10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of 1 Saul and his sons. They 2 struck down Saul’s 3 sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 10:3 The battle was thick 4 around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him. 5 10:4 Saul told his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.” 6 But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 10:6 So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household 7 died together. 10:7 When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army 8 had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.
10:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:9 They stripped his corpse, and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people. 10:10 They placed his armor in the temple of their gods 9 and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. 10:11 When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 10:12 all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons 10 and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains 11 under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.
10:13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. 12 10:14 He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord 13 killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
11:1 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 14 11:2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. 15 The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’” 11:3 When all the leaders 16 of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement 17 with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed 18 David king over Israel, just as the Lord had announced through Samuel. 19
11:4 David and the whole Israelite army 20 advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). 21 (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.) 22 11:5 The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 11:6 23 David said, “Whoever attacks 24 the Jebusites first will become commanding general!” 25 So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked 26 first and became commander. 27 11:7 David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. 11:8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; 28 Joab restored the rest of the city. 11:9 David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him. 29
11:10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word. 30 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors: 31
Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. 32 He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. 33
11:12 Next in command 34 was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 11:13 He was with David in Pas Dammim 35 when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 11:14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it 36 and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory. 37
11:15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 11:16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 38 11:17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink 39 from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 11:18 So the three elite warriors 40 broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 11:19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this! 41 Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” 42 Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. 43
11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three 44 elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear 45 and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 46 11:21 From 47 the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them. 48
11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; 49 he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 11:23 He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet 50 tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked 51 him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 11:24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:25 He received honor from 52 the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
11:26 The mighty warriors were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem, 53
11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, 54
Helez the Pelonite, 55
11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
11:29 Sibbekai 56 the Hushathite,
Ilai 57 the Ahohite,
11:30 Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
11:31 Ithai 58 son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
11:32 Hurai 59 from the valleys of Gaash,
Abiel 60 the Arbathite,
11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, 61
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
11:34 the sons of Hashem 62 the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shageh 63 the Hararite,
11:35 Ahiam son of Sakar 64 the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur, 65
11:36 Hepher the Mekerathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
11:37 Hezro 66 the Carmelite,
Naarai son of Ezbai,
11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, 67
Mibhar son of Hagri,
11:39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
11:40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
11:41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad son of Achli,
11:42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,
11:43 Hanan son of Maacah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite,
11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
11:45 Jediael son of Shimri,
and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
11:46 Eliel the Mahavite,
and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,
and Ithmah the Moabite,
11:47 Eliel,
and Obed,
and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
12:1 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished 68 from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 12:2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin. 69 ) These were: 70
12:3 Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;
Berachah,
Jehu the Anathothite,
12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader,
(12:5)71 Jeremiah,
Jahaziel,
Johanan,
Jozabad the Gederathite,
12:5 (12:6) Eluzai,
Jerimoth,
Bealiah,
Shemariah,
Shephatiah the Haruphite,
12:6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,
12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. 72 12:9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 12:14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand. 73 12:15 They crossed the Jordan River 74 in the first month, 75 when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west. 76
12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 12:17 David went out to meet them and said, 77 “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. 78 But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, 79 may the God of our ancestors 80 take notice and judge!” 12:18 But a spirit 81 empowered 82 Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: 83
“We are yours, O David!
We support 84 you, O son of Jesse!
May you greatly prosper! 85
May those who help you prosper! 86
Indeed 87 your God helps you!”
So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.
12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined 88 David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 89 12:20 When David 90 went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large. 91
12:23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree: 92
12:24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears. 93
12:25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.
12:26 From Levi there were 4,600. 12:27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 12:28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.
12:29 From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, 94 there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul. 95
12:30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families. 96
12:31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.
12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do. 97
12:33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty. 98
12:34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
12:35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
12:36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.
12:37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.
12:38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march. 99 They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; 100 all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. 101 12:39 They spent three days feasting 102 there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 12:40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, 103 for Israel was celebrating. 104
13:1 David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred. 105 13:2 David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, 106 let’s spread the word 107 to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, 108 so they may join us. 13:3 Let’s move the ark of our God back here, 109 for we did not seek his will 110 throughout Saul’s reign.” 111 13:4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, 112 for the proposal seemed right to all the people. 113 13:5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River 114 in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, 115 to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 13:6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim – the ark that is called by his name. 116
13:7 They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, 13:8 while David and all Israel were energetically 117 celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, 118 tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 13:9 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of 119 the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 13:10 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, 120 he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. 121 He died right there before God. 122
13:11 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; 123 so he called that place Perez Uzzah, 124 which remains its name to this very day. 13:12 David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?” 13:13 So David did not move the ark to the City of David; 125 he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 13:14 The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.
14:1 King Hiram of Tyre 126 sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, 127 and carpenters to build a palace for him. 14:2 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated 128 his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
14:3 In Jerusalem 129 David married 130 more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 14:4 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, 131 and Eliphelet.
14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed 132 king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. 133 When David heard about it, he marched out against 134 them. 14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided 135 the Valley of Rephaim. 14:10 David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” 14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, 136 God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim. 137 14:12 The Philistines left 138 their idols 139 there, so David ordered that they be burned.
