1:1 After the death of Saul, ¹  when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, ²  he stayed at Ziklag ³  for two days. 1:2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. ⁴  When he approached David, the man ⁵  threw himself to the ground. ⁶ 

1:3 David asked him, “Where are you coming from?” He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 1:4 David inquired, “How were things going? ⁷  Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them ⁸  fell dead. ⁹  Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!” 1:5 David said to the young man ¹⁰  who was telling him this, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ¹¹  1:6 The young man who was telling him this ¹²  said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. 1:7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, ‘Here I am!’ 1:8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m ¹³  an Amalekite.’ 1:9 He said to me, ‘Stand over me and finish me off! ¹⁴  I’m very dizzy, ¹⁵  even though I’m still alive.’ ¹⁶  1:10 So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn’t live in such a condition. ¹⁷  Then I took the crown which was on his head and the ¹⁸  bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.” ¹⁹ 

1:11 David then grabbed his own clothes ²⁰  and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. 1:12 They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.

1:13 David said to the young man who told this to him, “Where are you from?” He replied, “I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.” ²¹  1:14 David replied to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 1:15 Then David called one of the soldiers ²²  and said, “Come here and strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 1:16 David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’”

1:17 Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. 1:18 (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” ²³  Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) ²⁴ 

1:19 The beauty ²⁵  of Israel lies slain on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

1:20 Don’t report it in Gath,

don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, ²⁶ 

or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,

the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!

1:21 O mountains of Gilboa,

may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! ²⁷ 

For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; ²⁸ 

the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil. ²⁹ 

1:22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,

the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.

The sword of Saul never returned ³⁰  empty.

1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved ³¹  during their lives,

and not even in their deaths were they separated.

They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

1:24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet ³²  as well as jewelry,

who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

1:25 How the warriors have fallen

in the midst of battle!

Jonathan lies slain on your high places!

1:26 I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan!

You were very dear to me.

Your love was more special to me than the love of women.

1:27 How the warriors have fallen!

The weapons of war ³³  are destroyed!

2:1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied, ³⁴  “To Hebron.” 2:2 So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 2:3 David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities ³⁵  of Hebron. 2:4 The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people ³⁶  of Judah.

David was told, ³⁷  “The people ³⁸  of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.” 2:5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness ³⁹  to your lord Saul by burying him. 2:6 Now may the Lord show you true kindness! ⁴⁰  I also will reward you, ⁴¹  because you have done this deed. 2:7 Now be courageous ⁴²  and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

2:8 Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth ⁴³  and had brought him to Mahanaim. 2:9 He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, ⁴⁴  Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. 2:10 Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people ⁴⁵  of Judah followed David. 2:11 David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven and a half years. ⁴⁶ 

2:12 Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 2:13 Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool. 2:14 Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight ⁴⁷  before us.” Joab said, “So be it!” ⁴⁸ 

2:15 So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 2:16 As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. ⁴⁹  So that place is called the Field of Flints; ⁵⁰  it is in Gibeon.

2:17 Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David’s soldiers. ⁵¹  2:18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.) 2:19 Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.

2:20 Then Abner turned and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” He replied, “Yes it is!” 2:21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers ⁵²  and take his equipment for yourself!” But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. 2:22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. ⁵³  How then could I show ⁵⁴  my face in the presence of Joab your brother?” 2:23 But Asahel ⁵⁵  refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his ⁵⁶  spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel ⁵⁷  collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. ⁵⁸  Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect. ⁵⁹ 

2:24 So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 2:25 The Benjaminites formed their ranks ⁶⁰  behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.

2:26 Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?” 2:27 Joab replied, “As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit ⁶¹  of their brothers!” 2:28 Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. ⁶²  They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting. ⁶³  2:29 Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan River ⁶⁴  and went through the whole region of Bitron ⁶⁵  and came to Mahanaim.

2:30 Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David’s soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel. 2:31 But David’s soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner’s men – in all, 360 men had died! 2:32 They took Asahel’s body and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. ⁶⁶  Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn. 3:1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.

3:2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. 3:3 His second son ⁶⁷  was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow ⁶⁸  of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. 3:4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. 3:5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons ⁶⁹  were all born to David in Hebron.

3:6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential ⁷⁰  in the house of Saul. 3:7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth ⁷¹  said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with ⁷²  my father’s concubine?” ⁷³ 

3:8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating ⁷⁴  loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives ⁷⁵  and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! ⁷⁶  3:9 God will severely judge Abner ⁷⁷  if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him, ⁷⁸  3:10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!” 3:11 Ish-bosheth ⁷⁹  was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.

3:12 Then Abner sent messengers ⁸⁰  to David saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement ⁸¹  with me, and I will do whatever I can ⁸²  to cause all Israel to turn to you.” 3:13 So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit me.” ⁸³ 

3:14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: ⁸⁴  “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired ⁸⁵  for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 3:15 So Ish-bosheth took her ⁸⁶  from her husband Paltiel ⁸⁷  son of Laish. 3:16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, “Go back!” ⁸⁸  So he returned home.

3:17 Abner advised ⁸⁹  the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king. ⁹⁰  3:18 Act now! For the Lord has said to David, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save ⁹¹  my people Israel from ⁹²  the Philistines and from all their enemies.’”

3:19 Then Abner spoke privately ⁹³  with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately ⁹⁴  of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. ⁹⁵  3:20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. 3:21 Abner said to David, “Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement ⁹⁶  with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.

3:22 Now David’s soldiers ⁹⁷  and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David ⁹⁸  had sent him away and he had left in peace. 3:23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”

3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner ⁹⁹  has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way! ¹⁰⁰  3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return ¹⁰¹  and to discover everything that you are doing!”

3:26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him ¹⁰²  in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel. ¹⁰³ 

3:28 When David later heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! 3:29 May his blood whirl over ¹⁰⁴  the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! ¹⁰⁵  May the males of Joab’s house ¹⁰⁶  never cease to have ¹⁰⁷  someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle ¹⁰⁸  or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!”

3:30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.

3:31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed ¹⁰⁹  behind the funeral bier. 3:32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly ¹¹⁰  over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too. 3:33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner:

“Should Abner have died like a fool?

3:34 Your hands ¹¹¹  were not bound,

and your feet were not put into irons.

You fell the way one falls before criminals.”

All the people ¹¹²  wept over him again. 3:35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely ¹¹³  if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!”

3:36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. ¹¹⁴  In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. 3:37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation. ¹¹⁵ 

3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader ¹¹⁶  has fallen this day in Israel? 3:39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! ¹¹⁷  May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!” ¹¹⁸ 

4:1 When Ish-bosheth ¹¹⁹  the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, ¹²⁰  and all Israel was afraid. 4:2 Now Saul’s son ¹²¹  had two men who were in charge of raiding units; one was named Baanah and the other Recab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was a Benjaminite. (Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin, 4:3 for the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have remained there as resident foreigners until the present time.) ¹²² 

4:4 Now Saul’s son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but in her haste to get away, he fell and was injured. ¹²³  Mephibosheth was his name.

4:5 Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite – Recab and Baanah – went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest. 4:6 They ¹²⁴  entered the house under the pretense of getting wheat and mortally wounded him ¹²⁵  in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah escaped.

4:7 They had entered ¹²⁶  the house while Ish-bosheth ¹²⁷  was resting on his bed in his bedroom. They mortally wounded him ¹²⁸  and then cut off his head. ¹²⁹  Taking his head, ¹³⁰  they traveled on the way of the Arabah all that night. 4:8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king, “Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against ¹³¹  Saul and his descendants!”

4:9 David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered my life from all adversity, 4:10 when someone told me that Saul was dead – even though he thought he was bringing good news ¹³²  – I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him! 4:11 Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept ¹³³  in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove ¹³⁴  you from the earth?”

4:12 So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them ¹³⁵  near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth ¹³⁶  and buried it in the tomb of Abner ¹³⁷  in Hebron. ¹³⁸ 

5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! ¹³⁹  5:2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. ¹⁴⁰  The Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.’”

5:3 When all the leaders ¹⁴¹  of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them ¹⁴²  in Hebron before the Lord. They designated ¹⁴³  David as king over Israel. 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem ¹⁴⁴  he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

5:6 Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem ¹⁴⁵  against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites ¹⁴⁶  said to David, “You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, ‘David cannot invade this place!’”

5:7 But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David). 5:8 David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies ¹⁴⁷  by going through the water tunnel.” ¹⁴⁸  For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.” ¹⁴⁹ 

5:9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 5:10 David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God ¹⁵⁰  who commands armies ¹⁵¹  was with him. ¹⁵² 

5:11 King Hiram of Tyre ¹⁵³  sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace ¹⁵⁴  for David. 5:12 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 5:13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 5:14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5:15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 5:16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated ¹⁵⁵  king over Israel, they all ¹⁵⁶  went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 5:18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:19 So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed ¹⁵⁷  hand the Philistines over to you.”

5:20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. ¹⁵⁸  5:21 The Philistines ¹⁵⁹  abandoned their idols ¹⁶⁰  there, and David and his men picked them up.

5:22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. ¹⁶¹  This time ¹⁶²  the Lord ¹⁶³  said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. ¹⁶⁴  5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army ¹⁶⁵  of the Philistines.” 5:25 David did just as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. ¹⁶⁶ 

6:1 David again assembled ¹⁶⁷  all the best ¹⁶⁸  men in Israel, thirty thousand in number. 6:2 David and all the men who were with him traveled ¹⁶⁹  to ¹⁷⁰  Baalah ¹⁷¹  in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the name ¹⁷²  of the Lord of hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 6:3 They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart. 6:4 They brought ¹⁷³  it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark, 6:5 while David and all Israel ¹⁷⁴  were energetically celebrating before the Lord, singing ¹⁷⁵  and playing various stringed instruments, ¹⁷⁶  tambourines, rattles, ¹⁷⁷  and cymbals.

6:6 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, ¹⁷⁸  Uzzah reached out and grabbed hold of ¹⁷⁹  the ark of God, ¹⁸⁰  because the oxen stumbled. 6:7 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, ¹⁸¹  he ¹⁸²  killed him on the spot ¹⁸³  for his negligence. ¹⁸⁴  He died right there beside the ark of God.

6:8 David was angry because the Lord attacked ¹⁸⁵  Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, ¹⁸⁶  which remains its name to this very day. 6:9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How will the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 6:10 So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 6:11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his family. ¹⁸⁷  6:12 David was told, ¹⁸⁸  “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything he owns because of the ark of God.” So David went and joyfully brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David. 6:13 Those who carried the ark of the Lord took six steps and then David ¹⁸⁹  sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 6:14 Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the Lord. ¹⁹⁰  6:15 David and all Israel ¹⁹¹  were bringing up the ark of the Lord, shouting and blowing trumpets. ¹⁹² 

6:16 As the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him. ¹⁹³  6:17 They brought the ark of the Lord and put it in its place ¹⁹⁴  in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord. 6:18 When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 6:19 He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, ¹⁹⁵  both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, ¹⁹⁶  and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. ¹⁹⁷  6:20 When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, ¹⁹⁸  Michal, Saul’s daughter, came out to meet him. ¹⁹⁹  She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished ²⁰⁰  himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants’ slave girls the way a vulgar fool ²⁰¹  might do!”

6:21 David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family ²⁰²  and appointed me as leader over the Lord’s people Israel. 6:22 I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! ²⁰³  But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!” 6:23 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.

7:1 The king settled into his palace, ²⁰⁴  for the Lord gave him relief ²⁰⁵  from all his enemies on all sides. ²⁰⁶  7:2 The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.” 7:3 Nathan replied to the king, “You should go ²⁰⁷  and do whatever you have in mind, ²⁰⁸  for the Lord is with you.” 7:4 That night the Lord told Nathan, ²⁰⁹  7:5 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in? 7:6 I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent. ²¹⁰  7:7 Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say ²¹¹  to any of the leaders ²¹²  whom I appointed to care for ²¹³  my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?”’

7:8 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd ²¹⁴  to make you leader of my people Israel. 7:9 I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated ²¹⁵  all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. ²¹⁶  7:10 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle ²¹⁷  them there; they will live there and not be disturbed ²¹⁸  any more. Violent men ²¹⁹  will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief ²²⁰  from all your enemies. The Lord declares ²²¹  to you that he himself ²²²  will build a dynastic house ²²³  for you. 7:12 When the time comes for you to die, ²²⁴  I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, ²²⁵  and I will establish his kingdom. 7:13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. ²²⁶  7:14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 7:15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 7:16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me ²²⁷  permanently; your dynasty ²²⁸  will be permanent.’” 7:17 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. ²²⁹ 

