This book continues directly from where we left off in first Samuel.

In this chapter David learns of the death of Saul and Jonathan. It records David's mourning for Jonathan.

(chpt:  1 Vs: 001)  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 002)  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 003)  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 004)  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 005)  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 006)  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 007)  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 008)  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 009)  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 010)  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 011)  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 012)  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 013)  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 014)  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed? 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 015)  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 016)  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 017)  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 018)  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 019)  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 020)  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 021)  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 022)  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 023)  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 024)  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 025)  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 026)  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. 

(chpt:  1 Vs: 027)  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! 

In this chapter God instructs David to go up to the city of Hebron where he is anointed King over the house of Judah.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 001)  And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 002)  So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 003)  And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 004)  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 005)  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 006)  And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 007)  Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. 

In verse 8 we find that Abner, one of Saul's captains, has made Saul�s son to be King over the rest of Israel.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 008)  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 009)  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 010)  Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 011)  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 012)  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 

Beginning with verse 13 we find that Abner representing Saul's family, and Joab, representing David, meet in what seems to be an attempt to bring peace. This attempt results in a battle between the two sides with David coming out the victor.

(chpt:  2 Vs: 013)  And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 014)  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 015)  Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 016)  And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 017)  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 018)  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 019)  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 020)  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 021)  And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 022)  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? 

(chpt:  2 Vs: 023)  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 

Select by Bible order

Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation