2SA 1:1 Now it
came about after the death of Saul, when David had
returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that
David remained two days in Ziklag.
2SA 1:2 And it happened on the third day,
that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul,
with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And it
came about when he came to David that he fell to the
ground and prostrated himself.
2SA 1:3 Then David said to him, "From where
do you come?" And he said to him, "I have escaped
from the camp of Israel."
2SA 1:4 And David said to him, "How did
things go? Please tell me." And he said, "The people
have fled from the battle, and also many of the
people have fallen and are dead; and Saul and
Jonathan his son are dead also."
2SA 1:5 So David said to the young man who
told him, "How do you know that Saul and his son
Jonathan are dead?"
2SA 1:6 And the young man who told him said,
"By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and
behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold,
the chariots and the horsemen pursued him closely.
2SA 1:7 "And when he looked behind him, he
saw me and called to me. And I said, 'Here I am.'
2SA 1:8 "And he said to me, 'Who are you?'
And I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'
2SA 1:9 "Then he said to me, 'Please stand
beside me and kill me; for agony has seized me
because my life still lingers in me.'
2SA 1:10 "So I stood beside him and killed
him, because I knew that he could not live after he
had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his
head and the bracelet which was on his arm, and I
have brought them here to my lord."
2SA 1:11 Then David took hold of his clothes
and tore them, and so also did all the men who were
with him.
2SA 1:12 And they mourned and wept and 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.
2SA 1:13 And David said to the young man who
told him, "Where are you from?" And he answered, "I
am the son of an alien, an Amalekite."
2SA 1:14 Then David said to him, "How is it
you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to
destroy the Lord's anointed?"
2SA 1:15 And David called one of the young
men and said, "Go, cut him down." So he struck him
and he died.
2SA 1:16 And David said to him, "Your blood
is on your head, for your mouth has testified
against you, saying, 'I have killed the Lord's
anointed.'"
2SA 1:17 Then David chanted with this lament
over Saul and Jonathan his son,
2SA 1:18 and he told them to teach the sons
of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written
in the book of Jashar.
2SA 1:19 "Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on
your high places! How have the mighty fallen!
2SA 1:20 "Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it
not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters
of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of
the uncircumcised exult.
2SA 1:21 "O mountains of Gilboa, Let not dew
or rain be on you, nor fields of offerings; For
there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The
shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
2SA 1:22 "From the blood of the slain, from
the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not
turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return
empty.
2SA 1:23 "Saul and Jonathan, beloved and
pleasant in their life, And in their death they were
not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were
stronger than lions.
2SA 1:24 "O daughters of Israel, weep over
Saul, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who
put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
2SA 1:25 "How have the mighty fallen in the
midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high
places.
2SA 1:26 "I am distressed for you, my brother
Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. Your
love to me was more wonderful Than the love of
women.
2SA 1:27 "How have the mighty fallen, And the
weapons of war perished!"
Top of Page
2SA 2:1 Then it
came about afterwards that 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, "To
Hebron."
2SA 2:2 So David went up there, and his two
wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the
widow of Nabal the Carmelite.
2SA 2:3 And David brought up his men who were
with him, each with his household; and they lived in
the cities of Hebron.
2SA 2:4 Then the men of Judah came and there
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And
they told David, saying, "It was the men of
Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul."
2SA 2:5 And David sent messengers to the men
of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, "May you be
blessed of the Lord because you have shown this
kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him.
2SA 2:6 "And now may the Lord show
lovingkindness and truth to you; and I also will
show this goodness to you, because you have done
this thing.
2SA 2:7 "Now therefore, let your hands be
strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead,
and also the house of Judah has anointed me king
over them."
2SA 2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander
of Saul's army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of
Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim.
2SA 2:9 And he made him king over Gilead,
over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and
over Benjamin, even over all Israel.
2SA 2:10 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.
2SA 2:11 And the time that David was king in
Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and
six months.
2SA 2:12 Now Abner the son of Ner, went out
from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of
Ish-bosheth the son of Saul.
2SA 2:13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the
servants of David went out and met them by the pool
of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of
the pool and the other on the other side of the
pool.
2SA 2:14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let
the young men arise and hold a contest before us."
And Joab said, "Let them arise."
2SA 2:15 So they arose and went over by
count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son
of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
2SA 2:16 And each one of them seized his
opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his
opponent's side; so they fell down together.
Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,
which is in Gibeon.
