2 Samuel 12-14
Expanded Bible
David’s Son Dies
12 The Lord sent Nathan [C a prophet who was in the king’s court; 7:2–17] to David. When he came to David, he said, “There were two men in a city. One was rich, but the other was poor. 2 The rich man had many ·sheep [flocks] and ·cattle [herds]. 3 But the poor man had nothing except one little ·female [ewe] lamb he had bought. The poor man fed the lamb, and it grew up with him and his children. It ·shared his food [L ate from his plate] and drank from his cup and slept in his ·arms [L bosom]. The lamb was like a daughter to him.
4 “Then a traveler stopped to visit the rich man. The rich man wanted to feed the traveler, but he ·didn’t want [was unwilling/loath] to take one ·of his own sheep or cattle [from his own flock or herd]. Instead, he took the lamb from the poor man and ·cooked [L prepared] it for his visitor.”
5 David ·became very angry at [L burned with anger against] the rich man. He said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this ·should [deserves to] die! 6 He must ·pay for the lamb four times [repay four lambs] for doing such a thing [Ex. 22:1]. He had no ·mercy [pity; compassion]!”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are ·the [that] man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I ·appointed [anointed] you king of Israel and [L I] ·saved [rescued; delivered] you from [L the hand of] Saul. 8 I gave you ·his kingdom [L your master’s house] and his wives [L into your arms/bosom]. And I ·made you king [L gave you the house] of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you ·even [much] more. 9 So why did you ·ignore the Lord’s command [L despise the word of the Lord]? Why did you do what ·he says is wrong [L is evil in his sight/eyes]? You ·killed [L struck down] Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and took his wife to be your wife! 10 ·Now [Therefore] ·there will always be people in your family who will die by a sword [L the sword will never depart from your house], because you ·did not respect [L have despised] me; you took the wife of Uriah the Hittite for yourself!’
11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am ·bringing trouble to [L raising up evil against] you from your own ·family [L house]. ·While you watch [L Before your eyes], I will take your wives from you and give them to ·someone who is very close to you [L your neighbor]. He will ·have sexual relations [L lie] with your wives, ·and everyone will know it [in broad daylight]. 12 You ·had sexual relations with Bathsheba [L did it] in secret, but I will do this ·so all the people of Israel can see it [L before all Israel in broad daylight; 16:21–22].’”
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered, “The Lord has ·taken away [forgiven] your sin. You will not die [Ps. 51]. 14 But what you did ·caused the Lord’s enemies to lose all respect for him [or has shown utter contempt/scorn for the Lord]. For this reason the ·son [child] who was born to you will die.”
15 Then Nathan went home. And the Lord ·caused the son [L struck the child] of David and Bathsheba, Uriah’s widow, ·to be [and he became] very sick. 16 David ·prayed to [pleaded with; begged; L inquired of] God for the baby. David fasted and went into his house and stayed there, lying on the ground all night. 17 The elders of David’s ·family [L house] ·came to [stood around] him and tried to pull him up from the ground, but he refused to get up or to eat food with them.
18 On the seventh day the baby died. David’s ·servants [advisers] were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said, “Look, we tried to talk to David while the baby was alive, but he refused to listen to ·us [reason]. If we tell him the baby is dead, he may do ·something awful [something desperate; himself harm].”
19 When David saw his ·servants [advisers] whispering, he knew that the baby was dead. So he asked them, “Is the ·baby [child] dead?”
They answered, “Yes, he is dead.”
20 Then David got up from the ·floor [ground], washed himself, ·put lotions on [anointed himself], and changed his clothes. Then he went into ·the Lord’s house [the Tabernacle; L his house] to worship. After that, he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.
21 David’s ·servants [advisers] said to him, “Why are you ·doing [behaving like] this? When the ·baby [child] was still alive, you fasted and you cried. Now that the ·baby [child] is dead, you get up and eat food.”
22 David said, “While the ·baby [child] was still alive, I fasted, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will ·feel sorry for [L be gracious to] me and let the ·baby [child] live.’ 23 But now that the ·baby [child] is dead, why should I fast? ·I can’t [L Can I…?] bring him back to life. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.”
