2 Samuel
Also see 2 Samuel Summary for more details.
1
An Amalekite brings Saul's crown and armlet to David, announcing he had mercy killed him. David laments over Saul and Jonathan then executes the Amalekite by his own word.
2
David goes to Hebron and is anointed king of Judah, while Abner makes Ish-bosheth king of Israel. 12 against 12 die at the pool of Gibeon during Joab and Abner's competition. Battle begins. Abner kills the relentless pursuer Asahel.
3
Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of going into Saul's concubine, so he sets out to make David king over all Israel in revenge. Then Joab murders him. David curses Joab and laments Abner.
4
Ish-bosheth is murdered by the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, so David executes them
5
David is anointed king of Israel and takes Jerusalem from the blind and the lame of the Jebusites, then he fights the Philistines
6
David returns the Ark to Jerusalem. Uzzah is struck by the ark, so Obed-edom shelters it in the interim. Michal despises David's praise.
7
David will not be allowed to build a house for the LORD, but the LORD will build a house for him. "Who am I, O Lord God?"
8
David subdues the Philistines, Moabites, Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, and the Edomites. He dedicates the spoils to the LORD and chooses his officials.
9
David shows the kindness of God to the lame Mephibosheth for the sake of his father Jonathan
10
David's kindness to Hanun is met with suspicion, and he makes peace with all the servants of Hadadezer through war
11
David commits adultery, kills Uriah with the sword of the Ammonites and Joab's help and takes Bathsheba as a wife. Bathsheba bears a son.
12
Nathan rebukes David with a story of a rich man who takes a poor man's only ewe. David and Bathsheba's child dies. Solomon is born. David takes over Ammon.
13
Amnon violates Tamar. Absalom murders Amnon. Absalom flees to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur
14
Joab's wise woman asks David to return Absalom from exile. Absalom returns to Jerusalem but asks how that improves the situation.
15
Absalom steals Israel's hearts through manipulation; David flees while building a network to stay informed of court matters and undermine Absalom's power; David does not bring the Ark with him, instead giving himself to the LORD to deliver judgment or return him safely to Jerusalem.
16
Ziba brings a timely gift for David and is given Mephibosheth's possessions. Shimei curses David, and David passes by peacefully. Meanwhile, Hushai meets Absalom at Jerusalem, apparently ready to serve. Ahithophel has Absalom go into David's concubines on the roof, so all Israel knows he is exalting himself.
17
Ahithophel and Hushai gave advice for taking out David, and all preferred Hushai's. Ahithophel hanged himself. Hushai told the priests whose sons told David, though they had to evade enemy pursuit by hiding in a well. Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai brought food and supplies to David.
18
David sends his army out under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite with the orders to not take Absalom's life. The forest devoured more than the sword in the ensuing battle. Absalom's hair caught in an oak, and Joab and his armor-bearers killed him. Though Absalom's monument is a great pillar, his grave was a great pit piled with stones. Ahimaaz and the Cushite brought word to David, and he grieved.
19
Joab scolded David for turning his victory to mourning. David went before the people. Israel was first to discuss bringing the king back, so he asked Judah via Zadok and Abiathar why Judah tarried. He replaced Joab with Amasa as commander. Judah asked for David back, so he came to the Jordan and was met by Shimei, Ziba, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai. All Judah and half Israel escorted David back then fought over David, Judah's words more fierce than Israel's.
20
Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, led Israel away from David and hid with his Bichrites in Abel of Beth-maacah. David sent his men out under Amasa, but Amasa was slower than expected. Amasa met them at the great stone in Gibeon, and Joab killed him as he went to kiss him. They besieged Abel, and a wise woman called out to Joab to seek a peaceful solution to save her city. She cooperated with her people to behead Sheba for Joab. When Joab's men returned home, Joab was commander again, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites, Adoram over forced labor, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, Sheva was secretary, and Zadok, Abiathar, and Ira the Jairite were priests.
21
David sought the LORD during a three-year famine and learned of the bloodguilt on Saul's house against the Gibeonites. To resolve it, he had seven of Saul's sons hanged - Armoni and Mephibosheth of Saul and Aiah and the five sons of Adriel and Merab. He spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, because of his oath to Jonathan. Rizpah defended her sons' bodies night and day until rain fell again. David heard of this and buried Saul, Jonathan, and the hanged sons' bones in Kish's tomb, and the LORD sent rain. In the following wars, four men descended from giants were slain and David was no longer allowed by his men to join battles.
22
David sings praises for God's deliverance and steadfast love for him and his offspring. The LORD is my stronghold, and when the snares of death confronted me, I called upon the LORD, He came down on a cherub, he delivered me, and he equipped me with strength. He deals according to my righteousness. Blessed be the rock of my salvation.
23
David's last words are an oracle confirming the Spirit of the LORD is speaking then describing God's blessing over just and God-fearing rulers as rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. He asks rhetorically if his house stands so with God, for he made an everlasting covenant with him and prospers all his help and desire. Worthless men are consumed with fire. The chapter ends with the names and accomplishments of the three (Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite, Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi, and Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite) and the thirty.