聖經365恩典之旅

本日經文提要(撒母耳記下 1:1~ 5:25 )

.大衛如何得知掃羅和約拿單已經死了呢'?當他知道這個消息後，如何回應呢?
.掃羅的兒子伊施波設對押尼珥說：你為甚麼與我父的妃嬪同房呢?結果押尼珥因此做了甚麼事情來表達他的不滿呢?



撒下1:1掃羅死後，大衛擊殺亞瑪力人回來，在洗革拉住了兩天。
撒下1:2第三天，有一人從掃羅的營裡出來，衣服撕裂，頭蒙灰塵，到大衛面前伏地叩拜。
撒下1:3大衛問他說：你從哪裡來，他說：我從以色列的營裡逃來。
撒下1:4大衛又問他說：事情怎樣，請你告訴我，他回答說：百姓從陣上逃跑，也有許多人仆倒死亡，掃羅和他兒子約拿單也死了。
撒下1:5大衛問報信的少年人說：你怎麼知道掃羅和他兒子約拿單死了呢。
撒下1:6報信的少年人說：我偶然到基利波山，看見掃羅伏在自己槍上，有戰車，馬兵，緊緊的追他。
撒下1:7他回頭看見我，就呼叫我，我說：我在這裡。
撒下1:8他問我說：你是甚麼人，我說：我是亞瑪力人。
撒下1:9他說：請你來將我殺死，因為痛苦抓住我，我的生命尚存。
撒下1:10我準知他仆倒必不能活，就去將他殺死，把他頭上的冠冕，臂上的鐲子，拿到我主這裡。
撒下1:11大衛就撕裂衣服，跟隨他的人也是如此。
撒下1:12而且悲哀，哭號，禁食到晚上，是因掃羅和他兒子約拿單，並耶和華的民以色列家的人，倒在刀下。
撒下1:13大衛問報信的少年人說：你是那裡的人，他說：我是亞瑪力客人的兒子。
撒下1:14大衛說：你伸手殺害耶和華的受膏者，怎麼不畏懼呢。
撒下1:15大衛叫了一個少年人來，說：你去殺他罷。
撒下1:16大衛對他說：你流人血的罪，歸到自己的頭上，因為你親口作見證，說：我殺了耶和華的受膏者，少年人就把他殺了。
撒下1:17大衛作哀歌，弔掃羅和他兒子約拿單。
撒下1:18且吩咐將這歌教導猶大人，這歌名叫弓歌，寫在雅煞珥書上。
撒下1:19歌中說：以色列阿，你尊榮者在山上被殺，大英雄何竟死亡。
撒下1:20不要在迦特報告，不要在亞實基倫街上傳揚，免得非利士的女子歡樂，免得未受割禮之人的女子矜誇。
撒下1:21基利波山哪，願你那裡沒有雨露，願你田地無土產可作供物，因為英雄的盾牌，在那裡被污丟棄，掃羅的盾牌，彷彿未曾抹油。
撒下1:22約拿單的弓箭，非流敵人的血不退縮，掃羅的刀劍，非剖勇士的油不收回。
撒下1:23掃羅和約拿單，活時相悅相愛，死時也不分離，他們比鷹更快，比獅子還強。
撒下1:24以色列的女子阿，當為掃羅哭號，他曾使你們穿朱紅色的美衣，使你們衣服有黃金的妝飾。
撒下1:25英雄何竟在陣上仆倒，約拿單何竟在山上被殺。
撒下1:26我兄約拿單哪，我為你悲傷，我甚喜悅你，你向我發的愛情奇妙非常，過於婦女的愛情。
撒下1:27英雄何竟仆倒，戰具何竟滅沒。

