Bible-Reading.comII Samuel 5
1Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. The LORD said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
6The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here,” thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
7Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. This is David’s city.
8David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
9David lived in the stronghold, and called it David’s city. David built around from Millo and inward.
10David grew greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of Armies, was with him.
11Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
12David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
14These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
15Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
16Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
17When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
18Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” The LORD said to David, “Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. Then he said, “The LORD has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
21They left their images there, and David and his men took them away.
22The Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23When David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees.
24When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
25David did so, as the LORD commanded him, and struck the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
II Samuel 6
1David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of the LORD of Armies who sits above the cherubim.
3They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.
5David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.
6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled.
7The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.
8David was displeased because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day.
9David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How could the LORD’s ark come to me?”
10So David would not move the LORD’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
11The LORD’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
12King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.
13When those who bore the LORD’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
14David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the LORD’s ark with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
16As the LORD’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17They brought in the LORD’s ark, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Armies.
19He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.
22I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.”
23Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
II Samuel 7
1When the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around,
2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within curtains.”
3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
4That same night, the LORD’s word came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘The LORD says, “Should you build me a house for me to dwell in?
6For I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought the children of Israel up out of Egypt, even to this day, but have moved around in a tent and in a tabernacle.
7In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, did I say a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’
8Now therefore tell my servant David this: ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people, over Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not afflict them any more, as at the first,
11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD tells you that the LORD will make you a house.
12When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men;
15but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
16Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”
17Nathan spoke to David all these words, and according to all this vision.
18Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
19This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord GOD, but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord GOD!
20What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Lord GOD.
21For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
22Therefore you are great, LORD God. For there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23What one nation on the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make himself a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed to yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24You established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, LORD, became their God.
25“Now, LORD God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.
26Let your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.’
27For you, LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
28“Now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
29Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord GOD, have spoken it. Let the house of your servant be blessed forever with your blessing.”
II Samuel 8
1After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
2He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
3David also struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
4David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty two thousand men of the Syrians.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
7David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer,
10then Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze.
11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued—
12of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt.
14He put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
15David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,
17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
II Samuel 9
1David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”
3The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”
4The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”
7David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.”
8He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?”
9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son.
10Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.
12Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.