|
64. The News of
Saul's Death is
brought to
David.
2 Samuel
1:1-16.
1
It happened
after the death
of Saul, when
David was
returned from
the slaughter of
the Amalekites,
and David had
stayed two days
in Ziklag;
2
it happened on
the third day,
that behold, a
man came out of
the camp from
Saul, with his
clothes torn,
and earth on his
head: and so it
was, when he
came to David,
that he fell to
the earth, and
showed respect.
3
David said to
him, “Where do
you come from?”
He said to him,
“I have escaped
out of 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, and many
of the people
also have fallen
and are dead;
and Saul and
Jonathan his son
are dead also.”
5
David said to
the young man
who told him,
“How do you know
that Saul and
Jonathan his son
are dead?”
6
The young man
who told him
said, “As I
happened by
chance on Mount
Gilboa, behold,
Saul was leaning
on his spear;
and behold, the
chariots and the
horsemen
followed hard
after him.
7
When he looked
behind him, he
saw me, and
called to me. I
answered, ‘Here
I am.’
8
He said to me,
‘Who are you?’ I
answered him, ‘I
am an Amalekite.’
9
He said to me,
‘Please stand
beside me, and
kill me; for
anguish has
taken hold of
me, because my
life is yet
whole in me.’
10
So I stood
beside him, and
killed him,
because I was
sure that he
could not live
after that he
had fallen. I
took the crown
that was on his
head, and the
bracelet that
was on his arm,
and have brought
them here to my
lord.”
11
Then David took
hold on his
clothes, and
tore them; and
likewise all the
men who were
with him.
12
They mourned,
and wept, and
fasted until
evening, for
Saul, and for
Jonathan his
son, and for the
people of
Yahweh,1
and for the
house of Israel;
because they
were fallen by
the sword.
13
David said to
the young man
who told him,
“Where are you
from?”
He answered, “I
am the son of a
foreigner, an
Amalekite.”
14
David said to
him, “How were
you not afraid
to put forth
your hand to
destroy Yahweh’s
anointed?”
15
David called one
of the young
men, and said,
“Go near, and
fall on him.” He
struck him, so
that he died.
16
David said to
him, “Your blood
be on your head;
for your mouth
has testified
against you,
saying, ‘I have
slain Yahweh’s
anointed.’”
|
|
|
65. David's
Lamentation for
Saul and
Jonathan.
2 Samuel
1:17-27.
17
David lamented
with this
lamentation over
Saul and over
Jonathan his son
18
(and he
commanded them
to teach the
children of
Judah the song
of the bow:
behold, it is
written in the
book of Jashar):
19
“Your glory,
Israel, is slain
on your high
places!
How the mighty
have fallen!
20
Don’t tell it in
Gath.
Don’t publish it
in the streets
of Ashkelon,
lest the
daughters of the
Philistines
rejoice,
lest the
daughters of the
uncircumcised
triumph.
21
You mountains of
Gilboa,
let there be no
dew nor rain on
you, neither
fields of
offerings;
For there the
shield of the
mighty was
vilely cast
away,
The shield of
Saul was not
anointed with
oil.
22
From the blood
of the slain,
from the fat of
the mighty,
Jonathan’s bow
didn’t turn
back.
Saul’s sword
didn’t return
empty.
23
Saul and
Jonathan were
lovely and
pleasant in
their lives.
In their death,
they were not
divided.
They were
swifter than
eagles.
They were
stronger than
lions.
24
You daughters of
Israel, weep
over Saul,
who clothed you
in scarlet
delicately,
who put
ornaments of
gold on your
clothing.
25
How are the
mighty fallen in
the midst of the
battle!
Jonathan is
slain on your
high places.
26
I am distressed
for you, my
brother
Jonathan.
You have been
very pleasant to
me.
Your love to me
was wonderful,
passing the love
of women.
27
How are the
mighty fallen,
and the weapons
of war
perished!”
|
|
|
66. David is
anointed King
over Judah.
2 Samuel
2:1-4a.
1
It happened
after this, that
David inquired
of Yahweh,
saying, “Shall I
go up into any
of the cities of
Judah?”
Yahweh said to
him, “Go up.”
David said,
“Where shall I
go up?”
He said, “To
Hebron.”
2
So David went up
there, and his
two wives also,
Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess,
and Abigail the
wife of Nabal
the Carmelite.
3
David brought up
his men who were
with him, every
man with his
household. They
lived in the
cities of
Hebron.
