David Learns of Saul’s Death

Now it came about after (A)the death of Saul, when David had returned from (B)the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David stayed two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, (C)a man came from [a]Saul’s camp (D)with his clothes torn and [b]dust on his head. And it happened when he came to David, (E)he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. Then David said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” David said to him, “(F)How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” The young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on (G)Mount Gilboa, and behold, (H)Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the horsemen had overtaken him. When he looked behind himself, he saw me, and called to me. And I said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I [c]answered him, ‘(I)I am an Amalekite.’ And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for [d]agony has seized me because my [e]life still lingers in me.’ 10 So I stood next to him (J)and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And (K)I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then (L)David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and (M)fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 Then David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” And he [f]answered, “(N)I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” 14 And David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid (O)to reach out with your hand to destroy the Lords anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Come forward, [g]put him to death.” (P)So he struck him and he died. 16 And David said to him, “[h](Q)Your blood is on your head, because (R)your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have finished off the Lords anointed.’”

David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David (S)sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in (T)the Book of Jashar.

19 [i]Your beauty, Israel, is [j]slaughtered on your high places!
(U)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (V)Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or (W)the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of (X)the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 (Y)Mountains of Gilboa,
(Z)May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not (AA)anointed with oil.
22 (AB)From the blood of those [k]slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
(AC)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return [l]unstained.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in [m]life,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
(AD)They were swifter than eagles,
(AE)They were mightier than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25 (AF)How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is [n]slaughtered on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been [o]a close friend to me.
(AG)Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27 (AH)How the mighty have fallen,
And (AI)the weapons of war have perished!”

David Made King over Judah

Then it came about afterward that (AJ)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “(AK)To Hebron.” So David went up there, and (AL)his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the [p]widow of Nabal the Carmelite. And (AM)David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron. Then the men of Judah came, and there they (AN)anointed David king over the house of Judah.

And they told David, saying, “It was (AO)the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “(AP)May you be blessed of the Lord because you have [q]shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. And now (AQ)may the Lord [r]show kindness and truth to you; and I also will [s]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. Now then, let your hands be strong and be [t]valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

But (AR)Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken [u]Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to (AS)Mahanaim. And he made him king over (AT)Gilead, over the (AU)Ashurites, over (AV)Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 And (AW)the [v]time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Civil War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went from Mahanaim to (AX)Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13 And (AY)Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met [w]them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, [x]Abner’s men on the one side of the pool and [y]Joab’s men on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Now have the young men arise and (AZ)hold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said, “Have them arise!” 15 So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one of them seized his [z]opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his [aa]opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called [ab]Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 That day the battle was very severe, and (BA)Abner and the men of Israel were defeated [ac]by the servants of David.

18 Now (BB)the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was (BC)as [ad]swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field. 19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn [ae]to the right or to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind himself and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I!” 21 So Abner said to him, “Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him. 22 Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? (BD)How then could I [af]show my face to your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside; so Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came thereafter to the place where (BE)Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is opposite Giah by way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25 And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and they stood on the top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Should the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that it will be bitter in the end? So how long will you [ag]refrain from telling the people to turn back from pursuing their kinsmen?” 27 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.” 28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, (BF)nor did they continue to fight anymore. 29 Abner and his men then went through the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the Jordan, walked all morning, and came to (BG)Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab returned from pursuing Abner; but he gathered all the people together, and [ah]nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel. 31 However, the servants of David had struck and killed many of Benjamin and Abner’s men; 360 men were dead. 32 And they carried Asahel away and buried him (BH)in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men traveled all night until the day [ai]dawned at Hebron.

The House of David Strengthened

Now (BI)there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.

(BJ)Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by (BK)Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the [aj]widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of (BL)Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of (BM)Geshur; and the fourth, (BN)Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, (BO)Abner was [ak]strengthening himself in the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine whose name was (BP)Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and [al]Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s [am]question and said, “(BQ)Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with [an]that woman? (BR)May God do so to [ao]me, and more so, if (BS)as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: 10 (BT)to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, (BU)from Dan even to Beersheba!” 11 And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David at his place, saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 13 And he said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, [ap]namely, that (BV)you shall not see my face unless you (BW)first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see [aq]me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed (BX)for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent men and [ar]had her taken from her husband, from [as]Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, [at]following her as far as (BY)Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.

17 Now Abner had a [au]consultation with (BZ)the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘(CA)By the hand of My servant David [av]I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” 19 Abner also spoke [aw]to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak [ax]to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to (CB)the entire house of Benjamin.

20 Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and (CC)gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that (CD)you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.

22 And behold, (CE)the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, and he has gone in peace.” 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you let him go, so that he is already gone? 25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of (CF)your [ay]going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. 27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there (CG)he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. 28 Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 (CH)May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab (CI)someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or [az]holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner (CJ)because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “(CK)Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at (CL)the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And (CM)the king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,

“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles;
As one falls before the [ba]wicked, you have fallen.”

And all the people wept over him again. 35 Then all the people came (CN)to provide [bb]food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “(CO)May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else (CP)before the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it [bc]pleased them, just as everything that the king did [bd]pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And I am (CQ)weak today, though anointed king; and these men, (CR)the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. (CS)May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”

Ish-bosheth Murdered

Now when [be]Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that (CT)Abner had died in Hebron, [bf](CU)his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified. And Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of troops: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for (CV)Beeroth is also considered (CW)part of Benjamin, and the Beerothites fled to (CX)Gittaim and have lived there as strangers until this day).

Now (CY)Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was disabled in both feet. He was five years old when the (CZ)news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse picked him up and fled. But it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and could no longer walk. And his name was [bg](DA)Mephibosheth.

So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of (DB)Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while he was taking his midday rest. [bh]And they came to the interior of the house as if [bi]to get wheat, and (DC)they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. Now when they had come into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him, and they beheaded him. And they took his head and [bj](DD)traveled by way of the Arabah all night. Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth (DE)the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; so the Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his [bk]descendants.”

But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the Lord lives, (DF)who has redeemed my life from all distress, 10 (DG)when the one who informed me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ also [bl]viewed himself as the bearer of good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now (DH)require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?” 12 Then (DI)David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet, and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth (DJ)and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.

