David kills the young Amalekite who says he put Saul out of his misery. David composes a song in honor of Saul and Jonathan. David is crowned king over Judah, and Saul's son Ishbosheth is proclaimed king over the other tribes. War breaks out between David and Ishbosheth.

A. The foreigner (1:1-16): An Amalekite comes to David, claiming to have put Saul out of his misery at Saul's request. David has him killed, since he admitted that he killed Saul, the Lord's anointed. B. The funeral song (1:17-27): David composes a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan.

In David's song, he expresses his deep sorrow over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, and he calls for all Israel to mourn.

David extols Saul and Jonathan, describing them as "swifter than eagles" and "stronger than lions."

David is proclaimed king by the tribe of Judah.

David is crowned king in the city of Hebron.

David praises the men of Jabesh-gilead for recovering Saul's body.

Abner, Saul's military commander, now crowns Ishbosheth, Saul's 40year-old son, king over the other tribes.

Joab leads David's forces against Abner's forces. As the two armies face each other on opposite sides of a pool, Abner challenges Joab to a sword fight between 12 men from each side. This results in a major battle between the two armies.

Joab's brother Asahel pursues Abner, who warns him to abandon the chase. Asahel refuses, so Abner kills him.

An angry Joab continues the pursuit, seeking to avenge his dead brother. At sunset, however, both sides agree to call off hostilities for a time.

The war between David and Ishbosheth continues. Abner defects to David and is murdered by Joab. David turns Abner's funeral into a public humiliation for Joab. Ishbosheth is killed by fellow Benjamites who, in turn, are put to death by David.

As David's power increases, Abner switches loyalties, but he is betrayed when Joab kills him to avenge the murder of Asahel.

Over time, David's power grows stronger and stronger.

David fathers six sons during this time.

Ishbosheth and Abner have a falling-out over a concubine named Rizpah.

Abner switches his loyalties to David and makes an agreement with him to turn the rest of the tribes over to his side.

Upon learning of Abner's proposed agreement, Joab tells David that Abner is simply acting as a spy. Then Joab kills Abner to avenge the murder of his brother Asahel.

Angry and sorrowful, David condemns Joab's brutal act of treachery toward Abner.

David mourns for Abner and fasts on the day of his funeral. He publicly condemns Joab and Abishai again.

In the middle of the account about Ishbosheth's assassination, there is a short digression about Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who is crippled when he is accidentally dropped by his nurse as she flees from the Philistines.

Ishbosheth is murdered by two brothers, Baanah and Recab, two of the king's military leaders.

The two brothers bring the severed head of Ishbosheth to David, hoping to be rewarded. Instead, David orders them to be killed for murdering their king!

David is anointed king over all Israel. He captures Jerusalem, defeats the Philistines, and brings the Ark to Jerusalem. Michal despises David for dancing in worship before the Lord as the Ark is brought into the city.

The 12 tribes now come to Hebron and crown David king over all Israel.

David captures Jerusalem and establishes it as Israel's new capital.

The pagan defenders of Jerusalem boast that their city can never be taken.

After capturing the city, David begins enlarging it, thus increasing the strength of his kingdom.

Eleven of David's sons, including Solomon and Nathan, are born in Jerusalem.

David completely routs the attacking Philistines twice.

David transfers the Ark of God to Jerusalem.

David goes to Baalah of Judah with 30,000 special troops to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem.

They place the Ark on a new wagon, led by Uzzah and Ahio.

This is accompanied by singing and the playing of musical instruments.

The Lord strikes Uzzah dead when he reaches out to steady the Ark!

For the next 90 days, the Ark resides in the home of Obed-edom, who receives great blessing for his willingness to house the Ark.

Michal becomes angry with David for dancing before the Ark, wearing only a priestly tunic.

As the Ark is brought from the house of Obed-edom to

Jerusalem, David joins in the celebration by dancing before the Lord in a priestly tunic.

David's wife sharply rebukes her husband for his behavior. David tells her that he is willing to look foolish in order to show his joy in the Lord. Michal remains childless throughout her life.

The Lord grants an unconditional covenant to David, promising to establish his dynasty forever. In response, David praises God. David's military accomplishments are listed.

to build a house for God.

David desires to build a dwelling that is fitting for the Ark of God, especially since David lives in a beautiful cedar palace while the Ark of God is housed in a tent. Nathan encourages David in his plan.

