2 Samuel

2 Samuel

 

Chapter 1,  Shortly after Saul died, David returned to Ziklag from his rout of the Amalekites.
 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent.   And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.    And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered,  the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.   And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?   "I just happened by Mount Gilboa and came on Saul, badly wounded and leaning on his spear, with enemy chariots and horsemen bearing down hard on him.   "Come here," he said, "and put me out of my misery. I'm nearly dead already, but my life hangs on." So I did what he asked. I killed him. I knew he wouldn't last much longer anyway. I removed his royal headband and bracelet, and have brought them to my master. Here they are.  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?   And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.   And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

Chapter 2, David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.  So David went up thither.  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.   But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; and made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.  Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Chapter 3, There was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.  Saul had had a concubine whom Ish-Bosheth  accused  Abner of sleeping with.  Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?   So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;   To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. So Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

Chapter 4,  Baanah and Recab, the two sons of Rimmon, headed out for the house of Ish-Bosheth. They arrived at the hottest time of the day, just as he was taking his afternoon nap.  when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.   And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.  David answered Rechab and Baanah and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity.  When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:   How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?  David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

Chapter 5,   Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.   So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.   David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.   In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

Chapter 6,  David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God. They set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah, and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. When they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?  So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.   And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.  And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.   And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Chapter 7,  And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;   That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.  And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.   And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,   Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?   And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.   And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.   He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.   Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?   Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

 

Chapter 8,   In the days that followed, David struck hard at the Philistines—brought them to their knees and took control of the countryside.  And David reigned over all Israel; and executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

Chapter 9,   One day David asked, Is there anyone left of Saul's family? If so, I'd like to show him some kindness in honor of Jonathan.   Ziba, a servant of the house of Saul, told the king, "Yes, there is Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, who is lame in both feet   Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table.

 

Chapter 10,   And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.  Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.  And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?  Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.  And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.  And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

Chapter 11,   And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.  And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?  And David sent and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; and she returned unto her house.   And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. David sent for  Uriah and said unto him, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. Uriah departed but went not down to his house.   And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.  And when the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.  And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

 

Chapter 12,  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:   But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.  And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:   And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.   Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

 

Chapter 13,  Absalom, David's son, had a sister who was very attractive. Her name was Tamar. Amnon, also David's son, was in love with her. He was obsessed with his sister Tamar to the point of making himself sick over her. She was a virgin, so he couldn't see how he could get his hands on her. He was advised by a friend;   "Here's what you do," Go to bed and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to visit you, say, 'Have my sister Tamar come and prepare some supper for me here where I can watch her and she can feed me.' " This they did.   Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat which she did. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand.   And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.   And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly  Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.  Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.  Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.  Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.   And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.   And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom killed his brother Amnon and fled to Geshur. He remained there 3 years.

Chapter 14,   Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king, deep down, still cared for Absalom.  So he sent to Tekoa for a wise woman and instructed her exactly what to say.  After she told him all,  The king said unto her, "Is the hand of Joab mixed up in this? She answered, Yes, it was your servant Joab who put me up to this, and put these very words in my mouth.  It was because he wanted to turn things around that he did this.  The king spoke to Joab. "All right, I'll do it. Go and bring the young man Absalom back. Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.   But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. He later sent for Joab and said,   "What's the point of my coming back from Geshur? I'd be better off still there!" Let me see the king face to face. If he finds me guilty, then he can put me to death.   So Joab came 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: and the king kissed Absalom.  

Chapter 15, It came to pass  that Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him. It was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.  And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.  Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.  David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.   And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

 

Chapter 16, When king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei.  He came forth and cursed still as he came, and cast stones at David, and at all his servants, and all the people and all the mighty men.  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.  David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.   It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

Chapter 17, Ahithophel advised Absalom, "Let me handpick twelve thousand men and go after David tonight.   I'll come on him when he's bone tired and take him by complete surprise. The whole army will run off and I'll kill only David.  Absalom thought it was an excellent strategy, and all the elders of Israel agreed.  But then Absalom said, "Call in Hushai the Arkite—let's hear what he has to say."   Hushai said, "The counsel that Ahithophel has given in this instance is not good. This is what I advise.   Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. This was because the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that he might bring evil upon Absalom.

 

Chapter 18,  David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.  And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.  But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. The king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do.  So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim. The people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.  Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.

Chapter 19,   And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. The victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. For the king covered his face, and cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!  Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, in that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.   Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.  Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king.  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

 

 

Chapter 20.   And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

 

Chapter 21,   Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.  Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD. They answered, let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

Chapter 22, David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: He said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;   The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.  I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.   In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Chapter 23,   Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.  Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.

Chapter 24,   And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.   And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?   Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.   And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.   For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,   Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.  And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.