2 Samuel

A man from the camp of Saul arrived at Ziklag, telling David that Saul and his son Jonathan had died in battle. The man, an Amalekite, claimed to have killed Saul at his own request after finding him mortally wounded. David had the Amalekite executed for killing the Lord's anointed. David then mourned the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, lamenting their loss and praising their bravery in a lamentation.

David inquired of the Lord and was instructed to go to Hebron, where he was anointed king over Judah. Meanwhile, Abner, the leader of Saul's army, made Ishbosheth, Saul's son, king over the rest of Israel. The two armies clashed at the pool of Gibeon, resulting in a fierce battle in which Asahel, one of David's men, was killed by Abner. The battle continued until Abner and his men retreated across the Jordan River, and Joab, David's commander, called off the pursuit.

A long struggle occurred between the house of Saul and the house of David, with David prospering and growing stronger, while the house of Saul decreased daily. David had sons born to him in Hebron, including Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, and Ithream. Abner, who was reigning over the house of Saul, became angry with Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and decided to transfer the kingdom to David. Abner sent messengers to David to make a friendship with him, and David agreed, but only if Abner brought Michal, Saul's daughter, to him. Abner brought Michal, and David made a feast for Abner, but Joab, David's commander, was angry that David had let Abner go in peace. Joab then sent messengers to bring Abner back, and he killed Abner in revenge for the death of his brother Asahel. David was angry with Joab and mourned Abner's death, and he swore not to eat until the sun set.

Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, was weakened and Israel was troubled after hearing of Abner's death. Two of Ishbosheth's leaders, Rechab and Baanah, sons of Rimmon, killed Ishbosheth while he was sleeping and brought his head to David in Hebron. They expected to be rewarded, but David instead had them killed for their treachery, cutting off their hands and feet and suspending them over the pool in Hebron. The head of Ishbosheth was buried in the sepulcher of Abner at Hebron.

The tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, acknowledging him as their leader and the one chosen by God to pasture Israel. David was anointed as king over Israel and reigned for 40 years, with 7 years and 6 months in Hebron and 33 years in Jerusalem. David captured the stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites and made it his capital, renaming it the City of David. He then defeated the Philistines twice, once at Baal-perazim and again in the Valley of Rephaim, with God's guidance and assistance.

David gathered 30,000 men to retrieve the ark of God from the house of Abinadab in Gibeon, and they placed it on a new cart. However, when Uzzah touched the ark to steady it, the Lord struck him down, and David was fearful of the Lord. The ark was then sent to the house of Obededom, where it remained for three months and brought blessings to his household. David eventually brought the ark to the city of David with great celebration, but his wife Michal despised him for dancing before the Lord, and as a result, she remained childless.

King David expressed his desire to build a house for the Lord, but the Lord told him through the prophet Nathan that He had never asked for a house and had always dwelled in a tabernacle. The Lord instead promised to establish David's kingdom and throne forever, and that one of his descendants would build a house for Him. David responded with a prayer of gratitude and humility, acknowledging the Lord's greatness and asking Him to fulfill His promise to establish his house forever.

David defeated the Philistines, Moab, and Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and made them pay tribute. He also defeated the Syrians of Damascus and made them pay tribute, and positioned a garrison in Syria. David took gold, silver, and brass from the defeated kings and sanctified them to the Lord. He then positioned guards in Edom and made them serve him, with the Lord assisting him in all his endeavors.

King David inquired about any remaining descendants of Saul to show them kindness for Jonathan's sake. He discovered Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who was lame, and had him brought from Lodebar. David restored Mephibosheth's family lands and invited him to dine at his table, assigning Ziba, a former servant of Saul, to work the land and provide for Mephibosheth's needs. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, eating at the king's table, while Ziba and his household served him.

