Discovery Box2 Samuel 1:2 
Context1:2 On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 1 When he approached David, the man 2 threw himself to the ground. 3
2 Samuel 1:4
Context1:4 David inquired, “How were things going? 4 Tell me!” He replied, “The people fled from the battle and many of them 5 fell dead. 6 Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!”
2 Samuel 3:24-25
Context3:24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Abner 7 has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way! 8 3:25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return 9 and to discover everything that you are doing!”
2 Samuel 4:5
Context4:5 Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite – Recab and Baanah – went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.
2 Samuel 4:11
Context4:11 Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept 10 in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove 11 you from the earth?”
2 Samuel 5:17
Context5:17 When the Philistines heard that David had been designated 12 king over Israel, they all 13 went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress.
2 Samuel 5:23
Context5:23 So David asked the Lord what he should do. 14 This time 15 the Lord 16 said to him, “Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 17
2 Samuel 6:19
Context6:19 He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, 18 both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, 19 and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. 20
2 Samuel 7:11
Context7:11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief 21 from all your enemies. The Lord declares 22 to you that he himself 23 will build a dynastic house 24 for you.
2 Samuel 10:4-5
Context10:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed, 25 and then sent them away. 10:5 Messengers 26 told David what had happened, 27 so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho 28 until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”
2 Samuel 10:18
Context10:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. 29 He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there.
2 Samuel 11:2
Context11:2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. 30 From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive. 31
2 Samuel 11:4
Context11:4 David sent some messengers to get her. 32 She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. 33 (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) 34 Then she returned to her home.
2 Samuel 12:24
Context12:24 So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and had marital relations with her. 35 She gave birth to a son, and David 36 named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved the child 37
2 Samuel 13:2
Context13:2 But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick 38 over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.
2 Samuel 13:4
Context13:4 He asked Amnon, 39 “Why are you, the king’s son, 40 so depressed every morning? Can’t you tell me?” So Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom.”
2 Samuel 13:8
Context13:8 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, 41 and baked them. 42
2 Samuel 13:13
Context13:13 How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools 43 in Israel! Just 44 speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”
2 Samuel 13:16
Context13:16 But she said to him, “No I won’t, for sending me away now would be worse than what you did to me earlier!” 45 But he refused to listen to her.
2 Samuel 13:20
Context13:20 Her brother Absalom said to her, “Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take it so seriously!” 46 Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.
2 Samuel 14:14
Context14:14 Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored. 47
2 Samuel 14:25
Context14:25 Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. 48 From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance. 49
2 Samuel 14:33
Context14:33 So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king 50 summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom 51 bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him. 52
2 Samuel 15:12
Context15:12 While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s adviser, 53 to come from his city, Giloh. 54 The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.
2 Samuel 16:6
Context16:6 He threw stones at David and all of King David’s servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left.
2 Samuel 16:10
Context16:10 But the king said, “What do we have in common, 55 you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’”
2 Samuel 16:13
Context16:13 So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. 56
2 Samuel 17:2
Context17:2 When I catch up with 57 him he will be exhausted and worn out. 58 I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king
2 Samuel 17:13
Context17:13 If he regroups in a city, all Israel will take up ropes to that city and drag it down to the valley, so that not a single pebble will be left there!”
2 Samuel 19:5
Context19:5 So Joab visited 59 the king at his home. He said, “Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.
2 Samuel 19:14
Context19:14 He 60 won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, “Return, you and all your servants as well.”
2 Samuel 19:24
Context19:24 Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, 61 came down to meet the king. From the day the king had left until the day he safely 62 returned, Mephibosheth 63 had not cared for his feet 64 nor trimmed 65 his mustache nor washed his clothes.
2 Samuel 19:26
Context19:26 He replied, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me! I 66 said, ‘Let me get my donkey saddled so that I can ride on it and go with the king,’ for I 67 am lame.
2 Samuel 20:8
Context20:8 When they were near the big rock that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire and had a dagger in its sheath belted to his waist. When he advanced, it fell out. 68
2 Samuel 21:1
Context21:1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the Lord. 69 The Lord said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, 70 because he murdered the Gibeonites.”
