New Living Translation (NLT)

The Murder of Ishbosheth

1 When Ishbosheth,Saul’s son, heard about Abner’s death at Hebron, he lost all courage, and all Israel became paralyzed with fear.

2 Now there were two brothers, Baanah and Recab, who were captains of Ishbosheth’s raiding parties. They were sons of Rimmon, a member of the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Beeroth. The town of Beeroth is now part of Benjamin’s territory

3 because the original people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim, where they still live as foreigners.

4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth,who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)

5 One day Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, went to Ishbosheth’s house around noon as he was taking his midday rest.

6 The doorkeeper, who had been sifting wheat, became drowsy and fell asleep. So Recab and Baanah slipped past her.

7 They 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 Valleythrough the night.

8 When 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 theLordhas given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”

9 But David said to Recab and Baanah, “TheLord, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness.

10 Someone 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!

11 How 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?”

12 So David ordered his young men to kill them, and they did. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies beside the pool in Hebron. Then they took Ishbosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/4-36c4a4c515fe55de80b93ac4d1435f0a.mp3?version_id=116—

David Becomes King of All Israel

1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.

2 In the past,when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And theLordtold you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”

3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before theLordwith all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.

5 He 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.

David Captures Jerusalem

6 David 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.

7 But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.

8 On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites.Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”

9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terracesand working inward.

10 And David became more and more powerful, because theLordGod of Heaven’s Armies was with him.

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace.

12 And David realized that theLordhad confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters.

14 These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Conquers the Philistines

17 When 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.

18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

19 So David asked theLord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

TheLordreplied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “TheLorddid 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”).

21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them.

22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

23 And again David asked theLordwhat to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” theLordreplied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplartrees.

24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that theLordis moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”

25 So David did what theLordcommanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeonto Gezer.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/5-347491ac8d49f363230c394b84b4cd5e.mp3?version_id=116—

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

1 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all.

2 He led them to Baalah of Judahto bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of theLordof Heaven’s Armies,who is enthroned between the cherubim.

3 They 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

4 that carried the Ark of God.Ahio walked in front of the Ark.

5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before theLord, singing songsand playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.

7 Then theLord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this.So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

8 David was angry because theLord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.

9 David was now afraid of theLord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of theLordback into my care?”

10 So David decided not to move the Ark of theLordinto the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.

11 The Ark of theLordremained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and theLordblessed Obed-edom and his entire household.

12 Then King David was told, “TheLordhas 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.

13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of theLordhad gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

14 And David danced before theLordwith all his might, wearing a priestly garment.

15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of theLordwith shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

Michal’s Contempt for David

16 But as the Ark of theLordentered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before theLord, she was filled with contempt for him.

17 They brought the Ark of theLordand set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to theLord.

18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of theLordof Heaven’s Armies.

19 Then 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.

20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”

21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before theLord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of theLord, so I celebrate before theLord.

22 Yes, 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!”

23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/6-36b0263f35cb3fcad1872af72c771184.mp3?version_id=116—

The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David

1 When King David was settled in his palace and theLordhad given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,

2 the 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!”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for theLordis with you.”

4 But that same night theLordsaid to Nathan,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what theLordhas declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?

6 I 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.

7 Yet 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 theLordof 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.

9 I 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!

10 And 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,

11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, theLorddeclares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings!

12 For 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.

13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.

14 I 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.

15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.

16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before mefor all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything theLordhad said in this vision.

David’s Prayer of Thanks

18 Then King David went in and sat before theLordand prayed,

“Who am I, O SovereignLord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

19 And now, SovereignLord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O SovereignLord?

20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, SovereignLord.

21 Because 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 SovereignLord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!

23 What 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.

24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, OLord, became their God.

25 “And now, OLordGod, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.

26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘TheLordof Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.

27 “OLordof 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!’

28 For you are God, O SovereignLord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

29 And 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 SovereignLord, it is an eternal blessing!”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/7-dcf2f5680f23910e3a251ecef901a0fa.mp3?version_id=116—

David’s Military Victories

1 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.

2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.

3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.

4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers,and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.

5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them.

6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So theLordmade David victorious wherever he went.

7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem,

8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebahand Berothai.

9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer,

10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.

11 King David dedicated all these gifts to theLord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated—

12 from Edom,Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomitesin the Valley of Salt.

14 He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, theLordmade David victorious wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.

16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.

17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.

18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard.And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/8-e1823b87e6bd10f638c44a753e262bce.mp3?version_id=116—

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.

“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.

3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”

Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.

“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”

5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home.

6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”

Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”

7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”

8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table,like one of the king’s own sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.

13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/9-830781b1132631309fecc02cecbe5329.mp3?version_id=116—

David Defeats the Ammonites

1 Some time after this, King Nahashof the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king.

2 David said, “I am going to show loyalty to Hanun just as his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me.” So David sent ambassadors to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death.

But when David’s ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon,

3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!”

4 So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.

5 When David heard what had happened, he sent messengers to tell the men, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back.” For they felt deep shame because of their appearance.

6 When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, they sent and hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from the lands of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 from the land of Tob.

7 When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all his warriors to fight them.

8 The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.

9 When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields.

10 He left the rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai, who was to attack the Ammonites.

11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,” Joab told his brother. “And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

12 Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May theLord’s will be done.”

13 When Joab and his troops attacked, the Arameans began to run away.

14 And when the Ammonites saw the Arameans running, they ran from Abishai and retreated into the city. After the battle was over, Joab returned to Jerusalem.

