Then all the people wept over him again.
35And when all the people came fto persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, g“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else htill the sun goes down!”
36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39“And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, iare too harsh for me. jThe LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
2 Samuel 4
Ishbosheth Is Murdered
1When Saul’s 1son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, ahe2 lost heart, and all Israel was btroubled.
2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For cBeeroth also was 3part of Benjamin,
3because the Beerothites fled to dGittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
4eJonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came ffrom Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was gMephibosheth.4 The City of David
5Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the hhouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.
6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they 5stabbed him iin the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.
8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, jwho sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the LORD lives, kwho has redeemed my life from all adversity,
10“when lsomeone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
11“How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now mrequire his 6blood at your hand and 7remove you from the earth?”
12So David ncommanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the otomb of Abner in Hebron.
2 Samuel 5
David Reigns over All Israel
(1 Chr. 11:1–3)
1Then all the tribes of Israel acame to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed bwe are your bone and your flesh.
2“Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, cyou were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, d‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”
3eTherefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, fand King David made a covenant with them at Hebron gbefore the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was hthirty years old when he began to reign, and ihe reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah jseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The Conquest of Jerusalem
(1 Chr. 11:4–9; 14:1–7)
6kAnd the king and his men went to Jerusalem against lthe Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion m(that is, the City of David).
8Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), nhe shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it othe City of David. And David built all around from 1the Millo and inward.
10So David went on and became great, and pthe LORD God of hosts was with qhim.
11Then rHiram sking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.
12So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had texalted His kingdom ufor the sake of His people Israel.
13And vDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
14Now wthese are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: 2Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, xSolomon,
15Ibhar, 3Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated
(1 Chr. 14:8–17)
17yNow when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it zand went down to the stronghold.
18The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in athe Valley of Rephaim.
19So David binquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20So David went to cBaal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place 4Baal Perazim.
21And they left their 5images there, and David and his men dcarried them away.
22eThen the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23Therefore fDavid inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
24“And it shall be, when you ghear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then hthe LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from iGeba6 as far as jGezer.
2 Samuel 6
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
(1 Chr. 13:1–14; 15:25—16:3)
1Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2And aDavid arose and went with all the people who were with him from 1Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called 2by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, bwho dwells between the cherubim.
3So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on cthe hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new 3cart.
4And they brought it out of dthe house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
5Then David and all the house of Israel eplayed music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6And when they came to fNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his ghand to the ark of God and 4took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his 5error; and he di
ed there by the ark of God.
8And David became angry because of the LORD’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place 6Perez Uzzah to this day.
9hDavid was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
10So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the iCity of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the jGittite.
11kThe ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD lblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” mSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13And so it was, when nthose bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed ooxen and fatted sheep.
14Then David pdanced7 before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing qa linen ephod.
15rSo David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, sMichal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17So tthey brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in uits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David voffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, whe blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19xThen he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
20yThen David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, zuncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the abase fellows 8shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, bwho chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the cpeople of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD.
22“And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children dto the day of her death.
2 Samuel 7
God’s Covenant with David
(1 Chr. 17:1–15)
1Now it came to pass awhen the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in ba house of cedar, cbut the ark of God dwells inside tent dcurtains.”
3Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your eheart, for the LORD is with you.”
4But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: f“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
6“For I have not dwelt in a house gsince the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in ha tent and in a tabernacle.
7“Wherever I have imoved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded jto shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
8“Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: k“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9“And lI have been with you wherever you have gone, mand have 1cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
10“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will nplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; onor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11p“since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD 2tells you qthat He will make you a 3house.
12r“When your days are fulfilled and you srest with your fathers, tI will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13u“He shall build a house for My name, and I will vestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14w“I will be his Father, and he shall be xMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the 4blows of the sons of men.
15“But My mercy shall not depart from him, yas I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16“And zyour house and your kingdom shall be established forever before 5you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
17According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David’s Thanksgiving to God
(1 Chr. 17:16–27)
18Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: a“Who am I, O Lord GOD? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
19“And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord GOD; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. bIs this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
20“Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord GOD, cknow Your servant.
21“For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
22“Therefore dYou are great, 6O Lord GOD. For ethere is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our fears.
23“And who is like Your people, like Israel, gthe one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before hYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
24“For iYou have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; jand You, LORD, have become their God. The Kingdom of David
25“Now, O LORD God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.
26“So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27“For You, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and kYour words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
29“Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed lforever.”
2 Samuel 8
David’s Further Conquests
(1 Chr. 18:1–13)
1After this it came to pass that David 1attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took 2Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
2Then ahe defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s bservants, and cbrought tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of dZobah, as he went to recover ehis territory at the River Euphrates.
4David took from him one thousand chariots, 3seven
hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David fhamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5gWhen the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So hthe LORD preserved David wherever he went.
7And David took ithe shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8Also from 4Betah and from jBerothai,5 cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9When 6Toi king of kHamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
10then Toi sent 7Joram his son to King David, to 8greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.
11King David also ldedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—
12from 9Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the mPhilistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13And David made himself a nname when he returned from killing oeighteen thousand 10Syrians in pthe Valley of Salt.
14He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and qall the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
David’s Administration
(1 Chr. 18:14–17)
15So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
16rJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; sJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17tZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; 11Seraiah was the 12scribe;
18uBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the vCherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were 13chief ministers.
The MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV Page 152