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.
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.
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.