撒下2:1此後，大衛問耶和華說：我上猶大的一個城去可以麼，耶和華說：可以，大衛說：我上哪一個城去呢，耶和華說：上希伯崙去。
撒下2:2於是大衛和他的兩個妻，一個是耶斯列人亞希暖，一個是作過迦密人拿八妻的亞比該，都上那裡去了。
撒下2:3大衛也將跟隨他的人，和他們各人的眷屬，一同帶上去，住在希伯崙的城邑中。
撒下2:4猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裡膏大衛作猶大家的王。有人告訴大衛說：葬埋掃羅的，是基列雅比人。
撒下2:5大衛就差人去見基列雅比人，對他們說：你們厚待你們的主掃羅，將他葬埋，願耶和華賜福與你們。
撒下2:6你們既行了這事，願耶和華以慈愛誠實待你們，我也要為此厚待你們。
撒下2:7現在你們的主掃羅死了，猶大家已經膏我作他們的王，所以你們要剛強奮勇。
撒下2:8掃羅的元帥尼珥的兒子押尼珥，曾將掃羅的兒子伊施波設，帶過河到瑪哈念。
撒下2:9立他作王治理基列，亞書利，耶斯列，以法蓮，便雅憫，和以色列眾人。
撒下2:10掃羅的兒子伊施波設登基的時候，年四十歲，作以色列王二年，惟獨猶大家歸從大衛。
撒下2:11大衛在希伯崙作猶大家的王，共七年零六個月。
撒下2:12尼珥的兒子押尼珥，和掃羅的兒子伊施波設的僕人，從瑪哈念出來，往基遍去。
撒下2:13洗魯雅的兒子約押，和大衛的僕人也出來，在基遍池旁與他們相遇，一班坐在池這邊，一班坐在池那邊。
撒下2:14押尼珥對約押說：讓少年人起來，在我們面前戲耍罷，約押說：可以。
撒下2:15就按著定數起來，屬掃羅兒子伊施波設的便雅憫人過去十二名，大衛的僕人也過去十二名。
撒下2:16彼此揪頭，用刀刺肋，一同仆倒，所以那地叫作希利甲哈素林，就在基遍。
撒下2:17那日的戰事兇猛，押尼珥和以色列人，敗在大衛的僕人面前。
撒下2:18在那裡有洗魯雅的三個兒子，約押，亞比篩，亞撒黑，亞撒黑腳快如野鹿一般。
撒下2:19亞撒黑追趕押尼珥，直追趕他不偏左右。
撒下2:20押尼珥回頭說：你是亞撒黑麼，回答說：是。
撒下2:21押尼珥對他說：你或轉向左，轉向右，拿住一個少年人，剝去他的戰衣，亞撒黑卻不肯轉開不追趕他。
撒下2:22押尼珥又對亞撒黑說：你轉開不追趕我罷，我何必殺你呢，若殺你，有甚麼臉見你哥哥約押呢。
撒下2:23亞撒黑仍不肯轉開，故此押尼珥就用槍鐏刺入他的肚腹，甚至槍從背後透出，亞撒黑就在那裡仆倒而死，眾人趕到亞撒黑仆倒而死的地方，就都站住。
撒下2:24約押和亞比篩追趕押尼珥，日落的時候，到了通基遍曠野的路旁，基亞對面的亞瑪山。
撒下2:25便雅憫人聚集，跟隨押尼珥站在一個山頂上。
撒下2:26押尼珥呼叫約押，說：刀劍豈可永遠殺人麼，你豈不知終久必有苦楚麼，你要等何時才叫百姓回去，不追趕弟兄呢。
撒下2:27約押說：我指著永生的神起誓，你若不說戲耍的那句話，今日早晨百姓就回去，不追趕弟兄了。
撒下2:28於是約押吹角，眾民就站住不再追趕以色列人，也不再打仗了。
撒下2:29押尼珥和跟隨他的人，整夜經過亞拉巴，過約但河走過畢倫，到了瑪哈念。
撒下2:30約押追趕押尼珥回來，聚集眾民，見大衛的僕人中缺少了十九個人，和亞撒黑。
撒下2:31但大衛的僕人殺了便雅憫人，和跟隨押尼珥的人，共三百六十名。
撒下2:32眾人將亞撒黑送到伯利恆，葬在他父親的墳墓裡。約押和跟隨他的人，走了一夜，天亮的時候到了希伯崙。