2SA 2:17 And that day the battle was very
severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten
before the servants of David.
2SA 2:18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were
there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel; and Asahel was
as swift-footed as one of the gazelles which is in
the field.
2SA 2:19 And Asahel pursued Abner and did not
turn to the right or to the left from following
Abner.
2SA 2:20 Then Abner looked behind him and
said, "Is that you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is
I."
2SA 2:21 So Abner said to him, "Turn to your
right or to your left, and take hold of one of the
young men for yourself, and take for yourself his
spoil." But Asahel was not willing to turn aside
from following him.
2SA 2:22 And Abner repeated again to Asahel,
"Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike
you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face
to your brother Joab?"
2SA 2:23 However, he refused to turn aside;
therefore 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 came about that all who came to the place
where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
2SA 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner,
and when the sun was going down, they came to the
hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way
of the wilderness of Gibeon.
2SA 2:25 And the sons of Benjamin gathered
together behind Abner and became one band, and they
stood on the top of a certain hill.
2SA 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab and said,
"Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know
that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you
refrain from telling the people to turn back from
following their brothers?"
2SA 2:27 And Joab said, "As God lives, if you
had not spoken, surely then the people would have
gone away in the morning, each from following his
brother."
2SA 2:28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all
the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor
did they continue to fight anymore.
2SA 2:29 Abner and his men then went through
the Arabah all that night; so they crossed the
Jordan, walked all morning, and came to Mahanaim.
2SA 2:30 Then Joab returned from following
Abner; when he had gathered all the people together,
nineteen of David's servants besides Asahel were
missing.
2SA 2:31 But the servants of David had struck
down many of Benjamin and Abner's men, so that three
hundred and sixty men died.
2SA 2:32 And they took up Asahel and buried
him in his father's tomb which was in Bethlehem.
Then Joab and his men went all night until the day
dawned at Hebron.
Top of Page
2SA 3:1 Now there
was a long war between the house of Saul and the
house of David; and David grew steadily stronger,
but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.
2SA 3:2 Sons were born to David at Hebron:
his first-born was Amnon, by Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess;
2SA 3:3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail
the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third,
Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai,
king of Geshur;
2SA 3:4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of
Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
2SA 3:5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David's
wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.
2SA 3:6 And it came about while there was war
between the house of Saul and the house of David
that Abner was making himself strong in the house of
Saul.
2SA 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name
was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth
said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's
concubine?"
2SA 3:8 Then Abner was very angry over the
words of Ish-bosheth and said, "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 delivered you into the
hands of David; and yet today you charge me with a
guilt concerning the woman.
2SA 3:9 "May God do so to Abner, and more
also, if as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not
accomplish this for him,
2SA 3:10 to transfer the kingdom from the
house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David
over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to
Beersheba."
2SA 3:11 And he could no longer answer Abner
a word, because he was afraid of him.
2SA 3:12 Then Abner sent messengers to David
in 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."
2SA 3:13 And he said, "Good! I will make a
covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you,
namely, you shall not see my face unless you first
bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see
me."
2SA 3:14 So David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife
Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred
foreskins of the Philistines."
2SA 3:15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her
from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
2SA 3:16 But her husband went with her,
weeping as he went, and followed her as far as
Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So he
returned.
2SA 3:17 Now Abner had consultation with the
elders of Israel, saying, "In times past you were
seeking for David to be king over you.
2SA 3:18 "Now then, do it! For the Lord has
spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of My servant
David I will save My people Israel from the hand of
the Philistines and from the hand of all their
enemies.'"
2SA 3:19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing
of Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak in
the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good
to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.
2SA 3:20 Then Abner and twenty men with him
came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for
Abner and the men who were with him.
2SA 3:21 And Abner said to David, "Let me
arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the
king that they may make a covenant with you, and
that you may be king over all that your soul
desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in
peace.
2SA 3:22 And behold, the servants of David
and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil
with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron,
for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
2SA 3:23 When Joab and all the army that was
with him arrived, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the
son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him
away, and he has gone in peace."
2SA 3:24 Then Joab came to the king and said,
"What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why
then have you sent him away and he is already gone?
2SA 3:25 "You know Abner the son of Ner, that
he came to deceive you and to learn of your going
out and coming in, and to find out all that you are
doing."
2SA 3:26 When Joab came out from David, he
sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him
back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know
it.
