The Second Book of
SAMUEL
Author
The two books that now make up 1 and 2 Samuel were originally one book called “The Book of Samuel.” The actual author is unknown. Samuel undoubtedly had written a great deal about this time in Israel’s history. However, other materials had been collected from which the actual writer could draw. Three of these are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29, namely: “the book of Samuel the seer,” “the book of Nathan the prophet,” and “the book of Gad the seer.” Both Gad and Abiathar had access to the court events of David’s reign and one or both may have given us these two books.
Date
The book has to be dated after the division of the kingdoms following Solomon’s reign, 931 B.C., because of the comment in 1 Samuel 27:6, “Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.” Though a distinction was often drawn between Israel and Judah, and though David reigned in Judah for seven and one-half years before unifying the kingdom, there were no kings in Judah before this date.
There is no mention or reference to the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C., which makes a date after that event unlikely.
Content
Second Samuel deals with the ascendance of David to the throne of Israel and the forty years of his reign. He is the focal point of the book.
The book begins with the death of Saul and Jonathan at the battlefield on Mount Gilboa. David is then anointed king over Judah, his own tribe. There is a power play by the house of Saul in the persons of Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and Abner, Saul’s commander in chief of the armies. Though this is resolved by the deaths of both, this summary statement describes the seven and one-half years before the nation is unified under David: “Now there was a long war 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” (3:1).
David unifies both the political and religious life of the nation by bringing the ark of the covenant from the house of Abinadab, where it had rested since its return from the Philistines (6:1—7:1).
The theme of the coming King, the Messiah, is introduced as God establishes an everlasting covenant with David and his kingdom, “Your throne shall be established forever” (7:16).
David successfully defeats the enemies of Israel, and a time of stability and prosperity begins to emerge. Sadly however, his vulnerability and weakness lead him into his sin with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, her husband.
Though David repents after being confronted by the prophet Nathan, the consequences of his actions are spelled out: “The sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10).
David’s son Absalom, after a long estrangement from his father, instigates a rebellion against the king, and David flees from Jerusalem. The rebellion ends when Absalom, caught by his head in a tree, is killed by Joab.
There is a quarrel between Israel and Judah concerning bringing the king back to Jerusalem. The rebel Sheba rouses Israel to desert David and go back to their homes. Although David makes a series of unfortunate and unwise decisions, the rebellion is quelled and David once again is established in Jerusalem.
The book ends with two beautiful poems, a list of David’s mighty men, and David’s sin in numbering the fighting men of Israel. David repents, buys the threshing floor of Araunah, and presents offerings to the Lord on the altar he builds there.
Personal Application
This book unfolds God’s working in history. Although human beings were sinful and must sometimes be punished by Him, God still worked through them to accomplish His redemptive purpose, fully realized in Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King of Kings. (See Rev. 22:16.)
Likewise, God has left the church in the world as the body of Christ to witness for Him and to carry out His purposes on the Earth today.
Christ Revealed
David and his reign look to the coming of the Messiah. Chapter 7 especially anticipates the future King. God intercepts David’s plans to build a house for the ark and explains that while David cannot build Him a house, God is building David a house, that is, a lineage that will last forever.
In his victory over all Israel’s enemies, his humility and commitment to the Lord, his zeal for the house of God, his combining of the offices of prophet, priest, and king—David is a forerunner of the Root of Jesse, Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit at Work
Jesus explained the work of the Spirit in John 16:8: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We clearly see the working of the Holy Spirit in these ways in 2 Samuel. He functioned most often through the priest. He is seen working as counselor in the many times David would “inquire of the LORD” through the priest and the ephod.
The convincing or convicting work of the Spirit is seen clearly with Nathan the prophet confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David’s sin is laid bare, righteousness is accomplished, and the judgment is spelled out. This, in microcosm, illustrates the broad working of the Holy Spirit in the world, through the Spirit-empowered church.
