Category: 2 Samuel

David Learns of Saul’s Death

1 Now it happened after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that he stayed two days in Ziklag.

2 On the third day a man came [unexpectedly] from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head [as in mourning]. When he came to David, he bowed to the ground and lay himself face down [in an act of great respect and submission].

3 Then David asked him, “Where do you come from?” He said, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

4 David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle. Also, many of the people have fallen and are dead; Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead.”

5 So David said to the young man who informed him, “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6 And the young man who told him explained, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen [of the Philistines] were close behind him.

7 When he turned to look behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

8 He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

9 He said to me, ‘Stand up facing me and kill me, for [terrible] agony has come over me, yet I still live [and I will be taken alive].’

10 So I stood facing himand killed him, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown which was on his head and theband which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David grasped his own clothes and tore them [in mourning]; so did all the men who were with him.

12 They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and Jonathan his son, and for the Lord’speople and the house ofIsrael, because they had fallen by the sword [in battle].

13 David said to the young man who informed him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner (resident alien, sojourner), an Amalekite.”

14 David said to him, “How is it that you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’sanointed?”

15 David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” So he struck the Amalekite and he died.

16 David said to the [fallen] man, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’sanointed.’ ”

David’s Dirge for Saul and Jonathan

17 Then David sang this dirge (funeral song) over Saul and his son Jonathan,

18 and he toldthemto teach the sons of Judah,the song ofthe bow. Behold, it is written inthe Book of Jashar:

19 “Your gloryandsplendor, O Israel, is slain upon your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath,

Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,

The daughters of the uncircumcised (pagans) will exult.

21 O mountains of Gilboa,

Let not dew or rain be upon you, nor fields with offerings;

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

The shield of Saul, [dry, cracked] notanointed with oil.

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.

23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovelyandfriends in their lives,

And in their death they were not separated;

They were swifter than eagles,

They were stronger than lions.

24 O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

Who clothed youluxuriously in scarlet,

Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

You have been a good friend to me.

Yourlove toward me was more wonderful

Than the love of women.

27 How the mighty have fallen,

And the weapons of war have perished!”

David Made King over Judah

1 So it happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lordsaid to him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” And He said, “To Hebron.”

2 So David went up there [to Hebron] with his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel [in Judah].

3 And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household; and they lived in the cities of Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

Then they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.”

5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lordbecause you showed this graciousnessandloyalty to Saul your lord (king), and buried him.

6 Now may the Lordshow lovingkindness and truthandfaithfulness to you. I too will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing.

7 So now, let your hands be strong and be valiant; for your lord Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel

8 Now [Saul’s cousin] Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over toMahanaim.

9 He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, even over all Israel [except Judah].

10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned for two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Civil War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13 Joab [David’s nephew] the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. They sat down, with one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now stand andhave a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them stand.”

15 So they stood up and went over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16 Each one of them seized his opponent by the head andthrusthis sword into his opponents side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim [that is, the Field of Sides], which is in Gibeon.

17 There was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Three sons of Zeruiah [the half sister of David] were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as lightandswift-footed as one of the [wild] gazelles in the field.

19 Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left as he followed him.

20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” He answered, “It is I.”

21 So Abner said to him, “Turn to your right or to your left, and grab one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel was not willing to turn away from pursuing Abner.

22 Abner repeated again, “Turn away from following me. Why should I have to strike you to the ground? How would Ibe able to face Joab your brother [and look him in the eye]?”

23 But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner struck him in the abdomen with thebutt end of his spear, and the spear came out his back; and he fell there and died on that spot. And it came about that everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died, stood still [and reflected].

24 But Joab and Abishai [Asahel’s brothers] pursued Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

25 And the sons of [the tribe of] Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and took their stand on the top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long [will it be] before you tell the people to stop pursuing their brothers?”

27 Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people certainly would have stopped pursuing their brothers in the morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 Then Abner and his men went through the Arabah (desert region) all that night, crossed the Jordan, went through Bithron and walked the whole morning and came to Mahanaim [where Ish-bosheth ruled Israel].

