Bible in 90 Days

¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am bringing trouble to you from your own family. While you watch, I will take your wives from you. And I will give them to someone who is very close to you. He will have physical relations with your wives, and everyone will know it. ¹² You had physical relations with Bathsheba in secret. But I will do this so all the people of Israel can see it.’”

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan answered, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You will not die. ¹⁴ But what you did caused the Lord’s enemies to lose all respect for him. For this reason the son who was born to you will die.”

¹⁵ Then Nathan went home. And the Lord caused the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah’s widow, to become very sick. ¹⁶ David prayed to God for the baby. David refused to eat or drink. He went into his house and stayed there. He lay on the ground all night. ¹⁷ The elders of David’s family came to him. They tried to pull him up from the ground. But he refused to get up. And he refused to eat food with them.

¹⁸ On the seventh day the baby died. David’s servants 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. If we tell him the baby is dead, he may harm himself.”

¹⁹ But David saw his servants whispering. Then he understood that the baby was dead. So he asked them, “Is the baby dead?”

They answered, “Yes, he is dead.”

²⁰ Then David got up from the floor. He washed himself, put lotions on himself and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord’s 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 said to him, “Why are you doing this? When the baby was still alive, you refused to eat. You cried. But when the baby died, you got up and ate food.”

²² David said, “While the baby was still alive, I refused to eat, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’ ²³ But now the baby is dead. So why should I go without food? I can’t bring him back to life. Some day I will go to him. But he cannot come back to me.”

²⁴ Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife. He slept with her and had intimate relations with her. She became pregnant again and had another son. David named the boy Solomon. The Lord loved Solomon. ²⁵ The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name the baby Jedidiah.^[a] This was because the Lord loved the child.

David Captures Rabbah

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah, a city of the Ammonites. And he was about to capture the royal city. ²⁷ Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah. I have captured its water supply. ²⁸ Now bring the other soldiers together and attack this city. Capture it before I capture it myself. If I capture this city, it will be called by my name!”

²⁹ So David gathered all the army and went to Rabbah. He fought against Rabbah and captured it. ³⁰ David took the crown off their king’s head. It was gold and weighed about 75 pounds. It also had gems in it. They put the crown on David’s head. And David took many valuable things out of the city. ³¹ He also brought out the people of the city. He made them work with saws, iron picks and axes. He also forced them to build with bricks. David did this to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his army went back to Jerusalem.

Amnon and Tamar

13 Now 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 did not think he should do anything bad to her. But he wanted her very much. He made himself sick just thinking about her.

³ Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah. (Shimeah was David’s brother.) Jonadab was a very clever man. ⁴ He asked Amnon, “Why do you look so sad day after day? You are the king’s son! Tell me what’s wrong!”

Amnon told him, “I love Tamar. But she is the sister of my half-brother Absalom.”

⁵ Jonadab said to Amnon, “Go to bed. Act as if you are sick. Then 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. Then I will see it and eat it from her hand.’”

⁶ So Amnon lay down in bed and acted as if he were sick. 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 for me while I watch. Then I will eat them from her hands.”

⁷ David sent messengers to Tamar in the palace. They told her, “Go to your brother Amnon’s house and make some food for him.” ⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. He was in bed. Tamar took some dough and pressed it together with her hands. She made some special cakes while Amnon watched. Then she baked them. ⁹ Next she took the pan and took out the cakes for Amnon. But he refused to eat.

He said to his servants, “All of you, leave me alone!” So all his servants left the room. ¹⁰ Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the inner room. Then I’ll eat from your hand.”

Tamar took the cakes she had made. And she brought them to her brother Amnon in the inner room. ¹¹ She went to him so he could eat from her hands. But Amnon grabbed her. He said, “Sister, come and have physical relations with me.”

¹² Tamar said to him, “No, brother! Don’t force me! This should never be done in Israel! Don’t do this shameful thing! ¹³ I could never get rid of my shame! And you will become like the shameful fools in Israel! Please talk with the king. He will let you marry me.”

¹⁴ But Amnon refused to listen to her. He was stronger than she was. So he raped her. ¹⁵ After that, Amnon hated Tamar. He hated her much more than he had loved her before. Amnon said to her, “Get up and leave!”

¹⁶ Tamar said to him, “No! Sending me away would be an even greater evil. That would be worse than what you’ve already done!”

But he refused to listen to her. ¹⁷ He called his young servant back in. Amnon said, “Get this girl out of here right now! Lock the door after her.” ¹⁸ So his servant led her out of the room. And he bolted the door after her.