Outline of 2 Samuel
I. The triumphs of David 1:1—10:19
1. The political triumphs of David 1:1—5:25
A. Reign of David in Hebron 1:1—4:12
B. Reign of David in Jerusalem 5:1–25
2. The spiritual triumphs of David 6:1—7:29
A. Moving the ark 6:1–23
B. God’s covenant with David 7:1–29
3. The military triumphs of David 8:1—10:19
A. Triumphs over his enemies 8:1–12
B. David’s righteous rule 8:13—9:13
C. Triumphs over Ammon and Syria 10:1–19
II. The transgressions of David 11:1–27
1. The sin of adultery 11:1–5
2. The sin of murder 11:6–27
A. Uriah’s loyalty to David 11:6–13
B. David’s command to murder Uriah 11:14–25
C. David and Bathsheba’s marriage 11:26, 27
III. The troubles of David 12:1—24:25
1. Troubles in David’s house 12:1—13:36
A. Prophecy by Nathan 12:1–14
B. Death of David’s son 12:15–25
C. Joab’s loyalty to David 12:26–31
D. Incest in David’s house 13:1–20
E. Absalom’s murder of Amnon 13:21–36
2. Troubles in David’s kingdom 13:37—24:25
A. Rebellion of Absalom 13:37—17:29
B. Joab’s murder of Absalom 18:1–33
C. David restored as king 19:1—20:26
D. Commentary of the reign of David 21:1—24:25
The Report of Saul’s Death
1
1 NOW 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,
2 on the third day, behold, it happened that aa man came from Saul’s camp bwith his clothes 1torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he cfell to the ground and prostrated himself.
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 Then David said to him, a“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 bJonathan his son are dead also.”
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on aMount Gilboa, there was bSaul, 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 1anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’
10 “So I stood over him and akilled 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.”
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and atore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
12 And they amourned and wept and bfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the cpeople of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
13 Then 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.”
14 So David said to him, “How awas it you were not bafraid to cput forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
15 Then aDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.
16 So David said to him, a“Your *blood is on your own head, for byour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”
The Song of the Bow
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,
18 aand he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written bin the Book 1of Jasher:
19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
aHow the mighty have fallen!
20 aTell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of bAshkelon—
Lest cthe daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of dthe uncircumcised triumph.
21 “O amountains of Gilboa,
bLet there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is 1cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not canointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
aThe 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 adeath they were not divided;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were bstronger 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.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been very pleasant to me;
aYour love to me was wonderful,
Surpassing the love of women.
27 “Howa the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!”
David Anointed King of Judah
2
1 It 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.”
2 So David went up there, and his atwo wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
3 And David brought up athe men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4 aThen the men of Judah came, and there they banointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, c“The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, a“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 athe 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
8 But aAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took 1Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to bMahanaim;
9 and he made him king over aGilead, over the bAshurites, over cJezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10 Ishbosheth, 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.
11 And athe 1time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Israel and Judah at War
12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to aGibeon.
13 And aJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by bthe pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
16 And 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 1the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.
17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
18 Now the athree sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was bas fleet of foot cas a wild gazelle.
19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”
21 And 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.
22 So 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?”
23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him ain 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 bstill.
24 Joab 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.
25 Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became 1a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill.
26 Then 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?”
27 And Joab said, “As God lives, 1unless ayou had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
28 So Joab blew a *trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.
29 Then 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.
30 So 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.
31 But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.
32 Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in aBethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.
3
1 Now 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
2 Sons were born ato David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon bby Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3 his second, 1Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, aAbsalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king bof Geshur;
4 the fourth, aAdonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
Abner Joins Forces with David
6 Now 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.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was aRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you bgone in to my father’s concubine?”
8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I aa 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?
9 a“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David bas the LORD has sworn to him—
10 “to transfer the kingdom from the 1house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, afrom Dan to Beersheba.”
11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12 Then 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.”
13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: ayou shall not see my face unless you first bring bMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14 So David sent messengers to aIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself bfor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 1Paltiel the son of Laish.
