David loved God deeply and passionately. He never worshiped other gods. He restored the ark to Jerusalem and longed to build a temple. Read his song of praise for deliverance from his enemies (2 Samuel 22). David held nothing back; his trust in Israel's God was full and complete.

Key Names of God in 2 Samuel Yahweh LORD El, Elohim God Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts Ab Father Adonay Lord, Master Metsuda Fortress Elyon Highest Ruach Yahweh the LORD'S Spirit 2 SAMUEL.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24.

The Report of Saul's Death 1 1 After Saul died and David returned from defeating the Amalekites,a David stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man came from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. When he came to David, he immediately bowed down with his face touching the ground.

3 "Where did you come from?" David asked him.

"I escaped from the camp of Israel," he answered.

4 "What happened?" David asked him. "Please tell me."

The man answered, "The army fled from the battle, and many of the soldiers died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too."

5 "How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?" David asked the young man who had brought him the news.

6 The young man answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Saul was there leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen were catching up with him. 7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me, and I said, Yes?'"

8 "He asked me, 'Who are you?'

"I said to him, 'I'm an Amalekite.'

9 "He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me. I'm alive, but I'm suffering.'b 10 "So I stood over him and killed him, since I knew he couldn't survive after he had been wounded. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm and brought them here to you, sir."

11 Then David grabbed his own clothes and tore them in grief. All the men with him did the same. 12 They mourned, cried, and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, Yahweh's army, and the nation of Israel had been defeated in battle.

13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, "Where are you from?"

And the young man answered, "I'm an Amalekite, the son of a foreign resident."

14 David asked, "Why weren't you afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy Yahweh's anointed king?" 15 Then David called one of his young men and told him, "Come here and attack him." David's young man executed him 16 while David said, "You are responsible for spilling your own blood. You testified against yourself when you said, 'I killed Yahweh's anointed king.'"

David's Lament 17 David wrote this song of mourning for Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He said, "Teach this keshethc to the people of Judah."

(It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.) 19 "Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills.

See how the mighty have fallen!

20 Don't tell the news in Gath.

Don't announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, and the daughters of godless men will celebrate.

21 You mountains in Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you or on your slopes,a because warriors' shields were tarnished there.

Saul's shield was never rubbed with olive oil.

22 From the blood of those killed and the fat of the warriors, Jonathan's bow did not turn away, nor did Saul's sword return unused.

23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and well-liked while they were living.

They were not separated even when they died.

They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

24 Daughters of Israel, cry over Saul, who dressed you in decorated, red clothes, who put gold jewelry on your clothes.

25 See how the mighty have fallen in battle!

On your hills Jonathan was killed!

26 I am heartbroken over you, my brother Jonathan.

You were my great delight.

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

27 See how the mighty have fallen!

See how the weapons of war have been destroyed!"

David Becomes King of Judah 2 1 After this, David asked Yahweh, "Should I go to one of the cities of Judah?"

"Go," Yahweh answered him.

"Where should I go?" David asked.

"To Hebron," Yahweh replied.

2 David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail (who had been Nabal's wife) from Carmel. 3 David took his men and their families with him, and they settled in the towns around Hebron. 4 Then the people of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David to be king over the tribe of Judah.

They told David, "The people of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul." 5 So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, "May Yahweh bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him. 6 May Yahweh always show you kindness. I, too, will be good to you because you did this. 7 Now, be strong and courageous. Because your master Saul is dead, the tribe of Judah has anointed me to be their king."

Abner Makes Ishbosheth King of Israel 8 Ner's son Abner, commander of Saul's army, took Saul's son Ishboshethb and brought him to Mahanaim. 9 Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher,c Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel. 10 Saul's son Ishbosheth was 40 years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years, but the tribe of Judah followed David. 11 In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months.

Conflicts between Abner and Joab 12 Ner's son Abner and the officers of Saul's son Ishbosheth went from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 Zeruiah's son Joab and David's officers also left Hebron. Both groups met at the pool of Gibeon. They sat down there, one group on one side of the pool and the other group on the other side of the pool.

14 Abner said to Joab, "Let's have the young men hold a contest." Joab agreed.

15 The men got up and were counted as they passed by. Twelve were from the tribe of Benjamin (representing Saul's son Ishbosheth), and twelve were from David's officers. 16 Each one grabbed his opponent by the head, stuck his sword into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. Therefore, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies. 17 Fierce fighting broke out that day, and David's men defeated Abner and the men of Israel.

18 Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner and refused to leave him alone. 20 When Abner looked back, he asked, "Are you Asahel?"

"Yes," Asahel answered.

21 Abner told him, "Leave me alone! Catch one of the young men, and take his weapon."a But Asahel refused to turn away from him. 22 So Abner spoke again to Asahel. "Stop following me," he said. "Why should I kill you? How could I look your brother Joab in the face again?"

23 But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner struck him with the butt of the spear. The spear went into his belly and came out his back. He fell down there and died on the spot. And everyone who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stopped there.

24 But Joab and Abishai chased Abner. When the sun went down, they came to the hill of Ammah, opposite Giah on the road from Gibeon to the desert. 25 The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner, banding together and taking their position on top of a hill.