Now Tamar was wearing a special robe with long sleeves. The king’s virgin daughters wore this kind of robe. ¹⁹ To show how upset she was Tamar took ashes and put them on her head. She tore her special robe. And she put her hand on her head. Then she went away, crying loudly.

²⁰ Absalom, Tamar’s brother, said to her, “Has Amnon, that brother of yours, violated you? He is your brother. So for now, sister, be quiet. Don’t let this upset you so much!” So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house. She was sad and lonely.

²¹ When King David heard the news, he was very angry. ²² Absalom did not say a word, good or bad, to Amnon. He hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.

Absalom’s Revenge

²³ Two years later Absalom had some men come to Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. They were to cut the wool from his sheep. Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come also. ²⁴ Absalom went to the king and said, “I have men coming to cut the wool. Please come with your officers and join me.”

²⁵ King David said to Absalom, “No, my son. We won’t all go. It would be too much trouble for you.” Absalom begged David to go. David did not go, but he did give his blessing.

²⁶ Absalom said, “If you don’t want to go, then please let my brother Amnon go with me.”

King David asked Absalom, “Why should he go with you?”

²⁷ Absalom kept begging David. Finally, David let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with Absalom.

²⁸ Then Absalom gave a command to his servants. He said, “Watch Amnon. When he is drunk, I will tell you, ‘Kill Amnon.’ Right then, kill him! Don’t be afraid. I have commanded you! Be strong and brave!” ²⁹ So Absalom’s young men killed Amnon as Absalom commanded. But all of David’s other sons got on their mules and escaped.

³⁰ While the king’s sons were on their way, the news came to David. The message was, “Absalom has killed all of the king’s sons! Not one of them is left alive!” ³¹ King David tore his clothes and lay on the ground to show his sadness. All his servants standing nearby tore their clothes also.

³² Jonadab was the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab said to David, “Don’t think all the young men, your sons, are killed. No, only Amnon is dead! Absalom planned this because Amnon raped his sister Tamar. ³³ My master and king, don’t think that all of the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead!”

³⁴ In the meantime Absalom had run away.

There was a guard standing on the city wall. He saw many people coming from the other side of the hill. ³⁵ So Jonadab said to King David, “Look, I was right! The king’s sons are coming!”

³⁶ As soon as Jonadab had said this, the king’s sons arrived. They were crying loudly. David and all his servants began crying also. They all cried very much. ³⁷ David cried for his son every day.

But Absalom ran away to Talmai^[b] son of Ammihud. Talmai was king of Geshur. ³⁸ After Absalom ran away to Geshur, he stayed there for three years. ³⁹ When King David got over Amnon’s death, he missed Absalom greatly.

Joab Sends a Wise Woman to David

14 Joab son of Zeruiah knew that King David missed Absalom very much. ² So Joab sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. Joab said to her, “Please pretend to be very sad for someone. Put on clothes to show your sadness. Don’t put lotion on yourself. Act like a woman who has been crying many days for someone who died. ³ Go to the king. Talk to him using the words that I tell you.” Then Joab told the wise woman what to say.

⁴ So the woman from Tekoa talked to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect. She said, “My king, help me!”

⁵ King David asked her, “What is the matter?”

The woman said, “I am a widow. My husband is dead. ⁶ I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting. No one was there to stop them. So one son killed the other son. ⁷ Now all the family group is against me. They said to me, ‘Bring the son who killed his brother. Then we will kill him for killing his brother. That way we will also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father.’ My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all I have left. If they kill him, my husband’s name and property will be gone from the earth.”

⁸ Then the king said to the woman, “Go home. I will take care of this for you.”

⁹ The woman of Tekoa said to him, “Let the blame be on me. My father’s family and I are to blame, my master and king. But you and your throne are innocent.”

¹⁰ King David said, “Bring me anyone who says anything bad to you. Then he won’t bother you again.”

¹¹ The woman said, “Please promise in the name of the Lord your God. Then my relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer won’t add to the destruction. And he won’t kill my son.”

David said, “As surely as the Lord lives, no one will hurt your son. Not even one hair from your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

¹² The woman said, “Let me say something to you, my master and king.”

The king said, “Speak.”

¹³ Then the woman said, “Why have you planned this? It is against the people of God. When you say this, you show that you are guilty. You have not brought back your son whom you forced to leave home. ¹⁴ We will all die some day. We’re like water spilled on the ground. No one can gather it back. But God doesn’t take away life. Instead, he plans ways that those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him! ¹⁵ My master and king, I came to say this to you because the people have made me afraid! I thought, ‘Let me talk to the king. Maybe he will do what I ask. ¹⁶ Maybe he will listen. Perhaps he will save me from the man who wants to kill both me and my son. That man is trying to keep us from getting what God gave us.’