King Hanun of Ammon, believing David's condolences for his father's death were a ruse to spy on him, humiliated David's servants by shaving their beards and cutting their garments. In response, David sent Joab and the army to fight the Ammonites, who had hired Syrian mercenaries. The Israelites defeated both the Ammonites and the Syrians, killing many of their soldiers and leaders, including Shobach, the Syrian military leader. The remaining Syrian kings fled and made peace with Israel, refusing to aid the Ammonites again.

David, remaining in Jerusalem while his army was at war, saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and had her brought to him, resulting in her becoming pregnant. David then attempted to cover up the situation by recalling Uriah from the war, but Uriah refused to go to his wife while his fellow soldiers were still at war. David then ordered Joab to have Uriah placed in a position where he would be killed, and Uriah was subsequently slain in battle. After the mourning period, David married Bathsheba, who bore him a son, but the Lord was displeased with David's actions.

The prophet Nathan confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba, using a parable about a wealthy man who took a poor man's only sheep. David, not realizing the parable was about him, condemned the wealthy man, and Nathan revealed that David was the one who had sinned by taking Uriah's wife and having him killed. David confessed his sin, and Nathan told him that the Lord had forgiven him but that the child born to Bathsheba would die. The child became ill and died, and David, after mourning, worshiped the Lord and resumed his normal activities. Later, David consoled Bathsheba, and she bore another son, Solomon, whom the Lord loved.

Amnon, the son of King David, fell in love with his half-sister Tamar, and with the help of his friend Jonadab, he tricked her into coming to his room where he raped her. After the assault, Amnon hated Tamar and sent her away. Tamar's brother Absalom took her in and comforted her, but he also plotted his revenge against Amnon. Two years later, Absalom invited all of King David's sons, including Amnon, to a feast where he had Amnon killed. King David was initially told that all of his sons had been killed, but he later learned that only Amnon had been slain. Absalom then fled to the kingdom of Geshur, where he stayed for three years, and King David eventually stopped pursuing him after being consoled over Amnon's death.

A wise woman from Tekoa, instructed by Joab, approached King David, feigning to be a grieving widow, and told a story of her two sons, one of whom killed the other, and how her family sought to avenge the death. The king promised to protect her son, and the woman then revealed her true intention, which was to persuade the king to forgive and recall his banished son Absalom. The king, realizing Joab's involvement, ordered him to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, but initially refused to see him. After two years, Absalom, frustrated at being ignored, set fire to Joab's grain field, prompting Joab to visit him and eventually arrange a meeting with the king, where Absalom was finally reconciled with his father.

Absalom, David's son, began to secretly gather support among the Israelites by standing at the city gate and offering to hear their disputes, gaining their favor by suggesting the king had no one to hear their cases. After four years, Absalom asked David for permission to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow, but instead, he sent out scouts to proclaim his kingship and gathered 200 men to join him. David, upon hearing of the rebellion, fled Jerusalem with his household, leaving behind ten concubines to care for the house. As David departed, he was joined by his loyal servants, including the Gittites, and the priests Zadok and Abiathar, who carried the ark of the covenant. David eventually sent the ark back to Jerusalem, and he continued on to the Mount of Olives, where he prayed for God to thwart the counsel of Ahithophel, who had joined Absalom's rebellion. David then met Hushai, who offered to return to Jerusalem and serve Absalom, while secretly working to undermine Ahithophel's counsel and send information back to David.

David encounters Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who brings him supplies and informs him that Mephibosheth remains in Jerusalem, expecting the kingdom to be restored to him. David then awards Ziba all of Mephibosheth's possessions. As David continues on, he is cursed and pelted with stones by Shimei, a relative of Saul, who blames David for the downfall of Saul's house. David refuses to punish Shimei, believing the Lord has commanded him to curse. Meanwhile, Absalom enters Jerusalem with Ahithophel, who advises him to publicly sleep with David's concubines to solidify his claim to the throne.