30 Joab returned from pursuing Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, besides Asahel.

31 But the servants of David had struck down many of Benjamin and Abner’s men;so thatthree hundred and sixty men died.

32 And they picked up [the body of] Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men walked all night and they arrived in Hebron at daybreak.

The House of David Strengthened

1 There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David grew steadily stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker [to the point of being powerless].

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of [his wife] Maacah, daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of [his wife] Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of [his wife] Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These [sons] were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins David

6 Now while war continued between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was proving himself strong in the house of Saul.

7 Now Saul had aconcubine whose name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner,“Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head [a despicable traitor] that belongs to Judah?Today I show loyaltyandkindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and his friends, by not having you handed over to David; and yet you charge me today with guilt concerning this woman.

9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David just as the Lordhas sworn to him,

10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south].”

11 And Ish-bosheth could not say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David [who was] in his place [at Hebron], saying, “Whose is the land? Make your covenant (treaty) with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

13 David said, “Good! I will make a covenant (treaty) with you, but I require one thing of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to seeme.”

14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I wasbetrothed for [the price of] a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15 So Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish [to whom Saul had given her].

16 But her husband went with her, weeping continually behind her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner told him, “Go, return.” And he did so.

17 Abner talked with the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

18 Now then, do it [and make him king]! For the Lordhas spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

19 Abner also spoketo [the men of] Benjamin. Then he also went totell David at Hebron everything that seemed goodto Israel and to the entire house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner came to David at Hebron, and [brought] twenty men along with him. And David prepared a feast for Abner and the men with him.

21 Abner said to David, “Let me stand up and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant (treaty) with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22 Then the servants of David came with Joab from a raid and brought a great quantity of spoil with them; but Abner was not with David at Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why did you send him away, so that he is already gone?

25 You know Abner the son of Ner, that he [only] came to deceive you [with flattering words] and to learn of your going out and coming in, and to find out what you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

26 When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew nothing [about Joab’s action].

27 So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he struck Abner in the abdomen so that he died,to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.

28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lordof the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

29 Letthe guilt fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house (family); and may there never disappear from the house of Joab one who suffers with a discharge or one who is a leper or one who walks with a crutch [being unfit for war], or one who falls by the sword, or one who lacks food.”

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier.

32 They buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 And the king sang a dirge (funeral song) over Abner and said,

“Should Abner [the great warrior] die as a fool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters;

As a man falls before the wicked, so you have fallen.”

And all the people wept again over him.

35 All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.”

36 And all the people took notice of it and itpleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.

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.

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?

39 Today I am weak, though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lordrepay the evildoer [Joab] in accordance with his wickedness!”

Ish-bosheth Murdered

1 When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth [king of Israel], heard that Abner had died in Hebron, helost courage, and all Israel was horrified.

2 Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of [raiding] bands [of soldiers]. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the sons (tribe) of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of [the tribe of] Benjamin,

3 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been resident aliens there to this day).

4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the news [of the deaths] of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. And the boy’s nurse picked him up and fled; but it happened that while she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

5 So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, left and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.

6 They came into the interior of the house as if to get wheat [for the soldiers], and they struck him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped [unnoticed].

7 Now when they entered the house he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They [not only] struck and killed him, [but] they also beheaded him. Then they took his head and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.

8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Look, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the Lordhas granted my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and on his descendants.”

9 David replied to Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the Lordlives, who has redeemed my life from every adversity,

10 when a man told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’thinking that he was bringing good news, I seized and killed him in Ziklag, to reward him for his news.

11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteousandjust man in his own house on his bed, shall I not require his blood from your hand and remove you from the earth?”

12 So David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them beside the pool in Hebron. But they took Ish-bosheth’s head and buried it in Hebron in the tomb of Abner [his relative].

David King over All Israel

1 Thenall the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out [to war] and brought Israel in [from battle]. And the Lordtold you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over them.’ ”

3 So all the elders (tribal leaders) of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed him king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

6 Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You shall not enter here, for the blind and the lame [even the weakest among us] will turn you away”; they thought, “David cannot come in here [because the walls are impenetrable].”

7 Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold (fortress) of Zion, that is, the City of David.

8 Then David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up through the [underground] water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, who are detested by David’s soul [because of their arrogance].” So [for that reason] they say, “The blind or the lame (Jebusites) shall not come into the [royal] house [of Israel].”