¹⁷ “Now I say, ‘May the words of my master the king give me rest. Like an angel of God, you know what is good and what is bad. May the Lord your God be with you!’”

¹⁸ Then King David said, “You must answer the question I will ask you.”

The woman said, “My master the king, please ask your question.”

¹⁹ The king said, “Did Joab tell you to say all these things?”

The woman answered, “As you live, my master the king, you are right. Your servant Joab did tell me to say these things. ²⁰ Joab did it so you would see things differently. My master, you are wise like an angel of God. You know everything that happens on earth.”

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem

²¹ The king said to Joab, “Look, I will do what I promised. Now please bring back the young man Absalom.”

²² Joab bowed facedown on the ground. He blessed the king. Then he said, “Today I know you are pleased with me. I know because you have done what I asked.”

²³ Then Joab got up and went to Geshur. And he brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. ²⁴ But King David said, “Absalom must go to his own house. He may not come to see me.” So Absalom went to his own house. He did not go to see the king.

²⁵ Now Absalom was greatly praised for his handsome appearance. No man in Israel was as handsome as Absalom. No blemish was on him from his head to his foot. ²⁶ At the end of every year, Absalom would cut the hair on his head. He cut it because it became too heavy. He would weigh it, and it would weigh about five pounds by the royal measure.

²⁷ Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter’s name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

²⁸ So Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two full years without seeing King David. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab. Absalom wanted to send Joab to the king. 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. 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. Joab 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. I wanted you to ask him why he brought me home from Geshur. It would have been better for me to stay there! Now let me see the king. If I have sinned, he can kill me!”

³³ So Joab went to the king and told him Absalom’s words. The king called for Absalom, and Absalom came. He bowed facedown on the ground before the king. And the king kissed him.

Absalom Plans to Take David’s Kingdom

15 After this, Absalom got a chariot and horses for himself. He got 50 men to run before him. ² Absalom would get up early and stand near the city gate.^[c] If anyone had a problem he wanted the king to settle, he would come here. When he came, Absalom would call to the man. Absalom would say, “What city are you from?”

The man would answer, “I’m from one of the tribes of Israel.”

³ Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are right. But the king has no one to listen to you.” ⁴ Absalom would also say, “I wish someone would make me judge in this land! Then I could help everyone who comes with a problem. I could help him get a fair decision for his problem!”

⁵ People would come near Absalom to bow to him. When they did, Absalom would reach out his hand and take hold of them. Then he would kiss them. ⁶ Absalom did that to all the Israelites who came to King David for decisions. In this way, Absalom won the hearts of all Israel.

⁷ After four years Absalom said to King David, “Please let me go to Hebron. I want to carry out my promise that I made to the Lord. ⁸ I made it while I was living in Geshur in Aram. I said, ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship him in Hebron.’”

⁹ The king said, “Go in peace.”

So Absalom went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But he sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They told the people, “When you hear the trumpets, say this: ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”

¹¹ Absalom had invited 200 men to go with him. So they went from Jerusalem with him. But they didn’t know what he was planning. ¹² Ahithophel was one of the people who advised David. He was from the town of Giloh. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he called Ahithophel to come from his hometown of Giloh. So Absalom’s plans were working very well. More and more people began to support him.

¹³ A man came in to tell the news to David. The man said, “The Israelites are beginning to follow Absalom.”

¹⁴ Then David spoke to all his officers who were with him in Jerusalem. He said, “We must leave quickly! If we don’t, we won’t be able to get away from Absalom. We must hurry before he catches us. He would destroy us and kill the people of Jerusalem.”

¹⁵ The king’s officers said to him, “We will do anything you say.”

¹⁶ The king set out with everyone in his house. But he left ten slave women to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ The king left with all his people following him. They stopped at the last house. ¹⁸ All the king’s servants passed by him. All the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards, passed by him. All those from Gath, the 600 men who had followed him, passed by him.

¹⁹ The king spoke to Ittai, a man from Gath. He said, “Why are you also going with us? Turn back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner. This is not your homeland. ²⁰ Only a short time ago you came to join me. Today should I make you go with us to other places? I don’t even know where I’m going. Turn back, and take your brothers with you. May kindness and loyalty be shown to you.”

²¹ But Ittai said to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will stay with you. I’ll be with you wherever you are. I’ll be with you whether it means life or death.”

²² David said to Ittai, “Go, march on.” So Ittai from Gath and all his people with their children marched on. ²³ All the people cried loudly as everyone passed by. King David also crossed the Kidron Valley. Then all the people went on to the desert. ²⁴ Zadok and all the Levites with him were carrying the Ark of the Covenant with God. They set down the Ark of the Covenant. And Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city.