The Lord tells Nathan that David is not the one chosen to build a house for the Lord.

to build a house for David.

The Lord declares that David's kingdom will prosper and his name will be known throughout the world!

The Lord promises to bless Solomon even after David's death.

The Lord promises that David's dynasty will never end.

With his heart filled with awe and gratitude, David praises the Lord for his promise.

David continues to expand his kingdom and lead the Israelites to victory.

David captures their largest city.

David executes two-thirds of the Moabites, and the rest are forced to pay him tribute money.

David defeats them and forces them to pay tribute money. He also seizes much gold, silver, and bronze from them.

David defeats the Edomites and places garrisons throughout Edom.

David was a fair ruler. His military, political, and religious leaders are listed.

David shows kindness toward Mephibosheth and defeats the Ammonites and Arameans.

David shows kindness toward Saul's family.

Seeking to make good on his promise to watch over Jonathan's family, David asks Ziba, a former servant of Saul's, if anyone from Saul's family is still alive. Ziba tells him that Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, lives in Lo-debar.

David summons Mephibosheth, who fearfully and humbly appears before him.

David tells Mephibosheth not to fear and promises him several generous gifts. David offers this kindness to Mephibosheth because of his love for his father, Jonathan.

David sends ambassadors to express his sympathy to Hanun, king of the Ammonites, whose father recently died. Hanun's father had been loyal to David.

Hanun's advisers falsely conclude that the ambassadors are actually spies, so Hanun publicly humiliates them by cutting off their robes at the buttocks and shaving half their beards.

Realizing his stupid blunder, the panic-filled Ammonite king hires 33,000 foreign soldiers to help him repel the anticipated Israelite attack.

In a fierce battle alongside the Euphrates River, David defeats his enemies, killing 700 of their charioteers and 40,000 horsemen.

David commits adultery with Bathsheba, attempts to deceive Uriah, and arranges for Uriah's murder. When David is rebuked by Nathan, he repents, but their illegitimate child dies. David marries Bathsheba, and she becomes pregnant with Solomon. David seizes control of all the Ammonite cities.

David stays behind in the royal palace and sends Joab to lead the Israelites to fight the Ammonites.

David watches a beautiful woman named Bathsheba as she bathes.

After learning that she is the wife of one of his soldiers, he sends for her and sleeps with her. Soon he learns she is pregnant with his child.

David recalls Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) from the battlefield, encouraging him to spend time with Bathsheba. David hopes that Uriah will sleep with his wife and think that David's child is his.

Twice Uriah refuses to go home to his wife.

Failing to deceive Uriah into sleeping with his wife, David arranges for Uriah to be killed in battle so David can make Bathsheba one of his wives.

David sends a sealed letter to Joab by way of Uriah, ordering Joab to arrange for loyal Uriah's death.

Joab places Uriah in the fiercest part of the battle, and he is killed just as David planned.

News reaches David that Uriah has been killed, so he marries the widowed Bathsheba after her period of mourning. Soon after this, a son is born. But the Lord is highly displeased with what David has done.

The Lord sends Nathan the prophet to confront David regarding his sin.

Nathan relates the story of how a rich farmer with many lambs takes the sole lamb of a poor farmer.

David is furious, vowing to kill such a person unless he pays back the poor farmer fourfold!

Nathan tells David that he is the rich farmer in the story!

As punishment for David's sin, the Lord condemns David's family to terrible turmoil.

When David confesses his sin, Nathan tells him that the Lord has forgiven him and will not let him die for this sin.

For seven days David fasts and prays, asking God to spare his son. But the baby dies.

After the baby's death, David breaks his fast, ceases his mourning, and worships God. He testifies that one day he will join the baby in death, but the baby can never return to him.

Later Bathsheba gives birth to Solomon, whose name means "peace." The Lord, however, tells David that his name should be Jedidiah, meaning "beloved of the LORD."

David captures the Ammonite city of Rabbah, making slaves of the people and taking great amounts of gold, including a special golden crown set with precious stones.

Amnon rapes Tamar. Absalom avenges Tamar and flees to his maternal grandfather's home. David permits Absalom to return to Jerusalem but bars him from the palace. David meets with Absalom and is reconciled to him for a time.

David's son Amnon falls desperately in love with his half-sister Tamar.

