2 Samuel

David learns of Saul and Jonathan's deaths. Rather than celebrating, he mourns deeply and composes a lament — the Song of the Bow — honoring both Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan.

David is anointed king of Judah at Hebron. Meanwhile, Abner installs Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over the northern tribes. Civil war begins between the house of David and the house of Saul, with David growing stronger.

Abner defects to David after a quarrel with Ish-bosheth. Joab, angry over his brother Asahel's death, murders Abner in cold blood. David publicly mourns Abner, distancing himself from the killing.

Two of Ish-bosheth's captains murder him in his bed and bring his head to David, expecting reward. David condemns them for killing an innocent man and has them executed, demonstrating his commitment to justice.

All the tribes of Israel anoint David king over a united kingdom at Hebron. He conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites and makes it his capital, the City of David. David defeats the Philistines twice with God's guidance.

David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with great celebration. When Uzzah touches the Ark and dies, David is afraid and leaves it at Obed-edom's house for three months. He later brings it to Jerusalem, dancing before the Lord, which his wife Michal despises.

David wants to build God a temple, but God instead promises to build David a house — an eternal dynasty. This Davidic covenant promises that David's throne will be established forever, pointing to the Messiah.

David expands his kingdom by defeating the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and Edomites. He establishes a powerful empire and administers justice throughout the land. Key officials in his government are listed.

David seeks to show kindness to anyone remaining from Saul's house for Jonathan's sake. He finds Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, and restores all of Saul's land to him, giving him a permanent place at the king's table.

David sends a delegation to comfort the Ammonite king, but his ambassadors are humiliated. The Ammonites hire Aramean mercenaries, but Joab and Abishai defeat both armies. The Arameans make peace with Israel.

David commits adultery with Bathsheba while her husband Uriah is at war. When Bathsheba becomes pregnant, David unsuccessfully tries to cover it up, then arranges for Uriah to be killed in battle. David marries Bathsheba. God is displeased.

The prophet Nathan confronts David with a parable about a rich man stealing a poor man's lamb. David condemns himself, and Nathan declares you are the man. David repents, but the child born to Bathsheba dies. Solomon is later born to them.

David's son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar, then despises her. David is furious but does nothing. After two years, Tamar's brother Absalom takes revenge by having Amnon murdered at a feast, then flees to Geshur.

Joab devises a scheme using a wise woman of Tekoa to persuade David to bring Absalom back from exile. David allows Absalom to return to Jerusalem but refuses to see him for two more years until Absalom forces a meeting.

Absalom spends four years winning the hearts of the people with flattery and self-promotion, then launches a rebellion. David flees Jerusalem weeping, leaving loyalists behind as spies. Hushai is sent back to undermine Absalom's counselor Ahithophel.

David is cursed by Shimei of Saul's family as he flees. Ziba falsely claims Mephibosheth has turned traitor. In Jerusalem, Absalom follows Ahithophel's counsel to publicly claim David's concubines, signaling a permanent break.

Ahithophel advises Absalom to pursue David immediately, but Hushai convinces Absalom to delay, buying David time. When Ahithophel's counsel is rejected, he goes home and hangs himself. David crosses the Jordan to safety.

David's forces defeat Absalom's army in the forest of Ephraim. Absalom's hair gets caught in a tree, and Joab kills him despite David's explicit orders to deal gently with his son. David is devastated, crying: O my son Absalom!

Joab rebukes David's excessive mourning, warning it demoralizes his loyal troops. David returns to Jerusalem, pardons Shimei, clarifies Mephibosheth's loyalty, and honors old Barzillai. Tribal jealousy erupts between Judah and Israel.

Sheba, a Benjaminite, leads a new revolt against David. Joab pursues him, murders Amasa (David's new commander), and besieges the city of Abel. A wise woman negotiates Sheba's death, ending the rebellion.

A three-year famine is traced to Saul's violation of the Gibeonite treaty. David makes restitution, and Rizpah's devotion to her dead sons moves David to properly bury Saul and Jonathan. Various battles with Philistine giants are recorded.

David sings a psalm of deliverance (nearly identical to Psalm 18) celebrating God's rescue throughout his life. He praises God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer, recounting how God responded to his cries in dramatic cosmic imagery.

David's last words are recorded as a prophetic oracle about righteous rule. The chapter lists David's mighty warriors and their extraordinary feats, including the three who broke through Philistine lines to get David water from Bethlehem's well.

David sinfully orders a census of Israel. God gives him a choice of three punishments; David chooses plague, and 70,000 die. When the angel reaches Jerusalem, God relents. David buys Araunah's threshing floor and builds an altar — the future site of Solomon's temple.