Ahithophel advised Absalom to pursue David with 12,000 men and strike him down while he was weary. However, Hushai countered with a different plan, suggesting that Absalom gather all of Israel and attack David with a larger force, covering him like dew on the ground. Absalom and the men of Israel preferred Hushai's counsel, which was part of God's plan to lead evil over Absalom. Hushai then secretly informed David of Ahithophel's plan, warning him to cross the Jordan River quickly, which David did. Ahithophel, realizing his counsel had not been followed, took his own life.

David divided his army into three groups, led by Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, and ordered them to spare Absalom's life. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim, where the Israelites were defeated, and 20,000 men were killed. Absalom's mule ran under a large oak tree, causing his head to become trapped, and Joab had him killed despite the king's orders to spare him. Absalom's body was thrown into a pit and covered with stones. David was informed of the battle's outcome and Absalom's death by Ahimaaz and Hushai, and he was overcome with grief, mourning the loss of his son.

King David mourned the death of his son Absalom, which led to Joab rebuking him for grieving over his enemy and not showing gratitude to his loyal servants. David then sat at the gate, and the people came before him, but Israel fled to their tents. The people of Israel began to question why they had not been involved in bringing the king back, and David sent word to the leaders of Judah to return him to his house. The king then crossed the Jordan River, where he was met by Shimei, who had previously cursed him, but David forgave him. Mephibosheth, the son of Saul, also met the king and explained why he had not joined him earlier, and David divided the possessions of Mephibosheth and Ziba. Barzillai the Gileadite, who had provided for the king, declined to go to Jerusalem with him, but offered his son Chimham to go in his place. The people of Israel then questioned why the men of Judah had led the king across the Jordan, leading to a dispute between the two groups.

Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, incited a rebellion against King David, and many Israelites followed him, but the men of Judah remained loyal to David. David ordered Amasa to gather the men of Judah to pursue Sheba, but Amasa delayed, and David sent Joab and his men instead. Joab encountered Amasa and killed him, then continued the pursuit of Sheba. Sheba was eventually besieged in Abel and Bethmaacah, where a wise woman intervened and negotiated with Joab, resulting in the beheading of Sheba and the withdrawal of Joab's forces.

A three-year famine occurred during David's reign, and God revealed it was due to Saul's bloodshed against the Gibeonites. David consulted the Gibeonites, who demanded the execution of seven of Saul's descendants as reparation. David agreed, sparing Mephibosheth due to his oath with Jonathan, and the seven men were crucified. Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, mourned their deaths, and David eventually buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan, along with those of the crucified men. The chapter also recounts David's battles against the Philistines, during which he was nearly killed but was saved by Abishai, and his men subsequently forbade him from fighting in future battles.

David praises God as his rock, strength, and savior, who has freed him from his enemies and Saul. He describes God's power and wrath, saying that God will thunder from heaven and scatter his enemies with lightning. David attributes his victories to God, saying that God has given him strength for battle and made his way perfect. He expresses his gratitude to God, who has saved him from his enemies and made him the head of the Gentiles, and he vows to magnify God's salvation and show mercy to his offspring forever.

David, the son of Jesse, speaks of God's promise to him and his house, stating that God's word has been spoken through him. He describes God as the Strong One of Israel and the Just Ruler, and notes that his house is not so great that God would make an eternal covenant with him. David then lists the names of his valiant warriors, including the three leaders who were with him when they defeated the Philistines, and describes their bravery in battle. He also tells the story of how three of his men risked their lives to bring him water from the cistern in Bethlehem, but he refused to drink it, instead pouring it out to the Lord. The chapter concludes with a list of the thirty valiant men who were part of David's army.

The Lord incited David to take a census of Israel and Judah, despite Joab's objections. After nine months and twenty days, the census was completed, revealing 800,000 able-bodied men in Israel and 500,000 in Judah. David realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness, and the Lord offered him a choice of three punishments: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of pestilence. David chose the pestilence, which resulted in 70,000 deaths, but the Lord relented when the Angel of the Lord was about to destroy Jerusalem. David then built an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, where he offered sacrifices to the Lord, and the plague was stopped.