Book | Chapter | Verse | Text |
2 Samuel |
1 |
1 |
After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
2 |
On the third day after David's return, a man arrived from the Israelite battlefront. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
3 |
"Where have you come from?" David asked. "I escaped from the Israelite camp," the man replied. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
4 |
"What happened?" David demanded. "Tell me how the battle went." The man replied, "Our entire army fled. Many men are dead and wounded on the battlefield, and Saul and his son Jonathan have been killed." |
2 Samuel |
1 |
5 |
"How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David demanded. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
6 |
The young man answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. I saw Saul there leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots closing in on him. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
7 |
When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. `How can I help?' I asked him. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
8 |
And he said to me, `Who are you?' I replied, `I am an Amalekite.' |
2 Samuel |
1 |
9 |
Then he begged me, `Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.' |
2 Samuel |
1 |
10 |
"So I killed him," the Amalekite told David, "for I knew he couldn't live. Then I took his crown and one of his bracelets so I could bring them to you, my lord." |
2 Samuel |
1 |
11 |
David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
12 |
They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD's army and the nation of Israel, because so many had died that day. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
13 |
Then David said to the young man who had brought the news, "Where are you from?" And he replied, "I am a foreigner, an Amalekite, who lives in your land." |
2 Samuel |
1 |
14 |
"Were you not afraid to kill the LORD's anointed one?" David asked. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
15 |
Then David said to one of his men, "Kill him!" So the man thrust his sword into the Amalekite and killed him. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
16 |
"You die self-condemned," David said, "for you yourself confessed that you killed the LORD's anointed one." |
2 Samuel |
1 |
17 |
Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
18 |
Later he commanded that it be taught to all the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
19 |
Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! How the mighty heroes have fallen! |
2 Samuel |
1 |
20 |
Don't announce the news in Gath, or the Philistines will rejoice. Don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the pagans will laugh in triumph. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
21 |
O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you or your slopes. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
22 |
Both Saul and Jonathan killed their strongest foes; they did not return from battle empty-handed. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
23 |
How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
24 |
O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in fine clothing and gold ornaments. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
25 |
How the mighty heroes have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead upon the hills. |
2 Samuel |
1 |
26 |
How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women! |
2 Samuel |
1 |
27 |
How the mighty heroes have fallen! Stripped of their weapons, they lie dead. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
1 |
After this, David asked the LORD, "Should I move back to Judah?" And the LORD replied, "Yes." Then David asked, "Which town should I go to?" And the LORD replied, "Hebron." |
2 Samuel |
2 |
2 |
David's wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives |
2 Samuel |
2 |
3 |
and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled near the town of Hebron. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
4 |
Then Judah's leaders came to David and crowned him king over the tribe of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, |
2 Samuel |
2 |
5 |
he sent them this message: "May the LORD bless you for being so loyal to your king and giving him a decent burial. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
6 |
May the LORD be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
7 |
And now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king." |
2 Samuel |
2 |
8 |
But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul's son Ishbosheth. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
9 |
There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
10 |
Ishbosheth was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
11 |
David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
12 |
One day Abner led some of Ishbosheth's troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
13 |
About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David's troops from Hebron, and they met Abner at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
14 |
Then Abner suggested to Joab, "Let's have a few of our warriors put on an exhibition of hand-to-hand combat.All right," Joab agreed. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
15 |
So twelve men were chosen from each side to fight against each other. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
16 |
Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other's side so that all of them died. The place has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
17 |
The two armies then began to fight each other, and by the end of the day Abner and the men of Israel had been defeated by the forces of David. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
18 |
Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, the three sons of Zeruiah, were among David's forces that day. Asahel could run like a deer, |
2 Samuel |
2 |
19 |
and he began chasing Abner. He was relentless and single-minded in his pursuit. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
20 |
When Abner looked back and saw him coming, he called out, "Is that you, Asahel?Yes, it is," he replied. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
21 |
"Go fight someone else!" Abner warned. "Take on one of the younger men and strip him of his weapons." But Asahel refused and kept right on chasing Abner. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
22 |
Again Abner shouted to him, "Get away from here! I will never be able to face your brother Joab if I have to kill you!" |
2 Samuel |
2 |
23 |
But Asahel would not give up, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel's stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He stumbled to the ground and died there. And everyone who came by that spot stopped and stood still when they saw Asahel lying there. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
24 |
When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
25 |
Abner's troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
26 |
Abner shouted down to Joab, "Must we always solve our differences with swords? Don't you realize the only thing we will gain is bitterness toward each other? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?" |
2 Samuel |
2 |
27 |
Then Joab said, "God only knows what would have happened if you hadn't spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary." |
2 Samuel |
2 |
28 |
So Joab blew his trumpet, and his men stopped chasing the troops of Israel. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
29 |
All that night Abner and his men retreated through the Jordan Valley. They crossed the Jordan River, traveling all through the morning, and they did not stop until they arrived at Mahanaim. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
30 |
Meanwhile, Joab and his men also returned home. When Joab counted his casualties, he discovered that only nineteen men were missing, in addition to Asahel. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
