New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Now there was a longwar between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Sons of David

2 Sons were bornto David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnonby Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third,Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, kingof Geshur;

4 the fourth,Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Joins Forces with David

6 Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengtheninghisholdon the house of Saul.

7 And Saul had a concubine, whose namewasRizpah, the daughter of Aiah. SoIshboshethsaid to Abner, “Why have yougone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “AmIa dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman?

9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for Davidas theLordhas sworn to him—

10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah,from Dan to Beersheba.”

11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whoseisthe land?” sayingalso,“Make your covenant with me, and indeed my handshallbewith you to bring all Israel to you.”

13 AndDavidsaid, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you:you shall not see my face unless you first bringMichal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”

14 So David sent messengers toIshbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Givememy wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myselffor a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”

15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her fromherhusband, from Paltiel the son of Laish.

16 Then her husband went along with her toBahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.

17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for Davidtobeking over you.

18 Now then, doit!For theLordhas spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”

19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing ofBenjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

20 So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men whowerewith him.

21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, andgather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you mayreign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much spoil with them. But Abnerwasnot with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 When Joab and all the troops thatwerewith him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.”

24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; whyisitthatyou sent him away, and he has already gone?

25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to knowyour going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not knowit.

27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joabtook him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed himin the stomach, so that he died for the blood ofAsahel his brother.

28 Afterward, when David heardit,he said, “My kingdom and Iareguiltless before theLordforever of 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 never fail to be in the house of Joab onewho has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brotherAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.

David’s Mourning for Abner

31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him,“Tear your clothes,gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.

32 So 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 sangalamentover Abner and said:

# “Should Abner die as afool dies?

34 Your hands were not bound

Nor your feet put into fetters;

As a man falls before wicked men,soyou fell.”

Then all the people wept over him again.

35 And when all the people cameto persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying,“God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything elsetill the sun goes down!”

36 Now all the people took noteofit,and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 And Iamweak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah,aretoo harsh for me.TheLordshall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Ishbosheth Is Murdered

1 When Saul’s son heard that Abner had died in Hebron,he lost heart, and all Israel wastroubled.

2 Now Saul’s sonhadtwo menwhowerecaptains of troops. The name of onewasBaanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (ForBeeroth also waspartof Benjamin,

3 because the Beerothites fled toGittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.)

4 Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a sonwhowaslame inhisfeet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan camefrom Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His namewasMephibosheth.

5 Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to thehouse of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon.

6 And they came there, all the way into the house,asthoughto get wheat, and they stabbed himin the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

7 For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain.

8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy,who sought your life; and theLordhas avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”

9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “AstheLordlives,who has redeemed my life from all adversity,

10 whensomeone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one whothoughtI would give him a reward forhisnews.

11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not nowrequire his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?”

12 So Davidcommanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hangedthemby the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and burieditin thetomb of Abner in Hebron.

David Reigns over All Israel

1 Then all the tribes of Israelcame to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeedweareyour bone and your flesh.

2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us,you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and theLordsaid to you,‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ”

3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron,and King David made a covenant with them at Hebronbefore theLord. And they anointed David king over Israel.

4 Davidwasthirty years old when he began to reign,andhe reigned forty years.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judahseven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Conquest of Jerusalem

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem againstthe Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion(thatis,the City of David).

8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind,whoarehated by David’s soul),heshallbechiefandcaptain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called itthe City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward.

10 So David went on and became great, andtheLordGod of hostswaswithhim.

11 ThenHiramking of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house.

12 So David knew that theLordhad established him as king over Israel, and that He hadexalted His kingdomfor the sake of His people Israel.

13 AndDavid took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.

14 Nowthesearethe names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,Solomon,

15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated

17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heardofitand went down to the stronghold.

18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves inthe Valley of Rephaim.

19 So Davidinquired of theLord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

And theLordsaid to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

20 So David went toBaal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “TheLordhas broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

21 And they left their images there, and David and his mencarried them away.

22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

23 ThereforeDavid inquired of theLord, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

24 And it shall be, when youhear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For thentheLordwill go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

25 And David did so, as theLordcommanded him; and he drove back the Philistines fromGeba as far asGezer.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 Again David gathered allthechoicemenof Israel, thirty thousand.

2 AndDavid arose and went with all the people whowerewith him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, theLordof Hosts,who dwellsbetweenthe cherubim.

