Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel.” Now the Lord had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.

So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah whom she had born to Saul, and the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, “When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.”

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him.

David then sent out the army – a third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, “I too will indeed march out with you.”

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,

Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim.

Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people of Judah followed David.

Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)

David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

The Lord has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven and a half years.

When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, killed him.

Benaiah son of Jehoida supervised the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.

Abner advised the elders of Israel, “Previously you were wanting David to be your king.

These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.

He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.