unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
v88
2 Samuel
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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Literal Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
unfoldingWord® Simplified Text
Date: 2026-01-14
Version: v88
Published by: unfoldingWord®
Table of Contents
2 Samuel
2 Samuel 1
2 Samuel 1:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:1ULT:
And it happened after the death of Saul that David returned from striking Amalek. And David remained in Ziklag two days.
UST:
After they defeated the Amalekites, David and the men who were with him returned to the city of Ziklag. By that time, the Philistines had already killed Saul. David and his men stayed there that day and the next one {without receiving any news of the battle between the Philistines and Israelites}.
What did David do after defeating the Amalekites?
David returned from defeating the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days without receiving any news of the battle between the Philistines and Israelites.
2 Samuel 1:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:2ULT:
And it happened on the third day that, behold, a man came from the camp, from with Saul, and his clothes were torn, and dirt {was} on his head. And it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
UST:
But on the day after that, a young man unexpectedly arrived there who had been in the camp where Saul’s soldiers had set up their tents. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head to show that he was grieving. He came to David and knelt down and lay flat on the ground {to show respect for him}.
On the third day, who came to David from Saul’s camp?
On the third day, a man with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head came to David.
2 Samuel 1:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:3ULT:
And David said to him, “Where from this are you coming?”
And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
UST:
David asked him, “Where have you come from?” The man replied, “I have fled here from the camp where the Israelite soldiers set up their tents.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:4ULT:
And David said to him, “How was the matter? Declare to me, please.”
And he said that the people had fled from the battle, and also many from the people had fallen and died, and also Saul and Jonathan his son had died.
UST:
David asked him, “What happened? Please tell me about the battle!” The man replied, “The Philistines defeated our army so badly that our soldiers ran away. The Philistines killed many of them. They even killed King Saul and his son Jonathan.”
What did the young man say about Saul and Jonathan?
The young man said that Saul and his son Jonathan were killed.
2 Samuel 1:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:5ULT:
And David said to the young man, the one declaring to him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son died?”
UST:
David asked the young man who told him this, “How do you know that the Philistines killed Saul and Jonathan?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:6ULT:
And the young man, the one declaring to him, said, “Happening to be, I happened to be on the mountain of Gilboa, and behold, Saul was leaning on his spear. And behold, the chariots and the masters of the horsemen had overtaken him.
UST:
The young man replied, “As it happened, I was on Mount Gilboa {where the Israelites had fled from the Philistines}. I saw Saul. {He was wounded and} leaning on his spear {for support}. I noticed that the Philistine chariot drivers and the commanders of their soldiers on horseback {had seen him, and they all} were rushing toward him.
Where did the young man say he found Saul?
The young man said he was on Mount Gilboa, and Saul was there leaning on his spear.
2 Samuel 1:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:7ULT:
And he turned behind him, and he saw me. And he called to me, and I said, ‘Behold me.’
UST:
Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I called back, ‘What do you want me to do?’
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:8ULT:
And he said to me, ‘Who {are} you?’
And I said to him, ‘I {am} an Amalekite.’
UST:
He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
What did the young man say Saul asked him to do?
The young man said Saul asked him to stand over him and kill him.
2 Samuel 1:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:9ULT:
And he said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, for my life {is} still whole in me.’
UST:
Then he said to me, ‘I can no longer fight, because I am in such pain from my many wounds. But those wounds will not kill me. So please use one of the weapons here to kill me yourself.’
Why did Saul ask the young Amalekite man to kill him?
Saul asked the young Amalekite man to kill him because great agony had seized him, but his life was still in him.
2 Samuel 1:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:10ULT:
So I stood over him and killed him, for I knew that he would not live after his having fallen. And I took the crown that {was} on his head and the band that {was} on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”
UST:
I knew that the Philistines would soon come and kill him, so he was not going to live anyway. So I used one of the weapons there to kill him. Then I took the crown he had been wearing and his armband. Here they are for you to see, sir.”
After the young man killed Saul, what did he take from Saul?
The young man took the crown that was on Saul’s head and the band that was on his arm.
2 Samuel 1:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:11ULT:
And David seized his clothes and tore them, and also all of the men who {were} with him.
UST:
Then David took hold of his clothing and ripped it {to show how sad he was} All the men who were with him ripped their clothes as well.
What did David and his men do when they heard about the deaths of Saul and Jonathan? (1:11-12)
David and his men tore their clothes, and they mourned, wept, and fasted until evening.
2 Samuel 1:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:12ULT:
And they mourned and wept and fasted until the evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of Yahweh and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
UST:
They felt very sad, and they cried. They did not eat anything for the rest of that day. This was to honor and remember Saul and his son Jonathan and all of the Israelite soldiers whom the Philistines had killed in the battle. They were also very sorry for all of the Israelite people{, who had lost their king and many of their men and much of their territory}.
For whom else were David and his men mourning?
David and his men also mourned for the people of Yahweh and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
2 Samuel 1:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:13ULT:
And David said to the young man declaring to him, “Where from this {are} you?”
And he said, “I {am} the son of a man, a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
UST:
But then David asked the young man who had told him about the battle, “Where do you come from?” He replied, “I come from an Amalekite family, but we are living here in Israel.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:14ULT:
And David said to him, “How did you not fear to stretch out your hand to destroy the anointed of Yahweh?”
UST:
David told him, “You should have respected Saul as the man whom Yahweh chose to be the king of Israel and not dared to kill him!”
Why did David have the young Amalekite man killed? (1:14-15)
David had the young Amalekite man killed because the man’s own words testified that he had killed Yahweh’s anointed.
2 Samuel 1:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:15ULT:
And David called to one of the young men, and he said, “Approach, attack him!” And he struck him, and he died.
UST:
Then David summoned one of his soldiers and told him, “Come over here and kill this man!” So the soldier came over and killed him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:16ULT:
And David said to him, “Your blood {is} on your head, for your mouth answered against you, saying, ‘I myself killed the anointed of Yahweh.’”
UST:
David said to the Amalekite, “You yourself said, ‘I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.’ So you admitted that you were guilty and deserved to die!”
Why did David have the young Amalekite man killed?
David had the young Amalekite man killed because the man’s own words testified that he had killed Yahweh’s anointed.
2 Samuel 1:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:17ULT:
Then David lamented this lamentation for Saul and for Jonathan his son.
UST:
Then David composed a sad song about Saul and Jonathan.
Where is the funeral song that David sang for Saul and Jonathan written? (1:17-18)
The song is written in the Book of Jashar.
2 Samuel 1:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:18ULT:
And he said to teach the sons of Judah “The Bow.” Behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar:
UST:
He called this song “The Bow.” {When David became the king of Judah shortly afterward,} he told his officials to teach this song to the people of Judah. You can find the words in the Book of Jashar{. These are the words to the song}:
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:19ULT:
“The splendor of Israel {is} slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
UST:
“You Israelite people, the Philistines have pursued your great warriors even onto the mountains and killed them there! It is very sad that these strong soldiers have died!
What was slain on Israel’s high places?
The splendor of Israel was slain there.
2 Samuel 1:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:20ULT:
May they not declare {it} in Gath, may they not proclaim {it} in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
UST:
Do not let anyone who lives in cities such as Gath and Ashkelon find out about this! Otherwise, the women among the pagan Philistines will have victory celebrations.
Why did David not want the news of the defeat proclaimed in Gath or Ashkelon?
He did not want the daughters of the Philistines to rejoice or triumph.
2 Samuel 1:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:21ULT:
Mountains in Gilboa, {may} not dew and {may} not rain {be} upon you, nor fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was loathed, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
UST:
The shield of Saul, that mighty king, remains on the ground on Mount Gilboa. No one is caring for it by rubbing it with olive oil. So I hope there will never be rain or dew there again {so that the shield does not rust}. I hope that there is so little rain that the fields do not even produce the small amount of grain that someone would bring as an offering.
Where does the shield of the Saul, the mighty king, remain?
The shield of the mighty king remains on ground on Mount Gilboa.
2 Samuel 1:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:22ULT:
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn itself back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.
UST:
When Jonathan shot arrows from his bow at enemy soldiers, the arrows struck them so that they bled and died. When Saul stabbed strong men with his sword, he wounded them so deeply that they died.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:23ULT:
Saul and Jonathan {were} being loved and delightful in their lives, and in their death they were not separated.
They were swifter than eagles, they were mightier than lions.
UST:
People loved Saul and Jonathan. They delighted many people during their lives. And they died fighting together against their enemies. They were warriors who could run fast, as eagles fly fast, and who were strong, as lions are strong.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:24ULT:
Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, the one having clothed you {in} scarlet with delights, the one having put an ornament of gold on your clothing.
UST:
You women in Israel should mourn for Saul. He made Israel a safe and prosperous place in which you had beautiful scarlet clothes and expensive jewelry and gold ornaments to wear.
What did Saul do for the daughters of Israel?
He made Israel a safe and prosperous place in which they had beautiful scarlet clothes and expensive jewelry and gold ornaments to wear.
2 Samuel 1:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:25ULT:
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan {is} slain on your high places.
UST:
It is very sad that Jonathan, that strong soldier, has died while fighting a war! The Philistines pursued him even onto a mountain and killed him there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 1:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:26ULT:
It is narrow to me concerning you, my brother Jonathan! You were very pleasant to me.
Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.
UST:
Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you. You were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful way. It was much better than the fleeting feelings of romance that men and women have for each other.
How did David describe his love for Jonathan?
David said Jonathan’s love for him was more wonderful than the love of women.
2 Samuel 1:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 1:27ULT:
How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!”
UST:
It is very sad that these strong soldiers have died. Saul and Jonathan are not using their sword and bow anymore.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2
2 Samuel 2:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:1ULT:
And it happened after this that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah?”
And Yahweh said to him, “Go up.”
And David said, “Where shall I go up?”
And he said, “To Hebron.”
UST:
Sometime after that, David asked Yahweh, “Should I return to Judah and live in one of the cities there?” Yahweh replied, “Yes, return to Judah.” Then David asked, “To which city should I go?” Yahweh replied, “You should go to Hebron.”
What did David ask Yahweh, and what was the reply?
David asked if he should go up to one of the cities of Judah, and Yahweh told him to go up.
When David inquired further, to which city did Yahweh tell David to go?
Yahweh told David to go to Hebron.
2 Samuel 2:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:2ULT:
So David went up there, and also the two of his wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
UST:
So David went to Hebron. He brought his two wives with him. They were Ahinoam, who was from the city of Jezreel, and Abigail, who was from the city of Carmel. She had been married to Nabal before he died.
Who went up with David to Hebron? (2:2-3)
David went up to Hebron with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and all his men and their families.
2 Samuel 2:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:3ULT:
And his men who {were} with him, David brought up, a man and his house. And they dwelled in the cities of Hebron.
UST:
David also brought the men who had been with him, together with their families. They all settled in the city of Hebron and in the surrounding towns and villages.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:4ULT:
And the men of Judah came, and they anointed David there as king over the house of Judah.
And they declared to David, saying, “{It was} the men of Jabesh Gilead who buried Saul.”
UST:
Then the men who were the leaders of the tribe of Judah came to Hebron. One of them poured olive oil on David’s head to show they were appointing him to be the king of the tribe of Judah. Someone told David how soldiers from the city of Jabesh in the region of Gilead had recaptured Saul’s body {from the wall of Beth Shan} and how the people of that city had buried his body honorably.
What did the men of Judah do when they came to David?
The men of Judah came and anointed David as king over the house of Judah.
2 Samuel 2:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:5ULT:
And David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and he said to them, “Blessed {are} you by Yahweh, that you have done this kindness with your master, with Saul, and have buried him.
UST:
So David sent messengers to the people who lived in that city. He told the messengers to tell them, “I hope that Yahweh will do good things for you because you buried Saul’s body honorably. By doing that, you treated Saul with the loyalty that he deserved as your king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:6ULT:
And now, may Yahweh do kindness and faithfulness with you. And I myself will also do this good with you because you have done this thing.
UST:
So this is what I hope will happen. I hope that Yahweh will be just as loyal to you all the time. And I will personally do good things for you because of the good way you treated Saul.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:7ULT:
And now, may your hands be strong, and be sons of valor, for your master Saul has died, and also the house of Judah has anointed me as king over them.”
UST:
Now this is what I hope you will do. Even though Saul, who was your king, has died, do not become discouraged. Instead, continue to fight bravely against the Philistines. The people of the tribe of Judah have appointed me to be their king{, and I will lead their army to come and help you as soon as I can}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:8ULT:
But Abner, the son of Ner, the commander of the army that {was} to Saul, took Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, and brought him over {to} Mahanaim.
UST:
But instead, Abner son of Ner, who had been Saul’s army commander, brought Ish Bosheth son of Saul across the Jordan River to the city of Mahanaim.
Who was Abner?
Abner was the son of Ner and the commander of Saul’s army.
What did Abner do with Ishbosheth, the son of Saul? (2:8-9)
Abner took Ishbosheth to Mahanaim and made him king of all the territory that would later be the northern kingdom of Israel.
2 Samuel 2:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:9ULT:
And he made him rule over Gilead and over the Ashurite and over Jezreel and over Ephraim and over Benjamin and over Israel, all of it.
UST:
So that Ish Bosheth could rule over it, Abner steadily reconquered the territory that the Philistines had captured from the Israelites. Ish Bosheth first ruled the region of Gilead east of the Jordan River, which the Philistines had not captured. Abner then reconquered the territory west of the Jordan River and north of the Valley of Jezreel, where the people of tribes such as Asher lived. Abner then reconquered the Valley of Jezreel itself. He then reconquered the territory west of the Jordan River and south of the Valley of Jezreel, where the people of tribes such as Ephraim lived. Abner was able to reconquer that territory all the way south to the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. That made Ish Bosheth the king of all the territory that would later be the northern kingdom of Israel{after it divided from the southern kingdom of Judah}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:10ULT:
Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, {was} a son of 40 years when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. Nevertheless, the house of Judah were behind David.
UST:
Ish Bosheth son of Saul was 40 years old when he started to rule over the Israelite people. He ruled them for two years. But David was the king of the people of the tribe of Judah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:11ULT:
And the number of the days that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
UST:
David ruled them for seven and a half years while he was living in Hebron.
How long was David king in Hebron over the house of Judah?
David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah for seven years and six months.
2 Samuel 2:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:12ULT:
Now Abner, the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
UST:
One day Abner son of Ner led some soldiers from the army of Ish Bosheth son of Saul across the Jordan River from Mahanaim to the city of Gibeon.
Where did Joab’s men and Abner’s men meet? (2:12-13)
They met near the large pool of Gibeon, staying on opposite sides of the pool.
2 Samuel 2:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:13ULT:
And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David went out and encountered them together by the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, these by the pool on this {side} and these by the pool on that {side}.
UST:
Joab son of Zeruiah led a group of David’s soldiers from Hebron to Gibeon. They found Abner and his soldiers near the large pool of water there. Joab had his soldiers stay on one side of the pool and sit down. Abner had his soldiers sit down on the other side.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:14ULT:
Then Abner said to Joab, “May the young men now arise and play to our faces.”
And Joab said, “May they arise.”
UST:
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have some of our soldiers fight each other while the rest of us watch!” Joab replied, “Yes, let us do that!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:15ULT:
So they arose and crossed over, 12 by number to Benjamin and to Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, and 12 from the servants of David.
UST:
So Abner chose 12 men from his own tribe of Benjamin to fight on behalf of Ish Bosheth son of Saul. They went over to the other side of the pool and fought against 12 soldiers whom Joab chose to fight on behalf of David.
How many young men fought before Joab and Abner?
Twelve men from Benjamin for Ishbosheth and twelve men from David’s soldiers fought.
2 Samuel 2:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:16ULT:
And they seized, a man his fellow by the head, and his sword in the side of his fellow, and they fell together. So one called that place Helkath Hazzurim, which {is} in Gibeon.
UST:
Each soldier grabbed the man he was fighting against by the hair. That enabled him to thrust his dagger into that man’s side. The result was that these 24 soldiers all killed each other. That is why people now call the place near Gibeon where they fought Helkath Hazzurim.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:17ULT:
And the battle was severe to extremity on that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were struck to the face of the servants of David.
UST:
Then the two whole groups of soldiers started fighting each other. It was a very fierce battle. But as they fought, David’s soldiers defeated Abner and the soldiers from the other tribes of Israel.
Who won the battle that day?
The soldiers of David defeated Abner and the soldiers from the other tribes of Israel.
2 Samuel 2:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:18ULT:
Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel {was} light on his feet, like one of the gazelles that {are} in the field.
UST:
Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, Zeruiah’s three sons, were in that battle. Asahel was able to run very fast, the way wild gazelles run very fast.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:19ULT:
And Asahel pursued after Abner, and he did not turn aside to go to the right or to the left from after Abner.
UST:
When Abner fled from the battle, Asahel chased him. No matter which way Abner went to try to escape, Asahel kept following him.
Which son of Zeruiah pursued Abner?
Asahel pursued Abner.
2 Samuel 2:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:20ULT:
And Abner turned behind him, and he said, “{Is} this you, Asahel?”
And he said, “{It is} I.”
UST:
Abner looked behind him to see who was chasing him. He called out, “Is that you, Asahel?” Asahel answered, “Yes, it is!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:21ULT:
And Abner said to him, “Turn aside for yourself to your right or to your left and seize for yourself one of the young men and take for yourself his spoil.” But Asahel was not willing to turn from behind him.
UST:
Abner shouted back, “Chase somebody else! Try to catch one of the younger soldiers and defeat him and take his armor.” But Asahel would not stop chasing Abner.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:22ULT:
And Abner continued still, saying to Asahel, “Turn aside for yourself from behind me. Why should I strike you to the ground? Then how would I lift my face to Joab your brother?”
UST:
So Abner shouted at him again, “Stop chasing me! Do not make me fight you, because I would kill you. Then I could never again have a peaceful relationship with your brother Joab, because he would want to get revenge against me.”
How did Abner try to convince Asahel to stop pursuing him?
Abner warned Asahel that if he had to strike him down, he could never again have a peaceful relationship with Asahel’s brother Joab.
2 Samuel 2:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:23ULT:
But he refused to turn aside, so Abner struck him with the back end of the spear in the stomach, and the spear came out from his back. And he fell there, and he died under him. And it happened, every one coming to the place where Asahel fell there and died, that they stood.
UST:
But Asahel refused to stop chasing Abner. So Abner let Asahel nearly catch him, then he suddenly stopped and swung the butt end of his spear into Asahel’s stomach as he was still running fast toward him. The force was so great that the end of the spear went right through Asahel’s stomach and came out his back. Asahel was wounded so badly that he fell down and died right there. When other soldiers came to the place where Asahel’s dead body was lying in the roadway, they all stopped and stood there.
What happened to Asahel when he refused to stop pursuing Abner?
Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt end of his spear, and the spear went right through his stomach and came out of his back, so Asahel fell and died there.
2 Samuel 2:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:24ULT:
But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner, and the sun was coming in, and they themselves came to the hill of Ammah, which {is} on the face of Giah, the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
UST:
But when Joab and Abishai saw what had happened, they ran off in pursuit of Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah, which is near the town of Giah along the road that leads into the desolate area near Gibeon.
To what location did Joab and Abishai pursue Abner?
Joab and Abishai pursued Abner to the hill of Ammah, which is near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
2 Samuel 2:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:25ULT:
Now the sons of Benjamin had gathered themselves behind Abner, and they had become one troop. And they stood on the head of one hill.
UST:
The soldiers who had come with Abner were from the tribe of Benjamin. He had regrouped them into a line of battle on the top of that hill.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:26ULT:
And Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter at the last? So until when will you not say to the people to turn from after their brothers?”
UST:
Then Abner called out to Joab, “We should not continue this deadly battle any longer! You must realize that if we continue fighting, many people will suffer great harm. We are all Israelites, so please tell your soldiers right now to stop chasing us!”
What did Abner say to stop Joab from pursuing him? (2:26-27)
Abner called out to Joab that they should not continue this deadly battle any longer. He told Joab to realize that if they continue fighting, many people will suffer great harm. He said that they are all Israelites, and asked Joab to please tell his soldiers right now to stop chasing Abner and his soldiers.
2 Samuel 2:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:27ULT:
And Joab said, “The life of God, that if you had not spoken, that then from the morning the people would have taken itself up, a man from after his brother.”
UST:
Joab replied, “Even if you had not said that, I would certainly have told my soldiers tonight to stop chasing their fellow Israelites. I swear by God that this is true.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:28ULT:
Then Joab blew on the shofar, and all of the people stood, and they did not still pursue after Israel, and they did not still continue to fight.
UST:
Then Joab blew a long, loud note on a ram’s horn to signal that his soldiers should stop fighting. So all his men stopped where they were and no longer pursued the soldiers from the other tribes of Israel. That was the end of that battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:29ULT:
And Abner and his men walked through the Arabah all of that night, and they crossed the Jordan, and they walked all of the morning, and they came {to} Mahanaim.
UST:
That night Abner led his soldiers back through the Jordan River valley. They crossed the river and marched all the next morning. Then they finally arrived back at Mahanaim.
Where did Abner and his men travel?
Abner and his men marched back to Mahanaim.
2 Samuel 2:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:30ULT:
And Joab returned from after Abner, and he assembled all of the people. And 19 men and Asahel were missing from the servants of David.
UST:
After his soldiers stopped chasing Abner, Joab gathered them all together. He counted them, and he found out that besides Asahel, 19 of them had died in the battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:31ULT:
But the servants of David had struck from Benjamin and among the men of Abner 360 men, they had died.
UST:
But David’s soldiers had killed 360 soldiers from the tribe of Benjamin and among the soldiers from other tribes who had come to Gibeon with Abner.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 2:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 2:32ULT:
And they took up Asahel, and they buried him in the tomb of his father, which {was in} Bethlehem. And Joab and his men walked all of the night, and it became light for them at Hebron.
UST:
Some of Joab’s soldiers carried Asahel’s body from the battlefield to the town of Bethlehem and buried it in the same tomb where people had buried his father. Then Joab and his soldiers marched all through the night, and at dawn they arrived back home at Hebron.
Where did Joab and his men travel?
Joab and his men traveled to Hebron to bury Asahel’s body in the tomb of his father at Bethlehem. Then they marched all night, going back to Hebron, their home.
2 Samuel 3
2 Samuel 3:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:1ULT:
And the war was long between the house of Saul and between the house of David. And David was going and strong, but the house of Saul were going and weak.
UST:
After that, the people who wanted Saul’s son to be the next king fought a long war against those who wanted David to be the king. As the war continued, more people began to support David, while fewer people supported Saul’s son.
In the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, who grew stronger and who grew weaker?
The house of David grew stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker.
2 Samuel 3:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:2ULT:
Now sons were born to David in Hebron.
And his firstborn was Amnon, to Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.
UST:
After David moved to Hebron, his wives gave birth to sons. The oldest was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from the city of Jezreel.
Who were David’s first three sons born to him in Hebron? (3:2-3)
Amnon, Chileab, and Absalom were the first three sons born to David in Hebron.
2 Samuel 3:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:3ULT:
And his second {was} Chileab, to Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
And the third {was} Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur.
UST:
The next son was Chileab, whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, from the city of Carmel. The next son was Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, the king of the region of Geshur.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:4ULT:
And the fourth {was} Adonijah, the son of Haggith.
And the fifth {was} Shephatiah, the son of Abital.
UST:
The next son was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith. The next son was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:5ULT:
And the sixth {was} Ithream, to Eglah, the wife of David.
These were born to David in Hebron.
UST:
The youngest son was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, another one of David’s wives. Their mothers all gave birth to these sons of David in Hebron.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:6ULT:
And it happened, when the war was between the house of Saul and between the house of David, that Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul.
UST:
During the war between those who wanted Saul’s son to be the next king and those who wanted David to be the king, Abner became a powerful leader among those who wanted Saul’s son to be the king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:7ULT:
And a concubine {was} to Saul, and her name {was} Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And he said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to the concubine of my father?”
UST:
Saul had a secondary wife whose name was Rizpah. Aiah was her father. One day Ishbosheth accused Abner of having sexual relations with her.
What did Ishbosheth accuse Abner of doing? (3:7-8)
Ishbosheth accused Abner of doing something wrong by having sexual relations with his father Saul’s concubine.
2 Samuel 3:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:8ULT:
And it burned greatly to Abner concerning the words of Ish Bosheth. And he said, “{Am} I the head of a dog that {is} to Judah? Today I am doing kindness with the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and I have not delivered you into the hand of David. Yet today you charge against me the iniquity of a woman!
UST:
Abner became very angry about what Ish Bosheth said to him. He said to Ish Bosheth, “I am not some disloyal person from the tribe of Judah! From the beginning I have been loyal to Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends. And I have kept David’s army from defeating you. So you should not be accusing me now of doing something wrong with this woman!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:9ULT:
Thus may God do to Abner, and thus may he add to him, if, according to what Yahweh has sworn to David, that thus I will do for him,
UST:
Yahweh solemnly promised David that he would make him the next king instead of one of Saul’s descendants. He promised to make David the ruler not just of the tribe of Judah but also of all the other tribes of Israel. He promised that David would rule all the territory extending from the city of Dan far in the north to the city of Beersheba far in the south. I am going to make that happen! If I do not, may God take away my position and my possessions and do even worse things to me.” (vv9-10)
After Ishbosheth’s accusation, what did Abner swear he would do? (3:9-10)
Abner swore that he would transfer the kingdom from Saul’s house to David and establish David’s throne over all Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 3:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:10ULT:
to cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul and to raise up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan and to Beersheba.”
