Old/New Testament
3 There was a long war between the ·people who supported Saul’s family [L the house of Saul] and ·those who supported David’s family [L the house of David]. ·The supporters of David’s family [L David] became stronger and stronger, but the ·supporters of Saul’s family [L house of Saul] became weaker and weaker.
David’s Sons(A)
2 Sons were born to David at Hebron. The first was Amnon [13:1–22], whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel [1 Sam. 25:43]. 3 The second son was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel [1 Sam. 25:39–42]. The third son was Absalom [13:23—18:33], whose mother was Maacah daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur. 4 The fourth son was Adonijah [1 Kin. 1:5–27], whose mother was Haggith. The fifth son was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. 5 The sixth son was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, David’s wife. These sons were born to David at Hebron.
Abner Joins David
6 During the war between the ·supporters of Saul’s family [L house of Saul] and the ·supporters of David’s family [L house of David], Abner made himself ·a main leader [strong] ·among the supporters [L in the house] of Saul.
7 Saul once had a ·slave woman [concubine; C a secondary wife of lower status than a primary wife, but higher than a common servant] named Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why ·did you have sexual relations with [L have you gone in to] my father’s ·slave woman [concubine]?”
8 Abner was ·very angry [furious; in a rage] because of what Ish-Bosheth said, and he replied, “I have ·been loyal [shown kindness/faithful love] to [L the house of your father] Saul and his ·family [L brothers] and friends! I didn’t hand you over to David. ·I am not a traitor working for Judah! [L Am I a Judean dog/dog’s head for Judah?] But now you are ·saying I did something wrong with [finding fault with me/charging me with wrong regarding] this woman! 9 May God ·help [deal severely with] me if I don’t ·join David! I will make sure that what the Lord promised does happen [L …accomplish for David everything the Lord has promised him]! 10 I will ·take [transfer] the kingdom from the ·family [L the house] of Saul and ·make David king of [L establish the throne of David over] Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba [C in the far north and south of Israel]!” 11 Ish-Bosheth ·couldn’t [dared not] say anything to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to ask David [L on his own behalf; or at his place], “·Who is going to rule the land [L Whose land is it]? Make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with me, and ·I will help you unite [L my hand will be with you to bring over to you] all Israel.”
13 David answered, “Good! I will make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with you, but I ·ask [demand/require of] you one thing. I will not ·meet with you [L allow you to see my face/in my presence] unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal to me [L when you come; C to strengthen his claim to the throne; 1 Sam. 18:26–29].” 14 Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, saying, “Give me my wife Michal. She was ·promised [engaged; betrothed] to me, ·and I killed a hundred Philistines to get her [L for one hundred Philistine foreskins].”
15 So Ish-Bosheth sent men to take Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Michal’s husband went with her, crying as he followed her ·to [as far as] Bahurim. But Abner said to Paltiel, “Go back home.” So he went home.
17 Abner ·sent this message to [consulted/conferred with] the elders of Israel: “[L For some time now] You have been wanting to make David your king. 18 Now do it! The Lord said of David, ‘·Through [L By the hand of] my servant David, I will ·save [rescue; T deliver] my people Israel from the [L hand of the] Philistines and all their enemies.’”
19 Abner also said these things to the people of Benjamin. He then went to Hebron to tell David what the Benjaminites and Israel ·wanted [agreed] to do. 20 Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a ·feast [banquet] for them. 21 Abner said to David, “·I will [Let me] go and ·bring all the Israelites [L gather all Israel] to my ·master [lord] and king. Then they will make an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with you so you will rule over all ·Israel as you wanted [L that your soul desires].” So David let Abner go, and he left in peace.
Abner’s Death
22 Just then Joab and David’s ·men [L servants] came from a ·battle [raid], bringing ·many valuable things they had taken from the enemy [L much plunder/spoil with them]. David had let Abner leave in peace, so he was not with David at Hebron. 23 When Joab and all his army arrived at Hebron, the army said to Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to King David, and David let him leave in peace.”
24 Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he’s gone. 25 You know Abner son of Ner! He came to ·trick [deceive] you! He came to learn about [L your movements/coming and going and] everything you are doing!”