4a
The men of Judah
came, and there
they anointed
David king over
the house of
Judah.... |
|
|
67. David's
Message to the
Men of
Jabesh-gilead.
2 Samuel
2:4b-7.
4b
...They
told David,
saying, “The men
of Jabesh Gilead
were those who
buried Saul.”
5
David sent
messengers to
the men of
Jabesh Gilead,
and said to
them, “Blessed
are you by
Yahweh, that you
have shown this
kindness to your
lord, even to
Saul, and have
buried him.
6
Now may Yahweh
show loving
kindness and
truth to you. I
also will reward
you for this
kindness,
because you have
done this thing.
7
Now therefore
let your hands
be strong, and
be valiant; for
Saul your lord
is dead, and
also the house
of Judah have
anointed me king
over them.”
|
|
|
68. Ish-boshcth
is made King of
Israel.
2 Samuel
2:8-11.
8
Now Abner the
son of Ner,
captain of
Saul’s army, had
taken Ishbosheth
the son of Saul,
and brought him
over to Mahanaim;
9
and he made him
king over
Gilead, and over
the Ashurites,
and over Jezreel,
and over
Ephraim, and
over Benjamin,
and over all
Israel.
10
Ishbosheth,
Saul’s son, was
forty years old
when he began to
reign over
Israel, and he
reigned two
years. But the
house of Judah
followed David.
11
The time that
David was king
in Hebron over
the house of
Judah was seven
years and six
months.
|
|
|
69. The Civil
War.
2 Samuel
2:12-3:1.
12
Abner the son of
Ner, and the
servants of
Ishbosheth the
son of Saul,
went out from
Mahanaim to
Gibeon.
13
Joab the son of
Zeruiah, and the
servants of
David, went out,
and met them by
the pool of
Gibeon; and they
sat down, the
one on the one
side of the
pool, and the
other on the
other side of
the pool.
14
Abner said to
Joab, “Please
let the young
men arise and
play before us!”
Joab said, “Let
them arise!”
15
Then they arose
and went over by
number: twelve
for Benjamin,
and for
Ishbosheth the
son of Saul, and
twelve of the
servants of
David.
16
They each caught
his opponent by
the head, and
thrust his sword
in his fellow’s
side; so they
fell down
together:
therefore that
place was called
Helkath Hazzurim,
which is in
Gibeon.
17
The battle was
very severe that
day: and Abner
was beaten, and
the men of
Israel, before
the servants of
David.
18
The three sons
of Zeruiah were
there, Joab, and
Abishai, and
Asahel: and
Asahel was as
light of foot as
a wild gazelle.
19
Asahel pursued
after Abner; and
in going he
didn’t turn to
the right hand
nor to the left
from following
Abner.
20
Then Abner
looked behind
him, and said,
“Is it you,
Asahel?”
He answered, “It
is I.”
21
Abner said to
him, “Turn aside
to your right
hand or to your
left, and grab
one of the young
men, and take
his armor.” But
Asahel would not
turn aside from
following him.
22
Abner said again
to Asahel, “Turn
aside from
following me.
Why should I
strike you to
the ground? How
then should I
hold up my face
to Joab your
brother?”
23
However he
refused to turn
aside. Therefore
Abner with the
back end of the
spear struck him
in the body, so
that the spear
came out behind
him; and he fell
down there, and
died in the same
place. It
happened, that
as many as came
to the place
where Asahel
fell down and
died stood
still.
24
But Joab and
Abishai pursued
after Abner: and
the sun went
down when they
had come to the
hill of Ammah,
that lies before
Giah by the way
of the
wilderness of
Gibeon.
25
The children of
Benjamin
gathered
themselves
together after
Abner, and
became one band,
and stood on the
top of a hill.
26
Then Abner
called to Joab,
and said, “Shall
the sword devour
forever? Don’t
you know that it
will be
bitterness in
the latter end?
How long shall
it be then,
before you ask
the people to
return from
following their
brothers?”
27
Joab said, “As
God1
lives, if you
had not spoken,
surely then in
the morning the
people would
have gone away,
and not each
followed his
brother.”
28
So Joab blew the
trumpet; and all
the people stood
still, and
pursued after
Israel no more,
neither fought
they any more.
29
Abner and his
men went all
that night
through the
Arabah; and they
passed over the
Jordan, and went
through all
Bithron, and
came to Mahanaim.
30
Joab returned
from following
Abner: and when
he had gathered
all the people
together, there
lacked of
David’s servants
nineteen men and
Asahel.
31
But the servants
of David had
struck of
Benjamin, and of
Abner’s men, so
that three
hundred sixty
men died.
