Bible in a Year.

On day 122, we explore the challenges of David's reign in 2 Samuel 3, including complex wars and alliances. First Chronicles 3–4 details important genealogies, showing the continuity of the lineage of God's people. Psalm 25 inspires us to seek guidance, humility, and trust in the Lord in the face of difficulties.

1. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.

2. And sons were born to David in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess:

3. And his second Cheleab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: and the third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tholmai king of Gessur:

4. And the fourth Adonias, the son of Haggith: and the fifth Saphathia the son of Abital:

5. And the sixth Jethraam of Egla the wife of David: these were born to David in Hebron.

6. Now while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner the son of Ner ruled the house of Saul.

7. And Saul had a concubine named Respha, the daughter of Aia. And Isboseth said to Abner:

8. Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?

9. So do God to Abner, and more also, unless as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him,

10. That the kingdom be translated from the house of Saul, and the throne of David be set up over Israel, and over Juda from Dan to Bersabee.

11. And he could not answer him a word, because he feared him.

12. Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: Whose is the land? and that they should say: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.

13. And he said: Very well: I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, saying: Thou shalt not see my face before thou bring Michol the daughter of Saul: and so thou shalt come, and see me.

14. And David sent messengers to Isboseth the son of Saul, saying: Restore my wife Michol, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15. And Isboseth sent, and took her from her husband Phaltiel, the son of Lais.

16. And her husband followed her, weeping as far as Bahurim: and Abner said to him: Go and return. And he returned.

17. Abner also spoke to the ancients of Israel, saying: Both yesterday and the day before you sought for David that he might reign over you.

18. Now then do it: because the Lord hath spoken to David, saying: By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines, and of all their enemies.

19. And Abner spoke also to Benjamin. And he went to speak to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to all Benjamin.

20. And he came to David in Hebron with twenty men: and David made a feast for Abner, and his men that came with him.

21. And Abner said to David: I will rise, that I may gather all Israel unto thee my lord the king, and may enter into a league with thee, and that thou mayst reign over all as thy soul desireth. Now when David bad brought Abner on his way, and he was gone in peace,

22. Immediately David's servants and Joab came, after having slain the robbers, with an exceeding great booty: and Abner, was not with David in Hebron, for he had now sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

23. And Joab and all the army that was with him, came afterwards: and it was told Joab, that Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24. And Joab went in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold Abner came to thee: Why didst thou send him away, and he is gone and departed?

25. Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ner, that to this end he came to thee, that he might deceive thee, and to know thy going out, and thy coming in, and to know all thou dost?

26. Then Joab going out from David, sent messengers after Abner, and brought him back from the cistern of Sira, David knowing nothing of it.

27. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the middle of the gate, to speak to him treacherously: and he stabbed him there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.

28. And when David heard of it, after the thing was now done, he said: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29. And may it come upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father's house: and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue of seed, or that is a leper, or that holdeth the distaff, or that falleth by the sword, or that wanteth bread.

30. So Joab and Abisai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asael at Gabaon in the battle.

31. And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him: Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloths, and mourn before the funeral of Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

32. And when they had buried Abner in Hebron, king David lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner: and all the people also wept.

33. And the king mourning and lamenting over Abner, said: Not as cowards are wont to die, hath Abner died.

34. Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet laden with fetters: but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people repeating it wept over him.

35. And when all the people came to take meat with David, while it was yet broad day, David swore, saying: So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or any thing else before sunset.

36. And all the people heard, and they were pleased, and all that the king did seemed good in the sight of all the people.

37. And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's doing, that Abner the son of Ner was slain.

38. The king also said to his servants: Do you not know that a prince and great man is slain this day in Israel?

39. But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.

Chapter 3

1. Now these were the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon of Achinoam the Jezrahelitess, the second Daniel of Abigail the Carmelitess.

2. The third Absalom the son of Maacha the daughter of Tolmai king of Gessur, the fourth Adonias the son of Aggith,

3. The fifth Saphatias of Abital, the sixth Jethrahem of Egla, his wife.

4. So six sons were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years.

5. And these sons were born to him in Jerusalem: Simmaa, and Sobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four of Bethsabee the daughter of Ammiel.

6. Jebaar also and Elisama,

7. And Eliphaleeh, and Noge, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

8. And Elisama, and Eliada, and Elipheleth, nine:

9. All these the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines: and they had a sister Thamar.

10. And Solomon's son was Roboam: whose son Abia beget Asa. And his son was Josaphat,

11. The father of Joram: and Joram be- got Ochozias, of whom was born Joas:

12. And his son Amasias begot Azarias. And Joathan the son of Azarias

13. Beget Achaz, the father of Ezechias, of whom was born Manasses.

14. And Manasses beget Amen the father of Josias.

15. And the sons of Josias were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Joakim, the third Sedecias, the fourth Sellum.

16. Of Joakim was born Jechonias, and Sedecias.

17. The sons of Jechonias were Asir, Salathiel,

18. Melchiram, Phadaia, Senneser and Jecemia, Sama, and Nadabia.

19. Of Phadaia were born Zorobabel and Semei. Zorobabel beget Mosollam, Hananias, and Salomith their sister:

20. Hasaba also, and Ohol, and Barachias, and Hasadias, Josabhesed, five.

21. And the son of Hananias was Phaltias the father of Jeseias, whose son was Raphaia. And his son was Arnan, of whom was born Obdia, whose son was Sechenias.

22. The son of Sechenias, was Semeia, whose sons were Hattus, and Jegaal, and Baria, and Naaria, and Saphat, six in number.

