2 Samuel 3-7
New American Standard Bible
2Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.
6Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, 'Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?'
8Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s question 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 let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with that woman?
9May God do so to me, and more so, if as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him:
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba!'
11And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12Then Abner sent messengers to David at his place, saying, 'Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.'
13And he said, 'Good! I will make a covenant with you, only I require one thing of you, namely, that you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.'
14So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, 'Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'
15Ish-bosheth sent men and had her taken from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
16And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, following her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, 'Go, return.' So he returned.
17Now Abner had a consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, 'In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you.
18Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’?'
19Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to the entire house of Benjamin.
20Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21Abner said to David, 'Let me set out and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires.' So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.
22And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, 'Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, and he has gone in peace.'
24Then Joab came to the king and said, 'What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you let him go, so that he is already gone?
25You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.'
26When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it.
27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.
28Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, 'I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.'
30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, 'Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.' And King David walked behind the bier.
32And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles; As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.' And all the people wept over him again.
35Then all the people came to provide food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, 'May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.'
36Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it pleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
38Then the king said to his servants, 'Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
39And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.'
Chapter 4
1Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was horrified. 2And Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of troops: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the sons of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as strangers until this day).
5So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while he was taking his midday rest.
6And they came to the interior of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.
7Now when they had come into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him, and they beheaded him. And they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night.
8Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, 'Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; so the Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.'
9But David replied to Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, 'As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,
10when the one who informed me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ also viewed himself as the bearer of good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and eliminate you both from the earth?'
12Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet, and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Chapter 5
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, 'Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a leader over Israel.’?' 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord in Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years. 5At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; and they said to David, 'You shall not come in here, but even those who are blind and those who limp will turn you away,' thinking, 'David cannot enter here.'
7Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
8And David said on that day, 'Whoever strikes the Jebusites is to reach those who limp and those who are blind, who are hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.' For that reason they say, 'People who are blind and people who limp shall not come into the house.'
9So David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.
10David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of armies was with him.
11Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons; and they built a house for David.
12And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
13Meanwhile David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard about it, he went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines came and overran the Valley of Rephaim.
19So David inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?' And the Lord said to David, 'Go up, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.'
20Then David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, 'The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.' Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.
21And the Philistines abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.
22Now the Philistines came up once again and overran the Valley of Rephaim.
23So David inquired of the Lord, but He said, 'You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs.
24And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.'
25Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him; he struck and killed the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
Chapter 6
1Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David departed from Baale-judah, with all the people who were with him, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of armies who is enthroned above the cherubim. 3They had mounted the ark of God on a new cart and moved it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of instruments made of juniper wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen nearly overturned it.
7And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.
8Then David became angry because of the Lord’S outburst against Uzzah; and that place has been called Perez-uzzah to this day.
9So David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, 'How can the ark of the Lord come to me?'
10And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom, the Gittite.
11The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12Now it was reported to King David, saying, 'The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.' So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with joy.
13And so it was, that when those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened steer.
14And David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was wearing a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet.
17Now they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies.
19Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread, one of dates, and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each to his house.
20But when David returned to bless his own household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, 'How the king of Israel dignified himself today! For he exposed himself today in the sight of his servants’ female slaves, as one of the rabble shamelessly exposes himself!'
21But David said to Michal, 'I was before the Lord, who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. So I will celebrate before the Lord!
22And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the female slaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!'
23And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Chapter 7
1Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, 'See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent.' 3Nathan said to the king, 'Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.'
4But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
5Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: 'Should you build Me a house for My dwelling?
6For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place.
7Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’?'?’
8Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: 'I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
10And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will malicious people oppress them anymore as previously,
11even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
12When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind,
15but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you.
16Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.'?’?'
17In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
18Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, 'Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far?
19And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And this is the custom of mankind, Lord God.
20Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord God!
21For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know.
22For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, because of Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods?
24For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.
25Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken,
26so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.
28Now then, Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth; and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.
29And now, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.'
King James Version
2And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3And 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;
4And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10To translate 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.
11And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18Now then do it: for the Lord hath 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.
19And Abner also spake 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 that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, 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.
23When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32And 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 lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
Chapter 4
1And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: 3And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
5And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
6And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
9And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
10When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
11How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
Chapter 5
1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
8And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
13And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
15Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
18The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
25And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
Chapter 6
1Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?
10So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
11And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.
12And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.
22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
Chapter 7
1And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee. 4And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, 5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? 6Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
10Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
15But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
18Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God?
20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.
21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
22Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, Lord, art become their God.
25And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
27For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
28And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
Christian Standard Bible
6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner kept acquiring more power in the house of Saul.
7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?"
8Abner was very angry about Ish-bosheth’s accusation. "Am I a dog’s head who belongs to Judah?" he asked. "All this time I’ve been loyal to the family of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends and haven’t betrayed you to David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!
9May God punish Abner and do so severely if I don’t do for David what the Lord swore to him:
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beer-sheba."
