2 Samuel 20
 

David continues his journey to go home to Jerusalem.

Another man takes Israel's support from David.

There was a bad man named Sheba. Sheba's father was named Bichri. He was from the tribe of Benjamin.  He didn't want to support David. He blew a trumpet to get the Israelites' attention. He told them they had no part of David's kingdom. He told them they should leave and go back to their homes.
[1] And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.


All of the tribes except for Judah started to follow Sheba. But the tribe of Judah stayed with David. They continued to go with him to Jerusalem.
[2] So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
 

David moves his concubines.


David arrived back at his home in Jerusalem. When he ran away from Absalom, he had left 10 of his concubines in the city. When he got back, he moved them to a different house. He took care of them, but they were not part of his house anymore. They lived the same as if they were widows.
[3] And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

David sends his army to fight with Sheba. Joab kills Amasa.



David told Amasa to get the Judah army together. He wanted to meet them in 3 days.
[4] Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.

Amasa went to gather the army. But it took him longer than 3 days.
[5] So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.


David talked to his other nephew, Abishai.  He didn't want to wait any longer for Amasa to come back. He said that Sheba could hurt them worse than Absalom. He told Abishai to take some soldiers and go get Sheba. He was worried that Sheba would capture (catch) some of Israel's cities that had walls around them. He didn't want Sheba to escape.
[6] And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.


Abishai left Jerusalem and took Joab and some of David's army with him. David's bodyguards, the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went, too.
[7] And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


Abishai and his group met Amasa near the big rock in the place named Gibeon. Joab had a sword or knife in a belt under his coat. When he moved to meet Amasa, it fell out.
[8] When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.


Joab said hello to Amasa and asked how he was doing. Joab pretended that he was going to kiss Amasa. Amasa did not pay attention to the knife in Joab's hand. Then Joab stabbed Amasa one time under his rib. Some of Amasa's intestines came out, and Amasa died. Joab and Abishai continued to chase Sheba.
[9] And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
[10] But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.


One of Joab's soldiers stood by Amasa. He said that the men who supported Joab and David should go and follow Joab.
[11] And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.


Amasa's body was laying in blood in the middle of the road. A lot of people came and stood looking at him. Joab's soldier moved Amasa's body to a field. He covered it with a cloth.
[12] And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.


After the man moved Amasa's body off the road, all of the soldiers followed Joab to chase Sheba.
[13] When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.

 

David's army continues to chase Sheba. They find him at the city named Abel.

 

Sheba continued to travel through Israel. He went through the places named Abel and Beth-maachah. The Berites followed him.
[14] And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.



Joab and David's army caught up with Sheba. They caught him in the city named Abel.  David's army moved dirt and made a hill by the city wall. They filled up the trench (ditch) around the city. The soldiers stood in the trench area and beat on the city wall.
[15] And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.


A woman in the city called to Joab. She wanted to talk to him.
[16] Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.


She asked him if he was Joab. He said yes. She wanted him to listen to her, and he said he would.
[17] And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.


She asked Joab why he wanted to destroy her city. The woman said that in the past, people would go to the city of Abel for good advice. The advice was good and always solved problems.   She said the people in Abel wanted peace, and they supported Israel. The city of Abel was like a mother to the other Israelites.
[18] Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
[19] I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?


Joab said he didn't want to destroy her city, but they were trying to get Sheba. He told her that Sheba was from the mountain area named Ephraim, and his father's name was Bichri. He told her that Sheba was against David. If the city would give Sheba to him, he and David's army would leave. The woman said they would throw Sheba's head over the wall.
[20] And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
[21] The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.


The woman discussed this with the other people in her city. They cut off Shebas's head and threw the head over the wall to Joab. Then Joab blew his trumpet and left. His army went with him, and they all went back to Jerusalem.  
[22] Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

 

A list of David's leaders

Joab was the new leader of the Israelite army. Benaiah (his father's name was Jehoida) was the leader of David's bodyguards, the Cherethites and the Pelethites.
[23] Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:


Adoram was in charge of the treasury (money).  Jehoshaphat (his father' name was Ahilud) was in charge of keeping records.
[24] And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:


Sheva wrote everything down. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.
[25] And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
 

Ira was a Jairite from the area on the east side of the Jordan River. He was David's private priest.
[26] And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
 

2 Samuel 21


God punishes Israel for killing Gibeonites.
 

