Holman Christian Standard Bible (96 page)
Read Holman Christian Standard Bible Online
Authors: B&H Publishing Group
When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell.
23
The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate.
24
However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king's soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
23
The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate.
24
However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king's soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
25
David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don't let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.' Encourage him.”
David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don't let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.' Encourage him.”
26
When Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.
27
When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the
Lord
considered what David had done to be evil.
When Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.
27
When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the
Lord
considered what David had done to be evil.
2 Samuel
Nathan's Parable and David's Repentance
12
So the
Lord
sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him:
So the
Lord
sent Nathan to David. When he arrived, he said to him:
There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
2
The rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle,
3
but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up, living with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for his guest.
2
The rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle,
3
but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up, living with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for his guest.
5
David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As the
Lord
lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
6
Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”
David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As the
Lord
lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
6
Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”
7
Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the
Lord
God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8
I gave your master's house to you and your master's wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
9
Why then have you despised the command of the
Lord
by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite's sword.
10
Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.'
Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the
Lord
God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8
I gave your master's house to you and your master's wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
9
Why then have you despised the command of the
Lord
by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite's sword.
10
Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.'
11
“This is what the
Lord
says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly.
12
You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.' ”
“This is what the
Lord
says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly.
12
You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.' ”
13
David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the
Lord
.”
David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the
Lord
.”
Then Nathan replied to David, “The
Lord
has taken away your sin; you will not die.
14
However, because you treated the
Lord
with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
15
Then Nathan went home.
Lord
has taken away your sin; you will not die.
14
However, because you treated the
Lord
with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”
15
Then Nathan went home.
The Death of Bathsheba's Son
The
Lord
struck the baby that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
16
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
17
The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
Lord
struck the baby that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
16
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
17
The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
18
On the seventh day the baby died. But David's servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn't listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”
On the seventh day the baby died. But David's servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn't listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.”
19
When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead? ”
When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead? ”
“He is dead,” they replied.
20
Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the
Lord
's house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.
Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the
Lord
's house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.
21
His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”
His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.”
22
He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The
Lord
may be gracious to me and let him live.'
23
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I'll go to him, but he will never return to me.”
He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The
Lord
may be gracious to me and let him live.'
23
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I'll go to him, but he will never return to me.”
The Birth of Solomon
24
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named him Solomon. The
Lord
loved him,
25
and He sent a message through Nathan the prophet, who named him Jedidiah, because of the
Lord
.
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named him Solomon. The
Lord
loved him,
25
and He sent a message through Nathan the prophet, who named him Jedidiah, because of the
Lord
.
Capture of the City of Rabbah
26
Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.
27
Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured the water supply.
28
Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.”
29
So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.
30
He took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David's head. The crown weighed 75 pounds of gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.
31
He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.
27
Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured the water supply.
28
Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.”
29
So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.
30
He took the crown from the head of their king, and it was placed on David's head. The crown weighed 75 pounds of gold, and it had a precious stone in it. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.
31
He removed the people who were in the city and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel
Amnon Rapes Tamar
13
Some time passed. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon was infatuated with her.
2
Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.
3
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
4
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king's son, so miserable every morning? Won't you tell me? ”
Some time passed. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon was infatuated with her.
2
Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her.
3
Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
4
and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king's son, so miserable every morning? Won't you tell me? ”
Amnon replied, “I'm in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.”
5
Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.' ”
Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you're sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.' ”
6
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”
7
David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare a meal for him.”
David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare a meal for him.”
8
Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them.
9
She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me! ” And everyone left him.
10
“Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon's bedroom.
11
When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come sleep with me, my sister! ”
Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them.
9
She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me! ” And everyone left him.
10
“Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon's bedroom.
11
When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come sleep with me, my sister! ”
12
“Don't, my brother! ” she cried. “Don't humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don't do this horrible thing!
13
Where could I ever go with my disgrace? And you — you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won't keep me from you.”
14
But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.
“Don't, my brother! ” she cried. “Don't humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don't do this horrible thing!
13
Where could I ever go with my disgrace? And you — you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won't keep me from you.”
14
But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.
15
After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here! ” he said.
After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here! ” he said.
16
“No,” she cried, “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you've already done to me! ” But he refused to listen to her.
17
Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her! ”
18
Amnon's servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved garment, because this is what the king's virgin daughters wore.
19
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out.
“No,” she cried, “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you've already done to me! ” But he refused to listen to her.
17
Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her! ”
18
Amnon's servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved garment, because this is what the king's virgin daughters wore.
19
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away crying out.
20
Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.
Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom.
Absalom Murders Amnon
21
When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.
22
Absalom didn't say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.
22
Absalom didn't say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
23
Two years later, Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24
Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant? ”
Two years later, Absalom's sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.
24
Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant? ”
25
The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn't willing to go, though he did bless him.
The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn't willing to go, though he did bless him.
26
“If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
“If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you? ”
27
But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king's sons.
27
But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king's sons.
28
Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don't be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous! ”
29
So Absalom's young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king's sons got up, and each fled on his mule.
Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don't be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous! ”
29
So Absalom's young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king's sons got up, and each fled on his mule.
30
While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king's sons; not even one of them survived! ”
31
In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king's sons; not even one of them survived! ”
31
In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32
But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.
33
So now, my lord the king, don't take seriously the report that says all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
But Jonadab, son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar.
33
So now, my lord the king, don't take seriously the report that says all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
34
Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.
35
Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king's sons have come! It's exactly like your servant said.”
36
Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.
35
Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king's sons have come! It's exactly like your servant said.”
36
Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
37
Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38
Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur where he stayed three years.
39
Then King David longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon's death.
Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
38
Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur where he stayed three years.
39
Then King David longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon's death.
2 Samuel
Absalom Restored to David
14
Joab son of Zeruiah observed that the king's mind was on Absalom.
2
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a clever woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don't put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.
3
Go to the king and speak these words to him.” Then Joab told her exactly what to say.
Joab son of Zeruiah observed that the king's mind was on Absalom.
2
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a clever woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don't put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.
3
Go to the king and speak these words to him.” Then Joab told her exactly what to say.
4
When the woman from Tekoa came to the king, she fell with her face to the ground in homage and said, “Help me, my king! ”
When the woman from Tekoa came to the king, she fell with her face to the ground in homage and said, “Help me, my king! ”
5
“What's the matter? ” the king asked her.
“What's the matter? ” the king asked her.
“To tell the truth, I am a widow; my husband died,” she said.
6
“Your servant had two sons
.
They were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
7
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir! ' They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband's name or posterity on earth.”
6
“Your servant had two sons
.
They were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
7
Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant and said, ‘Hand over the one who killed his brother so we may put him to death for the life of the brother he murdered. We will destroy the heir! ' They would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband's name or posterity on earth.”
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