Portal:Bible/Featured chapter/2 Samuel

An Amalekite comes to David and tells him that Saul and Jonathan are dead, and that Saul was mortally wounded and asked him to finish him, so he did. David is incensed and orders the Amalekite to be killed, delivering a eulogy about Jonathan and Saul.

PEOPLE: David - יהוה YHVH - Tribe of Judah

PLACES: Ziklag - Mount Gilboa - Gath - Ashkelon

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Amalekites - Jonathan - Book of Jasher (biblical references)

David is anointed king in Hebron but only over Judah. Saul's son, Ishbaal, is taken by Abner to Mahanaim and appointed king of Israel. The two sides meet at Gibeon. After a fierce battle, David's side wins. Asahel, brother of Joab, David's commander, sets out after Abner, but Abner thrusts his javelin into Asahel.

PEOPLE: David - יהוה YHVH God - Ahinoam - Abigail - Tribe of Judah - Abner - Ish-bosheth - Joab - Abishai - Asahel

PLACES: Hebron - Jabesh-Gilead - Mahanaim - Gilead - Israel - Gibeon - Helkathhazzurim - Ammah - Giah - Bithron - Bethlehem

RELATED ARTICLES: Jezreelite - Nabal - Carmelite - Saul - Ner - Ashurites - Tribe of Ephraim - Tribe of Benjamin - Zeruiah - Shofar

When Abner arrives in David's court, Joab secretly follows him and stabs Abner in revenge for killing his brother. David curses Joab for this and sings a eulogy to Abner.

PEOPLE: David - Amnon - Chileab - Absalom - Adonijah - Shephatiah - Ithream - Abner - Rizpah - Ishbosheth - יהוה YHVH God - Michal - Phaltiel - Joab

PLACES: Hebron - Geshur - Dan - Beersheba - Bahurim - Sirah - Gibeon

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Ahinoam - Jezreelite - Abigail - Nabal - Carmelite - Maacah - Talmai - Haggith - Abital - Eglah - Aiah - Tribe of Judah - Philistines - Laish - Ner - Asahel - Zeruiah

Ishbosheth is killed in his sleep by his own leaders, the sons of Rimmon, who cut off his head and take it to David, but David has them killed for killing a king.

PEOPLE: Abner - Baanah - Rechab - Mephibosheth - Ish-bosheth - יהוה YHVH

PLACES: Hebron - Gittaim - Jezreel - Ziklag

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Rimmon - Beerothite - Tribe of Benjamin - Jonathan

David is anointed King of Israel in Hebron. Hiram, king of Tyre, sends master craftsmen to David to build him a palace, and David also builds up the area surrounding it. The Philistines attack, but he defeats them. A second attack by the Philistines is also defeated.

PEOPLE: Tribes of Israel - David - יהוה YHVH God of hosts - Jebusites - Hiram - Shammuah - Shobab - Nathan - Solomon - Ibhar - Elishua - Nepheg - Japhia - Elishama - Eliada - Eliphalet - Philistines

PLACES: Hebron - Jerusalem - United Monarchy - Zion - Millo - Tyre - Valley of Rephaim - Baal-perazim - Geba - Gezer

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Carpentry - Masonry - Concubinage

David requests the Ark be moved to Jerusalem, but when it becomes unsteady, Uzzah puts his hand on it and is struck dead by Yahweh. David leaves the ark with Obed-Edom for three months, though noting Obed-edom's subsequent good fortune, he brings the Ark to Zion. David joins the subsequent celebrations but is castigated for doing so by Michal.

PEOPLE: David – Israelites – יהוה YHVH – Abinadab – Uzzah – Ahio – Nachon – Obed-Edom the Gittite – Michal

PLACES: Baale of Judah – Gibeah – Perez-uzzah – City of David

RELATED ARTICLES: Ark of the Covenant – Fir – Harp – Psaltery – Timbrel – Cornet – Cymbals – Threshingfloor – Korban – Ephod – Shofar – Saul – Flagon

David asks Nathan whether the Ark should be housed in grander settings, but Nathan tells him that it is fine for the moment and prophecies that one of David's sons will be the one to build a new home for it.