For three years, there was a famine (little food). David asked God why they were having a famine.  God said it was because of what Saul did to the Gibeonites.
[1] Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.


David contacted the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites were not part of the Israelites. They were part of the Amorite people. The Israelites had promised to let them live, but Saul killed many of them.
[2] And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)


David asked the Gibeonites how he could make up for Saul's actions. He wanted to do something for the Gibeonites. He wanted the Gibeonites to ask God to bless the Israelites again.
[3] Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?


The Gibeonites said they did not want any silver or gold from Saul's family. They did not want to kill Israelites. David asked them to tell him what they wanted, and he would do it.
[4] And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.


The Gibeonites only wanted to punish Saul's family. Saul had tried to kill all of the Gibeonites so that none would be left.
[5] And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,


The Gibeonites said they wanted 7 of Saul's grandsons. They will hang them so they die. They will hang them to show God that the Israelites had paid for Saul's actions. They will hang them in Saul's city of Gibeah. Saul was the king that God chose. David agreed and said they could kill 7 of Saul's descendants.
[6] Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

 

But David would not give them Saul's grandson Mephibosheth.  David promised Jonathan that he would take care of his descendants.
[7] But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
 

This picture shows a sepulchre, or burial place in a cave. This is the same kind of place where Saul, his sons, and his grandsons were buried.

Rizpah was Saul's concubine, and her father's name was Aiah. She took sackcloth (a very rough cloth used to show sadness). She spread it on a rock and stayed there until it started raining. She would not let any birds or wild animals bother the hanging bodies. 
[10] And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

David heard about what Rizpah was doing.
[11] And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.


Back in 1 Samuel 31, the Philistines hung Saul's body and Jonathan's body in the city of Beth-shan. The Israelite men from the area of Jabesh-gilead sneaked into the city and stole the bodies. Then they buried Saul and Jonathan on their land. Now David exhumed (brought out of the ground) Saul's and Jonathan's bones.
[12] And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
 

David also got the bodies of the men who were hanging now. He buried Saul, Jonathan, Saul's sons, and Saul's grandsons together. They were buried with Saul's father, Kish. They were buried in a sepulchre (cave) in Saul's hometown in the tribe of Benjamin's land.
[13] And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
[14] And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

 

The Israelites fight more wars with the Philistines.


The Philistines and Israelites fought another war.  David and his soldiers went to fight the Philistines. David became weak.
[15] Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
 

Goliath's son, Ishbi-benob, tried to kill David. Ishbi-benob had a spear that was very heavy. The spear weighed about 9 pounds. He also had a new belt and sword.
[16] And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.



Abishai helped David. He killed Ishbi-benob. Then David's men told him that he shouldn't fight in wars with them. He should stay away from the fighting. They said that David is the leader and light of Israel.  They wanted him to stay safe.
[17] But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.


Later, there was another war with the Philistines. The war was at a place named Gob.  The soldier named Sibbechai (he was from the Hushathite group) killed one of the giants' sons named Saph.
[18] And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.


There was another war in the place named Gob. The Israelite soldier named Elhanan (his father was Jaare-oregim, and he was from the area of Bethlehem) killed Goliath's brother.  Goliath's brother had a very  heavy spear. The spear was as heavy as a piece of wood used in a big weaving machine.
[19] And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.


There was another war in the place named Gath. There was another son of the giant. He had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. He had 24 fingers and toes.
[20] And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.


When the giant's son challenged Israel, David's nephew, Jonathan, killed him. Jonathan was the son of David's brother Shimea.
[21] And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.


David and his soldiers killed the 4 sons of Goliath who was from the place named Gath.
[22] These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
 

2 Samuel 22

David prayed and sang a song to God. He sang this song on the day that God defeated all of Israel's enemies. He sang this when God saved him from Saul.
[1] And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
 

David said that God is like a strong rock. God is like a strong fort He saved David.
[2] And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;


God is strong like a rock. God protects David. God gives David a high place to hide and be safe. God saves David from bad things that happen.
[3] The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.