24 Then David ·comforted [consoled] Bathsheba his wife. He ·slept with [L went in to] her and ·had sexual relations [L lay] with her. She ·became pregnant again [conceived] and ·had another [L gave birth to a] son, whom ·David [or she; they] named Solomon. The Lord loved Solomon. 25 The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name the baby Jedidiah [C “loved by the Lord”], ·because the Lord loved the child [L for the Lord’s sake].
David Captures Rabbah(A)
26 Joab fought against Rabbah, a royal city of the Ammonites, and he was about to capture it. 27 Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured ·its water supply [or the City of Waters]. 28 Now bring the ·other soldiers [L rest of the army] together and attack this city. Capture it before I capture it myself and it is ·called by my name [named after me]!”
29 So David gathered all the army and went to Rabbah and ·fought against [attacked] it and captured it. 30 David took the crown ·off their king’s [or of Milcom from his] head [C Milcom was their main god] and had it placed on his own head. That gold crown weighed ·about seventy-five pounds [L a talent], and ·it had valuable gems in it [was set with precious stones]. And David took ·many valuable things [great amounts of plunder/spoil] from the city. 31 He also brought out the people of the city and forced them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. He also ·made them build with bricks [sent them to the brick kilns]. David did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his army returned to Jerusalem.
Amnon and Tamar
13 [L Sometime later; After this] David had a son named Absalom and a son named Amnon. Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and Amnon loved her. 2 Tamar was a virgin. Amnon made himself sick ·just thinking about her [by his obsession/frustration with her], because ·he could not find any chance to be alone with her [it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her; it appeared he could never have her].
3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very ·clever [shrewd; crafty; wise] man. 4 He asked Amnon, “Son of the king, why do you look so ·sad [depressed; dejected] ·day after day [L morning after morning]? Tell me what’s wrong!”
Amnon told him, “I love Tamar, the sister of my ·half-brother [L brother] Absalom.”
5 Jonadab said to Amnon, “Go to bed and ·act as if you are [pretend to be] sick. ·Then [When…] your father will come to see you. Tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come in and give me food to eat. Let her make the food in front of me so I can watch and eat it from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon went to bed and acted sick. When King David came in to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come in. Let her make ·two of her special cakes [some special bread] for me while I watch. Then I will eat them from her hands.”
7 David sent for Tamar in the palace, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and make some food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was ·in bed [L lying down]. Tamar took some dough and ·pressed it together with her hands [kneaded it]. She made some special ·cakes [bread] while Amnon watched. Then she baked them. 9 Next she took the pan and ·served him [L dished/poured them out before him], but he refused to eat.
He said to his servants, “·All of you, leave me alone [Everyone get out of here]!” So they all ·left him alone [got out]. 10 Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the ·bedroom [inner room] so I may eat from your hand.”
Tamar took the ·cakes [bread] she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in the ·bedroom [inner room]. 11 She went to him so he could eat from her hands, but Amnon grabbed her. He said, “Sister, come and ·have sexual relations [L lie] with me.”
12 Tamar said to him, “No, [L my] brother! Don’t ·force [violate; rape; L humiliate] me! This ·should never be [isn’t] done in Israel! Don’t do this ·shameful [disgraceful; wicked; vile] thing! 13 ·I could never [L Where could I…?] get rid of my shame! And you will be ·like the shameful [one of the greatest] ·fools [scoundrels] in Israel! Please talk with the king, and he will ·let you marry [L not refuse your marrying] me.”
14 But Amnon refused to listen to her. He was stronger than she was, so he ·forced her to have sexual relations with him [raped/L humiliated her and lay with her]. 15 After that, Amnon hated Tamar [L intensely; with a great hatred]. He hated her more than he had loved her before. Amnon said to her, “Get ·up and leave [out]!”
16 Tamar said to him, “No! Sending me away would be ·worse [a greater wrong] than what you’ve already done [L to me]!”
But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his young ·servant [L man] back in and said, “Get this woman out of here and away from me! Lock the door ·after [behind] her.” 18 So his servant led her out of the room and bolted the door ·after [behind] her.
Tamar was wearing a special robe with long sleeves, because the king’s virgin daughters wore this kind of robe. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her special robe [C a sign of mourning or distress]. ·Putting her hand on her head [or with her face in her hands], she went away, crying loudly.
20 Absalom, Tamar’s brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, your brother, ·forced you to have sexual relations with him [L been with you]? For now, sister, ·be quiet [keep silent]. He is your half-brother. Don’t ·let this upset you so much [worry about this; L take this to heart]!” So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house and was ·sad and lonely [desolate and inconsolable].