PEOPLE: David - יהוה YHVH God - Nathan

PLACES: Israel

RELATED ARTICLES: Ark of the Covenant - Tabernacle - Children of Israel - Solomon's Temple - Solomon - Saul

David attacks the Philistines. David also defeats Moab, making Moab a vassal. David then defeats Hadadezer, and though the Aramaeans come to Hadadezer's aid, David slaughters them, making the Aramaeans vassals. King Toi of Hamath, Hadadezer's enemy, congratulates David and adds to his spoils of precious metals. David becomes famous for slaughtering 18,000 Edomites, whereupon Edom becomes a vassal state.

PEOPLE: David - Philistines - Hadadezer - Syrians - Tou - Jehoram - יהוה YHVH - Ammonites - Amalekites - Joab - Jehoshaphat - Zadok - Ahimelech - Seraiah - Benaiah

PLACES: Moab - Zobah - Euphrates - Syria - Damascus - Jerusalem - Betah - Berothah - Hama - Valley of Salt - Edom - Israel

RELATED ARTICLES: Metheg-ammah - Zeruiah - Ahilud - Ahitub - Abiathar - Jehoiada - Cherethites - Pelethites

David begins to think of the family of Jonathan, and discovers that Mephibosheth is residing in the house of Machir. He brings Mephibosheth and his infant son Micah to Jerusalem to reside from that point on.

PEOPLE: David - Ziba - Mephibosheth - Micah

PLACES: Lo-debar

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Jonathan - God - Machir - Ammiel - David and Jonathan - Paraplegia

The king of the Ammonites dies and is succeeded by Hanun. David sends messengers to give condolences. However, they are interpreted as spies, so he has the base of their beards cut off and their garments below their buttocks. David tells them to wait in Jericho until their beards grow. The Ammonites then prepare for war.

PEOPLE: Nahash - Ammonites - Hanun - David - Syrians - Joab - Abishai - יהוה YHVH God - Hadarezer - Shobach

PLACES: Israel - Jericho - Syria - Rehov - Zobah - Maacah - Ishtob - Jerusalem - Helam - Jordan River

RELATED ARTICLES: Beard - Chariot - Horses in warfare

2 SAMUEL 11

David has relations with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and she becomes pregnant. David orders Uriah to be placed in the heaviest part of the fighting. Uriah is consequently killed, and David marries Bathsheba.

PEOPLE: David - Joab - Bathsheba - Uriah the Hittite - יהוה YHVH

PLACES: Israel - Rabbah - Jerusalem - Tubas

RELATED ARTICLES: Ammon - Eliam - Ark of the Covenant - Tribe of Judah - Alcohol intoxication - Abimelech - Jerubbesheth

Nathan tells David a parable, asking him for an analysis. When Nathan reveals that the parable describes his actions, David realises that by his analysis he has condemned himself. Bathsheba's child dies as punishment. She has another son that she names Solomon. Joab captures Rabbah, and the crown of the king is given to David.

PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH God - Nathan - David - Bathsheba - Solomon (Jedidiah) - Joab - Children of Ammon

PLACES: Israel - Rabbah - Jerusalem

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul - Tribe of Judah - Uriah the Hittite - Blasphemy - Fasting - Talent (measurement)

David's son, Amnon, persuades his half-sister, Tamar to feed him at his bedside and rapes her. His brother, Absalom, holds a party and invites all the princes, and Amnon is killed by Absalom's servants, under the order of Absalom.

PEOPLE: Absalom - David - Tamar - Amnon - Jonadab - Talmai

PLACES: Baal-hazor - Geshur

RELATED ARTICLES: Shimeah - Incest - Rape - Sheep shearing - Murder - Ammihud

Joab persuades a woman to visit David and trick him into acknowledging that Absalom should be brought back and not harmed. When Absalom is brought back, David orders him to remain in his own home, but Absalom keeps asking Joab to see David. Joab does not respond so Absalom sets Joab's field on fire, and Absalom persuades Joab to let him see David, who becomes reconciled to Absalom.