16 Then her husband went along with her to aBahurim, 1weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.
17 Now 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! aFor the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, 1I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”
19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of aBenjamin. 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.
20 So 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.
21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and agather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may breign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
Joab Murders Abner
22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much 1spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23 When 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.”
24 Then 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 ayour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”
26 And 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.
27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab atook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there 1stabbed him bin the stomach, so that he died for the blood of cAsahel his brother.
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are 1guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29 a“Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the 1house of Joab one bwho has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother aAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David’s Mourning for Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, a“Tear your clothes, bgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:
“Should Abner die as a afool dies?
34 Your 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.
35 And when all the people came ato persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, b“God do so to me, and more also, if I *taste bread or anything else ctill the sun goes down!”
36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37 For 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.
38 Then 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, aare too harsh for me. bThe LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Ishbosheth Is Murdered
4
1 When Saul’s 1son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, ahe2 lost heart, and all Israel was btroubled.
2 Now 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 aBeeroth also was 1part of Benjamin,
3 because the Beerothites fled to aGittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
4 aJonathan, 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 bfrom 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 cMephibosheth.1
5 Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the ahouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.
6 And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they 1stabbed him ain the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7 For 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.
8 And 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, awho sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, awho has redeemed my life from all adversity,
10 “when asomeone 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 arequire his 1blood at your hand and 2remove you from the earth?”
12 So David acommanded 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 btomb of Abner in Hebron.
David Reigns over All Israel
5
1 Then 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, ayou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, b‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”
3 aTherefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, band King David made a covenant with them at Hebron cbefore the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was athirty years old when he began to reign, and bhe reigned forty years.
5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah aseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
6 aAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against bthe 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.”
7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion a(that is, the City of David).
8 Now 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), ahe shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it athe City of David. And David built all around from 1the Millo and inward.
10 So David went on and became great, and athe LORD God of hosts was with bhim.
11 Then aHiram bking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.
12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had aexalted His kingdom bfor the sake of His people Israel.
13 And aDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
14 Now athese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: 1Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, bSolomon,
15 Ibhar, 1Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated
17 aNow 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 band went down to the stronghold.
18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in athe Valley of Rephaim.
19 So David ainquired 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.”
20 So David went to aBaal 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 1Baal Perazim.
21 And they left their 1images there, and David and his men acarried them away.
22 aThen the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23 Therefore aDavid 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 ahear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then bthe LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from aGeba1 as far as bGezer.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
6
1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And 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.
3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on athe hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new 1cart.
4 And they brought it out of athe house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
5 Then David and all the house of Israel aplayed music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to aNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his bhand to the ark of God and 1took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his 1error; and he died there by the ark of God.
8 And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place 1Perez Uzzah to this day.
9 aDavid was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the aCity of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the bGittite.
11 aThe ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD bblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12 Now 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.” aSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13 And so it was, when athose bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed boxen and fatted sheep.
14 Then David adanced1 before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing ba linen *ephod.
15 aSo David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with *shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, aMichal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 So athey brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in bits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David coffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, ahe blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 aThen 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.
20 aThen 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, buncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the cbase fellows 1shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, awho *chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the bpeople 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.”
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children ato the day of her death.
God’s Covenant with David
7
1 Now 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,
2 that the king said to Nathan the *prophet, “See now, I dwell in aa house of cedar, bbut the ark of God dwells inside tent ccurtains.”
3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your aheart, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But 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: a“Would you *build a house for Me to dwell in?
6 “For I have not dwelt in a house asince the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in ba tent and in a tabernacle.
7 “Wherever I have amoved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded bto 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: a“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9 “And aI have been with you wherever you have gone, band 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 aplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; bnor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11 a“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 1tells you bthat He will make you a 2house.
12 a“When your days are fulfilled and you brest with your fathers, cI will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 a“He shall build a house for My name, and I will bestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14 a“I will be his Father, and he shall be bMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the 1blows of the sons of men.