14:13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 14:14 So David again asked God what he should do. 140 This time 141 God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees. 142 14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. 143 For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army 144 of the Philistines.” 14:16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
14:17 So David became famous 145 in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him. 146
15:1 David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 15:2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. 15:3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem 147 to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 15:4 David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
15:5 From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.
15:6 From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.
15:7 From the descendants of Gershom: 148 Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.
15:8 From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.
15:9 From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.
15:10 From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.
15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 15:12 He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. 15:13 The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.” 149 15:14 The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15:15 The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.
15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. 150 15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, 151 Ethan son of Kushaiah; 15:18 along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, 152 Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; 153 15:21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, 154 as led by 155 the director; 15:22 Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; 156 15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians 157 of the ark; 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians 158 of the ark.
15:25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. 15:26 When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 15:27 David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; 159 David also wore a linen ephod. 160 15:28 All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. 15:29 As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him. 161
16:1 They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings 162 before God. 16:2 When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name. 16:3 He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 16:5 Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.
16:7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:
16:8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
16:9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
16:10 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
16:11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence 163 continually!
16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, 164
16:13 O children 165 of Israel, God’s 166 servant,
you descendants of Jacob, God’s 167 chosen ones!
16:14 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 168
16:15 Remember 169 continually his covenantal decree,
the promise he made 170 to a thousand generations –
16:16 the promise 171 he made to Abraham,
the promise he made by oath to Isaac! 172
16:17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as a lasting promise, 173
16:18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
16:19 When they were few in number,
just a very few, and foreign residents within it,
16:20 they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another. 174
16:21 He let no one oppress them,
he disciplined kings for their sake,
16:22 saying, 175 “Don’t touch my anointed ones!
Don’t harm my prophets!”
16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Announce every day 176 how he delivers!
16:24 Tell the nations about his splendor,
tell 177 all the nations about his miraculous deeds!
16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,
he is more awesome than 178 all gods.
16:26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, 179
but the Lord made the heavens. 180
16:27 Majestic splendor emanates from him, 181
he is the source of strength and joy. 182
16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!
16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! 183
Bring an offering and enter his presence!
Worship the Lord in holy attire! 184
16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is established, it cannot be moved.
16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!
Let the nations say, 185 ‘The Lord reigns!’
16:32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!
Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!
16:33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth!
16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures. 186
16:35 Say this prayer: 187 “Deliver us, O God who delivers us!
Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!
Then we will give thanks 188 to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.” 189
16:36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,
in the future and forevermore. 190
Then all the people said, “We agree! 191 Praise the Lord!”
16:37 David 192 left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements, 193 16:38 including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 16:39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served 194 before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center 195 in Gibeon, 16:40 regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 196 16:41 Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 197 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance. 198
16:43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family. 199
17:1 When David had settled into his palace, 200 he 201 said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace 202 made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 203 17:2 Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, 204 for God is with you.”
17:3 That night God told Nathan the prophet, 205 17:4 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 17:5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt 206 to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 207 17:6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say 208 to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, 209 ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’
17:7 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies 210 says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd 211 to make you a leader of my people Israel. 17:8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated 212 all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 213 17:9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle 214 them there; they will live there and not be disturbed 215 anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 216 17:10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house 217 for you! 17:11 When the time comes for you to die, 218 I will raise up your descendant, 219 one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 17:12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 220 17:13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 221 17:14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’” 222 17:15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. 223
17:16 David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, 224 that you should have brought me to this point? 17:17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. 225 You have revealed to me what men long to know, 226 O Lord God. 17:18 What more can David say 227 to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition. 228 17:19 O Lord, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, 229 you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness. 230 17:20 O Lord, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true! 231 17:21 And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation 232 in the earth? Their God 233 went to claim 234 a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds 235 when you drove out 236 nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 237 17:22 You made Israel your very own nation for all time. 238 You, O Lord, became their God. 17:23 So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! 239 Do as you promised, 240 17:24 so 241 it may become a reality 242 and you may gain lasting fame, 243 as people say, 244 ‘The Lord who commands armies is the God of Israel.’ 245 David’s dynasty 246 will be established before you, 17:25 for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty 247 for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you. 248 17:26 Now, O Lord, you are the true God; 249 you have made this good promise to your servant. 250 17:27 Now you are willing to bless your servant’s dynasty 251 so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Lord, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.” 252
18:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns 253 away from the Philistines. 254
18:2 He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 255
18:3 David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority 256 to the Euphrates River. 257 18:4 David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, 258 and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s 259 chariot horses. 260 18:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 18:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; 261 the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected 262 David wherever he campaigned. 263 18:7 David took the golden shields which Hadadezer’s servants had carried 264 and brought them to Jerusalem. 265 18:8 From Tibhath 266 and Kun, 267 Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” 268 the pillars, and other bronze items.
