Bible Reading Made Easy

2 Samuel 16

  • 16:1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
  • 16:2 And the king said to Ziba, What mean you by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
  • 16:3 And the king said, And where is your master’s son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he stays at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
  • 16:4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, your are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech you that I may find grace in your sight, my lord, O king.
  • 16:5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
  • 16:6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
  • 16:7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, you bloody man, and you man of Belial:
  • 16:8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son: and, behold, you are taken in your mischief, because you are a bloody man.
  • 16:9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray you, and take off his head.
  • 16:10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?  so let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Why have you done so?
  • 16:11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeks my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.
  • 16:12 It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
  • 16:13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
  • 16:14 And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
  • 16:15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
  • 16:16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
  • 16:17 And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? why went you not with your friend?
  • 16:18 And Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
  • 16:19 And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.
  • 16:20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
  • 16:21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines, which he has left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred of your father: then shall the hands of all that are with you be strong.
  • 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
  • 16:23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counceled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

2 Samuel 15

  • 15:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
  • 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
  • 15:3 And Absalom said to him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you.
  • 15:4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
  • 15:5 And it was so, that when any man came near to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
  • 15:6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
  • 15:7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.
  • 15:8 For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
  • 15:9 And the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
  • 15:10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom reigns in Hebron.
  • 15:11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
  • 15:12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
  • 15:13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
  • 15:14 And David said to all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil on us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
  • 15:15 And the king’s servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall appoint.
  • 15:16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
  • 15:17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
  • 15:18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
  • 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return to your place, and abide with the king: for you are a stranger, and also an exile.
  • 15:20 Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us? seeing I go where I may, return you, and take back your brothers: mercy and truth be with you.
  • 15:21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will your servant be.
  • 15:22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
  • 15:23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
  • 15:24 And see Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
  • 15:25 And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
  • 15:26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.
  • 15:27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, Are not you a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
  • 15:28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
  • 15:29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
  • 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
  • 15:31 And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
  • 15:32 And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth on his head:
  • 15:33 To whom David said, If you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden to me:
  • 15:34 But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant till now, so will I now also be your servant: then may you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
  • 15:35 And have you not there with you Zadok and Abiathar the priests?  therefore it shall be, that what thing soever you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
  • 15:36 Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me every thing that you can hear.
  • 15:37 So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 14

  • 14:1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
  • 14:2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, I pray you, feign yourself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not yourself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
  • 14:3 And come to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
  • 14:4 And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
  • 14:5 And the king said to her, What ails you? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
  • 14:6 And your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.
  • 14:7 And, behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the earth.
  • 14:8 And the king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you.
  • 14:9 And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
  • 14:10 And the king said, Whoever said ought to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.
  • 14:11 Then said she, I pray you, let the king remember the LORD your God, that you would not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.
  • 14:12 Then the woman said, Let your handmaid, I pray you, speak one word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
  • 14:13 And the woman said, Why then have you thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king does speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king does not fetch home again his banished.
  • 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither does God respect any person: yet does he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
  • 14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
  • 14:16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
  • 14:17 Then your handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD your God will be with you.
  • 14:18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, Hide not from me, I pray you, the thing that I shall ask you. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
  • 14:19 And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?  And the woman answered and said, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king has spoken: for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid:
  • 14:20 To fetch about this form of speech has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
  • 14:21 And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
  • 14:22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day your servant knows that I have found grace in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.
  • 14:23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
  • 14:24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.
  • 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
  • 14:26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
  • 14:27 And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
  • 14:28 So Absalom dwelled two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.
  • 14:29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
  • 14:30 Therefore he said to his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
  • 14:31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?
  • 14:32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
  • 14:33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 13

  • 13:1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
  • 13:2 And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.
  • 13:3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
  • 13:4 And he said to him, Why are you, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
  • 13:5 And Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and make yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, I pray you, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
  • 13:6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, I pray you, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
  • 13:7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
  • 13:8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
  • 13:9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
  • 13:10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of your hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
  • 13:11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.
  • 13:12 And she answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not you this folly.
  • 13:13 And I, where shall I cause my shame to go? and as for you, you shall be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.
  • 13:14 However, he would not listen to her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
  • 13:15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.
  • 13:16 And she said to him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.
  • 13:17 Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
  • 13:18 And she had a garment of divers colors on her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins appareled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
  • 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
  • 13:20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but hold now your peace, my sister: he is your brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
  • 13:21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.
  • 13:22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
  • 13:23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep shearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
  • 13:24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, your servant has sheep shearers; let the king, I beseech you, and his servants go with your servant.
  • 13:25 And the king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable to you. And he pressed him: however, he would not go, but blessed him.
  • 13:26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray you, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with you?
  • 13:27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
  • 13:28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
  • 13:29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled.
  • 13:30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
  • 13:31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.
  • 13:32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
  • 13:33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
  • 13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.
  • 13:35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as your servant said, so it is.
  • 13:36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
  • 13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
  • 13:38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
  • 13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