21 When King David heard the news, he was very angry. 22 Absalom did not say a word, good or bad, to Amnon. But he hated Amnon for ·disgracing [violating; raping; L humiliating] his sister Tamar.
Absalom’s Revenge
23 Two years later Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor, near Ephraim, to cut the wool from his sheep. Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come also [C for a feast]. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “I have men coming to cut the wool. Please come with your ·officers [attendants; L servants] and join ·me [L your servant].”
25 King David said to Absalom, “No, my son. We won’t all go, because it would be too much ·trouble [of a burden] for you.” Although Absalom ·begged [urged; pressed] David, he would not go, but he did give his blessing.
26 Absalom said, “If you don’t want to come, then please let my brother Amnon come with us.”
King David asked, “Why should he go with you?”
27 Absalom kept ·begging [urging; pressing] David until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with Absalom.
28 Then Absalom instructed his ·servants [L men], “Watch Amnon. When ·he is drunk [he’s in high spirits; L his heart is merry with wine], I will tell you, ‘·Kill [L Strike] Amnon.’ Right then, kill him! Don’t be afraid, because I have ·commanded [ordered] you! Be ·strong [courageous] and ·brave [valiant]!” 29 So Absalom’s ·young men [servants] killed Amnon as Absalom ·commanded [ordered], ·but [then] all of David’s other sons got on their mules and ·escaped [fled].
30 While the king’s sons were on their way [C back to Jerusalem], the news came to David, “Absalom has ·killed [L struck down] all of the king’s sons! Not one of them is left alive!” 31 King David [L got up,] tore his clothes [C a sign of mourning or distress] and ·lay [threw himself] on the ground. All his ·servants [officers; attendants] standing nearby tore their clothes also.
32 Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said to David, “Don’t ·think [believe; suppose] all the young men, your sons, are killed. No, only Amnon is dead! Absalom has ·planned [plotted; been determined to do] this ever since Amnon ·forced his sister Tamar to have sexual relations with him [raped/violated/L humiliated his sister Tamar]. 33 My ·master and [lord the] king, don’t ·think [imagine; L take to heart] that all of the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead!”
34 In the meantime Absalom had run away.
A ·guard [watchman] standing on the city wall saw many people coming [L on the road] from the other side of the hill. 35 So Jonadab said to King David, “Look, ·I was right [L just as your servant said]! The king’s sons are coming!”
36 As soon as Jonadab had said this, the king’s sons arrived, ·crying [wailing] loudly. David and all his servants began ·crying [wailing] also. 37 David ·cried [mourned] for his son ·every day [many days].
But Absalom ran away to Talmai [C his grandfather] son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. 38 After Absalom ran away to Geshur, he stayed there for three years. 39 When King David ·got over [was reconciled to/comforted about/consoled over] Amnon’s death, he ·missed [longed/yearned for] Absalom greatly.
Joab Sends a Wise Woman to David
14 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that ·King David missed Absalom very much [L David’s heart longed for/mind was on Absalom]. 2 So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He said to her, “Pretend ·to be very sad [L you are in mourning]. Put on ·funeral [mourning] clothes and don’t put ·lotion [perfume; anointing oil] on yourself. Act like a woman who has been ·crying [mourning] many days for someone who died. 3 Then go to the king and say these words.” Then Joab ·told her what to say [L put the words in her mouth].
4 ·So [When…] the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground ·to show respect [L and prostrated herself] and said, “My king, help me!”
5 King David asked her, “What is ·the matter [troubling you]?”
The woman said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. 6 I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting, and no one was there to ·stop [separate] them. So one ·son [L struck and] killed the other son. 7 Now ·all the family group [the whole family/clan] ·is [L has risen] against me. They said to me, ‘·Bring [Hand over; Give up] the son who ·killed [L struck] his brother so we may ·kill [execute] him for ·killing [murdering; taking the life of] his brother. That way we will ·also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father [destroy the heir as well; C so he doesn’t profit from his crime].’ ·My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all [L They want to extinguish/quench the only coal/ember] I have left. ·If they kill him, my [L My] husband’s name and ·property [or family; descendents; L remnant] will be gone from the ·earth [L face of the earth].”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go home. I will ·take care of this for [L give orders concerning] you.”
