The Second Book of
SAMUEL
The Report of Saul’s Death
1Now it came to pass after the adeath of Saul, when David had returned from bthe slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,
2on the third day, behold, it happened that ca man came from Saul’s camp dwith his clothes 1torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he efell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4Then David said to him, f“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and gJonathan his son are dead also.”
5So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on hMount Gilboa, there was iSaul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7“Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8“And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9“He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for 2anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’
10“So I stood over him and jkilled him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and ktore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
12And they lmourned and wept and mfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the npeople of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”
14So David said to him, “How owas it you were not pafraid to qput forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15Then rDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.
16So David said to him, s“Your blood is on your own head, for tyour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”
The Song of the Bow
17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18uand he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written vin the Book 3of Jasher:
19“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
w How the mighty have fallen!
Proclaim it not in the streets of yAshkelon—
Lest zthe daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of athe uncircumcised triumph.
c Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is 4cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not danointed with oil.
22From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
e The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
23“Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their fdeath they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were gstronger than lions.
24“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;
Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25“How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
h Your love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.
27“Howi the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
David Anointed King of Judah
1It happened after this that David ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To bHebron.”
2So David went up there, and his ctwo wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
3And David brought up dthe men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4eThen the men of Judah came, and there they fanointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, g“The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, h“You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.
6“And now may ithe LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
7“Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
Ishbosheth Made King of Israel
8But jAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took 1Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to kMahanaim;
9and he made him king over lGilead, over the mAshurites, over nJezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.
11And othe 2time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Israel and Judah at War
12Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to pGibeon.
13And qJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by rthe pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
15So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
16And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called 3the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.
17So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18Now the sthree sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was tas fleet of foot uas a wild gazelle.
19So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”
21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
22So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”
23However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him vin the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood wstill.
24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.
25Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became 4a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill.
26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
27And Joab said, “As God lives, 5unless xyou had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
28So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.
29Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.
30So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.
32Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in yBethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.
Joab Kills Abner
1Now there was a long awar between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
Sons of David
2Sons were born bto David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon cby Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3his second, 1Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, dAbsalom’s the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king eof Geshur;
4the fourth, fAdonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins Forces with David
6Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was gRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you hgone in to my father’s concubine?”
8Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I ia dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?
9j“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David kas the LORD has sworn to him—
10“to transfer the kingdom from the 2house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, lfrom Dan to Beersheba.”
11And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”
13And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: myou shall not see my face unless you first bring nMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14So David sent messengers to oIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself pfor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 3Paltiel the son of Laish.
16Then her husband went along with her to qBahurim, 4weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.
17Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
18“Now then, do it! rFor the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, 5I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”
19And Abner also spoke in the hearing of sBenjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and tgather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ureign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much 6spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”
24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?
25“Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know vyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
26And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.
27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab wtook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there 7stabbed him xin the stomach, so that he died for the blood of yAsahel his brother.
28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are 8guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29z“Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the 9house of Joab one awho has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother bAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David’s Mourning for Abner
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, c“Tear your clothes, dgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
32So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:
“Should Abner die as a efool dies?
34Your hands were not bound
Nor your feet put into fetters;
As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”
Then all the people wept over him again.
35And when all the people came fto persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, g“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else htill the sun goes down!”
36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39“And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, iare too harsh for me. jThe LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Ishbosheth Is Murdered
1When Saul’s 1son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, ahe2 lost heart, and all Israel was btroubled.
2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For cBeeroth also was 3part of Benjamin,
3because the Beerothites fled to dGittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
4eJonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came ffrom Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was gMephibosheth.4 The City of David
5Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the hhouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.
6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they 5stabbed him iin the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.
8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, jwho sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, kwho has redeemed my life from all adversity,
10“when lsomeone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
11“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now mrequire his 6blood at your hand and 7remove you from the earth?”
12So David ncommanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the otomb of Abner in Hebron.
David Reigns over All Israel
1Then all the tribes of Israel acame to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed bwe are your bone and your flesh.
2“Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, cyou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, d‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”
3eTherefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, fand King David made a covenant with them at Hebron gbefore the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was hthirty years old when he began to reign, and ihe reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah jseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
6kAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against lthe Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion m(that is, the City of David).
8Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), nhe shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it othe City of David. And David built all around from 1the Millo and inward.
10So David went on and became great, and pthe LORD God of hosts was with qhim.
11Then rHiram sking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.
12So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had texalted His kingdom ufor the sake of His people Israel.
13And vDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
14Now wthese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: 2Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, xSolomon,
15Ibhar, 3Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated
17yNow when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it zand went down to the stronghold.
18The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in athe Valley of Rephaim.
19So David binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20So David went to cBaal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place 4Baal Perazim.