PEOPLE: Joab - David - Absalom - Woman of Tekoah - יהוה YHVH God - Tamar

PLACES: Tekoah - Geshur - Jerusalem

RELATED ARTICLES: Zeruiah - Mashal - Angel - Shekel

Absalom builds up a gradual following, and plans a coup against David. An informant tells David, who tells his supporters to flee Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. David tells his foreign mercenaries to go back to Jerusalem since they owe no allegiance, but they insist on going with David.

PEOPLE: Absalom - יהוה YHVH God - David - Ahithophel - Itai - Zadok - Levites - Abiathar - Ahimaaz - Jonathan - Hushai

PLACES: Hebron - Geshur, Syria - Jerusalem - Gilo - Gath - Kidron - Mount Olivet

RELATED ARTICLES: Chariot - Horses in warfare - City Gate - Gilonite - Concubine - Cherethites - Pelethites - Gittites - Ark of the Covenant - Archite

A man named Shimei throws stones at David and curses him, so Abishai asks David to kill Shimei, but David will not let him, claiming that Yahweh has made Shimei do this. On the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom has relations with David's concubines on his roof, so that the whole nation can see his contempt for David.

PEOPLE: David - Ziba - Shimei - יהוה YHVH - Abishai - Absalom - Ahithophel - Hushai

PLACES: Mount of Olives - Jerusalem - Bahurim

RELATED ARTICLES: Mephibosheth - Saul - Gera - Belial - Zeruiah - Tribe of Benjamin - Archite Concubinage - Oracle

After receiving counsel from both Ahithophel and Hushai, Absalom chooses Hushai's plan to send all Israel to attack David over Ahithophel's, so Ahithophel commits suicide in shame. Hushai sends word to David of the plan via spies hidden in a cistern at En-rogel.

PEOPLE: Ahithophel - Absalom - David - Hushai - יהוה YHVH - Zadok - Abiathar - Jonathan - Ahimaaz - Amasa - Joab - Shobi - Machir - Barzillai

PLACES: Israel - Dan - Beersheba - Enrogel - Bahurim - Jerusalem - Jordan River - Mahanaim - Gilead - Rabbah - Lo-debar - Rogelim

RELATED ARTICLES: Archite - Kohen - Suicide - Hanging - Ithra - Abigail - Nahash - Zeruiah - Nahash - Ammon - Ammiel

2 SAMUEL 18

David prepares his troops, and asks that Absalom be treated gently. A huge battle erupts between the armies in the forests near Mahanaim, but while riding on his mule, Absalom gets caught in a tree by his hair and is stuck hanging there. Although the first people from David's side to discover Absalom like this refuse to harm him, owing to David's request, Joab has no such qualms and kills Absalom.

PEOPLE: David - Joab - Abishai - Ittai - Absalom - Ahimaaz - יהוה YHVH God - Cushi

PLACES: Israel - Wood of Ephraim

RELATED ARTICLES: King David's Warriors - Zeruiah - Gittite - Shekel - Zadok

David, extremely upset about the death of Absalom, pulls himself together and returns victorious to Jerusalem, accompanied by the men of Judah.

PEOPLE: Joab - David - יהוה YHVH God - Zadok - Abiathar - Amasa - Shimei - Ziba - Abishai - Mephibosheth - Barzillai - Chimham

PLACES: Israel - Jordan River - Gilgal - Bahurim - Jerusalem - Rogelim - Mahanaim

RELATED ARTICLES: Absalom - City gate - Kohen - Tribe of Judah - Gera - Tribe of Benjamin - Saul - Tribe of Joseph - Zeruiah - Gileadite

A man named Sheba revolts against David. David orders Abishai to pursue Sheba. Joab joins the expedition, having treacherously put Amasa to death. Joab lays siege to Abel Beth-maachah and townspeople cut off Sheba's head and throw it over the wall to Joab.