David King over All Israel

(DK)Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and [bm]said, “Behold, we are (DL)your bone and your flesh. Previously, when Saul was king over us, (DM)you were the one who led Israel [bn]out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘(DN)You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be (DO)a leader over Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David (DP)made a covenant with them before the Lord in Hebron; then (DQ)they anointed David king over Israel. David was (DR)thirty years old when he became king, and (DS)he reigned for forty years. At Hebron (DT)he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

(DU)Now the king and his men went to (DV)Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they said to [bo]David, “You shall not come in here, but even those who are blind and those who limp will turn you away,” [bp]thinking, “David cannot enter here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, (DW)the city of David. And David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites is to reach those who limp and those who are blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” For that reason they say, “People who are blind and people who limp shall not come into the house.” So David lived in the stronghold, and called it (DX)the city of David. And David built all around from the [bq](DY)Millo and inward. 10 (DZ)David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of armies was with him.

11 (EA)Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and [br]stonemasons; and (EB)they built a house for David. 12 And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 Meanwhile (EC)David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now (ED)these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, (EE)all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard about it, he went down to the (EF)stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines came and overran (EG)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So (EH)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And (EI)the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.” 20 Then David came to (EJ)Baal-perazim and [bs]defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place [bt]Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines abandoned their idols there, so (EK)David and his men carried them away.

22 Now (EL)the Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So (EM)David inquired of the Lord, but He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 24 And it shall be, when (EN)you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall [bu]act promptly, for then (EO)the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him; he struck and killed the Philistines from [bv](EP)Geba [bw]as far as (EQ)Gezer.

Peril in Moving the Ark

(ER)Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David [bx]departed from [by](ES)Baale-judah, with all the people who were with him, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the (ET)Name, the very name of the Lord of armies who (EU)is [bz]enthroned above the cherubim. They had mounted the ark of God on (EV)a new cart and moved it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. So (EW)they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel (EX)were celebrating before the Lord (EY)with all kinds of instruments made of juniper wood, and with [ca]lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

But when they came to the (EZ)threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah (FA)reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen nearly overturned it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and (FB)God struck him down there for [cb]his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. Then David became angry because [cc]of the Lords outburst against Uzzah; and that place has been called [cd]Perez-uzzah to this day. So (FC)David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of (FD)Obed-edom, the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord (FE)blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

12 Now it was reported to King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” (FF)So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to (FG)the city of David with joy. 13 And so it was, that [ce]when (FH)those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an (FI)ox and a fattened steer. 14 And (FJ)David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was (FK)wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

16 Then it happened, as the ark of the Lord was coming into the city of David, that (FL)Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart.

17 Now they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it (FM)in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and (FN)David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, (FO)he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread, one of dates, and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each to his house.

20 But when David returned to bless his own household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel dignified himself today! For (FP)he exposed himself today in the sight of his servants’ female slaves, as one of the (FQ)rabble shamelessly exposes himself!” 21 But David said to Michal, “(FR)I was before the Lord, who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. So I will [cf]celebrate before the Lord! 22 And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the female slaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

David Plans to Build a Temple

(FS)Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to (FT)Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in (FU)a house of cedar, but the ark of God (FV)remains within the tent.” Nathan said to the king, “(FW)Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, “Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(FX)Should you build Me a house for My dwelling? For (FY)I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about (FZ)in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place. (GA)Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, (GB)whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

God’s Covenant with David

Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “(GC)I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, (GD)to be leader over My people Israel. And (GE)I have been with you wherever you have gone, and (GF)have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who [cg]are on the earth. 10 And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and (GG)will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, (GH)nor will [ch]malicious people oppress them anymore as previously, 11 even (GI)from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and (GJ)I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that (GK)the Lord will make a house for you. 12 (GL)When your days are finished and you [ci](GM)lie down with your fathers, (GN)I will raise up your [cj]descendant after you, who will come from [ck]you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 (GO)He shall build a house for My name, and (GP)I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 (GQ)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; (GR)when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, 15 but My favor shall not depart from him, (GS)as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. 16 (GT)Your house and your kingdom shall endure before [cl]Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

18 Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “(GU)Who am I, Lord [cm]God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, (GV)for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And (GW)this is the [cn]custom of mankind, Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For (GX)You know Your servant, Lord God! 21 (GY)For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason (GZ)You are great, Lord God; for (HA)there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, (HB)according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And (HC)what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and (HD)to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, [co]because of (HE)Your people whom (HF)You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods? 24 For (HG)You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and (HH)You, Lord, have become their God. 25 Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken, 26 (HI)so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have [cp]given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘(HJ)I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found [cq]courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now then, Lord God, You are God, and (HK)Your words are truth; and You have [cr]promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 And now, may [cs]it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and [ct](HL)with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David’s Triumphs

(HM)Now it happened afterward that David [cu]defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took [cv]control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

(HN)And He [cw]defeated (HO)Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and a full line to keep alive. And (HP)the Moabites became servants to David, (HQ)bringing tribute.

Then David [cx]defeated (HR)Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as (HS)he went to restore his [cy]power at the Euphrates River. And David captured from him [cz]1,700 horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David (HT)hamstrung almost all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for a hundred chariots. When (HU)the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David [da]killed twenty-two thousand men among the Arameans. Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and (HV)the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And (HW)the Lord helped David wherever he went. David took the shields of gold which were [db]carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from [dc]Betah and (HX)Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

Now when Toi king of (HY)Hamath heard that David had [dd]defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son [de]Joram to King David to [df]greet him and bless him, because he had fought Hadadezer and [dg]defeated him; for Hadadezer [dh]had been at war with Toi. And [di]Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David also (HZ)consecrated these gifts to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had consecrated from all the nations which he had subdued: 12 from [dj]Aram, (IA)Moab, (IB)the sons of Ammon, (IC)the Philistines, (ID)Amalek, and from the spoils of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 So (IE)David made a name for himself when he returned from [dk]killing eighteen thousand [dl]Arameans in (IF)the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and (IG)all the Edomites became servants to David. And (IH)the Lord helped David wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David [dm]administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 16 (II)Joab the son of Zeruiah was commander over the army, and (IJ)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was (IK)secretary. 17 (IL)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were (IM)priests, and Seraiah was (IN)scribe. 18 (IO)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [dn]was over the (IP)Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [do](IQ)chief ministers.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

Then David said, “Is there [dp]anyone still left of the house of Saul, (IR)so that I could show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they summoned him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you (IS)Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” Then the king said, “Is there no one remaining of the house of Saul to whom I could show the (IT)kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “(IU)There is still a son of Jonathan, one who is disabled in both feet.” So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is (IV)in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” Then King David sent [dq]messengers who brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. (IW)Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and (IX)fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” Then David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for (IY)I will assuredly show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I (IZ)will restore to you all the [dr]land of your [ds]grandfather Saul; and (JA)you yourself shall [dt]eat at my table regularly.” Again he prostrated himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should be concerned about (JB)a dead dog like me?”