15 “But My *mercy shall not depart from him, aas I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16 “And ayour house and your kingdom shall be established forever before 1you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Thanksgiving to God
18 Then 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. aIs this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20 “Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, aknow 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 aYou are great, 1O Lord GOD. For bthere is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our cears.
23 “And who is like Your people, like Israel, athe 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 bYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
24 “For aYou have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; band You, LORD, have become their God.
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 aYour 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 aforever.”
David’s Further Conquests
8
1 After this it came to pass that David 1attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took 2Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
2 Then 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.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of aZobah, as he went to recover bhis territory at the River Euphrates.
4 David took from him one thousand chariots, 1seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David ahamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5 aWhen the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So athe LORD preserved David wherever he went.
7 And David took athe shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 Also from 1Betah and from aBerothai,2 cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9 When 1Toi king of aHamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10 then Toi sent 1Joram his son to King David, to 2greet 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.
11 King David also adedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—
12 from 1Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the aPhilistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David made himself a aname when he returned from killing beighteen thousand 1Syrians in cthe Valley of Salt.
14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and aall the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
David’s Administration
15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered *judgment and justice to all his people.
16 aJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; bJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17 aZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the *priests; 1Seraiah was the 2scribe;
18 aBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the bCherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were 1chief ministers.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
9
1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may ashow him 1kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was aZiba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
3 Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show athe kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is blame in his feet.”
4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of aMachir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Now when aMephibosheth1 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!”
7 So 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.”
8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such aa dead dog as I?”
9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, a“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 ashall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had bfifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then 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 1my table like one of the king’s sons.”
12 Mephibosheth had a young son awhose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, afor he ate continually at the king’s table. And he bwas lame in both his feet.
The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated
10
1 It happened after this that the aking of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2 Then David said, “I will show akindness to Hanun the son of bNahash, 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.
3 And 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?”
4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, aat their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When 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.”
6 When the people of Ammon saw that they ahad made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired bthe Syrians of cBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of dMaacah one thousand men, and from eIsh-Tob twelve thousand men.
7 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of athe mighty men.
8 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And athe Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 When 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.
10 And the rest of the people he put under the command of aAbishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon.
11 Then 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.
12 a“Be of good courage, and let us bbe strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may cthe LORD do what is good in His sight.”
13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14 When 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 aJerusalem.
15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.
16 Then 1Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond 2the River, and they came to Helam. And 3Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
17 When 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.
18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand ahorsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
19 And when all the kings who were servants to 1Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and aserved them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.
David, Bathsheba, and Uriah
11
1 It 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.
2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed aand walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he bsaw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not 1Bathsheba, the daughter of 2Eliam, the wife aof Uriah the bHittite?”
4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and ahe lay with her, for she was bcleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.
8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and awash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him.
9 But Uriah slept at the adoor of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10 So 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?”
11 And Uriah said to David, a“The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and bmy 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.”
12 Then 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.
13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him adrunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed bwith the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14 In the morning it happened that David awrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the 1hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may abe struck down and die.”
16 So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.
17 Then 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.
18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,
19 and 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 aAbimelech the son of 1Jerubbesheth? 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.’ ”
22 So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him.
23 And 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.”
25 Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing 1displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her *husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27 And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she abecame his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done bdispleased1 the LORD.
Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession
12
1 Then 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.”
5 So 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 afourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I aanointed 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!
9 a‘Why have you bdespised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? cYou 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, athe 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 atake 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, abut I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
13 aSo David said to Nathan, b“I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has cput away your sin; you shall not die.
14 “However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD ato blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
15 Then Nathan departed to his house.
The Death of David’s Son
And the aLORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.
16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and alay all night on the ground.
17 So 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.
18 Then 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!”
19 When 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.”
20 So David arose from the ground, washed and aanointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and bworshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.