²⁵ The king said to Zadok, “Take the Ark of the Covenant of God back into the city. If the Lord is pleased with me, he will bring me back. He will let me see both it and Jerusalem again. ²⁶ But if the Lord says he is not pleased with me, I am ready. He can do what he wants with me.”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “You are a seer. Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan with you. ²⁸ I will wait near the crossings into the desert until I hear from you.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of the Covenant of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ David went up the Mount of Olives crying as he went. He covered his head and went barefoot. All the people with David covered their heads also. And they were crying as they went. ³¹ Someone told David, “Ahithophel is one of the people with Absalom who made secret plans against you.”

So David prayed, “Lord, please make Ahithophel’s advice foolish.”

³² David came to the top of the mountain. This was where he used to worship God. Hushai the Arkite came to meet him. Hushai’s coat was torn, and there was dirt on his head to show how sad he was. ³³ David said to Hushai, “If you go with me, you will be just one more person to take care of. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, you can make Ahithophel’s advice useless. Tell Absalom, ‘I am your servant, my king. In the past I served your father. But now I will serve you.’ ³⁵ The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you. You must tell them everything you hear in the king’s palace. ³⁶ Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.” ³⁷ So David’s friend Hushai entered Jerusalem. About that time, Absalom also arrived there.

Ziba Meets David

16 David passed a short way over the top of the Mount of Olives. There Ziba, Mephibosheth’s servant, met David. Ziba had two donkeys with saddles on them. They carried 200 loaves of bread, 100 cakes of raisins and 100 cakes of figs. They also carried leather bags full of wine. ² The king asked Ziba, “What are these things for?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for your family to ride. The bread and cakes of figs are for the servants to eat. And the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes weak in the desert.”

³ The king asked, “Where is Mephibosheth?”

Ziba answered him, “Mephibosheth is staying in Jerusalem. He thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will give my father’s kingdom back to me!’”

⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, “All right. Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth, I now give to you!”

Ziba said, “I bow to you. I hope I will always be able to please you.”

Shimei Curses David

⁵ As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out from there. He was from Saul’s family group. His name was Shimei son of Gera. Shimei came out, cursing David as he came. ⁶ He began throwing stones at David and his officers. But the people and soldiers gathered all around David. ⁷ Shimei cursed David. He said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you troublemaker. ⁸ The Lord is punishing you for the people in Saul’s family you killed! You took Saul’s place as king! But now the Lord has given the kingdom to your son Absalom! Now you are ruined because you are a murderer!”

⁹ Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse you, the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!”

¹⁰ But the king answered, “This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! If he is cursing me because the Lord told him to, who can question him?”

¹¹ David also said to Abishai and all his officers, “My own son is trying to kill me! This man is a Benjaminite and has more right to kill me! Leave him alone. Let him curse me. The Lord told him to do this. ¹² Maybe the Lord will see my misery. Then maybe he will repay me with something good for the curses Shimei says today!”

¹³ So David and his men went on down the road. But Shimei kept following David. Shimei walked on the hillside on the other side of the road. He kept cursing David and throwing stones and dirt at him. ¹⁴ The king and all his people arrived at the Jordan. They were very tired. So they rested there.

¹⁵ Meanwhile, Absalom, Ahithophel and all the men of Israel arrived at Jerusalem. ¹⁶ David’s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom. He said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

¹⁷ Absalom asked, “Why are you not loyal to your friend David? Why didn’t you leave Jerusalem with your friend?”

¹⁸ Hushai said, “I belong to the one chosen by the Lord and by these people and all the men of Israel. I will stay with you. ¹⁹ In the past I served your father. So whom should I serve now? David’s son! I will serve you.”

Ahithophel’s Advice

²⁰ Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Please tell us what we should do.”

²¹ Ahithophel said, “Your father left behind some of his slave women who give birth to his children. He left them here to take care of the palace. Have physical relations with them. Then all the Israelites will hear that your father is your enemy. And all your people will be encouraged to give you more support.” ²² So they put up a tent for Absalom on the flat roof^[d] of the palace. Everyone in Israel could see it. And Absalom had physical relations with his father’s slave women.

²³ At that time people thought Ahithophel’s advice was as reliable as God’s own word. Both David and Absalom thought it was that reliable.

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men. I’ll chase David tonight. ² I’ll catch him while he is tired and weak. I’ll frighten him so all his people will run away. But I’ll kill only King David. ³ Then I’ll bring everyone back to you. If the man you are looking for is dead, everyone else will return safely.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel.