23. The sons of Naaria, Elioenai, and Ezechias, and Ezricam, three.

24. The sons of Elioenai, Oduia, and Eliasub, and Pheleia, and Accub, and Johanan, and Dalaia, and Anani, seven.

Chapter 4

1. The sons of Juda: Phares, Hesron, and Charmi, and Hur, and Sobal.

2. And Raia the son of Sobal beget Jahath, of whom were born Ahumai, and Laad. These are the families of Sarathi.

3. And this is the posterity of Etam: Jezrahel, and Jesema, and Jedebos: and the name of their sister was Asalelphuni.

4. And Phanuel the father of Gedor, and Ezar the father of Hosa, these are the sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephratha the father of Bethlehem.

5. And Assur the father of Thecua had two wives, Halaa and Naara:

6. And Naara bore him Ozam, and Hepher, and Themani, and Ahasthari: these are the sons of Naara.

7. And the sons of Halaa, Sereth, Isaar, and Ethnan.

8. And Cos begot Anob, and Soboba, the kindred of Aharehel the son of Arum.

9. And Jabes was more honourable than any of his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabes, saying: Because I bore him with sorrow.

10. And Jabes called upon the God of Israel, saying: If blessing thou wilt bless me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, and thou save me from being oppressed by evil. And God granted him the things he prayed for.

11. And Caleb the brother of Sua beget Mahir, who was the father of Esthon.

12. And Esthon beget Bethrapha, and Phesse, and Tehinna father of the city of Naas: these are the men of Recha.

13. And the sons of Cenez were Othoniel,. and Saraia. And the sons of Othoniel, Hathath, and Maonathi.

14. Maonathi beget Ophra, and Saraia begot Joab the father of the Valley of artificers: for artificers were there.

15. And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephone, were Hir, and Ela, and Naham. And the sons of Ela: Cenez.

16. The sons also of Jaleleel: Ziph, and Zipha, Thiria, and Asrael.

17. And the sons of Esra, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon, and he beget Mariam, and Sammai, and Jesba the father of Esthamo.

18. And his wife Judaia, bore Jared the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Icuthiel the father of Zanoe. And these are the sons of Bethia the daughter of Pharao, whom Mered took to wife.

19. And the sons of his wife Odaia the sister of Naham the father of Celia, Garmi, and Esthamo, who was of Machathi.

20. The sons also of Simon, Amnon, and Rinna the son of Hanan, and Thilon. And the sons of Jesi Zoheth, and Benzoheth.

21. The sons of h Sela the son of Juda: Her the father of Lecha, and Laada the father of Maresa, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen in the House of oath.

22. And he that made the sun to stand, and the men of Lying, and Secure, and Burning, who were princes in Moab, and who returned into Lahem. Now these are things of old.

23. These are the potters, and they dwelt in Plantations, and Hedges, with the king for his works, and they abode there.

24. The sons of Simeon: Namuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zara, Saul:

25. Sellum his son, Mapsam his son, Masma his son.

26. The sons of Masma: Hamuel his son, Zachur his son, Semei his son.

27. The sons of Semei were sixteen, and six daughters: but his brethren had not many sons, and the whole kindred could not reach to the sum of the children of Juda.

28. And they dwelt in Bersabee, and Molada, and Hasarsuhal,

29. And in Bala, and in Asom, and in Tholad,

30. And in Bathuel, and in Horma, and in Siceleg,

31. And in Bethmarchaboth, and in Hasarsusim, and in Bethberai, and in Saarim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.

32. Their towns also were Etam, and Aen, Remmon, and Thochen, and Asan, five cities.

33. And all their villages round about these cities as far as Baal. This was their habitation, and the distribution of their dwellings.

34. And Mosabab and Jemlech, and Josa, the son of Amasias,

35. And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josabia the son of Saraia, the son of Asiel,

36. And Elioenai, and Jacoba, and Isuhaia, and Asaia, and Adiel, and Ismiel, and Banaia,

37. Ziza also the son of Sephei the son of Allon the son of Idaia the son of Semri the son of Samaia.

38. These were named princes in their kindreds, and in the houses of their families were multiplied exceedingly.

39. And they went forth to enter into Gador as far as to the east side of the valley, to seek pastures for their flocks.

40. And they found fat pastures, and very good, and a country spacious, and quiet, and fruitful, in which some of the race of Cham had dwelt before.

41. And these whose names are written above, came in the days of Ezechias king of Juda: and they beat down their tents, and slew the inhabitants that were found there, and utterly destroyed them unto this day: and they dwelt in their place, because they found there fat pastures.

42. Some also of the children of Simeon, five hundred men, went into mount Seir, having for their captains Phaltias and Naaria and Raphaia and Oziel the sons of Jesi:

43. And they slew the remnant of the Amalecites, who had been able to escape, and they dwelt there in their stead unto this day.

1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. To thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.

2. In thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed.

3. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on thee shall be confounded.

4. Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.

5. Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long.

6. Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are from the beginning of the world.

7. The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember. According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.

8. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

9. He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.

10. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies.

11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt pardon my sin: for it is great.

12. Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He hath appointed him a law in the way he hath chosen.

13. His soul shall dwell in good things: and his seed shall inherit the land.

14. The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant shall be made manifest to them.

15. My eyes are ever towards the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet out of the snare.

16. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and poor.

17. The troubles of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my necessities.

18. See my abjection and my labour; and forgive me all my sins.

19. Consider my enemies for they are multiplied, and have hated me with an unjust hatred.

20. Keep thou my soul, and deliver me: I shall not be ashamed, for I have hoped in thee.

21. The innocent and the upright have adhered to me: because I have waited on thee.

22. Deliver Israel, O God, from all his tribulations.