foundations of the heavens
they shook because He burned with anger.
The man replied to Joab, “Even if I had the weight of 1,000 pieces of silver
“Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am offering you three choices. Choose one of them, and I will do it to you.’”
Now send someone quickly and tell David, ‘Don’t spend the night at the wilderness ford of the Jordan,
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him: “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”
Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel of Beth-maacah. They built an assault ramp against the outer wall of the city. While all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to make it collapse,
So he won over
Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel’s escorted the king.
The king’s servants said to him, “Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants.”
Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said.”
So the king got up and sat in the gate,
Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.
Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba—as numerous as the sand by the sea—be gathered to you and that you personally go into battle.
but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.
“Where is your master’s grandson?” the king asked.
“Why, he’s staying in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied to the king, “for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather’s kingdom to me.’”
So Joab’s men, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors marched out under Abishai’s command;
Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given this time is not good.”
“What’s the matter?” the king asked her.
“To tell the truth, I am a widow; my husband died,” she said.
When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said,
and took hold of me;
He pulled me out of deep waters.
When a person approached to bow down to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.
The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a murderer!”
I am a peaceful person, one of the faithful in Israel, but you’re trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you devour the Lord’s inheritance?”
If I had jeopardized my own
David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”
David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom!
according to my righteousness;
He repaid me
according to the cleanness of my hands.
Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it and spilled his intestines out on the ground. Joab did not stab him again for Amasa was dead.
If he retreats to some city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag its stones into the valley until not even a pebble can be found there.”
So David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bichri will do more harm to us than Absalom. Take your lord’s soldiers and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”
You are my brothers, my flesh and blood.
The Gibeonites said to him, “We are not asking for money from
“Whatever you say, I will do for you,” he said.
She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him.
Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they knew nothing about the whole matter.
“Whoever speaks to you,” the king said, “bring him to me. He will not trouble you again!”
As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me.
One of the men saw him and informed Joab. He said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
“Go in peace,” the king said to him.
He asked the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you will bring a blessing on
When it was reported to David what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done,
So Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom told him: “Ahithophel offered this proposal. Should we carry out his proposal? If not, what do you say?”
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.
You have appointed me the head of nations;
a people I had not known serve me.
The king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to me within three days and be here yourself.”
He’s probably already hiding in one of the caves
You love your enemies and hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan.
They replied to the king, “As for the man who annihilated us and plotted to destroy us so we would not exist within the whole territory of Israel,
So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle.
When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him.
Take note: their two sons, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan, are there with them. Send me everything you hear through them.”
must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear.
They will be completely burned up on the spot.
Afterward, Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.
a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here and let me speak with him.”
When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept,
David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
“Now get up! Go out and encourage
but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
She said, “In the past they used to say, ‘Seek counsel in Abel,’ and that’s how they settled disputes.
The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you,
The people of Israel were defeated by David’s soldiers, and the slaughter there was vast that day—20,000 casualties.
David had the bones brought from there. They gathered up the bones of Saul’s family who had been hung
Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David’s men?”
These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who had a reputation among the three warriors.
So Hushai,
Then the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me
and 10 young men who were Joab’s armor-bearers surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him.
Now Amasa was writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the people stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.
The battle spread over the entire region, and that day the forest claimed more people than the sword.
He shows loyalty to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
When he had come near her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”
“I am,” he replied.
“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said to him.
He answered, “I’m listening.”
He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.
I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
your feet not placed in bronze shackles.
You fell like one who falls victim to criminals.
And all the people wept over him even more.
One of Joab’s young men had stood over Amasa saying, “Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”
I crush them and trample them like mud in the streets.
The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: “We have 10 shares in the king,
All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king’s or been honored at all?”
Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.
All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
and casts down peoples under me.
On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
You exalt me above my adversaries;
You rescue me from violent men.