⁵ But Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Arkite. I also want to hear what he says.” ⁶ So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him, “This is the plan Ahithophel gave. Should we follow it? If not, tell us.”

⁷ Hushai said to Absalom, “Ahithophel’s advice is not good this time.” ⁸ Hushai added, “You know your father and his men are strong. They are as angry as a bear that is robbed of its babies. Your father is a skilled fighter. He won’t stay all night with the people. ⁹ He is probably already hiding in a cave or some other place. If your father attacks your men first, people will hear the news. And they will think, ‘Absalom’s followers are losing!’ ¹⁰ Then even the men who are as brave as a lion will become frightened. This is because all the Israelites know your father is a fighter. They know his men are brave!

¹¹ “This is what I suggest: Gather all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba.^[e] There will be as many people as grains of sand by the sea. Then you yourself must go into the battle. ¹² We will catch David where he is hiding. We will fall on him as dew falls on the ground. We will kill him and all of his men. No one will be left alive. ¹³ What if David escapes into a city? Then all the Israelites will bring ropes to that city. We’ll pull that city into the valley. There won’t be even a small stone left there!”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the Israelites said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” They said this because the Lord had planned to destroy the good advice of Ahithophel. In this way the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.

¹⁵ Hushai told these things to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported to them what he himself had suggested. Hushai said, ¹⁶ “Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the crossings into the desert. Tell him to cross over the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, he and all his people won’t be caught.”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They did not want to be seen going into the town. So a servant girl would go out to them and give them messages. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz would go and tell King David.

¹⁸ But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ The man’s wife spread a sheet over the opening of the well. Then she covered it with grain. No one could tell that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were hiding there.

²⁰ Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

She said to them, “They have already crossed the brook.”

Absalom’s servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ After Absalom’s servants had left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well. Then they went to tell King David. They said, “Hurry, cross over the river! Ahithophel has said these things against you!” ²² So David and all his people crossed the Jordan River. By dawn, everyone had crossed the Jordan.

²³ Now Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice. So he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He gave orders for his family and property. Then he hung himself. After Ahithophel died, he was buried in his father’s tomb.

War Between David and Absalom

²⁴ David arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom and all his Israelites crossed over the Jordan River. ²⁵ Now Absalom had made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. Amasa’s mother was Abigail daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was Joab’s mother. ²⁶ Absalom and the Israelites camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Shobi, Makir and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar. And Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead. ²⁸ They brought beds, bowls and clay pots. They brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans and small peas. ²⁹ They also brought honey and milk curds, sheep, and cheese made from cows’ milk. They brought these things for David and his people. They had said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”

18 David counted his men. He chose commanders over groups of 1,000 and commanders over groups of 100. ² He sent the troops out in three groups. Joab commanded one-third of the men. Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah commanded another third. And Ittai from Gath commanded the last third. King David said to them, “I will also go with you.”

³ But the men said, “No! You must not go with us! If we run away in the battle, Absalom’s men won’t care. Even if half of us are killed, Absalom’s men won’t care. But you’re worth 10,000 of us! It is better for you to stay in the city. Then, if we need help, you can send it.”

⁴ The king said to his people, “I will do what you think is best.” So the king stood at the side of the gate as the army went out. They went out in groups of 100 and 1,000.

⁵ The king gave a command to Joab, Abishai and Ittai. He said, “Be gentle with young Absalom for my sake.” Everyone heard the king’s orders about Absalom to the commanders.

⁶ David’s army went out into the field against Absalom’s Israelites. They fought in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ There David’s army defeated the Israelites. Many died that day—20,000 men. ⁸ The battle spread through all the country. But that day more men died in the forest than in the fighting.

Absalom Dies

⁹ Then Absalom happened to meet David’s troops. As Absalom was riding his mule, it went under a large oak tree. The branches were thick, and Absalom’s head got caught in the tree. His mule ran out from under him. So Absalom was left hanging above the ground.

¹⁰ When one of the men saw it happen, he told Joab. He said, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”

¹¹ Joab said to him, “You saw him? Why didn’t you kill him and let him fall to the ground? I would have given you a belt and four ounces of silver!”

¹² The man answered, “I wouldn’t try to hurt the king’s son. I wouldn’t even if you gave me 25 pounds of silver. We heard the king’s command to you, Abishai and Ittai. The king said, ‘Be careful not to hurt young Absalom.’ ¹³ If I had killed him, the king would have found out. And you would not have protected me!”

¹⁴ Joab said, “I won’t waste time here with you!” Now Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. So Joab took three spears and stabbed him in the heart. ¹⁵ Ten young men who carried Joab’s armor also gathered around Absalom. They struck him and killed him.