18:9 When King Tou 269 of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 18:10 he sent his son Hadoram 270 to King David to extend his best wishes 271 and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. 272 He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze. 273 18:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, 274 along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including 275 Edom, 276 Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
18:12 Abishai son of Zeruiah 277 killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected 278 David wherever he campaigned. 279
18:14 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. 280 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of 281 the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 18:16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha 282 was scribe; 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised 283 the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials. 284
19:1 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. 19:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty 285 to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal 286 to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. 287 When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, 288 19:3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? 289 No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!” 290 19:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. 291 He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed 292 and then sent them away. 19:5 Messengers 293 came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho 294 until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”
19:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, 295 Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents 296 of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. 297 19:7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.
19:8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 298 19:9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 19:10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 299 19:11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 19:12 Joab 300 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, 301 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, 302 I will come to your rescue. 19:13 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 303 19:14 So Joab and his men 304 marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. 19:15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s 305 brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem. 306
19:16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, 307 led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army. 308 19:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, 309 and marched against them. 310 David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him. 311 19:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 312 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach 313 the commanding general. 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, 314 Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 20:2 David took the crown from the head of their king 315 and wore it 316 (its weight was a talent 317 of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. 20:3 He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. 318 This was his policy 319 with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
20:4 Later there was a battle 320 with the Philistines in Gezer. 321 At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, 322 one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines 323 were subdued.
20:5 There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, 324 whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom. 325
20:6 In a battle in Gath 326 there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha. 20:7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, 327 David’s brother, killed him.
20:8 These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed 328 by the hand of David and his soldiers. 329
21:1 An adversary 330 opposed 331 Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had. 332 21:2 David told Joab and the leaders of the army, 333 “Go, count the number of warriors 334 from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.” 335 21:3 Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army 336 a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?” 337
21:4 But the king’s edict stood, despite Joab’s objections. 338 So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem. 339 21:5 Joab reported to David the number of warriors. 340 In all Israel there were 1,100,000 341 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers. 342 21:6 Now Joab 343 did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king’s edict disgusted him. 21:7 God was also offended by it, 344 so he attacked Israel.
21:8 David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 21:9 The Lord told Gad, David’s prophet, 345 21:10 “Go, tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’” 346 21:11 Gad went to David and told him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Pick one of these: 21:12 three 347 years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, 348 or three days being struck down by the Lord, during which a plague will invade the land and the Lord’s messenger will destroy throughout Israel’s territory.’ 349 Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.” 21:13 David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!” 350 21:14 So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.
21:15 God sent an angel 351 to ravage 352 Jerusalem. As he was doing so, 353 the Lord watched 354 and relented from 355 his judgment. 356 He told the angel who was destroying, “That’s enough! 357 Stop now!” 358
Now the Lord’s angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan 359 the Jebusite. 21:16 David looked up and saw the Lord’s messenger standing between the earth and sky with his sword drawn and in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 360 21:17 David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! 361 As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, 362 but remove the plague from your people!” 363
21:18 So the Lord’s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build 364 an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 21:19 So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the Lord. 365 21:20 While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves. 21:21 When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face 366 to the ground. 21:22 David said to Ornan, “Sell me the threshing floor 367 so I can build 368 on it an altar for the Lord – I’ll pay top price 369 – so that the plague may be removed 370 from the people.” 21:23 Ornan told David, “You can have it! 371 My master, the king, may do what he wants. 372 Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you.” 21:24 King David replied to Ornan, “No, I insist on buying it for top price. 373 I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice 374 that cost me nothing. 375 21:25 So David bought the place from Ornan for 600 pieces of gold. 376 21:26 David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. 377 He called out to the Lord, and the Lord 378 responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar. 21:27 The Lord ordered the messenger 379 to put his sword back into its sheath.
21:28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord responded to him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 21:29 Now the Lord’s tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center 380 in Gibeon. 21:30 But David could not go before it to seek God’s will, for he was afraid of the sword of the Lord’s messenger.
1 tn Heb “stuck close after.”
2 tn Heb “the Philistines.” The translation has substituted the pronoun “they” to avoid redundancy.
3 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tn Heb “heavy.”
2 tn Heb “and they found him, the ones who shoot with the bow, and he was in pain from the ones shooting.”
1 tn Heb “so these uncircumcised ones might not come and abuse me.”
1 tn Heb “all his house.” This is probably to be understood as a general summary statement. It could include other males in Saul’s household besides his three sons, cf. 1 Sam 31:6. If it refers only to the male members of his household who would have stood in succession to the throne (cf. NLT, “bringing his dynasty to an end,”) even here there is an exception, since one of Saul’s sons, Eshbaal (or “Ishbosheth” in 2 Sam 2:8) was not killed in the battle and became king over Israel, which he ruled for two years (2 Sam 2:10) until he was assassinated by Rechab and Baanah (2 Sam 4:5-6). The tribe of Judah never acknowledged Ishbosheth as king; instead they followed David (2 Sam 2:10).
1 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the army) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tn Or “god.” The Hebrew term may be translated as singular or plural depending on the context.
1 tn Heb “arose and carried away the corpse of Saul and the corpses of his sons.”
2 tn Heb “their bones.”