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “(JC)Everything that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s [du]grandson. 10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson will have food [dv]to eat; nevertheless (JD)Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, (JE)shall [dw]eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “In accordance (JF)with everything that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at [dx]David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because (JG)he ate at the king’s table regularly. And (JH)he was disabled in his two feet.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 (JI)Now it happened afterward that (JJ)the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place. Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of (JK)Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent [dy]some of his servants to console him about his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites, the commanders of the Ammonites said to their lord Hanun, “[dz]Do you think that David is simply honoring your father since he has sent you servants [ea]to console you? (JL)Has David not sent his servants to you in order to explore the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” So Hanun took David’s servants and (JM)shaved off half of their beards, and (JN)cut off their robes in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away. When messengers informed David, he sent servants to meet them, because the men were extremely humiliated. And the king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back, and then you shall return.”

Now when the sons of Ammon saw that (JO)they had become repulsive to David, the sons of Ammon sent messengers and (JP)hired the Arameans of (JQ)Beth-rehob and the (JR)Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of (JS)Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob with twelve thousand men. When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the army, the warriors. And the sons of Ammon came out and lined up for battle (JT)at the entrance of the [eb]city, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of (JU)Tob and Maacah were stationed by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw that [ec]the battle was set against him at the front and at the rear, he selected warriors from all the choice men in Israel, and lined them up against the Arameans. 10 But the remainder of the people he placed [ed]under the command of his brother Abishai, and he lined them up against the sons of Ammon. 11 And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. 12 (JV)Be strong, and let’s show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and the cities of our God; and (JW)may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to the battle against the Arameans, and (JX)they fled from him. 14 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Abishai and entered the city. (JY)Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw that they had been [ee]defeated by Israel, they assembled together. 16 (JZ)And Hadadezer sent word and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam; and (KA)Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [ef]led them. 17 Now when it was reported to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans lined up against David and fought him. 18 But the Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed (KB)seven hundred charioteers of the Arameans and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they had been [eg]defeated by Israel, (KC)they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the sons of Ammon anymore.

Bathsheba, David’s Great Sin

11 (KD)Then it happened [eh](KE)in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and (KF)besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.

Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on (KG)the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not (KH)Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of (KI)Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers and [ei]had her brought, and when she came to him, (KJ)he slept with her; (KK)and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. But the woman conceived; so she sent word and informed David, and said, “(KL)I am pregnant.”

Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, (KM)David asked about Joab’s well-being and [ej]that of the people, and the condition of the war. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and (KN)wash your feet.” So Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king [ek]was sent after him. But Uriah slept (KO)at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 Now when they informed 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, “(KP)The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in [el]temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and (KQ)the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and to sleep with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “(KR)Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the day after. 13 Now David summoned [em]Uriah, and he ate and drank in his presence, and he (KS)made [en]Uriah drunk; and in the evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed (KT)with his lord’s servants, and he still did not go down to his house.

14 So in the morning David (KU)wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 (KV)He had written in the letter [eo]the following: “[ep]Station Uriah on the front line of the [eq]fiercest battle and pull back from him, (KW)so that he may be struck and killed.” 16 So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he [er]stationed Uriah at the place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 And the men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David’s servants fell; and (KX)Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Then Joab sent a messenger and reported to David all the events of the war. 19 He ordered the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king, 20 then it shall be that if the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you move against the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who (KY)struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did a woman not throw an upper millstone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you move against the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.’”

22 So the messenger departed and came and reported to David everything that Joab had sent him to tell. 23 The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us and came out against us in the field, but we [es]pressed them as far as the entrance of the gate. 24 Also, the archers shot at your servants from the wall; so some of the king’s servants died, and your servant Uriah the Hittite also died.” 25 Then David said to the messenger, “This is what you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing [et]displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; [eu]fight with determination against the city and overthrow it’; and thereby encourage him.”

26 Now when Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, (KZ)she mourned for her husband. 27 When the time of mourning was over, David sent servants and [ev]had her brought to his house and (LA)she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But (LB)the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Nathan Rebukes David

12 Then the Lord sent (LC)Nathan to David. And (LD)he came to him and [ew]said,

“There were two men in a city, the one wealthy and the other poor.
The wealthy man had a great many flocks and herds.
But the poor man had nothing at all except (LE)one little ewe lamb
Which he bought and nurtured;
And it grew up together with him and his children.
It would eat [ex]scraps from him and drink from his cup and lie [ey]in his lap,
And was like a daughter to him.
Now a visitor came to the wealthy man,
And he could not bring himself to take any animal from his own flock or his own herd,
To prepare for the traveler who had come to him;
So he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this certainly [ez](LF)deserves to die! So he must make restitution for the lamb (LG)four times over, since he did this thing and [fa]had no compassion.”

Nathan then said to David, “(LH)You yourself are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘(LI)It is I who anointed you as king over Israel, and it is I who rescued you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you (LJ)your master’s house and put your master’s wives [fb]into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you [fc]many more things like these! Why (LK)have you despised the word of the Lord, by doing evil in His sight? (LL)You have struck and killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you (LM)have taken his wife as your wife, and you have slaughtered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 Now then, (LN)the sword shall never leave your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household; (LO)I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will sleep with your wives in [fd]broad daylight. 12 Indeed, (LP)you did it secretly, but (LQ)I will do this thing before all Israel, and [fe]in open daylight.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “(LR)I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has (LS)allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die. 14 However, since by this deed you have (LT)shown utter disrespect for the [ff]Lord, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.

Loss of a Child

Later the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s [fg]widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child; and David (LU)fasted and went and (LV)lay all night on the ground. 17 (LW)The elders of his household stood beside him in order to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. 18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to [fh]us. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm?” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, (LX)washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and (LY)worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they served him food, and he ate.

21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was [fi]alive; but when the child died, you got up and ate food.” 22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, (LZ)I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘(MA)Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ 23 But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? (MB)I am going to him, but (MC)he will not return to me.”

Solomon Born

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and slept with her; and she gave birth to a son, and [fj](MD)he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him [fk]Jedidiah for the Lords sake.