3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, whichwasonthe hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

4 And they brought it out ofthe house of Abinadab, whichwason the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.

5 Then David and all the house of Israelplayedmusicbefore theLordon all kinds ofinstrumentsoffir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came toNachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put outhishand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

7 Then the anger of theLordwas aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there forhiserror; and he died there by the ark of God.

8 And David became angry because of theLord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

9 David was afraid of theLordthat day; and he said, “How can the ark of theLordcome to me?”

10 So David would not move the ark of theLordwith him into theCity of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom theGittite.

11 The ark of theLordremained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And theLordblessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

12 Now it was told King David, saying, “TheLordhas blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all thatbelongsto him, because of the ark of God.”So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.

13 And so it was, whenthose bearing the ark of theLordhad gone six paces, that he sacrificedoxen and fatted sheep.

14 Then Daviddanced before theLordwith allhismight; and Davidwaswearinga linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of theLordwith shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Now as the ark of theLordcame into the City of David,Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before theLord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 Sothey brought the ark of theLord, and set it inits place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then Davidoffered burnt offerings and peace offerings before theLord.

18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings,he blessed the people in the name of theLordof hosts.

19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a pieceofmeat,and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today,uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of thebase fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 So David said to Michal, “Itwasbefore theLord,who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over thepeople of theLord, over Israel. Therefore I will playmusicbefore theLord.

22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no childrento the day of her death.

God’s Covenant with David

1 Now it came to passwhen the king was dwelling in his house, and theLordhad given him rest from all his enemies all around,

2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell ina house of cedar,but the ark of God dwells inside tentcurtains.”

3 Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all thatisin yourheart, for theLordiswith you.”

4 But it happened that night that the word of theLordcame to Nathan, saying,

5 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says theLord:“Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?

6 For I have not dwelt in a housesince the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about ina tent and in a tabernacle.

7 Wherever I havemoved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commandedto shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’

8 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says theLordof hosts:“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

9 AndI have been with you wherever you have gone,and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men whoareon the earth.

10 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and willplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more;nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

11 since the time that I commanded judgestobeover My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also theLordtells youthat He will make you a house.

12 “When your days are fulfilled and yourest with your fathers,I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build a house for My name, and I willestablish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his Father, and he shall beMy son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.

15 But My mercy shall not depart from him,as I tookitfrom Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 Andyour house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Thanksgiving to God

18 Then King David went in and sat before theLord; and he said:“WhoamI, O LordGod? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

19 And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O LordGod; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come.Isthis the manner of man, O LordGod?

20 Now what more can David say to You? For You, LordGod,know Your servant.

21 For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant knowthem.

22 ThereforeYou are great, O LordGod. Forthereisnone like You, noristhereanyGod besides You, according to all that we have heard with ourears.

23 And whoislike Your people, like Israel,the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name—and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land—beforeYour people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?

24 ForYou have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever;and You,Lord, have become their God.

25 “Now, OLordGod, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establishitforever and do as You have said.

26 So let Your name be magnified forever, saying, ‘TheLordof hostsisthe God over Israel.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

27 For You, OLordof hosts, God of Israel, have revealedthisto Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You.

28 “And now, O LordGod, You are God, andYour words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.

29 Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O LordGod, have spokenit,and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessedforever.”

David’s Further Conquests

1 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

2 Thenhe defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’sservants,andbrought tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king ofZobah, as he went to recoverhis territory at the River Euphrates.

4 David took from him one thousandchariots,seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also Davidhamstrung all the chariothorses, except that he sparedenoughof them for one hundred chariots.

5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants,andbrought tribute. SotheLordpreserved David wherever he went.

7 And David tookthe shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 Also from Betah and fromBerothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

9 When Toi king ofHamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,

10 then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); andJorambrought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.

11 King David alsodedicated these to theLord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—

12 from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from thePhilistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David madehimselfaname when he returned from killingeighteen thousand Syrians inthe Valley of Salt.

14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, andall the Edomites became David’s servants. And theLordpreserved David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.

16 Joab the son of Zeruiahwasover the army;Jehoshaphat the son of Ahiludwasrecorder;

17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiatharwerethe priests; Seraiahwasthe scribe;

18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiadawasoverboth theCherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I mayshow him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Andtherewasa servant of the house of Saul whose namewasZiba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Areyou Ziba?”

He said, “At your service!”