1 tn Heb “and Saul died because of his unfaithfulness by which he acted unfaithfully against the
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
1 tn Heb “look, your bone and your flesh [are] we.”
1 tn Heb “you were the one who led out and the one who brought in Israel.”
1 tn Heb “elders.”
2 tn Or “covenant.”
3 tn Or “They poured olive oil on David to designate him as king.”
4 tn Heb “according to the word of the
1 tn Heb “all Israel.”
2 sn Jebus was an older name for the city of Jerusalem (cf. Josh 15:8; Judg 1:21).
3 tn Heb “and there [were] the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.”
1 sn Verse 6 inserts into the narrative parenthetical information about Joab’s role in the conquest of the city. Verse 7 then picks up where v. 5 left off.
2 tn Or perhaps “strikes down.”
3 tn Heb “head and officer.”
4 tn Heb “went up.”
5 tn Heb “head.”
1 tn Heb “to that which surrounds.” On the referent here as “the surrounding walls,” see HALOT 740 s.v. סָבִיב.
1 tn Heb “and David went, going and becoming great, and the
1 tn Heb “and these were the heads of the warriors who were David’s, who held strongly with him in his kingdom and with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of the
1 tn Heb “and these are the number of the warriors who were David’s.”
2 tc The marginal reading (Qere) has “officers;” the consonantal text (Kethib) has “the Thirty” (see v. 15).
3 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against 300, [who were] slain at one time.”
1 tn Heb “after him.”
1 tc Some read here “Ephes Dammim.” See 1 Sam 17:1.
1 tn Heb “delivered it.”
2 tn Heb “and the
1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
1 tn Heb “Who will give me water to drink?” On the rhetorical use of מִי (mi) here, see BDB 566 s.v. f.
1 tn Heb “the three,” referring to the three elite warriors mentioned in v. 12.
1 tn Heb “Far be it to me from my God from doing this.”
2 tn Heb “with their lives.” The same expression occurs later in this verse.
3 tn Heb “These things the three warriors did.”
1 tc The Syriac reads “thirty” here and at the beginning of v. 21; this reading is followed by some English translations (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT).
2 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against three hundred, [who were] slain.”
3 tn Heb “and to him [reading with the Qere] there was a name among the three.”
1 tn Or “more than.”
2 tn Heb “of the three.”
1 tc Heb “the two of Ariel, Moab.” The precise meaning of אֲרִיאֵל (’ari’el) is uncertain; some read “warrior.” The present translation assumes that the word is a proper name and that בְּנֵי (bÿney, “sons of”) has accidentally dropped from the text by homoioarcton (note the preceding שְׁנֵי, shÿney).
1 tn Heb “five cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 inches for the standard cubit, this individual would be 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall.
2 tn Heb “went down to.”
1 tn Or “more than.”
1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:25 has the variant spelling of “Shammah.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:26 has the variant spelling of “Paltite.”
1 tn In 2 Sam 23:27 this individual’s name is given as “Mebunnai.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant “Zalmon.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:29 has the variant spelling “Ittai.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant spelling “Hiddai.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Abi-Albon.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Barhumite.”
1 tn In 2 Sam 23:32 this individual’s name is given as “Jashen.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:33 has the variant spelling “Shammah.”
1 tn In 2 Sam 23:33 this individual’s name is given as “Sharar.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:34 has the variant “Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:35 has the variant spelling “Hezrai.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:36 has the variant “Igal son of Nathan from Zobah.”
1 tn Heb “kept from.”
1 tn Heb “ones armed with bow[s], using the right hand and the left hand with stones and with arrows with the bow, from the brothers of Saul from Benjamin.”
2 tn The words “These were” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons, because of the length of the intervening material since the beginning of the verse.
1 sn In the Hebrew text (BHS) a verse division occurs at this point, and for the remainder of the chapter the verse numbers of the Hebrew Bible differ by one from the English Bible. Thus 1 Chr 12:4b ET = 12:5 HT, and 12:5-40 ET = 12:6-41 HT. Beginning with 13:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.
1 tn Heb “warriors, men of battle for war, prepared with shield and spear, and [like] the face of a lion were their faces, and like gazelles on the hills to hurry.”
1 tn Heb “one for a hundred the small, and the great for a thousand.” Another option is to translate the preposition -לְ (lamed) as “against” and to understand this as a hyperbolic reference to their prowess: “the least could stand against a hundred, the greatest against a thousand.”
1 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
2 sn That is, March-April.
3 tn Heb “and they chased all the valleys to the east and to the west.”
1 tn Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”
2 tn Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”
3 tn Heb “with no violence in my hands.”
4 tn Heb “fathers.”
1 tn Perhaps “the Spirit,” but the text has simply רוּחַ (ruakh) with no article (suggesting an indefinite reference).
2 tn Heb “clothed.”
3 tn The words “and he said” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
4 tn Heb “are with.”
5 tn Heb “Peace, peace to you.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is repeated to emphasize degree.
6 tn Heb “and peace to the one who helps you.”
7 tn Or “for.”
1 tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.
2 tn Heb “and they did not help them for by counsel they sent him away, the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘With our heads he will fall to his master Saul.’”