UST:
Yahweh solemnly promised David that he would make him the next king instead of one of Saul’s descendants. He promised to make David the ruler not just of the tribe of Judah but also of all the other tribes of Israel. He promised that David would rule all the territory extending from the city of Dan far in the north to the city of Beersheba far in the south. I am going to make that happen! If I do not, may God take away my position and my possessions and do even worse things to me.” (vv9-10)
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:11ULT:
And he was not able to return a further word {to} Abner, because of his fearing him.
UST:
What Abner said made Ishbosheth so afraid of him that he could not say anything to him in reply.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:12ULT:
And Abner sent messengers to David in place of him, saying, “To whom {is} the land?” saying, “Cut your covenant with me, and behold, my hand {will be} with you to make all of Israel turn to you.”
UST:
Then Abner sent some of his men to David at Hebron with this message: “I am the most powerful leader among the other tribes of Israel. So if you make an agreement with me, then I can help you. I will make all the people of Israel want you to be their king.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:13ULT:
And he said, “Good, I, I will cut a covenant with you. Only one thing I am asking from you, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless you bring Michal, the daughter of Saul, to my face when you come to see my face.’”
UST:
David told the messengers to tell Abner. “All right, I am willing to make an agreement with you. But there is one thing you must do. Otherwise, I will not meet with you so that we can make that agreement in person. When you come to meet with me, you must bring my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, to me.”
What was David’s one condition for making a covenant with Abner?
Abner had to bring his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when he came to see David.
2 Samuel 3:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:14ULT:
And David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, saying, “Give {me} my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with 100 foreskins of Philistines.”
UST:
{Abner agreed to get Michal for David.} So David sent messengers to Ish Bosheth to tell him, “I killed 100 Philistine soldiers and cut off their foreskins to give to Saul to pay for Michal to be my wife. So now, give her back to me!”
What price had David paid for Michal to be his wife?
David had paid the price of 100 Philistine foreskins for Michal.
2 Samuel 3:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:15ULT:
And Ish Bosheth sent and took her from with {her} husband, from with Paltiel, the son of Laish.
UST:
Saul had taken Michal away from David and given her to Paltiel son of Laish. But Ish Bosheth sent some men to take Michal away from Paltiel.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:16ULT:
And her husband went with her, going and weeping after her, to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned.
UST:
But when they took her, Paltiel followed her, crying as he went along. But when they reached the city of Bahurim, Abner told him, “You must go back home!” So he did.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:17ULT:
Now the word of Abner had been with the elders of Israel, saying, “Both yesterday and the third day you were seeking David as king over you.
UST:
{Before going to see David,} Abner had sent messengers to the Israelite leaders to tell them, “I know that for a long time you have wanted David to be your king.
What did Abner tell the elders of Israel to do? (3:17-18)
Abner told the elders to make David their king, since Yahweh spoke about David, saying that by the hand of his servant David my servant, he would save his people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all of their enemies.
2 Samuel 3:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:18ULT:
And now, do {it}, for Yahweh spoke about David, saying, ‘By the hand of David my servant, I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all of their enemies.’”
UST:
So this is what you should do. Make him your king now. Keep in mind that Yahweh spoke of David as someone who served him well. Remember that he said he would use David to rescue us Israelites, his people, from the Philistines and all the other enemies who would oppress us.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:19ULT:
And Abner had also spoken in the ears of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that {had been} good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of all of the house of Benjamin.
UST:
Abner had also spoken personally with the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin{, to which Saul had belonged}. The people of that tribe and of all the other Israelite tribes had agreed to make David their king. So Abner went to Hebron to tell David that personally.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:20ULT:
And Abner came to David {in} Hebron, and with him {were} 20 men. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who {were} with him.
UST:
Abner respectfully brought 20 of his soldiers with him when he went to see David at Hebron. David served a feast to all of them.
What did David do for Abner when Abner and his twenty men arrived in Hebron?
David made a feast for Abner and his men.
2 Samuel 3:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:21ULT:
Then Abner said to David, “Let me arise and go and gather to my lord the king all of Israel so they may cut a covenant with you so you may reign over all that your soul desires.” And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
UST:
After they had eaten, Abner said to David, “Sir, I know that you have wanted to be the king of all the Israelites. Let me now go and get leaders from all the tribes of Israel and bring them here so they can make an agreement with you to be their king.” David agreed, and he allowed Abner and his men to leave safely.
What did Abner tell David he planned to do?
Abner said he would gather all of Israel to David so they could make a covenant with him, and so David could reign over all that he desired.
2 Samuel 3:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:22ULT:
And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid, and they brought much plunder with them. But Abner, he {was} not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace.
UST:
While Abner was visiting with David, Joab was leading David’s soldiers to attack some of their enemies. They defeated those enemies and captured many valuable possessions. When they brought what they had captured back to Hebron, Abner was no longer there, since David had already sent him away safely.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:23ULT:
And Joab and all of the army that {was} with him came, and they declared to Joab, saying, “Abner, the son of Ner, came to the king, and he sent him away, and he went in peace.”
UST:
When Joab and the soldiers who were with him arrived, someone told Joab that Abner had come there and talked with the king and that the king had allowed Abner to leave safely.
How did David and Abner part ways?
David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.
2 Samuel 3:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:24ULT:
And Joab came to the king, and he said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you! Why {is} this, you have sent him away, and going, he has gone?
UST:
So Joab went to the king and said, “You should not have done that! Listen to me! You had Abner, the commander of your enemy’s army, right here where you could have made him your prisoner. But instead, you allowed him to leave, and now he has gotten away!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:25ULT:
You know Abner, the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in and to know all that you are doing!”
UST:
You know what kind of person Abner son of Ner is! He only pretended that he wanted to make an agreement with you. He really wanted to find out how you lead your armies and what plans you were making!”
What did Joab accuse Abner of doing?
Joab accused Abner of coming to deceive David and to learn all about his plans.
2 Samuel 3:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:26ULT:
And Joab went out from with David, and he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know.
UST:
Then Joab left David and sent some messengers to get Abner. They found him at the cistern of Sirah and brought him back to Hebron. David did not know that they had done this.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:27ULT:
And Abner returned {to} Hebron, and Joab turned him aside to the middle of the gate to speak with him in quiet. And he struck him there {in} the stomach, and he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
UST:
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pretended he wanted to speak with him privately. He led him into the shaded area between the inner and outer gate in the city wall. But there he stabbed Abner in the stomach and killed him. Joab did that to get revenge against Abner for killing his brother Asahel.
What did Joab do after he had Abner brought back to Hebron?
To avenge the death of his brother Asahel, Joab took Abner aside to the middle of the gate and struck him in the stomach, and he died.
2 Samuel 3:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:28ULT:
And David heard after this, and he said, “I and my kingdom {are} innocent from with Yahweh forever from the blood of Abner, the son of Ner.
UST:
David later found out what had happened. He said, “I was not involved in any way in the murder of Abner son of Ner. So may Yahweh never punish me or any of my descendants who are kings after me for his death.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:29ULT:
May it writhe on the head of Joab and to all of the house of his father, and may not be cut off from the house of Joab one discharging or one stricken with leprosy or one holding onto a staff or one falling by the sword or a destitute of bread.”
UST:
May Yahweh punish Joab and his relatives instead. I hope that there will always be someone in his family who has sores or who is a leper or who cannot walk without a crutch or who dies in battle or who does not have enough food to eat!”
Why did David curse Joab for murdering Abner? (3:29-30)
Joab and Abishai his brother had murdered Abner because he had killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle. They should not have taken revenge.
After Joab killed Abner, what curse did David pronounce on Joab’s family?
David pronounced a curse that the guilt for Abner’s blood would be on Joab and his father’s house forever. He asked that there will always be someone in Joab’s family who has sores or who is a leper or who cannot walk without a crutch or who dies in battle or who does not have enough food to eat.
2 Samuel 3:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:30ULT:
Now Joab and Abishai his brother had murdered Abner because he had killed Asahel their brother at Gibeon in the battle.
UST:
{David cursed Joab in this way because it was not right for} Joab and his brother Abishai to have murdered Abner. He had killed their brother Asahel in battle at Gibeon{, so they should not have taken revenge}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:31ULT:
And David said to Joab and to all of the people who {were} with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn to the face of Abner.” And King David was walking behind the bier.
UST:
Then David told Joab and all of his soldiers, “I want you to tear your clothes and wear rough cloth {to show that you are sad that Abner has died}!” When men carried Abner’s body to his grave in a casket, King David walked right behind it {to honor him}.
What did David tell Joab and all the people with him to do?
David told them to tear their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.
2 Samuel 3:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:32ULT:
And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all of the people wept.
UST:
They buried Abner’s body at Hebron. At Abner’s grave, King David cried loudly, and all the other people also cried.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:33ULT:
And the king lamented for Abner, and he said, “Should Abner have died like the death of a fool?
UST:
Then King David sang a sad song about Abner. He sang, “It was not right for Abner to die like a criminal!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:34ULT:
Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put in shackles. As falling to the face of sons of wickedness, you have fallen.”
And all of the people added to weep for him.
UST:
No one tied his hands or put chains on his feet, as they would have done if he had been guilty of a crime. No, men murdered him unjustly!” After the other people heard David sing this song for Abner, they cried even more sadly.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:35ULT:
Then all of the people came to make David eat bread while {it was} still day, but David swore, saying, “Thus may God do to me, and thus may he add, that if to the face of the coming in of the sun I taste bread or any of a thing.”
UST:
Later that day some people came and invited David to join in the customary funeral meal. But David refused {since he wanted to go without eating to show how sad he was that Abner had died}. He said, “I swear that I will not even taste any kind of food for the rest of this day {on which we buried Abner}! If I do, I hope that God will make very bad things happen to me.”
What did David swear when the people urged him to eat?
David swore an oath that he would not taste bread or anything else for the rest of this day.
2 Samuel 3:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:36ULT:
And all of the people noticed, and it was good in their eyes, as everything that the king did was good in the eyes of all of the people.
UST:
Everyone who was present at the funeral saw what David did, and it pleased them, just as other things that King David had done had pleased the people he ruled.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 3:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:37ULT:
So all of the people and all of Israel knew on that day that it had not been from the king to kill Abner, the son of Ner.
UST:
{Because he had mourned deeply and sincerely for Abner,} the people of the tribe of Judah and the people of all the other tribes of Israel realized then that King David had not wanted Joab to kill Abner.
What did all the people of Israel understand from David’s mourning for Abner?
They understood that the king had not wanted Joab to kill Abner.
2 Samuel 3:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:38ULT:
And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a commander and great has fallen this day in Israel?
UST:
King David told his officials, “I hope you realize that a great leader has now died in Israel.
What did the king say to his servants about Abner?
The king told his servants that a commander and a great man had fallen that day in Israel.
2 Samuel 3:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 3:39ULT:
And I {am} weak today, though anointed king. For these men, the sons of Zeruiah, {are} more harsh than I. May Yahweh repay the one doing evil according to his evil.”
UST:
Even though Yahweh appointed me to be the king, I now feel weak. These two sons of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, are very violent. I cannot control them. So I hope that Yahweh will punish them as they deserve for this wicked thing that they have done!”
What did David hope for the sons of Zeruiah?
David hoped that Yahweh would repay the evildoer according to his evil.
2 Samuel 4
2 Samuel 4:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:1ULT:
And the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, and his hands dropped, and all of Israel was terrified.
UST:
When Saul’s son Ishbosheth heard that Joab had killed Abner at Hebron, he lost his courage. The people of the Israelite tribes he ruled worried greatly about what would happen next.
What caused Ishbosheth’s hands to become weak?
When Ishbosheth heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became weak.
2 Samuel 4:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:2ULT:
Now two men, commanders of troops, were {to} the son of Saul. The name of the one {was} Baanah, and the name of the second {was} Rechab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, from the sons of Benjamin, for Beeroth is also reckoned to Benjamin.
UST:
Two of the officers who led groups of soldiers for Ishbosheth were brothers whose names were Baanah and Rechab. Their father was Rimmon. They came from the city of Beeroth. People considered them to be Benjaminites because Beeroth is within the territory that Joshua assigned to the tribe of Benjamin.
What were the names of two of Ishbosheth’s commanders?
The names of two of his commanders were Baanah and Rechab.
2 Samuel 4:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:3ULT:
(But the Beerothites had fled to Gittaim, and they have been sojourning there to this day.)
UST:
(But the {original Gibeonite} inhabitants of Beeroth had fled to the town of Gittaim, and they are still staying there now.)
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 4:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:4ULT:
Now to Jonathan, the son of Saul, {was} a son, lame of feet. He was a son of five years when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. And his nurse picked him up and fled. And it happened, when she hurried to flee, that he fell and became lame. And his name {was} Mephibosheth.
UST:
Saul’s son Jonathan had a son whose name was Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was five years old when Saul and Jonathan died in the battle at Jezreel. When people came to Gibeah and told what had happened, Mephibosheth’s nursemaid picked him up and ran away {to escape from the Philistines}. She ran so fast that she dropped him. That injured his legs, so that he could no longer walk well.
What was the name of Jonathan’s son who was crippled in his feet?
The name of Jonathan’s son who was crippled in his feet was Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 4:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:5ULT:
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and they came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish Bosheth, and he was lying {on} the bed of noon.
UST:
One day, Rimmon’s sons Rechab and Baanah traveled to Ish Bosheth’s house. They arrived there at the hottest time of the day. Ish Bosheth was lying on a bed in a cool part of his house where he rested when it was hot.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 4:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:6ULT:
And behold, they came to the midst of the house, takers of wheat, and they struck him in the stomach. And Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
UST:
Rechab and Baanah acted as if they were going into the house to get some wheat to give to their soldiers. This allowed them to get as far into the house as Ish Bosheth’s private bedroom. He was asleep on his bed. They killed him by stabbing him in the stomach with their swords. Then they cut off his head. Rechab and Baanah fled from the house, carrying Ish Bosheth’s head. They walked all night through the plain along the Jordan River (vv6-7)
How did Rechab and Baanah get into Ishbosheth’s house?
They went into the middle of the house as if they were getting wheat.
2 Samuel 4:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:7ULT:
For they entered the house, and he was lying on his bed in the chamber of his bed, and they struck him, and they killed him, and they removed his head. And they took his head, and they walked the way of the Arabah all of the night.
UST:
Rechab and Baanah acted as if they were going into the house to get some wheat to give to their soldiers. This allowed them to get as far into the house as Ish Bosheth’s private bedroom. He was asleep on his bed. They killed him by stabbing him in the stomach with their swords. Then they cut off his head. Rechab and Baanah fled from the house, carrying Ish Bosheth’s head. They walked all night through the plain along the Jordan River (vv6-7)
What did Rechab and Baanah do once they were inside Ishbosheth’s house?
They went to his private bedroom and they stabbed and killed him as he was lying asleep on his bed, and then they removed his head.
2 Samuel 4:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:8ULT:
And they brought the head of Ish Bosheth to David {at} Hebron, and they said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ish Bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Now Yahweh has given to my lord the king vengeance this day against Saul and against his seed.”
UST:
so they could go to Hebron. When they got there, they presented Ish Bosheth’s head to David. They told him, “Here is the head of Ish Bosheth, the son of your enemy Saul, who tried to kill you! Your Majesty, today Yahweh has allowed you to get revenge on Saul and his descendants.”
Where did Rechab and Baanah go after they killed Ishbosheth?
They brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron.
2 Samuel 4:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:9ULT:
But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and he said to them, “The life of Yahweh, who rescued my life from every distress,
UST:
But David replied to them, “I swear by Yahweh, who was the one who kept Saul from killing me, that what I am about to say is true.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 4:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:10ULT:
that the one declaring to me, saying, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and in his eyes he was like a bringer of {good} news, that I seized him, and I killed him at Ziklag, which {was} me giving him a reward for good news.
UST:
When a messenger came to Ziklag and told me that he had killed Saul, he thought he was bringing news that I would be glad to hear. But instead, I told one of my soldiers to kill him. He expected me to reward him for bringing this news, but I gave him what he really deserved.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 4:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:11ULT:
How much more, when wicked men have murdered a righteous man in his house on his bed! And now, shall I not seek his blood from your hand and consume you from the earth?”
UST:
If I punished him by killing him, I should certainly do the same to you. You two evil men murdered a man who had done nothing wrong, and you killed him while he was sleeping on his bed in his own house! Because you murdered him, it is right for me to punish you by executing you. I am going to remove you completely from the earth!”
What did David say about Rechab and Baanah?
David said they were wicked men who had murdered a righteous man in his own house on his bed.
2 Samuel 4:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 4:12ULT:
And David commanded the young men, and they killed them, and they cut off their hands and their feet, and they hung {them} beside the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ish Bosheth, they took and buried in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
UST:
Then David gave orders to his soldiers, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and their feet and hung them near the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish Bosheth and buried it respectfully in the tomb of Abner, there at Hebron.
On David’s orders, what did the young men do to Rechab and Baanah?
The young men killed Rechab and Baanah, cut off their hands and feet, and hung them beside the pool at Hebron.
What did David have done with the head of Ishbosheth?
David had the head of Ishbosheth buried in Abner’s grave in Hebron.
2 Samuel 5
2 Samuel 5:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:1ULT:
And all of the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. And they spoke, saying, “Behold us, we {are} your bone and your flesh.
UST:
Then the leaders of all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They told him, “Listen, {even though we belong to different tribes,} we are all Israelites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:2ULT:
Both yesterday and the third day, when Saul was king over us, you, you were the one bringing out and bringing in Israel. And Yahweh said to you, ‘You, you will shepherd my people Israel, and you, you will become the ruler over Israel.’”
UST:
Previously, even though Saul was our king, you were the one who led our soldiers into battle. Yahweh promised you, ‘You will be the leader of the Israelite people, who belong to me. You will be their king.’”
What did the tribes of Israel say Yahweh had promised David?
They said Yahweh had promised that David would shepherd his people Israel and become their ruler.
2 Samuel 5:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:3ULT:
Then all of the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut for them a covenant in Hebron to the face of Yahweh. And they anointed David as king over Israel.
UST:
Then, with Yahweh as their witness, all the leaders of the people of Israel came and made an agreement with David at Hebron that he would be their king. They poured olive oil on his head to show that he was now the king of the Israelites.
Who came to Hebron, made a covenant with David, and anointed him king over Israel?
All the elders of Israel came to Hebron, made a covenant with David, and anointed him king over Israel.
2 Samuel 5:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:4ULT:
David {was} a son of 30 years when he became king. He reigned 40 years.
UST:
David was 30 years old when he first became the king of Judah. He was a king for a total of 40 years.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:5ULT:
In Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem, he reigned 33 years over all of Israel and Judah.
UST:
In Hebron, he had ruled over the tribe of Judah for seven and a half years. He would then rule over all the people of Judah and Israel for 33 more years in Jerusalem.
How many years did David reign in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah?
David reigned in Jerusalem for 33 years over all Israel and Judah.
2 Samuel 5:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:6ULT:
And the king and his men went {to} Jerusalem, to the Jebusite, the dweller of the land. And he spoke to David, saying, “You will not come here, but surely the blind and the lame will turn you away,” saying, “David will not come here.”
UST:
Once he became king, David led his soldiers to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites who lived there. The Jebusites believed that David’s army would never be able to capture their fortress in the city. So they called out mockingly to David, “Even our soldiers who have become blind or crippled will be able to keep you from getting inside our city walls!”
By what other names was Jerusalem called? (5:6-7)
The stronghold of Zion was also called the City of David.
From whom did David capture the stronghold of Zion? (5:6-7)
David captured the stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites.
2 Samuel 5:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:7ULT:
But David captured the stronghold of Zion. (It {is} the City of David.)
UST:
But David’s army did indeed capture the fortress on Mount Zion. (Later David named it the City of David.)
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:8ULT:
And David said on that day, “Anyone striking the Jebusite, then let him approach through the water shaft the lame and the blind, hated by the soul of David.” (Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”)
UST:
On that day, David told his soldiers, “In order to attack the Jebusites, crawl up through the water supply tunnel into the city. That is how you will get to those crippled and blind soldiers who can supposedly defeat us. They are my enemies!” (Because David called them his enemies, people now say that no one who is blind or crippled may enter the royal palace.)
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:9ULT:
And David dwelled in the stronghold, and he called it the City of David. And David built around {it}, from the Millo and toward the house.
UST:
After David and his soldiers captured the fortress, David moved into it. That was when he named it the City of David. David had people build more buildings in the area between the fortress and the Millo.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:10ULT:
And David went, going and becoming great, for Yahweh, the God of Armies, {was} with him.
UST:
David continued to become more and more powerful because Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies, was helping him.
Why did David become greater and greater?
David became greater and greater because Yahweh, the God of Armies, was with him.
2 Samuel 5:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:11ULT:
And Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and trees of cedar and craftsmen of wood and craftsmen of stone of wall. And they built a house for David.
UST:
One day Hiram, the king of the city of Tyre, sent ambassadors to {make a peace treaty with} David. Hiram agreed to provide cedar trees to make lumber, and he also agreed that he would send carpenters and stone masons to build a palace for David.
What did Hiram, king of Tyre, send to David?
Hiram sent messengers, cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons to David to build a house for David.
2 Samuel 5:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:12ULT:
Then David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had lifted up his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
UST:
Because Hiram did these things, David realized that Yahweh truly wanted him to be the king of Israel. He also realized that Yahweh wanted him to be a powerful king so that he could protect the Israelites, since Yahweh had chosen them as his own people.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:13ULT:
And David again took concubines and wives at Jerusalem after his coming from Hebron. And again sons and daughters were born to David.
UST:
After David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem, he married more women as wives and secondary wives. All of those women gave birth to more sons and daughters of David.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:14ULT:
And these {are} the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon
UST:
The names of his sons whom his wives bore in Jerusalem were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
How many sons were born to David in Jerusalem? (5:14-16)
Eleven sons were born to David in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 5:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:15ULT:
and Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia
UST:
Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:16ULT:
and Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.
UST:
Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:17ULT:
And the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, and all of the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard, and he went down to the stronghold.
UST:
When the Philistines learned that the Israelites had made David their king, they assembled their army, and it marched toward Jerusalem to try to capture David. But David learned that they were coming, so he left the city and went to another place where he would be safe.
What did the Philistines do when they heard that David had been anointed king over Israel?
When the Philistines heard David had been anointed king, they marched toward Jerusalem to try to capture David.
2 Samuel 5:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:18ULT:
And the Philistines came, and they spread themselves out in the Valley of the Raphaites.
UST:
The Philistine army marched into the Valley of the Raphaites {southwest of Jerusalem} and set up its battle lines there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:19ULT:
And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?”
And Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for giving, I will give the Philistines into your hand.”
UST:
David asked Yahweh, “Should I lead my soldiers to attack the Philistine army? Will you enable us to defeat them?” Yahweh replied, “Yes, attack them, because I will definitely enable your army to defeat them.”
What did Yahweh tell David when David asked if he should attack the Philistines?
Yahweh told David to go up because he would definitely enable David’s army to defeat them.”
2 Samuel 5:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:20ULT:
So David came {to} Baal Perazim, and David struck them there. And he said, “Yahweh has broken through my enemies to my face like the breach of waters.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
UST:
So David led his army to where the Philistine army was, and they defeated them there. Then David said, “Yahweh enabled us to break through the enemy battle lines just as a flood of water breaks through a dam!” So David named that place Baal Perazim.
Where did David attack the Philistines, and what was the outcome?
David attacked the Philistines at Baal Perazim and defeated them there.
2 Samuel 5:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:21ULT:
And they abandoned their idols there, and David and his men took them away.
UST:
The Philistine men left their idols there, and David and his soldiers took them away.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:22ULT:
And the Philistines resumed again to go up, and they spread themselves out in the Valley of the Raphaites.
UST:
But after that, the Philistine army marched into the Valley of the Raphaites again and set up its battle lines there once more.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 5:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:23ULT:
And David inquired of Yahweh, and he said, “You shall not go up. Go around to behind them, and you shall come to them from opposite the balsam trees.
UST:
So David asked Yahweh again what he should do. Yahweh replied, “Do not attack their battle lines directly. Tell your soldiers to go around them and attack them from the back. Come through the grove of balsam trees.
When the Philistines came up a second time, how did Yahweh tell David to attack them?
Yahweh told David not to go up to attack them from the front, but to circle around behind them and attack from opposite the balsam trees.
2 Samuel 5:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:24ULT:
And it will be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act determinedly, for then Yahweh will go out to your face to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
UST:
You will hear the sound of an army marching in the tops of the balsam trees. When you do, you will know that I am going ahead of you to enable your army to defeat the Philistine army. So when you hear that sound, attack them right away.”
What sound did Yahweh tell David to listen for before attacking the Philistines?
Yahweh told David to attack when he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.
2 Samuel 5:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 5:25ULT:
And David did thus, just as Yahweh commanded him. And he struck the Philistines from Geba to your coming {to} Gezer.
