Mar 7 - 2 Samuel 4-7
2 Samuel
1Then Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, heard that Abner had fallen in Hebron. And his hands were weakened, and all of Israel was troubled2Now the son of Saul had two men, leaders among robbers. The name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other was Rechab, sons of Rimmon, a Beerothite from the sons of Benjamin. For indeed, Beeroth, too, was reputed with Benjamin3And the Beerothites had fled into Gittaim. And they were strangers there, until that time4Now Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a son with disabled feet. For he was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. And so, his nurse, taking him up, fled. And while she was hurrying, so that she might flee, he fell and was made lame. And he was called Mephibosheth5And so, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, arrived and entered the house of Ishbosheth, in the heat of the day. And he was sleeping on his bed at midday. And the doorkeeper of the house, who was cleaning the wheat, fell fast asleep6Then they entered the house secretly, taking the ears of grain. And Rechab and his brother Baanah stabbed him in the groin, and they fled away7For when they had entered the house, he was sleeping on his bed in a closed room. And striking him, they killed him. And taking his head, they departed by the way of the desert, walking throughout the night8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David in Hebron. And they said to the king: "Behold, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who was seeking your life. And so, the Lord has avenged my lord the king, this day, from Saul and from his offspring.9But David, responding to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, said to them: "As the Lord lives who has rescued my soul from all distress10the one who reported to me and said, ‘Saul is dead,’ who was thinking that he announced good news, I apprehended. And at Ziklag I killed him who ought to have been given a reward for the news11How much more so now, when impious men have put to death an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand, and take you away from the earth?12And so, David commanded his servants, and they put them to death. And cutting off their hands and feet, they suspended them up over the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ishbosheth they took and buried in the sepulcher of Abner at Hebron
1And all the tribes of Israel went to David in Hebron, saying: "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh2Moreover, yesterday and the day before, when Saul was king over us, you were the one leading out and leading back Israel. Then the Lord said to you, ‘You shall pasture my people Israel, and you shall be the leader over Israel.’ 3Also, the elders of Israel went to the king at Hebron, and king David struck a pact with them at Hebron in the sight of the Lord. And they anointed David as king over Israel4David was a son of thirty years, when he had begun to reign, and he reigned for forty years5In Hebron, he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months. Then in Jerusalem, he reigned for thirty-three years over all of Israel and Judah6And the king, and all the men who were with him, went away to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. And it was said to David by them, "You shall not enter here, unless you will take away the blind and the lame, who say, ‘David shall not enter here.’ 7But David seized the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David8For David had proposed, on that day, a reward to him who had struck the Jebusites and who had reached to the gutters of the rooftops, and who had taken away the blind and the lame that hated the soul of David. Therefore, it is said in the proverb, "The blind and the lame shall not enter into the temple.9Then David lived in the stronghold, and he called it: the City of David. And he built it up on all sides, from Millo and inward10And he advanced, prospering and increasing, and the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him11Also, Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, with cedar wood, and with builders of wood and builders of stone, in order to make walls. And they built a house for David12And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel13Then David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had arrived from Hebron. And other sons as well as daughters were born to David14And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon15and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg16and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth17Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel. And they all ascended, so that they might seek David. And when David had heard of it, he descended to a stronghold18Now the Philistines, arriving, spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim19And David consulted the Lord, saying: "Shall I ascend to the Philistines? And will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David: "Ascend. For I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.20Therefore, David went to Baal-perazim. And he struck them there. And he said, "The Lord has divided my enemies before me, just as the waters are divided." Because of this, the name of that place was called Baal-perazim21And in that place they left behind their graven images, which David and his men took away22And the Philistines continued still, so that they ascended and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim23Then David consulted the Lord, "Shall I ascend against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hands?" And he responded: "You shall not ascend against them; instead, circle behind their back. And you shall come to them from the side opposite the balsam trees24And when you hear the sound of something going forth from the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall begin the battle. For then the Lord will go forth, before your face, so that he may strike the army of the Philistines.25And so, David did just as the Lord had instructed him. And he struck down the Philistines, from Gibeon until you arrive at Gezer