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tn Heb “for at the time of day in a day they were coming to David to help him until [there was] a great camp like the camp of God.” The term אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “God”) is probably used idiomatically here to indicate the superlative.
1 tn Heb “these are the numbers of the heads of the forces armed for battle [who] came to David in Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him according to the mouth of the
1 tn Heb “the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, [were] 6,800 armed for battle.”
1 tn Heb “from the sons of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul.”
2 tn Heb “and until then, the majority of them were keeping the charge of the house of Saul.”
1 tn Heb “men of names for the house of their fathers.”
1 tn Heb “from the sons of Issachar, knowers of understanding for times to know what Israel should do, their heads [were] 200, and all their brothers according to their mouth.”
1 tn Heb “from Zebulun, those going out for battle, prepared for war with all weapons of war, 50,000, and to help without a heart and a heart.”
1 tc Heb “all these [were] men of war, helpers of the battle line.” The present translation assumes an emendation of עֹדְרֵי (’odÿrey, “helpers of”) to עֹרְכֵי, (’orÿkhey, “prepared for”).
2 tn Heb “with a complete heart they came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel.”
3 tn Heb “and also all the rest of Israel [was of] one mind to make David king.”
1 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
1 tn Heb “cattle and sheep.”
2 tn Heb “for there was joy in Israel.”
1 tn Heb “and David consulted with the officers of thousands and hundreds, to every ruler.”
1 tn Heb “If to you [it is] good and from the
2 tn Heb “let us spread and let us send.” The words “the word” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
3 tn Heb “in the cities of their pasturelands.”
1 tn Heb “to us.”
2 tn Heb “him.” In this case, seeking God’s will is what is implied.
3 tn Heb “in the days of Saul.”
1 tn Heb “all the assembly said to do so.”
2 tn Heb “for right was the word in the eyes of all the people.”
1 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
2 tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”
1 tn Heb “the ark of God the
1 tn Heb “with all strength.”
2 tn Heb “with songs and with zithers [meaning uncertain] and with harps.” Due to the collocation with “harps,” some type of stringed instrument is probably in view.
1 tn Or “to steady.”
1 tn Heb “and the anger of the
2 tn Heb “because he stretched out his hand over the ark.”
3 sn The modern reader might think God seemed to overreact here, but Israel needed a vivid object lesson of God’s holiness. By loading the ark on a cart, David had violated the instructions in God’s law (Exod 25:12-14; Num 4:5-6, 15). Uzzah’s action, however innocent it may seem, betrayed a certain lack of reverence for God’s presence. God had to remind his people that his holiness could not under any circumstances be violated.
1 tn Heb “because the
2 sn The name Perez Uzzah means in Hebrew “the outburst [against] Uzzah.”
1 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
1 map For location see Map1-A2; Map2-G2; Map4-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
2 tn Heb “craftsman of a wall,” that is, masons skilled at building stone walls.
1 tn Heb “was lifted upwards.”
1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
2 tn Heb “took.”
1 tn In 1 Chr 3:8 and 2 Sam 5:16 this name appears as “Eliada.” The form here represents a variant spelling of the name.
1 tn Or “designated”; NCV “had been made king”; CEV “had become king.”
2 tn Heb “to seek David.”
3 tn Heb “went out before.”
1 tn Heb “stripped.”
1 tn Heb “by my hand.”
2 sn The name Baal Perazim means “Lord of outbursts” in Hebrew.
1 tn Heb “abandoned.”
2 tn Heb “gods.”
1 tn Heb “and David again asked God.”
2 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
3 tn The Hebrew word translated “trees” is defined by HALOT 129 s.v. בָּכָא as “shrubs.” Some translate “balsam trees” (see BDB 113 s.v. בָּכָא), cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT.
1 tn Heb “go out in battle.”
2 tn Heb “camp.”
1 tn Heb “the name of David went out.”
2 tn Heb “and the
1 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
1 sn Gershom is a variant spelling of the name Gershon.
1 tn Heb “because for what was at first [i.e., formerly] you [were] not, the
1 tn Heb “causing to be heard to lift up with a voice of joy.”
1 tn The Hebrew text adds, “their brothers.”
1 tc The Hebrew text adds בֶּן (ben, “son”) here; the word is omitted in three Hebrew
1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word עֲלָמוֹת (’alamot) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 835-36 s.v. עַלְמָה.
1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 1562 s.v. שְׁמִינֹי.
2 tn Heb “for” or “according to.”
1 tn Heb “and Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, with lifting up, supervising with lifting up, for he was well-informed.” The precise nuance of מַשָּׂא (masa’, “lifting up”) is unclear. Some understand it as a reference to supervising the singing and music (e.g., NIV: “Kenaniah…was in charge of the singing”; NEB: “Kenaniah…was precentor in charge of the music”).
1 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
1 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
1 tn Heb “the leader, the lifting up, the musicians.” See also the note on the word “matter” in v. 22.
2 sn An ephod was a priestly garment worn over the robe.
1 tn The Hebrew text adds “in her heart.”
1 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV “fellowship offerings.”