UST:
So David did what Yahweh told him to do. His soldiers defeated the Philistine soldiers and chased them from the city of Geba all the way west to the city of Gezer.
What was David’s response to Yahweh’s command?
David did just as Yahweh had commanded him.
What was the outcome of this battle against the Philistines?
David’s soldiers defeated the Philistine soldiers and chased them from the city of Geba all the way west to the city of Gezer.
2 Samuel 6
2 Samuel 6:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:1ULT:
And David again gathered all of the chosen in Israel, 30,000.
UST:
After this, David assembled all of his best soldiers once again. There were 30,000 of them.
Why did David gather all the chosen men of Israel? (6:1-2)
David gathered the chosen men of Israel to bring up the Box of God from Baalah of Judah.
2 Samuel 6:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:2ULT:
And David arose and went, and all of the people who {were} with him, from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the Box of God, whose name is called {by} the name of Yahweh of Armies, dweller of the cherubim upon it.
UST:
He led them to the city of Baalah in Judah so that they could bring the sacred chest from there to Jerusalem. People call that chest “The Box of Yahweh, the Commander of the Heavenly Armies.” Yahweh himself is invisibly present between the statues of the winged creatures on top of it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:3ULT:
And they mounted the Box of God on a new cart, and they bore it from the house of Abinadab, which {was} on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart.
UST:
They went to the hilltop house of Abinadab. They used a new cart to carry the chest from there. Two oxen were pulling the cart, and Abinadab’s two sons Uzzah and Ahio were guiding them.
On what did they set the Box of God?
They set the Box of God on a new cart pulled by two oxen.
Who was guiding the new cart?
Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart.
2 Samuel 6:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:4ULT:
And they bore it from the house of Abinadab, which {was} on the hill, with the Box of God, and Ahio was walking to the face of the Box.
UST:
In order to bring the sacred chest from Abinadab’s hilltop house, Ahio walked in front of the cart{, while Uzzah walked alongside it}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:5ULT:
And David and all of the house of Israel were celebrating to the face of Yahweh with all woods of cypress and with lyres and with harps and with tambourines and with sistrums and with cymbals.
UST:
David and his soldiers and a large crowd of other Israelites were singing and dancing in Yahweh’s presence. People were playing musical instruments to accompany the singing and dancing, including wooden instruments, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:6ULT:
And they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, and Uzzah reached out to the Box of God and held it, for the oxen stumbled.
UST:
But when they came to the place in the area of Nacon where people threshed grain, the oxen tripped. {Because that made the cart tilt so that the sacred chest might have fallen off of it,} Uzzah put his hand on the sacred chest to steady it.
What happened at the threshing floor of Nacon?
The oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out to steady the Box of God.
2 Samuel 6:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:7ULT:
And the nose of Yahweh burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for the fault. And he died there by the Box of God.
UST:
Yahweh immediately became very angry with Uzzah for touching the chest. God killed him right there next to it.
What did God do in response to Uzzah’s action?
God became angry and struck Uzzah for his fault, and Uzzah died there by the Box of God.
2 Samuel 6:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:8ULT:
And it burned to David because Yahweh had broken out an outbreak against Uzzah. And he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.
UST:
David became angry because Yahweh had punished Uzzah. David called that place Perez Uzzah, and that has been its name ever since.
How did David feel about what Yahweh had done to Uzzah? (6:8-9)
David was angry because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah. Then David became afraid of Yahweh, and he said that it was too dangerous for him to try to bring the sacred chest to where he lived in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:9ULT:
And David feared Yahweh on that day, and he said, “How shall the Box of Yahweh come to me?”
UST:
Then David became afraid of {what else} Yahweh {might do to punish them}, and he said, “It is too dangerous for me to try to bring the sacred chest to where I live in Jerusalem!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:10ULT:
And David was not willing to bring to himself the Box of Yahweh to the City of David. So David turned it aside {to} the house of Obed Edom the Gittite.
UST:
So David decided not to bring the sacred chest to the City of David where he lived. Instead, he had the people take it into a house that was there by the road. A man whose name was Obed Edom the Gittite lived in that house.
What did David do with the Box of God after Uzzah died? (6:10-11)
David decided not to bring the sacred chest to the City of David. Instead, he had the people take it into the house of Obed Edom, there by the road.
2 Samuel 6:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:11ULT:
And the Box of Yahweh remained {in} the house of Obed Edom the Gittite three months. And Yahweh blessed Obed Edom and all of his house.
UST:
The sacred chest stayed in the house of Obed Edom for the next three months. During that time, Yahweh made good things happen for him and his whole family.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:12ULT:
And it was declared to King David, saying, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed Edom and all who {are} to him for the sake of the Box of God.” So David went, and he brought up the Box of God from the house of Obed Edom {to} the City of David with joy.
UST:
After that time, people told King David, “Because Obed Edom is taking care of the sacred chest, Yahweh is making good things happen for his family and all of his servants!” When David heard that, he {gathered many of the Levites and} went to Obed Edom’s house. Together they very joyfully brought the sacred chest from there to the City of David.
Why did David bring the Box of God from Obed Edom’s house to the City of David?
David brought it because he was told that Yahweh had blessed the house of Obed Edom because of the Box of God.
2 Samuel 6:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:13ULT:
And it happened, when the carriers of the Box of Yahweh had stepped six steps, that he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
UST:
On the way, once the Levites who were carrying the sacred chest had taken their first six steps, David had them stop. Right at that place, David killed a bull and a fat calf and offered them to Yahweh as sacrifices.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:14ULT:
And David danced to the face of Yahweh with all of {his} strength. And David was girded {with} an ephod of linen.
UST:
David was wearing just a plain linen robe. He danced to honor Yahweh, leaping as high as he could and whirling around fast.
What did David do as the Box of God was being brought up?
As the Box of God was being brought up, David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before Yahweh with all his strength.
2 Samuel 6:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:15ULT:
And David and all of the house of Israel were bringing up the Box of Yahweh with shouting and with the sound of the shofar,
UST:
David and a large crowd of Israelites brought the sacred chest to Jerusalem, shouting loudly and blowing ram’s horns.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:16ULT:
and the Box of Yahweh was entering the City of David. But Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down through a window, and she saw King David leaping and dancing to the face of Yahweh, and she despised him in her heart.
UST:
While they were bringing the sacred chest into the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul{, his wife, was on an upper floor of her house. She} looked through a window down onto the street. She saw {her husband} King David leaping and whirling to honor Yahweh. That made her feel disgusted with him {because she did not think a king should dress and act that way}.
What was Michal’s response when she saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh?
When Michal saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh, she despised him in her heart.
2 Samuel 6:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:17ULT:
And they brought the Box of Yahweh, and they set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the face of Yahweh.
UST:
David had put up a tent for the sacred chest, and the Levites carried the sacred chest into it and set it up there. Then David made some offerings to Yahweh that he completely burned on an altar. He made other offerings whose meat the people could share at a meal to celebrate this happy occasion.
After the Box of Yahweh was set in its place, what offerings did David make to Yahweh?
David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to Yahweh.
2 Samuel 6:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:18ULT:
And David finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, and he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies.
UST:
When David finished offering those sacrifices, he asked Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies, to do good things for the people.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:19ULT:
And he distributed to all of the people, to all of the multitude of Israel, to man and to woman, to a man one cake of bread and one date cake and one raisin cake. And all of the people went, a man to his house.
UST:
Then he gave special gifts of food to all the Israelites who had come for the celebration. To each man and woman he gave a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then they all returned to their homes.
What did David distribute to all the people?
He distributed a cake of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each person.
2 Samuel 6:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:20ULT:
Then David returned to bless his house. And Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David, and she said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, who uncovered himself today to the eyes of the female servants of his servants, as uncovering himself, one of the worthless uncovers himself!”
UST:
Then David went home to ask Yahweh to do good things for his family. {His wife} Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him. She told him, “As the king of Israel, you should not have acted so disgracefully today! You took off almost all of your clothes, and you let the female servants of your officials see you that way! Only immoral men take off their clothes in public as you did.”
What did Michal say to David when he returned home?
She sarcastically asked how the king of Israel had honored himself by uncovering himself before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, like a worthless person.
2 Samuel 6:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:21ULT:
But David said to Michal, “To the face of Yahweh, who chose me instead of your father and instead of all of his house to appoint me leader over the people of Yahweh, over Israel, yes, I celebrated to the face of Yahweh!
UST:
David replied to Michal, “I danced in that simple way in order to honor Yahweh! He chose me instead of your father or any member of his family to be the king of the Israelite people, who belong to him. I was celebrating to honor Yahweh!
What was David’s response to Michal’s rebuke? (6:21-22)
David said that he celebrated before Yahweh, who chose him as leader. He said he would humble himself even more, and that the female servants would honor him.
2 Samuel 6:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:22ULT:
And I will humble myself more than this, and I will be lowly in my eyes. But with the female servants {about} whom you spoke, with them, I will be honored.”
UST:
And so I am willing to act even more humbly than that. I will do things that seem undignified. But those female servants you were talking about will respect me {as a king who serves Yahweh devotedly}!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 6:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 6:23ULT:
And to Michal, the daughter of Saul, {there} was not a child to her to the day of her death.
UST:
Michal daughter of Saul did not have children for as long as she lived.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7
2 Samuel 7:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:1ULT:
And it happened, when the king dwelled in his house and Yahweh gave rest to him from all around, from all of his enemies,
UST:
King David was living in his palace, and Yahweh caused the enemy people groups that surrounded the Israelites to stop attacking them.
What did Yahweh give David?
Yahweh gave David rest from all his surrounding enemies.
2 Samuel 7:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:2ULT:
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See, please, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, but the Box of God is dwelling in the midst of a curtain.”
UST:
So one day David said to the prophet Nathan, “Consider that I live in a palace that King Hiram’s craftsmen built for me from cedar wood. But the sacred chest is only in a tent {rather than a splendid temple}!”
What did the king say to Nathan the prophet?
The king said to Nathan that he was living in a house of cedar, but the Box of God was dwelling in a tent.
2 Samuel 7:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:3ULT:
And Nathan said to the king, “All that {is} in your heart, go, do, for Yahweh {is} with you.”
UST:
Then Nathan told King David, “Yahweh will help you, so you may do what you want to do.”
What did Nathan tell David before the word of Yahweh came to him? (7:3-4)
Nathan told David to do all that was in his heart, because Yahweh was with him.
2 Samuel 7:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:4ULT:
But it happened, during that night, that the word of Yahweh was to Nathan, saying,
UST:
But that night, Yahweh {appeared to} Nathan and told him,
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:5ULT:
“Go, and you shall say to my servant, to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “You, will you build for me a house for my dwelling?
UST:
“Go and give my servant David this message from me. He is not the one who will build a temple to hold the sacred chest on which I am invisibly present.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:6ULT:
For I have not lived in a house from the day of my bringing up the sons of Israel from Egypt and to this day, but I have been going about in a tent and in a dwelling.
UST:
I have not been especially present in any building from the time when I brought the Israelites here from Egypt until now. Instead, I have been present in my sacred tent, moving from one place to another with the people.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:7ULT:
In any {place} where I went about with all of the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the scepters of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built for me a house of cedars’?”’
UST:
I went with the Israelites wherever they traveled, but I never told any of the leaders whom I appointed to rule them that they should have built a temple for me out of cedar wood.
What question did Yahweh ask about the leaders of Israel?
Yahweh asked if he had ever commanded one of the leaders of Israel to build him a house of cedars.
2 Samuel 7:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:8ULT:
And now, thus shall you say to my servant, to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Armies, “I, I took you from the pasture, from after the flock, to become a ruler over my people, over Israel.
UST:
So give my servant David this message from me, Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies. Although he worked out in the fields caring for his father’s sheep, I appointed him to become the king of my Israelite people.
What did Yahweh say he had done for David? (7:8-9)
Yahweh said he took David from the pasture to be ruler over Israel, had been with him everywhere, and had cut off all his enemies from before him.
2 Samuel 7:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:9ULT:
And I have been with you in every {place} where you have gone, and I have cut off all of your enemies from your face. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great who {have been} on the earth.
UST:
Remind him that I have protected him wherever he has gone. I have enabled him to defeat all the enemies who attacked him. Now I will make him very famous. He will become as famous as the greatest people who have ever lived on earth.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:10ULT:
And I have established a place for my people, for Israel, and I will plant him that he may dwell under him, and he will not tremble anymore, and the sons of wickedness will not continue to afflict him as at first,
UST:
When my Israelite people were slaves in Egypt, violent people oppressed them. They also oppressed them in this land during the time when I was appointing judges to lead them. But this will not happen anymore. I have made a place where my people can live, and I will enable them to keep living there. They will no longer be afraid. I will make all their enemies stop attacking them. Tell David that I promise that I, Yahweh, will enable his descendants to rule as kings.
(vv10-11)
What did Yahweh say he was going to do for Israel?
Yahweh said he had established a place for them and will plant them so they could live in their own place and not be afflicted by wicked people anymore.
2 Samuel 7:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:11ULT:
and from the day when I commanded judges over my people Israel.
And I will give rest to you from all of your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you.
UST:
When my Israelite people were slaves in Egypt, violent people oppressed them. They also oppressed them in this land during the time when I was appointing judges to lead them. But this will not happen anymore. I have made a place where my people can live, and I will enable them to keep living there. They will no longer be afraid. I will make all their enemies stop attacking them. Tell David that I promise that I, Yahweh, will enable his descendants to rule as kings.
(vv10-11)
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:12ULT:
When your days are full and you lie down with your fathers, then I will raise up after you your seed who will come forth from your belly, and I will establish his kingdom.
UST:
Tell David that after he has lived out his life and died, I will appoint one of his own sons to be king. One of his wives will give birth to this son in the future. I will make sure that he remains the king.
Who did Yahweh say would build a house for his name? (7:12-13)
Yahweh said he would raise up David’s own offspring after him, and that offspring would build a house for his name.
2 Samuel 7:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:13ULT:
He, he will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom to forever!
UST:
Assure David that that son of his will build a temple for me. No one will ever replace him as the king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:14ULT:
I myself will be a father to him, and he himself will be a son to me, that when he sins, then I will correct him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of man.
UST:
It will be as if I am his father and he is my son. When he does something wrong, I will punish him the way human fathers properly punish their sons.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:15ULT:
But my covenant faithfulness will not turn away from you as I turned it away from with Saul, whom I turned away from your face.
UST:
But I will never stop showing kindness to David and his descendants the way I stopped showing kindness to Saul. I made him no longer the king so that David could become the king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:16ULT:
And your house and your kingdom will be confirmed to forever to your face. Your throne will be established to forever.”’”
UST:
So assure David that his descendants will continually rule the kingdom of Israel after him. No other family will ever replace them as the royal family.”
What did Yahweh say about David’s house and kingdom?
Yahweh said David’s descendants would continually rule the kingdom of Israel after him.
2 Samuel 7:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:17ULT:
According to all of these words and according to all of this vision, thus Nathan spoke to David.
UST:
Nathan went and told David everything that Yahweh had told him when he appeared to him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:18ULT:
And King David went,
and he sat to the face of Yahweh, and he said, “Who {am} I, my Lord Yahweh, and what {is} my house, that you have brought me to here?
UST:
{When he heard Nathan’s message,} King David went into the sacred tent and sat in Yahweh’s presence. He prayed, “Yahweh, my master, I am not a very important person, and I do not come from a very important family. So I do not deserve any of the things that you have done for me already.
After Nathan told David all the words Yahweh had said, what did David do? (7:18-20)
David went in and sat before Yahweh and prayed to him.
2 Samuel 7:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:19ULT:
And this was yet small in your eyes, my Lord Yahweh, for you have spoken even about the house of your servant to afar. And this {is} the law of man, my Lord Yahweh!
UST:
And yet, Yahweh my Lord, you are telling me that you want to do even more for me. After all, you have now told me that my descendants will reign over Israel long into the future! And you have said that you will require people to obey them as their kings.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:20ULT:
And what more shall David continue to say to you? But you, you know your servant, my Lord Yahweh.
UST:
Yahweh my Lord, I am not able to say anything further to you. But you know me so well that you know what I would say if I could say it.
After hearing the prophecy, what did David say about Yahweh?
David said that Yahweh knew his servant so well.
2 Samuel 7:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:21ULT:
For the sake of your word and according to your heart, you have done all this greatness, to make your servant know {this}.
UST:
You are going to do a wonderful thing {and make my descendants kings after me}. You are going to do this because you promised to make me a king, and because it is what you really want to do. It was also wonderful for you to tell me about this now.
Why did David say Yahweh had done this great thing and revealed it to him?
David said Yahweh had done it for the sake of his word and according to his own heart.
2 Samuel 7:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:22ULT:
Therefore, you are great, my Lord Yahweh, for {there is} none like you and {there is} no God except you, in all that we have heard with our ears.
UST:
This shows how great you are, Yahweh my Lord. We have never heard of any other God besides you. The gods that the people of other nations worship are nothing like you.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:23ULT:
And who {is} like your people, like Israel, the one nation on earth whose God went to redeem for himself as a people and to make for himself a name and to do greatness for you and {things} being feared for your land, from the face of your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, nations and its gods?
UST:
No other nation in the world is like us, your Israelite people. None of the gods that other people groups worship rescued them so that those people would belong to them. You rescued us from being slaves in Egypt. You also rescued us from enemy nations {here in Canaan} that thought their gods would enable them to defeat us. You did miracles to enable us to settle in this land. Because of the powerful things you have done, people throughout the world now respect you.
Why did God go to redeem Israel?
God redeemed Israel to make them a people for himself and to make a name for himself.
2 Samuel 7:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:24ULT:
And you established for yourself your people Israel as a people for yourself to forever. And you yourself, Yahweh, became God to them.
UST:
You caused us Israelites to be your people forever, and you, Yahweh, have become our God!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:25ULT:
And now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, raise up to forever, and do just as you have spoken.
UST:
Yahweh, my God, you have promised to do wonderful things for me and my descendants. So please do make those things you said happen always.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:26ULT:
And may your name be great to forever, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies {is} God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established to your face.
UST:
When that happens, you will become famous forever. People will exclaim, ‘Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies, is the God who rules Israel!’ And you will make sure that a descendant of mine will always rule the Israelites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 7:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:27ULT:
For you, Yahweh of Armies, {are} the God of Israel. You have uncovered the ear of your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore, your servant has found his heart to pray this prayer to you.
UST:
I am confident that you will do this, because you, Yahweh, have chosen us Israelites to be your people. You have revealed to me that you will make some of my descendants kings. For that reason, I have been bold enough to pray like this to you.
Why did David say he had been bold enough to pray like this to Yahweh?
David said he found the heart to pray because Yahweh had revealed that he would build a house for David.
2 Samuel 7:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:28ULT:
And now, my Lord Yahweh, you {are} he, the God, so your words are true. And you have spoken concerning this good your servant.
UST:
So now, Yahweh my Lord, because you are God, we can trust that you will do what you promise. You have promised to do these good things to me.
What did David say about Yahweh’s words?
David said that Yahweh’s words are true.
2 Samuel 7:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 7:29ULT:
And now, take pleasure and bless the house of your servant to be to your face forever. For you, my Lord Yahweh, you have spoken and from your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”
UST:
So now I pray that it will please you to do good things for my descendants. Please enable them to keep ruling your Israelite people. Yahweh my Lord, you have promised these things, and so I know that you will always keep doing good things for my descendants.”
What did David ask Yahweh to do?
David asked Yahweh to be pleased to bless his house so that it would continue forever before him.
2 Samuel 8
2 Samuel 8:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:1ULT:
And it happened after this, that David struck the Philistines, and he subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
UST:
Some time later, David and his army defeated the Philistine army. They captured Metheg Ammah and made the Philistines subject to the Israelites.
What did David gain by attacking and subduing the Philistines?
They captured Metheg Ammah and made the Philistines subject to the Israelites.
2 Samuel 8:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:2ULT:
And he struck Moab, and he measured them with a rope, making them lie on the ground. And he measured two ropes to kill and the fullness of the rope to let live. And Moab became servants to David, lifters of tribute.
UST:
David and his army also defeated the Moabite army. Afterwards, David forced their soldiers to lie down on the ground {close to each other in a long line}. His soldiers went down the line and measured two lengths of a rope. They killed all of the Moabite soldiers in that part of the line. Then they measured one length of that rope and let the Moabite soldiers in that part of the line live. They continued to do this all the way down the line. The rest of the Moabites had to accept David as their ruler. Every year they had to give him the payment that he demanded.
How did David decide which Moabite soldiers would live or die?
He made them lie on the ground and measured them with a rope, measuring two rope lengths to be killed and one full rope length to be kept alive.
What happened to the Moabites who were left alive?
The rest of the Moabites had to accept David as their ruler. Every year they had to give him the payment that he demanded.
2 Samuel 8:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:3ULT:
And David struck Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, the king of Zobah, when he went to restore his hand at the River.
UST:
David’s army also defeated the army of Hadadezer son of Rehob, who ruled the region of Zobah in Aram. That happened when Hadadezer led his army out to try to regain power over his territory, which bordered the Euphrates River.
What did David capture from Hadadezer? (8:3-4)
David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 men on foot.
2 Samuel 8:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:4ULT:
And David took from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 men on foot. And David hamstrung all of the chariots, but he left from them 100 chariots.
UST:
David’s army captured 1,700 of Hadadezer’s soldiers who were chariot drivers, and they also captured 20,000 footsoldiers. They crippled most of the horses that had pulled chariots. But they spared 100 of the horses {for their own use}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:5ULT:
And Aram of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. And David struck 22, 000 men among Aram.
UST:
Then an army of Arameans from the kingdom whose capital was the city of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer’s army. But David’s soldiers killed 22,000 of those Arameans.
What did David do to the Arameans of Damascus when they came to help Hadadezer?
David struck 22,000 men among the Arameans.
2 Samuel 8:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:6ULT:
And David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram became servants to David, lifters of tribute. And Yahweh saved David in all that he went.
UST:
Then David stationed groups of his soldiers in that kingdom. Those Arameans had to accept David as their ruler. Every year they had to give him the payment that he demanded. Each time David led his soldiers into battle, Yahweh enabled them to win victories over their enemies.
Why was David victorious?
Each time David led his soldiers into battle, Yahweh enabled them to win victories over their enemies.
2 Samuel 8:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:7ULT:
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and he brought them {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
Some of Hadadezer’s soldiers had carried shields that had a plating of gold. King David’s soldiers captured those shields and brought them to Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:8ULT:
And from Betah and from Berothai, the cities of Hadadezer, King David took bronze, making very much.
UST:
They also brought to Jerusalem large quantities of bronze from Betah and Berothai, two cities in Hadadezer’s kingdom.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:9ULT:
And Toi, the king of Hamath, heard that David had struck all of the army of Hadadezer.
UST:
When Toi, the king of the city of Hamath, heard that David’s army had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer,
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:10ULT:
And Toi sent Joram his son to King David to ask about him regarding peace and to bless him because he had fought with Hadadezer and had struck him. For Hadadezer had been a man of war of Toi. And in his hand were vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of bronze.
UST:
he sent his son Joram to make a peace treaty with King David and to congratulate him for defeating Hadadezer’s army. Toi congratulated David because Hadadezer’s army had fought many times against his own army. Joram brought David many articles of gold, silver, and bronze as gifts.
What did Toi, king of Hamath, do when he heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s army?
Toi sent his son Joram to greet and bless David, and Joram brought vessels of silver, gold, and bronze.
2 Samuel 8:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:11ULT:
King David also consecrated them to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he consecrated from all of the nations that he had subdued,
UST:
King David dedicated all those items to Yahweh, just as he had dedicated the silver and gold that his army had captured from the nations they had conquered.
What did David do with the silver and gold from the nations he had subdued?
David consecrated the silver and gold to Yahweh.
2 Samuel 8:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:12ULT:
from Aram and from Moab and from the sons of Ammon and from the Philistines and from Amalek and from the plunder of Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, the king of Zobah.
UST:
They had taken valuable items from the Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites. They had also captured many valuable items from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:13ULT:
And David made a name when he returned from his striking Aram in the Valley of Salt, 18,000.
UST:
David became even more famous after his army killed 18,000 Aramean soldiers in a battle in the Valley of Salt.
Where did David strike the Arameans?
David killed 18,000 Arameans in the Valley of Salt.
2 Samuel 8:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:14ULT:
And he put garrisons in Edom. In all of Edom, garrisons there. And it happened, all of Edom {became} servants to David. And Yahweh saved David in all that he went.
UST:
David stationed groups of his soldiers throughout the region of Edom. The Edomites had to accept him as their king. Each time David led his soldiers into battle, Yahweh enabled them to win victories over their enemies.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:15ULT:
And David was king over all of Israel. And it happened, David did justice and righteousness for all of his people.
UST:
So David ruled over all the Israelite people. As king, he decided the people’s cases, and he judged them fairly.
What did David do for all his people?
David did justice and righteousness for all his people.
2 Samuel 8:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:16ULT:
And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, {was} over the army, and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, {was} the recorder.
UST:
Joab son of Zeruiah was the army commander. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud, was the man who reported to the people everything that David decided that they should do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:17ULT:
And Zadok, the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, {were} priests, and Seraiah {was} the scribe.
UST:
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the official secretary.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 8:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 8:18ULT:
And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were priests.
UST:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the commander of David’s elite corps of bodyguards. David’s sons were his advisors.
How did David’s sons serve his kingdom?
David’s sons were his advisors.
2 Samuel 9
2 Samuel 9:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:1ULT:
And David said, “{Is it} that there is still {one} who remains to the house of Saul, that I may do covenant faithfulness with him for the sake of Jonathan?”
UST:
One day David asked some of his officials, “Are there any descendants of Saul still living? I promised Jonathan that I would act kindly toward his family, and I would like to do that if I can.”
Why did David want to show covenant faithfulness to anyone left in Saul’s house?
David wanted to show covenant faithfulness for the sake of Jonathan.
2 Samuel 9:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:2ULT:
Now to the house of Saul {was} a servant, and his name {was} Ziba. And they called him to David. And the king said to him, “{Are} you Ziba?”
And he said, “Your servant.”
UST:
They told him that Saul’s family had a household official whose name was Ziba. So David sent messengers to summon Ziba. When he arrived, King David asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “Yes, your Majesty, I am.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:3ULT:
And the king said, “{Is there} no longer a man to the house of Saul, that I may do with him the covenant faithfulness of God?”
And Ziba said to the king, “A son {is} still to Jonathan, lame of feet.”
UST:
Then King David asked him, “Is there anyone still alive in Saul’s family toward whom I can act kindly, as I promised God that I would do?” Ziba replied, “Yes, there is one son of Jonathan who is still alive. But he is not able to walk.”
How did Ziba answer the king when he was asked if anyone was left in Saul’s house?
Ziba told the king that one son of Jonathan was still alive but not able to walk.
2 Samuel 9:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:4ULT:
And the king said to him, “Where {is} he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he {is at} the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar.”
UST:
Then the king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba replied, “I can tell you that he is living in the house of Machir son of Ammiel in the city of Lo Debar.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:5ULT:
Then King David sent, and he brought him from the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar.
UST:
So King David sent messengers to Machir’s house in Lo Debar, and they brought Mephibosheth to Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:6ULT:
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and he fell on his face, and he prostrated himself.
And David said, “Mephibosheth.”
And he said, “Behold your servant.”
UST:
When Mephibosheth came to David, he knelt down with his face on the ground, to show respect. Then David said, “Mephibosheth.” He replied, “What may I do for you, your Majesty?”
Who was left in Saul’s house?
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was left.
2 Samuel 9:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:7ULT:
And David said to him, “Do not fear, for doing, I will do covenant faithfulness with you for the sake of Jonathan your father. And I will restore to you all of the field of Saul your father, and you yourself will eat bread at my table continually.”
UST:
David said to him, “Do not be afraid. You can be sure that I am going to be kind to you because Jonathan your father was my friend. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I want you to always eat meals with my family in the royal palace.”
What kindness did David show Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake?
David restored to Mephibosheth all the land of his grandfather Saul, and he had Mephibosheth eat meals with his family continually.
2 Samuel 9:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:8ULT:
And he prostrated himself, and he said, “What {is} your servant, that you should turn to a dead dog that {is} like me?”
UST:
Mephibosheth bowed in front of David again and said, “Sir, I am as worthless as a dead dog. I do not deserve for you to act kindly toward me!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:9ULT:
And the king called to Ziba, the young man of Saul, and he said to him, “All that was to Saul and to all of his house, I have given to the son of your master.
UST:
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba. He told him, “I am now giving Mephibosheth everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:10ULT:
And you shall work the land for him, you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring, that {there} will be bread for the son of your master, that he may eat it. And Mephibosheth, the son of your master, shall eat bread continually at my table.” (Now to Ziba {were} 15 sons and 20 servants.)
UST:
You and your sons and your servants must plow the land and plant crops and harvest them for Mephibosheth’s family. That way they will have food to eat. Mephibosheth will eat meals regularly with me in my palace.” (Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)
What did David tell Ziba to do for Mephibosheth?
David told Ziba that he, his sons, and his servants were to work the land for Mephibosheth and bring in the harvest.
2 Samuel 9:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:11ULT:
And Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, thus shall your servant do.” And Mephibosheth was eating “at my table” like one from the sons of the king.
UST:
Ziba replied to the king, “Your Majesty, I will do everything that you command me to do about this.” After that, Mephibosheth always ate with David’s family as if he were one of his sons.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:12ULT:
Now to Mephibosheth {was} a young son, and his name {was} Mica. And all of the dwelling of the house of Ziba {were} servants to Mephibosheth.
UST:
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All of Ziba’s family and servants became servants of Mephibosheth.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 9:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 9:13ULT:
But Mephibosheth dwelled in Jerusalem, for he was continually eating at the table of the king. And he {was} lame, the two of his feet.
UST:
So Mephibosheth came to live in Jerusalem, since he always ate meals with David’s family in the royal palace. He was still not able to walk, because he had injured both of his legs.
Where did Mephibosheth live after David showed him kindness?
Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he ate meals with David’s family in the palace.
What physical problem did Mephibosheth have?
Mephibosheth was lame in both of his feet.
2 Samuel 10
2 Samuel 10:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:1ULT:
And it happened after this that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in place of him.
UST:
Sometime later, Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died. His son Hanun became the next Ammonite king.
Who became king of the Ammonites after the former king died?
Hanun his son became the new king.
2 Samuel 10:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:2ULT:
And David said, “I will do kindness with Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father did kindness with me.” And David sent by the hand of his servants to console him concerning his father.
And the servants of David entered the land of the sons of Ammon.
UST:
David thought to himself, “Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son Hanun.” So David sent some of his officials to tell Hanun that David was sorry that Hanun’s father had died. When those messengers arrived in the land of Ammon,
How did David show kindness to Hanun?
David sent his servants to console Hanun concerning the death of his father.
2 Samuel 10:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:3ULT:
And the commanders of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their master, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father, since he has sent consolers to you? {Is it} not in order to explore the city and to spy on it and to overthrow it {that} David has sent his servants to you?”
UST:
the Ammonite military leaders said to King Hanun, “You should not think that when David sent these men to tell you he is sorry that your father died, he did that to honor your father. He sent them here to look around the city to determine how his army can conquer us!”
What did the Ammonite commanders say about David’s show of kindness to Hanun?
The commanders told Hanun that David had sent his servants to explore the city in order to spy on it and overthrow it.
2 Samuel 10:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:4ULT:
So Hanun took the servants of David, and he shaved half of their beard, and he cut their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and he sent them away.
UST:
{Hanun believed what they said.} So he commanded some of his soldiers to seize David’s officials and {insult them by} shaving off one side of their beards. He also had them cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks would show. Then he made them leave Ammon and go back to Israel.
What did Hanun do to David’s servants?
He commanded his soldiers to seize David’s officials and insult them by shaving off one side of their beards and cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks would show. Then he sent them back to Israel.
2 Samuel 10:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:5ULT:
And they declared to David, and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beard has grown, then you shall return.”
UST:
This made the men feel very ashamed. When David found out about what Hanun had done to his officials, he sent messengers to meet them on their way back to Jerusalem. {The messengers met them at the city of Jericho.} They told the men, “The king says you may stay here at Jericho until your beards have grown back and only return home after that.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:6ULT:
And the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves stink to David. So the sons of Ammon sent and hired Aram of Beth Rehob and Aram of Zoba, 20,000 footsoldiers, and the king of Maacah, 1,000 men, and a man of Tob, 12,000 men.
UST:
Then the Ammonite leaders realized that they had greatly insulted David. So they sent some men to hire some soldiers from other nearby areas to help defend them. They hired 20,000 soldiers from the Aramean regions of Beth Rehob and Zobah. They also hired 1,000 soldiers from the army of the king of Maacah and 12,000 soldiers from the region of Tob.
Why did the Ammonites hire soldiers from other nations?
The Ammonites hired soldiers because they saw that they had greatly insulted David.
Where did the Ammonites and their hired soldiers position themselves for battle? (10:6-8)
The Ammonites formed a battle line at their city gate, while their hired soldiers from Aram, Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
2 Samuel 10:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:7ULT:
And David heard, and he sent Joab and all of the army, the mighty.
UST:
When David heard about that, he sent Joab with all of the best Israelite soldiers to fight against them.
What did David do when he heard that the Ammonites had hired soldiers?
When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of mighty men to fight against them.
2 Samuel 10:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:8ULT:
And the sons of Ammon came out and arrayed {for} battle {at} the entrance of the gate. And Aram of Zobah and Rehob and a man of Tob and Maacah {were} by themselves in the field.
UST:
The Ammonite soldiers came from their city and formed a battle line in front of its wall. At the same time, the foreign soldiers whom their king had hired from Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maacah formed a separate battle line in the open fields nearby.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:9ULT:
And Joab saw that the faces of the battle were against him from before and from behind, and he chose from all of the chosen of Israel, and he arrayed {them} to meet Aram.
UST:
Joab saw that there were enemy armies in front of his troops and behind his troops. So he chose some of the best Israelite soldiers and put them in position to fight against the soldiers who were in the fields.
How did Joab prepare for the battle? (10:9-10)
Joab chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them to meet the Arameans, and he put the rest of the people in the hand of his brother Abishai to meet the Ammonites.
2 Samuel 10:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:10ULT:
And the rest of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed {them} to meet the sons of Ammon.
UST:
He told his brother Abishai to command the rest of the soldiers. They would oppose the Ammonite soldiers who had formed a battle line in front of their city wall.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:11ULT:
And he said, “If Aram is stronger than me, then you shall be to me for salvation, but if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you, then I will come to save you.
UST:
Joab told Abishai, “If the soldiers from Aram are too strong for my men to defeat, then your men must come and help us. But if the Ammonite soldiers are too strong for your men, then my men will come and help them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:12ULT:
Be strong, and let us use our strength for the sake of our people and for the sake of the cities of our God. And may Yahweh do the good in his eyes.”
UST:
We must be strong and fight hard so that our enemies do not defeat us and then come and kill our people and destroy the cities in Israel, where we worship the true God. We will depend on Yahweh to make the right army win this battle.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:13ULT:
Then Joab and the people who {were} with him approached for battle against Aram, and they fled from his face.
UST:
Then Joab and the soldiers he commanded advanced to attack the army of Aram. {They defeated the Arameans so badly that} the Arameans ran away from them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:14ULT:
And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled, and they fled from the face of Abishai, and they entered the city. Then Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon, and he came {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away, they also ran away from Abishai and the soldiers he was commanding. They retreated back inside their city. So Joab and his army stopped fighting against them and went back to Jerusalem.
What did the Ammonites do when they saw that the Arameans had fled from Joab?
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Abishai and went into the city.
2 Samuel 10:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:15ULT:
And Aram saw that it had been struck to the face of Israel, and they gathered themselves together.
UST:
The Arameans thought about how the Israelite army had defeated them. They decided to gather a much bigger army.
What did the Arameans do when they saw they had been defeated by Israel? (10:15-16)
The Arameans gathered themselves together again at Helam, and Hadadezer sent for many troops from Aramean kingdoms beyond the Euphrates River.
2 Samuel 10:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:16ULT:
And Hadadezer sent, and he brought out Aram that {was} from beyond the River, and they came {to} Helam. And Shobach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer, {was} to their faces.
UST:
King Hadadezer summoned a great number of soldiers from the Aramean kingdoms that were on the other side of the Euphrates River. They gathered at the city of Helam. Hadadezer had his own army commander, Shobach, lead this army.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:17ULT:
And it was declared to David, and he gathered all of Israel, and he crossed the Jordan, and he came toward Helam. And Aram arrayed themselves to meet David, and they fought with him.
UST:
When David learned about this, he gathered all of the Israelite fighting men and led them across the Jordan River. They marched to Helam. The Aramean army formed a battle line there, and the two armies fought.
What did David do when he heard that the Arameans had gathered again?
David gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and came toward Helam to fight the Arameans.
2 Samuel 10:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:18ULT:
And Aram fled from the face of Israel, and David killed from Aram 700 charioteers and 40,000 horsemen. And he struck Shobach, the commander of his army, and he died there.
UST:
{The Israelites defeated the Arameans so badly that} the Aramean soldiers ran away from the Israelite soldiers. David and his army killed 700 of their chariot drivers and 40,000 other soldiers. They also wounded Shobach, Hadadezer’s army commander, so badly that he died on the battlefield.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 10:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 10:19ULT:
And all of the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they had been struck to the face of Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and they served them.
And Aram feared to save the sons of Ammon anymore.
UST:
Then all the kings who has been Hadadezer’s subjects thought about how the Israelites had defeated their combined armies. They decided to make a peace treaty with the Israelites. They agreed to accept David as their king. The Arameans would not help the Ammonites anymore after that, because they were afraid of Israel.
What did all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer do when they saw they were defeated by Israel?
They made peace with Israel and served them. The Arameans would not help the Ammonites anymore after that, because they were afraid of Israel.
2 Samuel 11
2 Samuel 11:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:1ULT:
And it happened, at the return of the year, at the time of the going out of kings, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all of Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon, and they besieged against Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
UST:
The following spring, at the time when kings usually led their armies to fight against their enemies, David sent out his commander Joab with his officers and the rest of the Israelite army. They fought the Ammonites and severely defeated them. Then they surrounded Rabbah{, their capital city,} and tried to capture it. But David himself stayed in Jerusalem.
When did kings normally go out to war?
Kings normally went out to war at the return of the year, in the spring.
Where was King David at this time?
David sent out his commander Joab with his officers and the rest of the Israelite army, but David himself stayed in Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 11:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:2ULT:
And it happened, at the time of the evening, that David arose from his bed and walked about on the roof of the house of the king. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing. And the woman {was} very good of appearance.
UST:
Late one afternoon, after David had finished sleeping during the heat of the day, he got up and walked around on the flat roof of his palace. From there, he could look down and see a woman who was bathing in the enclosed courtyard of her house. The woman was very beautiful.
Who did David see one evening when he was walking on the roof of his palace? (11:2-3)
David saw a very beautiful woman bathing, and her name was Bathsheba.
2 Samuel 11:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:3ULT:
And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
UST:
David sent someone to find out who she was. He returned and told David, “That woman is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam. She is the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
Who was Bathsheba’s husband?
Bathsheba’s husband was Uriah the Hittite.
2 Samuel 11:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:4ULT:
And David sent messengers, and he took her. And she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been sanctifying herself from her uncleanness.) And she returned to her house.
UST:
But David sent messengers to get her anyway. They brought her to David, and he had sexual relations with her. (She had just finished performing the rituals to make herself pure after her menstrual period.) Then Bathsheba went back home.
What did David do with Bathsheba? (11:4-5)
David sent for her, he had sexual relations with her, and she became pregnant.
2 Samuel 11:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:5ULT:
Αnd the woman became pregnant, and she sent and declared to David, and she said, “I {am} pregnant.”
UST:
Later, she realized that she was going to have a child. So she sent a messenger to tell David this news.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:6ULT:
And David sent to Joab, “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.
UST:
So David sent a message to Joab. He said, “Tell Uriah the Hittite to come back to Jerusalem so that I can speak with him.” So Joab sent Uriah to go and speak with David.
After David found out Bathsheba was pregnant, what did he do?
He told Joab to send Uriah the Hittite to him.
2 Samuel 11:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:7ULT:
And Uriah came to him, and David asked about the welfare of Joab and about the welfare of the people and about the welfare of the war.
UST:
When he arrived, David asked whether Joab was well, whether the other soldiers were well, and whether the Israelites were doing well fighting the war.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:8ULT:
And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out from the house of the king, and a gift {from} the king went out after him.
UST:
Then David told Uriah, “Now go home and relax for a while.” So Uriah left, and David sent someone to bring some special food to Uriah for him to enjoy.
When Uriah came to David, what did David try to get him to do?
David tried to get Uriah to go down to his house and relax for a while.
2 Samuel 11:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:9ULT:
But Uriah lay down {at} the entrance of the house of the king with all of the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house.
UST:
But Uriah did not go home. Instead, he slept at the palace entrance with the palace guards.
What did Uriah do after David told him to go to his house?
Uriah did not go to his house, but instead slept at the entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his master.
2 Samuel 11:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:10ULT:
And they declared to David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house.” And David said to Uriah, “Are you not coming from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
UST:
The next morning, someone told David that Uriah had not gone to his house that night. So David summoned him again. He asked him, “Why did you not go home and relax last night? You needed to rest after walking so far to get here.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:11ULT:
And Uriah said to David, “The Box and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and the servants of my master {are} camping on the face of the field. And I, shall I go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? Your life, and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing!”
UST:
Uriah replied, “The soldiers of Israel and Judah are camping in the open fields. Even our commander Joab and his officers are sleeping in tents like the rest of us. We brought the sacred chest with us, and it is also in a tent. {As a soldier who is part of this military campaign,} it would not be right for me to go to my home, enjoy food and drink, and have sexual relations with my wife. I swear by your life that I would never do such a thing!”
Why did Uriah say he would not go to his own house?
Uriah said he would never go to his house to eat, drink, and lie with his wife while the Box, Israel, and Judah were dwelling in tents, and Joab and his men were camping in the open field.
2 Samuel 11:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:12ULT:
And David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem on that day and into the next day.
UST:
Then David said to Uriah, “Stay here another day, and I will let you return to the battle tomorrow.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and that night.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:13ULT:
And David called to him, and he ate to his face, and he drank, and he got him drunk. But he went out in the evening to lie down in his bed with the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house.
UST:
That evening, David invited Uriah to dine with him in the palace. David gave Uriah so much wine to drink that he got drunk. But after the meal, Uriah still did not go home. Instead, he slept that night on a cot in a room with the palace guard.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:14ULT:
And it happened in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and he sent {it} by the hand of Uriah.
UST:
David {found out that Uriah had not gone home, so} the next morning he wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to bring to him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:15ULT:
And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Put Uriah in the front of the face of the strongest battle, and turn them back from behind him so he will be struck and die.”
UST:
In the letter, he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line at the place where he will be in the greatest danger. Then command the soldiers who are supporting him to retreat. That way our enemies will wound him so badly that he will die.”
What did David’s letter to Joab say?
The letter said to put Uriah in the front of the strongest battle and then to retreat from him so he would be struck and die.
2 Samuel 11:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:16ULT:
And it happened, when Joab looked at the city, that he put Uriah in the place where he knew that men of valor {were} there.
UST:
{When Joab got the letter,} he carefully observed the city’s defenses. He found a place where the Ammonites had put many of their best soldiers. So he put Uriah in the front line there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:17ULT:
And the men of the city came out, and they fought with Joab, and some of the people from the servants of David fell. And Uriah the Hittite also died.
UST:
The Ammonite soldiers came out from that part of the city and fought with Joab’s soldiers. They killed several of David’s soldiers. Uriah was one of the soldiers they killed.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:18ULT:
And Joab sent, and he declared to David all of the things of the battle.
UST:
Then Joab sent a messenger to bring David news about what had happened in the battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:19ULT:
And he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you have finished to speak to the king all of the things of the battle,
UST:
He told the messenger, “Tell David the news about what happened in the battle. Once you finish telling him,
What did Joab think might happen when his messenger brought news of the war to David? (11:19-20)
Joab thought David might become angry because he had allowed the Ammonites to kill some of his soldiers.
2 Samuel 11:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:20ULT:
it will be, if the heat of the king rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you draw near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?
UST:
David may become angry {because we allowed the Ammonites to kill some of our soldiers}. He may tell you, ‘Your soldiers should not have gone so close to the city to fight! You should have known that the Ammonite soldiers would shoot arrows at you from the top of the city wall!
What news did Joab think David might be angry about?
Joab thought David might be angry that soldiers got so close to the city to fight because the Ammonite soldiers would shoot arrows at them from the top of the city wall.
2 Samuel 11:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:21ULT:
Who struck Abimelech, the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw a piece of a millstone onto him from the wall, and he died in Thebez? Why did you draw near to the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
UST:
You must remember how Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth died! A woman who lived in Thebez threw a heavy millstone onto him from the top of a tower, and that killed him. So our troops should not have gone near the city wall!’ If the king says this, then tell him that his soldier Uriah the Hittite also died in the battle.”
What did Joab tell the messenger to say if David got angry?
Joab told the messenger to say that his servant Uriah the Hittite was also dead.
2 Samuel 11:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:22ULT:
So the messenger went, and he came and declared to David all that Joab had sent him {to say}.
UST:
So the messenger went and told David everything that Joab had told him to say.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:23ULT:
And the messenger said to David that “the men became strong against us and they came out against us {to} the field, but we were against them to the entrance of the gate.
UST:
The messenger said to David, “The Ammonite soldiers organized an attack against us. They came out of the city to fight against us in the fields. We were able to force them to retreat right back to the city.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:24ULT:
And the shooters shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the servants of the king died, and also your servant Uriah the Hittite died.”
UST:
But then their archers shot arrows at us from the top of the city wall. They killed some of your soldiers, and Uriah the Hittite was one of the soldiers they killed.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 11:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:25ULT:
And David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘May this matter not be bad in your eyes, for like this and like this the sword devours. Strengthen your battle against the city and destroy it.’ So strengthen him.”
UST:
David said to the messenger, “Go back to Joab and tell him, ‘Do not feel badly about what happened, because no one ever knows who might die in a battle. Make an even stronger attack against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage Joab by telling him those things.”
What did David tell the messenger to say to Joab?
David told the messenger to encourage Joab by telling him to not feel badly since no one ever knows who might die in a battle. David advised him to strengthen his battle against the city and destroy it.
2 Samuel 11:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:26ULT:
And the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her man had died. And she lamented for her husband.
UST:
When Uriah’s wife Bathsheba heard that her husband had died, she mourned for him.
What did Uriah’s wife do when she heard that her husband was dead?
When she heard her husband was dead, she mourned for him.
2 Samuel 11:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 11:27ULT:
And the mourning passed, and David sent and gathered her to his house, and she became a wife to him, and she bore a son to him. But the thing that David had done was bad in the eyes of Yahweh.
UST:
After her time of mourning ended, David sent messengers to bring her to the palace, and he married her. She later gave birth to a son whose father was David. But Yahweh was very displeased with what David had done.
What happened to Bathsheba?
After her mourning passed, David sent for her, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son.
Who was displeased with what David had done?
Yahweh was very displeased with what David had done.
2 Samuel 12
2 Samuel 12:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:1ULT:
And Yahweh sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and he said to him, “Two men were in one city, one rich and one poor.
UST:
Yahweh told the prophet Nathan what David had done, and he sent Nathan to correct David. Nathan came and told him a story {to help him recognize that he had done was very wrong}. He said, “Once there were two men in a certain city. One man was rich and the other was poor.
Why did Nathan go to David?
Nathan went to David because Yahweh sent him.
What was Nathan’s story about? (12:1-3)
The story was about a rich man with many flocks and herds and a poor man who had only one little ewe lamb that was like a daughter to him.
2 Samuel 12:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:2ULT:
To the rich {one} was flock and herd very greatly.
UST:
The rich man owned a lot of sheep and cattle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:3ULT:
But to the poor {man} {was} not anything except one little ewe that he had bought. And he nourished it, and it grew up together with him and with his sons. It would eat from his morsel, and it would drink from his cup, and it would lie down in his lap. And it was like a daughter to him.
UST:
But the poor man had only one little female lamb, which he had bought. He raised the lamb, and it grew up with his own children. He would give the lamb some of his own food and let it drink from his cup. He let the lamb sleep as he held it next to him. The lamb was like a daughter to him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:4ULT:
Now a traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take from his flock or from his herd to prepare for the wayfarer having come to him, but he took the ewe of the poor man, and he prepared it for the man having come to him.”
UST:
One day a visitor came to see the rich man. The rich man did not want to take one of his own sheep or cattle and kill it to prepare a meal for his guest. Instead, he sent men to take the poor man’s lamb. Then he had someone kill it and prepare it as a meal for his guest.”
What did the rich man do with the poor man’s lamb?
When a traveler came to the rich man, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it as a meal for his guest.
2 Samuel 12:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:5ULT:
And the nose of David burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “The life of Yahweh, that the man having done this {is} a son of death!
UST:
When David heard that, he became very angry with the rich man. He told Nathan, “I swear by Yahweh that I want to execute the man who did that!
What was David’s reaction to Nathan’s story?
David was very angry and said that he wanted to execute the man who did that.
2 Samuel 12:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:6ULT:
Now he shall restore the ewe fourfold because he did this thing and because he did not spare.”
UST:
{I cannot actually execute him, but at least} he must pay back four lambs to the poor man for so cruelly taking his one lamb.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:7ULT:
And Nathan said to David, “You {are} the man. Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘I, I anointed you as king over Israel, and I, I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
UST:
Nathan said to David, “You have acted like the man I told you about. Now this is what Yahweh, the God whom we Israelites worship, says to you: ‘I was the one who chose you to be the king of Israel. When Saul was trying to kill you, I was the one who rescued you.
What did Nathan tell David after David reacted in anger?
Nathan told David, “You are the man.”
2 Samuel 12:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:8ULT:
And I gave to you the house of your master, and the wives of your master into your lap, and I gave to you the house of Israel and Judah. And if {this had been} little, then I would have added to you like them and like them.