Amnon's cousin Jonadab tells him to pretend he is sick and request Tamar to attend to him.

Amnon heeds Jonadab's advice and arranges for Tamar to be alone with him in his bedroom.

Ignoring Tamar's cries of protest, Amnon rapes his half-sister.

Suddenly Amnon's lust turns to loathing, and Amnon has Tamar thrown out of his bedroom.

Absalom, Amnon's half-brother, attempts to comfort Tamar, his full sister. Because of this terrible deed, Absalom hates Amnon, although he never speaks of it.

Absalom conspires to murder Amnon in revenge for raping Tamar. He does so two years later as he is celebrating the shearing of his sheep.

Absalom flees the land of Israel to escape his father David. Eventually David desires to see Absalom again.

Joab devises a plan to bring Absalom back to Israel.

Joab enlists the help of a wise woman from Tekoa in effecting the return of Absalom.

This woman approaches David, pretending that one of her two sons killed the other. She asks for mercy upon the survivor. David guarantees that her son will be allowed to safely return.

The woman then urges David to do this same thing for his son Absalom.

David instructs Joab to bring Absalom back from exile.

Absalom returns to Jerusalem, but David refuses to see him. Absalom is a very handsome man with long hair.

After waiting two full years to see his father, Absalom sets a barley field on fire to get his attention.

Finally, David agrees to see his son, and the two men are reconciled to each other.

Absalom steals the hearts of the people and revolts against his father. David flees into exile, returns the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and plants an infiltrator named Hushai in Absalom's court. David refuses to retaliate against Shimei. Ahithophel gives Absalom ungodly counsel.

David's own son Absalom organizes a rebellion against him.

Absalom captures the people's hearts by assuring them that his kingship would bring about a far more just society than did his father's.

The rebellion begins in the city of Hebron. He also sends messengers to other parts of Israel to stir up trouble.

David learns of the rebellion. As he flees Jerusalem to escape Absalom, he gives commands to three men who flee with him.

Ittai is the captain of the 600 Gittite soldiers who have joined David.

David urges him to return to Jerusalem, since he and his men have only just arrived in Israel.

Ittai vows to support David whatever the cost, so David welcomes him.

David instructs a priest named Zadok to return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and send word to him before he disappears into the wilderness.

David also encounters some people as he flees from Absalom.

A faithful friend named Hushai is waiting for David on the Mount of Olives. David instructs him to return to Jerusalem and offer himself as Absalom's adviser, pretending he has turned against David, so he can offer Absalom wrong advice on how to conduct the rebellion.

Hushai and Ahithophel, David's former adviser who has turned against him, eventually meet with Absalom. After Hushai explains that he has turned against David, it appears that Absalom accepts him as his adviser.

David encounters Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who reports that his master has turned against David as well. So David grants Ziba all that he had formerly granted Mephibosheth.

David meets Shimei, a member of Saul's family.

Shimei curses David and throws stones at him as he calls him a murderer and tells him that the Lord is repaying him for stealing Saul's throne.

David forbids his soldiers to harm Shimei, saying that his actions are understandable since he is Saul's relative.

At the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom sets up a tent on top of the palace roof and sleeps with David's concubines, publicly insulting David.

Hushai gives Absalom bad military counsel and warns David to flee. Absalom pursues David east of the Jordan, but David's men defeat Absalom's men. Twenty thousand men die in the battle, including Absalom. David mourns Absalom's death.

Ahithophel and Hushai offer conflicting advice to Absalom.

Ahithophel urges Absalom to attack David's troops immediately while David is still weary and weak.

Hushai advises that the attack be delayed until a large number of soldiers throughout the land can be assembled. Then Absalom himself should lead them into battle. Hushai's plan is accepted, causing Ahithophel to go home and hang himself.

Hushai sends news of Absalom's plan to David, who now has time to mobilize his army.

Absalom appoints Amasa to command the Israelite army in place of Joab.

Three friends of David-Shobi, Makir, and Barzillai-bring him and his soldiers' food in the wilderness.

David's troops urge him not to lead them in battle, arguing that his life is worth 10,000 of theirs.

Just before the battle, David instructs Joab, Abishai, and Ittai to deal gently with Absalom.

David's troops defeat Absalom's army in the forest of Ephraim.

As he flees the battle on his mule, Absalom's hair gets caught in the thick branches of a large oak, and he is left dangling helplessly in the air.