¹⁶ Then Joab blew the trumpet. So the troops stopped chasing Absalom’s Israelites. ¹⁷ Then Joab’s men took Absalom’s body. They threw it into a large pit in the forest. Then they filled the pit with many stones. All the Israelites who followed Absalom ran away and went home.

¹⁸ When Absalom was alive, he had put up a pillar in the King’s Valley. It was a monument to himself. He said, “I have no son to keep my name alive.” So he named the pillar after himself. That pillar is called Absalom’s Monument even today.

¹⁹ Ahimaaz son of Zadok spoke to Joab. He said, “Let me run and take the news to King David. I’ll tell him the Lord has destroyed the enemy for him.”

²⁰ Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time. But do not take it today, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go. Tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.

²² But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again. He said, “No matter what happens, please let me go, along with the Cushite!”

Joab said, “Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won’t get any reward for the news you bring!”

²³ Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run.”

So Joab said to Ahimaaz, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Jordan Valley and passed the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof by the gate walls. As he looked up, he saw a man running alone. ²⁵ He shouted to tell King David.

The king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing good news!”

The man came nearer and nearer to the city. ²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”

The king said, “He is also bringing good news!”

²⁷ The watchman said, “I think the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

The king said, “Ahimaaz is a good man. He must be bringing good news!”

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called a greeting to the king. He bowed facedown on the ground to the king. He said, “Praise the Lord your God! The Lord has defeated the men who were against you, my king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “Is young Absalom all right?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent me, I saw some great excitement. But I don’t know what it was.”

³⁰ Then the king said, “Step over here and wait.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.

³¹ Then the Cushite arrived. He said, “Master and king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has punished the people who were against you!”

³² The king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom all right?”

The Cushite answered, “May your enemies be like that young man. May all who come to hurt you be like that young man!”

³³ Then the king knew Absalom was dead. He was very upset. He went to the room over the city gate and cried. As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you. Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab Scolds David

19 People told Joab, “Look, the king is crying. He is very sad because of Absalom.” ² David’s army had won the battle that day. But it became a very sad day for all the people. This was because they heard, “The king is very sad for his son.” ³ The people came into the city quietly. They were like people who had been defeated in battle and had run away. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went into the king’s house. He said to the king, “Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life today! They saved the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and slave women. ⁶ You have shamed them because you love those who hate you. And you hate those people who love you. Today you’ve made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. What if Absalom had lived and all of us were dead? I can see you would be very pleased. ⁷ Now go out and encourage your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no man will be left with you by tonight! That will be worse than all the troubles you have had from your youth until today.”

⁸ So the king went to the city gate.^[f] The news spread that the king was at the gate. So everyone came to see him.

David Goes Back to Jerusalem

All the Israelites who had followed Absalom had run away to their homes. ⁹ People in all the tribes of Israel began to argue. They said, “The king saved us from the Philistines and our other enemies. But he left the country because of Absalom. ¹⁰ We appointed Absalom to rule us, but now he has died in battle. We should make David the king again.”

¹¹ King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. David said, “Speak to the elders of Judah. Say, ‘Even in my house I have heard what all the Israelites are saying. So why are you the last tribe to bring the king back to his palace? ¹² You are my brothers, my own family. Then why are you the last tribe to bring back the king?’ ¹³ And say to Amasa, ‘You are part of my own family. May God punish me terribly if I don’t make you commander of the army in Joab’s place!’”

¹⁴ David touched the hearts of all the people of Judah. They agreed as if they were one man. They sent a message to the king. They said, “Return with all your men.” ¹⁵ Then the king returned as far as the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They wanted to bring the king across the Jordan River.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera was a Benjaminite. He lived in Bahurim. He hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ With Shimei came 1,000 Benjaminites. Ziba, the servant from Saul’s family, also came. He brought his 15 sons and 20 servants with him. They all hurried to the Jordan River to meet the king. ¹⁸ The people went across the Jordan River to help bring the king’s family back to Judah. They did whatever the king wanted. As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei son of Gera came to him. Shimei bowed facedown on the ground in front of the king. ¹⁹ He said to the king, “My master, don’t hold me guilty. Don’t remember the wrong things I did when you left Jerusalem! Don’t hold it against me. ²⁰ I know I have sinned. That is why I am the first person from Joseph’s family to come down and meet you today, my master and king!”

²¹ But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die. He cursed you, the Lord’s appointed king!”

²² David said, “This does not concern you, sons of Zeruiah! Today you’re against me! No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know I am king over Israel!” ²³ Then the king said to Shimei, “You won’t die.” The king made this promise to Shimei.