15 The Arameans now realized that they were no match for Israel. So when they regrouped,

16 they were joined by additional Aramean troops summoned by Hadadezer from the other side of the Euphrates River.These troops arrived at Helam under the command of Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s forces.

17 When David heard what was happening, he mobilized all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and led the army to Helam. The Arameans positioned themselves in battle formation and fought against David.

18 But again the Arameans fled from the Israelites. This time David’s forces killed 700 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers,including Shobach, the commander of their army.

19 When all the kings allied with Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they surrendered to Israel and became their subjects. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/10-df44c49a32de105c7acfb65b8b979f10.mp3?version_id=116—

David and Bathsheba

1 In the spring of the year,when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.

3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.

5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David.

7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing.

8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.

9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

10 When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”

11 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents,and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”

12 “Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13 Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.

David Arranges for Uriah’s Death

14 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.

15 The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.”

16 So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting.

17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.

18 Then Joab sent a battle report to David.

19 He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king.

20 But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls?

21 Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideonkilled at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”

22 So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David.

23 “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate,

24 the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.”

25 “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”

26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.

27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But theLordwas displeased with what David had done.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/11-521bb50c2ac8409ced4ae5a2686c401e.mp3?version_id=116—

Nathan Rebukes David

1 So theLordsent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.

2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.

3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.

4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

5 David was furious. “As surely as theLordlives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!

6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! TheLord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.

8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.

9 Why, then, have you despised the word of theLordand done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.

10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

11 “This is what theLordsays: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.

12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”

David Confesses His Guilt

13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against theLord.”

Nathan replied, “Yes, but theLordhas forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.

14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of theLordby doing this, your child will die.”

15 After Nathan returned to his home, theLordsent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife.

16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground.

17 The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.

18 Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?”

19 When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked.

“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions,and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped theLord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.

21 His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”

22 David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps theLordwill be gracious to me and let the child live.’

23 But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

24 Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and Davidnamed him Solomon. TheLordloved the child

25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of theLord”), as theLordhad commanded.

David Captures Rabbah

26 Meanwhile, Joab was fighting against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and he captured the royal fortifications.

27 Joab sent messengers to tell David, “I have fought against Rabbah and captured its water supply.

28 Now bring the rest of the army and capture the city. Otherwise, I will capture it and get credit for the victory.”

29 So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.

30 David removed the crown from the king’s head,and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed seventy-five pounds.David took a vast amount of plunder from the city.

31 He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor withsaws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns.That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/12-030dc1a3fd8432e32d67e07be74876e1.mp3?version_id=116—

The Rape of Tamar

1 Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. And Amnon, her half brother, fell desperately in love with her.

2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her.

3 But Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea.

4 One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?”

So Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 “Well,” Jonadab said, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you’ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds you with her own hands.”

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dishas I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands.”

7 So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon’s house to prepare some food for him.

8 When Tamar arrived at Amnon’s house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him.

9 But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. “Everyone get out of here,” Amnon told his servants. So they all left.

10 Then he said to Tamar, “Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here.” So Tamar took his favorite dish to him.

11 But as she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling sister.”

12 “No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel.

13 Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.”

14 But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

15 Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her.

16 “No, no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done to me.”

But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her.

17 He shouted for his servant and demanded, “Throw this woman out, and lock the door behind her!”

18 So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe,as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters.

19 But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying.

20 Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, “Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.

22 And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.

Absalom’s Revenge on Amnon

23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheep were being sheared at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to a feast.

24 He went to the king and said, “My sheep-shearers are now at work. Would the king and his servants please come to celebrate the occasion with me?”

25 The king replied, “No, my son. If we all came, we would be too much of a burden on you.” Absalom pressed him, but the king would not come, though he gave Absalom his blessing.

26 “Well, then,” Absalom said, “if you can’t come, how about sending my brother Amnon with us?”

“Why Amnon?” the king asked.

27 But Absalom kept on pressing the king until he finally agreed to let all his sons attend, including Amnon. So Absalom prepared a feast fit for a king.

28 Absalom told his men, “Wait until Amnon gets drunk; then at my signal, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I’m the one who has given the command. Take courage and do it!”

29 So at Absalom’s signal they murdered Amnon. Then the other sons of the king jumped on their mules and fled.

30 As they were on the way back to Jerusalem, this report reached David: “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one is left alive!”

31 The king got up, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow.

32 But just then Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimea, arrived and said, “No, don’t believe that all the king’s sons have been killed! It was only Amnon! Absalom has been plotting this ever since Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

33 No, my lord the king, your sons aren’t all dead! It was only Amnon.”

34 Meanwhile Absalom escaped.

Then the watchman on the Jerusalem wall saw a great crowd coming down the hill on the road from the west. He ran to tell the king, “I see a crowd of people coming from the Horonaim road along the side of the hill.”

35 “Look!” Jonadab told the king. “There they are now! The king’s sons are coming, just as I said.”

36 They soon arrived, weeping and sobbing, and the king and all his servants wept bitterly with them.

37 And David mourned many days for his son Amnon.

Absalom fled to his grandfather, Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur.

38 He stayed there in Geshur for three years.

39 And King David,now reconciled to Amnon’s death, longed to be reunited with his son Absalom.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/6/32k/2SA/13-f360c2f8dbc87771a74e5ed685aa12db.mp3?version_id=116—