2SA 3:27 So when Abner returned to Hebron,
Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to
speak with him privately, and there he struck him in
the belly so that he died on account of the blood of
Asahel his brother.
2SA 3:28 And afterward when David heard it,
he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before the
Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
2SA 3:29 "May it fall on the head of Joab and
on all his father's house; and may there not fail
from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or
who is a leper, or who takes hold of a distaff, or
who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread."
2SA 3:30 So Joab and Abishai his brother
killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel
to death in the battle at Gibeon.
2SA 3:31 Then David said to Joab and to all
the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and
gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner." And King
David walked behind the bier.
2SA 3:32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron;
and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the
grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
2SA 3:33 And the king chanted a lament for
Abner and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
2SA 3:34 "Your hands were not bound, nor your
feet put in fetters; As one falls before the wicked,
you have fallen." And all the people wept again over
him.
2SA 3:35 Then all the people came to persuade
David to eat bread while it was still day; but David
vowed, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also,
if I taste bread or anything else before the sun
goes down."
2SA 3:36 Now all the people took note of it,
and it pleased them, just as everything the king did
pleased all the people.
2SA 3:37 So all the people and all Israel
understood that day that it had not been the will of
the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
2SA 3:38 Then the king said to his servants,
"Do you not know that a prince and a great man has
fallen this day in Israel?
2SA 3:39 "And I am weak today, though
anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are
too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the
evildoer according to his evil."
Top of Page
2SA 4:1 Now when
Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died
in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was
disturbed.
2SA 4:2 And Saul's son had two men who were
commanders of bands: 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 Beeroth is
also considered part of Benjamin,
2SA 4:3 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim,
and have been aliens there until this day).
2SA 4:4 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son
crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the
report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and
his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened that
in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame. And
his name was Mephibosheth.
2SA 4:5 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite,
Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of
Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was
taking his midday rest.
2SA 4:6 And they came to the middle of the
house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the
belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
2SA 4:7 Now when they came into the house, as
he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck
him and killed him and beheaded him. And they took
his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all
night.
2SA 4:8 Then they brought the head of
Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the
king, "Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of
Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the
Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day
on Saul and his descendants."
2SA 4:9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah
his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said
to them, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my
life from all distress,
2SA 4:10 when one told me, saying,' Behold,
Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good
news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which
was the reward I gave him for his news.
2SA 4:11 "How much more, when wicked men have
killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed,
shall I not now require his blood from your hand,
and destroy you from the earth?"
2SA 4:12 Then 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 and buried it
in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Top of Page
2SA 5:1 Then all
the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and
said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2SA 5:2 "Previously, when Saul was king over
us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And
the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people
Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.'"
2SA 5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to
the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant
with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they
anointed David king over Israel.
2SA 5:4 David was thirty years old when he
became king, and he reigned forty years.
2SA 5:5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven
years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned
thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
2SA 5:6 Now the king and his men went to
Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of
the land, and they said to David, "You shall not
come in here, but the blind and lame shall turn you
away"; thinking, "David cannot enter here."
2SA 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the
stronghold of Zion, that is the city of David.
2SA 5:8 And David said on that day, "Whoever
would strike the Jebusites, let him reach the lame
and the blind, who are hated by David's soul,
through the water tunnel." Therefore they say, "The
blind or the lame shall not come into the house."
2SA 5:9 So David lived in the stronghold, and
called it the city of David. And David built all
around from the Millo and inward.
2SA 5:10 And David became greater and
greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.
2SA 5:11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent
messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters
and stonemasons; and they built a house for David.
2SA 5:12 And David realized that the Lord had
established him as king over Israel, and that He had
exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people
Israel.
2SA 5:13 Meanwhile David took more concubines
and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron;
and more sons and daughters were born to David.
2SA 5:14 Now these are the names of those who
were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab,
Nathan, Solomon,
2SA 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
2SA 5:16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
2SA 5:17 When the Philistines heard that they
had anointed David king over Israel, all the
Philistines went up to seek out David; and when
David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold.
2SA 5:18 Now the Philistines came and spread
themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.
2SA 5:19 Then David inquired of the Lord,
saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt
Thou give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to
David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the
Philistines into your hand."
2SA 5:20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and
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 Baal-perazim.
2SA 5:21 And they abandoned their idols
there, so David and his men carried them away.
2SA 5:22 Now the Philistines came up once
again and spread themselves out in the valley of
Rephaim.
