2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year — when kings march out to war — David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They put an end to the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman.

2 Samuel 11:3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hethite?”

2 Samuel 11:4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home.

2 Samuel 11:5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.”

2 Samuel 11:6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hethite.” So, Joab sent Uriah to David.

2 Samuel 11:7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people were doing and how the war was going.

2 Samuel 11:8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So, Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

2 Samuel 11:9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.

2 Samuel 11:10 When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?”

2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and your throat lives, I will not do this!”

2 Samuel 11:12 “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So, Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

2 Samuel 11:13 Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.

2 Samuel 11:14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

2 Samuel 11:15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies.

2 Samuel 11:16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were.

2 Samuel 11:17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hethite also died.

2 Samuel 11:18 Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle.

2 Samuel 11:19 He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle–

2 Samuel 11:20 if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?

2 Samuel 11:21 At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died? Why did you get so close to the wall? ‘– then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hethite is dead also.'”

2 Samuel 11:22 Then the messenger left. When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him to tell.

2 Samuel 11:23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the city gate.

2 Samuel 11:24 However, the archers shot down on your servants from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s servants died. Your servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead.”

2 Samuel 11:25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours one and then another. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.”

2 Samuel 11:26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.

2 Samuel 11:27 When the time of mourning ended, David gathered her to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, what David had done was evil in Yahveh’s eyes.

links:

forgive us
he sees all

The 2 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Samuel 10

2 Samuel 10:1 It happened afterward that the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

2 Samuel 10:2 Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun, son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So, David sent his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

2 Samuel 10:3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his servants in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it?”

2 Samuel 10:4 So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.

2 Samuel 10:5 When David was informed of this, he sent someone to meet them since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return.”

2 Samuel 10:6 When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired twenty thousand foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.

2 Samuel 10:7 David heard about it and sent Joab and all the elite troops.

2 Samuel 10:8 The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.

2 Samuel 10:9 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans.

2 Samuel 10:10 He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 10:11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” Joab said, “then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I’ll come to help you.

2 Samuel 10:12 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and the cities of our God. May Yahveh’s will be done.”

2 Samuel 10:13 Joab and his people advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

2 Samuel 10:14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they, too, fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 10:15 When the Arameans saw that Israel had defeated them, they gathered together.

2 Samuel 10:16 Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, leading them.

2 Samuel 10:17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then, the Arameans lined up to engage David in battle and fought against him.

2 Samuel 10:18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach, commander of their army, who died there.

2 Samuel 10:19 When all the kings who were Hadadezer’s subjects saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with Israel and served them. After this, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites again.

links:

Hanun’s war
the human tragedy of warfare

The 2 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 9:1 David said, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Samuel 9:2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.

2 Samuel 9:3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was crippled in both feet.”

2 Samuel 9:4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir, son of Ammiel.”

2 Samuel 9:5 So King David had him brought from the house of Machir, son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

2 Samuel 9:6 Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant, ” he replied.

2 Samuel 9:7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

2 Samuel 9:8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”

2 Samuel 9:9 Then the king summoned Saul’s boy Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.

2 Samuel 9:10 You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

2 Samuel 9:11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.” So, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons.

2 Samuel 9:12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants.

2 Samuel 9:13 However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been crippled.

links:

demonstrating his kindness
the kindness of God

The 2 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8:1 After this, David struck the Philistines down, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from Philistine control.

2 Samuel 8:2 He also struck down the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one full length of those to be kept alive. So, the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

2 Samuel 8:3 David also struck down Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.

2 Samuel 8:4 David captured seventeen hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses and kept a hundred chariots.

2 Samuel 8:5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men.

2 Samuel 8:6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went.

2 Samuel 8:7 David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 8:8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

2 Samuel 8:9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had struck down the entire army of Hadadezer,

2 Samuel 8:10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.

2 Samuel 8:11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued–

2 Samuel 8:12 from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Samuel 8:13 David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.

2 Samuel 8:14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. Yahveh made David victorious wherever he went.

2 Samuel 8:15 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

2 Samuel 8:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary;

2 Samuel 8:18 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief officials.

links:

administering justice and righteousness
good government
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 27, 2021
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The 2 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library

2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 7:1 When the king had settled into his palace, and Yahveh had given him relief on every side from all his enemies,

2 Samuel 7:2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”

2 Samuel 7:3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for Yahveh is with you.”

2 Samuel 7:4 But that night the word of Yahveh came to Nathan:

2 Samuel 7:5 “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what Yahveh says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in?

2 Samuel 7:6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today, I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling.

2 Samuel 7:7 In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’

2 Samuel 7:8 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what Yahveh of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.

2 Samuel 7:9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the land.

2 Samuel 7:10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have been doing

2 Samuel 7:11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. ” ‘Yahveh declares to you: Yahveh himself will make a house for you.

2 Samuel 7:12 When your time comes, and you rest with your fathers, I will raise after you your seed, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals.

2 Samuel 7:15 But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

2 Samuel 7:16 Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.'”

2 Samuel 7:17 Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David.

2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in, sat in Yahveh’s presence, and said, who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:19 What you have done so far was a little thing to you, Lord Yahveh, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is instruction for humanity, Lord Yahveh.

2 Samuel 7:20 What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord Yahveh.

2 Samuel 7:21 Because of your word and according to your heart, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:22 This is why you are great, Lord Yahveh. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as all we have heard confirms.

2 Samuel 7:23 And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on land in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them great and awesome acts, driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.

2 Samuel 7:24 You established your people Israel to be your people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

2 Samuel 7:25 Now, Yahveh God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised,

2 Samuel 7:26 so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “Yahveh of Armies is God over Israel.” The house of your servant David will be established before you

2 Samuel 7:27 since you, Yahveh of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the heart to pray this prayer to you.

2 Samuel 7:28 Lord Yahveh, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:29 Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord Yahveh, have spoken, and with your blessing, your servant’s house will be blessed forever.

links:

“To be gathered to his people”
ACST 58- The Gathered
building a house
instruction for humanity
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, September 25, 2023
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, October 9, 2024
the house he built

The 2 SAMUEL shelf in Jeff’s library