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2 Samuel 3:26-7:29
New Living Translation

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers to catch up with Abner, asking him to return. They found him at the well of Sirah and brought him back, though David knew nothing about it. 27 When Abner arrived back at Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gateway as if to speak with him privately. But then he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him in revenge for killing his brother Asahel.

28 When David heard about it, he declared, “I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner. 29 Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy[a] or who walks on crutches[b] or dies by the sword or begs for food!”

30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel at the battle of Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner’s Death

31 Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. 33 Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as fools die?
34 Your hands were not bound;
    your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered—
    the victim of a wicked plot.”

All the people wept again for Abner. 35 David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”

36 This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! 37 So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

38 Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? 39 And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

The Murder of Ishbosheth

4 When Ishbosheth,[c] 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,[d] 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.[e] 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 Valley[f] through 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 the Lord has given my lord the king revenge on Saul and his entire family!”

9 But David said to Recab and Baanah, “The Lord, 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.

David Becomes King of All Israel

5 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,[g] when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”

3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with 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.[h] Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.[i]” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”[j]

9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces[k] and working inward. 10 And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God 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 the Lord had 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 the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied 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. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 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 the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar[l] trees. 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 the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 25 So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[m] to Gezer.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

6 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah[n] to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,[o] 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.[p] Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs[q] and 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 the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this.[r] So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

8 David was angry because the Lord’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 the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.

12 Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.[s] 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

Michal’s Contempt for David

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

17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. 18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates,[t] 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 the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 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.

The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David

7 When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had 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,[u] 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 the Lord is with you.”

4 But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 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 the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 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, the Lord declares 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 me[v] for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

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

David’s Prayer of Thanks

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?[w]

20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord. 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 Sovereign Lord! 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.[x] 24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.

25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.

27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ 28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. 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 Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”

Footnotes

  1. 3:29a Or or a contagious skin disease. The Hebrew word used here can describe various skin diseases.
  2. 3:29b Or who is effeminate; Hebrew reads who handles a spindle.
  3. 4:1 Ishbosheth is another name for Esh-baal.
  4. 4:4 Mephibosheth is another name for Merib-baal.
  5. 4:6 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads So they went into the house pretending to fetch wheat, but they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and Baanah escaped.
  6. 4:7 Hebrew the Arabah.
  7. 5:2 Or For some time.
  8. 5:8a Or Those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites hate me.
  9. 5:8b Or with scaling hooks. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  10. 5:8c The meaning of this saying is uncertain.
  11. 5:9 Hebrew the millo. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  12. 5:23 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 5:24. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain.
  13. 5:25 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 14:16); Hebrew reads Geba.
  14. 6:2a Hebrew Baale of Judah, another name for Kiriath-jearim; compare 1 Chr 13:6.
  15. 6:2b Or the Ark of God where the Name is proclaimed—the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
  16. 6:4 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and some Greek manuscripts; Masoretic Text reads 4 and they brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill, with the Ark of God.
  17. 6:5 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version (see also 1 Chr 13:8); Masoretic Text reads before the Lord with all manner of cypress wood.
  18. 6:7 As in Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic Text reads because of his irreverence.
  19. 6:14 Hebrew a linen ephod.
  20. 6:19 Or a portion of meat. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  21. 7:2 Hebrew a house of cedar.
  22. 7:16 As in Greek version and some Hebrew manuscripts; Masoretic Text reads before you.
  23. 7:19 Or This is your instruction for all humanity, O Sovereign Lord.
  24. 7:23 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 17:21); Hebrew reads You made a name for yourself and awesome miracles for your land in the sight of your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, the nations and their gods.
Listen to 2 Samuel 3:26-7:29
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2 Samuel 3:26-7:29
New International Version

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(A) 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(B) in the stomach, and he died.(C)

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent(D) before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood(E) fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family!(F) May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore(G) 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(H) and walk in mourning(I) in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept(J) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament(K) for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.(L)
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,(M) if I taste bread(N) 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(O) 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(P) in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah(Q) are too strong(R) for me.(S) May the Lord repay(T) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

Ish-Bosheth Murdered

4 When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner(U) 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(V) is considered part of Benjamin, 3 because the people of Beeroth fled to Gittaim(W) and have resided there as foreigners to this day.