2 Samuel 21:20
Context21:20 Yet another battle occurred in Gath. On that occasion there was a large man 71 who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha.
2 Samuel 23:4
Context23:4 is like the light of morning when the sun comes up,
a morning in which there are no clouds.
He is like the brightness after rain
that produces grass from the earth.
2 Samuel 23:8-9
Context23:8 These are the names of David’s warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. 72 He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle. 73 23:9 Next in command 74 was Eleazar son of Dodo, 75 the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated, 76
2 Samuel 23:17
Context23:17 and said, “O Lord, I will not do this! 77 It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” 78 So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. 79
2 Samuel 24:10
Context24:10 David felt guilty 80 after he had numbered the army. David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O Lord, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
2 Samuel 24:17
Context24:17 When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to the Lord, “Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As for these sheep – what have they done? Attack me and my family.” 81
2 Samuel 24:22
Context24:22 Araunah told David, “My lord the king may take whatever he wishes 82 and offer it. Look! Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and threshing sledges 83 and harnesses 84 for wood.
1 sn Tearing one’s clothing and throwing dirt on one’s head were outward expressions of grief in the ancient Near East, where such demonstrable reactions were a common response to tragic news.
2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the man mentioned at the beginning of v. 2) has been specified in the translation to avoid confusion as to who fell to the ground.
3 tn Heb “he fell to the ground and did obeisance.”
4 tn Heb “What was the word?”
5 tn Heb “from the people.”
6 tn Heb “fell and died.”
7 tn Heb “Look, Abner.”
8 tc The LXX adds “in peace.”
9 tn Heb “your going out and your coming in.” The expression is a merism. It specifically mentions the polar extremities of the actions but includes all activity in between the extremities as well, thus encompassing the entirety of one’s activities.
10 tn Heb “on his bed.”
11 tn See HALOT 146 s.v. II בער. Some derive the verb from a homonym meaning “to burn; to consume.”
12 tn Heb “anointed.”
13 tn Heb “all the Philistines.”
14 tn The words “what to do” are not in the Hebrew text.
15 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
16 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
17 tn Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain.
18 tn Heb “to all the people, to all the throng of Israel.”
19 tn The Hebrew word used here אֶשְׁפָּר (’espar) is found in the OT only here and in the parallel passage found in 1 Chr 16:3. Its exact meaning is uncertain, although the context indicates that it was a food of some sort (cf. KJV “a good piece of flesh”; NRSV “a portion of meat”). The translation adopted here (“date cake”) follows the lead of the Greek translations of the LXX, Aquila, and Symmachus (cf. NASB, NIV, NLT).
20 tn Heb “and all the people went, each to his house.”
21 tn Or “rest.”
22 tn In the Hebrew text the verb is apparently perfect with vav consecutive, which would normally suggest a future sense (“he will declare”; so the LXX, ἀπαγγελεῖ [apangelei]). But the context seems instead to call for a present or past nuance (“he declares” or “he has declared”). The synoptic passage in 1 Chr 17:10 has וָאַגִּד (va’aggid, “and I declared”). The construction used in 2 Sam 7:11 highlights this important statement.
23 tn Heb “the
24 tn Heb “house,” but used here in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. Here the
25 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto their buttocks.”
26 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
27 tn The words “what had happened” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
28 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
29 tn Heb “horsemen” (so KJV, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT) but the Lucianic recension of the LXX reads “foot soldiers,” as does the parallel text in 1 Chr 19:18. Cf. NAB, NIV.
30 tn Heb “on the roof of the house of the king.” So also in vv. 8, 9.
31 tn The disjunctive clause highlights this observation and builds the tension of the story.
32 tn Heb “and David sent messengers and he took her.”
33 tn Heb “he lay with her” (so NASB, NRSV); TEV “he made love to her”; NIV, CEV, NLT “he slept with her.”
34 tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause further heightens the tension by letting the reader know that Bathsheba, having just completed her menstrual cycle, is ripe for conception. See P. K. McCarter, II Samuel (AB), 286. Since she just had her period, it will also be obvious to those close to the scene that Uriah, who has been away fighting, cannot be the father of the child.
35 tn Heb “and he lay with her.”