2SA 5:23 And when David inquired of the Lord,
He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle
around behind them and come at them in front of the
balsam trees.
2SA 5:24 "And it shall be, when you hear the
sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees,
then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will
have gone out before you to strike the army of the
Philistines."
2SA 5:25 Then David did so, just as the Lord
had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines
from Geba as far as Gezer.
Top of Page
2SA 6:1 Now David
again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty
thousand.
2SA 6:2 And David arose and went with all the
people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up
from there the ark of God which is called by the
Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts who is
enthroned above the cherubim.
2SA 6:3 And they placed the ark of God on a
new cart that they might bring it from the house of
Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio,
the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.
2SA 6:4 So 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.
2SA 6:5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of
Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all
kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with
lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.
2SA 6:6 But when they came to the threshing
floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of
God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset
it.
2SA 6:7 And the anger of the Lord burned
against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his
irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.
2SA 6:8 And David became angry because of the
Lord's outburst against Uzzah, and that place is
called Perez-uzzah to this day.
2SA 6:9 So David was afraid of the Lord that
day; and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come
to me?"
2SA 6:10 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 Obed-edom the
Gittite.
2SA 6:11 Thus the ark of the Lord remained in
the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and
the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
2SA 6:12 Now it was told 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."
And David went and brought up the ark of God from
the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with
gladness.
2SA 6:13 And so it was, that when the bearers
of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he
sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
2SA 6:14 And David was dancing before the
Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a
linen ephod.
2SA 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel
were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting
and the sound of the trumpet.
2SA 6:16 Then it happened as the ark of the
Lord came into the city of David that Michal the
daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw
King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and
she despised him in her heart.
2SA 6:17 So they brought in the ark of the
Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which
David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
2SA 6:18 And when David had finished offering
the burnt offering and the peace offering, he
blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
2SA 6:19 Further, he distributed to all the
people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men
and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one
of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed
each to his house.
2SA 6:20 But when David returned to bless his
household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to
meet David and said, "How the king of Israel
distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself
today in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of
the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!"
2SA 6:21 So David said to Michal, "It was
before the Lord, who chose me above your father and
above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the
people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will
celebrate before the Lord.
2SA 6:22 "And I will be more lightly esteemed
than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but
with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I
will be distinguished."
2SA 6:23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had
no child to the day of her death.
Top of Page
2SA 7:1 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,
2SA 7:2 that the king said to Nathan the
prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but
the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."
2SA 7:3 And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do
all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you."
2SA 7:4 But it came about in the same night
that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
2SA 7:5 "Go and say to My servant David,
'Thus says the Lord," Are you the one who should
build Me a house to dwell in?
2SA 7:6 "For I have not dwelt in a house
since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from
Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving
about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
2SA 7:7 "Wherever I have gone with all the
sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the
tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My
people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a
house of cedar?'"'
2SA 7:8 "Now therefore, thus you shall say to
My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts," I
took you from the pasture, from following the sheep,
that you should be ruler over My people Israel.
2SA 7:9 "And I have been with you wherever
you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from
before you; and I will make you a great name, like
the names of the great men who are on the earth.
2SA 7:10 "I will also appoint a place for My
people Israel and will plant them, that they may
live in their own place and not be disturbed again,
nor will the wicked afflict them any more as
formerly,
2SA 7:11 even from the day that I commanded
judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give
you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also
declares to you that the Lord will make a house for
you.
2SA 7:12 "When your days are complete and you
lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your
descendant after you, who will come forth from you,
and I will establish his kingdom.
2SA 7:13 "He shall build a house for My name,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever.
2SA 7:14 "I will be a father to him and he
will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I
will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes
of the sons of men,
2SA 7:15 but My lovingkindness shall not
depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I
removed from before you.
2SA 7:16 "And your house and your kingdom
shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be
established forever."' "
2SA 7:17 In accordance with all these words
and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
2SA 7:18 Then David the king went in and sat
before the Lord, and he said, "Who am I, O Lord God,
and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me this
far?
2SA 7:19 "And yet this was insignificant in
Thine eyes, O Lord God, for Thou hast spoken also of
the house of Thy servant concerning the distant
future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God.
2SA 7:20 "And again what more can David say
to Thee? For Thou knowest Thy servant, O Lord God!
2SA 7:21 "For the sake of Thy word, and
according to Thine own heart, Thou hast done all
this greatness to let Thy servant know.