1 tn Heb “face.”
1 tn Heb “and the judgments of his mouth.”
1 tn Heb “seed.”
2 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tn Heb “in all the earth [are] his judgments.”
1 tn The Hebrew text has a masculine plural imperative, addressed to the people. Some LXX
2 tn Heb “[the] word he commanded.” The text refers here to God’s unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and the patriarchs, as vv. 16-18 make clear.
1 tn Heb “which.”
2 tn Heb “his oath to Isaac.”
1 tn Or “eternal covenant.”
1 tn Heb “and from a kingdom to another nation.”
1 tn The word “saying” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
1 tn Heb “from day to day.”
1 tn The verb “tell” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
1 tn Or “feared above.”
1 tn The Hebrew word אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement. Many modern English translations render this term as “idols” here.
2 tn Or “the sky” (also in v. 31). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
1 tn Heb “majesty and splendor [are] before him.”
2 tn Heb “strength and joy [are] in his place.”
1 tn Heb “the splendor of [i.e., due] his name.”
2 tn Or “in holy splendor.”
1 tn Heb “let them say among the nations.”
1 tn Or “is eternal.”
1 tn The words “this prayer” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “to give thanks.” The infinitive construct indicates result after the imperative.
3 tn Heb “to boast in your praise.”
1 tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.”
2 tn This is the Hebrew term אָמֵן (’amen, “surely”), traditionally transliterated “amen.”
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “according to the matter of the day in its day.”
1 tn The word “served” is supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Or “high place.”
1 tn Heb “which he commanded Israel.”
1 tn Perhaps this refers to the refrain of their songs of praise (see Ps 136). In this case one could translate, “to give thanks to the
1 tn Heb “and with them, Heman and Jeduthun, trumpets and cymbals for sounding, and the instrument of song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun [were] at the gate.”
1 tn Heb “to bless his house.” Elsewhere when “house” is the object of “bless,” it refers to a household or family. See, for example, 1 Chr 13:14; 17:27. However, since בֵּית (bet, “house”) refers to a literal house or home earlier in the verse and to David’s palace in 17:1, one might translate here, “David went to pronounce a blessing on [i.e., dedicate] his house [i.e., palace].”
1 tn Heb “house.”
2 tn Heb “David.” The pronoun “he” has been used in the translation here to avoid redundancy in keeping with contemporary English style.
3 tn Heb “house.”
4 tn Heb “tent curtains.”
1 tn Heb “all which is in your heart.”
1 tn Heb “the word of God was [i.e., came] to Nathan the prophet.”
1 tn The words “from Egypt” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
2 tc Heb “and I was from tent to tent and from tabernacle.” The words אֶל־מִשְּׁכָּן (’el-mishÿkan, “to tabernacle”) should probably be added at the end of the sentence to complete this prepositional phrase and produce symmetry with the preceding prepositional phrase. The words probably fell from the text by homoioteleuton.
1 tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question (“Did I say?”) meaning “I did not say.”
2 tn Heb “to one of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people.”
1 tn Traditionally, “
2 tn Heb “and from after sheep.”
1 tn Heb “cut off.”
2 tn Heb “and I will make for you a name like the name of the great men who are in the earth.”
1 tn Heb “plant.”
2 tn Heb “shaken.”
3 tn Heb “and sons of violence will no longer consume them as in the beginning.”
1 tn Here the word “house” is used in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. The
1 tn Heb “and it will be when your days are full to go with your ancestors.”
2 tn Heb “your seed.”
1 tn Heb “and I will establish his throne permanently.”
1 sn The one who ruled before you is a reference to Saul, from whom the kingdom was taken and given to David.
1 tn Heb “and his throne will be established permanently.”
1 tn Heb “according to all these words and according to all this revelation, so Nathan said to David.”
1 tn Heb “house.”
1 tn Heb “and this was small in your eyes, O God, so you spoke concerning the house of your servant for a distance.”
2 tn The translation “You have revealed to me what men long to know” is very tentative; the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. The text appears to read literally, “and you see me like the searching of man, that which is upward,” which is nonsensical. The translation above assumes the following: (1) The Qal verb translated “you see me” is repointed as a Hiphil, “you showed me,” (2) תּוֹר (tor) is understood in the sense of “searching, exploring,” and (3) הַמַּעֲלָה (hamma’alah) is taken in a temporal sense of “that which lies beyond.” Thus one could translate, “you have shown me what men search for, what lies beyond.”
1 tn The word “say” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
2 tn Heb “for honoring your servant, and you, your servant, know.”
1 tn Heb “heart.”
2 tn Heb “to make known all the great deeds.”
1 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “in all which we heard with our ears,” but בְּכֹל (bÿkhol, “in all”) should probably be emended to כְּכֹל (kÿkhol, “according to all”).
1 tn Heb “a nation, one.”
2 tn Heb “whose God,” or “because God.” In the Hebrew text this clause is subordinated to what precedes. The clauses are separated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Heb “redeem” or “deliver.”
4 tn Heb “to make for yourself a name [with] great and awesome [deeds].”
5 tn Heb “to drive out.”