Disregarding David's instructions, Joab plunges three daggers into Absalom's heart.

David anxiously awaits news of the battle and Absalom's fate. Finally, a messenger brings him word that his enemies are defeated and Absalom is dead.

Bursting into tears, David wishes that he had died instead of his son.

David's kingship is restored in Jerusalem. David refuses to take vengeance on Shimei, deals with Mephibosheth, and attempts to reward Barzillai for his kindness to him. The tribe of Judah escorts David back to Jerusalem, causing some jealousy among the other tribes.

The king continues to sorrow over the death of Absalom.

Joab sternly rebukes David, claiming that he seems to love those who hate him and hate those who love him! He warns David that his troops will desert him unless he congratulates them for winning the battle.

David begins his long trip back to Jerusalem.

The people of Israel argue over whether David should return.

David personally appeals to the leaders of Judah, asking them to support his return.

The king promises to appoint Amasa as Joab's replacement.

All of Judah agrees to support David's return.

Shimei, who previously cursed David, meets David at the Jordan River and pleads for mercy.

The king grants him mercy and assures him that his life will be spared.

Mephibosheth also comes to meet David; David asks him why he stayed in Jerusalem during the revolt. Mephibosheth claims that Ziba refused to help him leave and lied about his loyalty. So David divides Saul's land equally between Ziba and Mephibosheth.

David invites 80-year-old Barzillai to accompany him back to Jerusalem and live in the palace, but he declines the offer.

The army of Judah escorts David across the Jordan and into Jerusalem. The other tribes complain about the favor shown to Judah in this way.

Sheba rebels against David. Joab kills Amasa and attacks the city of Abel, but he retreats once the people cut off Sheba's head and throw it out to him. David makes amends for Saul's attack on the Gibeonites. Some military exploits of David and his men are recorded.

Sheba, a Benjaminite, leads a rebellion against David, supported by all Israel's tribes except Judah.

David perceives Sheba's threat to be more dangerous than even Absalom's rebellion, so he orders Amasa to mobilize the entire army of Judah to fight against Sheba.

Joab assassinates Amasa to regain his former position as David's

military commander.

Sheba seeks refuge in the city of Abel, so Joab attacks the city.

A woman from Abel strikes a bargain with Joab to spare the city. She offers to throw Sheba's severed head over the wall. The woman makes good on her promise, and Joab calls off the attack on the city.

David's leaders are listed, including his military commanders, the leader of his labor force, his royal historian, his secretary, and his priests.

David asks God why Israel is being punished by a famine; he is told it is because Saul tried to wipe out the Gibeonites.

The king confers with the Gibeonites, who demand that seven of Saul's descendants be handed over to them to be executed.

David grants their demand, but he does not allow Jonathan's son Mephibosheth to be taken. So the Gibeonites execute seven of Saul's descendants on a nearby mountain.

Rizpah, whose two sons were among those executed, faithfully remains by their bodies for many weeks, protecting them from being eaten by wild animals and vultures.

The military accomplishments of four of David's soldiers are recorded.

David composes a song to praise God and commemorate his victories over Saul and all his enemies.

David praises God for giving him what he needs to defeat his enemies.

David praises God for all the victories he has given him.

David's last words are recorded, along with the deeds of his mighty men. Because David takes a census of the people, he must choose the punishment. After a plague kills 70,000 Israelites, David builds an altar and the plague is stopped.

The godless will be cast away and burned like worthless and harmful thorns.

This passage lists the exploits of David's mightiest warriors.

The first group, called the Three, consists of the three greatest warriors among David's men.

The second group of David's famous warriors are two leaders of the Thirty.

The rest of the warriors among the Thirty are listed.

David commands that a census be taken of all the tribes of Israel.

Joab unsuccessfully attempts to change David's mind about taking a census.

The itinerary of the census takers is given.

It takes nine months and 20 days to complete the census.

After the census is taken, David realizes he sinned and asks for the Lord's forgiveness.

God allows David to choose one of three punishments for taking the census:

David chooses the plague, which results in 70,000 deaths throughout Israel.

God stays the hand of the death angel as he is about to destroy Jerusalem.

David is instructed to buy a certain threshing floor, build an altar there, and make a sacrifice to the Lord. He obeys, and the plague ceases.