2SA 7:22 "For this reason Thou art great, O
Lord God; for there is none like Thee, and there is
no God besides Thee, according to all that we have
heard with our ears.
2SA 7:23 "And what one nation on the earth is
like Thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem for
Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself,
and to do a great thing for Thee and awesome things
for Thy land, before Thy people whom Thou hast
redeemed for Thyself from Egypt, from nations and
their gods?
2SA 7:24 "For Thou hast established for
Thyself Thy people Israel as Thine own people
forever, and Thou, O Lord, hast become their God.
2SA 7:25 "Now therefore, O Lord God, the word
that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant and his
house, confirm it forever, and do as Thou hast
spoken,
2SA 7:26 that Thy name may be magnified
forever, by saying,' The Lord of hosts is God over
Israel'; and may the house of Thy servant David be
established before Thee.
2SA 7:27 "For Thou, O Lord of hosts, the God
of Israel, hast made a revelation to Thy servant,
saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore Thy
servant has found courage to pray this prayer to
Thee.
2SA 7:28 "And now, O Lord God, Thou art God,
and Thy words are truth, and Thou hast promised this
good thing to Thy servant.
2SA 7:29 "Now therefore, may it please Thee
to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may
continue forever before Thee. For Thou, O Lord God,
hast spoken; and with Thy blessing may the house of
Thy servant be blessed forever."
Top of Page
2SA 8:1 Now after
this it came about that David defeated the
Philistines and subdued them; and David took control
of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.
2SA 8:2 And he defeated Moab, and measured
them with the line, making them lie down on the
ground; and he measured two lines to put to death
and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites
became servants to David, bringing tribute.
2SA 8:3 Then David defeated Hadadezer, the
son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to restore
his rule at the River.
2SA 8:4 And David captured from him 1,700
horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David
hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of
them for 100 chariots.
2SA 8:5 And when the Arameans of Damascus
came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed
22,000 Arameans.
2SA 8:6 Then David put garrisons among the
Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became
servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord
helped David wherever he went.
2SA 8:7 And David took the shields of gold
which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and
brought them to Jerusalem.
2SA 8:8 And from Betah and from Berothai,
cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large
amount of bronze.
2SA 8:9 Now when Toi king of Hamath heard
that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
2SA 8:10 Toi sent Joram his son to King David
to greet 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, of gold and of bronze.
2SA 8:11 King David also dedicated these to
the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had
dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued:
2SA 8:12 from Aram and Moab and the sons of
Ammon and the Philistines and Amalek, and from the
spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
2SA 8:13 So David made a name for himself
when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans in the
Valley of Salt.
2SA 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom. In all
Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became
servants to David. And the Lord helped David
wherever he went.
2SA 8:15 So David reigned over all Israel;
and David administered justice and righteousness for
all his people.
2SA 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over
the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was
recorder.
2SA 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub and
Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and
Seraiah was secretary.
2SA 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was
over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's
sons were chief ministers.
Top of Page
2SA 9:1 Then
David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house
of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's
sake?"
2SA 9:2 Now there was a servant of the house
of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to
David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And
he said, "I am your servant."
2SA 9:3 And the king said, "Is there not yet
anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the
kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There
is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both
feet."
2SA 9:4 So the king said to him, "Where is
he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in
the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."
2SA 9:5 Then King David sent and brought him
from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from
Lo-debar.
2SA 9:6 And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan
the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face
and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth."
And he said, "Here is your servant!"
2SA 9:7 And David said to him, "Do not fear,
for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake
of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all
the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat
at my table regularly."
2SA 9:8 Again he prostrated himself and said,
"What is your servant, that you should regard a dead
dog like me?"
2SA 9:9 Then the king called Saul's servant
Ziba, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul
and to all his house I have given to your master's
grandson.
2SA 9:10 "And 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 may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth
your master's grandson shall eat at my table
regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty
servants.
2SA 9:11 Then Ziba said to the king,
"According to all that my lord the king commands his
servant so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth
ate at David's table as one of the king's sons.
2SA 9:12 And Mephibosheth had a young son
whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house
of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
2SA 9:13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem,
for he ate at the king's table regularly. Now he was
lame in both feet.
Top of Page
2SA 10:1 Now it
happened afterwards that the king of the Ammonites
died, and Hanun his son became king in his place.
2SA 10:2 Then David said, "I will show
kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his
father showed kindness to me." So David sent some of
his servants to console him concerning his father.