21 Then 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.”
22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; afor I said, ‘Who can tell whether 1the 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 ato him, but bhe shall not return to me.”
Solomon Is Born
24 Then David *comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So ashe bore a *son, and bhe1 called his name Solomon. Now the LORD loved him,
25 and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So 1he called his name 2Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
Rabbah Is Captured
26 Now aJoab fought against bRabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And 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.”
29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.
30 aThen 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 1spoil of the city in great abundance.
31 And 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
13
1 After this aAbsalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was bTamar; and cAmnon the son of David loved her.
2 Amnon 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.
3 But Amnon had a *friend whose name was Jonadab athe son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man.
4 And 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.”
5 So 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.’ ”
6 Then 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 amake a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
7 And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”
8 So 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.
9 And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, a“Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him.
10 Then 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.
11 Now when she had brought them to him to eat, ahe took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
12 But she answered him, “No, my brother, do not 1force me, for ano such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this bdisgraceful 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; afor he will not withhold me from you.”
14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he aforced her and lay with her.
15 Then Amnon hated her 1exceedingly, 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!”
16 So 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.
17 Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.”
18 Now she had on aa 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.
19 Then Tamar put aashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and blaid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly.
20 And Absalom 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 house.
21 But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon aneither good nor bad. For Absalom bhated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
Absalom Murders Amnon
23 And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom ahad sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24 Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25 But the king said to Absalom, “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.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s aheart 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 1valiant.”
29 So the servants of Absalom adid to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on bhis mule and fled.
30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!”
31 So the king arose and atore his garments and blay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 Then aJonadab 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 this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33 “Now therefore, alet 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
34 aThen Absalom 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 1him.
35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.”
36 So 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.
37 But Absalom fled and went to aTalmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled and went to aGeshur, and was there three years.
39 And 1King David 2longed to go to Absalom. For he had been acomforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
14
1 So Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was concerned aabout Absalom.
2 And Joab sent to aTekoa and brought from there a wise woman, and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, band 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 aput the words in her mouth.
4 And when the woman of Tekoa 1spoke to the king, she afell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, b“Help, O king!”
5 Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” And she answered, a“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 afor 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.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.”
9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, let athe 1iniquity be on me and on my father’s house, band the king and his throne be guiltless.”
10 So the king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you anymore.”
11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the LORD your God, and do not permit athe avenger of blood to destroy anymore, lest they destroy my son.” And he said, b“As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Therefore the woman said, “Please, let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Say on.”
13 So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against athe people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring bhis banished one home again.
14 “For we awill surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not btake away a life; but He cdevises means, so that His banished ones are not 1expelled 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 ainheritance of God.’
17 “Your maidservant said, ‘The word of my lord the king will now be comforting; for aas the angel of God, so is my lord the king in bdiscerning good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.’ ”
18 Then 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.”
19 So 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 ahe 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, aaccording to the *wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”
21 And the king said to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”
22 Then Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and 1thanked 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.”
23 So Joab arose aand went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
24 And the king said, “Let him return to his own house, but ado not let him see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king’s face.
David Forgives Absalom
25 Now in all Israel there was no one who was *praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. aFrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
26 And 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.
27 aTo Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28 And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, abut did not see the king’s face.
29 Therefore Absalom 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.
30 So 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.
31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom’s house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
32 And Absalom 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 aif there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”
33 So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king akissed Absalom.
Absalom’s Treason
15
1 After this ait happened that Absalom bprovided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a alawsuit1 came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”
3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your 1case is good and right; but there is no 2deputy of the king to hear you.”
4 Moreover Absalom would say, a“Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”
5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and akiss him.
6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. aSo Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Now it came to pass aafter 1forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to bHebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.
8 a“For your servant btook a vow cwhile I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”
9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom areigns in Hebron!’ ”
11 And with Absalom went two hundred men ainvited from Jerusalem, and they bwent along innocently and did not know anything.
12 Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, aDavid’s counselor, from his city—from bGiloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom ccontinually increased in number.