War Again

26 (ME)Now Joab fought against (MF)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city. 27 Then Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, I have even captured the city of waters. 28 Now then, gather the rest of the people and camp opposite the city and capture it, or I will capture the city myself and it will be named after me.” 29 So David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it. 30 Then (MG)he took the crown of [fl]their king from his head; and its weight was a [fm]talent of gold, and it had a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the plunder of the city in great amounts. 31 He also brought out the people who were in it, and (MH)put some to work at saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and made [fn]others [fo]serve at the brick [fp]works. And he did the same to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now it was after this that (MI)Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister whose name was (MJ)Tamar, and (MK)Amnon the son of David was in love with her. But Amnon was so frustrated on account of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it [fq]seemed too difficult to Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of [fr](ML)Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very clever man. And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so depressed morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.” Jonadab then said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please have my sister Tamar come and give me food to eat, and have her prepare the [fs]food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat from her hand.’” So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please have my sister Tamar come and (MM)make me a couple of pastries in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”

Then David sent a messenger to the house for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare [ft]food for him.” So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying in bed. And she took dough, kneaded it, made pastries in his sight, and baked the pastries. Then she took the tray and served them to him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “(MN)Have everyone leave me.” So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the [fu]bedroom, so that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the pastries which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he (MO)took hold of her and said to her, “Come, sleep with me, my sister.” 12 But she said to him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for (MP)such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this (MQ)disgraceful sin! 13 As for me, where could I [fv]get rid of my shame? And as for you, you will be like one of the [fw]fools in Israel. Now then, please speak to the king, for (MR)he will not [fx]withhold me from you.” 14 However, he would not listen to [fy]her; since he was stronger than she, he (MS)violated her and slept with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her with a very great hatred; indeed, the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up, go away!” 16 But she said to him, “No, because this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you have done to me!” Yet he would not listen to her. 17 Then he called his young man who attended him and said, “Now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her!” 18 Now she had on (MT)a [fz]long-sleeved garment; for this is how the virgin daughters of the king dressed themselves in robes. Then his attendant took her out and locked the door behind her. 19 (MU)Tamar took ashes and put them on her head, and (MV)tore her [ga]long-sleeved garment which was on her; and (MW)she put her hand on her head and went on her way, crying out as she went.

20 Then Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep silent, my sister, he is your brother; do not take this matter to heart.” So Tamar remained and was isolated in her brother Absalom’s house. 21 Now when King David heard about all these matters, he became very angry. 22 But Absalom did not speak with Amnon (MX)either good or bad; for (MY)Absalom hated Amnon because he had violated his sister Tamar.

23 Now it came about after two full years that Absalom (MZ)had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons to celebrate.

Absalom Avenges Tamar

24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold now, your servant has sheepshearers; may the king and his servants please go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, so that we will not be a burden to you.” Though he urged him, he would not go; but he blessed him. 26 Then (NA)Absalom said, “If not, please have my brother Amnon go with us.” But the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 Nevertheless Absalom urged him, so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “See now, (NB)when Amnon’s heart is cheerful with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not fear; have I not commanded you myself? Be courageous and be [gb]valiant.” 29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons got up and each mounted (NC)his mule and fled.

30 Now it was while they were on the way that the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck and killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king stood up, (ND)tore his clothes, and (NE)lay on the ground; and all his servants were standing by with clothes torn. 32 (NF)And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, [gc]responded, “Let my lord not [gd]assume that they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead; because this has been set up by the [ge]intent of Absalom since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. 33 So now, may my lord the king not (NG)take the report to [gf]heart, [gg]claiming, ‘all the king’s sons are dead’; but only Amnon is dead.”

34 Now (NH)Absalom had fled. And (NI)the young man who was the watchman raised his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; so it has happened according to your servant’s word.” 36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and raised their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept [gh]very profusely.

37 Now (NJ)Absalom had fled and gone to (NK)Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of (NL)Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. 38 (NM)So Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, and was there for three years. 39 And the heart of King David longed to go out to Absalom; for (NN)he was comforted regarding Amnon, since he was dead.

The Woman of Tekoa

14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that (NO)the king’s heart was drawn toward Absalom. So Joab sent a messenger to (NP)Tekoa and [gi]brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please follow mourning rites, and put on mourning garments now, and do not (NQ)anoint yourself with oil but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for many days. Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.” So Joab put (NR)the words in her mouth.

Now when the woman of Tekoa [gj]spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and (NS)prostrated herself, and said, “(NT)Help, O king!” And the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she [gk]answered, “Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead. And your servant had two sons, but the two of them fought in the field, and there was no [gl]one to save [gm]them from each other, so one struck the other and killed him. Now behold, (NU)the entire family has risen against your servant, and they have said, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, (NV)and eliminate the heir as well.’ So they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to [gn]leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”

Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your home, and I will issue orders concerning you.” The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, the king, (NW)the guilt is on me and my father’s house, but (NX)the king and his throne are guiltless.” 10 So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” 11 Then she said, “May the king please remember the Lord your God, (NY)so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “(NZ)As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”

12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” 13 The woman said, “(OA)Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is like one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back (OB)his banished one. 14 For (OC)we will surely die and are (OD)like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. Yet God does not take away life, but makes plans so that (OE)the banished one will not be cast out from Him. 15 Now then, [go]the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your servant said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the [gp]request of his slave. 16 For the king will listen, to save his slave from the [gq]hand of the man who would eliminate [gr]both me and my son from (OF)the inheritance of God.’ 17 Then your servant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be [gs]comforting, for as (OG)the angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern 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 anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” 19 So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman replied, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was (OH)your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant. 20 In order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, (OI)like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is on the earth.”

Absalom Returns

21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, (OJ)I [gt]will certainly do this thing; go then, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself, and blessed the king; then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has performed the [gu]request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to (OK)Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 However, the king said, “He shall return to (OL)his own house, but he shall not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.

25 Now in all Israel there was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; (OM)from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no impairment in him. 26 And when he (ON)cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, because it was heavy on him, so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at [gv]two hundred shekels by the king’s weight. 27 And (OO)to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was (OP)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.

