30:21 r 1 Sam. 30:10

  30:21 2 asked them concerning their welfare

  30:22 s Deut. 13:13; Judg. 19:22

  30:22 3 Lit. men of Belial

  30:24 t Num. 31:27; Josh. 22:8

  30:26 4 booty

  30:27 u Josh. 19:8

  30:27 v Josh. 15:48; 21:14

  30:28 w Josh. 13:16

  30:28 x 1 Chr. 27:27

  30:28 y Josh. 15:50

  30:29 z 1 Sam. 27:10

  30:29 a Judg. 1:16; 1 Sam. 15:6; 27:10

  30:30 b Num. 14:45; 21:3; Josh. 12:14; 15:30; 19:4; Judg. 1:17

  30:30 5 Or Borashan

  30:31 c Num. 13:22; Josh. 14:13–15; 21:11–13; 2 Sam. 2:1

  30:31 d 1 Sam. 23:22

  1 Samuel 31

  31:1 a 1 Chr. 10:1–12

  31:1 b 1 Sam. 28:4

  31:2 c 1 Sam. 14:49; 1 Chr. 8:33

  31:3 d 2 Sam. 1:6

  31:3 1 Lit. found him

  31:4 e Judg. 9:54; 1 Chr. 10:4

  31:4 f Judg. 14:3; 1 Sam. 14:6; 17:26, 36

  31:4 g 2 Sam. 1:14

  31:4 h 2 Sam. 1:6, 10

  31:4 2 torture

  31:9 i Judg. 16:23, 24; 2 Sam. 1:20

  31:10 j 1 Sam. 21:9

  31:10 k Judg. 2:13; 1 Sam. 7:3

  31:10 l 2 Sam. 21:12

  31:10 m Judg. 1:27

  31:10 3 Beth Shean, Josh. 17:11

  31:11 n 1 Sam. 11:1–13

  31:12 o 1 Sam. 11:1–11; 2 Sam. 2:4–7

  31:12 p 2 Chr. 16:14; Jer. 34:5; Amos 6:10

  31:13 q 2 Sam. 2:4, 5; 21:12–14

  31:13 r Gen. 50:10

  Introduction to Second Samuel

  Introduction

  See 1 Samuel for the Introductory Discussion.

  Outline

  I. The Reign of David as King over Israel (1:1-20:26)

  A. David’s Accession to Kingship over Judah (1:1-3:5)

  1. The deaths of Saul and Jonathan (1:1–27)

  2. David anointed by Judah (2:1–7)

  3. David’s victories over the house of Saul (2:8—3:1)

  4. David’s wives/sons in Hebron (3:2–5)

  B. David’s Accession to Kingship over Israel (3:6-5:16)

  1. The deaths of Abner and Ishbosheth (3:6—4:12)

  2. David anointed by all Israel (5:1–5)

  3. David’s conquest of Jerusalem (5:6–12)

  4. David’s wives/sons in Jerusalem (5:13–16)

  C. David’s Triumphal Reign (5:17-8:18)

  1. David’s victories over the Philistines (5:17–25)

  2. David’s spiritual victories (6:1—7:29)

  3. David’s victories over the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and Edomites (8:1–18)

  D. David’s Troubled Reign (9:1-20:26)

  1. David’s kindness to Mephibosheth (9:1–13)

  2. David’s sins of adultery and murder (10:1—12:31)

  3. David’s family troubles (13:1—14:33)

  a. The rape of Tamar (13:1-22)

  b. The murder of Amnon (13:23-39)

  c. The recall and return of Absalom (14:1-33)

  4. The rebellions against David (15:1—20:26)

  a. The rebellion of Absalom (15:1-19:43)

  b. The rebellion of Sheba (20:1-26)

  II. Epilogue (21:1-24:25)

  A. The Lord’s Judgment against Israel (21:1-14)

  B. David’s Heroes (21:15-22)

  C. David’s Song of Praise (22:1-51)

  D. David’s Last Words (23:1-7)

  E. David’s Mighty Men (23:8-39)

  F. The Lord’s Judgment against David (24:1-25)

  The Second Book of

  SAMUEL

  2 Samuel 1

  The Report of Saul’s Death

  1Now it came to pass after the adeath of Saul, when David had returned from bthe slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag,

  2on the third day, behold, it happened that ca man came from Saul’s camp dwith his clothes 1torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he efell to the ground and prostrated himself.