²⁴ Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet King David. Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, cut his beard or washed his clothes while David was gone. He had not done this from the time the king had left Jerusalem until he returned safely. ²⁵ Mephibosheth came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you go with me?”

²⁶ He answered, “My master, my servant Ziba tricked me! I said to Ziba, ‘I am crippled. So saddle a donkey. Then I will ride it so I can go with the king.’ ²⁷ But he lied about me to you. You, my master and king, are like an angel from God. Do what you think is good. ²⁸ You could have killed all my grandfather’s family. Instead, you put me with the people who eat at your own table. So I don’t have a right to ask anything more from the king!”

²⁹ The king said to him, “Don’t say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba may divide the land.”

³⁰ Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let Ziba take all the land. I’m just happy that my master the king has arrived in peace at his own house.”

³¹ Barzillai of Gilead came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king. ³² Now Barzillai was a very old man. He was 80 years old. He had taken care of the king when David was staying at Mahanaim. Barzillai could do this, because he was a very rich man. ³³ David said to Barzillai, “Cross the river with me. Come with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you.”

³⁴ But Barzillai answered the king, “Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am 80 years old! I am too old to taste what I eat or drink. I am too old to hear the voices of men and women singers. Why should you be bothered with me? ³⁶ I am not worthy of a reward from you. But I will cross the Jordan River with you. ³⁷ Then please let me go back so I may die in my own city. Let me die near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want.”

³⁸ The king answered, “Kimham will go with me. I will do for him anything you wish. And I will do anything for you that you wish.” ³⁹ The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned home. And the king and all the people crossed the Jordan.

⁴⁰ When the king crossed the Jordan to Gilgal, Kimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel led David across the river.

⁴¹ Soon all the men of Israel came to the king. They said to him, “Our brothers, the men of Judah, stole you away. They brought you and your family across the Jordan River with your men! Why did they do this?”

⁴² All the men of Judah answered the Israelites, “We did this because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about it? We have not eaten food at the king’s expense! He did not give us any gifts!”

⁴³ The men of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten tribes in the kingdom. So we have more right to David than you do! But you ignored us! We were the first ones to talk about bringing our king back!”

But the men of Judah spoke even more unkindly than the men of Israel.

Sheba Leads Israel Away from David

20 It happened that a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri was there. Sheba was from the tribe of Benjamin. He blew the trumpet and said:

² So all the Israelites left David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king all the way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.

³ David came to his palace in Jerusalem. Earlier he had left there ten of his slave women who gave birth to his children. He had left them there to take care of the palace. Now he put them in a house where they would be guarded. They were kept there for the rest of their lives. David gave them food, but he did not have physical relations with them. They lived like widows until they died.

⁴ The king said to Amasa, “Tell the men of Judah to meet with me in three days. And you must also be here.” ⁵ So Amasa went to call the men of Judah together. But he took longer than the time the king had told him.

⁶ David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is more dangerous to us than Absalom was. Take my men and chase him. Hurry before he finds strong, walled cities. If he gets there, he will escape from us.” ⁷ So Joab’s men, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, who were the king’s bodyguards, and all the soldiers went with Abishai. They went out from Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bicri.

⁸ When Joab and the army came to the great rock at Gibeon, Amasa came out to meet them. Joab was wearing his uniform. At his waist he wore a belt. It held his sword in its case. As Joab stepped forward, his sword fell out of its case. ⁹ Joab asked Amasa, “Brother, is everything all right with you?” Then with his right hand he took Amasa by the beard to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa did not guard against the sword that was in Joab’s hand. So Joab pushed the sword into Amasa’s stomach. This caused Amasa’s insides to spill on the ground. Joab did not have to stab Amasa again. He was already dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai continued to chase Sheba son of Bicri.

¹¹ One of Joab’s young men stood by Amasa’s body. The young man said, “Everyone who is for Joab and David should follow Joab!” ¹² Amasa lay in the middle of the road, covered with his own blood. The young man saw that everyone was stopping to look at the body. So he dragged Amasa’s body from the road and laid it in a field. Then he put a cloth over it. ¹³ After Amasa’s body was taken off the road, all the men followed Joab. They went with him to chase Sheba son of Bicri.

¹⁴ Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maacah. All the Berites also came together and followed him. ¹⁵ So Joab and his men came to Abel Beth Maacah and surrounded it. They piled dirt up against the city wall so they could attack it. And they began digging under the city walls to make them fall down.

¹⁶ But a wise woman shouted out from the city. She said, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here. I want to talk to him!”

¹⁷ So Joab came near her. She asked him, “Are you Joab?”

He answered, “Yes, I am.”