28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, (OQ)yet he did not see the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent word again a second time, but he would not come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, “See, (OR)Joab’s plot is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the plot on fire. 31 Then Joab got up, came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my plot on fire?” 32 Absalom [gw]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for 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 still to be there.”’ Now then, let me see the king’s face, (OS)and if there is guilt in me, he can have me executed.” 33 So when Joab came to the king and told him, he summoned Absalom. Then Absalom came to the king and prostrated himself [gx]with his face to the ground before the king; and (OT)the king kissed Absalom.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 Now it came about after this that (OU)Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men [gy]to run ahead of him. And Absalom used to rise early and (OV)stand beside the road to the gate; and when any man who had a lawsuit was to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” Then Absalom would say to him, “See, (OW)your [gz]claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king.” Moreover, Absalom would say, “(OX)Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” And whenever a man approached to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and (OY)kiss him. Absalom dealt this way with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; (OZ)so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

Now it came about at the end of [ha]four years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have made to the Lord, in (PA)Hebron. For your servant (PB)made a vow while I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘(PC)If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’” The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘(PD)Absalom is king in Hebron!’” 11 Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, (PE)who were invited and (PF)went [hb]innocently, for they did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for (PG)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city (PH)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for (PI)the people continually increased with Absalom.

David Flees Jerusalem

13 Then a messenger came to David, saying, “(PJ)The hearts of the people of Israel are [hc]with Absalom.” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, “(PK)Arise and let’s flee, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go quickly, or he will hurry and overtake us, and bring disaster on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants will do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16 So the king left, and all his household [hd]with him; but (PL)the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the house. 17 The king left, and all the people [he]with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18 Now all of his servants passed by beside him, and (PM)all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, (PN)six hundred men who had come [hf]with him from Gath, passed by before the king.

19 Then the king said to (PO)Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with [hg]your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today, while (PP)I go wherever I go? Return and take your brothers back; (PQ)mercy and [hh]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (PR)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there assuredly shall your servant be!” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over the brook Kidron.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the [hi]little ones who were with him. 23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over (PS)the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward (PT)the way of the wilderness.

24 Now behold, (PU)Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, (PV)carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and (PW)Abiathar came up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. 25 And the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then (PX)He will bring me back and show me both it and (PY)His habitation. 26 But if He says this: ‘(PZ)I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, (QA)let Him do to me as seems good [hj]to Him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not (QB)a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your (QC)two sons with you, your son Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I am going to wait (QD)at the river crossing places of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

30 And David was going up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, and (QE)his head was covered, and he was walking (QF)barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his own head, and they were going up, weeping as they went. 31 Now someone informed David, saying, “(QG)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Lord, please (QH)make the advice of Ahithophel foolish.”

32 It happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the (QI)Archite met him with his [hk]coat torn, and [hl]dust on his head. 33 And David said to him, “If you go over with me, then you will become (QJ)a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and (QK)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; even as I was your father’s servant in time past, so now I will also be your servant,’ then you can foil the advice of Ahithophel for me. 35 Are Zadok and Abiathar the priests not with you there? So it shall be that (QL)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold (QM)their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and (QN)by them you shall send me everything that you hear.” 37 So Hushai, (QO)David’s friend, came into the city, and (QP)Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Ziba, a False Servant

16 Now when David had gone on (QQ)a little beyond the summit, behold, (QR)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him (QS)with a team of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. And the king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “(QT)The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine, (QU)for whoever is weary in the wilderness to drink.” Then the king said, “And where is (QV)your master’s son?” And (QW)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, the king!”

David Is Cursed

When King David came to (QX)Bahurim, behold, a man was coming out from there from the family of the house of Saul, and (QY)his name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he was coming out, (QZ)cursing as he came. He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. This is what Shimei said when he cursed: “Go away, go away, (RA)you man of bloodshed and worthless man! (RB)The Lord has brought back upon you all (RC)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

Then (RD)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should (RE)this dead dog (RF)curse my lord the king? Now let me go over and [hm]cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “[hn](RG)What business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? (RH)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (RI)then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (RJ)my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, (RK)for the Lord has told him. 12 Perhaps the Lord will look on my [ho]misery and [hp](RL)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 13 So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him. 14 And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

15 (RM)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 Now it came about, when (RN)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that (RO)Hushai said to Absalom, “(RP)Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 But Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your [hq]loyalty to your friend? (RQ)Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 So Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain. 19 Besides, (RR)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “(RS)Have relations with your father’s concubines, whom he has left behind to take care of the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, (RT)and Absalom had relations with his father’s concubines (RU)in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now (RV)the advice of Ahithophel, which he [hr]gave in those days, was taken as though one inquired of the word of God; (RW)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.

Hushai’s Counsel

17 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. (RX)And I will [hs]attack him while he is weary and [ht]exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then (RY)I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, and I will bring all the people back to you. [hu]The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at (RZ)peace.” And the [hv]plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call (SA)Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what [hw]he has to say.” When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to [hx]him, “Ahithophel has [hy]proposed this plan. Should we [hz]carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.” So Hushai said to Absalom, “(SB)This time the advice that Ahithophel has [ia]given is not good.” Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are [ib]fierce, (SC)like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an [ic]expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, (SD)will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, (SE)from Dan even to Beersheba, (SF)like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that [id]you personally go into battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will [ie]fall on him (SG)just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will (SH)drag it into the [if]valley until not even a pebble is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For (SI)the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.

Hushai’s Warning Saves David

15 Then (SJ)Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, “[ig]This is what Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do, and [ih]this is what I have advised. 16 Now then, send a messenger quickly and tell David, saying, ‘(SK)Do not spend the night at the river crossing places of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or else the king and all the people who are with him will be [ii]destroyed.’” 17 (SL)Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at (SM)En-rogel, and a female servant would go and inform them, and they would go and inform King David, for they could not allow themselves to be seen entering the city. 18 But a boy did see them, and he told Absalom; so the two of them left quickly and came to the house of a man (SN)in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, and they went down [ij]into it. 19 And (SO)the woman [ik]took a cover and spread it over the well’s mouth and scattered barley meal on it, so that nothing was known. 20 Then Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And (SP)the woman said to them, “They have crossed the brook of water.” And when they searched and did not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21 It came about after they had departed, that they came up out of the well and went and reported to King David; and they said to David, “(SQ)Set out and cross over the water quickly, because this is what Ahithophel has advised against you.” 22 Then David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by [il]dawn not even one remained who had not crossed the Jordan.

23 Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been [im]followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to (SR)his city, and [in](SS)set his house in order, and (ST)hanged himself; so he died and was buried in his father’s grave.