26 After Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the ·well [cistern] of Sirah. But David did not know this. 27 When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside into ·the gateway [an inner chamber]. He acted as though he wanted to talk with Abner in private, but Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and Abner died. ·Abner had killed Joab’s brother Asahel, so Joab killed Abner to pay him back [L …on account of/to revenge the blood/killing of Asahel his brother].
28 Later when David heard the news, he said, “My kingdom and I are innocent before the Lord forever of the ·death [L blood] of Abner son of Ner. 29 ·Joab and his family are responsible for this. [L May it/the guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house.] May his family always have someone with [running] sores or ·with a skin disease [T leprosy; C the term covers a variety of skin diseases that would render a person ritually unclean; Lev. 13–14]. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May ·some of his family be killed in war [L someone always fall by the sword]. May they always have someone without food to eat.”
30 (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon [2:18–32].)
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; C a sign of mourning or distress]. ·Cry […lament; mourn] for Abner.” King David himself followed the ·body of Abner [L bier]. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33 King David ·sang [chanted; intoned; or composed] this ·funeral song [lament] for Abner.
“·Did [Should] Abner ·die [have died] like a fool?
34 ·His [L Your] hands were not tied.
·His [L Your] feet were not ·in chains [fettered].
·He [L You] fell ·at the hands of [as one falls before] evil men.”
Then all the people cried again for Abner. 35 They came to ·encourage [persuade] David to eat while it was still day. But he made a ·promise [vow], saying, “May God ·punish me terribly [deal severely with me] if I ·eat [taste] bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36 All the people ·saw what happened [took note], and ·they agreed with what the king was doing [it pleased them; L it was good in their eyes], just as they ·agreed [were pleased] with everything ·he [L the king] did. 37 That day all the ·people of Judah [L people; C likely a reference to the people of Judah] and Israel understood that David ·did not order [had no part in] the killing of Abner son of Ner.
38 David said to his ·officers [L servants], “[L Don’t…?] You know that a [L prince and a] great man died today in Israel. 39 Even though I am the ·appointed [anointed] king, I ·feel empty [am weak/powerless]. These sons of Zeruiah are too ·much [strong; difficult] for me. May the Lord ·give them the punishment they should have [L repay the evildoer as his evil deserves].”
Ish-Bosheth’s Death
4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died at Hebron, ·he was shocked [he lost his courage; L his hands grew limp] and all Israel ·became frightened [was alarmed/dismayed]. 2 ·Two men who were captains in Saul’s army came to Ish-Bosheth [Saul’s son had two leaders of raiding parties]. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Recab. They were the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, who was a Benjaminite. (The town Beeroth belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. 3 The people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim, and they still live there as ·foreigners [resident aliens] today.)
4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was ·crippled [lame] in both feet. He was five years old when the ·news [report] came from Jezreel ·that Saul and Jonathan were dead [about Saul and Jonathan]. Mephibosheth’s nurse had picked him up and run away. But as she hurried to leave, she dropped him, and now he was lame.)
5 Recab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ish-Bosheth’s house in the ·afternoon [L heat of the day] while he was taking ·a nap [his midday rest].
9 David answered Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of Beeroth, “As surely as the Lord lives, he has ·saved [L ransomed; redeemed] me from all ·trouble [danger; adversity; or my enemies]! 10 Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, ‘Saul is dead!’ I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news [1:1–16]! 11 ·So even more I must [L How much more must I…?] put you evil men to death because you have killed an ·innocent [righteous] man on his own bed in his own house!”
12 So David commanded his men to kill Recab and Baanah. They cut off the hands and feet of Recab and Baanah and hung ·them [their bodies] ·over [beside] the pool of Hebron. Then they took Ish-Bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s ·tomb [grave] at Hebron.
David Is Made King of Israel(B)
5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said to him, “Look, we are your own ·family [flesh and blood; L bone and flesh]. 2 ·Even [In the past] when Saul was [L our] king, you were the one who led Israel ·in battle [L out and in]. The Lord said to you, ‘You will be a shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their ·leader [ruler].’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron, and he ·made [L cut] an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with them in Hebron in the presence of the Lord. Then they ·poured oil on [anointed] David to make him king ·over [of] Israel.
David Captures Jerusalem(C)
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] forty years. 5 He was king over Judah ·in [at; from] Hebron for seven years and six months, and he was king over all Israel and Judah ·in [at; from] Jerusalem for thirty-three years.