撒下3:1掃羅家和大衛家爭戰許久，大衛家日見強盛，掃羅家日見衰弱。
撒下3:2大衛在希伯崙，得了幾個兒子，長子暗嫩，是耶斯列人亞希暖所生的。
撒下3:3次子基利押，〔基利押歷代上三章一節作但以利〕是作過迦密人拿八的妻亞比該所生的，三子押沙龍，是基述王達買的女兒瑪迦所生的。
撒下3:4四子亞多尼雅，是哈及所生的，五子示法提雅，是亞比他所生的。
撒下3:5六子以特念，是大衛的妻以格拉所生的，大衛這六個兒子，都是在希伯崙生的。
撒下3:6掃羅家和大衛家爭戰的時候，押尼珥在掃羅家大有權勢。
撒下3:7掃羅有一妃嬪，名叫利斯巴，是愛亞的女兒，一日，伊施波設對押尼珥說：你為甚麼與我父的妃嬪同房呢。
撒下3:8押尼珥因伊施波設的話，就甚發怒，說：我豈是猶大的狗頭呢，我恩待你父掃羅的家，和他的弟兄，朋友，不將你交在大衛手裡，今日你竟為這婦人責備我麼。
撒下3:9我若不照著耶和華起誓應許大衛的話行，廢去掃羅的位，建立大衛的位，使他治理以色列和猶大，從但直到別是巴，願神重重的降罰與我。
撒下3:10見上節
撒下3:11伊施波設懼怕押尼珥，不敢回答一句。
撒下3:12押尼珥打發人去見大衛，替他說：這國歸誰呢，又說：你與我立約，我必幫助你，使以色列人都歸服你。
撒下3:13大衛說：好，我與你立約，但有一件，你來見我面的時候，若不將掃羅的女兒米甲帶來，必不得見我的面。
撒下3:14大衛就打發人去見掃羅的兒子伊施波設，說：你要將我的妻米甲歸還我，他是我從前用一百非利士人的陽皮所聘定的。
撒下3:15伊施波設就打發人去，將米甲從拉億的兒子他丈夫帕鐵那裡接回來。
撒下3:16米甲的丈夫跟著他，一面走一面哭，直跟到巴戶琳，押尼珥說：你回去罷。帕鐵就回去了。
撒下3:17押尼珥對以色列長老說：從前你們願意大衛作王治理你們。
撒下3:18現在你們可以照心願而行，因為耶和華曾論到大衛說：我必藉我僕人大衛的手，救我民以色列脫離非利士人，和眾仇敵的手。
撒下3:19押尼珥也用這話，說給便雅憫人聽，又到希伯崙，將以色列人，和便雅憫全家一切所喜悅的事，說給大衛聽。
撒下3:20押尼珥帶著二十個人，來到希伯崙見大衛，大衛就為押尼珥和他帶來的人，設擺筵席。
撒下3:21押尼珥對大衛說：我要起身去招聚以色列眾人來見我主我王，與你立約，你就可以照著心願作王，於是大衛送押尼珥去，押尼珥就平平安安的去了。
撒下3:22約押和大衛的僕人，攻擊敵軍帶回許多的掠物，那時押尼珥不在希伯崙大衛那裡，因大衛已經送他去，他也平平安安的去了。
撒下3:23約押和跟隨他的全軍到了，就有人告訴約押說：尼珥的兒子押尼珥來見王，王送他去，他也平平安安的去了。
撒下3:24約押去見王說：你這是作甚麼呢，押尼珥來見你，你為何送他去，他就蹤影不見了呢。
撒下3:25你當曉得尼珥的兒子押尼珥來，是要誆哄你，要知道你的出入，和你一切所行的事。
撒下3:26約押從大衛那裡出來，就打發人去追趕押尼珥，在西拉井追上他，將他帶回來，大衛卻不知道。
撒下3:27:押尼珥回到希伯崙，約押領他到城門的甕洞，假作要與他說機密話，就在那裡刺透他的肚腹，他便死了，這是報殺他兄弟亞撒黑的仇。
撒下3:28大衛聽見了，就說：流尼珥的兒子押尼珥的血，這罪在耶和華面前必永不歸我，和我的國。
撒下3:29願流他血的罪歸到約押頭上，和他父的全家，又願約押家不斷有患漏症的，長大痲瘋的，架柺而行的，被刀殺死的，缺乏飲食的。
撒下3:30約押和他兄弟亞比篩殺了押尼珥，是因押尼珥在基遍爭戰的時候，殺了他們的兄弟亞撒黑。
撒下3:31大衛吩咐約押和跟隨他的眾人，說：你們當撕裂衣服，腰束麻布，在押尼珥棺前哀哭，大衛王也跟在棺後。
撒下3:32他們將押尼珥葬在希伯崙，王在押尼珥的墓旁放聲而哭，眾民也都哭了。
撒下3:33王為押尼珥舉哀，說：押尼珥何竟像愚頑人死呢。
撒下3:34你手未曾捆綁，腳未曾鎖住，你死如人死在罪孽之輩手下一樣，於是眾民又為押尼珥哀哭。
撒下3:35日頭未落的時候，眾民來勸大衛吃飯，但大衛起誓，說：我若在日頭未落以前吃飯，或吃別物，願神重重的降罰與我。
撒下3:36眾民知道了就都喜悅，凡王所行的，眾民無不喜悅。
撒下3:37那日以色列眾民才知道殺尼珥的兒子押尼珥，並非出於王意。
撒下3:38王對臣僕說：你們豈不知今日以色列人中，死了一個作元帥的大丈夫麼。
撒下3:39我雖然受膏為王，今日還是軟弱，這洗魯雅的兩個兒子比我剛強，願耶和華照著惡人所行的惡報應他。