24 Then David came to (SU)Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. 25 Absalom put (SV)Amasa [io]in command of the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man whose name was [ip]Ithra the Israelite, who [iq]had relations with Abigail the daughter of (SW)Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

27 Now when David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi (SX)the son of Nahash from (SY)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, (SZ)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and (TA)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought (TB)beds, basins, pottery, wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, roasted seeds, 29 honey, curds, sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him, (TC)to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and exhausted and thirsty in the wilderness.”

Absalom Killed

18 Then David [ir]took a count of the people who were with him and (TD)appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David sent the people out, (TE)a third [is]under the command of Joab, a third [it]under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third [iu]under the command of (TF)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will certainly go out with you also.” But the people said, “(TG)You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But [iv]you are [iw]worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city.” Then the king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So (TH)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” And (TI)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.

Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in (TJ)the forest of Ephraim. The people of Israel were [ix]defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men. For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

Now Absalom encountered the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the branches of a massive oak. Then (TK)his head caught firmly in the oak, and he was [iy]left hanging between the sky and earth, while the mule that was under him kept going. 10 When a certain man saw him, he informed Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had informed him, “So behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And it would have been [iz]my duty to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 But the man said to Joab, “Even if I were to [ja]receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for (TL)in our hearing the king commanded you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘[jb]Protect the young man Absalom for me!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against [jc]his life (and (TM)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have [jd]avoided me.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not [je]waste time here with you.” (TN)So he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the [jf]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and killed him.

16 Then (TO)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom and threw him into [jg]a deep pit in the forest, and (TP)erected over him a very large pile of stones. And (TQ)all Israel fled, each to his own tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (TR)set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in (TS)the King’s Valley, for he said, “(TT)I have no son to [jh]continue my name.” So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.

David Is Grief-stricken

19 Then (TU)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news (TV)that the Lord has [ji]freed him from the hand of his enemies!” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 However, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (TW)you will have no messenger’s reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite.

24 Now (TX)David was sitting between the two gates; and (TY)the watchman went to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked; and behold, a man was running by himself. 25 So the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I [jj]think the running form of the first one (TZ)is like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(UA)This is a good man, and he is coming with good news.”

28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “[jk]All is well.” And (UB)he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “(UC)Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29 But the king said, “(UD)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but (UE)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (UF)the Lord has [jl]freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(UG)Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(UH)May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man!”

33 [jm]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And this is what he said as he walked: “(UI)My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (UJ)If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab Disapproves of David’s Mourning

19 [jn]Then it was reported to Joab, “Behold, (UK)the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.” So the [jo]victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, “The king is in mourning over his son.” And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle. And the king (UL)covered his face and [jp]cried out with a loud voice, “(UM)My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!” Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed [jq]all your servants, who have saved your life today and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have revealed today that [jr]commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right [js]as far as you are concerned. Now therefore arise, go out and speak [jt]kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, (UN)no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has [ju]happened to you from your youth until now!”

David Restored as King

So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is (UO)sitting at the gate,” then all the people came before the king.

Now (UP)Israel had fled, each to his tent. And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “(UQ)The king rescued us from the [jv]hands of our enemies and (UR)saved us from the [jw]hands of the Philistines, but now (US)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?”