David Escapes from Jerusalem
13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, a“The hearts of the men of Israel are 1with Absalom.”
14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us aflee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”
16 Then athe king went out with all his household after him. But the king left bten women, concubines, to keep the house.
17 And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.
18 Then all his servants passed 1before him; aand all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, bsix hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.
19 Then the king said to aIttai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.
20 “In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go aI know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”
21 But Ittai answered the king and said, a“As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”
22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the awilderness.
24 There was aZadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the bark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and cAbiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.
25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He awill bring me back and show me both it and bHis dwelling place.
26 “But if He says thus: ‘I have no adelight in you,’ here I am, blet Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a aseer?1* Return to the city in peace, and byour two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28 “See, aI will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”
29 Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.
30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he ahad his head covered and went bbarefoot. And all the people who were with him ccovered their heads and went up, dweeping as they went up.
31 Then someone told David, saying, a“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, bturn the *counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
32 Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the aArchite coming to meet him bwith his robe torn and dust on his head.
33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become aa burden to me.
34 “But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, a‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
35 “And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to aZadok and Abiathar the priests.
36 “Indeed they have there awith them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”
37 So Hushai, aDavid’s friend, went into the city. bAnd Absalom came into Jerusalem.
Mephibosheth’s Servant
16
1 Whena David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was bZiba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 And the king said to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for athose who are faint in the wilderness to drink.”
3 Then the king said, “And where is your amaster’s son?” bAnd Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ”
4 So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!”
Shimei Curses David
5 Now when King David came to aBahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was bShimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.
6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You 1bloodthirsty man, ayou 2rogue!
8 “The LORD has abrought upon you all bthe blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a 1bloodthirsty man!”
9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this adead dog bcurse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”
10 But the king said, a“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because bthe LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ cWho then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”
11 And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how amy son who bcame from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him.
12 “It may be that the LORD will look on 1my affliction, and that the LORD will arepay me with bgood for his cursing this day.”
13 And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and *cursed as he went, threw stones at him and 1kicked up dust.
14 Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
The Advice of Ahithophel
15 Meanwhile aAbsalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.
16 And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, aDavid’s friend, came to Absalom, that bHushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17 So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your *friend? aWhy did you not go with your friend?”
18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 “Furthermore, awhom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”
20 Then Absalom said to aAhithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.”
21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s aconcubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you bare abhorred by your father. Then cthe hands of all who are with you will be strong.”
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines ain the sight of all Israel.
23 Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel aboth with David and with Absalom.
17
1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
2 “I will come upon him while he is aweary and weak, and make him 1afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will bstrike only the king.
3 “Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.”
4 And the saying pleased Absalom and all the aelders of Israel.
The Advice of Hushai
5 Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he asays too.”
6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7 So Hushai said to Absalom: “The *advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8 “For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like aa bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.
9 “Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’
10 “And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will amelt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
11 “Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, afrom Dan to Beersheba, blike the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.
12 “So we will come upon him in some place where he may be found, and we will fall on him as the dew falls on the ground. And of him and all the men who are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13 “Moreover, if he has withdrawn into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city; and we will apull it into the river, until there is not one small stone found there.”
14 So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For athe LORD had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring disaster on Absalom.
Hushai Warns David to Escape
15 aThen Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.
16 “Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night ain the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’ ”
17 aNow Jonathan and Ahimaaz bstayed at cEn Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.
18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom. But both of them went away quickly and came to a man’s house ain Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down into it.
19 aThen the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground grain on it; and the thing was not known.
20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” So athe woman said to them, “They have gone over the water brook.” And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21 Now it came to pass, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and told King David, and said to David, a“Arise and cross over the water quickly. For thus has Ahithophel advised against you.”
22 So David and all the people who were with him arose and crossed over the Jordan. By morning light not one of them was left who had not gone over the Jordan.
23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ahis house, to his city. Then he 1put his bhousehold in order, and changed himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.
24 Then David went to aMahanaim. And Absalom crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