But when David's servants came to the land of the
Ammonites,
2SA 10:3 the princes of the Ammonites said to
Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David is
honoring your father because he has sent consolers
to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in
order to search the city, to spy it out and
overthrow it?"
2SA 10:4 So Hanun took David's servants and
shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their
garments in the middle as far as their hips, and
sent them away.
2SA 10:5 When they told it to David, he sent
to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated.
And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your
beards grow, and then return."
2SA 10:6 Now when the sons of Ammon saw that
they had become odious to David, the sons of Ammon
sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the
Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the
king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob
with 12,000 men.
2SA 10:7 When David heard of it, he sent Joab
and all the army, the mighty men.
2SA 10:8 And the sons of Ammon came out and
drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city,
while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men
of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
2SA 10:9 Now when Joab saw that the battle
was set against him in front and in the rear, he
selected from all the choice men of Israel, and
arrayed them against the Arameans.
2SA 10:10 But the remainder of the people he
placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he
arrayed them against the sons of Ammon.
2SA 10:11 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.
2SA 10:12 "Be strong, and let us show
ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and
for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what
is good in His sight."
2SA 10:13 So Joab and the people who were
with him drew near to the battle against the
Arameans, and they fled before him.
2SA 10:14 When the sons of Ammon saw that the
Arameans fled, they also fled before Abishai and
entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting
against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
2SA 10:15 When the Arameans saw that they had
been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves
together.
2SA 10:16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out
the Arameans who were beyond the River, and they
came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of the army
of Hadadezer led them.
2SA 10:17 Now when it was told David, he
gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan,
and came to Helam. And the Arameans arrayed
themselves to meet David and fought against him.
2SA 10:18 But the Arameans fled before
Israel, and David killed 700 charioteers of the
Arameans and 40,000 horsemen and struck down Shobach
the commander of their army, and he died there.
2SA 10:19 When all the kings, servants of
Hadadezer, saw that they were defeated by Israel,
they made peace with Israel and served them. So the
Arameans feared to help the sons of Ammon anymore.
Top of Page
2SA 11:1 Then it
happened 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 destroyed the sons
of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at
Jerusalem.
2SA 11:2 Now when evening came David arose
from his bed and walked around on the roof of the
king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman
bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in
appearance.
2SA 11:3 So David sent and inquired about the
woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the
daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
2SA 11:4 And David sent messengers and took
her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and
when she had purified herself from her uncleanness,
she returned to her house.
2SA 11:5 And the woman conceived; and she
sent and told David, and said, "I am pregnant."
2SA 11:6 Then David sent to Joab, saying,
"Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to
David.
2SA 11:7 When Uriah came to him, David asked
concerning the welfare of Joab and the people and
the state of the war.
2SA 11:8 Then David said to Uriah, "Go down
to your house, and wash your feet." And Uriah went
out of the king's house, and a present from the king
was sent out after him.
2SA 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the
king's house with all the servants of his lord, and
did not go down to his house.
2SA 11:10 Now when they told David, saying, "Uriah
did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah,
"Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not
go down to your house?"
2SA 11:11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark
and Israel and Judah are staying in temporary
shelters, and my lord Joab and the servants of my
lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go
to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my
wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will
not do this thing."
2SA 11:12 Then David said to Uriah, "Stay
here today also, and tomorrow I will let you go." So
Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
2SA 11:13 Now David called him, and he ate
and drank before him, and he made him drunk; and in
the evening he went out to lie on his bed with his
lord's servants, but he did not go down to his
house.
2SA 11:14 Now it came about in the morning
that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by
the hand of Uriah.
2SA 11:15 And he had written in the letter,
saying, "Place Uriah in the front line of the
fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he
may be struck down and die."
2SA 11:16 So it was as Joab kept watch on the
city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew
there were valiant men.
2SA 11:17 And the men of the city went out
and fought against Joab, and some of the people
among David's servants fell; and Uriah the Hittite
also died.
2SA 11:18 Then Joab sent and reported to
David all the events of the war.
2SA 11:19 And he charged the messenger,
saying, "When you have finished telling all the
events of the war to the king,
2SA 11:20 and if it happens that the king's
wrath rises and he says to you,' Why did you go so
near to the city to fight? Did you not know that
they would shoot from the wall?
