So Amasa went out to call Judah together. But in doing so he took longer than the time that the king had allotted him.p>

Abner said to David, &#8220;Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement<n id="1" /> with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.&#8221; So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.p>

<p class="bodytext">But the king said to Absalom, &#8220;No, my son. We shouldn&#8217;t all go. We shouldn&#8217;t burden you in that way.&#8221; Though Absalom<n id="1" /> pressed<n id="2" /> him, the king<n id="3" /> was not willing to go. Instead, David<n id="4" /> blessed him.p>

<p class="bodytext">Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city.

<p class="bodytext">After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan<n id="1" /> climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, &#8220;Get up and cross the stream<n id="2" /> quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.&#8221;<n id="3" />

Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.p>

They took Asahel&#8217;s body and buried him in his father&#8217;s tomb at Bethlehem.<n id="1" /> Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn.

When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: &#8220;Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite &#8211; Recab and Baanah &#8211; went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.

&#8220;Go, tell my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.<n id="1" />

I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated<n id="1" /> all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.<n id="2" />

David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish<n id="1" /> his authority<n id="2" /> over the Euphrates<n id="3" /> River.

David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David&#8217;s subjects and brought tribute. The <sc>Lordsc> protected<n id="1" /> David wherever he campaigned.<n id="2" />

Joab<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;If the Arameans start to overpower me,<n id="2" /> you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,<n id="3" /> I will come to your rescue.

<p class="bodytext">Then Nathan went to his home. The <sc>Lordsc> struck the child that Uriah&#8217;s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill.<n id="1" />

But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">So David sent Tamar to the house saying, &#8220;Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.&#8221;

So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched,<n id="1" /> and baked them.<n id="2" />

Then Amnon greatly despised her.<n id="1" /> His disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her.<n id="2" /> Amnon said to her, &#8220;Get up and leave!&#8221;p>