21And they left their 5images there, and David and his men dcarried them away.
22eThen the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23Therefore fDavid inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
24“And it shall be, when you ghear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then hthe LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from iGeba6 as far as jGezer.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2And aDavid arose and went with all the people who were with him from 1Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called 2by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, bwho dwells between the cherubim.
3So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on cthe hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new 3cart.
4And they brought it out of dthe house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
5Then David and all the house of Israel eplayed music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6And when they came to fNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his ghand to the ark of God and 4took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his 5error; and he died there by the ark of God.
8And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place 6Perez Uzzah to this day.
9hDavid was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
10So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the iCity of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the jGittite.
11kThe ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD lblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” mSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13And so it was, when nthose bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed ooxen and fatted sheep.
14Then David pdanced7 before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing qa linen ephod.
15rSo David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, sMichal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17So tthey brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in uits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David voffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, whe blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19xThen he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
20yThen David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, zuncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the abase fellows 8shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, bwho chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the cpeople of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD.
22“And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children dto the day of her death.
God’s Covenant with David
1Now it came to pass awhen the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ba house of cedar, cbut the ark of God dwells inside tent dcurtains.”
3Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your eheart, for the LORD is with you.”
4But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: f“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
6“For I have not dwelt in a house gsince the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in ha tent and in a tabernacle.
7“Wherever I have imoved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded jto shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
8“Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: k“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9“And lI have been with you wherever you have gone, mand have 1cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
10“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will nplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; onor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11p“since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD 2tells you qthat He will make you a 3house.
12r“When your days are fulfilled and you srest with your fathers, tI will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13u“He shall build a house for My name, and I will vestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14w“I will be his Father, and he shall be xMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the 4blows of the sons of men.
15“But My mercy shall not depart from him, yas I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16“And zyour house and your kingdom shall be established forever before 5you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Thanksgiving to God
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: a“Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
19“And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. bIs this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20“Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, cknow Your servant.
21“For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
22“Therefore dYou are great, 6O Lord GOD. For ethere is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our fears.
23“And who is like Your people, like Israel, gthe one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before hYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
24“For iYou have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; jand You, LORD, have become their God. The Kingdom of David
25“Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.
26“So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27“For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and kYour words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
29“Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed lforever.”
David’s Further Conquests
1After this it came to pass that David 1attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took 2Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
2Then ahe defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s bservants, and cbrought tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of dZobah, as he went to recover ehis territory at the River Euphrates.
4David took from him one thousand chariots, 3seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David fhamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5gWhen the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So hthe LORD preserved David wherever he went.
7And David took ithe shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8Also from 4Betah and from jBerothai,5 cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9When 6Toi king of kHamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10then Toi sent 7Joram his son to King David, to 8greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.
11King David also ldedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—
12from 9Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the mPhilistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13And David made himself a nname when he returned from killing oeighteen thousand 10Syrians in pthe Valley of Salt.
14He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and qall the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
David’s Administration
15So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
16rJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17tZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; 11Seraiah was the 12scribe;
18uBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the vCherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were 13chief ministers.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may ashow him 1kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was bZiba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
3Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show cthe kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is dlame in his feet.”
4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of eMachir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6Now when fMephibosheth2 the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such ga dead dog as I?”
9And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, h“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
10“You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son ishall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had jfifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at 3my table like one of the king’s sons.”
12Mephibosheth had a young son kwhose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, lfor he ate continually at the king’s table. And he mwas lame in both his feet.
The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated
1It happened after this that the aking of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2Then David said, “I will show bkindness to Hanun the son of cNahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.
3And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
4Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, dat their buttocks, and sent them away.
5When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly 1ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6When the people of Ammon saw that they ehad made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired fthe Syrians of gBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of hMaacah one thousand men, and from iIsh-Tob twelve thousand men.
7Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of jthe mighty men.
8Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And kthe Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.
10And the rest of the people he put under the command of lAbishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.
11Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12m“Be of good courage, and let us nbe strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may othe LORD do what is good in His sight.”
13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to pJerusalem.
15When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.
16Then 2Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond 3the River, and they came to Helam. And 4Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
17When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.
18Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand qhorsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
19And when all the kings who were servants to 5Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and rserved them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.
David, Bathsheba, and Uriah
1It happened in the spring of the year, at the atime when kings go out to battle, that bDavid sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged cRabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed dand walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he esaw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not 1Bathsheba, the daughter of 2Eliam, the wife fof Uriah the gHittite?”
4Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and hhe lay with her, for she was icleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
6Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.
8And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and jwash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.
9But Uriah slept at the kdoor of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
11And Uriah said to David, l“The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and mmy lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
12Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him ndrunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed owith the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14In the morning it happened that David pwrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the 3hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may qbe struck down and die.”