3 Then the king said, “Isthere not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may showthe kindness of God?”

# And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathanwhoislame inhisfeet.”

4 So the king said to him, “Whereishe?”

# And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed heisin the house ofMachir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6 Now whenMephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”

And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

7 So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

8 Then he bowed himself, and said, “Whatisyour servant, that you should look upon sucha dead dog as I?”

9 And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him,“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring intheharvest,that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s sonshall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba hadfifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”

“As for Mephibosheth,”saidtheking,“he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”

12 Mephibosheth had a young sonwhose namewasMicha. And all who dwelt in the house of Zibawereservants of Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem,for he ate continually at the king’s table. And hewas lame in both his feet.

The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated

1 It happened after this that theking of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.

2 Then David said, “I will showkindness to Hanun the son ofNahash, as his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David notrathersent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”

4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle,at their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, andthenreturn.”

6 When the people of Ammon saw that theyhad made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hiredthe Syrians ofBeth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king ofMaacah one thousand men, and fromIsh-Tob twelve thousand men.

7 Now when David heardofit,he sent Joab and all the army ofthe mighty men.

8 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. Andthe Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacahwereby themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and putthemin battle array against the Syrians.

10 And the rest of the people he put under the command ofAbishai his brother, that he might setthemin battle array against the people of Ammon.

11 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 Be of good courage, and let usbe strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And maytheLorddowhatisgood in His sight.”

13 So Joab and the people whowerewith him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.

14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went toJerusalem.

15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.

16 Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians whowerebeyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s armywentbefore them.

17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him.

18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousandhorsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

19 And when all the kingswhowereservants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel andserved them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

1 It happened in the spring of the year, at thetime when kings go outtobattle,thatDavid sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besiegedRabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bedand walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof hesaw a woman bathing, and the womanwasvery beautiful to behold.

3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. Andsomeonesaid, “Isthis not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wifeof Uriah theHittite?”

4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, andhe lay with her, for she wascleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.

5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “Iamwith child.”

6 Then David sent to Joab,saying,“Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.

7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered.

8 And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house andwash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a giftoffoodfrom the king followed him.

9 But Uriah slept at thedoor of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.

10 So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”

11 And Uriah said to David,“The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, andmy lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife?Asyou live, andasyour soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

12 Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.

13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made himdrunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bedwith the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

14 In the morning it happened that Davidwrote a letter to Joab and sentitby the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he maybe struck down and die.”

16 So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew therewerevaliant men.

17 Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. Andsomeof the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war,

19 and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king,

20 if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

21 Who struckAbimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”

22 So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him.

23 And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate.

24 The archers shot from the wall at your servants; andsomeof the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”

25 Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”

26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

27 And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and shebecame his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had donedispleased theLord.

Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession

1 Then theLordsent Nathan to David. Andhe came to him, andsaid to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.

2 The richmanhad exceedingly many flocks and herds.

3 But the poormanhad nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

5 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “AstheLordlives, the man who has done this shall surely die!

6 And he shall restorefourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “Youarethe man! Thus says theLordGod of Israel: ‘Ianointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And ifthathadbeentoo little, I also would have given you much more!

9 Why have youdespised the commandment of theLord, to do evil in His sight?You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wifetobeyour wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.

10 Now therefore,the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

11 Thus says theLord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I willtake your wives before your eyes and givethemto your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For you diditsecretly,but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”

13 So David said to Nathan,“I have sinned against theLord.”

# And Nathan said to David, “TheLordalso hasput away your sin; you shall not die.

14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of theLordto blaspheme, the child alsowhoisborn to you shall surely die.”

15 Then Nathan departed to his house.

The Death of David’s Son

# And theLordstruck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.

16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in andlay all night on the ground.

17 So the elders of his house aroseandwentto him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!”

19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?”

And they said, “He is dead.”

20 So David arose from the ground, washed andanointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of theLordandworshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.

21 Then his servants said to him, “Whatisthis that you have done? You fasted and wept for the childwhilehewasalive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept;for I said, ‘Who can tellwhethertheLordwill be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall goto him, buthe shall not return to me.”

Solomon Is Born

24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. Soshe bore a son, andhe called his name Solomon. Now theLordloved him,

25 and He sentwordby the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he called his name Jedidiah, because of theLord.

Rabbah Is Captured

26 NowJoab fought againstRabbah of the people of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city’s watersupply.

28 Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called after my name.”

29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, fought against it, and took it.

30 Then he took their king’s crown from his head. Its weightwasa talent of gold, with precious stones. And it wasseton David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance.

31 And he brought out the people whowerein it, and putthemtoworkwith saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them cross over to the brick works. So he did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.