From: "FamilyNet Direct" 

Bible Reading for April 04


Bible, King James Version
2 Samuel

2 Samuel 1
[1] Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned
from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in
Ziklag;
[2] It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of
the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so
it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did
obeisance. [3] And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he
said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. [4] And David said
unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That
the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen
and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
[5] And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that
Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
[6] And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon
mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and
horsemen followed hard after him.
[7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I
answered, Here am I.
[8] And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
[9] And he said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me:
for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. [10] So I
stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live
after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and
the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my
lord.
[11] Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all
the men that were with him:
[12] And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for
Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of
Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. [13] And David said unto the
young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of
a stranger, an Amalekite. [14] And David said unto him, How wast thou not
afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? [15] And
David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him.
And he smote him that he died. [16] And David said unto him, Thy blood be
upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have
slain the LORD's anointed. [17] And David lamented with this lamentation
over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
[18] (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow:
behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) [19] The beauty of Israel is
slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
[20] Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the
uncircumcised triumph.
[21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be
rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty
is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed
with oil.
[22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of
Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. [23]
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their
death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were
stronger than lions.
[24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet,
with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. [25]
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou was
slain in thine high places.
[26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou
been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [27]
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

2 Samuel 2
[1] And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said
unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto
Hebron. [2] So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. [3] And his men that
were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they
dwelt in the cities of Hebron. [4] And the men of Judah came, and there
they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David,
saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.
[5] And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto
them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto
your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. [6] And now the LORD shew
kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness,
because ye have done this thing. [7] Therefore now let your hands be
strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the
house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
[8] But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the
son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; [9] And made him king over
Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and
over Benjamin, and over all Israel. [10] Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty
years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But
the house of Judah followed David. [11] And the time that David was king in
Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
[12] And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of
Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. [13] And Joab the son of Zeruiah,
and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of
Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the
other on the other side of the pool. [14] And Abner said to Joab, Let the
young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
[15] Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which
pertained to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of
David.
[16] And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was
called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. [17] And there was a very sore
battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the
servants of David. [18] And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab,
and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
[19] And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the
right hand nor to the left from following Abner. [20] Then Abner looked
behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
[21] And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy
left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour.
But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. [22] And Abner said
again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I
smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy
brother?
[23] Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end
of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind
him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to
pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died
stood still.
[24] Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when
they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of
the wilderness of Gibeon.
[25] And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner,
and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill. [26] Then Abner
called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not
that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then,
ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
[27] And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in
the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
[28] So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued
after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. [29] And Abner and his
men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and
went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim. [30] And Joab returned
from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together,
there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
[31] But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men,
so that three hundred and threescore men died. [32] And they took up
Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in
Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at
break of day.

2 Samuel 3
[1] Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of
David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed
weaker and weaker.
[2] And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon,
of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
[3] And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite;
and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of
Geshur; [4] And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth,
Shephatiah the son of Abital;
[5] And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David
in Hebron.
[6] And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and
the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
[7] And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah:
and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's
concubine?
[8] Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I
a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house
of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not
delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a
fault concerning this woman?
[9] So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to
David, even so I do to him;
[10] To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the
throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.
[11] And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
[12] And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the
land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be
with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. [13] And he said, Well; I
will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is,
Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter,
when thou comest to see my face. [14] And David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused
to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
[15] And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from
Phaltiel the son of Laish.
[16] And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim.
Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. [17] And Abner had
communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in
times past to be king over you: [18] Now then do it: for the LORD hath
spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my
people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of
all their enemies. [19] And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and
Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed
good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. [20]
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made
Abner and the men that were with him a feast. [21] And Abner said unto
David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the
king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign
over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went
in peace.
[22] And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a
troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David
in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. [23] When
Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying,
Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is
gone in peace.
[24] Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold,
Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is
quite gone?
[25] Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and
to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
[26] And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner,
which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. [27]
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to
speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he
died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. [28] And afterward when David
heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever
from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: [29] Let it rest on the head of
Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house
of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a
staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
[30] So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their
brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. [31] And David said to Joab, and to
all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with
sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the
bier.
[32] And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and
wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. [33] And the king
lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? [34] Thy hands
were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before
wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
[35] And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was
yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste
bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. [36] And all the people took
notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all
the people. [37] For all the people and all Israel understood that day that
it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. [38] And the king said
unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man
fallen this day in Israel? [39] And I am this day weak, though anointed
king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall
reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

2 Samuel 4
[1] And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were
feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. [2] And Saul's son had two
men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the
name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children
of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:
[3] And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
[4] And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was
five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel,
and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste
to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. [5]
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came
about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at
noon.
[6] And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would
have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and
Baanah his brother escaped.
[7] For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber,
and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and
gat them away through the plain all night. [8] And they brought the head of
Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of
Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the
LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
[9] And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon
the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed
my soul out of all adversity,
[10] When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have
brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who
thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: [11] How much
more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon
his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take
you away from the earth? [12] And David commanded his young men, and they
slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over
the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in
the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.


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