David Permits Absalom to Return to Jerusalem 14:1 Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom. 14:2 So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Don’t anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like
Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David 15:1 Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. 15:2 Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint
David Receives Gifts from Ziba 16:1 When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a
The Death of Ahithophel 17:1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night. 17:2 When I catch up with him he will be exhausted and worn out. I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will
The Death of Absalom 18:1 David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds. 18:2 David then sent out the army – a third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership of
19:1 (19:2) Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 19:2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.” 19:3 That day the people stole away to go
Sheba’s Rebellion 20:1 Now a wicked man named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He blew the trumpet and said, “We have no share in David; we have no inheritance in this son of Jesse! Every man go home, O Israel!” 20:2 So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri.
The Gibeonites Demand Revenge 21:1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.” 21:2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of
David Sings to the Lord 22:1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. 22:2 He said: “The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. 22:3 My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that
David’s Final Words 23:1 These are the final words of David: “The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel’s beloved singer of songs: 23:2 The LORD’s spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 23:3 The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to