UST:
I gave you all of his property. I let you marry the women who had been his wives and concubines. I made you king over Israel and Judah. And if you had told me that you were not content with all that I had given you, I would have given you even more!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:9ULT:
Why have you despised the word of Yahweh to do evil in my eyes? You struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and you took his wife for yourself as a wife, and you murdered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.
UST:
But you have not taken seriously what I commanded {when I said that my people must not commit adultery or murder}. You have done things that I consider to be very evil! You arranged for Uriah the Hittite to die in battle, and after the Ammonite soldiers killed him, then you took his wife as your own wife!
What did Yahweh say David had done?
Yahweh said David had struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, had taken his wife to be his own wife, and had murdered him with the sword of the Ammonites. Yahweh said that David did not take seriously what he commanded when he said that his people must not commit adultery or murder. David did things that Yahweh considers to be very evil!
2 Samuel 12:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:10ULT:
And now, the sword will not turn away from your house to forever, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be a wife for you.’
UST:
You did not respect me. Instead you took Uriah’s wife to be your wife. As a result, people in your family will constantly be killing each other.’
What did Yahweh say would happen because David despised him and took Uriah’s wife? (12:10-11)
Yahweh said that he would make someone from David’s own family cause disaster for him. Yahweh would take David’s wives away from him and give them to that person instead. He will have sexual relations with them in public.
2 Samuel 12:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:11ULT:
Thus says Yahweh, ‘Behold me, raising up harm against you from your house. And I will take your wives to your eyes, and I will give {them} to your neighbor. And he will lie with your wives to the eyes of this sun.
UST:
This is what Yahweh says to you: ‘I am going to make someone from your own family cause disaster for you. I will take your wives away from you and give them to that person instead. He will have sexual relations with them in public. And you will know about it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:12ULT:
For you, you did {this} in secret, but I, I will do this thing before all of Israel and before the sun.’”
UST:
While you tried to make sure that no one found out about what you did, I will make this happen in public. That way people throughout Israel will either see it or hear about it.’”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:13ULT:
And David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.”
And Nathan said to David, “Yahweh has also taken away your sin. You will not die.
UST:
David replied, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh has forgiven you for sinning. He is not going to punish you by killing you for committing this sin.
After he confessed his sin, what did Nathan say would happen to David?
Nathan told David that Yahweh had taken away his sin and that he would not die.
2 Samuel 12:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:14ULT:
Nevertheless, because spurning, you have spurned the enemies of Yahweh with this thing, also the son born to you dying, will die.”
UST:
But you have shown great contempt for Yahweh by doing this. So the son you have just had is going to die.”
What did Nathan say would happen to the son born to David?
Nathan said that because David had shown great contempt for Yahweh by doing this., the son born to him would surely die.
2 Samuel 12:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:15ULT:
Then Nathan went to his home.
And Yahweh struck the child whom the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and he became sick.
UST:
Then Nathan went home. Uriah’s wife had given birth to a baby boy who was David’s son. Yahweh caused him to become very sick.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:16ULT:
And David sought God on behalf of the boy. And David fasted a fast, and he went in and lodged and lay on the ground.
UST:
So David prayed to God that the child would not die. {To show how concerned he was,} he ate very little food. He also did not sleep in his bed at night. Instead, he slept on the floor of his room.
What did David do when the child was very sick? (12:16-17)
David prayed to God that the child would not die, fasted, and went in and slept on the floor of his room.
2 Samuel 12:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:17ULT:
And the elders of his house arose upon him to make him arise from the ground, but he was not willing, and he would not eat bread with them.
UST:
His most senior servants came and urged him to get up off the floor. But he refused to get up, and he refused to eat any meals with them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:18ULT:
And it happened on the seventh day that the child died, and the servants of David were afraid to declare to him that the child had died, for they said, “Behold, while the child was living, we spoke to him, but he did not listen to our voice. So how shall we say to him, ‘The child has died’? For he will do harm.”
UST:
After a week, the baby died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that. They said to each other, “Consider that while the baby was still alive, we encouraged him to take better care of himself, but he refused. Now if we tell him that the baby has died, he may do something to hurt himself!”
When did the child die?
The child died on the seventh day.
2 Samuel 12:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:19ULT:
And David saw that his servants were whispering together, and David realized that the child had died. So David said to his servants, “Has the child died?”
And they said, “He has died.”
UST:
David saw that his servants were whispering something to each other. He recognized that the baby must have died. So he asked them, “Is the baby dead?” They replied, “Yes, he is dead.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:20ULT:
Then David arose from the ground, and he washed, and he anointed {himself}, and he changed his clothes, and he entered the house of Yahweh, and he prostrated himself. Then he went to his house, and he asked, and they set out bread for him, and he ate.
UST:
Then David got up from the floor. He bathed himself, put olive oil on his hair and skin, and put on different clothes. Then he went to Yahweh’s sacred tent and worshiped him there. After that, he came home. He asked his servants to bring him some food, and when they did, he ate it.
What did David do once he knew the child was dead?
David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went to the house of Yahweh and prostrated himself. Then he asked his servants for food and he ate it.
2 Samuel 12:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:21ULT:
And his servants said to him, “What {is} this thing that you have done? For the sake of the living child you fasted and wept, but when the child died, you arose and ate bread.”
UST:
Then his servants said to him, “We do not understand why you have done this! While the baby was still alive, you cried for him and refused to eat. But now that the baby has died, you have gotten up and eaten some food!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:22ULT:
And he said, “When yet the child {was} alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? Yahweh may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’
UST:
He replied, “While the baby was still alive, I ate little food and wept because I thought, ‘Perhaps Yahweh will be merciful to me and allow the baby to live.’
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:23ULT:
But now, he is dead. Why {is} this, {that} I should fast? Am I able to bring him back again? I am going to him, but he, he will not return to me.”
UST:
But now that the baby is dead, there is no reason for me to go without food anymore. I cannot bring him back to me. Someday I will go to where he is, but he will not return to me.”
Why did David stop fasting after the child died?
David reasoned that there was no reason to fast since he could not bring the child back again.
2 Samuel 12:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:24ULT:
And David consoled Bathsheba his wife, and he came to her and lay with her. And she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Yahweh loved him.
UST:
Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba. He had sexual relations with her, and she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. David named this boy Solomon. Yahweh loved that little boy.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:25ULT:
And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah because of Yahweh.
UST:
Yahweh told the prophet Nathan to tell David to name the baby boy Jedidiah, since he loved him.
Why did Yahweh send word through Nathan to name the new son Jedidiah?
Yahweh said to name him Jedidiah because of Yahweh.
2 Samuel 12:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:26ULT:
And Joab fought with Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and he captured the city of the kingdom.
UST:
Meanwhile, Joab’s soldiers were still fighting to conquer Rabbah, the Ammonite capital city. They captured the part of the city where the king had his palace.
Against whom was Joab fighting at this time?
Joab was fighting against Rabbah of the sons of Ammon.
2 Samuel 12:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:27ULT:
And Joab sent messengers to David, and he said, “I have fought against Rabbah. Also, I have captured the city of waters.
UST:
Then Joab sent messengers to David to tell him, “My troops have been attacking Rabbah, and we have captured the part of the city that is down by the river.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:28ULT:
And now, gather the rest of the people and encamp against the city and capture it, lest I myself capture the city and my name be called to it.”
UST:
Now assemble all the rest of our soldiers. Come and attack the fortress that is on higher ground and capture it. If you do not do that, my soldiers will capture the fortress, and then people will give the whole city a new name, The City of Joab.”
Why did Joab tell David to gather the rest of the army and capture the city?
Joab did not want to capture the city himself, because if he did, it would renamed to honor him and not King David.
2 Samuel 12:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:29ULT:
So David gathered all of the people, and he went to Rabbah. And he fought with it, and he captured it.
UST:
So David assembled the rest of the Israelite soldiers. They went to Rabbah and attacked it, and they captured it.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:30ULT:
And he took the crown of their king from his head, and its weight {was} a talent of gold, and a precious stone, and it became on the head of David. And he brought out the plunder of the city, very much.
UST:
Then David took the golden crown off the head of their king and put it on his own head. It weighed 34 kilograms, and it had a very valuable stone in it. David’s soldiers also took many other valuable things from the city.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 12:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 12:31ULT:
But the people who {were} in it, he brought out, and he set {them} with the saw and with picks of iron and with axes of iron, and he made them pass through at the brick kiln. And thus he did to all of the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David and all of the people returned {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
Then the Israelite soldiers brought the Ammonite people out of the city and forced them to work for them using saws, iron picks, and iron axes. David’s troops also forced them to make bricks. David’s soldiers made the people who lived in the other Ammonite cities work for them in the same way. Then David and all of his army returned to Jerusalem.
What did David make the people of Rabbah do after he captured the city?
David brought out the people and set them to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes. David’s troops also forced them to make bricks.
2 Samuel 13
2 Samuel 13:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:1ULT:
And it happened after this that to Absalom, the son of David, {was} a beautiful sister, and her name {was} Tamar, and Amnon, the son of David, loved her.
UST:
After this, the trouble that Nathan had announced began in David’s family. David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. Another of David’s sons, Amnon, wanted to have sexual relations with her.
To whom was Amnon, the son of David, attracted?
Amnon loved his beautiful half-sister Tamar, who was the sister of Absalom.
2 Samuel 13:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:2ULT:
And it narrowed to Amnon, so that he made himself sick over Tamar his sister. For she {was} a virgin, so it was difficult in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her.
UST:
He wanted so badly to have sexual relations with his half-sister Tamar that he felt sick. But because she was an unmarried young woman{, she lived separately from the men in the palace, so} Amnon thought he would never have a relationship with her.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:3ULT:
Now to Amnon {was} a friend, and his name {was} Jonadab, the son of Shimeah the brother of David. And Jonadab {was} a very cunning man.
UST:
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab knew well how to deceive people in order to get what he wanted.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:4ULT:
And he said to him, “Why {are} you so weak, son of the king, by morning, by morning? Will you not declare to me?”
And Amnon said to him, “I am loving Tamar, the sister of Absalom my brother.”
UST:
One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “Even though you are the king’s son, every day {when I see you,} you seem depressed. Please tell me why.” Amnon replied, “I feel sexual desire toward Tamar, the sister of my half-brother Absalom.”
How did Amnon respond when Jonadab asked him why he was so weak?
Amnon told Jonadab that he loved Tamar, his brother Absalom’s sister.
2 Samuel 13:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:5ULT:
And Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. And your father will come to see you, and you shall say to him, ‘Please let Tamar my sister come and let her serve me bread, and let her make the food to my eyes so that I may see, and I will eat from her hand.’”
UST:
Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend that you are sick. Your father will come to visit you. {Tell him that you do not feel like eating anything, but you might eat} if someone prepared food while you were watching so you could see what the person was doing and if the person then served you the food directly. Suggest that you half-sister Tamar could come and do this for you.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:6ULT:
So Amnon lay down, and he pretended to be sick. And the king came to see him, and Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come, and let her make to my eyes a couple of pancakes, and I will eat from her hand.”
UST:
So Amnon lay down and pretended that he was sick. When King David came to visit him, Amnon told him, “{I might eat something if} someone made a couple of pancakes for me while I was watching and then served them to me directly. Please allow my half-sister Tamar to come and do that for me.”
What did Amnon do to get to see Tamar?
Amnon pretended to be sick, and when David came to see him, he asked David to let Tamar come and make food for him so he could eat from her hand.
2 Samuel 13:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:7ULT:
So David sent to Tamar at the house, saying, “Please go {to} the house of Amnon your brother and make food for him.”
UST:
So David sent a message to Tamar in the palace. He told her, “Amnon your half-brother {is sick, so} please go to his house and prepare some food for him {so that he will eat}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:8ULT:
So Tamar went {to} the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down. And she took the dough, and she kneaded {it}, and she made pancakes to his eyes, and she cooked the pancakes.
UST:
So Tamar went to Amnon’s house. He was lying on a couch there. While he was watching her, she took some dough and kneaded it, then she formed it into some pancakes and baked them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:9ULT:
And she took the pan, and she poured {them} out to his face, but he refused to eat.
And Amnon said, “Make every man go out from me.” So every man went out from him.
UST:
She brought the pan and served the pancakes from it onto a plate in front of Amnon. But he refused to eat them. He said to everyone else who was present, “All the rest of you, leave me!” So they all left.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:10ULT:
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food {to} the bedroom, and I will eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the pancakes that she had made and brought {them} into the bedroom to Amnon her brother.
UST:
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “{I need to lie in bed, so} bring the food into my bedroom and serve it to me there.” So Tamar brought the pancakes that she had made into his bedroom.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:11ULT:
And she brought {them} near to him to eat, and he seized her, and he said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”
UST:
But when she brought them close for him to eat them, he grabbed her and told her, “I want to have sex with you!”
What did Amnon do when Tamar came to feed him?
When Tamar came to feed him, he seized her and told her to come and lie with him.
2 Samuel 13:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:12ULT:
And she said to him, “No, my brother, do not humble me, for it is not done thus in Israel. Do not do this wickedness!
UST:
She replied, “No, do not force me to have sex with you! Israelites should not do things like that. You are my half-brother! So do not commit this crime against me!
What did Amnon do when Tamar begged him not to force her? (13:12-14)
He refused to do what she said he should do. He was stronger than she was, so he forcibly had sexual relations with her.
2 Samuel 13:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:13ULT:
And I, where would I bring my shame? And you, you would be like one of the wicked {ones} in Israel. And now, please, speak to the king, for he would not withhold me from you.”
UST:
If you did, I would always have shame afterwards. And as for you, you would be acting like the Israelite men who do wrong things without regard for God. So I plead with you, ask the king {to allow you to marry me}. I am sure he would agree to let me become your wife.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:14ULT:
But he was not willing to listen to her voice. And he was stronger than she, and he humbled her, and he lay with her.
UST:
But he refused to do what she said he should do. He was stronger than she was, so he forcibly had sexual relations with her.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:15ULT:
Then Amnon hated her {with} very great hatred, so that the hatred {with} which he hated her {was} greater than the love {with} which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, go.”
UST:
Afterwards, Amnon felt great hatred toward her. He hated her much more than he had desired her. He told her, “Now I want you to leave!”
How did Amnon feel toward Tamar after he raped her?
Amnon hated her with a very great hatred that was greater than the love with which he had loved her.
What did Amnon command Tamar to do?
Amnon commanded Tamar to leave.
2 Samuel 13:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:16ULT:
But she said to him, “No, because this great evil, to send me away, than the other that you did to me.”
But he was not willing to listen to her.
UST:
But she told him, “No! You should not send me away. That would be very wrong. It would be worse than what you just did to me!” But again he refused to do what she said he should do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:17ULT:
And he called his young man, the one attending him, and he said, “Now send this {one} away from me outside, and lock the door behind her.”
UST:
Instead, he summoned his personal servant and told him, “Take this woman outside, away from me, and lock the door so that she cannot come in again!”
What did Amnon order his servant to do?
He ordered his servant to send Tamar outside and to lock the door behind her.
2 Samuel 13:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:18ULT:
Now a long robe {was} on her, for thus the virgin daughters of the king dressed {in} garments. And the one attending him brought her outside, and he locked the door behind her.
UST:
So the servant put her outside and locked the door so that she could not come in again. Now Tamar was wearing a long robe. That was the clothing that the unmarried daughters of the king customarily wore at that time.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:19ULT:
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and she tore the long robe that {was} on her, and she put her hand on her head, and she went, going and she cried out.
UST:
But {to show how distressed she was,} Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the long robe that she was wearing. She also placed her hand on her head. As she went away, she kept screaming.
What did Tamar do after she was put out of Amnon’s room?
Tamar tore the long robe that she was wearing. She put ashes on her head, and she put her hand on her head. As she went away, she kept screaming.
2 Samuel 13:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:20ULT:
And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? And now, my sister, keep silent, he {is} your brother. Do not set your heart to this matter.” And Tamar dwelled and was desolate {in} the house of Absalom her brother.
UST:
Her brother Absalom {saw her and} said to her, “Did your half-brother Amnon force you to have sex with him? Please, my sister, do not tell anyone. He is your half-brother. Do not let this bother you.” Then Tamar went to live in Absalom’s house, and she never got married.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:21ULT:
And King David heard all of these things, and it burned to him greatly.
UST:
When King David learned what had happened, it made him very angry {but he did not do anything about it}.
What was King David’s response when he heard about these things?
When King David heard all these things, it made him very angry, but he did nothing about it.
2 Samuel 13:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:22ULT:
But Absalom did not speak with Amnon to evil or to good, for Absalom hated Amnon for the reason that he had humbled Tamar his sister.
UST:
Absalom hated Amnon because he had forcibly had sexual relations with his sister Tamar. But he did not say anything to Amnon about this{, because he did not want Amnon to suspect that he wanted to kill him}.
How did Absalom feel toward Amnon after he raped Tamar?
Absalom hated Amnon because he had humbled his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:23ULT:
And it happened after two years of days that shearers were to Absalom in Baal Hazor, which {is} near Ephraim. And Absalom called to all of the sons of the king.
UST:
However, two years later, Absalom hired men to cut the wool off his sheep at Baal Hazor, where he lived. That place is near the tribal land of Ephraim. He was going to host a celebration when they finished cutting the wool off the sheep, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons to come to the celebration.
Whom did Absalom invite to visit him at Baal Hazor? (13:23-24)
Absalom invited the king and all the king’s sons to visit him.
2 Samuel 13:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:24ULT:
And Absalom went to the king, and he said, “Behold, please, shearers {are} to your servant. May the king and his servants please go with your servant.”
UST:
Absalom went to King David and said to him, “Sir, I have workers shearing my sheep {and we are going to celebrate when they finish}. Please come with your officials to celebrate with us!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:25ULT:
And the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, please let not all of us go, and let us not be heavy to you.” Then he urged him, but he was not willing to go, but he blessed him.
UST:
But the king replied, “No, my son, it would not be good for all of us to come. That would be too great an expense for you.” Absalom kept inviting him, but King David finally refused. Instead, he said that he hoped that God would make them happy while they celebrated.
What did the king say in response to Absalom’s invitation?
The king said they should not all go because they would be a heavy burden to Absalom.
2 Samuel 13:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:26ULT:
And Absalom said, “If not, may Amnon my brother please go with us.”
And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
UST:
Then Absalom said, “If you will not come, please send my half-brother Amnon {the crown prince} with us {as your representative}.” But the king replied, “You do not need to invite him to the celebration either.”
What did David say when Absalom asked him to let Amnon go with them?
But the king replied, “You do not need to invite him to the celebration either.”
2 Samuel 13:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:27ULT:
But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all of the sons of the king with him.
UST:
But Absalom insisted, and finally King David agreed to let Amnon go with Absalom. He sent all of his other sons with him.
Who went with Absalom?
Absalom urged David, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons with him.
2 Samuel 13:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:28ULT:
And Absalom commanded his young men, saying, “See, now, when Amnon {is} good of heart with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then you shall kill him. Do not fear. {Is it} not that I, I have commanded you? Be courageous and be sons of valor.”
UST:
At the celebration, Absalom told his servants, “Pay attention to these instructions. Once Amnon has become a bit drunk from the wine, I will shout out, ‘Kill Amnon!’ When I say that, you must kill him. Do not be afraid. You will be doing this only because I told you to do it. So be very brave {and do it}!”
What did Absalom command his servants to do to Amnon?
Absalom commanded his servants to kill Amnon when Amnon began to be drunk with wine.
2 Samuel 13:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:29ULT:
And the young men of Absalom did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. And all of the sons of the king arose, and they rode, a man on his mule, and they fled.
UST:
So Absalom’s servants did what Absalom told them to do. They killed Amnon. When the rest of David’s sons saw what had happened, they left the celebration. They got onto their mules and escaped by riding away fast.
What did the king’s sons do after Absalom’s servants killed Amnon?
All the king’s sons arose, and they got onto their mules and escaped by riding away fast.
2 Samuel 13:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:30ULT:
And it happened, they {were} on the road, and the report came to David, saying, “Absalom has struck all of the sons of the king, and not one of them is left.”
UST:
While they were still on their way home, someone {who had fled when the servants first killed Amnon} rushed back and reported {incorrectly} to David, “Absalom has killed all of your other sons! None of them is still alive!”
What was the first news David heard about the incident?
The first report to David said that Absalom had killed all the king’s sons and not one was still alive.
2 Samuel 13:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:31ULT:
And the king arose, and he tore his clothes, and he lay on the ground, and all of his servants were standing, torn of clothes.
UST:
When King David heard this, he got up from his throne, tore his clothes, and then lay down on the ground {to show how sad he was}. His officials also tore their clothes, and they stood around him {to show their sympathy}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:32ULT:
But Jonadab, the son of Shimeah the brother of David, answered and said, “May my lord not say, ‘All of the young men, the sons of the king, have been killed,’ for Amnon alone has died. For it was placed on the mouth of Absalom from the day of his humbling Tamar his sister.
UST:
But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, “Your Majesty, please do not believe that Absalom has killed all your sons. I am sure that only Amnon is dead. I say this because Absalom has wanted to kill him ever since the day that Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
What did Jonadab say had happened and why?
Jonadab said that only Amnon is dead. Absalom has been determined to kill him ever since the day that Amnon raped his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:33ULT:
And now, may my lord the king not put the matter to his heart, saying, ‘All of the sons of the king have died,’ for only Amnon has died.”
UST:
So, your Majesty, please do not let the thought that all your sons may be dead cause you great distress. I am sure that only Amnon is dead.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:34ULT:
(Now Absalom had fled.) And the young man watching lifted his eyes, and he saw, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him, from the side of the mountain.
UST:
(Absalom had fled {from the celebration after his servants killed Amnon}.) One of the city guards looked out and saw a large crowd of people coming around from behind a hill on the road from the west {and reported this to King David}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:35ULT:
And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the sons of the king are coming. As your servant spoke, thus it is.”
UST:
Jonadab said to the king, “You see, what I told you is true. Your other sons are alive, and they are coming here now.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:36ULT:
And it happened, as he finished speaking, that behold, the sons of the king came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. And the king and all of his servants also wept a very great weeping.
UST:
And as soon as he said that, David’s sons came in. They were all crying loudly, and David and all his officials also cried very much.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 13:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:37ULT:
But Absalom fled, and he went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son all of the days.
UST:
Absalom fled {for safety} to the kingdom of Geshur, where {his grandfather} Talmai son of Ammihud was the king. King David mourned continually for his son Amnon.
Where did Absalom go after having Amnon killed?
Absalom fled to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.
2 Samuel 13:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:38ULT:
And Absalom fled, and he went {to} Geshur, and he was there three years.
UST:
When Absalom fled to the kingdom of Geshur, he stayed there for three years.
How long was Absalom in Geshur?
Absalom was in Geshur for three years.
2 Samuel 13:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 13:39ULT:
And it ceased, David the king to go out against Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, that he had died.
UST:
King David had intended to attack Absalom {to capture him and punish him for killing Amnon}. But by the end of those three years, David was not grieving as severely that Amnon had died, so he no longer planned to attack Absalom.
What did King David intend to do?
King David had intended to attack Absalom and punish him for killing Amnon.
2 Samuel 14
2 Samuel 14:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:1ULT:
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the heart of the king {was} against Absalom.
UST:
But Joab recognized that the king was still angry with Absalom.
What did Joab do when he knew the king’s heart was against Absalom? (14:1-2)
Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there to act as if she had been in mourning for a long time.
2 Samuel 14:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:2ULT:
And Joab sent {to} Tekoa, and he brought a wise woman from there. And he said to her, “Please mourn, and please put on clothes of mourning. And you shall not anoint {yourself} {with} oil, but you shall be like this woman mourning many days for one having died.
UST:
So Joab sent someone to the city of Tekoa to bring to him a woman who was very clever. When she arrived, Joab said to her, “I want you to look very sad, as if you are grieving because someone you love has died. Put on the clothes that people wear who are mourning. Do not put any olive oil on your hair or skin. Act as if you are a woman who has been mourning for a long time for someone who has died.
What did Joab want the wise woman to do? (14:2-3)
Joab wanted the wise woman to pretend to be a mourner and to go speak to the king the words Joab told her to say.
2 Samuel 14:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:3ULT:
And you shall come to the king, and you shall speak to him according to this word.” And Joab put the words in her mouth.
UST:
Then go to King David and tell him what I tell you to say.” Then Joab told her what to say.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:4ULT:
So the Tekoite woman spoke to the king. And she fell on her nose to the ground, and she prostrated herself, and she said, “Save, O king!”
UST:
So the woman who was from Tekoa went to the king. She got down and lay flat out in front of him to honor him, and then she cried out, “Your Majesty, please help me!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:5ULT:
And the king said to her, “What {is} to you?”
And she said, “Truly I {am} a woman, a widow, for my husband has died.
UST:
The king replied, “What is your problem?” She replied, “Sadly I am a widow. My husband died some time ago.
When the wise woman went to the king, whom did she say she was?
The wise woman told the king she was a widow.
2 Samuel 14:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:6ULT:
And to your maidservant {were} two sons. But the two of them fought in the field, and {there was} no deliverer between them. And the one struck him, the one, and he killed him.
UST:
I had two sons. But one day they quarreled with each other while they were working out in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one of them hit the other one so hard that he killed him.
