David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.

David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day.

So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!

so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel!’ The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you,

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.”

Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.

When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!”

The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them.

He called his personal attendant and said to him, “Take this woman out of my sight and lock the door behind her!”

(Now she was wearing a long robe, for this is what the king’s virgin daughters used to wear.) So Amnon’s attendant removed her and bolted the door behind her.

So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David grieved over his son every day.

So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, “Please help me, O king!”

The woman said, “Why have you devised something like this against God’s people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.

Absalom would then say, “If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.