撒下4:1掃羅的兒子伊施波設聽見押尼珥死在希伯崙，手就發軟，以色列眾人也都驚惶。
撒下4:2掃羅的兒子伊施波設有兩個軍長，一名巴拿，一名利甲，是便雅憫支派，比錄人臨門的兒子，比錄也屬便雅憫。
撒下4:3比錄人早先逃到基他音，在那裡寄居，直到今日。
撒下4:4掃羅的兒子約拿單有一個兒子名叫米非波設，是瘸腿的，掃羅和約拿單死亡的消息從耶斯列傳到的時候，他才五歲，他乳母抱著他逃跑，因為跑得太急，孩子掉在地上，腿就瘸了。
撒下4:5一日，比錄人臨門的兩個兒子，利甲和巴拿出去，約在午熱的時候，到了伊施波設的家，伊施波設正睡午覺。
撒下4:6他們進了房子，假作要取麥子，就刺透伊施波設的肚腹，逃跑了。
撒下4:7他們進房子的時候，伊施波設正在臥房裡躺在床上，他們將他殺死，割了他的首級，拿著首級在亞拉巴走了一夜。
撒下4:8將伊施波設的首級拿到希伯崙見大衛王，說：王的仇敵掃羅，曾尋索王的性命，看哪，這是他兒子伊施波設的首級，耶和華今日為我主我王，在掃羅和他後裔的身上報了仇。
撒下4:9大衛對比錄人臨門的兒子利甲和他兄弟巴拿說：我指著救我性命脫離一切苦難，永生的耶和華起誓，
撒下4:10從前有人報告我說：掃羅死了，他自以為報好消息，我就拿住他，將他殺在洗革拉，這就作了他報消息的賞賜。
撒下4:11何況惡人將義人殺在他的床上，我豈不向你們討流他血的罪，從世上除滅你們呢。
撒下4:12於是大衛吩咐少年人將他們殺了，砍斷他們的手腳，挂在希伯崙的池旁，卻將伊施波設的首級，葬在希伯崙押尼珥的墳墓裡。