1Then David again gathered together all the elect men of Israel, thirty thousand2And David arose and went away, with the entire people who were with him from the men of Judah, so that they might lead back the ark of God, over which is invoked the name of the Lord of hosts, who sits upon the cherubim above it3And they placed the ark of God on a new cart. And they took it from the house of Abinadab, who was in Gibeon. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart4And when they had taken it from the house of Abinadab, who was in Gibeon, Ahio preceded the ark as the keeper of the ark of God5But David and all of Israel played before the Lord on every kind of musical instrument made of wood, and on harps, and lyres, and timbrels, and bells, and cymbals6And after they had arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah extended his hand to the ark of God, and he touched it, because the oxen were kicking and had caused it to tip7And the indignation of the Lord was enraged against Uzzah. And he struck him for his temerity. And there he died, beside the ark of God8Then David was saddened because the Lord had struck Uzzah. And the name of that place was called: the Striking of Uzzah, even to this day9And David was very fearful of the Lord on that day, saying, "How shall the ark of the Lord be brought to me?10And he was not willing to send the ark of the Lord to himself in the city of David. Instead, he sent it into the house of Obededom, the Gittite11And the ark of the Lord dwelt in the house of Obededom the Gittite, for three months. And the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household12And it was reported to king David that the Lord had blessed Obededom, and all that was his, because of the ark of God. Therefore, David went and brought the ark of God, from the house of Obededom, into the city of David with joy. And there were with David seven choirs, and calves for victims13And when those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had traveled six steps, he immolated an ox and a ram14And David danced with all his ability before the Lord. And David was girded with the linen ephod15And David, and all the house of Israel, were leading the ark of the testament of the Lord, with jubilation and the sound of the trumpet16And when the ark of the Lord had entered into the city of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looking out through a window, saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord. And she despised him in her heart17And they led in the ark of the Lord. And they set it in its place in the middle of the tabernacle, which David had pitched for it. And David offered holocausts and peace offerings in the sight of the Lord18And when he had completed offering holocausts and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts19And he distributed to the entire multitude of Israel, as much to men as to women, to each one: one loaf of bread, and one piece of roasted beef, and fine wheat flour fried with oil. And all the people went away, each one to his own house20And David returned, so that he might bless his own house. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, going out to meet David, said: "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and being unclothed, as if one of the performers were unclothed.21And David said to Michal: "Before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father, and rather than his entire house, and who commanded me, that I should be the leader over the people of the Lord in Israel22I will both play and demean myself, more so than I have done. And I will be little in my own eyes. And with the handmaids, about whom you are speaking, I will appear more glorious.23And so, there was no child born to Michal, the daughter of Saul, even to the day of her death
1Now it happened that, when the king had settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies2he said to the prophet Nathan, "Do you not see that I live in a house of cedar, and that the ark of God has been placed in the midst of tent skins?3And Nathan said to the king: "Go, do all that is in your heart. For the Lord is with you.4But it happened in that night, behold, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying5"Go, and say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: Should you build a house for me as a dwelling place6For I have not lived in a house from the day that I led the sons of Israel away from the land of Egypt, even to this day. Instead, I have walked in a tabernacle, and in a tent7And in all the places that I have crossed through, with all the sons of Israel, did I ever speak a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I instructed to pasture my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?8And now, so shall you speak to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pastures, from following the sheep, so that you would be the leader over my people Israel9And I have been with you everywhere that you walked. And I have slain all your enemies before your face. And I have made you a great name, beside the name of the great ones who are upon the earth10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall live there, and they shall no longer be disturbed. Neither shall the sons of iniquity continue to afflict them as before11from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give rest to you from all your enemies. And the Lord foretells to you that the Lord himself will make a house for you12And when your days will have been fulfilled, and you will sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will go forth from your loins, and I will make firm his kingdom13He himself shall build a house to my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom, even forever14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he will commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and with the wounds of the sons of men15But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before my face16And your house shall be faithful, and your kingdom shall be before your face, for eternity, and your throne shall be secure continuously.’ 17According to all these words, and according to this entire vision, so did Nathan speak to David18Then king David entered and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you would bring me to this point19Moreover, this has seemed little in your sight, O Lord God, unless you also will speak about the house of your servant for a long time. For this is the law of Adam, O Lord God20Therefore, what more will David be able to say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God21Because of your word, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, so that you would make it known to your servant22For this reason, you are magnified, O Lord God. For there is no one like you. And there is no God except you, in all the things that we have heard with our own ears23But what nation is there upon the earth like your people Israel, because of whom God went forth, so that he might redeem a people for himself, and establish a name for himself, and accomplish for them great and terrible things upon the earth, before the face of your people, whom you redeemed for yourself away from Egypt, the nations and their gods24For you have secured your people Israel for yourself, as an everlasting people. And you, O Lord God, have become their God25Now therefore, O Lord God, raise up forever the word that you have spoken over your servant and over his house. And do just as you have said26so that your name may be magnified even forever, and so that it may be said: ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And the house of your servant David will be established in the sight of the Lord27For you, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Because of this, your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to you28Now therefore, O Lord God, you are God, and your words shall be true. For you have spoken to your servant these good things29Therefore, begin, and bless the house of your servant, so that it may be forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken. And so, let the house of your servant be blessed with your blessing forever.