9 The woman of Tekoa said to him, “Let the ·blame [guilt] be on me and my father’s family. My ·master and [lord the] king, you and your throne are ·innocent [guiltless].”
10 King David said, “Bring me anyone who ·says anything bad to [threatens; criticizes] you. Then he won’t ·bother [L touch] you again.”
11 The woman said, “Please ·promise in the name of [swear by; remember; keep in mind] the Lord your God. Then ·my relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer [my near-relative; L the avenger of blood; C a relative obligated to execute the murderer; Num. 35:12, 19–21] won’t ·add to [continue] the destruction by killing my son.”
David said, “As surely as the Lord lives, ·no one will hurt your son [L not one hair from his head will fall to the ground].”
12 The woman said, “Let me say something to you, my ·master and [lord the] king.”
The king said, “Speak.”
13 Then the woman said, “Why have you ·decided this way against [acted/L planned to the harm/detriment of] the people of God? When you ·judge [decide; L speak] this way, you ·show that you are guilty [convict yourself] for not bringing back your son who was ·forced to leave home [banished]. 14 We will all die someday. We’re like water spilled on the ground; no one can ·gather it back [collect it together]. But God doesn’t ·take away [discard] life. Instead, he plans ways that ·those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him [will bring back/home the banished]! 15 My ·master and [lord the] king, I came to say this to you because the people have ·made me afraid [threatened/intimidated me]! I thought, ‘Let me talk to the king. Maybe he will ·do [grant] what I ask. 16 Maybe he will listen. Perhaps he will ·save [rescue; deliver] me from ·those who want to keep both me and my son from getting what God gave us [L the hand of the man who would cut me and my son from God’s inheritance/heritage].’
17 “Now I say, ‘May the words of my ·master [lord] the king give me ·rest [comfort; peace]. Like an angel of God, you ·know [discern; understand] what is good and what is ·bad [evil]. May the Lord your God be with you!’”
18 Then King David said, “Do not ·hide [evade] the truth. Answer me one question.”
The woman said, “My ·master [lord] the king, please ·ask your question [speak].”
19 The king said, “·Did Joab tell you to say [L Is Joab’s hand with you in] all these things?”
The woman answered, “As you live, my ·master [lord] the king, no one ·could avoid that question [can fool/mislead you; L turn to the right or left concerning what you’ve said]. You are right. Your servant Joab ·did tell me to say these things [L commanded me and put all these words in my mouth]. 20 Joab did it ·so you would see things differently [to change the look of things]. My ·master [lord], you are wise like an angel of God who knows ·everything that happens [all things] on earth.”
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
21 The king said to Joab, “Look, I ·will do what I promised [grant this request]. Bring back the young man Absalom.”
22 Joab bowed facedown on the ground [L and prostrated himself] and blessed the king. Then he said, “Today I know ·you are pleased with me [L I have found favor in your sight/eyes], because you have done what I asked.”
23 Then Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But King David said, “Absalom must go to his own house. He may not ·come to see me [L see my face].” So Absalom went to his own house and did not ·go to see the king [L see the king’s face].
25 Absalom was greatly praised for his ·handsome appearance [beauty]. No man in Israel was as handsome as he. No ·blemish [flaw; defect] was on him from his head to his foot. 26 At the end of every year, Absalom would cut his hair, because it became too heavy. When he weighed it, it would weigh ·about five pounds by the royal measure [L 200 shekels by the king’s standard].
27 Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was also Tamar, and she was a beautiful woman.
28 Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two full years without seeing ·King David [L the king’s face]. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab so he could send him to the king [C to intercede for him], but Joab would not come. Absalom sent a message a second time, but Joab still refused to come. 30 Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley growing there. Go burn it.” So Absalom’s servants set fire to Joab’s field.
31 Then Joab went to Absalom’s house and said to him, “Why did your servants burn my field?”
32 Absalom said to Joab, “I sent a message to you, asking you to come here. I wanted to send you to the king to ask him why ·he brought me home [L I have come] from Geshur. It would have been better for me to stay there! Now let me see the ·king [L king’s face]. If I have ·sinned [guilt/iniquity in me], he can put me to death!”
33 So Joab went to the king and told him Absalom’s words. Then the king called for Absalom. Absalom came and ·bowed facedown [prostrated himself] on the ground before the king, and the king kissed him.
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