What did the wise woman tell the king her two sons had done?
She told the king that her two sons fought in a field, and one struck the other and killed him.
2 Samuel 14:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:7ULT:
And behold, all of the clan has arisen against your maidservant, and they have said, ‘Give the one having struck his brother, and we will kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and let us destroy the heir also.’ And they would quench my coal that remains, without leaving to my husband a name or remnant on the face of the ground.”
UST:
Now, all of my extended family has come to me and insisted that I surrender to them my son who is still alive. They want to kill him to punish him for killing his brother. But if they do that, I will not have any son to inherit my late husband’s land {and the family will take it}. My son is the only relative I have left. If they kill him, my husband will have no living descendants to preserve our family’s name.”
What did the wise woman tell the king she was afraid would happen to her remaining son?
She said she was afraid the whole clan would kill her remaining son, destroying her heir and leaving no descendants to preserve her family’s name.
2 Samuel 14:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:8ULT:
And the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I, I will command concerning you.”
UST:
Then the king said to the woman, “I will forbid anyone to punish your surviving son by killing him. So you may go back home {without appealing any further}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:9ULT:
And the Tekoite woman said to the king, “On me, my lord the king, {be} the iniquity, and on the house of my father, and {may} the king and his throne {be} innocent.”
UST:
The woman from Tekoa replied to the king, “Your Majesty, {let me reassure you that} if my son actually is guilty of murder and deserves to die, then I will accept the blame and expect Yahweh to punish me and my family. May Yahweh not punish you or the kingdom of Israel because you have said that no one should kill my surviving son.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:10ULT:
And the king said, “The one speaking to you, then bring him to me, and he will not continue to touch you further.”
UST:
The king said to her, “If anyone continues to demand that you surrender your surviving son for execution, bring that person to me. I will make sure that he never causes you trouble again.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:11ULT:
And she said, “May the king please remember Yahweh your God, from the increasing of the avenger of blood to destroy. Then they will not destroy my son.”
And he said, “The life of Yahweh, if from the hair of your son should fall to the ground!”
UST:
Then the woman said, “Your Majesty, please swear by Yahweh your God that you will do this. That way the relative who would be responsible to kill my son if he had actually murdered his brother will not kill him and cause someone further to die in my family.” David replied, “I swear by Yahweh that I will not allow anyone to hurt your son at all.”
Why did the wise woman ask the king to remember Yahweh his God?
She asked the king to remember Yahweh so that the avenger of blood would not destroy her son.
Who did the king swear by when he told the woman that not one hair of her son would fall to the ground?
The king swore by the life of Yahweh.
2 Samuel 14:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:12ULT:
And the woman said, “May your maidservant please speak a word to my lord the king.”
And he said, “Speak.”
UST:
Then the woman said, “Your Majesty, please allow me to say one more thing to you.” He replied, “Speak!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:13ULT:
And the woman said, “Then why have you devised like this against the people of God? For from speaking this word, the king {is} like the guilty, in that the king has not brought back his banished one.
UST:
The woman said, “You have been acting badly toward God’s people. Based on the judgment you have just given, you have been doing the wrong thing. {Since you take circumstances into account when judging cases of manslaughter,} you should allow your son Absalom{, our crown prince,} to return home.
Why did the woman say the king had been doing the wrong thing?
The woman said the king was acting badly because he had not brought back his own banished son.
2 Samuel 14:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:14ULT:
For dying, we will die, and like water spilled on the ground that is not gathered. But God does not take away life, but he devises devices so that the banished will not be banished from him.
UST:
Consider that all of us are going to die. Like water that no one can pick up from the ground once someone has spilled it, death is permanent {so you should reconcile with Absalom while you are both still alive}. And it is not God who makes people die {even to punish them when they have done wrong things}. Instead, God forgives people who have sinned against him so that they can once more be in a good relationship with him.
What did the woman say God does instead of taking away life?
She said that God forgives people who have sinned against him so that they can once more be in a good relationship with him.
2 Samuel 14:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:15ULT:
And now that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, {it is} because the people have frightened me. And your maidservant said, ‘Let me now speak to the king. Perhaps the king will do the word of his female servant.
UST:
I came to appeal to you, Your Majesty, because I was very afraid that the members of my extended family would kill my son. I said to myself, ‘I will go and talk to the king, and maybe he will do what I ask him to do.
Why did the woman say she came to speak to the king? (14:15-16)
She said she came because the people had frightened her, and she hoped the king would listen and deliver her.
2 Samuel 14:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:16ULT:
For the king will listen to deliver his female servant from the palm of the man {who is} to destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God.’
UST:
Perhaps he will listen to me and save my son from the man who is trying to kill him. If that man kills my son, I might die too {without his support}. Then we would both no longer be a part of the Israelite community.’
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:17ULT:
Then your maidservant said, ‘Now the word of my lord the king will be for rest, because like an angel of God, so {is} my lord the king, to understand good and evil. And may Yahweh your God be with you!’”
UST:
And I decided, ‘What the king says will comfort me, because he is like an angel of God. He knows how to determine what is right and what is wrong.’ I pray that Yahweh your God will help you.”
What did the woman say about the king?
She said that what the king says will comfort her, because he is like an angel of God, and he knows how to determine what is right and what is wrong.
2 Samuel 14:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:18ULT:
And the king answered and said to the woman, “Now do not hide from me a thing that I am asking you.”
And the woman said, “May my lord the king please speak.”
UST:
In response King David told the woman, “I am going to ask you about something, and I want you to tell me the whole truth about it.” The woman replied, “Go ahead and ask, Your Majesty{, and I will answer truthfully}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:19ULT:
And the king said, “{Is} the hand of Joab with you in all of this?”
And the woman answered and said, “The life of your soul, my lord the king, if there is turning to the right or turning to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken. For your servant Joab, he, he commanded me, and he, he put all of these words in the mouth of your maidservant.
UST:
The king said, “Did Joab arrange for you to do all this?” She replied, “I swear by your life, Your Majesty, that it is not possible to say otherwise than you have said! Yes, it was in fact Joab who told me to come here, and he was the one who told me what to say.
What did the king ask the woman?
The king asked the woman if Joab arranged for her to do all this.
2 Samuel 14:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:20ULT:
In order to turn the face of the matter, your servant Joab did this thing. But my master {is} wise like the wisdom of an angel of God, to know everything that {is} in the land.”
UST:
Joab did that to try to get you to feel differently about this matter. But Your Majesty, you seem to be as wise as one of God’s angels. You know what is happening throughout your kingdom{, and that is how you knew that Joab sent me here}.”
Why did Joab have the woman go to the king?
Joab did that to try to get David to feel differently about this matter.
2 Samuel 14:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:21ULT:
And the king said to Joab, “Behold, I will now do this thing. So go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
UST:
Then King David had his servants bring Joab to him. David told Joab, “Listen! I have decided to do what you want. So you may go and get that young man Absalom and bring him back here to Jerusalem.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:22ULT:
And Joab fell on his face to the ground, and he prostrated himself, and he blessed the king. And Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, that the king does the word of his servant.”
UST:
Joab got down and lay flat out in front of David to honor him. Then he asked God to do good things for him. Then Joab said, “Your Majesty, now I know that you are pleased with me, since you have agreed to do what I asked.”
What did Joab do when the king told him to bring Absalom back?
Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king.
2 Samuel 14:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:23ULT:
And Joab arose and went to Geshur, and he brought Absalom {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
Then Joab did what David had said he could do. He went to Geshur and got Absalom and brought him back to Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:24ULT:
Now the king had said, “He may return to his house, but my face he shall not see.” So Absalom returned to his house, but the face of the king he did not see.
UST:
But King David had said that while Absalom could live in his own house again, he could not come and speak with him. So Absalom lived in his own house, but he did not go and speak with the king.
What instructions did the king give about Absalom?
The king said that Absalom could return to his own house but could go and speak with the king.
2 Samuel 14:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:25ULT:
Now {there} was not a handsome man like Absalom in all of Israel to praise greatly. From the sole of his foot and to his pate, no blemish was on him.
UST:
Now people throughout Israel praised Absalom for being a very handsome man. He did not seem to have any flaws in any part of his body.
What was notable about Absalom’s appearance? (14:25-26)
He was so handsome that people throughout Israel praised Absalom for being a very handsome man. He did not seem to have any flaws in any part of his body. His hair was long, thick, and heavy.
2 Samuel 14:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:26ULT:
And when he shaved his head (and it was at the end of years to years that he would shave, because {it was} heavy on him, so he would shave it) and he weighed the hair of his head, 200 shekels by the stone of the king.
UST:
Absalom wore his hair long and only cut it once a year when it became too heavy on his head. When he cut his hair, he would weigh it, and {because it was so thick} it always weighed nearly a kilogram.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:27ULT:
And to Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, and her name {was} Tamar. She was a woman beautiful of appearance.
UST:
Absalom had three sons. He also had a daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very beautiful woman.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:28ULT:
And Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years, days, but the face of the king he did not see.
UST:
Even though Absalom had lived in Jerusalem for two entire years, David had still not allowed him to come and speak with him.
How long did Absalom live in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face?
Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years, during which David still did not allow Absalom to come and speak with him.
2 Samuel 14:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:29ULT:
So Absalom sent to Joab to send him to the king, but he was not willing to come to him. So Absalom sent again a second time, but he was not willing to come.
UST:
So Absalom sent a messenger to ask Joab to come and speak with him. Absalom wanted to ask Joab to help him receive permission to speak with King David. But Joab refused to come and speak with Absalom. So Absalom sent another messenger to ask Joab to come and speak with him. But Joab still would not come.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:30ULT:
So he said to his servants, “See, the property of Joab {is} to my hand, and barley {is} to him there. Go and burn it with fire.” So the servants of Absalom burned the property with fire.
UST:
Then Absalom told his servants, “Here is what I want you to do. Joab owns a piece of land next to my land, and he has barley growing there. Go over and start a fire there to burn up the barley.” So Absalom’s servants went over and started a fire, and it burned up all the barley.
What did Absalom tell his servants to do after Joab refused to come to him?
Absalom told his servants to go and burn Joab’s barley field with fire.
2 Samuel 14:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:31ULT:
And Joab arose, and he came to Absalom, to the house, and he said to him, “Why did your servants burn with fire the property that {is} to me?”
UST:
Joab {realized who must have started the fire, so he} went to Absalom’s house and demanded to know, “Why did your servants burn up the barley that was growing on my piece of land?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 14:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:32ULT:
And Absalom said to Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, saying, “Why have I come from Geshur? {It would be} better for me {if} I {were} still there.”’ And now, let me see the face of the king, but if iniquity is in me, then let him kill me.”
UST:
Absalom replied, “I had them do that because when I sent messengers to ask you to come and speak with me, you refused. I wanted you to go to the king and tell him on my behalf that it seemed useless for me to have come here from Geshur and that I thought it would have been better for me to stay there. Now please get the king to allow me to come and speak with him. Tell him that if he is keeping me away to punish me for doing something wrong, he can go ahead and execute me!”
What did Absalom want Joab to do?
Absalom wanted Joab to go to the king and ask why he had come from Geshur, and to say that he wanted to come and speak with him.
2 Samuel 14:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 14:33ULT:
So Joab came to the king, and he declared to him. And he called to Absalom, and he came to the king, and he prostrated himself to him on his nose to the ground to the face of the king. And the king kissed Absalom.
UST:
So Joab went to the king and told him what Absalom had said. Then the king sent messengers to bring Absalom to the royal court. Absalom came to the king and, to honor him, he knelt down in front of him with his face touching the ground. Then the king {indicated that Absalom could get up, and he} kissed Absalom on the cheek to show that he was no longer hostile to him.
What did the king do when Absalom bowed before him?
The king kissed Absalom on the cheek to show that he was no longer hostile to him.
2 Samuel 15
2 Samuel 15:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:1ULT:
And it happened after this that Absalom made for himself a chariot and horses and 50 men running to his face.
UST:
Soon afterwards, Absalom got a chariot and horses to pull it. He hired 50 men to run in front of him while he was riding around Jerusalem in the chariot.
What did Absalom prepare for himself?
Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself.
Who ran before Absalom’s chariot?
He hired fifty men to run in front of his chariot.
2 Samuel 15:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:2ULT:
And Absalom would arise early, and he would stand at the hand of the way of the gate. And it happened, {when} any man to whom was a dispute came to the king for judgment, then Absalom would call to him, and he would say, “Where from this city {are} you?” And he would say, “Your servant {is} from one of the tribes of Israel.”
UST:
And Absalom would also go and stand by the city gate starting early each morning. When a person came toward the gate so they could go into the city and ask the king to decide a case for him, Absalom would call out to him. He would ask what city he was from. Then the person would tell him what {city and} tribe he was from.
Whom would Absalom call to as he stood by the gate?
Absalom would call to any man who had a dispute and was coming to the king for judgment.
2 Samuel 15:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:3ULT:
Then Absalom would say to him, “See, your matter {is} good and right, but there is not a hearer for you from with the king.”
UST:
Then Absalom would {ask the person about his case} and tell him, “It certainly seems to me that you deserve to win your case. But the king {is not able to decide everyone’s case, and he} has not appointed anyone else to judge cases for people like you.”
What would Absalom say about the cases of the men who came for judgment?
Absalom would say to them that their matter was good and right, but the king is not able to decide everyone’s case, and he has not appointed anyone else to judge cases for people like you.
2 Samuel 15:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:4ULT:
And Absalom would say, “Who will appoint me a judge in the land, that every person to whom was a dispute and a judgment would come to me, and I would do him justice?”
UST:
Absalom would then add, “I should really be a judge for all the Israelites. That way anyone who had a legal case could come to me, and I would decide it fairly.”
Why did Absalom say he wished he were a judge in the land?
Absalom said he wished he were a judge so that every person with a dispute could come to him and he would give them justice.
2 Samuel 15:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:5ULT:
And it happened, when a man approached to prostrate himself to him, that he would stretch out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.
UST:
And whenever anyone approached Absalom and started to bow respectfully in front of him, Absalom would reach out and hold him up and kiss him on the cheek.
What did Absalom do when a man approached to prostrate himself?
Absalom would stretch out his hand, hold the man up, and kiss him on the cheek.
2 Samuel 15:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:6ULT:
And Absalom acted according to this matter for all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. And Absalom stole the heart of the men of Israel.
UST:
Absalom acted this way toward every Israelite who came to King David to ask him to judge a case. As a result, the Israelites began to wish that Absalom were their king instead of David.
What did Absalom steal from the men of Israel?
Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. The Israelites began to wish that Absalom were their king instead of David.
2 Samuel 15:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:7ULT:
And it happened at the end of 40 years that Absalom said to the king, “Please may I go, and may I fulfill in Hebron my vow that I vowed to Yahweh.
UST:
After four years, Absalom went to King David and said, “I made a promise to Yahweh. Please allow me to go to the city of Hebron so that I can do what I promised.
What reason did Absalom give the king for needing to go to Hebron?
Absalom said he had to go to Hebron to fulfill a vow he had made to Yahweh.
2 Samuel 15:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:8ULT:
For your servant vowed a vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If bringing back, Yahweh brings me back {to} Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”
UST:
I ask this because when I was living in Geshur, in Aram, I promised Yahweh that if he made it possible for me to return to Jerusalem, then I would worship him in Hebron {and thank him publicly}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:9ULT:
And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.
UST:
The king replied, “You have my permission to go.” So Absalom went to Hebron.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:10ULT:
Then Absalom sent spies among all of the tribes of Israel, saying, “When you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
UST:
But while he was there, he secretly sent messengers throughout the territory of all the tribes of Israel. The messengers told people, “When you hear the sound of people blowing rams’ horns, shout, ‘Absalom has become the king at Hebron!’”
What did the spies that Absalom sent throughout Israel say?
The spies said that when people heard the sound of the shofar, they should say that Absalom has become the king at Hebron.
2 Samuel 15:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:11ULT:
Now 200 men from Jerusalem had gone with Absalom, called and walking in their innocence, and they did not know any of the matter.
UST:
There were 200 men who came from Jerusalem to Hebron with Absalom. But they came because he had invited them to the feast he was going to host there. They were not part of his conspiracy. They knew nothing about what he was planning to do.
Did the two hundred men who went with Absalom to Hebron know of his plans?
No, the two hundred men came because he had invited them to the feast he was going to host there. They were not part of his conspiracy. They knew nothing about what he was planning to do.
2 Samuel 15:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:12ULT:
And Absalom sent {for} Ahithophel the Gilonite, the counselor of David, from his city, from Giloh, while he sacrificed the sacrifices. And it happened, the conspiracy {became} strong, and the people were going and many with Absalom.
UST:
King David had an advisor whose name was Ahithophel the Gilonite. While Absalom was offering sacrifices at Hebron, he sent messengers to bring Ahithophel from his home in the city of Giloh. Many other people also came and joined Absalom {in his rebellion against David}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:13ULT:
And a declarer came to David, saying, “The heart of a man of Israel {is} behind Absalom.”
UST:
Then someone came to David and warned him, “The Israelites now want Absalom to be their king!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:14ULT:
And David said to all of his servants who {were} with him in Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, for there will not be for us an escape from the face of Absalom. Hurry to go, lest he hurry and overtake us and bring harm upon us and strike the city to the mouth of the sword.”
UST:
So David told all the officials in his royal court, “We must leave immediately if we want to escape from Absalom! We must go quickly, before he and his men arrive. If we do not do that, they will kill us and everyone else in the city!”
What did David tell his servants to do after a messenger told him that the hearts of the men of Israel were behind Absalom?
David told his servants in Jerusalem to arise and flee, because there would be no escape from Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:15ULT:
And the servants of the king said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king chooses, behold your servants.”
UST:
The king’s officials replied, “Very well, your Majesty, we are ready to do whatever you wish.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:16ULT:
And the king went out, and all of his house {was} at his feet. And the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.
UST:
So King David quickly left Jerusalem. His family and officials went with him. But David left ten of his secondary wives at the palace to take care of it.
Whom did the king leave behind in Jerusalem to keep the house?
The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
2 Samuel 15:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:17ULT:
And the king went out, and all of the people {were} at his feet. And they stopped {at} the farthest house.
UST:
Many of the people of Jerusalem also left the city with King David. They stopped at the edge of the city {to organize an orderly retreat}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:18ULT:
And all of his servants were passing by at his hand. And all of the Cherethites and all of the Pelethites and all of the Gittites, the 600 men who had come at his foot from Gath, were passing by to the face of the king.
UST:
David stepped out of the roadway so that his officials could walk past him. He also let his elite corps of bodyguards go in front of him {to lead the way}. The 600 men who had been David’s soldiers when he fled to the city of Gath also walked by in front of him.
Who marched with the king as he left Jerusalem?
All his servants, all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—600 men from Gath—marched with him.
2 Samuel 15:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:19ULT:
But the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and dwell with the king, for you {are} a foreigner and you {are} also an exile to your place.
UST:
Then David said to Ittai{, a military commander who had come} from Gath {to serve David}, “You do not need to come with us. You may safely return to Jerusalem and serve whoever is the king. After all, you are not an Israelite, and this is not your own country{, so people will consider you to be impartial}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:20ULT:
Yesterday {was} your coming, and today shall I make you wander with us to go, when I am going upon where I am going? Return, and make your brothers return. {May} kindness and faithfulness {be} with you.”
UST:
You have lived here in Israel for only a short time. And we do not even know where we will be going. So it is not right for me to make you come with us now and wander around with us. Please return to your country and take your troops with you. May people treat you kindly and be loyal to you.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:21ULT:
But Ittai answered the king and said, “The life of Yahweh and the life of my lord the king, surely in the place where my lord the king will be there, whether to death, whether to life, that there your servant shall be.”
UST:
But Ittai replied, “Your Majesty, I swear by Yahweh and I swear by your own life that I will go wherever you go. I will fight to defend you even if I have to die doing that.”
What did Ittai the Gittite tell the king after the king told him to return?
Ittai swore that he would go wherever the king would go, and he would fight to defend David even if he had to die doing that.
2 Samuel 15:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:22ULT:
And David said to Ittai, “Go and pass by.” So Ittai the Gittite passed by, and all of his men and all of the little {ones} who {were} with him.
UST:
David replied to Ittai, “Very well, please come with us!” So Ittai and all his troops and their families went with David.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:23ULT:
And all of the land was weeping {with} a great voice, and all of the people were crossing, and the king was crossing, over the Valley of Kidron, and all of the people were crossing to the face of the way of the wilderness.
UST:
All the people who lived along the road cried loudly when they saw King David and the people with him walking by. {Since Absalom would be coming from the southwest,} the king and the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then went up the hill on the road that goes through the desolate area {east of Jerusalem}.
Which way did David and all those with him go as they left Jerusalem?
Since Absalom would be coming from the southwest, the king and the others crossed the Kidron Valley and then went up the hill on the road that goes through the desolate area east of Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 15:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:24ULT:
And behold, Zadok and all of the Levites with him were also carrying the Box of the Covenant of God. And they set down the Box of God, but Abiathar went up until all of the people had finished passing from the city.
UST:
Zadok the high priest had also left the city. He had brought the sacred chest of God. Some Levites were with him, and they were carrying it. But they {did not carry it across the Kidron Valley right away. Instead, they} set it on the ground. Abiathar, the other high priest, went up {the Mount of Olives on the other side of the valley and stood there}until all of the people fleeing from Jerusalem had gone by{, and then he came back down to where the sacred chest was}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:25ULT:
And the king said to Zadok, “Bring back the Box of God {to} the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, then he will bring me back, and he will make me see it and his habitation.
UST:
Then the king told Zadok, “I want you to take the sacred chest back into Jerusalem. If Yahweh chooses to be kind to me, someday he will allow me to return and see the sacred chest in the place where he is especially present.
What did the king tell Zadok the priest to do with the Box of God?
The king told Zadok to take the Box of God back to the city.
2 Samuel 15:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:26ULT:
But if he says thus, ‘I do not delight in you,’ behold me, may he do to me just as {is} good in his eyes.”
UST:
But if he says that he is not pleased with me, then I am willing for him to do to me whatever he thinks is right.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:27ULT:
And the king said to Zadok the priest, “Are you seeing? Return {to} the city in peace, and Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar, your two sons, with you.
UST:
He also told Zadok, “Now listen to what I want you to do. Go back to the city peacefully. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. Abiathar should also take his son Jonathan, and you should both go back.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:28ULT:
See, I will be waiting at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to declare to me.”
UST:
This will be the plan. I will wait in the wilderness at the place where people can walk across the Jordan River until you send a message to me {telling me what I should do}.”
Why was David going to wait at the fords of the wilderness?
He was going to wait there until a word came from the priests to tell him what to do.
2 Samuel 15:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:29ULT:
So Zadok and Abiathar brought the Box of God back {to} Jerusalem, and they stayed there.
UST:
So Zadok and Abiathar carried the sacred chest back to Jerusalem, and they remained in the city.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:30ULT:
And David was going up onto the Mount of Olives, going up and weeping, and his head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all of the people who {were} with him covered, a man his head, and they went up, going up and weeping.
UST:
Then David walked up the Mount of Olives. He was crying as he walked. To show that he was very sad, he covered his head {with part of his cloak}. He also took off his sandals. All the people who were walking with him also covered their heads, and they too cried while they walked.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:31ULT:
And {to} David one declared, saying, “Ahithophel {is} among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “Please, Yahweh, make foolish the counsel of Ahithophel.”
UST:
Then someone told David that Ahithophel had joined the Israelites who were rebelling against David and supporting Absalom as their king. So David prayed, “Yahweh, please make Ahithophel give Absalom bad advice!”
What did David pray when he was told that Ahithophel was with Absalom?
David prayed that Yahweh would make Ahithophel give Absalom bad advice.
2 Samuel 15:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:32ULT:
And it happened, David came to the top, where one would prostrate himself to God there, and behold, meeting him {was} Hushai the Archite. His robe was torn, and dirt {was} on his head.
UST:
When they arrived at the top of the hill, where there was a place where people worshiped God, David unexpectedly met Hushai the Archite. To show that he was very sad, Hushai had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head.
Who did David meet at the top of the Mount of Olives?
David unexpectedly met Hushai the Archite, who had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was very sad.
2 Samuel 15:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:33ULT:
And David said to him, “If you pass along with me, you will become a burden to me.
UST:
David said to him, “If you come with me, you will make us travel more slowly.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:34ULT:
But if you return {to} the city and say to Absalom, ‘I {am} your servant, O king. I was the servant of your father, and {as} I {was} previously, and now, so I {will be} your servant,’ then you will break up the counsel of Ahithophel for me.
UST:
But if you return to the city, you can help me by telling Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your advisor. In the past, I was your father’s advisor. But just as I advised him then, so I will advise you now.’ If you do that, you will be able to help me by countering any good advice that Ahithophel gives to Absalom.
What did David want Hushai the Archite to do for him?
David wanted Hushai to return to the city and offer to be Absalom’s servant so he would be able to counter any good advice that Ahithophel would give to Absalom.
2 Samuel 15:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:35ULT:
{Will} not Zadok and Abiathar the priests {be} with you there? And may it be, every word that you hear from the house of the king, declare to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests.
UST:
Zadok and Abiathar the priests are already there. Whatever you hear people say in the king’s palace, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar.
