Day 97, 2 Samuel 4-7

Today started out with Ish-bosheth getting murdered by two men who were captains of raiding bands. Their names were Baanah and Rechab. They went to Ish-bosheth’s house, and while he was napping stabbed him. Then they cut off his head and took it to David.

When David learned what they had done, he had the men killed and their hands and feet cut off, and hung them up. This is similar to what he did to the man who told him Saul was dead. They took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. All the elders came and made a covenant with David before the Lord, and he was officially anointed King over Israel.

David was thirty years old, and he reigned for forty years. Seven and half were in Hebron, and thirty-three over all Israel. David built the city David and himself a house, “And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.”

David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. The names of them born to him in Jerusalem were: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went out to search for him. David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord told him to go, and He would deliver the Philistines into his hands.

After David had struck down the Philistines, he gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand, and went to get the Ark of God. It was carried on a cart and was brought to the house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab were driving the cart with the Ark of God.

David and all the house of Israel were partying and celebrating. But, the ox pulling the cart stumbled and Uzzah stuck out his hand and took hold of the Ark. The anger of the Lord burned against him, and God struck him down there because of his error. David was angry the Lord had done that to Uzzah.

David then was not willing to take the Ark into the city of David. He took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite and it remained there for three months. In that time, the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

When King David heard this, he went and got the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom and took it to the city of David. They were rejoicing, and they stopped to make a sacrifice to the Lord.

As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out the window and saw King David dancing and leaping before the Lord. She despised him in her heart.

They placed the ark inside the tent and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food to all the people.

David went to bless his house, but Michal met him and said that how he was behaving was dishonorable because he was uncovering himself in front of his servants. David explained he was celebrating before the Lord, and he was indeed honorable before the servants. Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day she died.

The king lived in his house and the Lord gave him rest from his surrounding enemies. King David said to his prophet Nathan that “he lives in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelled in a tent.”

Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

That same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, and he was told to relay the message of a covenant to David. The Lord said, that he had been with David everywhere he went, and His steadfast love would not depart from him.

David said a prayer of gratitude to the Lord.