Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see ¹  Absalom.

Now may the Lord show you true kindness! ¹  I also will reward you, ²  because you have done this deed.

Now when Absalom and all the men ¹  of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, ²  Ahithophel was with him.

Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry. ¹ 

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day of her death.

Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the Lord. ¹ 

Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! ¹  May your words prove to be true! ²  You have made this good promise to your servant! ³ 

So now, O Lord God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. ¹  Do as you promised, ² 

So now assemble the rest of the army ¹  and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.”

So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!’

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!’”

But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, ¹  has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?” ² 

Now be courageous ¹  and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.”

Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from there. ¹ 

Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites.

The three sons of Zeruiah were there – Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)

Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth ¹  said to Abner, “Why did you have sexual relations with ²  my father’s concubine?” ³ 

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man.

Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.