9 So David lived in the stronghold and called it the City of David. And he built all around [the surrounding area] from theMillo [fortification] and inward.

10 David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts (armies), was with him.

11 Now Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons; and they built a house (palace) for David.

12 And David knew that the Lordhad established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.

13 David took moreconcubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to him.

14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

War with the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to look for him, but he heard about it and went down to thestronghold.

18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out [for battle] in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And the Lordsaid to David, “Go up, for I will certainly hand them over to you.”

20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and he defeated them there, and said, “The Lordhas broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” So he named that place Baal-perazim (master of breakthroughs).

21 The Philistines abandoned their [pagan] idols there, so David and his men took them away [to be burned].

22 The Philistines came up once again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall pay attentionandact promptly, for at that time the Lordwill have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

25 David did just as the Lordhad commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

Peril in Moving the Ark

1 Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 And David arose and went with all those who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim], to bring up from there [to Jerusalem] the ark of God which is called by the Name—the very Name of the Lordof hosts, who dwells enthronedabovethe cherubim.

3 They placed the ark of God ona new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.

4 So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebratinganddancing before the Lordwith all kinds ofinstruments made offirorcypress wood, with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

6 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out [with his hand] to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen [stumbled and] nearly overturned it.

7 Andthe anger of the Lordburned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

8 David becameangryandgrievedandoffended because of the Lord’soutburst against Uzzah, and that place has been called Perez-uzzah (outburst against Uzzah) to this day.

9 So David was afraid of the Lordthat day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lordcome to me?”

10 David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lordinto the City of David with him; instead he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

11 So the ark of the Lordremained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lordblessed Obed-edom and all his household (family).

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

12 Now King David was told, “The Lordhas blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicingandgladness.

13 And when those who were carrying the ark of the Lord[by its poles] had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

14 And David was dancing before the Lordwithgreat enthusiasm, and David waswearing a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].

15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing the ark of the Lordup [to the City of David] with shouts [of joy] and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Then, as the ark of the Lordcame into the City of David,Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified].

17 They brought in the ark of the Lordand 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.

18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lordof hosts (armies),

19 and distributed to all the people, the entire multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to each a [ring-shaped] loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. But [his wife] Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How gloriousanddistinguished was the king of Israel today,who uncovered himselfandstripped [off his kingly robes] in the eyes of his servants’ maids like one of the riffraff who shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord[that I did this], who chose me above your father and all his house, to appoint me as ruler over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore I will celebrate [in pure enjoyment] before the Lord.

22 Yet I will demean myselfevenmore than this, and will be humbled (abased) in my own sight [and yours, as I please], but by the maids whom you mentioned, by them I shall be held in honor.”

23 Michal the daughter of Saul had nochild to the day of her death.

David Plans to Build a Temple

1 When King David lived in his house (palace) and the Lordhad given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

2 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.”

3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for the Lordis with you.”

4 But it happened that night that the word of the Lordcame to Nathan, saying,

5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Should you be the one to build Me a house in which to dwell?

6 For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought the sons (descendants) of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.

7 Wherever I have gone with all the Israelites, did I speak a word to any from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, asking, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’

God’s Covenant with David

8 So now, say this to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.

9 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 that of the great men of the earth.

10 I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in a place of their own and not be disturbed again. Thewicked will not afflict them again, as formerly,

11 even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lordalso declares to you that He will make a house (royal dynasty) for you.

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down [in death] with your fathers (ancestors), I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He [is the one who] shall build a house for MyNameandMy Presence, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. When he commits iniquity (wrongdoing), I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the sons of man.

15 But My lovingkindnessandmercy will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 Your house (royal dynasty) and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever.” ’ ”

17 Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all of this vision.

David’s Prayer

18 Then King David went in and sat [in prayer] before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O LordGod, and what is my house (family), that You have brought me this far?

19 Yet this was very insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of Your servant’s house (royal dynasty) in the distant future. And this is the lawandcustom of man, O Lord God.