6 tn Heb “from Egypt, nations.” The parallel text in 2 Sam 7:23 reads “from Egypt, nations and its gods.”
1 tn Heb “and you made your people Israel your own for a people permanently.”
1 tn Heb “and now, O
2 tn Heb “as you have spoken.”
1 tn Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result: “so it might become a reality.”
2 tn Heb “so it might be established.”
3 tn Heb “and your name might be great permanently.” Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result (parallel to the previous purpose/result clause): “[so]…you might gain lasting fame.”
4 tn Heb “saying.” The words “as people” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
5 tc Heb “the
6 tn Heb “the house of David.”
1 tn Heb “house.”
2 tn Heb “That is why your servant found to pray before you.” Perhaps the phrase אֶת לִבּוֹ (’et libbo, “his heart”) should be supplied as the object of the verb “found.”
1 tn Heb “the God.” The article indicates uniqueness here.
2 tn Heb “and you have spoken to your servant this good thing.”
1 tn Heb “house.”
2 tn Heb “for you, O
1 tn 2 Sam 8:1 identifies this region as “Metheg Ammah.”
2 tn Heb “from the hand of the Philistines.” Here “hand” is figurative language for “control.”
1 tn Heb “and the Moabites were servants of David, carriers of tribute.”
1 tn Heb “hand.”
2 tn Heb “when he went to set up his hand at the Euphrates River.” The Hebrew word יָד (yad, “hand”) is usually understood to mean “control” or “dominion” here. However, since יָד does occasionally refer to a monument, perhaps one could translate, “to set up his monument at the Euphrates River” (i.e., as a visible marker of the limits of his dominion). For another example of the Hiphil of נָצַב (natsav) used with יָד (“monument”), see 1 Sam 15:12.
1 tn Or “horsemen.”
2 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Hadadezer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “and David cut the hamstrings of all the chariot horses, and he left from them one hundred chariot horses.”
1 tc Heb “and David placed in Aram of Damascus.” The object נְצִיבִים (nÿtsivim, “garrisons”) appears to have been accidentally omitted from the text. See v. 13, as well as the parallel passage in 2 Sam 8:6, which includes it.
2 tn Or “delivered.”
3 tn Or “wherever he went.”
1 tn Heb “which were upon the servants of Hadadezer.”
2 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
1 tn The MT reads “Tibhath” here, a variant name for Tebah (cf. 2 Sam 8:8). Some English translations substitute the other version of the name here (e.g., NIV, NLT), while others follow the reading of the Hebrew text at this point (e.g., NAB, NASB, NRSV).
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:8 has the variant name “Berothai.”
3 tn Heb “the sea of bronze,” or “[the] sea, the bronze one.” See the note at 1 Kgs 7:23.
1 tn The name is spelled “Toi” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:9.
1 tn The name is spelled “Joram” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:10.
2 tn Heb “to ask concerning him for peace.”
3 tn Heb “and to bless him because he fought with Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was a man of battles with Tou.”
4 tn Heb “[along with] all items of gold and silver and bronze.”
1 tn Heb “also them King David made holy to the
2 tn Heb “from.”
3 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:12 of the MT reads “Aram.” However, a few Hebrew
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:13 attributes this victory to David.
1 tn Or “delivered.”
2 tn Or “wherever he went.”
1 tn Heb “and he was doing what is just and fair for all his people.”
1 tn Heb “over.”
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:17 has the variant spelling “Seraiah.”
1 tn Heb “[was] over.”
2 tn Heb “and the sons of David [were] the heads at the hand of David.” The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:18 identifies them as “priests” (see sn there on the word “priests”).
1 tn Heb “do loyalty.”
2 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
3 tn Heb “to console him concerning his father.”
4 tn Heb “and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.”
1 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
2 tc Heb “Is it not to explore and to overturn and to spy out the land (that) his servants have come to you?” The Hebrew term לַהֲפֹךְ (lahafakh, “to overturn”) seems misplaced in the sequence. Some emend the form to לַחְפֹּר (lakhpor, “to spy out”). The sequence of three infinitives may be a conflation of alternative readings.
1 tn Heb “shaved them.” See v. 5.
2 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto the buttocks.”
1 tn Heb “they.” The logical referent, though not specified in the Hebrew text, has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
2 map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
1 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
2 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the Ammonites hired chariots and charioteers for about 33.7 tons (30,600 kg) of silver.
3 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:6 has “Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah.”
1 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
1 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:10 has “the Ammonites” in place of “the Arameans” here.
1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
3 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
1 tn Heb “and the
1 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
1 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
1 tn Heb “the River,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “and Aram saw that they were struck down before Israel and they sent messengers and brought out Aram which is beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [was] before them.”
1 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
2 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:17 “he came to Helam.”
3 tn Heb “and David was deployed to meet Aram [for] battle and they fought with him.”
1 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has “seven hundred.”
2 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has the variant spelling “Shobach.”
1 tn Heb “and it was at the time of the turning of the year, at the time of the going out of kings.”
1 tc The translation follows the MT, which reads “of their king”; the LXX and Vulgate read “of Milcom” (cf. 1 Kgs 11:5). Milcom, also known as Molech, was the god of the Ammonites.