David praises God and prays to God. God will save David from people who want to hurt him.
[4] I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.


David called to God when he was close to death and when bad men were trying to hurt him.
[5] When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;


David called to God when many sad things were happening around him. He called God when he was close to death. God heard David calling him.
[6] The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
[7] In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.


God was mad. The earth shook. Heaven moved and shook.
[8] Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.


Smoke went out of God's nose, and fire came out of His mouth. The fire made rocks start to burn.
[9] There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.


God made the sky bend, and He came down.  There were dark clouds under God's feet.
[10] He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.


God flew on angels. He rode the wings of the wind.
[11] And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.


God made dark clouds and dark water around him. Bright lightning came out in front of him. He was so bright that rocks started to burn.
[12] And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
[13] Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.


God's voice was like thunder.
[14] The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.


God sent lightning out like arrows.  He made David's enemies afraid.
[15] And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.


When God blew air out of his nose, the ocean opened and He could see the foundations of the earth (supports under the earth).
[16] And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.


God sent his help from Heaven. God took David out of the waters of trouble. He helped David win the wars against his enemies. He helped David because David's enemies were too strong.
[17] He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
[18] He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
 

David's enemies were causing him much trouble. David was trapped. But God helped him. He helped David go to a large place so that he was not trapped anymore. He helped David because he was happy with David.
[19] They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
[20] He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.


God gave David a reward. He gave him a reward because David did not do anything wrong.
[21] The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.


David obeyed God. He did not do bad things.
[22] For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.


David knew God's laws, and he obeyed them.
[23] For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
[24] I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.


God rewarded David because David obeyed Him.
[25] Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.


God shows mercy to people who also show mercy. He is honest with people who are also honest.
[26] With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.


God is pure with people who are also pure. But God punishes people who don't behave well.
[27] With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.


God will save people who suffer. But He watches people who act too proud. He will bring them down.
[28] And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

 
God is David's lamp. God makes light in the darkness.
[29] For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.


God helped David defeat armies. God helped him go over a wall to capture a city.
[30] For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.


God is perfect. People can depend on God's word. God is like a shield to protect the people who trust Him.
[31] As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.


The Lord God is the only god. God is strong like a rock.
[32] For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?


David says that God makes him strong and powerful. He keeps David safe.
[33] God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.


God helps David to run fast like deer. He helps David to climb high mountains.
[34] He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.


God teaches David how to fight. He helps him be strong enough to break a bow that is made of steel.
[35] He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.


God protects David like a shield. God helped David, and now David is a great leader.
[36] Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.


God helped David so that he did not fall.
[37] Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.


David chased his enemies and destroyed them. He did not stop until he destroyed them all.
[38] I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.


David destroyed his enemies. His enemies could not fight again. David destroyed them all.
[39] And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
 

God made David strong to fight. He helped David defeat the people who fought him.
[40] For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.


God helped David destroy the people who hated him.
[41] Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.


David's enemies looked for help. They asked God for help, too, but God did not help them.
[42] They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.


David defeated his enemies like beating them into dust. He stepped on them like mud in the street. He made them scatter and leave Israel.
[43] Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.


God saved David when other Israelites were fighting with him.  God helped David continue to be the leader. David was king over other groups of people, too, because he defeated them.
[44] Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

People who did not know David obeyed him now.
[45] Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.


People who did not know David before came out of their hiding places.
[46] Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.


God lives, and David blesses God, his rock. God is a strong rock and saved David. David praises God.
[47] The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.


God helps David defeat the people who fought with him. God helps David defeat his enemies. God lifts David high above his enemies. God saved David from the men who fought him.
[48] It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
[49] And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.


David will say thank you to God when he is with people who are not Israelites. David will sing and praise God's name.
[50] Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.


God is a strong tower that saves David. God shows mercy to the king he chose. God will show mercy to David's descendants forever.
[51] He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.