Study Desk

David Becomes King Over Israel^(a)

All the tribes of Israel^(b) came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.^(c)

In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.^(d) And the Lord said^(e) to you, ‘You will shepherd^(f) my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.^(g)'"

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant^(h) with them at Hebron before the Lord , and they anointed⁽ⁱ⁾ David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old^(j) when he became king, and he reigned^(k) forty^(l) years.

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months,^(m) and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem^(p) to attack the Jebusites,^(q) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion^(r)—which is the City of David.^(s)

On that day David had said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft^(t) to reach those ‘lame and blind'^(u) who are David's enemies.^[a]" That is why they say, "The ‘blind and lame' will not enter the palace."

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces^[b](v) inward.

And he became more and more powerful,^(w) because the Lord God Almighty^(x) was with him.^(y)

Now Hiram^(z) king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, 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^(aa) for the sake of his people Israel.

After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives^(ab) in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

These are the names of the children born to him there:^(ac) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,^(ad) Solomon,

Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^(af)

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;^(ag)

so David inquired^(ah) of the Lord , "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?" The Lord answered him, "Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands."

So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim.^[c](ai)

The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.^(aj)

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;

so David inquired of the Lord , and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

As soon as you hear the sound^(ak) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front^(al) of you to strike the Philistine army."

So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines^(am) all the way from Gibeon^[d](an) to Gezer.^(ao)

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem^(a)(b)

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.

He and all his men went to Baalah^[a](c) in Judah to bring up from there the ark^(d) of God, which is called by the Name,^[b](e) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned^(f) between the cherubim^(g) on the ark.

They set the ark of God on a new cart^(h) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.⁽ⁱ⁾ Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart

with the ark of God on it,^[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it.

David and all Israel were celebrating^(j) with all their might before the Lord , with castanets,^[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.^(k)

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of^(l) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.

The Lord 's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act;^(m) therefore God struck him down,⁽ⁿ⁾ and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David was angry because the Lord 's wrath^(o) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.^[e](p)

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How^(q) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?"

He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom^(r) the Gittite.

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.^(s)

Now King David^(t) was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed^(u) a bull and a fattened calf.

Wearing a linen ephod,^(v) David was dancing^(w) before the Lord with all his might,

while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts^(x) and the sound of trumpets.^(y)

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,^(z) Michal^(aa) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord , she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,^(ab) and David sacrificed burnt offerings^(ac) and fellowship offerings before the Lord .

After he had finished sacrificing^(ad) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed^(ae) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.

Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins^(af) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.^(ag) And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked^(ah) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"

David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord , who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed^(ai) me ruler^(aj) over the Lord 's people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord .

I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

God's Promise to David^(a)

After the king was settled in his palace^(b) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies^(c) around him,^(d)

he said to Nathan^(e) the prophet, "Here I am, living in a house^(f) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."^(g)

Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind,^(h) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you."

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

"Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you⁽ⁱ⁾ the one to build me a house to dwell in?^(j)

I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.^(k) I have been moving from place to place with a tent^(l) as my dwelling.^(m)

Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,⁽ⁿ⁾ did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd^(o) my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house^(p) of cedar?^(q)"'

"Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,^(r) and appointed you ruler^(s) over my people Israel.^(t)

I have been with you wherever you have gone,^(u) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.^(v) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.^(w)

And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant^(x) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.^(y) Wicked^(z) people will not oppress them anymore,^(aa) as they did at the beginning

and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a](ab) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.^(ac) "‘The Lord declares^(ad) to you that the Lord himself will establish^(ae) a house^(af) for you:

When your days are over and you rest^(ag) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,^(ah) and I will establish his kingdom.^(ai)

He is the one who will build a house^(aj) for my Name,^(ak) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^(al)

I will be his father, and he will be my son.^(am) When he does wrong, I will punish him^(an) with a rod^(ao) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

But my love will never be taken away from him,^(ap) as I took it away from Saul,^(aq) whom I removed from before you.

Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b]; your throne^(ar) will be established^(as) forever.^(at)'"

Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord , and he said: "Who am I,^(av) Sovereign Lord , and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord , you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,^(aw) Sovereign Lord , is for a mere human!^[c]

"What more can David say^(ax) to you? For you know^(ay) your servant,^(az) Sovereign Lord .

For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

"How great^(ba) you are,^(bb) Sovereign Lord ! There is no one like^(bc) you, and there is no God^(bd) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.^(be)

And who is like your people Israel^(bf)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name^(bg) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders^(bh) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed^(bi) from Egypt?^[d]

You have established your people Israel as your very own^(bj) forever, and you, Lord , have become their God.^(bk)

"And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise^(bl) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,

so that your name^(bm) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will be established^(bn) in your sight.

" Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.

Sovereign Lord , you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,^(bo) and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord , have spoken, and with your blessing^(bp) the house of your servant will be blessed forever."

David's Victories^(a)

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines^(b) and subdued^(c) them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

David also defeated the Moabites.^(d) He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.^(e)

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer^(f) son of Rehob, king of Zobah,^(g) when he went to restore his monument at^[a] the Euphrates^(h) River.

David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers^[b] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung⁽ⁱ⁾ all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

When the Arameans of Damascus^(j) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.

He put garrisons^(k) in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject^(l) to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.^(m)

David took the gold shields⁽ⁿ⁾ that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

From Tebah^[c] and Berothai,^(o) towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

When Tou^[d] king of Hamath^(p) heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,^(q)

he sent his son Joram^[e] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

King David dedicated^(r) these articles to the Lord , as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:

Edom^[f](s) and Moab,^(t) the Ammonites^(u) and the Philistines,^(v) and Amalek.^(w) He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

And David became famous^(x) after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.^(y)

He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites^(z) became subject to David.^(aa) The Lord gave David victory^(ab) wherever he went.^(ac)

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right^(ae) for all his people.

Joab^(af) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat^(ag) son of Ahilud was recorder;^(ah)

Zadok^(ai) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar^(aj) were priests; Seraiah was secretary;^(ak)

Benaiah^(al) son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites^(am) and Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.^[h]

David and Mephibosheth

David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"^(a)

Now there was a servant of Saul's household named Ziba.^(b) They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "At your service," he replied.

The king asked, "Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan;^(c) he is lame^(d) in both feet."

"Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir^(e) son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.^(f) David said, "Mephibosheth!" "At your service," he replied.

"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.^(g) I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.^(h)"

Mephibosheth⁽ⁱ⁾ bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog^(j) like me?"

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's steward, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson^(k) may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's^[a] table like one of the king's sons.^(l)

Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba's household were servants of Mephibosheth.^(m)

And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table; he was lame in both feet.