PEOPLE: Sheba - David - Amasa - Abishai - Joab - Cherethites - Pelethites - Berites - יהוה YHVH - Benaiah - Adoram - Jehoshaphat - Sheva - Zadok - Abiathar - Ira

PLACES: Israel - Jordan River - Jerusalem - Gibeon - Abel-beth-maachah - Mount Ephraim

RELATED ARTICLES: Belial - Bichri - Tribe of Benjamin - Shofar - Jesse - Tribe of Judah - Concubine - Widow - Absalom - Jehoiada - Ahilud - Jairite - Kohen

A famine arises which David blames on Saul for having put many of the Gibeonites to death. David asks the Gibeonites what he should do as atonement, and they ask to dismember seven men from among Saul's descendants on Yahweh's mountain. David gives seven of Sauls descendants to them, and they are dismembered. Rizpah, the mother of two of them, uses a sackcloth to protect the remains from scavengers, and so David collects the bones of Saul, Jonathon, and those of the seven, and buries them at the tomb of Kish. The famine consequently ends.

PEOPLE: David – יהוה YHVH God – Mephibosheth – Rizpah – Armoni – Michal – Adriel – Barzillai – Meholathite – Philistines – Ishbibenob – Abishai – Sibbechai – Saph – Elhanan – Jonathan, son of Shimeah

PLACES: Israel – Gibeah – Jabesh-Gilead – Bethshan – Gilboa – Zelah – Gob – Gath

RELATED ARTICLES: Saul – Gibeon – Amorites – Children of Israel – Tribe of Judah – Atonement – Jonathan – Aiah – Kish – Zeruiah – Hushathite – Jaareoregim – Bethlehem – Goliath – Gittite

David sings a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for delivering him from his enemies.

PEOPLE: David - יהוה YHVH God Most High

RELATED ARTICLES: Praise - Hell - Heaven - Cherub - Righteousness - Paganism - Messiah

Several warriors of David are listed, with a gloss covering some of their deeds.

PEOPLE: David - יהוה YHVH God - Spirit of יהוה - Adino - Eleazar - Shammah (son of Agee) - Abishai - Benaiah - Asahel - Elhanan - Shammah the Harodite - Abieezer - Benaiah - Shammah the Hararite - Gareb - Uriah the Hittite - Elika - Helez - Ira (son of Ikkesh) - Mebunnai - Zalmon - Maharai - Heleb - Ittai - Hiddai - Abialbon - Azmaveth - Eliahba - Jonathan - Ahiam - Eliphelet - Eliam - Hezrai - Paarai - Igal - Bani - Zelek - Nahari - Ira the Ithrite

PLACES: valley of Rephaim - Bethlehem - Moab - Gibeah - Gaash - Zobah

RELATED ARTICLES: Jesse - Jacob - Belial - King David's Warriors - Tachmonite - Philistines - Kabzeel - Egypt - Joab - Netophathite - Tribe of Benjamin - Jashen - Sharar - Hararite - Maachathite - Zeruiah - Eznite - Dodo - Ahohite - Agee - Jehoiada - Harodite - Paltite - Anathoth - Ikkesh - Tuqu' - Hushathite - Ahohite - Netophathite - Baanah - Ribai - Pirathonite - Arbathite - Barhumite - Shaalbonite - Ahasbai - Ahithophel - Gilonite - Carmelite - Arbite - Nathan - Gadite - Ammonite - Beerothite - Ithrite

David orders a census. The census makes Yahweh angry so Gad the prophet tells David that Yahweh has given David three options of punishment. David chooses the pestilence option, and so an angel duly goes out and starts killing people. When the angel approaches Jerusalem, Yahweh commands the angel to stop. David buys the land where the angel halted from its owner, Araunah, and builds an altar upon it.

PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH God - Israelites - David - Joab - Gad - Angel of the Lord - Araunah

PLACES: Israel - Dan - Beersheba - Jordan River - Aroer - River of Gad - Jazer - Gilead - Tahtimhodshi - Danjaan - Zidon - Tyre - Jerusalem

RELATED ARTICLES: Hivites - Canaanites - Jerusalem - Angel - Jebusite - Korban - Shekel