11Ish-bosheth did not dare respond to Abner because he was afraid of him.
15So Ish-bosheth sent someone to take her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.
16Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.
17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel: "In the past you wanted David to be king over you.
18Now take action, because the Lord has spoken concerning David: ‘Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the power of the Philistines and the power of all Israel’s enemies.’"
19Abner also informed the Benjaminites and went to Hebron to inform David about all that was agreed on by Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.
20When Abner and twenty men came to David at Hebron, David held a banquet for him and his men.
22Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid and brought a large amount of plundered goods with them. Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had dismissed him, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and his whole army arrived, Joab was informed, "Abner son of Ner came to see the king, the king dismissed him, and he went in peace."
24Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look here, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he’s getting away.
25You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to find out about your military activities and everything you’re doing."
26Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David was unaware of it.
27When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside to the middle of the city gate, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died in revenge for the death of Asahel, Joab’s brother.
28David heard about it later and said: "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole family, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves."
30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
35Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: "May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!"
36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his soldiers, "You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.
39As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil!"
Chapter 4
1When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he gave up, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties: one named Baanah and the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the Benjaminites. Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, 3and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and still reside there as aliens today.
5Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at Ish-bosheth’s house during the heat of the day while the king was taking his midday nap.
6They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.
7They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom and stabbed and killed him. They removed his head, took it, and traveled by way of the Arabah all night.
8They brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here’s the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who intended to take your life. Today the Lord has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."
9But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, the one who has redeemed my life from every distress,
10when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was my reward to him for his news!
11How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from you and purge you from the earth?"
Chapter 5
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 2Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back. The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over Israel.’"
4David was thirty years old when he began his reign; he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
7Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
8He said that day, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David." For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame will never enter the house."
9David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward.
10David became more and more powerful, and the Lord God of Armies was with him.
11King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
12Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
14These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
18So the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, "Like a bursting flood, the Lord has burst out against my enemies before me." Therefore, he named that place The Lord Bursts Out.
21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
23So David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, "Do not attack directly, but circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees.
24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines."
25So David did exactly as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1David again assembled all the fit young men in Israel: thirty thousand. 2He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart 4and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark. 5David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
6When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled.
7Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.
8David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today.
9David feared the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?"
10So he was not willing to bring the ark of the Lord to the city of David; instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
11The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his whole family.
12It was reported to King David: "The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.
13When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
14David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod.
15He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn.
16As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.
17They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence.
18When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Armies.
19Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women. Then all the people went home.
21David replied to Michal, "It was before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel. I will dance before the Lord,
22and I will dishonor myself and humble myself even more. However, by the slave girls you spoke about, I will be honored."
23And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.
Chapter 7
1When the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, "Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains."
4But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
5"Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?
6From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling.
7In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
8"So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth.
10I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done
11ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. "‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you.
12When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals.
15But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’"
18Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?
19What you have done so far was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation for mankind, Lord God.
20What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord God.
21Because of your word and according to your will, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.
22This is why you are great, Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.
23And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them great and awesome acts, driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.
24You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised,
26so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, "The Lord of Armies is God over Israel." The house of your servant David will be established before you
27since you, Lord of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, "I will build a house for you." Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you.
28Lord God, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.
New Living Translation
2These are the sons who were born to David in Hebron: The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel.
3The second was Daniel, 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.
4The fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
6As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.
7One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.
8Abner was furious. 'Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?' he shouted. 'After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward — that you find fault with me about this woman?
9May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him!
10I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.'
11Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.
15So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish.
16Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, 'Go back home!' So Palti returned.
17Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. 'For some time now,' he told them, 'you have wanted to make David your king.
18Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’'
19Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.
20When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast.
21Then Abner said to David, 'Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.' So David sent Abner safely on his way.
22But just after David had sent Abner away in safety, Joab and some of David’s troops returned from a raid, bringing much plunder with them.
23When Joab arrived, he was told that Abner had just been there visiting the king and had been sent away in safety.
24Joab rushed to the king and demanded, 'What have you done? What do you mean by letting Abner get away?
25You know perfectly well that he came to spy on you and find out everything you’re doing!'
26Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it.
27When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.
28When David heard about it, he declared, 'I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.
29Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!'
31Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, 'Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.' And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.
32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.
34Your 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.
35David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, 'May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.'
36This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them!
37So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.
38Then King David said to his officials, 'Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel?
39And 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 evil men for their evil deeds.'
Chapter 4
1When Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear. 2Now 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 3because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.
5One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest.
6The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her.
7They went into the house and found Ishbosheth sleeping on his bed. They struck and killed him and cut off his head. Then, taking his head with them, they fled across the Jordan Valley through the night.
8When they arrived at Hebron, they presented Ishbosheth’s head to David. 'Look!' they exclaimed to the king. 'Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of your enemy Saul who tried to kill you. Today the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!'
9But David said to Recab and Baanah, 'The Lord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness.