To whom did David want Hushai to report everything he heard in the king’s palace?
David wanted Hushai to report everything to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
2 Samuel 15:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:36ULT:
Behold, with them there {are} the two of their sons, Ahimaaz to Zadok and Jonathan to Abiathar. And you shall send to me by their hand every word that you hear.”
UST:
Keep in mind that Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan are there. Whatever any of you find out, send them to report it to me.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 15:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 15:37ULT:
So Hushai the friend of David came {to} the city. And Absalom came {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
So David’s friend Hushai returned to the city. He arrived just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16
2 Samuel 16:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:1ULT:
And David passed over a little from the top, and behold, meeting him {was} Ziba, the young man of Mephibosheth, and a pair of saddled donkeys, and on them 200 {loaves of} bread and 100 clusters of raisins and 100 summer fruit and a skin of wine.
UST:
When David and the others had gone a little way past the top of the hill, he unexpectedly met Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba. He had two donkeys with him that were carrying 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 bunches of fresh figs, and a leather bag full of wine.
What did Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, bring to David?
Ziba brought a pair of saddled donkeys, 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 Samuel 16:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:2ULT:
And the king said to Ziba, “What {are} these to you?”
And Ziba said, “The donkeys {are} for the house of the king to ride, and the bread and the summer fruit {are for} the young men to eat, and the wine {is for} the faint in the wilderness to drink.”
UST:
The king said to Ziba, “What is all this for?” Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for your family to ride on. The bread and the fruit are for your soldiers to eat. And the wine is for anyone to drink who becomes tired in this desolate area.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:3ULT:
And the king said, “And where {is} the son of your master?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will return the kingdom of my father to me.’”
UST:
The king said, “Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your former master Saul?” Ziba answered, “You should know that he has remained in Jerusalem, because he thinks that now the Israelites will allow him to rule their kingdom as his grandfather Saul did.”
According to Ziba, why did Mephibosheth stay in Jerusalem?
Ziba said Mephibosheth stayed because he said that the house of Israel would return the kingdom of his father to him that day.
2 Samuel 16:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:4ULT:
And the king said to Ziba, “Behold, to you {is} all that {was} to Mephibosheth.”
And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself. May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
UST:
The king said to Ziba, “In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” Ziba replied, “Your Majesty, I will humbly serve you. I hope that you will always be pleased with me.”
What did the king say now belonged to Ziba?
The king told Ziba that all that belonged to Mephibosheth was now his.
2 Samuel 16:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:5ULT:
And King David came to Bahurim. And behold, a man from the clan of the house of Saul was coming out from there, and his name {was} Shimei, the son of Gera. {He} was coming out, coming out and cursing.
UST:
When King David and those with him arrived at the city of Bahurim, a man whose name was Shimei unexpectedly came out of his house to meet him. Shimei’s father was Gera. They were members of the same clan that Saul’s family belonged to. Shimei kept cursing David as he approached.
What did Shimei do to David and all the king’s officials? (16:5-6)
Shimei came out cursing, and he threw stones at David and all the servants of King David.
2 Samuel 16:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:6ULT:
And he stoned David with stones and all of the servants of King David, and all of the people and all of the mighty {were} on his right and on his left.
UST:
Then he threw stones at David and his officials. David’s soldiers and bodyguards surrounded David {to try to protect him from the stones}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:7ULT:
And thus Shimei said in his cursing, “Get out, get out, man of blood, man of wickedness!
UST:
Shimei cursed David and said to him, “Go away and never come back, you murderer, you scoundrel!
What did Shimei call David? (16:7-8)
Shimei called David a man of blood and a man of wickedness.
2 Samuel 16:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:8ULT:
Yahweh has brought back upon you all of the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you are king, and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And behold you in your evil, for you {are} a man of blood.”
UST:
Yahweh is punishing you for killing so many people who were Saul’s relatives and supporters. You took Saul’s place as king, and now Yahweh is making your son Absalom take your place as king. You are getting what you deserve for killing so many people!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:9ULT:
And Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and let me remove his head.”
UST:
Then Abishai said to the king, “Your Majesty, this man is as worthless as a dead dog! You should not allow him to curse you! Permit me to go over there and cut off his head!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:10ULT:
And the king said, “What to me and to you, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ then who shall say, ‘Why have you done thus’?”
UST:
But the king replied, “I do not agree at all with what you two sons of Zeruiah want to do. If he is cursing me because Yahweh told him to curse me, then no one should challenge him for doing that.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:11ULT:
And David said to Abishai and to all of his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out from my belly, is seeking my life. And how much more that now a Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse, if Yahweh has spoken to him.
UST:
Then David said to Abishai and to all his officials, “You know that my very own son is trying to kill me. So it is not surprising that this man from the tribe of Benjamin also wants me to die. Just ignore him and let him curse me if Yahweh has told him to do that.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:12ULT:
Perhaps Yahweh will look at my affliction, and Yahweh will return good to me in place of his cursing this day.”
UST:
Perhaps Yahweh will see how much trouble I am having and decide to make good things happen to me instead of the curses that this man is shouting at me today.”
What did David hope Yahweh would do in response to Shimei’s cursing?
David hoped that Yahweh would look at his affliction and return good to him in place of the cursing.
2 Samuel 16:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:13ULT:
So David and his men walked on the road, and Shimei was walking on the side of the hill beside him, walking and he cursed, and he stoned with stones beside him, and he dusted with dust.
UST:
So David and those who were with him continued walking along the road. Shimei walked along the hillside next to the road, and as he walked along next to them, he kept cursing David and throwing stones and dirt at him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:14ULT:
And the king and all of the people who {were} with him came, weary. And he refreshed himself there.
UST:
King David and the people who were traveling with him were very tired by the time they got to the place where people can walk across the Jordan River. But they were able to get a good rest there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:15ULT:
And Absalom and all of the people, a man of Israel, came {to} Jerusalem, and Ahithophel {was} with him.
UST:
While that was happening, Absalom and all the Israelites who were supporting him had arrived in Jerusalem. Ahithophel had also arrived there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:16ULT:
And it happened, when Hushai the Archite, the friend of David, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “May the king live! May the king live!”
UST:
Then David’s friend Hushai came to Absalom and said, “May you, the king, live a long time!”
When Absalom came to Jerusalem, what did Hushai say to him?
Hushai said to Absalom, “May the king live! May the king live!”
2 Samuel 16:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:17ULT:
And Absalom said to Hushai, “{Is} this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
UST:
Absalom said to Hushai, “You have been a loyal friend of my father David for a long time. So I do not understand why you did not leave Jerusalem with him.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:18ULT:
And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom Yahweh has chosen, and this people, and every man of Israel, to him I will be, and with him I will stay.
UST:
Hushai replied, “Yahweh has chosen you to be the king. So have all these people here, and so have all the other Israelites. So I will now be loyal to you and stay here in Jerusalem with you.
To whom did Hushai tell Absalom he would belong?
Hushai told Absalom that he would belong to the one whom Yahweh, the people, and every man of Israel had chosen.
2 Samuel 16:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:19ULT:
And second, I, before whom shall I serve? {Is it} not to the face of his son? Just as I served to the face of your father, thus I will be to your face.”
UST:
Besides, it makes sense for me to serve you. After all, you are his son. Just as I served in your father’s royal court, in the same way, I will serve in your royal court.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:20ULT:
And Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give counsel for yourselves. What shall we do?”
UST:
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “What would you advise that we should do?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:21ULT:
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to the concubines of your father whom he left to keep the house, and all of Israel will hear that you have made yourself stink with your father, and the hands of all who {are} with you will become strong.”
UST:
Ahithophel replied, “Your father left some of his secondary wives in the palace to take care of it. I advise you to have sexual relations with them. When people throughout Israel hear that you have done that, they will realize that you will never be able to reconcile with your father. Then all of the Israelites who are supporting you will fight hard to make sure that you defeat him.”
What did Ahithophel advise Absalom to do?
Ahithophel advised Absalom to go in to his father’s concubines whom David had left to keep the house.
2 Samuel 16:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:22ULT:
So they spread a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to the concubines of his father to the eyes of all of Israel.
UST:
So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace. Then Absalom had sexual relations in the tent with each of his father’s secondary wives, one at a time. The Israelites in Jerusalem could see Absalom’s officials bringing each secondary wife into the tent, and they could see Absalom going into the tent afterwards to have sexual relations with each one.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 16:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 16:23ULT:
Now the counsel of Ahithophel that he counseled in those days {was} just as if one inquired of the word of God. Thus {was} all of the counsel of Ahithophel, both to David and to Absalom.
UST:
In those days, people did what Ahithophel recommended just as if God himself had recommended it. That was how David had regarded what Ahithophel recommended, and Absalom regarded it in that same way.
How was Ahithophel’s counsel viewed?
The counsel of Ahithophel was viewed as if God himself had recommended it.
2 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 17:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:1ULT:
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose 12,000 men, and let me arise and pursue after David tonight.
UST:
Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please allow me to pick 12,000 of our best soldiers so that I can lead them tonight to chase David.
What did Ahithophel advise Absalom and all the elders of Israel about how he should attack David? (17:1-4)
Ahithophel’s advice was to let him lead a large army carry out a surprise attack on David that night, when he was weary and weak, kill only David, and bring back all the rest of the people for Absalom to rule.
2 Samuel 17:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:2ULT:
And I will come upon him, and he {will be} weary and weak of hands, and I will make him tremble, and all of the people who {are} with him will flee. And I will strike the king alone.
UST:
When we catch up to him, he will be tired from traveling and physically weak. When our soldiers appear, this will terrify him. The other people who are with him will run away {and not fight against us}. We will only need to kill the king.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:3ULT:
And I will make all of the people return to you. Like the returning of all {is} the man whom you are seeking. All of the people will be {at} peace.”
UST:
After that, the others who left Jerusalem with him will return to the city and accept you as their king. If we just kill the man you want to catch, that will be enough to get all the others to come back. It will not be necessary to hurt anyone else.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:4ULT:
And the word was right in the eyes of Absalom and in the eyes of all of the elders of Israel.
UST:
Absalom and all the Israelite leaders who were with him thought that it would be good to do what Ahithophel had recommended.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:5ULT:
But Absalom said, “Please also call to Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what {is} in his mouth, even he.”
UST:
But then Absalom said, “Ask Hushai to come and speak to us as well. We should find out whether he recommends anything different that we should consider.”
What was Hushai’s opinion of Ahithophel’s plan? (17:5-7)
Hushai said that the counsel Ahithophel had given on this occasion was not good.
2 Samuel 17:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:6ULT:
And Hushai came to Absalom, and Absalom spoke to him, saying, “According to this word, Ahithophel has spoken. Shall we do his word? If not, you speak.”
UST:
When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had suggested. Then he asked Hushai, “What do you think we should do? If you do not think that we should do what Ahithophel advises, then tell us what you think we should do instead.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:7ULT:
And Hushai said to Absalom, “The counsel that Ahithophel has counseled on this occasion is not good.”
UST:
Hushai replied, “This time, what Ahithophel has suggested is not good advice.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:8ULT:
And Hushai said, “You, you know your father and his men, that they {are} warriors and they {are} bitter of soul, like a bear bereaved in the field. And your father {is} a man of war, so he will not lodge with the people.
UST:
He continued, “You know that your father and the men who are with him are elite soldiers. You know that they must be very angry, like a wild mother bear whose cubs someone has stolen from her. Furthermore, your father has fought in many battles{, so he knows what he should do now}. He will not spend the night with the crowd of people who left Jerusalem with him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:9ULT:
Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the pits or in one of the places. And it will be, when {some} among them fall in the beginning, the hearer will hear and say, ‘A slaughter has happened among the people who {are} behind Absalom.’
UST:
Right now he is probably already hiding in a cave or in some other safe place. If Ahithophel leads soldiers out to attack David’s soldiers, David’s soldiers will certainly kill some of them at the start of the battle. When people hear about that, they will say, ‘David’s soldiers are slaughtering Absalom’s soldiers!’
Why did Hushai say the plan was not good? (17:9-10)
Hushai said that David and his very brave warriors were probably in a safe place, and David’s soldiers will certainly kill some of Ahithophel’s soldiers at the start of the battle. When people hear about that, they will say that David’s soldiers are slaughtering Absalom’s soldiers! Then your other soldiers, even if they are as fearless as lions, will become very afraid.
2 Samuel 17:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:10ULT:
And even he, a son of valor whose heart {is} like the heart of a lion, melting, he will melt, because all of Israel knows that your father {is} a warrior and {they} who {are} with him {are} sons of valor.
UST:
Then your other soldiers, even if they are as fierce as lions, will become very afraid. After all, everyone in Israel knows that your father is a great soldier and that the soldiers who are with him are very brave.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:11ULT:
Therefore I counsel, being gathered, all of Israel shall be gathered to you, from Dan and to Beersheba, like the sand that {is} by the sea for multitude. And your face shall be going into the battle.
UST:
So this is what I recommend. You should really summon the entire Israelite army. Have the solders come here even if they live as far away as Dan {in the far north} or Beersheba {in the far south}. You will have too many soldiers to count, like the grains of sand on the seashore. {Wait until they come, and then} you yourself should lead the army into battle.
What did Hushai advise Absalom to do? (17:11-12)
Hushai advised Absalom to gather all of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and for Absalom himself to go into the battle. He said that this great army would overwhelm David’s smaller army and none of them would survive.
2 Samuel 17:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:12ULT:
And we will come upon him in one of the places where he may be found there, and we {will be} upon him just as the dew falls upon the ground. And not even one will be left of him or of any of the men who {are} with him.
UST:
We will find your father, wherever he is, and our great army will overwhelm his smaller army, just as dew covers the entire ground. Neither he nor any of the soldiers who are with him will survive.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:13ULT:
And if he gathers himself into a city, then all of Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it to the wadi until that not even a pebble will be found there.”
UST:
If he decides to retreat into some city, all our soldiers will bring ropes to that city and pull it down into the valley below. As a result, not one stone will remain on top of the hill where that city was!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:14ULT:
And Absalom and all of the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite {is} better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For Yahweh had appointed to break up the good counsel of Ahithophel for the sake of Yahweh bringing harm to Absalom.
UST:
Absalom and the other Israelite leaders who were with him decided, “What Hushai suggests is better than what Ahithophel suggested.” Yahweh led them not to accept Ahithophel’s advice, which actually would have been better for Absalom. As a result, Yahweh caused a great defeat for Absalom.
How did Absalom and the men of Israel respond to Hushai’s advice?
They said the counsel of Hushai was better than the counsel of Ahithophel and they decided to do what Hushai suggested.
2 Samuel 17:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:15ULT:
Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, “Like this and like this Ahithophel counseled Absalom and the elders of Israel, but like this and like this I, I have counseled.
UST:
Then Hushai {went secretly and} told the two priests, Zadok and Abiathar, what both he and Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the Israelite leaders.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:16ULT:
And now, send quickly and declare to David, saying, ‘Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but also crossing over, cross over, lest the king be swallowed and all of the people who {are} with him.’”
UST:
Then he said to them, “{There is still a risk that Absalom might decide to do what Ahithophel suggested, so} send a message quickly to David. Tell him not to stay overnight at the place where people can walk across the Jordan River. Instead, he and his soldiers must cross the Jordan River immediately. Otherwise, Absalom and his army may come and kill them.”
What message did Hushai send to David?
The message was that David should not stay at the place where people can walk across the Jordan River but should cross over immediately, because otherwise, Absalom and his army may come and kill them.
2 Samuel 17:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:17ULT:
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel, and a maidservant would go and declare to them, and they, they would go and declare to King David, for they were not able to be seen entering the city.
UST:
The priests’ two sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, were staying near En Rogel{, outside Jerusalem}. They did not dare to enter the city{, because if someone saw them, he would report it to Absalom}. Instead, they had arranged for a woman who served the two priests to come and report to them what was happening. They would then go and report it to King David.
How was information relayed to King David?
A maidservant of the two priests would go and declare news to Jonathan and Ahimaaz, and they would go and declare it to King David.
2 Samuel 17:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:18ULT:
But a young man saw them, and he declared to Absalom. So the two of them went {in} haste, and they came to the house of a man in Bahurim, and to him {was} a well in his courtyard, and they went down there.
UST:
But a young man saw them at En Rogel, and he went and reported this to Absalom. {They knew the young man had recognized them,} so both of them left quickly and went to the house of a man who lived in the city of Bahurim. That man had a well in his courtyard, and he let Jonathan and Ahimaaz go down into the well to hide.
What did Jonathan and Ahimaaz do when a young man saw them and told Absalom?
The two of them went quickly to the house of a man in Bahurim and went down into a well in his courtyard.
2 Samuel 17:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:19ULT:
And the woman took and stretched out a covering over the face of the well, and she spread grain over it, so the matter was not known.
UST:
The man’s wife took a cloth and covered the opening of the well. Then she scattered grain on top of it {to make it look as if this was the place where she dried the grain in the sun}. As a result, it was not evident that there was a well beneath the cloth.
How were the two men helped? (17:19-20)
The man’s wife spread a covering over the well and spread grain on it, and when Absalom’s servants asked where the men were, she told them they had crossed the brook.
2 Samuel 17:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:20ULT:
And the servants of Absalom came to the woman {at} the house, and they said, “Where {are} Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”
And the woman said to them, “They crossed over the brook of waters.” And they sought, but they did not find, so they returned {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
Some of Absalom’s soldiers learned in what direction the two men had gone. So they went {in that direction} and came to the house {where they were hiding}. They asked the wife, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” She replied, “They went across that stream over there.” So the soldiers went in that direction and searched for them. But they could not find them, so they went back to Jerusalem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:21ULT:
And it happened after they went that they came up from the well, and they went and declared to King David. And they said to David, “Arise and cross over the waters in haste, for according to this Ahithophel has counseled against you.”
UST:
After the soldiers had gone, the two men came out of the well and went and reported to King David. They told him, “Ahithophel has encouraged Absalom to attack you immediately. So you must get all these people across the Jordan River quickly!”
After Absalom’s men left, what did the two men do? (17:21-22)
They came up from the well, went and reported the news to King David, and told him to get all these people across the Jordan River quickly.
2 Samuel 17:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:22ULT:
So David and all of the people who {were} with him arose and crossed the Jordan until the light of dawn, until not one was missing who had not crossed the Jordan.
UST:
So David and all his soldiers quickly started to cross the Jordan River, and by the next morning they had all crossed to the other side.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:23ULT:
And Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not done, and he saddled his donkey, and he arose and went to his house, to his city, and he commanded about his house, and he hanged himself, and he died. And he was buried in the grave of his father.
UST:
When Ahithophel realized that Absalom was not going to do what he had recommended, {he knew that David would defeat Absalom, so} he put a saddle on his donkey and returned home to his own city. He gave to his family instructions about what to do with his possessions, and then he hanged himself {because he knew that otherwise David would kill him as a traitor}. People buried his body in the same tomb where people had buried his father.
What did Ahithophel do when he saw that his counsel was not followed?
Ahithophel saddled his donkey, went to his house, gave to his family instructions about what to do with his possessions, and then he hanged himself because he knew that otherwise David would kill him as a traitor.
2 Samuel 17:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:24ULT:
And David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan, he and all of the men of Israel with him.
UST:
David and his soldiers arrived at Mahanaim. At the same time, Absalom and all his soldiers also crossed the Jordan River.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:25ULT:
And Absalom appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Now Amasa {was} the son of a man and his name {was} Ithra the Israelite, who had gone in to Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, the sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
UST:
Now Absalom had appointed Amasa to be the commander of his army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of an Israelite man whose name was Ithra. Amasa’s mother was Abigail. She was the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Joab’s mother Zeruiah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:26ULT:
And Israel and Absalom camped {in} the land of Gilead.
UST:
Absalom and his Israelite soldiers set up their military camp in the region of Gilead.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:27ULT:
And it happened, when David came to Mahanaim, that Shobi, the son of Nahash, from Rabbah of the sons of Ammon and Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,
UST:
When David and his soldiers arrived at Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from the Ammonite city of Rabbah, Machir son of Ammiel from the city of Lo Debar, and Barzillai from the city of Rogelim in Gilead came to them.
How were David and his people cared for in the wilderness? (17:27-29)
Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai brought beds, basins, pottery, and all kinds of food for David and the people with him to eat.
2 Samuel 17:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:28ULT:
beds and basins and vessels of the potter and wheat and barley and flour and roasted grain and beans and lentils and roasted beans
UST:
They brought mats for them to sleep on and bowls and clay pots that they could use to prepare and serve food. They also brought wheat and barley, as raw grains, as flour, and as roasted grains. They also brought beans and lentils, some raw and some roasted.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 17:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 17:29ULT:
and honey and curds and sheep and cheese of cattle, they brought to David and to the people who {were} with him to eat, for they said, “The people {will be} hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
UST:
They also brought honey, curds, sheep, and cow’s cheese. They knew that David and his soldiers would need to have these things to eat because they would be hungry and thirsty and tired from marching through a desolate area.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18
2 Samuel 18:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:1ULT:
And David counted the people who {were} with him, and he set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
UST:
David organized his soldiers for the battle. He counted them and then appointed someone to lead each group of a hundred soldiers. He then appointed someone to lead each group of one thousand soldiers {that contained ten groups of a hundred soldiers}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:2ULT:
And David sent out the people, a third in the hand of Joab and a third in the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, and a third in the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “Going out, I will go out, I too, with you.”
UST:
David then sent the soldiers out in three divisions. Joab commanded one division, Joab’s brother Abishai commanded a second division, and Ittai from Gath commanded the third division. Before they left, David told the soldiers, “I will go with you personally into the battle.”
What did King David tell the army?
King David told the army that he would also go out with them himself.
2 Samuel 18:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:3ULT:
But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if fleeing, we flee, they will not set a heart to us. Even if half of us die, they will not set a heart to us. For now {there are} ten thousand like us. And now, {it is} better that you be help for us from the city.”
UST:
But his soldiers said, “No, we will not permit you to come into the battle with us. Even if they defeat us so that we all run away, they will not care about us. Or even if they kill half of us, they will not care about that either. There are ten thousand soldiers like us{, but only one king like you}. So it would be better for you to stay here inside the city of Mahanaim. You can receive reports of the battle and send soldiers to where we need them, and you can keep the city secure as a place to which we can retreat if we need to.”
What was the response from the men in the army to King David? (18:3-4)
The men told King David not to go out, because he was worth ten thousand of them, and it was better for him to be ready to help them from the city.
2 Samuel 18:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:4ULT:
And the king said to them, “What is good in your eyes, I will do.”
And the king stood at the hand of the gate, and all of the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
UST:
The king replied to them, “Very well, I will do whatever seems best to you.” So he stood beside the city gate and observed while his soldiers marched out in their groups of hundreds and thousands.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:5ULT:
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Gently for me with the young man, with Absalom.” And all of the people heard when the king commanded all of the commanders about the matter of Absalom.
UST:
As they were leaving, the king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “For my sake, do not harm that young man Absalom!” All the soldiers heard David give this order about Absalom to his three main commanders.
What instructions did the king give his commanders about Absalom?
The king told the commanders not to harm the young man Absalom for his sake.
2 Samuel 18:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:6ULT:
And the people went out {to} the field to meet Israel, and the battle was in the Forest of Ephraim.
UST:
So David’s soldiers went out to fight against the Israelite soldiers who were supporting Absalom. They fought a battle in the Forest of Ephraim.
What was the outcome of the battle in the Forest of Ephraim? (18:6-8)
The people of Israel were struck down before the servants of David, and more of Absalom’s soldiers died because of accidents in the forest than the number of them whom David’s soldiers killed in the battle.
2 Samuel 18:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:7ULT:
And the people of Israel were struck there to the face of the servants of David. And the striking there was great on that day, 20,000.
UST:
David’s soldiers won the battle there against Absalom’s soldiers. They badly defeated them that day. They killed 20,000 of them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:8ULT:
And the battle was scattered there over the face of all of the land. And the forest made more to consume among the people than what the sword consumed on that day.
UST:
The battle broke up into small skirmishes all over that area. The number of Absalom’s soldiers who died that day because of accidents in the forest was greater than the number of them whom David’s soldiers killed in the battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:9ULT:
And Absalom was met to the face of the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on the mule, and the mule came under the branches of a great oak tree, and his head was caught in the oak tree, and he was put between the heavens and between the earth, and the mule that {was} under him passed on.
UST:
In the forest, Absalom suddenly noticed that some of David’s soldiers were near him. Absalom was riding on the mule {that the Israelite king rode}. {To get away from David’s soldiers, he made the mule run away, and} the mule ran under the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom’s head got caught in the branches. The mule he was riding kept going, and that left Absalom dangling in the air.
What happened to Absalom when the mule he was riding ran under the thick branches of a large oak tree?
Absalom’s head was caught in the oak tree. The mule kept going, and that left Absalom dangling in the air.
2 Samuel 18:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:10ULT:
And one man saw, and he declared to Joab, and he said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hung on an oak tree.”
UST:
One of David’s soldiers saw what happened. He went and told Joab, “Listen, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!”
Why was Joab upset with the man who saw Absalom? (18:10-11)
Joab was upset because the man did not kill Absalom immediately.
2 Samuel 18:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:11ULT:
And Joab said to the man declaring to him, “And behold, you saw, so why did you not strike him there to the ground? For {it was} to me to give to you ten silver and one belt.”
