Category: 2 Samuel

[19:31] Barzillai, from Gilead, had also come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan.

[19:32] Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He was very rich and had supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim.

[19:33] The king said to him, “Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”

[19:34] But Barzillai answered, “I don't have long to live; why should I go with Your Majesty to Jerusalem?

[19:35] I am already eighty years old, and nothing gives me pleasure any more. I can't taste what I eat and drink, and I can't hear the voices of singers. I would only be a burden to Your Majesty.

[19:36] I don't deserve such a great reward. So I will go just a little way with you beyond the Jordan.

[19:37] Then let me go back home and die near my parents' grave. Here is my son Chimham, who will serve you; take him with you, Your Majesty, and do for him as you think best.”

[19:38] The king answered, “I will take him with me and do for him whatever you want. And I will do for you anything you ask.”

[19:39] Then David and all of his men crossed the Jordan. He kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai went back home.

[19:40] When the king had crossed, escorted by all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel, he went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him.

[19:41] Then all the Israelites went to the king and said to him, “Your Majesty, why did our brothers, the men of Judah, think they had the right to take you away and escort you, your family, and your men across the Jordan?”

[19:42] The men of Judah answered, “We did it because the king is one of us. So why should this make you angry? He hasn't paid for our food nor has he given us anything.”

[19:43] The Israelites replied, “We have ten times as many claims on King David as you have, even if he is one of you. Why do you look down on us? Don't forget that we were the first to talk about bringing the king back!” But the men of Judah were more violent in making their claims than the men of Israel.

[20:1] There happened to be in Gilgal a worthless character named Sheba son of Bikri, of the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and called out, “Down with David! We won't follow him! Men of Israel, let's go home!”

[20:2] So the Israelites deserted David and went with Sheba, but the men of Judah remained loyal and followed David from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

[20:3] When David arrived at his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and put them under guard. He provided for their needs, but did not have intercourse with them. They were kept confined for the rest of their lives, living like widows.

[20:4] The king said to Amasa, “Call the men of Judah together and be back here with them by the day after tomorrow.”

[20:5] Amasa went to call them, but he did not get back by the time the king had told him to.

[20:6] So the king said to Abishai, “Sheba will give us more trouble than Absalom. Take my men and go after him, or else he may occupy some fortified towns and escape from us.”

[20:7] So Joab's men, the royal bodyguards, and all the other soldiers left Jerusalem with Abishai to go after Sheba.

[20:8] When they reached the large rock at Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was dressed for battle, with a sword in its sheath fastened to his belt. As he came forward, the sword fell out.

[20:9] Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my friend?” and took hold of his beard with his right hand in order to kiss him.

[20:10] Amasa was not on guard against the sword that Joab was holding in his other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the belly, and his insides spilled out on the ground. He died immediately, and Joab did not have to strike again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on after Sheba.

[20:11] One of Joab's men stood by Amasa's body and called out, “Everyone who is for Joab and David follow Joab!”

[20:12] Amasa's body, covered with blood, was lying in the middle of the road. Joab's man saw that everybody was stopping, so he dragged the body from the road out into the field and threw a blanket over it.

[20:13] After the body had been removed from the road, everyone followed Joab in pursuit of Sheba.

[20:14] Sheba passed through the territory of all the tribes of Israel and came to the city of Abel Beth Maacah, and all the members of the clan of Bikri assembled and followed him into the city.

[20:15] Joab's men heard that Sheba was there, and so they went and besieged the city. They built ramps of earth against the outer wall and also began to dig under the wall to make it fall down.

[20:16] There was a wise woman in the city who shouted from the wall, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here; I want to speak with him.”

[20:17] Joab went, and she asked, “Are you Joab?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. “Listen to me, sir,” she said. “I'm listening,” he answered.

[20:18] She said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Go and get your answer in the city of Abel’—and that's just what they did.

[20:19] Ours is a great city, one of the most peaceful and loyal in Israel. Why are you trying to destroy it? Do you want to ruin what belongs to the Lord?”

[20:20] “Never!” Joab answered. “I will never ruin or destroy your city!

[20:21] That is not our plan. A man named Sheba son of Bikri, who is from the hill country of Ephraim, started a rebellion against King David. Hand over this one man, and I will withdraw from the city.” “We will throw his head over the wall to you,” she said.

[20:22] Then she went to the people of the city with her plan, and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it over the wall to Joab. He blew the trumpet as a signal for his men to leave the city, and they went back home. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

[20:23] Joab was in command of the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of David's bodyguards;

[20:24] Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records;

[20:25] Sheva was the court secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were the priests,

[20:26] and Ira from the town of Jair was also one of David's priests.

[21:1] During David's reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the Lord about it, and the Lord said, “Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death.” (

[21:2] The people of Gibeon were not Israelites; they were a small group of Amorites whom the Israelites had promised to protect, but Saul had tried to destroy them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

[21:3] So David summoned the people of Gibeon and said to them, “What can I do for you? I want to make up for the wrong that was done to you, so that you will bless the Lord's people.”