10Someone once 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!
11How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?'
Chapter 5
1Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, 'We are your own flesh and blood. 2In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’'
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.
5He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.
6David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, 'You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!' For the Jebusites thought they were safe.
7But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.
9So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward.
10And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
11Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace.
12And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters.
14These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.
18The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.
20So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. 'The Lord did it!' David exclaimed. 'He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!' So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means 'the Lord who bursts through').
21The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.
22But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.
23And again David asked the Lord what to do. 'Do not attack them straight on,' the Lord replied. 'Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.
24When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.'
25So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart 4that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments — lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.
7Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.
9David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, 'How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?'
10So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
11The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12Then King David was told, 'The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.' So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration.
13After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
14And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.
15So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.
17They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.
18When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
19Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
21David retorted to Michal, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.
22Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!'
23So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.
Chapter 7
1When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2the king summoned Nathan the prophet. 'Look,' David said, 'I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!'
5'Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?
6I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling.
7Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, 'Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?'’
8'Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!
10And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,
11starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. '‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you — a dynasty of kings!
12For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.
13He is the one who will build a house — a temple — for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
15But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.
16Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’'
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, 'Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?
20'What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord.
21Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.
22'How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!
23What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.
24You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.
25'And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.
26And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.
27'O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you — a dynasty of kings!’
28For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!'
English Standard Version
2And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David 's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.
7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father 's concubine?"
8Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog 's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman.
9God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him,
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."
11And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you."
13And he said, "Good; I will make a covenant 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."
14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul 's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines."
15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.
16But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." And he returned.
17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.
18Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’"
19Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.
20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
21And 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 heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace."
24Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone?
25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."
26When Joab came out from David 's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it.
27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father 's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!"
30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.
32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.
35Then all the people came to persuade 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 till the sun goes down!"
36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king 's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
38And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"
Chapter 4
1When Ish-bosheth, Saul 's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Now Saul 's son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth (for Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; 3the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).
5Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest.
6And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night,
8and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."
9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity,
10when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?"
12And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.
Chapter 5
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’" 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off" — thinking, "David cannot come in here."
7Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
8And David said on that day, "Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David 's soul." Therefore it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."
9And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward.
10And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house.
12And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
19And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."
20And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
21And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
23And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees.
24And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."
25And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
5And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
6And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
8And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.
9And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?"
10So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12And it was told King David, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing.
13And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.
14And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.
16As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts
19and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants ' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"
21And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord — and I will celebrate before the Lord.
22I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."
23And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Chapter 7
1Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent." 3And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you."
4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,
5"Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?
6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’
8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
15but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’"
17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant 's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God!
20And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God!
21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
22Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?
24And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God.
25And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken.
26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.
27For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
28And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."
New International Version
6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.
7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?"
8Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, "Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman!
9May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath
10and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba."
11Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
13"Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me."
14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."
15So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.
17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king.
18Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ "
19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do.
20When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.
21Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.
23When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.
24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone!
25You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing."
26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it.
27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.
28Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."
31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier.
32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
36All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.
37So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
39And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"
Chapter 4
1When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite from the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, 3because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.
5Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest.
6They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away.
7They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah.
8They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring."
9David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,
10when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!
11How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!"
Chapter 5
1All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. 2In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ "
4David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
6The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."
7Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
9David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward.
10And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
11Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.
12Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
13After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
14These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
20So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim.
21The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
22Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
23so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.
24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."
25So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Chapter 6
1David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
6When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.
7The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.
9David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?"
10He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
12Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
13When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
14Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,
15while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
17They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.
18After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.
19Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
21David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.
22I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."
Chapter 7
1After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
5"Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ’
8"Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.
10And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
11and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " ‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:
12When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
15But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.’ "
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!
20"What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord.
21For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22"How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
23And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
24You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25"And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,
26so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
27"Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
28Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever."
New King James Version
2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;
4the fourth, Adonijah 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.
8Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “ Am I a 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?
9May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him—
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
13And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
14So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
15And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.
16Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping 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.
18Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I 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 Benjamin. 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 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 heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
22At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil 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?
25Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your 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 took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who 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 Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird 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.
35And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!”
36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
Chapter 4
1When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin, 3because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)
5Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.
6And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
7For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.
8And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”
9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “ As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity,
10when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news.
11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?”
12So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.
Chapter 5
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
9Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.
10So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.
12So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
13And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
14Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
18The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
20So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.
22Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
23Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
24And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
25And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
Chapter 6
1Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
7Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
8And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.
9David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”
10So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.
13And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
14Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
17So they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
19Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.
21So David said to Michal, “ It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.
22And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”
Chapter 7
1Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”
4But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
6For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
8Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
10Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
11since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.
12“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
15But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
19And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O Lord God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God?
20Now what more can David say to You? For You, Lord God, know Your servant.
21For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them.
22Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?
24For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.
25“Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said.
26So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27For You, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.
28“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.
29Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