2 tn Heb “and it was on the head of David.”
3 sn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6.
1 tc The Hebrew text reads “saws,” but since saws were just mentioned, it is preferable to emend מְגֵרוֹת (mÿgerot, “saws”) to מַגְזְרוֹת (magzÿrot, “axes”).
2 tn Heb “and so he would do.”
1 tn Heb “battle stood.”
2 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 identifies this site as “Gob.”
3 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 has the variant spelling “Saph.”
4 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
1 tc The Hebrew text reads, “Elchanan son of Jair killed Lachmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” But it is likely that the accusative marker in front of לַחְמִי (lakhmiy, “Lachmi”) is a corruption of בֵּית (bet), and that אֶת־לַחְמִי (’et-lakhmiy) should be emended to בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי (bet hallakhmiy, “the Bethlehemite”). See 2 Sam 21:19.
2 tc See tc note on the parallel passage in 2 Sam 21:19.
1 tn Heb “and there was another battle, in Gath.”
1 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:21 has the variant spelling “Shimeah.”
1 tn Heb “they fell.”
2 tn Heb “his servants.”
1 tn Or “Satan.” The Hebrew word שָׂטָן (satan) can refer to an adversary in general or Satan in particular. There is no article accompanying the term here, which suggests it should be understood generally (cf. NAB “a satan”).
2 tn Heb “stood against.”
3 tn Heb “and incited David to count Israel.” As v. 5 indicates, David was not interested in a general census, but in determining how much military strength he had.
1 tn Or “people.”
2 tn Heb “Go, count Israel.” See the note on “had” in v. 1.
3 tn Heb “their number.”
1 tn Or “people.”
2 tn Heb “Why should it become guilt for Israel?” David’s decision betrays an underlying trust in his own strength rather than in divine provision. See also 1 Chr 27:23-24.
1 tn Heb “and the word of the king was stronger than Joab.”
2 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
1 tn Heb “and Joab gave to David the number of the numbering of the army [or “people”].”
2 tn Heb “a thousand thousands and one hundred thousand.”
3 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:9 has variant figures: “In Israel there were eight hundred thousand sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were five hundred thousands soldiers.”
1 tn Heb “he”; the proper name (“Joab”) has been substituted for the pronoun here for stylistic reasons; the proper name occurs at the end of the verse in the Hebrew text, where it has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation.
1 tn Heb “There was displeasure in the eyes of God concerning this thing.”
1 tn Heb “seer.”
1 tn Heb “Three I am extending to you; choose for yourself one of them and I will do it to you.”
1 tc The parallel text in the MT of 2 Sam 24:13 has “seven,” but LXX has “three” there.
2 tc Heb “or three months being swept away from before your enemies and the sword of your enemies overtaking.” The Hebrew term נִסְפֶּה (nisppeh, Niphal participle from סָפָה, safah) should probably be emended to נֻסְכָה (nusÿkhah, Qal infinitive from נוּס [nus] with second masculine singular suffix). See 2 Sam 24:13.
3 tn Heb “or three days of the sword of the
1 tn Heb “There is great distress to me; let me fall into the hand of the
1 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:15 reports that God sent a plague, while 24:16-17 attributes this to the instrumentality of an angel.
2 tn Or “destroy.”
3 tn Heb “while he was destroying.”
4 tn Or “saw.”
5 tn Or “was grieved because of.”
6 tn Heb “concerning the calamity.”
7 tn For this nuance of the Hebrew word רַב (rav), see BDB 913 s.v. 1.f.
8 tn Heb “Now, drop your hand.”
9 tn In the parallel text in 2 Sam 24:16 this individual is called אֲרַוְנָא (’aravna’, “Aravna”), traditionally “Araunah.” The form of the name found here also occurs in vv. 18-28.
1 tn Heb “and David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.”
1 tn “and doing evil I did evil.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite form of the verb for emphasis.
2 tn Heb “let your hand be on me and on the house of my father.”
3 tn Heb “but on your people not for a plague.”
1 tn Heb “that he should go up to raise up.”
1 tn Heb “and David went up by the word of Gad which he spoke in the name of the
1 tn Heb “nostrils.”
1 tn Heb “the place of the threshing floor.”
2 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive here indicates the immediate purpose/result: “so I can build.”
3 tn Heb “For full silver sell to me.”
4 tn Following the imperative and first person prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive, this third person prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive introduces the ultimate purpose/result: “so the plague may be removed.” Another option is subordinate this form to the preceding imperative, but the latter may be taken as a parenthetical expansion of the initial request.
1 tn Heb “take for yourself.”
2 tn Heb “what is good in his eyes.”
1 tn Heb “No, for buying I will buy for full silver.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
2 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:24 has the plural “burnt sacrifices.”
3 tn Or “without [paying] compensation.”
1 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:24 says David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for “fifty pieces of silver.” This would have been about 20 ounces (568 grams) of silver by weight.
1 tn Or “tokens of peace.”
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
1 tn Heb “spoke to the messenger.”
1 tn Or “high place.”