Bible Reading for April 7

2 Samuel Chapter 8

1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and
subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to
the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with
one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's
servants, and brought gifts.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he
went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred
horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot
horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of
Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became
servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went.

7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of
Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David
took exceeding much brass.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of
Hadadezer,

10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to
bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for
Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of
silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and
gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the
Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob,
king of Zobah.

13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians
in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons,
and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved
David whithersoever he went.

15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and
justice unto all his people.

16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the
son of Ahilud was recorder;

17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were
the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the
Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

2 Samuel Chapter 9

1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul,
that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And
when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou
Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I
may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king,
Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the
son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come
unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said,
Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee
kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the
land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou
shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I
have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all
his house.

10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land
for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may
have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread
alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king
hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for
Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the
king's sons.

12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that
dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the
king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

2 Samuel Chapter 10

1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon
died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as
his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the
hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the
land of the children of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord,
Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent
comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee,
to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of
their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their
buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men
were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your
beards be grown, and then return.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the
children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the
Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand
men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the
mighty men.

8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the
entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and
Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and
behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array
against the Syrians:

10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his
brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt
help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I
will come and help thee.

12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for
the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the
battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then
fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab
returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they
gathered themselves together.

16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the
river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of
Hadarezer went before them.

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and
passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in
array against David, and fought with him.

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven
hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote
Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they
were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served
them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

2 Samuel Chapter 11

1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when
kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with
him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and
besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his
bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he
saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this
Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and
he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she
returned unto her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with
child.

6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab
sent Uriah to David.