26 Then Abner called to Joab, "Should this slaughter go on forever? Don't you know this will end in bitterness? How long will it be before you will call off your troops from chasing their relatives?"

27 Joab answered, "I solemnly swear, as Elohim lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning." 28 So Joab blew a ram's horn, and all the troops stopped. They didn't chase or fight Israel anymore.

29 Abner and his men marched through the plains all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim.

30 Joab returned from chasing Abner. When he had gathered all the troops, only 19 of David's officers and Asahel were missing. 31 However, David's officers had killed 360 of the men of Benjamin under Abner's command. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

3 1 As the war between the royal families of Saul and David dragged on, David's family became stronger and stronger, and Saul's family became weaker and weaker.

David's Sons-1 Chronicles 3:1-4 2 Sons were born to David while he was in Hebron. His first son was Amnon, born to Ahinoam from Jezreel. 3 The second was Chileab, born to Abigail (who had been Nabal's wife) from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (the daughter of King Talmai) from Geshur. 4 The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. 5 The sixth was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David while he was in Hebron.

Abner's Death 6 During the war between the families of Saul and David, Abner strengthened his position in Saul's royal family. 7 Saul had a concubinea named Rizpah (Aiah's daughter). Ishbosheth asked Abner, "Why did you have sex with my father's concubine?"

8 Ishbosheth's question made Abner very angry. "Have I been behaving like some Judean dog?"b he asked. "Until now I've been faithful to your father Saul's family, to his relatives and friends, and I haven't handed you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman. 9 May Elohim strike me dead unless I do for David what Yahweh had promised him with an oath: 10 'I, Yahweh, will transfer the kingship from Saul's family and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.'" 11 Ishbosheth couldn't respond to a single word, because he was afraid of Abner.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. "Who owns this country?" he asked. "Make an agreement with me," he said. "I'll support you and bring all Israel to you."

13 "Good!" David answered. "I'll make an agreement with you. But there's one condition: You can't come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come."

14 Then David sent messengers to Saul's son Ishbosheth to say, "Give me my wife Michal. I made a payment of 100 Philistine foreskins for her."

15 So Ishbosheth sent men to take her from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish. 16 Her husband went with her and cried over her all the way to Bahurim. "Go home," Abner told him. So he went home.

17 Meanwhile, Abner sent the following message to the leaders of Israel: "For some time now you've wanted to make David your king. 18 Do it now, because Yahweh said about David: 'I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.'" 19 Abner also spoke specifically to the people of Benjamin.

Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron to tell him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved. 20 So Abner came with 20 men to David in Hebron, and David had a feast for Abner and his men.

21 Abner told David, "I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make a treaty with you, and you will rule everything your heart desires." Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.

22 Just then David's men and Joab were coming home from a raid with a lot of goods. Abner had been dismissed, so he was no longer with David in Hebron. 23 When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, "Ner's son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully."

24 Then Joab went to the king and asked, "What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you dismiss him and let him get away? 25 Certainly you must know that Ner's son Abner came to deceive you, to find out about your movements and learn everything you're doing!"

26 After leaving David, Joab sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the cistern of Sirah without David knowing about it. 27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway as if to talk to him privately. There he stabbed Abner in the belly. Abner died because he spilled the blood of Joab's brother Asahel.

28 Later when David heard about it, he said, "As far as Yahweh is concerned, my kingdom and I are forever innocent of spilling the blood of Ner's son Abner. 29 May the blame fall on the head of Joab and all of his family. May there always be members of Joab's family who have oozing sores and skin diseases, who can only work a spindle,a who die in battle, and who never have any food." 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 31 David told Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." King David followed the open casket. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly at Abner's grave, and all the people cried. 33 The king sang a funeral song for Abner: Should Abner die like a godless fool?

34 Your hands were not tied.

Your feet were not chained.

You fell as one falls in front of wicked men.

And all the people continued to cry for him.

35 That entire day all the people tried to get David to eat some food. But David had taken an oath: "May Elohim strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down." 36 Then all the people understood and approved of this, as all the people approved of everything the king did. 37 That day all the people of Israel knew the king wasn't responsible for killing Ner's son Abner. 38 The king said to his officers, "Don't you know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel? 39 Today I'm weak, though I'm the anointed king. These men, Zeruiah's sons, are too cruel for me. May Yahweh repay this evildoer as his evil deeds deserve."

Ishbosheth Is Murdered 4 1 When Saul's son Ishbosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all Israel was alarmed. 2 Saul's son had two men who were captains of raiding parties. One was named Baanah, and the other was named Rechab. They were the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth from the tribe of Benjamin.

(Beeroth was considered a part of Benjamin, 3 even though the people of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim. They still live there today. 4 In addition, Saul's son Jonathan had a son who was crippled. When the boy was five years old, the news about the death of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled to Gittaim. She was in a hurry when she left, and he fell from her arms and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.) 5 Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, came to Ishbosheth's home at the hottest time of the day. Ishbosheth was taking his midday nap 6 when they came into the house as though they were going to get some flour. Instead, they stabbed him in the belly. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. 7 (They had come into the house while Ishbosheth was sleeping on his bed in his bedroom. They stabbed him, killed him, and cut off his head.) They took his head and traveled all night along the road to the plains.