[21:4] They answered, “Our quarrel with Saul and his family can't be settled with silver or gold, nor do we want to kill any Israelite.” “What, then, do you think I should do for you?” David asked.

[21:5] They answered, “Saul wanted to destroy us and leave none of us alive anywhere in Israel.

[21:6] So hand over seven of his male descendants, and we will hang them before the Lord at Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, the Lord's chosen king.” “I will hand them over,” the king answered.

[21:7] But because of the sacred promise that he and Jonathan had made to each other, David spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul.

[21:8] However, he took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul; he also took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai, who was from Meholah.

[21:9] David handed them over to the people of Gibeon, who hanged them on the mountain before the Lord—and all seven of them died together. It was late in the spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest, when they were put to death.

[21:10] Then Saul's concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, used sackcloth to make a shelter for herself on the rock where the corpses were, and she stayed there from the beginning of harvest until the autumn rains came. During the day she would keep the birds away from the corpses, and at night she would protect them from wild animals.

[21:11] When David heard what Rizpah had done,

[21:12] he went and got the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the people of Jabesh in Gilead. (They had stolen them from the public square in Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged the bodies on the day they killed Saul on Mount Gilboa.)

[21:13] David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan and also gathered up the bones of the seven men who had been hanged.

[21:14] Then they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the grave of Saul's father Kish, in Zela in the territory of Benjamin, doing all that the king had commanded. And after that, God answered their prayers for the country.

[21:15] There was another war between the Philistines and Israel, and David and his men went and fought the Philistines. During one of the battles David grew tired.

[21:16] A giant named Ishbibenob, who was carrying a bronze spear that weighed about seven and a half pounds and who was wearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.

[21:17] But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's help, attacked the giant, and killed him. Then David's men made David promise that he would never again go out with them to battle. “You are the hope of Israel, and we don't want to lose you,” they said.

[21:18] After this there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, during which Sibbecai from Hushah killed a giant named Saph.

[21:19] There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath, whose spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom.

[21:20] Then there was another battle at Gath, where there was a giant who loved to fight. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.

[21:21] He defied the Israelites, and Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shammah, killed him.

[21:22] These four were descendants of the giants of Gath, and they were killed by David and his men.

[22:1] When the Lord saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the Lord:

[22:2] The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress.

[22:3] My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. He is my savior; he protects me and saves me from violence.

[22:4] I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord!

[22:5] The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.

[22:6] The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.

[22:7] In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

[22:8] Then the earth trembled and shook; the foundations of the sky rocked and quivered because God was angry!

[22:9] Smoke poured out of his nostrils, a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.

[22:10] He tore the sky open and came down, with a dark cloud under his feet.

[22:11] He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.

[22:12] He covered himself with darkness; thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him;

[22:13] burning coals flamed up from the lightning before him.

[22:14] Then the Lord thundered from the sky, and the voice of Almighty God was heard.

[22:15] He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; with flashes of lightning he sent them running.

[22:16] The floor of the ocean was laid bare, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered when the Lord rebuked his enemies and roared at them in anger.

[22:17] The Lord reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me out of the deep waters.

[22:18] He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me— they were too strong for me.

[22:19] When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the Lord protected me.

[22:20] He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.

[22:21] The Lord rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.

[22:22] I have obeyed the law of the Lord; I have not turned away from my God.

[22:23] I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.

[22:24] He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.

[22:25] And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows that I am innocent.

[22:26] O Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are perfect.

[22:27] You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.

[22:28] You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud.

[22:29] You, Lord, are my light; you dispel my darkness.

[22:30] You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses.

[22:31] This God—how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.

[22:32] The Lord alone is God; God alone is our defense.

[22:33] This God is my strong refuge; he makes my pathway safe.

[22:34] He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.

[22:35] He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.

[22:36] O Lord, you protect me and save me; your help has made me great.

[22:37] You have kept me from being captured, and I have never fallen.

[22:38] I pursue my enemies and defeat them; I do not stop until I destroy them.

[22:39] I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they lie defeated before me.

[22:40] You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.

[22:41] You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.

[22:42] They look for help, but no one saves them; they call to the Lord, but he does not answer.

[22:43] I crush them, and they become like dust; I trample on them like mud in the streets.

[22:44] You saved me from my rebellious people and maintained my rule over the nations; people I did not know have now become my subjects.

[22:45] Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.

[22:46] They lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses.

[22:47] The Lord lives! Praise my defender! Proclaim the greatness of the strong God who saves me!

[22:48] He gives me victory over my enemies; he subdues the nations under me

[22:49] and saves me from my foes. O Lord, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent men.

[22:50] And so I praise you among the nations; I sing praises to you.

[22:51] God gives great victories to his king; he shows constant love to the one he has chosen, to David and his descendants forever.

[23:1] David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great, whom the God of Jacob chose to be king, and who was the composer of beautiful songs for Israel. These are David's last words:

[23:2] The spirit of the Lord speaks through me; his message is on my lips.