撒下5:1以色列眾支派來到希伯崙見大衛，說：我們原是你的骨肉。
撒下5:2從前掃羅作我們王的時候，率領以色列人出入的是你，耶和華也曾應許你說：你必牧養我的民以色列，作以色列的君。
撒下5:3於是以色列的長老都來到希伯崙見大衛王，大衛在希伯崙耶和華面前與他們立約，他們就膏大衛作以色列的王。
撒下5:4大衛登基的時候年三十歲，在位四十年。
撒下5:5在希伯崙作猶大王七年零六個月，在耶路撒冷作以色列和猶大王三十三年。
撒下5:6大衛和跟隨他的人到了耶路撒冷，要攻打住那地方的耶布斯人，耶布斯人對大衛說：你若不趕出瞎子，瘸子，必不能進這地方，心裡想大衛決不能進去。
撒下5:7然而大衛攻取錫安的保障，就是大衛的城。
撒下5:8當日，大衛說：誰攻打耶布斯人，當上水溝攻打我心裡所恨惡的瘸子，瞎子，從此有俗語說：在那裡有瞎子，瘸子，他不能進屋去。
撒下5:9大衛住在保障裡，給保障起名叫大衛城，大衛又從米羅以裡，周圍築牆。
撒下5:10大衛日見強盛，因為耶和華萬軍之神與他同在。
撒下5:11推羅王希蘭將香柏木運到大衛那裡，又差遣使者，和木匠石匠，給大衛建造宮殿。
撒下5:12大衛就知道耶和華堅立他作以色列王，又為自己的民以色列使他的國興旺。
撒下5:13大衛離開希伯崙之後，在耶路撒冷又立后妃，又生兒女。
撒下5:14在耶路撒冷所生的兒子，是沙母亞，朔罷，拿單，所羅門，
撒下5:15益轄，以利書亞，尼斐，雅非亞，
撒下5:16以利沙瑪，以利雅大，以利法列。
撒下5:17非利士人聽見人膏大衛作以色列王，非利士眾人就上來尋索大衛，大衛聽見，就下到保障。
撒下5:18非利士人來了，布散在利乏音谷。
撒下5:19大衛求問耶和華說：我可以上去攻打非利士人麼，你將他們交在我手裡麼，耶和華說：你可以上去，我必將非利士人交在你手裡。
撒下5:20大衛來到巴力毘拉心，在那裡擊殺非利士人，說：耶和華在我面前沖破敵人，如同水沖去一般，因此稱那地方為巴力毘拉心。
撒下5:21非利士人將偶像撇在那裡，大衛和跟隨他的人拿去了。
撒下5:22非利士人又上來，布散在利乏音谷。
撒下5:23大衛求問耶和華，耶和華說：不要一直的上去，要轉到他們後頭，從桑林對面攻打他們。
撒下5:24你聽見桑樹梢上有腳步的聲音，就要急速前去，因為那時耶和華已經在你前頭去攻打非利士人的軍隊。
撒下5:25大衛就遵著耶和華所吩咐的去行，攻打非利士人，從迦巴直到基色。

 

 

Mar 29,2016-The Journey of Grace (89/365) 2 Samuel 1:1~ 5:25

 

 

2 Samuel 1 

David Hears of Saul’s Death

1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor.

3 “Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I have escaped from the Israelite camp.”

4 “What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

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

6 “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. 7 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’

8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.

9 “Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’

10 “So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. 12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 David said to the young man who brought him the report, “Where are you from?”

“I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite,” he answered.

14 David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

15 Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died. 16 For David had said to him, “Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan
17 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

19 “A gazelle[a] lies slain on your heights, Israel.
    How the mighty have fallen!
20 “Tell it not in Gath,
    proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad,
    lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.
21 “Mountains of Gilboa,
    may you have neither dew nor rain,
    may no showers fall on your terraced fields.[b]
For there the shield of the mighty was despised,
    the shield of Saul—no longer rubbed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain,
    from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
    the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
23 Saul and Jonathan—
    in life they were loved and admired,
    and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
    they were stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Israel,
    weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and finery,
    who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
    Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
    you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
    more wonderful than that of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
    The weapons of war have perished!”

 

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King Over Judah

2 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

War Between the Houses of David and Saul
8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

10 Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. 11 The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. 13 Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.

14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”

“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

15 So they stood up and were counted off—twelve men for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 16 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his dagger into his opponent’s side, and they fell down together. So that place in Gibeon was called Helkath Hazzurim.[a]

17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men.

18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. 19 He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. 20 Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”

“It is,” he answered.

21 Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

22 Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”

23 But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. 25 Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.

26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.

29 All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours[b] and came to Mahanaim.

30 Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. 31 But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 32 They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

 

2 Samuel 3 

3 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Goes Over to David

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now 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?”

8 Abner 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! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

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.” 14 Then 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.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her 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.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now 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.’”

19 Abner 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. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then 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.

Joab Murders Abner
22 Just 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. 23 When 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.

24 So 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! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now 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.

28 Later, 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. 29 May 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[a] or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then 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. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”
And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So 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.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And 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!”

 

2 Samuel 4 

Ish-Bosheth Murdered

4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Now 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, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim and have resided there as foreigners to this day.

4 (Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled. His name was Mephibosheth.)

5 Now 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. 6 They 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.

7 They 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. 8 They 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.”

9 David 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, 10 when 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! 11 How 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!”

12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb at Hebron.

 

2 Samuel 5 

David Becomes King Over Israel

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In 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.’”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem

6 The 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.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b] inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When 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. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So 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.[c] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so 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. 24 As 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.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[d] to Gezer.