Study Desk

So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return." So he returned.

So now, do it! For Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"

And Abner said to David, "Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may cut a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he died on account of the blood of Asahel his brother.

Afterward David heard it, so he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David swore an oath, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down."

So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went forth and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; then they anointed David king over Israel.

Then the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, so all the Philistines went up to seek out David. And David heard of it and went down to the fortress.

So David came to Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down; and he said, "Yahweh has broken through my enemies before me, like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

And they forsook their idols there; so David and his men carried them away.

So David asked of Yahweh, and He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

Then David did so, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

So David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, "How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?"

Then it was told to King David, saying, "Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.

And so it happened, that when those who were carrying the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.