20 What more can David say to You? For You know (acknowledge, choose) Your servant, O Lord God.

21 Because of Your word (promise), and in accordance with Your own heart, You have done all these greatandastounding things to let Your servant know (understand).

22 Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23 What one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do great and awesome things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt,fromnations and their gods?

24 You established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.

25 Now, O LordGod, confirm forever the word [of the covenant] that You have spoken in regard to Your servant and his house (royal dynasty); and do just as You have spoken,

26 so that Your Name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lordof hosts (armies) is God over Israel;’ and may the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant David be establishedbefore You.

27 For You, O Lordof hosts, God of Israel, haverevealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house (royal dynasty).’ For that reason Your servant has foundcourage to pray this prayer to You.

28 And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

29 Therefore now, may it please You to bless the house (royal dynasty) of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David’s Triumphs

1 Now it came about after this that David defeated the Philistines and subdued (humbled) them, and he took control of Metheg-ammah [the main city] from the hand of the Philistines.

2 He defeatedMoab, andmeasured them with a length of rope, making them lie down on the ground; he measured two lengths to [choose those to] put to death, and one full length to [choose those to] be kept alive. And the [surviving] Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

3 Then David defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king ofZobah, as he went to restore his power at the River [Euphrates].

4 David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses (making them lame), but reservedenoughof them for a hundred chariots.

5 When the Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Arameans.

6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans in Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants and brought tribute. The Lordhelped David wherever he went.

7 David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took an immense quantity of bronze.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard about David’s defeat of all the forces of Hadadezer,

10 Toi sentJoram his son to King David togreet and congratulate him for his battle and defeat of Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.Jorambrought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze [as gifts].

11 King David also dedicated these [gifts] to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he subdued:

12 from Aram (Syria), Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 So David made a namefor himselfwhen he returned from killing 18,000Arameans (Syrians) in the Valley of Salt.

14 He put garrisons in Edom; in all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lordhelped him wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel, and continued to administer justice and righteousness for all his people.

16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was [commander] over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder (secretary);

17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the [chief] priests, and Seraiah was the scribe;

18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was [head] over both the Cherethites and Pelethites [the king’s bodyguards]; and David’s sons werechief [confidential] advisers (officials) [to the king].

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 There was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I amyour servant.”

3 And the king said, “Is there no longer anyoneleftof the house (family) of Saul to whom I may show the goodnessandgraciousness of God?” Ziba replied to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, [one] whose feet are crippled.”

4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba replied to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.”

5 Then King David sentwordand had him brought from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6 Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell face down and lay himself down [in respect]. David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

7 David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall always eat at my table.”

8 Again Mephibosheth lay himself face down and said, “What is your servant, that you would be concerned for a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and to all his house (family).

10 You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring inthe produce,so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do according to everything that my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. And he was lame in both feet.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

1 Now it happened later that [Nahash] the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father did to me.” So David sent [a letter along with] some of his servants to console him in regard to his father’s death; and David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites.

3 But the princes of the Ammonites [were suspicious and] said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?”

4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their robes in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

5 When David was informed, he sent [messengers] to meet them [before they reached Jerusalem], for the men were greatly ashamedandhumiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, andthenreturn.”

6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become an object of hatred to David, they sentwordand hired the Arameans (Syrians) 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 [to fight for them].

7 When David heard about it, he sent Joab and the entire army, the strongandbrave men.

8 The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of the [city] gate, but the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were [stationed] by themselves in the field.

9 Now when Joab saw that the battlefront was against him in front and in the rear, he selected some of all the choice men in Israel and set them in battle formation to meet the Arameans (Syrians).

10 But he placed the rest of the men in the hand of his brother Abishai, and he placed them in battle formation to meet the Ammonites.

11 Joab said [to Abishai], “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come to help you.

12 Be courageous, and let us show ourselves courageous for the benefit of our people and the cities of our God. And may the Lorddo what is good in His sight.”

13 So Joab and the people who were with him approached the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab returned frombattlingagainst the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered together.

16 Hadadezer sentwordand brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River [Euphrates]; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer led them.

17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. Then the Arameans assembled in battle formation to meet David and fought against him.

18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 horsemen, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.

19 When all the kings serving Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans (Syrians) were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.