  3And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”

  4Then David said to him, f“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and gJonathan his son are dead also.”

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

  6Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on hMount Gilboa, there was iSaul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

  7“Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’

  8“And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

  9“He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for 2anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’

  10“So I stood over him and jkilled him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And 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.”

  11Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and ktore them, and so did all the men who were with him.

  12And they lmourned and wept and mfasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the npeople of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

  13Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

  14So David said to him, “How owas it you were not pafraid to qput forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

  15Then rDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.

  16So David said to him, s“Your blood is on your own head, for tyour own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ”

  The Song of the Bow

  17Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

  18uand he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written vin the Book 3of Jasher:

  19“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!

  w How the mighty have fallen!

  20x Tell it not in Gath,

  Proclaim it not in the streets of yAshkelon—

  Lest zthe daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

  Lest the daughters of athe uncircumcised triumph.

  21“O bmountains of Gilboa,

  c Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,

  Nor fields of offerings.

  For the shield of the mighty is 4cast away there!

  The shield of Saul, not danointed with oil.

  22From the blood of the slain,

  From the fat of the mighty,

  e The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,

  And the sword of Saul did not return empty.

  23“Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,

  And in their fdeath they were not divided;

  They were swifter than eagles,

  They were gstronger than lions.

  24“O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

  Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury;

  Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

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

  Jonathan was slain in your high places.

  26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

  You have been very pleasant to me;

  h Your love to me was wonderful,

  Surpassing the love of women.

  27“Howi the mighty have fallen,

  And the weapons of war perished!”

  2 Samuel 2

  David Anointed King of Judah

  1It happened after this that David ainquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To bHebron.”

  2So David went up there, and his ctwo wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.

  3And David brought up dthe men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

  4eThen the men of Judah came, and there they fanointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, g“The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”

  5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, h“You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.

  6“And now may ithe LORD show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.

  7“Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

  Ishbosheth Made King of Israel

  8But jAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took 1Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to kMahanaim;

  9and he made him king over lGilead, over the mAshurites, over nJezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

  10Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David.

  11And othe 2time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

  Israel and Judah at War

  12Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to pGibeon.

  13And qJoab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by rthe pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.

  14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

  15So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

  16And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called 3the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.

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

  18Now the sthree sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was tas fleet of foot uas a wild gazelle.

  19So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

  20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”

  21And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.

  22So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”

  23However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him vin the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood wstill.

  24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.

  25Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became 4a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill.

  26Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”

  27And Joab said, “As God lives, 5unless xyou had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”

  28So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.

  29Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.

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

  31But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died.

  32Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in yBethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

  2 Samuel 3

  Joab Kills Abner

  1Now there was a long awar between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

  Sons of David

  2Sons were born bto David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon cby Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

  3his second, 1Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, dAbsalom’s the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king eof Geshur;

  4the fourth, fAdonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

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

  Abner Joins Forces with David

  6Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul.

  7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was gRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you hgone in to my father’s concubine?”

  8Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I ia dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty 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 you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

  9j“May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David kas the LORD has sworn to him—

  10“to transfer the kingdom from the 2house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, lfrom Dan to Beersheba.”

  11And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

  12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.”

  13And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: myou shall not see my face unless you first bring nMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

  14So David sent messengers to oIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself pfor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

  15And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from 3Paltiel the son of Laish.

  16Then her husband went along with her to qBahurim, 4weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

  17Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you.

  18“Now then, do it! rFor the LORD has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, 5I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

  19And Abner also spoke in the hearing of sBenjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

  20So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

  21Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and tgather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may ureign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

  Joab Murders Abner

  22At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much 6spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

  23When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

  24Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone?

  25“Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know vyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

  26And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.

  27Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab wtook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there 7stabbed him xin the stomach, so that he died for the blood of yAsahel his brother.

  28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are 8guiltless before the LORD forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

  29z“Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the 9house of Joab one awho has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

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

  David’s Mourning for Abner

  31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, c“Tear your clothes, dgird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.

  32So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

  33And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:

  “Should Abner die as a efool dies?

  34Your hands were not bound

  Nor your feet put into fetters;

  As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.”

 

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