32
They took up
Asahel, and
buried him in
the tomb of his
father, which
was in
Bethlehem. Joab
and his men went
all night, and
the day broke on
them at Hebron.
1
Now there was
long war between
the house of
Saul and the
house of David:
and David grew
stronger and
stronger, but
the house of
Saul grew weaker
and weaker. |
|
|
70. David's
Family in
Hebron.
2 Samuel
3:2-5.
2
To David were
sons born in
Hebron: and his
firstborn was
Amnon, of
Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess;
3
and his second,
Chileab, of
Abigail the wife
of Nabal the
Carmelite; and
the third,
Absalom the son
of Maacah the
daughter of
Talmai king of
Geshur;
4
and the fourth,
Adonijah the son
of Haggith; and
the fifth,
Shephatiah the
son of Abital;
5
and the sixth,
Ithream, of
Eglah, David’s
wife. These were
born to David in
Hebron.
|
|
|
71. Abner's
Quarrel with
Ish-bosheth.
2 Samuel
3:6-11.
6
It happened,
while there was
war between the
house of Saul
and the house of
David, that
Abner made
himself strong
in the house of
Saul.
7
Now Saul had a
concubine, whose
name was Rizpah,
the daughter of
Aiah: and
Ishbosheth said
to Abner, “Why
have you gone in
to my father’s
concubine?”
8
Then was Abner
very angry for
the words of
Ishbosheth, and
said, “Am I a
dog’s head that
belongs to
Judah? Today I
show kindness to
the house of
Saul your
father, to his
brothers, and to
his friends, and
have not
delivered you
into the hand of
David; and yet
you charge me
this day with a
fault concerning
this woman!
9
God do so to
Abner, and more
also, if, as
Yahweh has sworn
to David, I
don’t do even so
to him;
10
to transfer the
kingdom from the
house of Saul,
and to set up
the throne of
David over
Israel and over
Judah, from Dan
even to
Beersheba.”
11
He could not
answer Abner
another word,
because he
feared him. |
|
|
72. Abner's
Desertion to
David:Michal
restored to
David.
2 Samuel
3:12-21.
12
Abner sent
messengers to
David on his
behalf, saying,
“Whose is the
land?” and
saying, “Make
your alliance
with me, and
behold, my hand
shall be with
you, to bring
all Israel
around to you.”
13
He said, “Good;
I will make a
treaty with you;
but one thing I
require of you.
That is, you
shall not see my
face, unless you
first bring
Michal, Saul’s
daughter, when
you come to see
my face.”
14
David sent
messengers to
Ishbosheth,
Saul’s son,
saying, “Deliver
me my wife
Michal, whom I
pledged to be
married to me
for one hundred
foreskins of the
Philistines.”
15
Ishbosheth sent,
and took her
from her
husband, even
from Paltiel the
son of Laish.
16
Her husband went
with her,
weeping as he
went, and
followed her to
Bahurim. Then
Abner said to
him, “Go!
Return!” and he
returned.
17
Abner had
communication
with the elders
of Israel,
saying, “In
times past, you
sought for David
to be king over
you.
18
Now then do it;
for Yahweh has
spoken of David,
saying, ‘By the
hand of my
servant David, I
will save my
people Israel
out of the hand
of the
Philistines, and
out of the hand
of all their
enemies.’”
19
Abner also spoke
in the ears of
Benjamin: and
Abner went also
to speak in the
ears of David in
Hebron all that
seemed good to
Israel, and to
the whole house
of Benjamin.
20
So Abner came to
David to Hebron,
and twenty men
with him. David
made Abner and
the men who were
with him a
feast.
21
Abner said to
David, “I will
arise and go,
and will gather
all Israel to my
lord the king,
that they may
make a covenant
with you, and
that you may
reign over all
that your soul
desires.” David
sent Abner away;
and he went in
peace.
|
|
|
73. Joab's
Murder of
Abner:David's
Lamentation.
2 Samuel
3:22-39.
22
Behold, the
servants of
David and Joab
came from a
foray, and
brought in a
great spoil with
them: but Abner
was not with
David in Hebron;
for he had sent
him away, and he
was gone in
peace.
23
When Joab and
all the army who
was with him had
come, they told
Joab, saying,
Abner the son of
Ner came to the
king, and he has
sent him away,
and he is gone
in peace.
24
Then Joab came
to the king, and
said, “What have
you done?
Behold, Abner
came to you. Why
is it that you
have sent him
away, and he is
quite gone?
25
You know Abner
the son of Ner,
that he came to
deceive you, and
to know your
going out and
your coming in,
and to know all
that you do.”
26
When Joab had
come out from
David, he sent
messengers after
Abner, and they
brought him back
from the well of
Sirah; but David
didn’t know it.
27
When Abner was
returned to
Hebron, Joab
took him aside
into the midst
of the gate to
speak with him
quietly, and
struck him there
in the body, so
that he died,
for the blood of
Asahel his
brother.
28
Afterward, when
David heard it,
he said, “I and
my kingdom are
guiltless before
Yahweh forever
of the blood of
Abner the son of
Ner.
29
Let it fall on
the head of Joab,
and on all his
father’s house.
Let there not
fail from the
house of Joab
one who has an
issue, or who is
a leper, or who
leans on a
staff, or who
falls by the
sword, or who
lacks bread.”
30
So Joab and
Abishai his
brother killed
Abner, because
he had killed
their brother
Asahel at Gibeon
in the battle.
31
David said to
Joab, and to all
the people who
were with him,
Tear your
clothes, and
clothe
yourselves with
sackcloth, and
mourn before
Abner. King
David followed
the bier.
32
They buried
Abner in Hebron:
and the king
lifted up his
voice, and wept
at the grave of
Abner; and all
the people wept.
33
The king
lamented for
Abner, and said,
“Should Abner
die as a fool
dies?
34
Your hands were
not bound, nor
your feet put
into fetters. As
a man falls
before the
children of
iniquity, so you
fell.”
All the people
wept again over
him.
35
All the people
came to cause
David to eat
bread while it
was yet day; but
David swore,
saying, “God do
so to me, and
more also, if I
taste bread, or
anything else,
until the sun
goes down.”
36
All the people
took notice of
it, and it
pleased them; as
whatever the
king did pleased
all the people.
37
So all the
people and all
Israel
understood that
day that it was
not of the king
to kill Abner
the son of Ner.
38
The king said to
his servants,
“Don’t you know
that there a
prince and a
great man has
fallen this day
in Israel?
39
I am this day
weak, though
anointed king;
and these men
the sons of
Zeruiah are too
hard for me. May
Yahweh reward
the evildoer
according to his
wickedness.”
|
|
|
74. The Murder
of Ish-bosheth.
2 Samuel
4:1-3. 5-7.
1
When Saul’s son
heard that Abner
was dead in
Hebron, his
hands became
feeble, and all
the Israelites
were troubled.
2
Saul’s son had
two men who were
captains of
bands: the name
of the one was
Baanah, and the
name of the
other Rechab,
the sons of
Rimmon the
Beerothite, of
the children of
Benjamin (for
Beeroth also is
reckoned to
Benjamin:
3
and the
Beerothites fled
to Gittaim, and
have lived as
foreigners there
until this day).
5
The sons of
Rimmon the
Beerothite,
Rechab and
Baanah, went,
and came about
the heat of the
day to the house
of Ishbosheth,
as he took his
rest at noon.
6
They came there
into the midst
of the house, as
though they
would have
fetched wheat;
and they struck
him in the body:
and Rechab and
Baanah his
brother escaped.
7
Now when they
came into the
house, as he lay
on his bed in
his bedroom,
they struck him,
and killed him,
and beheaded
him, and took
his head, and
went by the way
of the Arabah
all night. |
|
|
75. David
punishes the
Murderers of
Ish-bosheth.
2 Samuel
4:8-12.
8
They brought the
head of
Ishbosheth to
David to Hebron,
and said to the
king, “Behold,
the head of
Ishbosheth, the
son of Saul,
your enemy, who
sought your
life! Yahweh has
avenged my lord
the king this
day of Saul, and
of his seed.”
9
David answered
Rechab and
Baanah his
brother, the
sons of Rimmon
the Beerothite,
and said to
them, “As Yahweh
lives, who has
redeemed my soul
out of all
adversity,
10
when someone
told me,
‘Behold, Saul is
dead,’ thinking
to have brought
good news, I
took hold of
him, and killed
him in Ziklag,
which was the
reward I gave
him for his
news.
11
How much more,
when wicked men
have slain a
righteous person
in his own house
on his bed,
shall I not now
require his
blood of your
hand, and take
you away from
the earth?”
12
David commanded
his young men,
and they killed
them, and cut
off their hands
and their feet,
and hanged them
up beside the
pool in Hebron.
But they took
the head of
Ishbosheth, and
buried it in the
grave of Abner
in Hebron.
|
|
|
|