8 They brought Ishbosheth's head to David at Hebron. "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you," they told the king. "Today Yahweh has given Your Royal Majesty revenge on Saul and his descendants."

9 David responded to Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, 10 "I once seized a man who told me that Saul had died. He thought he was bringing good news. I killed him in Ziklag to reward him for his news. 11 How much more should I reward wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? Yahweh has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as Yahweh lives,a I'll now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you." 12 So David gave an order to his young men, who executed Rechab and Baanah, cut off their hands and feet, and hung their dead bodies by the pond in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron.

David Anointed King of Israel-1 Chronicles 11:1-3; 3:4 5 1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. "We are your own flesh and blood," they said. 2 "Even in the past when Saul ruled us, you were the one who led Israel in battle. Yahweh has said to you, 'You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of Israel.'"

3 All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. King David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of Yahweh. So they anointed David king of Israel. 4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years. 5 In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled for 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

David Captures Jerusalem-1 Chronicles 11:4-9 6 The king and his men went to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived in that region. The Jebusites told David, "You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could turn you away" (meaning that David could never get in there). 7 But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David). 8 That day David said, "Whoever wants to defeat the Jebusites must reach the lame and the blind who hate me by using the water shaft." So there is a saying, "The blind and the lame will not get into the palace."b 9 David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built the city of Jerusalem around it from the Milloc to the palace. 10 David continued to grow more powerful because Yahweh ElohimdTsebaoth was with him.

David's Palace, Wives, and Children in Jerusalem-1 Chronicles 14:1-7; 3:5-9 11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedarwood, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 12 So David realized that Yahweh had established him as king of Israel and made his kingship famous for the sake of Israel, Yahweh's people.

13 David married more concubinesa and wives from Jerusalem after he had come there from Hebron, and he fathered more sons and daughters. 14 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines-1 Chronicles 14:8-17 17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went to the fortress. 18 The Philistines had come and overrun the valley of Rephaim.

19 David asked Yahweh, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"

Yahweh answered David, "Attack! I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you."

20 So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, "Yahweh has overwhelmed my enemies in front of me like an overwhelming flood." That is why that place is called Baal Perazim [The LORD Overwhelms]. 21 The Philistines left their idols there, so David and his men carried the idols away.

22 The Philistines again attacked and overran the valley of Rephaim. 23 David asked Yahweh, and he answered, "Don't attack now, but circle around behind them, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act immediately because Yahweh has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army." 25 David did as Yahweh ordered him and defeated the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem-1 Chronicles 13:5-14; 15:25-16:3, 43 6 1 David again assembled all the best soldiers in Israel, 30,000 men. 2 He and all the people with him left Baalah in Judahb to bring Elohim's ark to Jerusalem. (The ark is called by the name of Yahweh Tsebaoth , who is enthroned over the angels.c) 3 David and his men put Elohim's ark on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's home on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were guiding the new cart. 4 They brought it from Abinadab's home, with Ahio walking ahead of the ark. 5 David and the entire nation of Israel were celebrating in Yahweh's presence with all kinds of instruments made from cypress woodd and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,e and cymbals.

6 But when they came to Nacon's threshing floor,f the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out for the ark of Elohim and grabbed it. 7 Yahweh became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside the ark of Elohim.

8 David was angry because Yahweh had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day. "How can the ark of Yahweh come to my city?" he asked. 10 So David wouldn't bring the ark of Yahweh with him to the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. 11 The ark of Yahweh stayed at the home of Obed Edom from Gath for three months, and Yahweh blessed Obed Edom and his whole family.

12 King David was told, "Yahweh has blessed Obed Edom's home and everything he owns because of the ark of Elohim ." Then David joyfully went to get the ark of Elohim from Obed Edom's house and bring it to the City of David. 13 When those who carried the ark of Yahweh had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

14 Wearing a linen ephod,a David danced in Yahweh's presence with all his might. 15 He and the entire nation of Israel brought the ark of Yahweh with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams' horns. 16 When the ark of Yahweh came to the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David leaping and dancing in Yahweh's presence, so she despised him.

17 The men carrying the ark set it in its place inside the tent David had put up for it. David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Yahweh's presence. 18 When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh Tsebaoth . 19 He also distributed to all the people-to the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women-one loaf of bread, one date cake, and one raisin cake. Then all the people went home.

20 When David returned to bless his family, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. "How dignified Israel's king was today! He was exposing himself before the eyes of the slave girls of his palace staff-like a mindless fool might expose himself!"

21 David answered Michal, "I didn't dance in front of the slave girls but in front of Yahweh. He chose me rather than your father or anyone in your father's house, and he appointed me leader of Israel, Yahweh's people. I will celebrate in Yahweh's presence, 22 and I will degrade myself even more than this. Even if I am humiliated in your eyes, I will be honored by these slave girls you speak about."

23 So Saul's daughter Michal was childless her entire life.