6 When the king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who lived there, the Jebusites said to David, “You can’t ·get inside our city [L come in here]. Even the blind and the ·crippled can stop you [L lame can hold you off/turn you away].” They thought David could not enter their city. 7 But David did ·take the city of Jerusalem with its strong walls [capture the stronghold/fortress of Zion], and it ·became [is] the City of David [C it did not belong to a specific tribe; David made it the national capital].
8 That day David said to his men, “To ·defeat [L strike] the Jebusites you must go through the water tunnel. ·Then you can reach [or David hates] those ·‘crippled’ [lame] and ‘blind’ enemies. This is why people say, ‘The blind and the ·crippled [lame] may not enter the ·palace [L house; or Temple].’”
9 So David lived in the ·strong, walled city [stronghold; fortress] and called it the City of David. David built more buildings around it, ·beginning where the land was filled in. He also built more buildings inside the city [L …from the Millo/terraces inward; C Millo may refer to earth-filled terraces that allowed the expansion of the city]. 10 He became ·stronger and stronger [more and more powerful/great], because the Lord God ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] was with him.
David Consolidates His Kingdom(D)
11 Hiram king of the city of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and ·stonecutters [stonemasons]. They built a ·palace [L house] for David. 12 Then David ·knew [realized] that the Lord really had ·made [confirmed; established] him king ·of [over] Israel and that the Lord had ·made his kingdom great [blessed/exalted his kingdom] ·because the Lord loved [for the sake of] his people Israel.
13 After he came from Hebron, David took for himself more ·slave women [concubines; C a secondary wife; 3:7] and wives in Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of the sons born to David in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been ·made [anointed] king over Israel, all the Philistines went to ·look for [seek; search for] him. But when David heard the news, he went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines ·came [arrived] and ·camped [L spread out] in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 David ·asked [consulted; inquired of] the Lord [C through the Urim and Thummim; Ex. 28:30; 1 Sam. 23:1–6], “Should I ·attack [L go up against] the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord said to David, “Go [L up]! I will ·certainly [surely] hand them over to you.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim and ·defeated [L struck] the Philistines there. David said, “Like a flood of water, the Lord has broken through my enemies in front of me.” So David named the place Baal Perazim [C “the Lord breaks through”]. 21 The Philistines ·left their idols behind [abandoned their idols] at Baal Perazim, so David and his men carried them away.
22 Once again the Philistines came and ·camped at [L spread out in] the Valley of Rephaim. 23 When David ·prayed to [consulted; inquired of] the Lord, he answered, “Don’t ·attack the Philistines from the front [go up]. Instead, go around and attack them ·in front of [across from; near] the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, ·act quickly [be alert]. I, the Lord, will have gone ahead of you to ·defeat [L strike] the Philistine army.” 25 So David did what the Lord commanded. He ·defeated the Philistines and chased them [L struck the Philistines] all the way from ·Gibeon [Giba] to Gezer.
The Cost of Being Jesus’ Follower(A)
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me but ·does not hate [or loves more than me; C Jesus is using hyperbole to emphasize his point] his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—or even ·life [life itself; or his own life]—he cannot be my ·follower [disciple]. 27 Whoever ·is not willing to [L does not] carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my ·follower [disciple]. 28 ·If you want [L For which of you who wants…?] to build a tower, you first sit down and ·decide [calculate; figure out] how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. 29 If you don’t, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would ·make fun of [mock; ridicule] you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build but was not able to finish.’
31 “If a king is going to ·fight [meet in battle; wage war against] another king, first ·he will [L will he not…?] sit down and plan. He will decide if he and his ten thousand soldiers can ·defeat [L engage/meet in battle] the other king who has twenty thousand soldiers. 32 If he can’t, then while the other king is still far away, he will send ·some people [an embassy; a messenger] to speak to him and ask for [terms of] peace. 33 In the same way, you must give up everything you have to be my ·follower [disciple].
Don’t Lose Your Influence(B)
34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its salty taste, ·you cannot make it salty again [L how can it be seasoned?]. 35 It is no good for the soil or for ·manure [the manure pile]; it is thrown away.
“·Let those with ears use them and listen [L The one who has ears to hear, let him hear].”
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