2 Samuel 12

  • 12:1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
  • 12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
  • 12:3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.
  • 12:4 And there came a travelers to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come to him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
  • 12:5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die:
  • 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
  • 12:7 And Nathan said to David, You are the man. Thus said the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul;
  • 12:8 And I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given to you such and such things.
  • 12:9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? you have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
  • 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
  • 12:11 Thus said the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
  • 12:12 For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
  • 12:13 And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
  • 12:14 However,, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.
  • 12:15 And Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
  • 12:16 David therefore sought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.
  • 12:17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
  • 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
  • 12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
  • 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
  • 12:21 Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread.
  • 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
  • 12:23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
  • 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
  • 12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
  • 12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
  • 12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
  • 12:28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
  • 12:29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
  • 12:30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  • 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11

  • 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
  • 11:2 And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.
  • 11:3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  • 11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned to her house.
  • 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
  • 11:6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
  • 11:7 And when Uriah was come to him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
  • 11:8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
  • 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
  • 11:10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down to his house, David said to Uriah, Came you not from your journey? why then did you not go down to your house?
  • 11:11 And Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.
  • 11:12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let you depart. So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
  • 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
  • 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
  • 11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set you Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
  • 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were.
  • 11:17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
  • 11:18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
  • 11:19 And charged the messenger, saying, When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war to the king,
  • 11:20 And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say to you, Why approached you so near to the city when you did fight? knew you not that they would shoot from the wall?
  • 11:21 Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went you near the wall? then say you, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
  • 11:22 So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
  • 11:23 And the messenger said to David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entering of the gate.
  • 11:24 And the shooters shot from off the wall on your servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
  • 11:25 Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you say to Joab, Let not this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another: make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him.
  • 11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
  • 11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

2 Samuel 10

  • 10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
  • 10:2 Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
  • 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Think you that David does honor your father, that he has sent comforters to you? has not David rather sent his servants to you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
  • 10:4 Why Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
  • 10:5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
  • 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
  • 10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
  • 10:8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
  • 10:9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
  • 10:10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
  • 10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
  • 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seems him good.
  • 10:13 And Joab drew near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
  • 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
  • 10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
  • 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
  • 10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
  • 10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
  • 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

2 Samuel 9

  • 9:1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
  • 9:2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him to David, the king said to him, Are you Ziba?  And he said, Your servant is he.
  • 9:3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? And Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
  • 9:4 And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
  • 9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
  • 9:6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold your servant!
  • 9:7 And David said to him, Fear not: for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.
  • 9:8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?
  • 9:9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, I have given to your master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
  • 9:10 You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits, that your master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
  • 9:11 Then said Ziba to the king, According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
  • 9:12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelled in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
  • 9:13 So Mephibosheth dwelled in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.

2 Samuel 8

  • 8:1 And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
  • 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
  • 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
  • 8:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
  • 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
  • 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
  • 8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
  • 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
  • 8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
  • 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
  • 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
  • 8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
  • 8:13 And David got him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
  • 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
  • 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his people.
  • 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
  • 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  • 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.

2 Samuel 7

  • 7:1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
  • 7:2 That the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
  • 7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you.
  • 7:4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
  • 7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus said the LORD, Shall you build me an house for me to dwell in?
  • 7:6 Whereas I have not dwelled 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.
  • 7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build you not me an house of cedar?
  • 7:8 Now therefore so shall you say to my servant David, Thus said the LORD of hosts, I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
  • 7:9 And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like to the name of the great men that are in the earth.
  • 7:10 Moreover 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,
  • 7:11 And as since 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 an house.
  • 7:12 And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
  • 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
  • 7:14 I 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:
  • 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
  • 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before you: your throne shall be established for ever.
  • 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
  • 7:18 Then went king David 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 till now?
  • 7:19 And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O Lord GOD; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
  • 7:20 And what can David say more to you? for you, Lord GOD, know your servant.
  • 7:21 For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, have you done all these great things, to make your servant know them.
  • 7:22 Why you are great, O LORD God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
  • 7:23 And what one nation in the earth is like your 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 your land, before your people, which you redeemed to you from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
  • 7:24 For you have confirmed to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you for ever: and you, LORD, are become their God.
  • 7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as you have said.
  • 7:26 And let your name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of your servant David be established before you.
  • 7:27 For you, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you an house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
  • 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, you are that God, and your words be true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant:
  • 7:29 Therefore now let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever before you: for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed for ever.