36 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity. While some translations render the pronoun as third person plural (“they”), implying that both David and Bathsheba together named the child, it is likely that the name “Solomon,” which is related to the Hebrew word for “peace” (and may be derived from it) had special significance for David, who would have regarded the birth of a second child to Bathsheba as a confirming sign that God had forgiven his sin and was at peace with him.
37 tn Heb “him,” referring to the child.
38 tn Heb “and there was distress to Amnon so that he made himself sick.”
39 tn Heb “and he said to him.”
40 tn An more idiomatic translation might be “Why are you of all people…?”
41 tn Heb “in his sight.”
42 tn Heb “the cakes.”
43 tn Heb “and you will be like one of the fools.”
44 tn Heb “Now.”
45 tn Heb “No, because this great evil is [worse] than the other which you did with me, by sending me away.” Perhaps the broken syntax reflects her hysteria and outrage.
46 tn Heb “Don’t set your heart to this thing!”
47 tn Heb “he devises plans for the one banished from him not to be banished.”
48 tn Heb “Like Absalom there was not a handsome man in all Israel to boast exceedingly.”
49 tn Heb “there was not in him a blemish.”
50 tn Heb “he.” Joab, acting on behalf of the king, may be the implied subject.
51 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Absalom) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
52 tn Heb “Absalom.” For stylistic reasons the name has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation.
53 tn Traditionally, “counselor,” but this term is more often associated with psychological counseling today, so “adviser” was used in the translation instead.
54 tn Heb “Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, the adviser of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he was sacrificing.” It is not entirely clear who (Absalom or Ahithophel) was offering the sacrifices.
55 tn Heb “What to me and to you?”
56 tn Heb “and he cursed and threw stones, opposite him, pelting [them] with dirt.” The offline vÿqatal construction in the last clause indicates an action that was complementary to the action described in the preceding clause. He simultaneously threw stones and dirt.
57 tn Heb “and I will come upon him.”
58 tn Heb “exhausted and slack of hands.”
59 tn Heb “came to.”
60 tn The referent of “he” is not entirely clear: cf. NCV “David”; TEV “David’s words”; NRSV, NLT “Amasa.”
61 tn Heb “son.”
62 tn Heb “in peace.” So also in v. 31.
63 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Mephibosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
64 tn Heb “done his feet.”
65 tn Heb “done.”
66 tn Heb “your servant.”
67 tn Heb “your servant.”
68 sn The significance of the statement it fell out here is unclear. If the dagger fell out of its sheath before Joab got to Amasa, how then did he kill him? Josephus, Ant. 7.11.7 (7.284), suggested that as Joab approached Amasa he deliberately caused the dagger to fall to the ground at an opportune moment as though by accident. When he bent over and picked it up, he then stabbed Amasa with it. Others have tried to make a case for thinking that two swords are referred to – the one that fell out and another that Joab kept concealed until the last moment. But nothing in the text clearly supports this view. Perhaps Josephus’ understanding is best, but it is by no means obvious in the text either.
69 tn Heb “sought the face of the
70 tn Heb “and the house of bloodshed.”
71 tn Heb “a man of stature.”
72 tn The Hebrew word is sometimes rendered as “the three,” but BDB is probably correct in taking it to refer to military officers (BDB 1026 s.v. שְׁלִישִׁי). In that case the etymological connection of this word to the Hebrew numerical adjective for “three” can be explained as originating with a designation for the third warrior in a chariot.
73 tc The translation follows some LXX
74 tn Heb “after him.”
75 tc This follows the Qere and many medieval Hebrew
76 tn Heb “went up.”
77 tn Heb “Far be it to me, O
78 tn Heb “[Is it not] the blood of the men who were going with their lives?”
79 tn Heb “These things the three warriors did.”
80 tn Heb “and the heart of David struck him.”
81 tn Heb “let your hand be against me and against the house of my father.”
82 tn Heb “what is good in his eyes.”
83 sn Threshing sledges were heavy boards used in ancient times for loosening grain from husks. On the bottom sides of these boards sharp stones were embedded, and the boards were then dragged across the grain on a threshing floor by an ox or donkey.
84 tn Heb “the equipment of the oxen.”
