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The Assassination of Ish-bosheth

1 When Saul’s son Ish-bosheth heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

2 Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties: one named Baanah and the other Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the Benjaminites. Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin,

3 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and still live there as foreigners to this very day.

4 Saul’s son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. The one who had nursed himpicked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

5 Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at Ish-bosheth’s house during the heat of the day while the king was taking his midday nap.

6 They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat and stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.

7 They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed in his bedroom and stabbed and killed him. Then they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled by way of the Arabahall night.

8 They brought Ish-bosheth’s head to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here’s the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who intended to take your life. Today theLordhas granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.”

9 But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As theLordlives, the One who has redeemed my life from every distress,

10 when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag.That was my reward to him for his news!

11 How much more when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house on his own bed! So now, should I not require his blood from your hands and wipe you off the earth? ”

12 So David gave orders to the young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took Ish-bosheth’s head and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/4-b206ac5026477272cbe635e4d3d86b3e.mp3?version_id=72—

David, King of Israel

1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebronand said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.

2 Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back.TheLordalso said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’ ”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with themat Hebron in theLord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was 30 years old when he began his reign;he reigned 40 years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusiteswho inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you”; thinking, “David can’t get in here.”

7 Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

8 He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David.”For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house.”

9 David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David. He built it up all the way around from the supporting terraces inward.

10 David became more and more powerful,and theLordGod of Hosts was with him.

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David; he also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons,and they built a palace for David.

12 Then David knew that theLordhad established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

13 After he arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

14 These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel,they all went in search of David, but he heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

18 So the Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

19 Then David inquired of theLord:“Should I go to war against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? ”

TheLordreplied to David, “Go, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you.”

20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, “Like a bursting flood, theLordhas burst out against my enemies before me.”Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out.

21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 So David inquired of theLord, and He answered, “Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees.

24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then theLordwill have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.”

25 So David did exactly as theLordcommanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/5-4e436fc2abf8f91d0b256b198f71bd16.mp3?version_id=72—

David Moves the Ark

1 David again assembled all the choice men in Israel,30,000.

2 He and all his troops set outto bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim.

3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart

4 and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark.

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before theLordwith all kinds of fir wood instruments,lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,and cymbals.

6 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled.

7 Then theLord’s anger burned against Uzzah,and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence,and he died there next to the ark of God.

8 David was angry because of theLord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah,as it is today.

9 David feared theLordthat day and said, “How can the ark of theLordever come to me? ”

10 So he was not willing to move the ark of theLordto the city of David;instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

11 The ark of theLordremained in his house three months, and theLordblessed Obed-edomand his whole family.

12 It was reported to King David: “TheLordhas blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.

13 When those carrying the ark of theLordadvanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14 David was dancingwith all his might before theLordwearing a linen ephod.

15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of theLordwith shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn.

16 As the ark of theLordwas entering the city of David,Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before theLord, and she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of theLordand set it in its place inside the tent David had set up for it.Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in theLord’s presence.

18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts.

19 Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women.Then all the people left, each to his own home.

20 When David returned home to bless his household,Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel honored himself today! ” she said. “He exposed himself today in the sight of the slave girls of his subjects like a vulgar person would expose himself.”

21 David replied to Michal, “I was dancingbefore theLordwho chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over theLord’s people Israel.I will celebrate before theLord,

22 and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself.I will be honored by the slave girls you spoke about.”

23 And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/6-affb627021e454c387ef039d1178c0cc.mp3?version_id=72—

The Lord’s Covenant with David

1 When the king had settled into his palaceand theLordhad given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

2 the king said to Nathan the prophet,“Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”

3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your heart, for theLordis with you.”

4 But that night the word of theLordcame to Nathan:

5 “Go to My servant David and say, ‘This is what theLordsays: Are you to build a house for Me to live in?

6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as My dwelling.

7 In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar? ’

8 “Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what theLordof Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.

9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a namefor you like that of the greatest in the land.

10 I will establish a placefor My people Israel and plant them,so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done

11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel.I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“ ‘TheLorddeclares to you: TheLordHimself will make a house for you.

12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He will build a house for My name,and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others.

15 But My faithful love will never leave himas I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Meforever,and your throne will be established forever.’ ”

17 Nathan spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

18 Then King David went in,sat in theLord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, LordGod, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

19 What You have done so farwas a little thing to You, LordGod, for You have also spoken about Your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelationfor mankind, LordGod.

20 What more can David say to You? You know Your servant,LordGod.

21 Because of Your word and according to Your will, You have revealed all these great things to Your servant.

22 This is why You are great,LordGod. There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You,as all we have heard confirms.

23 And who is like Your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for Himself, to make a name for Himself, and to perform for themgreat and awesome acts, driving out nations and their gods before Your people You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.

24 You established Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You,Lord, have become their God.

25 Now,LordGod, fulfill the promise forever that You have made to Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised,

26 so that Your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “TheLordof Hosts is God over Israel.” The house of Your servant Davidwill be established before You

27 since You,Lordof Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, Your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to You.

28 LordGod, You are God; Your words are true, and You have promised this grace to Your servant.

29 Now, please bless Your servant’s house so that it will continue before You forever. For You, LordGod, have spoken, and with Your blessing Your servant’s house will be blessed forever.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/7-e1a062e087f09121987b52cbe27392b8.mp3?version_id=72—

David’s Victories

1 After this, David defeated the Philistines,subdued them, and took Metheg-ammahfrom Philistine control.

2 He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezerson of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.

