Study Desk

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron^(a) and said, "Here we are, your own flesh and blood.^[a](b)

Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle and brought us back.^(c) The Lord also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.'"

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them^(d) at Hebron in the Lord 's presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was 30 years old when he began his reign;^(e) he reigned 40 years.

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

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites^(f) who 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."

Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.^(g)

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."^[b] For this reason it is said, "The blind and the lame will never enter the house."^[c]

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.

David became more and more powerful,^(h) and the Lord God of Hosts was with him.⁽ⁱ⁾

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

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

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

These are the names of those born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,^(k) Solomon,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.^(l)

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

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

Then David inquired of the Lord :^(o) "Should I go to war against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The Lord replied to David, "Go, for I will certainly hand the Philistines over to you."

So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, "Like a bursting flood, the Lord has burst out against my enemies before me."^(p) Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out.^[d]

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

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

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

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the Lord will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines."^(q)

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

David again assembled all the choice men in Israel,^(a) 30,000.

He and all his troops set out^(b) to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.^[a] The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim.^(c)

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,^[b] sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart^(d)

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

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments,^[c] lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,^[d] and cymbals.^(e)

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.

Then the Lord 's anger burned against Uzzah,^(f) and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence,^(g) and he died there next to the ark of God.

David was angry because of the Lord 's outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah,^[e] as it is today.

David feared the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?"

So he was not willing to move the ark of the Lord to the city of David;^(h) instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom⁽ⁱ⁾ and his whole family.

It was reported to King David: "The Lord has 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.^(j)

When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.^(k)

David was dancing^[f] with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod.^(l)

He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram's horn.

As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David,^(m) Saul's daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord , and she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had set up for it.⁽ⁿ⁾ Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord 's presence.

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

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.^(o) Then all the people left, each to his own home.

When David returned home to bless his household,^(p) 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."

David replied to Michal, "I was dancing^[g] before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord 's people Israel.^(q) I will celebrate before the Lord ,

and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself.^[h][i] I will be honored by the slave girls you spoke about."

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

When the king had settled into his palace^(a) and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains."^(b)

So Nathan told the king, "Go and do all that is on your heart, for the Lord is with you."

But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

"Go to My servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build a house for Me to live in?^(c)

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.^(d)

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?'

"Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.^(e)

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.^(f)

I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,^(g) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel.^(h) I will give you rest from all your enemies. "‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you.

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.⁽ⁱ⁾

He will build a house for My name,^(j) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^(k)

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

But My faithful love will never leave him^(m) as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.⁽ⁿ⁾

Your house and kingdom will endure before Me^[a] forever,^(o) and your throne will be established forever.'"^(p)

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

Then King David went in,^(q) sat in the Lord 's presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God , and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

What You have done so far^[b] was a little thing to You, Lord God , for You have also spoken about Your servant's house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^[c] for mankind, Lord God .

What more can David say to You? You know Your servant,^(r) Lord God .

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

This is why You are great,^(s) Lord God . There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You,^(t) as all we have heard confirms.

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 them^[d] great and awesome acts, driving out nations and their gods before Your people You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.^(u)

You established Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You, Lord , have become their God.^(v)

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

so that Your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, "The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel." The house of Your servant David^(w) will be established before You

since You, Lord of 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.

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

Now, please bless Your servant's house so that it will continue before You forever. For You, Lord God , have spoken, and with Your blessing Your servant's house will be blessed forever.^(x)

After this, David defeated the Philistines,^(a) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^[a] from Philistine control.^[b](b)

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.^(c)

David also defeated Hadadezer^(d) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.

David captured 1,700 horsemen^[c] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses^(e) and kept 100 chariots.^[d]

When the Arameans of Damascus^(f) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men.

Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^(g)

David took the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem.^(h)

King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^[e] and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities.

When King Toi of Hamath⁽ⁱ⁾ heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

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.

King David also dedicated these to the Lord , along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued^(j)—

from Edom,^[f] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.^[h](k)

He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.^(l) The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

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

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary;

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;^(m) and David's sons were chief officials.^[i]

David asked, "Is there anyone remaining from Saul's family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?"^(a)

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.

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."^(b)

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."

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

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.

"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."

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?"

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.

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.

Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do all my lord the king commands." So Mephibosheth ate at David's^[a] table just like one of the king's sons.

Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica.^(c) All those living in Ziba's house were Mephibosheth's servants.

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