Then she said, “Listen to what I say!”

Joab said, “I’m listening.”

¹⁸ Then the woman said, “In the past people would say, ‘Ask for advice at Abel.’ Then the problem would be solved. ¹⁹ I am one of the peaceful, loyal people of Israel. You are trying to destroy an important city of Israel. Why must you destroy what belongs to the Lord?”

²⁰ Joab answered, “May I not destroy or ruin anything. ²¹ That is not what I want. But there is a man here from the mountains of Ephraim. He is named Sheba son of Bicri. He has turned against King David. If you will bring him to me, I will leave the city alone.”

The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown over the wall to you.”

²² Then the woman spoke very wisely to all the people of the city. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bicri. Then they threw it over the wall to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and the army left the city. Every man returned home. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem.

²³ Joab was commander of all the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada led the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards. ²⁴ Adoniram led the men who were forced to do hard work. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. ²⁵ Sheba was the royal assistant. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. ²⁶ And Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.

The Gibeonites Punish Saul’s Family

21 During the time David was king, there was a time of hunger. It continued for three years. So David prayed to the Lord.

The Lord answered, “Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for this time of hunger. It has come because Saul killed the Gibeonites.” ² (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were a group of Amorites who were left alive. The Israelites had promised not to hurt the Gibeonites. But Saul was very eager to help the people of Israel and Judah. So he tried to kill all the Gibeonites.)

King David called the Gibeonites together and talked to them. ³ He asked them, “What can I do for you? What can I do to take away Israel’s sin so you can bless the Lord’s people?”

⁴ The Gibeonites said to David, “Saul and his family don’t have enough silver and gold to pay for what they did! And we don’t have the right to kill anyone in Israel.”

Then David asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

⁵ The Gibeonites said to him, “Saul made plans against us. He tried to destroy all our people who are left in the land of Israel. ⁶ Saul was the Lord’s chosen king. So bring seven of his sons to us. Then we will kill them and hang them on stakes. We will put them in front of the Lord at Gibeah, Saul’s hometown.”

The king said, “I will give them to you.” ⁷ But the king protected Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. (Jonathan was Saul’s son.) David did this because of the promise he had made to Jonathan in the Lord’s name. So the king did not let them hurt Mephibosheth. ⁸ But the king did take Armoni and Mephibosheth,^[g] sons of Rizpah and Saul. (Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah.) And the king took the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab. Adriel was the father of Merab’s five sons. (Adriel was the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.) ⁹ David gave these seven sons to the Gibeonites. Then the Gibeonites killed them and hung them on stakes on a hill before the Lord. All seven sons died together. They were put to death during the first days of the harvest season. (The barley harvest was just beginning.)

¹⁰ Aiah’s daughter Rizpah took the rough cloth that was worn to show sadness. Then she put it on a rock for herself. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on her sons’ bodies. During the day she did not let the birds of the sky touch her sons’ bodies. At night she did not let the wild animals touch them.

¹¹ People told David what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s slave woman, was doing. ¹² Then David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the men of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken these bones secretly from the public square of Beth Shan. The Philistines had hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan there after they had killed Saul at Gilboa.) ¹³ David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from Gilead. Then the people gathered the bodies of Saul’s seven sons who were hanged on stakes. ¹⁴ The people buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in Benjamin. They buried them in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. The people did everything the king commanded.

Then God answered the prayers of the people in the land.

Wars with the Philistines

¹⁵ Again there was war between the Philistines and Israel. David and his men went out to fight the Philistines. But David became tired and weak. ¹⁶ Ishbi-Benob was one of the sons of Rapha. His bronze spearhead weighed about seven and a half pounds. Ishbi-Benob had a new sword, and he planned to kill David. ¹⁷ But Abishai son of Zeruiah killed the Philistine. So he saved David’s life.

Then David’s men made a promise to David. They said, “Never again will you go out with us to battle. If you were killed, Israel would lose its greatest leader.”

¹⁸ Later, at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, another one of the sons of Rapha.

¹⁹ Later, there was another battle at Gob with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem killed Goliath^[h] from Gath. Goliath’s spear was as large as a weaver’s rod.

²⁰ At Gath another battle took place. A very large man was there. He had 6 fingers on each hand. And he had 6 toes on each foot. He had 24 fingers and toes in all. This man also was one of the sons of Rapha. ²¹ When he challenged Israel, Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of Shimeah, David’s brother.

²² These four men were sons of Rapha from Gath. They all were killed by David and his men.

David’s Song of Praise

22 David sang this song to the Lord. He sang it when the Lord had saved him from Saul and all his other enemies. ² He said: