bj[See ver. 14 above]
dd[See ver. 37 above]

2 Samuel 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 aDavid again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from bBaale-judah cto bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts dwho sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3And they carried the ark of God eon a new cart and brought it fout of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio,
Or  and his brother; also verse 4
the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,
Compare Septuagint; Hebrew  the new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill
4with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

Uzzah and the Ark

5And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with isongs
Septuagint, 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew fir trees
and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
6And when they came to the threshing floor of kNacon, Uzzah lput out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and mGod struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah
 Perez-uzzah means the breaking out against Uzzah
to this day.
9And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside oto the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, pand the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

12And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” qSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom rto the city of David with rejoicing. 13And when sthose who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, the sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14And David udanced before the Lord with all his might. And David was vwearing a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

David and Michal

16As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. 17And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it win its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. xAnd David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, yhe blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts 19and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,
Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain
and a cake of raisins to each one. aaThen all the people departed, each to his house.

20And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, abuncovering himself today before the eyes of his servantsfemale servants, as one of the acvulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, adwho chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince
Or leader
over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord.
22I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your
Septuagint; Hebrew my
eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”
23And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

2 Samuel 7

The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 agNow when the king lived in his house and the Lord ahhad given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to aiNathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell ajin a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells akin a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, alGo, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

4But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 5Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: amWould you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house ansince the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about aoin a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where apI have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with aqany of the judges
Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
of Israel, whom I commanded asto shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, atI took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince
Or leader
over my people Israel.
9 avAnd I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel awand will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place axand be disturbed no more. ayAnd violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 azfrom the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And baI will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that bbthe Lord will make you a house. 12 bcWhen your days are fulfilled and bdyou lie down with your fathers, beI will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 bfHe shall build a house for my name, and bgI will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 bhI will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, biI will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 bjbut my steadfast love will not depart from him, bkas I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 blAnd your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.
Septuagint; Hebrew you
bnYour throne shall be established forever.’”
17In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer of Gratitude

18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, boWho am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. bpYou have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20And what more can David say to you? bqFor you know your servant, O Lord God! 21Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 brTherefore you are great, O Lord God. bsFor there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 btAnd who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name buand doing for them
With a few Targums, Vulgate, Syriac; Hebrew you
great and awesome things by driving out
Septuagint (compare 1 Chronicles 17:21); Hebrew for your land
before your people, whom bxyou redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods?
24 byAnd you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28And now, O Lord God, you are God, and bzyour words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, caand with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

2 Samuel 13

Amnon and Tamar

1Now cbAbsalom, David’s son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was ccTamar. And after a time Amnon, David’s son, loved her. 2And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of cdShimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” 6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and cemake a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare food for him.” 8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, cfSend out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate
Or humiliate; also verses 14, 22, 32
me, for chsuch a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this cioutrageous thing.
13As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of cjthe outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.

15Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, 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, “Get up! Go!” 16But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.”
Compare Septuagint, Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
But he would not listen to her.
17He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18Now she was wearing cla long robe
Or  a robe of many colors (compare Genesis 37:3); also verse 19
with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her.
19And Tamar cnput ashes on her head and cotore the long robe that she wore. And cpshe laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.

20And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house. 21When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint add But he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, since he was his firstborn
22But Absalom spoke to Amnon crneither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

Absalom Murders Amnon

23After two full years Absalom had cssheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s ctheart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31Then the king arose and cutore his garments and cvlay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32But cwJonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33Now therefore let not my lord the king so cxtake it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

Absalom Flees to Geshur

34 cyBut Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him
Septuagint  the Horonaim Road
by the side of the mountain.
35And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 daBut Absalom fled and went to dbTalmai the son of Ammihud, king of dcGeshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 ddSo Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39And the spirit of the king
Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint; Hebrew David
longed to go out
Compare Vulgate ceased to go out
to Absalom, because dghe was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

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