11 Then King David sent word to (UT)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house?

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 1:2 Lit the camp connected with Saul
  2. 2 Samuel 1:2 Lit earth
  3. 2 Samuel 1:8 Lit said to
  4. 2 Samuel 1:9 Or dizziness
  5. 2 Samuel 1:9 Lit whole life is still in me
  6. 2 Samuel 1:13 Lit said
  7. 2 Samuel 1:15 Lit fall on him
  8. 2 Samuel 1:16 I.e., his death was his own responsibility
  9. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit The
  10. 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit pierced
  11. 2 Samuel 1:22 Lit pierced
  12. 2 Samuel 1:22 Or without success
  13. 2 Samuel 1:23 Lit their lives
  14. 2 Samuel 1:25 Lit pierced
  15. 2 Samuel 1:26 Lit very friendly to
  16. 2 Samuel 2:2 Lit wife
  17. 2 Samuel 2:5 Lit done
  18. 2 Samuel 2:6 Lit do
  19. 2 Samuel 2:6 Lit do
  20. 2 Samuel 2:7 Lit sons of valor
  21. 2 Samuel 2:8 I.e., man of shame; cf. 1 Chr 8:33, Eshbaal
  22. 2 Samuel 2:11 Lit number of days
  23. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit them together
  24. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit these on
  25. 2 Samuel 2:13 Lit these on
  26. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit fellow
  27. 2 Samuel 2:16 Lit fellow’s
  28. 2 Samuel 2:16 I.e., the field of sword-edges
  29. 2 Samuel 2:17 Lit in front of
  30. 2 Samuel 2:18 Lit light in his feet
  31. 2 Samuel 2:19 Lit to go to
  32. 2 Samuel 2:22 Lit lift up
  33. 2 Samuel 2:26 Lit not tell the people
  34. 2 Samuel 2:30 Lit nineteen men
  35. 2 Samuel 2:32 Lit dawned for them
  36. 2 Samuel 3:3 Lit wife
  37. 2 Samuel 3:6 Or remaining faithful to
  38. 2 Samuel 3:7 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT he
  39. 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit words
  40. 2 Samuel 3:8 Lit the
  41. 2 Samuel 3:9 Lit Abner
  42. 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit saying
  43. 2 Samuel 3:13 Lit my face
  44. 2 Samuel 3:15 Lit took her
  45. 2 Samuel 3:15 In 1 Sam 25:44, Palti
  46. 2 Samuel 3:16 Lit after her
  47. 2 Samuel 3:17 Lit a word
  48. 2 Samuel 3:18 As in many mss and ancient versions; MT he
  49. 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
  50. 2 Samuel 3:19 Lit in the ears of
  51. 2 Samuel 3:25 I.e., daily business
  52. 2 Samuel 3:29 I.e., an effeminate man; LXX holds on to a staff (prob. a crutch)
  53. 2 Samuel 3:34 Lit sons of wickedness
  54. 2 Samuel 3:35 Lit bread
  55. 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in their eyes
  56. 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in the eyes of all
  57. 2 Samuel 4:1 As in some mss; MT he
  58. 2 Samuel 4:1 Lit his hands dropped
  59. 2 Samuel 4:4 In 1 Chr 8:34 and 9:40, Merib-baal
  60. 2 Samuel 4:6 Lit And here they
  61. 2 Samuel 4:6 Lit takers of wheat
  62. 2 Samuel 4:7 Lit went
  63. 2 Samuel 4:8 Lit seed
  64. 2 Samuel 4:10 Lit was as a bearer of good news in his own eyes
  65. 2 Samuel 5:1 Lit said, saying
  66. 2 Samuel 5:2 I.e., to battle and in (returning) from battle
  67. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit David, saying
  68. 2 Samuel 5:6 Lit saying
  69. 2 Samuel 5:9 I.e., terraced structure
  70. 2 Samuel 5:11 Lit stone wall craftsmen
  71. 2 Samuel 5:20 Lit David struck
  72. 2 Samuel 5:20 I.e., the master of breakthroughs
  73. 2 Samuel 5:24 Or pay attention
  74. 2 Samuel 5:25 In 1 Chr 14:16, Gibeon
  75. 2 Samuel 5:25 Lit until you come to
  76. 2 Samuel 6:2 Lit arose and went
  77. 2 Samuel 6:2 I.e., Kiriath-jearim
  78. 2 Samuel 6:2 Lit sitting
  79. 2 Samuel 6:5 Or zithers
  80. 2 Samuel 6:7 Lit the
  81. 2 Samuel 6:8 Lit the Lord broke through a breakthrough
  82. 2 Samuel 6:8 I.e., outburst against Uzzah
  83. 2 Samuel 6:13 Or each time those
  84. 2 Samuel 6:21 Or dance
  85. 2 Samuel 7:9 Or were
  86. 2 Samuel 7:10 Lit sons of malice
  87. 2 Samuel 7:12 I.e., die
  88. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit seed
  89. 2 Samuel 7:12 Lit your bowels
  90. 2 Samuel 7:16 As in LXX and some ancient mss; MT you
  91. 2 Samuel 7:18 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  92. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or law
  93. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or before Your
  94. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit uncovered the ear of
  95. 2 Samuel 7:27 Lit his heart
  96. 2 Samuel 7:28 Lit spoken
  97. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit You be resolved and bless
  98. 2 Samuel 7:29 Lit from
  99. 2 Samuel 8:1 Lit struck
  100. 2 Samuel 8:1 Lit the bridle of the mother city
  101. 2 Samuel 8:2 Lit struck
  102. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit struck
  103. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit hand
  104. 2 Samuel 8:4 Here LXX reads as 1 Chr 18:4; partial DSS text appears to also
  105. 2 Samuel 8:5 Lit struck
  106. 2 Samuel 8:7 Lit on
  107. 2 Samuel 8:8 In 1 Chr 18:8, Tibhath
  108. 2 Samuel 8:9 Lit struck
  109. 2 Samuel 8:10 In 1 Chr 18:10, Hadoram
  110. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit ask him of his welfare
  111. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit struck
  112. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit was a man of wars
  113. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit there were in his hand
  114. 2 Samuel 8:12 Some mss Edom
  115. 2 Samuel 8:13 Lit striking
  116. 2 Samuel 8:13 Some mss Edom
  117. 2 Samuel 8:15 Lit was doing
  118. 2 Samuel 8:18 See 1 Chr 18:17; MT and the Cherethites
  119. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit priests
  120. 2 Samuel 9:1 Lit he who is
  121. 2 Samuel 9:5 Lit and he brought
  122. 2 Samuel 9:7 Lit field
  123. 2 Samuel 9:7 Lit father
  124. 2 Samuel 9:7 Lit eat bread
  125. 2 Samuel 9:9 Lit son
  126. 2 Samuel 9:10 Lit and eat it
  127. 2 Samuel 9:10 Lit eat bread
  128. 2 Samuel 9:11 Lit my
  129. 2 Samuel 10:2 Lit by the hand of
  130. 2 Samuel 10:3 Lit In your eyes is David honoring
  131. 2 Samuel 10:3 Lit consoling
  132. 2 Samuel 10:8 Lit gate
  133. 2 Samuel 10:9 Lit the faces of the battle were against
  134. 2 Samuel 10:10 Lit in the hand of
  135. 2 Samuel 10:15 Lit struck
  136. 2 Samuel 10:16 Lit was before them
  137. 2 Samuel 10:19 Lit struck
  138. 2 Samuel 11:1 Lit at the return of the year
  139. 2 Samuel 11:4 Lit took her
  140. 2 Samuel 11:7 Lit welfare of