4 (Jonathan(X) son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news(Y) 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.(Z) His name was Mephibosheth.)(AA)

5 Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth,(AB) and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest.(AC) 6 They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed(AD) 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.(AE) 8 They brought the head(AF) of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul,(AG) your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged(AH) 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(AI) 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.(AJ) 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(AK) from your hand and rid the earth of you!”

12 So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them.(AL) 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.

David Becomes King Over Israel(AM)

5 All the tribes of Israel(AN) came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.(AO) 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.(AP) And the Lord said(AQ) to you, ‘You will shepherd(AR) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.(AS)’”

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

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

David Conquers Jerusalem(AZ)(BA)

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem(BB) to attack the Jebusites,(BC) 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(BD)—which is the City of David.(BE)

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft(BF) to reach those ‘lame and blind’(BG) who are David’s enemies.[b]” 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[c](BH) inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful,(BI) because the Lord God Almighty(BJ) was with him.(BK)

11 Now Hiram(BL) 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(BM) for the sake of his people Israel.

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

David Defeats the Philistines(BQ)

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.(BR) 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;(BS) 19 so David inquired(BT) 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.[d](BU) 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.(BV)

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(BW) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front(BX) of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines(BY) all the way from Gibeon[e](BZ) to Gezer.(CA)

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(CB)(CC)

6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah[f](CD) in Judah to bring up from there the ark(CE) of God, which is called by the Name,[g](CF) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned(CG) between the cherubim(CH) on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart(CI) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.(CJ) Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it,[h] and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating(CK) with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[i] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.(CL)

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of(CM) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act;(CN) therefore God struck him down,(CO) and he died there beside the ark of God.

8 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath(CP) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[j](CQ)

9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How(CR) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(CS) the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.(CT)

12 Now King David(CU) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed(CV) a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod,(CW) David was dancing(CX) before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts(CY) and the sound of trumpets.(CZ)

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,(DA) Michal(DB) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,(DC) and David sacrificed burnt offerings(DD) and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing(DE) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(DF) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(DG) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.(DH) And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked(DI) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed(DJ) me ruler(DK) over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

God’s Promise to David(DL)

7 After the king was settled in his palace(DM) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(DN) around him,(DO) 2 he said to Nathan(DP) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(DQ) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(DR)

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(DS) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you(DT) the one to build me a house to dwell in?(DU) 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.(DV) I have been moving from place to place with a tent(DW) as my dwelling.(DX) 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,(DY) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd(DZ) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house(EA) of cedar?(EB)”’

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(EC) and appointed you ruler(ED) over my people Israel.(EE) 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone,(EF) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(EG) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(EH) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(EI) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(EJ) Wicked(EK) people will not oppress them anymore,(EL) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[k](EM) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(EN)

“‘The Lord declares(EO) to you that the Lord himself will establish(EP) a house(EQ) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(ER) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(ES) and I will establish his kingdom.(ET) 13 He is the one who will build a house(EU) for my Name,(EV) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(EW) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(EX) When he does wrong, I will punish him(EY) with a rod(EZ) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(FA) as I took it away from Saul,(FB) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[l]; your throne(FC) will be established(FD) forever.(FE)’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(FF)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(FG) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,(FH) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![m]

20 “What more can David say(FI) to you? For you know(FJ) your servant,(FK) Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great(FL) you are,(FM) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(FN) you, and there is no God(FO) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(FP) 23 And who is like your people Israel(FQ)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(FR) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(FS) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(FT) from Egypt?[n] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(FU) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(FV)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(FW) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(FX) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(FY) in your sight.

27 “Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(FZ) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(GA) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 3:29 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. 2 Samuel 5:8 Or are hated by David
  3. 2 Samuel 5:9 Or the Millo
  4. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
  5. 2 Samuel 5:25 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 14:16); Hebrew Geba
  6. 2 Samuel 6:2 That is, Kiriath Jearim (see 1 Chron. 13:6)
  7. 2 Samuel 6:2 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate do not have the Name.
  8. 2 Samuel 6:4 Dead Sea Scrolls and some Septuagint manuscripts; Masoretic Text cart 4 and they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill
  9. 2 Samuel 6:5 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 13:8) songs
  10. 2 Samuel 6:8 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.
  11. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  12. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
  13. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  14. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.
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