16So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.
17Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,
19and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,
20“if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
21‘Who struck rAbimelech the son of 4Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
22So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him.
23And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate.
24“The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing 5displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
26When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she sbecame his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done tdispleased6 the LORD.
Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession
1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And ahe came to him, and bsaid to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
2“The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.
3“But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.
4“And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
5So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this 1shall surely die!
6“And he shall restore cfourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I danointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8‘I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!
9e‘Why have you fdespised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? gYou have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
10‘Now therefore, hthe sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
11“Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will itake your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12‘For you did it secretly, jbut I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
13kSo David said to Nathan, l“I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has mput away your sin; you shall not die.
14“However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD nto blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
15Then Nathan departed to his house.
The Death of David’s Son
And the oLORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.
16David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and play all night on the ground.
17So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
18Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”
19When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”
20So David arose from the ground, washed and qanointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and rworshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.
21Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; sfor I said, ‘Who can tell whether 2the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
23“But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go tto him, but uhe shall not return to me.”
Solomon Is Born
24Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So vshe bore a son, and whe3 called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him,
25and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So 4he called his name 5Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
Rabbah Is Captured
26Now xJoab fought against yRabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s water supply.
28“Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”
29So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.
30zThen he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, with precious stones. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the 6spoil of the city in great abundance.
31And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Amnon and Tamar
1After this aAbsalom’s the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was bTamar; and cAmnon the son of David loved her.
2Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her.
3But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab dthe son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ”
6Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and emake a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.
9And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, f“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.
10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom.
11Now when she had brought them to him to eat, ghe took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not 1force me, for hno such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this idisgraceful thing!
13“And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; jfor he will not withhold me from you.”
14However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he kforced her and lay with her.
15Then Amnon hated her 2exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”
16So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her.
17Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”
18Now she had on la robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her.
19Then Tamar put mashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and nlaid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
20And Absalom’s her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s’s house.
21But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22And Absalom’s spoke to his brother Amnon oneither good nor bad. For Absalom’s phated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
Absalom Murders Amnon
23And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom’s qhad sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom’s invited all the king’s sons.
24Then Absalom’s came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25But the king said to Absalom’s, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him.
26Then Absalom’s said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27But Absalom’s urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28Now Absalom’s had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s rheart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and 3valiant.”
29So the servants of Absalom’s sdid to Amnon as Absalom’s had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on this mule and fled.
30And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom’s has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”
31So the king arose and utore his garments and vlay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32Then wJonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom’s this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33“Now therefore, xlet not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.”
Absalom Flees to Geshur
34yThen Absalom’s fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind 4him.
35And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”
36So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly.
37But Absalom’s fled and went to zTalmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38So Absalom’s fled and went to aGeshur, and was there three years.
39And 5King David 6longed to go to Absalom’s. For he had been bcomforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
1So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned aabout Absalom’s.
2And Joab sent to bTekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, cand put on mourning apparel; do not anoint yourself with oil, but act like a woman who has been mourning a long time for the dead.
3“Go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab dput the words in her mouth.
4And when the woman of Tekoa 1spoke to the king, she efell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, f“Help, O king!”
5Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” And she answered, g“Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.
6“Now your maidservant had two sons; and the two fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.
7“And now the whole family has risen up against your maidservant, and they said, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may execute him hfor the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also.’ So they would extinguish my ember that is left, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the earth.”
8Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, let ithe 2iniquity be on me and on my father’s house, jand the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10So the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”
11Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit kthe avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, l“As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Say on.”
13So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against mthe people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring nhis banished one home again.
14“For we owill surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not ptake away a life; but He qdevises means, so that His banished ones are not 3expelled from Him.
15“Now therefore, I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. And your maidservant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant.
16‘For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the rinheritance of God.’
17“Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for sas the angel of God, so is my lord the king in tdiscerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ ”
18Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide from me anything that I ask you.” And the woman said, “Please, let my lord the king speak.”
19So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab commanded me, and uhe put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant.
20“To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, vaccording to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
21And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom’s.”
22Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and 4thanked the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.”
23So Joab arose wand went to Geshur, and brought Absalom’s to Jerusalem.
24And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but xdo not let him see my face.” So Absalom’s returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.
David Forgives Absalom
25Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom’s for his good looks. yFrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26And when he cut the hair of his head—at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him—when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king’s standard.
27zTo Absalom’s were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28And Absalom’s dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, abut did not see the king’s face.
29Therefore Absalom’s sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
30So he said to his servants, “See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32And Absalom’s answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but bif there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”
33So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom’s, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king ckissed Absalom’s.