31 |
But three hundred and sixty of Abner's men, all from the tribe of Benjamin, had been killed. |
2 Samuel |
2 |
32 |
Joab and his men took Asahel's body to Bethlehem and buried him there beside his father. Then they traveled all night and reached Hebron at daybreak. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
1 |
That was the beginning of a long war between those who had been loyal to Saul and those who were loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul's dynasty became weaker and weaker. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
2 |
These were the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
3 |
The second was Kileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
4 |
The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
5 |
The sixth was Ithream, whose mother was David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
6 |
As the war went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those who were loyal to Saul's dynasty. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
7 |
One day Ishbosheth, Saul's son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father's concubines, a woman named Rizpah. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
8 |
Abner became furious. "Am I a Judean dog to be kicked around like this?" he shouted. "After all I have done for you and your father by not betraying you to David, is this my reward--that you find fault with me about this woman? |
2 Samuel |
3 |
9 |
May God deal harshly with me if I don't help David get all that the LORD has promised him! |
2 Samuel |
3 |
10 |
I should just go ahead and give David the rest of Saul's kingdom. I should set him up as king over Israel as well as Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." |
2 Samuel |
3 |
11 |
Ishbosheth didn't dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
12 |
Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, "Let's make an agreement, and I will help turn the entire nation of Israel over to you." |
2 Samuel |
3 |
13 |
"All right," David replied, "but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come." |
2 Samuel |
3 |
14 |
David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul's son: "Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of one hundred Philistines." |
2 Samuel |
3 |
15 |
So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband Palti son of Laish. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
16 |
Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, "Go back home!" So Palti returned. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
17 |
Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the leaders of Israel. "For some time now," he told them, "you have wanted to make David your king. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
18 |
Now is the time! For the LORD has said, `I have chosen David to save my people from the Philistines and from all their other enemies.'" |
2 Samuel |
3 |
19 |
Abner also spoke with the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin supported him. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
20 |
When Abner came to Hebron with his twenty men, David entertained them with a great feast. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
21 |
Then Abner said to David, "Let me go and call all the people of Israel to your side. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king. Then you will be able to rule over everything your heart desires." So David sent Abner safely on his way. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
22 |
But just after Abner left, Joab and some of David's troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
23 |
When Joab was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety, |
2 Samuel |
3 |
24 |
he rushed to see the king. "What have you done?" he demanded. "What do you mean by letting Abner get away? |
2 Samuel |
3 |
25 |
You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and to discover everything you are doing!" |
2 Samuel |
3 |
26 |
Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner. They found him at the pool of Sirah and brought him back with them. But David knew nothing about it. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
27 |
When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he drew his dagger and killed Abner in revenge for killing his brother Asahel. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
28 |
When David heard about it, he declared, "I vow by the LORD that I and my people are innocent of this crime against Abner. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
29 |
Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May his family in every generation be cursed with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or who dies by the sword or who begs for food!" |
2 Samuel |
3 |
30 |
So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
31 |
Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth. Go into deep mourning for Abner." And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
32 |
They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
33 |
Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner: "Should Abner have died as fools die? |
2 Samuel |
3 |
34 |
Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered--the victim of a wicked plot." All the people wept again for Abner. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
35 |
David had refused to eat anything the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, "May God kill me if I eat anything before sundown." |
2 Samuel |
3 |
36 |
This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! |
2 Samuel |
3 |
37 |
So everyone in Judah and Israel knew that David was not responsible for Abner's death. |
2 Samuel |
3 |
38 |
Then King David said to the people, "Do you not realize that a great leader and a great man has fallen today in Israel? |
2 Samuel |
3 |
39 |
And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah--Joab and Abishai--are too strong for me to control. So may the LORD repay these wicked men for their wicked deeds." |
2 Samuel |
4 |
1 |
When Ishbosheth heard about Abner's death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and his people were paralyzed with fear. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
2 |
Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth's raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin's territory |
2 Samuel |
4 |
3 |
because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
4 |
(Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when Saul and Jonathan were killed at the battle of Jezreel. When news of the battle reached the capital, the child's nurse grabbed him and fled. But she fell and dropped him as she was running, and he became crippled as a result.) |
2 Samuel |
4 |
5 |
One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth's home around noon as he was taking a nap. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
6 |
The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past the doorkeeper, went into Ishbosheth's bedroom, and stabbed him in the stomach. Then they escaped. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
7 |
But before leaving, they cut off his head as he lay there on his bed. Taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
8 |
They arrived at Hebron and presented Ishbosheth's head to David. "Look!" they exclaimed. "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the LORD has given you revenge on Saul and his entire family!" |
2 Samuel |
4 |
9 |
But David said to Recab and Baanah, "As surely as the LORD lives, the one who saves me from my enemies, I will tell you the truth. |
2 Samuel |
4 |
10 |
Once before, someone told me, `Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That's the reward I gave him for his news! |
2 Samuel |
4 |
11 |
Now what reward should I give the wicked men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Should I not also demand your very lives?" |
2 Samuel |
4 |
12 |
So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron. |