Vv. 12b–14 are found, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.25–27; vv. 15–19a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.28–16.3; vv. 19b–20a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 16.43.
16As the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him for it.
17They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. 18When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 19And he distributed among all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, f-a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.-f Then all the people left for their homes.
20David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today—exposing himself today in the sight of the slavegirls of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!” 21David answered Michal, “It was before the LORD who chose me instead of your father and all his family and appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel! I will dance before the LORD 22and dishonor myself even more, and be low in k-my own-k esteem; but among the slavegirls that you speak of I will be honored.” 23So to her dying day Michal daughter of Saul had no children.
7 aWhen the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had granted him safety from all the enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan: “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the LORD abides in a tent!” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5“Go and say to My servant David: Thus said the LORD: Are you the one to build a house for Me to dwell in? 6From the day that I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to this day I have not dwelt in a house, but have moved about in Tent and Tabernacle. 7As I moved about wherever the Israelites went, did I ever reproach any of the tribal leadersb whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
8“Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said the LORD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel, 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you great renown like that of the greatest men on earth. 10I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any more as in the past, 11ever since I appointed chieftains over My people Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies.
“The LORD declares to you that He, the LORD, will establish a housec for you. 12When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. 13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will chastise him d-with the rod of men and the affliction of mortals;-d 15but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed e-to make room for you.-e 16Your house and your kingship shall ever be secure before you;f your throne shall be established forever.”
17Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all this prophecy. 18Then King David came and sat before the LORD, and he said, “What am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far? 19Yet even this, O Lord GOD, has seemed too little to You; for You have spoken of Your servant’s house also for the future. g-May that be the law for the people,-g O Lord GOD. 20What more can David say to You? You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. 21g-For Your word’s sake and of Your own accord-g You have wrought this great thing, and made it known to Your servant. 22You are great indeed, O LORD God! There is none like You and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard. 23And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom God went and redeemed as His people, winning renown for Himself and doing great and marvelous deeds for themh [and] for Your land—[driving out]i nations and their gods before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. 24You have established Your people Israel as Your very own people forever; and You, O LORD, have become their God.
25“And now, O LORD God, fulfill Your promise to Your servant and his house forever; and do as You have promised. 26And may Your name be glorified forever, in that men will say, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27Because You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him, Your servant has ventured to offer this prayer to You. 28And now, O Lord GOD, You are God and Your words will surely come true, and You have made this gracious promise to Your servant. 29Be pleased, therefore, to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken. May Your servant’s house be blessed forever by Your blessing.”
8 aSome time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; and David took Metheg-ammahb from the Philistines. 2He also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and he measured them off with a cord; he measured out two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those to be spared.c And the Moabites became tributary vassals of David.
3David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who was then on his way to restore his monumentd at the Euphrates River. 4David captured 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers of his force; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except for 100 which he retained. 5And when the Arameans of Damascus came to the aid of King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 of the Arameans. 6David stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became tributary vassals of David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. 7David took the gold shieldse carried by Hadadezer’s retinue and brought them to Jerusalem; 8and from Betah and Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a vast amount of copper.
9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on his military victory over Hadadezer—for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. [Joram] brought with him objects of silver, gold, and copper. 11King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the other silver and gold that he dedicated, [taken] from all the nations he had conquered: 12from Edom,f Moab, and Ammon; from the Philistines and the Amalekites, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David gained fame g-when he returned from defeating-g Edomf in the Valley of Salt, 18,000 in all. 14He stationed garrisons in Edom—h- he stationed garrisons in all of Edom-h—and all the Edomites became vassals of David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
15David reigned over all Israel, and David executed true justice among all his people. 16Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17Zadok son of Ahitub and i-Ahimelech son of Abiathar-i were priests; Seraiahj was scribe; 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was k-commander of-k the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
9 David inquired, “Is there anyone still left of the House of Saul with whom I can keep faith for the sake of Jonathan?” 2There was a servant of the House of Saul named Ziba, and they summoned him to David. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked him. a-“Yes, sir,”-a he replied. 3The king continued, “Is there anyone at all left of the House of Saul with whom I can keep faith as pledged before God?”b Ziba answered the king, “Yes, there is still a son of
