ah[See ver. 25 above]
ap[See ver. 4 above]
at[See ver. 4 above]
be[See ver. 2 above]

2 Samuel 1

David Hears of Saul’s Death

1After the death of Saul, when David had returned afrom striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2And on the third day, behold, ba man came from Saul’s camp, cwith his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, dhe fell to the ground and paid homage. 3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4And David said to him, eHow did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6And the young man who told him said, f“By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9And he said to me, gStand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. hAnd I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11Then David took hold of his clothes and itore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12And they mourned and wept jand fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14David said to him, “How is it you were not kafraid to put out your hand to destroy lthe Lord’s anointed?” 15Then mDavid called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16And David said to him, n“Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed othe Lord’s anointed.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

17And David plamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, 18and he said it
Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the lament’s tune
should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in rthe Book of Jashar.
Or  of the upright
He said:

19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!
tHow the mighty have fallen!
20 uTell it not in Gath,
vpublish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
wlest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
lest the daughters of xthe uncircumcised exult.
21 y“You mountains of Gilboa,
let there be no dew or rain upon you,
nor fields of offerings!
Septuagint firstfruits

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
the shield of Saul, not aaanointed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the slain,
from the fat of the mighty,
abthe bow of Jonathan turned not back,
and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were acswifter than eagles;
they were adstronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
aewho put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
25 afHow the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places.
26I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
very pleasant have you been to me;
agyour love to me was extraordinary,
surpassing the love of women.
27 ah“How the mighty have fallen,
and the weapons of war perished!”

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King of Judah

1After this David aiinquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To ajHebron.” 2So David went up there, and akhis two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3And David brought up alhis men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David amking over the house of Judah.

When they told David, an“It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”
5David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, ao“May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and apthe house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

8But aqAbner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to arMahanaim, 9and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 asAnd the time that David was king in Hebron over atthe house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

12Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at authe pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim,
 Helkath-hazzurim means the field of sword-edges
which is at Gibeon.
17And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18And the awthree sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was axas swift of foot as a wild gazelle. 19And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” 21Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” 23But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him ayin the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 26Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27And Joab said, “As God lives, if azyou had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

29And Abner and his men went all that night through bathe Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to bbMahanaim. 30Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. 31But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men. 32And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.

2 Samuel 3

Abner Joins David

1There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.

2 bcAnd sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of bdAhinoam of Jezreel; 3and his second, Chileab, of beAbigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah bfthe daughter of Talmai king of bgGeshur; 4and the fourth, bhAdonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was biRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, bjWhy have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 8Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I bka dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. 9 blGod do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David bmwhat the Lord has sworn to him, 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, bnfrom Dan to Beersheba.” 11And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,
Or where he was; Septuagint at Hebron
saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.”
13And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, bpyou shall not see my face unless you first bring bqMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, brfor whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to bsBahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18Now then bring it about, btfor the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” 19Abner also spoke to buBenjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and bvwill gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may bwreign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” 24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know bxyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

Joab Murders Abner

26When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, byand there he struck him bzin the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 caMay it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without cbone who has a discharge or who is ccleprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because cdhe had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

David Mourns Abner

31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, ceTear your clothes and cfput on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33And the king cglamented for Abner, saying,

ch“Should Abner die cias a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”
And all the people wept again over him.
35Then all the people came cjto persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, ckGod do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else cltill the sun goes down!” 36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. 38And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. cmThese men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. cnThe Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

2 Samuel 4

Ish-bosheth Murdered

1When Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, cohis courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. 2Now Saul’s son had two men who were captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon a man of Benjamin from Beeroth ( cpfor Beeroth also is counted part of Benjamin; 3 cqthe Beerothites fled crto Gittaim and have been sojourners there to this day).

4 csJonathan, the son of Saul, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan ctcame from Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and as she fled in her haste, he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

5Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ish-bosheth as he was taking his noonday rest. 6And they came into the midst of the house as if to get wheat, and they stabbed him cuin the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
Septuagint  And behold, the doorkeeper of the house had been cleaning wheat, but she grew drowsy and slept. So Rechab and Baanah his brother slipped in
7When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of cwthe Arabah all night, 8and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, cxwho sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.” 9But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, cy“As the Lord lives, czwho has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10 dawhen one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, dbI seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now dcrequire his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” 12And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it ddin the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

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