NKJV Bible in 365 Days
Mourning, Loyalty, and the Battle for a Throne — March 24
2 Samuel 1-3
2 Samuel 1
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 365N 83.1
2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes [a] torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself. 365N 83.2
3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” So he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 365N 83.3
4 Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.” 365N 83.4
5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?” 365N 83.5
6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 365N 83.6
7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 365N 83.7
8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 365N 83.8
9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for [b] anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 365N 83.9
10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” 365N 83.10
11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 365N 83.11
12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 365N 83.12
13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.” 365N 83.13
14 So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord ’s anointed?” 365N 83.14
15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. 365N 83.15
16 So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord ’s anointed.’ ” 365N 83.16
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 365N 83.17
18 and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book [c] of Jasher: 365N 83.18
19 “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 365N 83.19
20 Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon— Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 365N 83.20
21 “O mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is [d] cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 365N 83.21
22 From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty. 365N 83.22
23 “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. 365N 83.23
24 “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. 365N 83.24
25 “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places. 365N 83.25
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women. 365N 83.26
27 “How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!” 365N 83.27
2 Samuel 2
1 It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord , saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” 365N 83.28
2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 365N 83.29
3 And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 365N 83.30
4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 365N 83.31
5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord , for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 365N 83.32
6 And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 365N 83.33
7 Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.” 365N 83.34
8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took [a] Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; 365N 83.35
9 and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 365N 83.36
10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. 365N 83.37
11 And the [b] time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 365N 83.38
12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 365N 83.39
13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 365N 83.40
14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 365N 83.41
15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 365N 83.42
16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called [c] the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. 365N 83.43
17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. 365N 83.44
18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. 365N 83.45
19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. 365N 83.46
20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “ Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am. ” 365N 83.47
21 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 365N 83.48
22 So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” 365N 83.49
23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. 365N 83.50
24 Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. 365N 83.51
25 Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became [d] a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. 365N 83.52
26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?” 365N 83.53
27 And Joab said, “ As God lives, [e] unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” 365N 83.54
28 So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. 365N 83.55
29 Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim. 365N 83.56
30 So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 365N 83.57
31 But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. 365N 83.58
32 Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak. 365N 83.59
2 Samuel 3
1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 365N 83.60
2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 365N 83.61
3 his second, [a] Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 365N 83.62
4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 365N 83.63
5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. 365N 83.64
6 Now it was so, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul. 365N 83.65
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” 365N 83.66
8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “ Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 365N 83.67
9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him— 365N 83.68
10 to transfer the kingdom from the [b] house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 365N 83.69
11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. 365N 83.70
12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.” 365N 83.71
13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 365N 83.72
14 So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 365N 83.73
15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from [c] Paltiel the son of Laish. 365N 83.74
16 Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, [d] weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned. 365N 83.75
17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 365N 83.76
18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, [e] I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 365N 83.77
19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin. 365N 83.78
20 So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 365N 83.79
21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. 365N 83.80
22 At that moment the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much [f] spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 365N 83.81
23 When Joab and all the troops that were with him had come, they told Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he sent him away, and he has gone in peace.” 365N 83.82
24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 365N 83.83
25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.” 365N 83.84
26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 365N 83.85
27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there [g] stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. 365N 83.86
28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are [h] guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 365N 83.87
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the [i] house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 365N 83.88
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 365N 83.89
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin. 365N 83.90
32 So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 365N 83.91
33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: “Should Abner die as a fool dies? 365N 83.92
34 Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell.” Then all the people wept over him again. 365N 83.93
35 And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 365N 83.94
36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 365N 83.95
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 365N 83.96
38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 365N 83.97
39 And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.” 365N 83.98