  141. 2 Samuel 11:8 Lit went out
  142. 2 Samuel 11:11 Or huts
  143. 2 Samuel 11:13 Lit him
  144. 2 Samuel 11:13 Lit him
  145. 2 Samuel 11:15 Lit saying
  146. 2 Samuel 11:15 Lit Give
  147. 2 Samuel 11:15 Lit severe
  148. 2 Samuel 11:16 Lit gave
  149. 2 Samuel 11:23 Lit were upon
  150. 2 Samuel 11:25 Lit be evil in your sight
  151. 2 Samuel 11:25 Lit seize your battle against
  152. 2 Samuel 11:27 Lit brought her
  153. 2 Samuel 12:1 Lit said to him
  154. 2 Samuel 12:3 Lit his piece
  155. 2 Samuel 12:3 Or on his chest
  156. 2 Samuel 12:5 Lit is a son of death
  157. 2 Samuel 12:6 Or showed no consideration
  158. 2 Samuel 12:8 Lit on your lap; or chest
  159. 2 Samuel 12:8 Lit like these and like these
  160. 2 Samuel 12:11 Lit the sight of this sun
  161. 2 Samuel 12:12 Lit before the sun
  162. 2 Samuel 12:14 Lit enemies of the Lord (a euphemistic reference to God); DSS word of the Lord
  163. 2 Samuel 12:15 Lit wife
  164. 2 Samuel 12:18 Lit our voice
  165. 2 Samuel 12:21 Some ancient versions still alive
  166. 2 Samuel 12:24 Some mss she
  167. 2 Samuel 12:25 I.e., beloved of the Lord
  168. 2 Samuel 12:30 Or Milcom; MT Malcam, prob. a variant spelling of Milcom; cf. Zeph 1:5
  169. 2 Samuel 12:30 About 75 lb. or 34 kg
  170. 2 Samuel 12:31 Lit them
  171. 2 Samuel 12:31 Another reading of MT lit pass through
  172. 2 Samuel 12:31 Lit mold; i.e., for molding bricks
  173. 2 Samuel 13:2 Lit was too difficult in Amnon’s eyes
  174. 2 Samuel 13:3 In 1 Sam 16:9, Shammah; in 1 Chr 2:13, Shimea
  175. 2 Samuel 13:5 I.e., food for the sick
  176. 2 Samuel 13:7 I.e., food for the sick
  177. 2 Samuel 13:10 Or inner room
  178. 2 Samuel 13:13 Lit take away
  179. 2 Samuel 13:13 Or worthless ones
  180. 2 Samuel 13:13 I.e., refuse a marriage
  181. 2 Samuel 13:14 Lit her voice
  182. 2 Samuel 13:18 Or varicolored tunic
  183. 2 Samuel 13:19 Or varicolored tunic
  184. 2 Samuel 13:28 Lit sons of valor
  185. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit answered and said
  186. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit say
  187. 2 Samuel 13:32 Lit mouth
  188. 2 Samuel 13:33 Lit his heart
  189. 2 Samuel 13:33 Lit saying
  190. 2 Samuel 13:36 Lit with a very great weeping
  191. 2 Samuel 14:2 Lit took
  192. 2 Samuel 14:4 Many mss and ancient versions came
  193. 2 Samuel 14:5 Lit said
  194. 2 Samuel 14:6 Lit deliverer between
  195. 2 Samuel 14:6 Lit between them
  196. 2 Samuel 14:7 Lit establish for
  197. 2 Samuel 14:15 Lit that I
  198. 2 Samuel 14:15 Lit word
  199. 2 Samuel 14:16 Lit palm
  200. 2 Samuel 14:16 Lit together
  201. 2 Samuel 14:17 Lit for rest
  202. 2 Samuel 14:21 Lit have done
  203. 2 Samuel 14:22 Lit word
  204. 2 Samuel 14:26 About 4 lb. or 1.8 kg
  205. 2 Samuel 14:32 Lit said to
  206. 2 Samuel 14:33 Lit on his
  207. 2 Samuel 15:1 Lit as runners ahead
  208. 2 Samuel 15:3 Lit words
  209. 2 Samuel 15:7 As in some ancient versions; MT forty
  210. 2 Samuel 15:11 Lit in their integrity
  211. 2 Samuel 15:13 Lit after
  212. 2 Samuel 15:16 Lit at his feet
  213. 2 Samuel 15:17 Lit at his feet
  214. 2 Samuel 15:18 Lit at his feet
  215. 2 Samuel 15:19 Lit the king
  216. 2 Samuel 15:20 Or faithfulness
  217. 2 Samuel 15:22 I.e., children; here, families of the men
  218. 2 Samuel 15:26 Lit in His sight
  219. 2 Samuel 15:32 Or tunic
  220. 2 Samuel 15:32 Lit earth
  221. 2 Samuel 16:9 Lit take off
  222. 2 Samuel 16:10 Lit What to me and to you, an ancient idiom
  223. 2 Samuel 16:12 As in ancient versions; MT wrongdoing
  224. 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit the Lord will return
  225. 2 Samuel 16:17 Or faithfulness
  226. 2 Samuel 16:23 Lit advised
  227. 2 Samuel 17:2 Lit come upon
  228. 2 Samuel 17:2 Lit slack of hands
  229. 2 Samuel 17:3 Lit As the return of the whole is the man whom you seek
  230. 2 Samuel 17:4 Lit word was pleasing in the sight of
  231. 2 Samuel 17:5 Lit is in his mouth—even he
  232. 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit him, saying
  233. 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit spoken according to this word
  234. 2 Samuel 17:6 Lit do his word
  235. 2 Samuel 17:7 Lit advised
  236. 2 Samuel 17:8 Lit bitter of soul
  237. 2 Samuel 17:8 Lit man of war
  238. 2 Samuel 17:11 Lit your face goes
  239. 2 Samuel 17:12 Lit settle down
  240. 2 Samuel 17:13 Or wadi; i.e., a dry stream bed
  241. 2 Samuel 17:15 Lit According to this and this
  242. 2 Samuel 17:15 Lit According to this and this
  243. 2 Samuel 17:16 Lit swallowed up
  244. 2 Samuel 17:18 Lit there
  245. 2 Samuel 17:19 Lit took and spread the covering
  246. 2 Samuel 17:22 Lit the light of the morning
  247. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit done
  248. 2 Samuel 17:23 Lit ordered in regard to
  249. 2 Samuel 17:25 Lit over the army
  250. 2 Samuel 17:25 In 1 Chr 2:17, Jether the Ishmaelite
  251. 2 Samuel 17:25 Lit came in to
  252. 2 Samuel 18:1 Lit mustered
  253. 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
  254. 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
  255. 2 Samuel 18:2 Lit by the hand of
  256. 2 Samuel 18:3 As in some ancient versions; MT for now there are 10,000 like us
  257. 2 Samuel 18:3 Lit like us by 10,000
  258. 2 Samuel 18:7 Lit struck
  259. 2 Samuel 18:9 Lit placed
  260. 2 Samuel 18:11 Lit And upon me
  261. 2 Samuel 18:12 Lit weigh
  262. 2 Samuel 18:12 As in some mss and ancient versions; MT Protect, whoever you are, the
  263. 2 Samuel 18:13 Another reading is my life; i.e., at the risk of my own life
  264. 2 Samuel 18:13 Lit stood aloof
  265. 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit wait so with
  266. 2 Samuel 18:14 Lit heart
  267. 2 Samuel 18:17 Lit the great
  268. 2 Samuel 18:18 Lit bring to remembrance
  269. 2 Samuel 18:19 Lit vindicated
  270. 2 Samuel 18:27 Lit see
  271. 2 Samuel 18:28 Lit Peace; Heb Shalom
  272. 2 Samuel 18:31 Lit vindicated
  273. 2 Samuel 18:33 Ch 19:1 in Heb
  274. 2 Samuel 19:1 Ch 19:2 in Heb
  275. 2 Samuel 19:2 Lit salvation
  276. 2 Samuel 19:4 Lit the king cried
  277. 2 Samuel 19:5 Lit the faces of all
  278. 2 Samuel 19:6 Or princes
  279. 2 Samuel 19:6 Lit in your eyes
  280. 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit to the heart of your
  281. 2 Samuel 19:7 Lit come upon
  282. 2 Samuel 19:9 Lit palm
  283. 2 Samuel 19:9 Lit palm

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