[23:3] The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: “The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God,

[23:4] is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn, the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.”

[23:5] And that is how God will bless my descendants, because he has made an eternal covenant with me, an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed. That is all I desire; that will be my victory, and God will surely bring it about.

[23:6] But godless people are like thorns that are thrown away; no one can touch them barehanded.

[23:7] You must use an iron tool or a spear; they will be burned completely.

[23:8] These are the names of David's famous soldiers: the first was Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon, who was the leader of “The Three”; he fought with his spear against eight hundred men and killed them all in one battle.

[23:9] The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back,

[23:10] but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The Lord won a great victory that day. After it was over, the Israelites returned to where Eleazar was and stripped the armor from the dead.

[23:11] The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines,

[23:12] but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord won a great victory that day.

[23:13] Near the beginning of harvest time three of “The Thirty” went down to Adullam Cave, where David was, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley.

[23:14] At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem.

[23:15] David grew homesick and said, “How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!”

[23:16] The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord

[23:17] and said, “Lord, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.

[23:18] Joab's brother Abishai (their mother was Zeruiah) was the leader of “The Famous Thirty.” He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and became famous among “The Thirty.”

[23:19] He was the most famous of “The Thirty” and became their leader, but he was not as famous as “The Three.”

[23:20] Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was another famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

[23:21] He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man who was armed with a spear. Benaiah attacked him with his club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with it.

[23:22] Those were the brave deeds of Benaiah, who was one of “The Thirty.”

[23:23] He was outstanding among them, but was not as famous as “The Three.” David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Asahel, Joab's brother Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem Shammah and Elika from Harod Helez from Pelet Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa Abiezer from Anathoth Mebunnai from Hushah Zalmon from Ahoh Maharai from Netophah Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin Benaiah from Pirathon Hiddai from the valleys near Gaash Abialbon from Arabah Azmaveth from Bahurim Eliahba from Shaalbon The sons of Jashen Jonathan Shammah from Harar Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo Hezro from Carmel Paarai from Arab Igal son of Nathan from Zobah Bani from Gad Zelek from Ammon Naharai from Beeroth, Joab's armorbearer Ira and Gareb from Jattir Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven famous soldiers in all.

[24:1] On another occasion the Lord was angry with Israel, and he made David bring trouble on them. The Lord said to him, “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah.”

[24:2] So David gave orders to Joab, the commander of his army: “Go with your officers through all the tribes of Israel from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are.”

[24:3] But Joab answered the king, “Your Majesty, may the Lord your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now, and may you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?”

[24:4] But the king made Joab and his officers obey his order; they left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel.

[24:5] They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. From there they went north to Jazer,

[24:6] and on to Gilead and to Kadesh, in Hittite territory. Then they went to Dan, and from Dan they went west to Sidon.

[24:7] Then they went south to the fortified city of Tyre, on to all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites, and finally to Beersheba, in the southern part of Judah.

[24:8] So after nine months and twenty days they returned to Jerusalem, having traveled through the whole country.

[24:9] They reported to the king the total number of men capable of military service: 800,000 in Israel and 500,000 in Judah.

[24:10] But after David had taken the census, his conscience began to hurt, and he said to the Lord, “I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly.”

[24:13] Gad went to him, told him what the Lord had said, and asked, “Which is it to be? Three years of famine in your land or three months of running away from your enemies or three days of an epidemic in your land? Now think it over, and tell me what answer to take back to the Lord.”

[24:14] David answered, “I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by people. Let the Lord himself be the one to punish us, for he is merciful.”

[24:15] So the Lord sent an epidemic on Israel, which lasted from that morning until the time that he had chosen. From one end of the country to the other seventy thousand Israelites died.

[24:16] When the Lord's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord changed his mind about punishing the people and said to the angel who was killing them, “Stop! That's enough!” The angel was by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.

[24:17] David saw the angel who was killing the people, and said to the Lord, “I am the guilty one. I am the one who did wrong. What have these poor people done? You should punish me and my family.”

[24:18] That same day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up to Araunah's threshing place and build an altar to the Lord.”

[24:19] David obeyed the Lord's command and went as Gad had told him to.

[24:20] Araunah looked down and saw the king and his officials coming up to him. He threw himself on the ground in front of David

[24:21] and asked, “Your Majesty, why are you here?” David answered, “To buy your threshing place and build an altar for the Lord, in order to stop the epidemic.”

[24:22] “Take it, Your Majesty,” Araunah said, “and offer to the Lord whatever you wish. Here are these oxen to burn as an offering on the altar; here are their yokes and the threshing boards to use as fuel.”

[24:23] Araunah gave it all to the king and said to him, “May the Lord your God accept your offering.”

[24:24] But the king answered, “No, I will pay you for it. I will not offer to the Lord my God sacrifices that have cost me nothing.” And he bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver.

[24:25] Then he built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The Lord answered his prayer, and the epidemic in Israel was stopped.