Study Desk

They were very sad and cried and fasted until evening. They cried for Saul and his son Jonathan and for all the people of the Lord and for all the Israelites who had died in the battle.

David had said to the Amalekite, "You are responsible for your own death. You confessed by saying, ‘I have killed the Lord 's appointed king.'"

"You daughters of Israel, cry for Saul. Saul clothed you with red dresses and put gold decorations on them.

I cry for you, my brother Jonathan. I enjoyed your friendship so much. Your love to me was wonderful, better than the love of women.

David was king in Hebron for seven years and six months.

Then the men got up and were counted—twelve from the people of Benjamin for Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from David's men.

Each man grabbed the one opposite him by the head and stabbed him in the side with a knife. So the men fell down together. For that reason, that place in Gibeon is called the Field of Knives.

Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said, and he replied, "I have been loyal to Saul and his family and friends! I didn't hand you over to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah! But now you are saying I did something wrong with this woman!

Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron. There David prepared a feast for them.

Joab and his family are responsible for this. May his family always have someone with sores or with a skin disease. May they always have someone who must lean on a crutch. May some of his family be killed in war. May they always have someone without food to eat."

Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, "Tear your clothes and put on rough cloth to show how sad you are. Cry for Abner." King David himself followed the body of Abner.

King David sang this funeral song for Abner. "Did Abner die like a fool?

His hands were not tied. His feet were not in chains. He fell at the hands of evil men." Then all the people cried again for Abner.

Even though I am the appointed king, I feel empty. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. May the Lord give them the punishment they should have."

When they arrived at Hebron, they gave his head to David and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy. He tried to kill you! Today the Lord has paid back Saul and his family for what they did to you!"

Once a man thought he was bringing me good news. When he told me, ‘Saul is dead!' I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!

Even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel in battle. The Lord said to you, ‘You will be a shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their leader.'"

He was king over Judah in Hebron for seven years and six months, and he was king over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem for thirty-three years.

Hiram king of the city of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonecutters. They built a palace for David.

After he came from Hebron, David took for himself more slave women and wives in Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to David.