7:18 King David went in, sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, ²³⁰  that you should have brought me to this point? 7:19 And you didn’t stop there, O Lord God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. ²³¹  Is this your usual way of dealing with men, ²³²  O Lord God? 7:20 What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, ²³³  O Lord God! 7:21 For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose ²³⁴  you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. ²³⁵  7:22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! ²³⁶  7:23 Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation ²³⁷  on the earth? Their God ²³⁸  went ²³⁹  to claim ²⁴⁰  a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, ²⁴¹  before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods. ²⁴²  7:24 You made Israel your very own people for all time. ²⁴³  You, O Lord, became their God. 7:25 So now, O Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. ²⁴⁴  Do as you promised, ²⁴⁵  7:26 so you may gain lasting fame, ²⁴⁶  as people say, ²⁴⁷  ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel!’ The dynasty ²⁴⁸  of your servant David will be established before you, 7:27 for you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have told ²⁴⁹  your servant, ‘I will build you a dynastic house.’ ²⁵⁰  That is why your servant has had the courage ²⁵¹  to pray this prayer to you. 7:28 Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! ²⁵²  May your words prove to be true! ²⁵³  You have made this good promise to your servant! ²⁵⁴  7:29 Now be willing to bless your servant’s dynasty ²⁵⁵  so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign Lord, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant’s dynasty be blessed on into the future!” ²⁵⁶ 

8:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah ²⁵⁷  from the Philistines. ²⁵⁸  8:2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. ²⁵⁹  The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. ²⁶⁰  8:3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish ²⁶¹  his authority ²⁶²  over the Euphrates ²⁶³  River. 8:4 David seized from him 1,700 charioteers ²⁶⁴  and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses. ²⁶⁵  8:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 8:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected ²⁶⁶  David wherever he campaigned. ²⁶⁷  8:7 David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. ²⁶⁸  8:8 From Tebah ²⁶⁹  and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities, King David took a great deal of bronze.

8:9 When King Toi ²⁷⁰  of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 8:10 he ²⁷¹  sent his son Joram ²⁷²  to King David to extend his best wishes ²⁷³  and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. ²⁷⁴  He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. ²⁷⁵  8:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, ²⁷⁶  along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from ²⁷⁷  all the nations that he had subdued, 8:12 including ²⁷⁸  Aram, ²⁷⁹  Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amelek. This also included some of the plunder taken from ²⁸⁰  King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah.

8:13 David became famous ²⁸¹  when he returned from defeating the Arameans ²⁸²  in the Valley of Salt, he defeated ²⁸³  18,000 in all. 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, ²⁸⁴  and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 8:15 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. ²⁸⁵ 

8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of ²⁸⁶  the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar ²⁸⁷  were priests; Seraiah was scribe; 8:18 Benaiah son of Jehoida supervised ²⁸⁸  the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests. ²⁸⁹ 

9:1 ²⁹⁰ 

Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family ²⁹¹  of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”

9:2 Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “At your service.” ²⁹²  9:3 The king asked, “Is there not someone left from Saul’s family, ²⁹³  that I may extend God’s kindness to him?” Ziba said to the king, “One of Jonathan’s sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.” 9:4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.

9:5 So King David had him brought ²⁹⁴  from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in ²⁹⁵  Lo Debar. 9:6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. ²⁹⁶  David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.” ²⁹⁷ 

9:7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. You will be a regular guest at my table.” ²⁹⁸  9:8 Then Mephibosheth ²⁹⁹  bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?” ³⁰⁰ 

9:9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master’s grandson. 9:10 You will cultivate ³⁰¹  the land for him – you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce ³⁰²  and it will be ³⁰³  food for your master’s grandson to eat. ³⁰⁴  But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

9:11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do everything that my lord the king has instructed his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth was a regular guest ³⁰⁵  at David’s table, ³⁰⁶  just as though he were one of the king’s sons.

9:12 Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 9:13 Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, ³⁰⁷  for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.

10:1 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him. ³⁰⁸  10:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty ³⁰⁹  to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal ³¹⁰  to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death. ³¹¹  When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites, 10:3 the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? ³¹²  No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!” ³¹³ 

10:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed, ³¹⁴  and then sent them away. 10:5 Messengers ³¹⁵  told David what had happened, ³¹⁶  so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho ³¹⁷  until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”

10:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, ³¹⁸  they ³¹⁹  sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah, ³²⁰  in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish-tob. ³²¹ 

10:7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. ³²²  10:8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

10:9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. ³²³  10:10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army ³²⁴  and they were deployed ³²⁵  against the Ammonites. 10:11 Joab ³²⁶  said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, ³²⁷  you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, ³²⁸  I will come to your rescue. 10:12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” ³²⁹ 

10:13 So Joab and his men ³³⁰  marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 10:14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to ³³¹  Jerusalem. ³³² 

10:15 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces. ³³³  10:16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from ³³⁴  beyond the Euphrates River, ³³⁵  and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them. ³³⁶ 

10:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, ³³⁷  and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. 10:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. ³³⁸  He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there. 10:19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer ³³⁹  saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel. ³⁴⁰  The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.