From: "FamilyNet Direct"
Bible Reading for April 04
Bible, King James Version
2 Samuel
2 Samuel 1
[1] Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from
the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
[2] It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the
camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was,
when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. [3] And
David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the
camp of Israel am I escaped. [4] And David said unto him, How went the matter?
I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the
battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan
his son are dead also.
[5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that
Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
[6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount
Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen
followed hard after him.
[7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I
answered, Here am I.
[8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
[9] And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for
anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I stood
upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that
he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet
that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
[11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the
men that were with him:
[12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for
Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel;
because they were fallen by the sword. [13] And David said unto the young man
that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger,
an Amalekite. [14] And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to
stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? [15] And David called
one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him
that he died. [16] And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for
thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's
anointed. [17] And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over
Jonathan his son:
[18] (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:
behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) [19] The beauty of Israel is
slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
[20] Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the
daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
triumph.
[21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain,
upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is
vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with
oil.
[22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. [23] Saul
and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they
were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
[24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with
other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. [25] How are
the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou was slain in
thine high places.
[26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou
been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [27]
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
2 Samuel 2
[1] And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying,
Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go
up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. [2] So
David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and
Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. [3] And his men that were with him did
David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of
Hebron. [4] And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over
the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead
were they that buried Saul.
[5] And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto
them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your
lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. [6] And now the LORD shew kindness
and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have
done this thing. [7] Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye
valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have
anointed me king over them.
[8] But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son
of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; [9] And made him king over Gilead,
and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin,
and over all Israel. [10] Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he
began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah
followed David. [11] And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house
of Judah was seven years and six months.
[12] And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of
Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. [13] And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and
the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and
they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other
side of the pool. [14] And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise,
and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
[15] Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which
pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
[16] And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in
his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called
Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. [17] And there was a very sore battle
that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of
David. [18] And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and
Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. [19] And Asahel pursued
after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from
following Abner. [20] Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel?
And he answered, I am.
[21] And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left,
and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But
Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. [22] And Abner said again
to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to
the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
[23] Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of
the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him;
and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that
as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
[24] Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when
they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the
wilderness of Gibeon.
[25] And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner,
and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. [26] Then Abner called
to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it
will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid
the people return from following their brethren?
[27] And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in
the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. [28]
So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after
Israel no more, neither fought they any more. [29] And Abner and his men
walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went
through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. [30] And Joab returned from
following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there
lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
[31] But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so
that three hundred and threescore men died. [32] And they took up Asahel, and
buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab
and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
2 Samuel 3
[1] Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David:
but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and
weaker.
[2] And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
[3] And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
[4] And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the
son of Abital;
[5] And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in
Hebron.
[6] And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the
house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. [7] And
Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and
Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's
concubine?
[8] Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a
dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of
Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered
thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault
concerning this woman?
[9] So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to
David, even so I do to him;
[10] To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne
of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. [11] And he
could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. [12] And Abner
sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying
also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to
bring about all Israel unto thee. [13] And he said, Well; I will make a league
with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my
face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see
my face. [14] And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying,
Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of
the Philistines.
[15] And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel
the son of Laish.
[16] And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then
said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. [17] And Abner had
communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times
past to be king over you: [18] Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of
David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel
out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
[19] And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to
speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that
seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. [20] So Abner came to David to
Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were
with him a feast. [21] And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and
will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with
thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David
sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
[22] And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop,
and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in
Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. [23] When Joab and
all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the
son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in
peace.
[24] Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner
came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
[25] Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to
know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. [26]
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which
brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. [27] And when
Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with
him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the
blood of Asahel his brother. [28] And afterward when David heard it, he said,
I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of
Abner the son of Ner: [29] Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his
father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an
issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the
sword, or that lacketh bread.
[30] So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their
brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. [31] And David said to Joab, and to
all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with
sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
[32] And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and
wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. [33] And the king
lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? [34] Thy hands were
not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men,
so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
[35] And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet
day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or
ought else, till the sun be down. [36] And all the people took notice of it,
and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. [37]
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the
king to slay Abner the son of Ner. [38] And the king said unto his servants,
Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
[39] And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of
Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according
to his wickedness.
2 Samuel 4
[1] And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were
feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. [2] And Saul's son had two men
that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of
the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of
Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
[3] And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this
day.)
[4] And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five
years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his
nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee,
that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. [5] And the sons
of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of
the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
[6] And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would
have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and
Baanah his brother escaped.
[7] For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber,
and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat
them away through the plain all night. [8] And they brought the head of
Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of
Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD
hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
[9] And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the
Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul
out of all adversity,
[10] When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought
good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I
would have given him a reward for his tidings: [11] How much more, when wicked
men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not
therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the
earth? [12] And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off
their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But
they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in
Hebron.
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