4 David captured 1,700 horsemenand 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horsesand kept 100 chariots.

5 When the Arameans of Damascuscame to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men.

6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. TheLordmade David victorious wherever he went.

7 David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betahand Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

9 When King Toi of Hamathheard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.

11 King David also dedicated these to theLord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued—

12 from Edom,Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 David made a reputationfor himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomitesin the Valley of Salt.

14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.TheLordmade David victorious wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

17 Zadok son of Ahitub

and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;

Seraiah was court secretary;

18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over

the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

and David’s sons were chief officials.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/8-f1e2960d080f89e9b33fc57c7ad5b5eb.mp3?version_id=72—

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from Saul’s family I can show kindnessto because of Jonathan? ”

2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba.They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba? ”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to? ”

Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

4 The king asked him, “Where is he? ”

Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth! ”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead doglike me? ”

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.

10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.

11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’stable just like one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica.All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants.

13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/9-cc609d3d68d1eb78f9c648450d66ea25.mp3?version_id=72—

War with the Ammonites

1 Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

2 Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent his emissaries to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his emissaries in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it? ”

4 So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved off half their beards,cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.”

6 When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired 20,000 foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 men from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 men from Tob.

7 David heard about it and sent Joab and all the fighting men.

8 The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.

9 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.

10 He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.

12 Be strong! We must prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God.May theLord’s will be done.”

13 Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.

16 Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were across the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them.

17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up in formation to engage David in battle and fought against him.

18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 700 of their charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.He also struck down Shobach commander of their army, who died there.

19 When all the kings who were Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. After this, the Arameans were afraid to ever help the Ammonites again.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/10-9dfd59c94f58cd575af3c13fa81bb45c.mp3?version_id=72—

David’s Adultery with Bathsheba

1 In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman.

3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, “This is Bathsheba,daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriahthe Hittite.”

4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness.Afterward, she returned home.

5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.”

6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.

7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going.

8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

10 When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home? ”

11 Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiersare camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this! ”

12 “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13 Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

Uriah’s Death Arranged

14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

15 In the letter he wrote:

Put Uriahat the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies.

16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were.

17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hittite also died.

18 Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle.

19 He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle —

20 if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

21 At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth?Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died?Why did you get so close to the wall? ’ — then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”

22 Then the messenger left.

When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell.

23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate.

24 However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”

26 When Uriah’swife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.

27 When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, theLordconsidered what David had done to be evil.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/11-e3e577bb7e8e7f13346608343af41929.mp3?version_id=72—

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Repentance

1 So theLordsent Nathan to David.When he arrived, he said to him:

There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

2 The rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle,

3 but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up, living with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

4 Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.

5 David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As theLordlives, the man who did this deserves to die!

6 Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”

7 Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what theLordGod of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel,and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

8 I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms,and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

9 Why then have you despised the command of theLordby doing what I considerevil?You struck down Uriahthe Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.

10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your housebecause you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.’

11 “This is what theLordsays,‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to anotherbefore your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly.

12 You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’ ”

13 David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against theLord.”

Then Nathan replied to David, “TheLordhas taken away your sin; you will not die.

14 However, because you treatedtheLordwith such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”

15 Then Nathan went home.

The Death of Bathsheba’s Son

TheLordstruck the baby that Uriah’swife had borne to David, and he became ill.

16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.

17 The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

18 On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”

19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead? ”

“He is dead,” they replied.

20 Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to theLord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.

21 His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”

22 He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? TheLordmay be gracious to me and let him live.’

23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”

The Birth of Solomon

24 Then David comfortedhis wife Bathsheba; he went and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and namedhim Solomon.TheLordloved him,

25 and He sent a message through Nathan the prophet, who namedhim Jedidiah,because of theLord.

Capture of the City of Rabbah

26 Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonitesand captured the royal fortress.

27 Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured the water supply.

28 Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

29 So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.

30 He took the crown from the head of their king,and it was placed on David’s head. The crown weighed 75 poundsof gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.

31 He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking.He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/12-6eb75010ff49127f9d033c9fdc5db0b6.mp3?version_id=72—

Amnon Rapes Tamar

1 Some time passed. David’s son Absalomhad a beautiful sister named Tamar,and David’s son Amnonwas infatuated with her.

2 Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.

3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah.Jonadab was a very shrewd man,

4 and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserableevery morning? Won’t you tell me? ”

Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presenceso I can watch and eat from her hand.’ ”

6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”

7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”

8 Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them.

9 She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me! ” And everyone left him.

10 “Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom.

11 When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said,“Come sleep with me, my sister! ”

12 “Don’t, my brother! ” she cried. “Don’t humiliateme, for such a thing should never be done in Israel.Don’t do this horrible thing!

13 Where could I ever go with my disgrace? And you — you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you.”

14 But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.

15 After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here! ” he said.

16 “No,” she cried,“sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you’ve already done to me! ” But he refused to listen to her.

17 Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her! ”

18 Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleevedgarment, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore.

19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her headand went away crying out.

20 Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate womanin the house of her brother Absalom.

Absalom Murders Amnon

21 When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.

22 Absalom didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.

23 Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant? ”

25 The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him.

26 “If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”

The king asked him, “Why should he go with you? ”

27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.

28 Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous! ”

29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.

30 While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived! ”

31 In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah,spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned thisever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.

33 So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.

35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said.”

36 Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.

37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.And David mourned for his sonevery day.

38 Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur where he stayed three years.

39 Then King Davidlonged to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2SA/13-7841256c90433bc8516fc32fb1796743.mp3?version_id=72—