2SA 11:21 'Who struck down Abimelech the son
of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw an upper
millstone on him from the wall so that he died at
Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' - - then
you shall say,' Your servant Uriah the Hittite is
dead also.' "
2SA 11:22 So the messenger departed and came
and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to
tell.
2SA 11:23 And the messenger said to David,
"The men prevailed against us and came out against
us in the field, but we pressed them as far as the
entrance of the gate.
2SA 11:24 "Moreover, the archers shot at your
servants from the wall; so some of the king's
servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the
Hittite is also dead."
2SA 11:25 Then David said to the messenger,
"Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let this thing
displease you, for the sword devours one as well as
another; make your battle against the city stronger
and overthrow it'; and so encourage him."
2SA 11:26 Now when the wife of Uriah heard
that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her
husband.
2SA 11:27 When the time of mourning was over,
David sent and brought her to his house and she
became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the
thing that David had done was evil in the sight of
the Lord.
Top of Page
2SA 12:1 Then the
Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and
said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich
and the other poor.
2SA 12:2 "The rich man had a great many
flocks and herds.
2SA 12:3 "But the poor man had nothing except
one little ewe lamb Which he bought and nourished;
And it grew up together with him and his children.
It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and
lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him.
2SA 12:4 "Now a traveler came to the rich
man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock
or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had
come to him; Rather he took the poor man's ewe lamb
and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
2SA 12:5 Then David's anger burned greatly
against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the Lord
lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to
die.
2SA 12:6 "And he must make restitution for
the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had
no compassion."
2SA 12:7 Nathan then said to David, "You are
the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'It is I
who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who
delivered you from the hand of Saul.
2SA 12:8 'I also gave you your master's house
and your master's wives 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 many more
things like these!
2SA 12:9 'Why have you despised the word of
the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck
down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken
his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with
the sword of the sons of Ammon.
2SA 12:10 'Now therefore, the sword shall
never depart from your house, because you have
despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the
Hittite to be your wife.'
2SA 12:11 "Thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I
will raise up evil against you from your own
household; I will even take your wives before your
eyes, and give them to your companion, and he shall
lie with your wives in broad daylight.
2SA 12:12 'Indeed you did it secretly, but I
will do this thing before all Israel, and under the
sun.' "
2SA 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have
sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David,
"The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall
not die.
2SA 12:14 "However, because by this deed you
have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to
blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall
surely die."
2SA 12:15 So Nathan went to his house. Then
the Lord struck the child that Uriah's widow bore to
David, so that he was very sick.
2SA 12:16 David therefore inquired of God for
the child; and David fasted and went and lay all
night on the ground.
2SA 12:17 And the elders of his household
stood beside him in order to raise him up from the
ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food
with them.
2SA 12:18 Then it happened on the seventh day
that the child died. And the servants of David 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 our voice. How
then can we tell him that the child is dead, since
he might do himself harm!"
2SA 12:19 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."
2SA 12:20 So David arose from the ground,
washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes;
and he came into the house of the Lord and
worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when
he requested, they set food before him and he ate.
2SA 12:21 Then his servants said to him,
"What is this thing that you have done? While the
child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the
child died, you arose and ate food."
2SA 12:22 And he said, "While the child was
still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who
knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the
child may live.'
2SA 12:23 "But now he has died; why should I
fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him,
but he will not return to me."
2SA 12:24 Then David comforted his wife
Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and
she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon.
Now the Lord loved him
2SA 12:25 and sent word through Nathan the
prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord's
sake.
2SA 12:26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of
the sons of Ammon, and captured the royal city.
2SA 12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David
and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, I have even
captured the city of waters.
2SA 12:28 "Now therefore, gather the rest of
the people together and camp against the city and
capture it, lest I capture the city myself and it be
named after me."
2SA 12:29 So David gathered all the people
and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and captured
it.
2SA 12:30 Then he took the crown of their
king from his head; and its weight was a talent of
gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was
placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil
of the city in great amounts.
2SA 12:31 He also brought out the people who
were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron
instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass
through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the
cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the
people returned to Jerusalem.
Top of Page
2SA 13:1 Now it
was after this that Absalom the son of David had a
beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and Amnon the
son of David loved her.
2SA 13:2 And Amnon was so frustrated because
of his sister Tamar that he made himself ill, for
she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do
anything to her.
2SA 13:3 But Amnon had a friend whose name
was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother;
and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
2SA 13:4 And he said to him, "O son of the
king, why are you so depressed morning after
morning? Will you not tell me?