UST:
Joab said to the man, “Listen, when you saw him hanging there, you should have killed him immediately! If you had killed him, I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a soldier’s belt!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:12ULT:
And the man said to Joab, “Even if I were weighing on my palm a thousand silver, I would not stretch out my hand against the son of the king. For in our ears the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Guard who {is} upon the young man Absalom.’
UST:
The man replied to Joab, “Even if you gave me a thousand pieces of silver, I would not do anything to harm the king’s son. I say this because we all heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, keep any soldier from hurting that young man Absalom!’
Why did the man refuse to kill Absalom? (18:12-13)
He refused because he had heard the king command his commanders to keep from hurting the young man Absalom.
2 Samuel 18:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:13ULT:
Otherwise I would have done wrong against my life, for every matter is not hidden from the king, and you, you would have stationed yourself from before {me}.”
UST:
If I had killed Absalom, I would have put my own life in danger. {The king would have heard about it, since} the king hears about everything. You would not have protected me by saying I was obeying your orders{, and the king would have executed me}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:14ULT:
And Joab said, “I will not wait thus to your face.” And he took three spears in his palm, and he thrust them into the heart of Absalom, he still {being} alive in the heart of the oak tree.
UST:
Joab said, “I am not going to stay here and speak with you any longer!” Then he got three spears and went to where Absalom was. Absalom was still alive, dangling from the branches of the oak tree. Joab thrust the spears into Absalom’s chest.
What did Joab do to Absalom?
Joab took three spears and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree.
2 Samuel 18:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:15ULT:
And ten young men, carriers of the weapons of Joab, surrounded {him}. And they struck Absalom, and they killed him.
UST:
Then ten young men who carried Joab’s weapons gathered around Absalom, and they stabbed him repeatedly to finish killing him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:16ULT:
Then Joab blew on the shofar, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
UST:
Then Joab blew on his ram’s horn to signal to his soldiers that they should stop fighting. So his soldiers stopped chasing Absalom’s soldiers and came back {to their camp}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:17ULT:
And they took Absalom, and they threw him into a great pit in the forest, and they set up a very great heap of stones over him. And all of Israel fled, a man to his tent.
UST:
They took Absalom’s body and threw it into a huge pit in the forest. They covered it with a huge pile of stones. Meanwhile, all the remaining Israelite soldiers who had been supporting Absalom ran away back to their own homes.
What was done with Absalom’s body?
They threw Absalom’s body into a great pit in the forest and set up a very great heap of stones over him.
2 Samuel 18:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:18ULT:
Now while he was living, Absalom had taken and set up for himself a pillar, which {was} in the Valley of the King. For he said, “{There is} no son to me in order to make {people} remember my name.” And he called the pillar according to his name, and it is called the Hand of Absalom to this day.
UST:
(Absalom had no sons to preserve his family name {because his sons had died while they were still young}. So while Absalom was alive, he had built a monument in the Valley of Kings {near Jerusalem}. He thought that if he did that, people would remember him. He named the monument after himself, and people still call it Absalom’s Monument.)
Why had Absalom set up a pillar for himself in the Valley of the King while he was alive?
Absalom set up a pillar to make his name remembered, because he said he had no son to make people remember his name.
2 Samuel 18:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:19ULT:
And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, “Please let me run and let me bring news {to} the king, for Yahweh has judged him out of the hand of his enemies.”
UST:
Ahimaaz son of Zadok said to Joab, “Allow me to run to King David and tell him the good news. I want to do this because Yahweh has shown that he wants David to remain as king, because he enabled his soldiers to defeat his enemies!”
Why did Joab tell Ahimaaz not to run to the king with the news? (18:19-20)
Joab told him not to bring the news that day because the king’s son was dead.
2 Samuel 18:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:20ULT:
But Joab said to him, “You {are} not a man of news this day, but you will bring news another day. But this day you will not bring news, because the son of the king is dead.”
UST:
But Joab said to him, “No, I will not allow you to run and tell this news to the king today. Some other day you may do that, but not today. I do not want you to bring to the king the news that his son is dead.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:21ULT:
Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, declare to the king what you have seen.” And the Cushite prostrated himself to Joab, then he ran.
UST:
Then Joab said to the man from Ethiopia who ran carrying messages for him, “You go and tell the king what you have seen.” So that man bowed respectfully to Joab {to show that he would obey} and started to run.
Why did Ahimaaz still run and tell David the news? (18:21-23)
Ahimaaz insisted on running after the Cushite, even though Joab told him there was no reward for the news, so Joab told him to go.
2 Samuel 18:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:22ULT:
And again Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, resumed and said to Joab, “But whatever may be, please let me run, I too, after the Cushite.”
And Joab said, “Why {is} this, you running, my son, when for you {there is} no news finding?”
UST:
Then Ahimaaz said again to Joab, “However the king might respond to the news, even though your servant from Ethiopia has already left, please allow me to run too.” Joab replied, “My boy, you should not want to do that! You will not receive any reward for your news!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:23ULT:
“But whatever may be, let me run.”
And he said to him, “Run.” And Ahimaaz ran the way of the plain, and he passed the Cushite.
UST:
But Ahimaaz replied, “However the king might respond to the news, I want to go.” So Joab said, “Very well, then, go.” Ahimaaz ran on the flat ground through which the Jordan River flows and arrived where David was before the man from Ethiopia did {because he had run through hills and forests}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:24ULT:
Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watcher went to the roof of the gate, on the wall, and he lifted his eyes, and he saw, and behold, a man running by himself.
UST:
David was sitting in the area between the inner and outer gate in the city wall. A watchman went up on top of the city wall and stood on the roof over the gates. As he was looking around, he suddenly noticed a lone runner.
What did the king think when the watcher reported a lone runner? (18:24-25)
The king said that if the man was by himself, that indicates that he is bringing news.
2 Samuel 18:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:25ULT:
And the watcher called and declared to the king. And the king said, “If {he is} by himself, news {is} in his mouth.” And he came, coming and near.
UST:
The watchman called down and reported this to King David. David said, “If he is alone, that indicates that he is coming to tell us news.” The man who was running continued to come closer.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:26ULT:
And the watcher saw another man running, and the watcher called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running by himself.”
And the king said, “This {one} is also bringing news.”
UST:
Then the watchman saw another man running. So he called down to those below, “I see another man running alone!” And King David said, “He is also coming to tell us some news.”
What did the king think when the watcher reported another lone runner?
The king said that this one was also bringing news.
2 Samuel 18:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:27ULT:
And the watcher said, “I am seeing the running of the first like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.”
And the king said, “This {is} a good man, and he comes with good news.”
UST:
The watchman said, “The first man seems to be Ahimaaz son of Zadok. He is running the way Ahimaaz runs.” The king said, “He must be coming to tell us good news, because Joab would not have sent someone like him to tell us bad news.”
What did the king think when the watcher identified the first runner as Ahimaaz?
The king said that he was a good man and came with good news.
2 Samuel 18:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:28ULT:
And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” And he prostrated himself to the king with his nose to the ground. And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has enclosed the men who lifted their hand against my lord the king.”
UST:
When Ahimaaz got close enough, he called out to King David, “All is well!” When he arrived, he knelt down in front of him with his face on the ground to show respect. Then he said, “Your Majesty, praise Yahweh your God, who made your soldiers defeat the men who were rebelling against you!”
What news did Ahimaaz bring to the king?
Ahimaaz told the king that Yahweh had defeated the men who had lifted their hand against the king.
2 Samuel 18:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:29ULT:
And the king said, “{Is} peace to the young man, to Absalom?”
And Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great tumult when Joab sent the servant of the king and your servant, but I do not know what.”
UST:
King David asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz {did not want to answer that question, so he} replied, “When Joab sent the man from Ethiopia and me to bring news to you, I saw that there was a lot of confusion, but I do not know what it was about.”
How did Ahimaaz answer when the king asked about Absalom?
Ahimaaz said he saw a great tumult but did not know what it was about.
2 Samuel 18:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:30ULT:
And the king said, “Turn aside, station yourself thus.” And he turned aside, and he stood.
UST:
So the king said, “Stand over there and wait.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood nearby.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:31ULT:
And behold, the Cushite came. And the Cushite said, “May my lord the king receive the good news that Yahweh has judged you today out of the hand of all of the ones having arisen against you.”
UST:
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived. He said, “Your Majesty, I have some good news to share with you. Here it is. Today Yahweh has shown that he wants you to remain as king, because he has enabled your soldiers to defeat the enemies who rebelled against you!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 18:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:32ULT:
And the king said to the Cushite, “{Is} peace to the young man, to Absalom?”
And the Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who arise against you for harm be like the young man.”
UST:
The king said to him, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The man from Ethiopia replied, “Sir, I wish that what happened to him would happen to all of your enemies and to anyone who violently rebels against you!”
What was the Cushite’s answer when the king asked about Absalom?
The Cushite said that he wished that what happened to Absalom would happen to all of David’s enemies and to anyone who rebels against him.
2 Samuel 18:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 18:33ULT:
And the king trembled, and he went up to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And thus he said as he went: “My son Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! Who will give my dying myself in place of you? Absalom, my son, my son!”
UST:
{Realizing that he meant that Absalom was dead,} David became extremely distressed. He went up to the room above the gateway and cried. As he was going up, he kept crying out, “O, my son Absalom! O, my dear son Absalom, I wish that I had died instead of you, Absalom, my dear son!”
How did the king respond to the news of his son’s death?
The king trembled, went up to the upper room of the gate, and wept, wishing he had died in place of his son.
2 Samuel 19
2 Samuel 19:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:1ULT:
And it was declared to Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
UST:
Someone told Joab that the king was crying because he was so sad that Absalom had died.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:2ULT:
And the victory on that day became mourning for all of the people, for the people heard on that day, saying, “The king is grieved because of his son.”
UST:
All of David’s soldiers heard that he was unhappy that their army had killed Absalom. So even though they had won the battle against Absalom’s soldiers, they could not celebrate that day.
Why did the victory that day turn into mourning for all the people?
The victory turned into mourning because the people heard that the king was grieved because of his son.
2 Samuel 19:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:3ULT:
And the people stole away on that day to enter the city, as ashamed people steal away when they flee in battle.
UST:
The soldiers came back into the city quietly that day, the way soldiers do so that no one will find out that they have run away from a battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:4ULT:
And the king covered his face, and the king cried out {with} a loud voice, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
UST:
The king covered his face {with part of his cloak}, and he kept crying loudly, “O, my son Absalom! Absalom, my dear son!”
What was the king’s cry?
The king cried, “My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 19:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:5ULT:
And Joab came to the king, {to} the house, and he said, “Today you have shamed the faces of all of your servants, the ones having rescued your life today and the life of your sons and your daughters and the life of your wives and the life of your concubines,
UST:
Joab went to the house where the king was and told him, “Today your soldiers saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and wives and secondary wives. But you are making them feel shame for what they did!
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:6ULT:
by loving the ones hating you and by hating the ones loving you. For you have declared today that the commanders and servants {are} nothing to you. For I know today that if Absalom {were} alive and all of us were dead today, that then {it would be} right in your eyes.
UST:
You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you! It is as if you have said that you do not care about your own commanders and your soldiers. I can see that if Absalom were still alive and all of us were dead today, you would like that better.
What did Joab say would have pleased the king?
Joab said that he could see that if Absalom were still alive and all of David’s men were dead today, David would like that better.
2 Samuel 19:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:7ULT:
But now, arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you are not going out, if a man will lodge with you tonight, and this {will be} more trouble for you than all of the trouble that has come on you from your youth until now.”
UST:
So now you must go out and thank your soldiers for what they did. I swear by Yahweh that if you do not do that, they will all have abandoned you by tomorrow morning. Then you will be in more trouble than you have already had in your entire life!”
What did Joab tell the king would happen if he did not go out and speak to his servants?
Joab swore by Yahweh that if the king did not go out, all his soldiers will have abandoned him by tomorrow morning.
2 Samuel 19:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:8ULT:
So the king arose and sat in the gate.
And they declared to all of the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all of the people came to the face of the king. But Israel had fled, a man to his tent.
UST:
So the king went and sat at the city gate. People told the soldiers, “Look, the king is sitting at the gate!” So the soldiers came and gathered around him{, and he thanked them}. Meanwhile, all the remaining Israelite soldiers who had been supporting Absalom had run away back to their own homes.
When did all the people come before the king?
All the people came before the king after they were told that the king was sitting in the gate.
2 Samuel 19:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:9ULT:
And it happened, all of the people were contending in all of the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the palm of our enemies, and he, he rescued us from the palm of the Philistines. But now he has fled from the land, away from Absalom.
UST:
Then people throughout the territory of Israel began to argue with each other about what they should do. Some of them said, “King David led our armies to defeat the Philistines and the other enemies who were oppressing us. But then he left Israel in order to escape from Absalom!
What were the people in the tribes of Israel arguing about? (19:9-11)
The people were arguing about what they should do now that Absalom was dead and David had left Israel to escape from Absalom.
2 Samuel 19:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:10ULT:
But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in the battle. And now, why are you being silent about bringing back the king?”
UST:
We appointed Absalom to be our king, but he died in the battle against David’s soldiers. So we should do something to bring King David back!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:11ULT:
And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring back the king to his house? For the word of all of Israel has come to the king, to his house.
UST:
{King David learned what the people were saying,} so he sent the two priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to say to the leaders of Judah, “The king says that he has heard that the Israelite people want him to be king again. He says that you should not be the last ones to bring him back to his palace.
Whom did King David send to speak to the elders of Judah?
David sent Zadok and Abiathar the priests to speak to the elders of Judah.
2 Samuel 19:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:12ULT:
You {are} my brothers. You {are} my bone and my flesh. So why are you last to bring back the king?’
UST:
He says that you are his relatives. You and he have the same ancestor. So you should not be the last ones to bring him back!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:13ULT:
And to Amasa you shall say, ‘{Are} you not my bone and my flesh? Thus may God do to me, and thus may he add, if you are not the commander of the army to my face all of the years in place of Joab.’”
UST:
He also told them to say to Amasa, “You are one of my relatives. I swear that I am going to make you my army commander from now on instead of Joab. If I do not do that, then may God not make me the king again.”
Whom did David say would be the commander of his army in place of Joab?
David said Amasa would be the commander of the army in place of Joab.
2 Samuel 19:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:14ULT:
And he inclined the heart of every man of Judah as one man. And they sent to the king, “Return, you and all of your servants.”
UST:
After David sent that message to them, the people of Judah agreed that he should be their king again. So they sent him a message that said, “We would like you and all your officials to come back.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:15ULT:
And the king returned, and he came to the Jordan.
And Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king to bring the king across the Jordan.
UST:
So King David and his officials started back toward Jerusalem. When they arrived at {the eastern shore of} Jordan River, the leaders of the tribe of Judah met them. They had come to Gilgal {on the western shore} to escort the king and his officials across the river.
Why did the men of Judah come to Gilgal?
The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him across the Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:16ULT:
And Shimei, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, who {was} from Bahurim, hurried and came down with a man of Judah to meet King David,
UST:
Shimei son of Gera, that man from the tribe of Benjamin who lived in Bahurim, hurried to the river with the leaders of Judah to meet King David.
Who rushed to the Jordan to meet the king? (19:16-17)
Shimei, with 1,000 men from Benjamin, and Ziba, with his 15 sons and 20 servants, rushed to the Jordan.
2 Samuel 19:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:17ULT:
and 1,000 men {were} with him from Benjamin. And Ziba, the young man of the house of Saul, and his 15 sons and his 20 servants {were} with him. And they rushed {into} the Jordan to the face of the king.
UST:
There were 1,000 men from the tribe of Benjamin who came with him. Ziba, the servant of Saul, also hurried to the Jordan River. He brought his 15 sons and 20 servants with him. Shimei and Ziba quickly waded across the river to meet King David {on the eastern shore}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:18ULT:
And they crossed the ford to bring over the house of the king and to do the good in his eyes.
And Shimei, the son of Gera, fell to the face of the king when he crossed in the Jordan.
UST:
The elders of Judah then crossed the river at the place where people could walk across it so that they could escort King David and his officials back to the other side. They wanted to do whatever the king wanted. Shimei came and bowed down in front of David.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:19ULT:
And he said to the king, “May my lord not reckon iniquity to me, and may you not remember that your servant committed iniquity on the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, for the king to set {it} to his heart.
UST:
He said to the king, “Your Majesty, please forgive me for the terrible thing that I did on the day that you left Jerusalem. I hope that you will not punish me for it, and I hope that you will not continue to feel hostile toward me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:20ULT:
For your servant knows that I, I have sinned, and behold, I have come today, the first of all of the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
UST:
I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. But please consider that I have been first one from the northern tribes to come here today to welcome you back, Your Majesty.”
Why did Shimei say he was the first from the house of Joseph to meet the king?
Shimei came first because he knew that he had sinned against the king.
2 Samuel 19:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:21ULT:
And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, answered and said, “In place of this, shall not Shimei be killed? For he cursed the anointed of Yahweh.”
UST:
But Abishai son of Zeruiah, told David, “Shimei cursed you, the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king of Israel! So you should not forgive him. You should execute him for doing that!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:22ULT:
And David said, “What to me and to you, sons of Zeruiah, that you have become an adversary to me today? Shall a man be killed in Israel today? For do I not know that I {am} king over Israel today?”
UST:
But David said, “I do not agree at all with what you two sons of Zeruiah want me to do. You are encouraging me to do something now that would not be good for me. I am not going to execute anyone in Israel today. I know confidently that the Israelites want me to be their king{, so I do not need to execute this man to make my reign more secure}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:23ULT:
And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.
UST:
Then King David told Shimei, “I promise that I will not execute you,” and he swore an oath that he would not execute him.
What did the king say to Shimei after Abishai said Shimei should be put to death?
The king told Shimei that he would not die, and he swore an oath to him.
2 Samuel 19:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:24ULT:
And Mephibosheth, the son of Saul, came down to meet the king. And he had not done his feet, and he had not done his mustache, and he had not washed his clothes from the day the king went up to the day that he came in peace.
UST:
Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also came to the Jordan River to welcome King David back. {To show his grief,} Mephibosheth had not cut his toenails or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the time that the king left Jerusalem up to the time when he returned safely.
How did Mephibosheth look when he came to meet the king?
Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king went away.
2 Samuel 19:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:25ULT:
And it happened that he came {from} Jerusalem to meet the king. And the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
UST:
When he arrived from Jerusalem to welcome King David, he said to him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:26ULT:
And he said, “My lord the king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said, ‘Let me saddle a donkey for myself, and let me ride on it, and let me go with the king.’ For your servant {is} lame.
UST:
He replied, “Your Majesty, {when I heard that you were leaving Jerusalem,} I told my servant Ziba, ‘Saddle my donkey so that I can ride on it and go with the king.’ But he deceived me {and left without me. I could not follow him,} because I am crippled.
What reason did Mephibosheth give for not going with the king?
Mephibosheth told the king that his servant, Ziba, had deceived him and left without him, and Mephibosheth could not follow him because he was crippled.
2 Samuel 19:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:27ULT:
And he slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king {is} like an angel of God, so do the good in your eyes.
UST:
He lied to you about me. But your Majesty, you are as wise as one of God’s angels. So do whatever seems right to you.
What else did Mephibosheth say Ziba had done to him?
Mephibosheth said Ziba had lied about him to the king.
2 Samuel 19:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:28ULT:
For all of the house of my father was nothing except men of death to my lord the king, but you set your servant among the eaters at your table. So what right is there still for me to cry out more to the king?”
UST:
I consider that all of my grandfather’s family expected that you would execute us. But instead, you allowed me to eat my meals with your household! So I certainly do not have the right to ask you for anything further.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:29ULT:
And the king said to him, “Why do you still speak your words? I have said, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the field.’”
UST:
King David replied, “You do not need to say anything more. I have decided that you and Ziba will equally divide the land {that belonged to your grandfather Saul}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:30ULT:
And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take the whole, after that my lord the king has come in peace to his house.”
UST:
Mephibosheth replied to the king, “Your Majesty, Ziba may have all of the land. All that matters to me is that you have returned safely.”
How did Mephibosheth reply when the king said he and Ziba should divide the field?
Mephibosheth told the king to let Ziba take the whole field, because all that mattered to him was that the king had returned safely.
2 Samuel 19:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:31ULT:
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim. And he crossed the Jordan with the king to send him {across} the Jordan.
UST:
Barzillai the Gileadite had come down to the Jordan River from his home in Rogelim to escort the king across the river.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:32ULT:
Now Barzillai had aged greatly, a son of 80 years. And he, he had sustained the king in his stay in Mahanaim, for he {was} a very great man.
UST:
By this time Barzillai was elderly. He was 80 years old. But he was such a wealthy man that he had been able to provide all of the food that the king and his soldiers needed while they were at Mahanaim.
What had Barzillai done for the king?
Barzillai had provided all of the food that the king and his soldiers needed while they were at Mahanaim.
2 Samuel 19:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:33ULT:
And the king said to Barzillai, “You, cross over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.”
UST:
The king said to Barzillai, “Come across the Jordan River with me to Jerusalem, and I will take care of you there.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:34ULT:
But Barzillai said to the king, “How many {will be} the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king {to} Jerusalem?
UST:
But Barzillai replied, “I do not have many more years to live. So there is no reason for me to go with you to Jerusalem.
Why did Barzillai say he should not go to Jerusalem with the king? (19:34-35)
Barzillai said he was too old, could no longer taste what he ate or drank, could not hear singers, and would be a burden to the king.
2 Samuel 19:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:35ULT:
I {am} a son of 80 years today. Do I know between good to bad? Or does your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or do I still hear the voice of the {male} singers or the {female} singers? So why should your servant become a further burden to my lord the king?
UST:
I am now 80 years old. I do not know what is enjoyable and what is not enjoyable. I cannot enjoy what I eat and what I drink. I cannot hear anymore the voices of men and women as they sing. You would have to make difficult arrangements for me. I do not want you to have to do that.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:36ULT:
According to a little your servant will go across the Jordan with the king. But why will the king reward me this reward?
UST:
I will cross the Jordan River with you and walk a short distance with you toward Jerusalem. But you do not need to entertain me there in your royal court.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:37ULT:
Please let your servant return, and let me die in my city by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what {is} good in your eyes.”
UST:
Instead, please allow me to return to my home. That is where I want to die, near my parents’ grave {so people can bury me there}. But here is my son Chimham. Your Majesty, please allow him to go with you and serve you, and do for him whatever seems right to you.”
What did Barzillai request of the king?
Barzillai asked to return to his own city to die, but he asked the king to take his servant Chimham and do for him what was good in the king’s eyes.
2 Samuel 19:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:38ULT:
And the king said, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I, I shall do for him the good in your eyes. And all that you choose upon me, I shall do for you.”
UST:
The king replied, “Very well, Chimham may cross the river with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. And I will also do for you whatever you want me to do.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:39ULT:
And all of the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed. And the king kissed Barzillai, and he blessed him, and he returned to his place.
UST:
Then the leaders of Judah and the people who had been with David honored him by leading the way across the Jordan River. David followed them across. He kissed Barzillai {on the cheek to show his affection and gratitude} and asked God to do good things for him. Then Barzillai returned to his home.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:40
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:40ULT:
And the king passed on to Gilgal, and Chimham passed on with him. And all of the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half of the people of Israel.
UST:
But Chimham stayed with King David as he continued on to Gilgal. Now the leaders of the tribe of Judah had escorted David across the Jordan River. But only some of the leaders of the other tribes arrived in time to do that with them{, since the leaders of Judah did not wait for them}.
Who crossed over to Gilgal with the king?
Chimham, all the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel crossed over to Gilgal with the king.
2 Samuel 19:41
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:41ULT:
And behold, all of the men of Israel were coming to the king, and they said to the king, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal you away and bring the king and his house across the Jordan and all of the men of David with him?”
UST:
Then, when the rest of the Israelite leaders arrived, they complained to David, “It was not fair for our fellow Israelites, those leaders from the tribe of Judah, to take you away from us! We all wanted to escort you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan River. But they did that without waiting for us!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:42
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:42ULT:
And each man of Judah answered to a man of Israel, “Because the king {is} near to me. And why this, it burns to you about this matter? Eating, have we eaten from the king? Or being taken, has it been taken for us?”
UST:
The leaders from Judah told the leaders of the other tribes, “We escorted the king because he is from our tribe of Judah. You should not be angry about this. The king never paid for our food, and he never gave us any gifts.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 19:43
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 19:43ULT:
And a man of Israel answered a man of Judah, and he said, “Ten hands {are} to me in the king, and also in David, I more than you. So why have you despised me? Was not my word first, to bring back my king to me?”
But the word of a man of Judah was harsher than the word of a man of Israel.
UST:
The men of the other Israelite tribes replied, “We represent ten of the tribes that the Israelite king rules, and you represent only one. So you should not have treated us with disrespect {by bringing the king back across the Jordan River without us}. We were the first ones to talk about bringing David back to Jerusalem to be our king again.” But the leaders of Judah angrily disagreed with the leaders of the other tribes of Israel.
Why did the men of Israel say they had more right to David than the men of Judah?
The men of Israel said they had more right to David because they represented ten tribes that were related to the king. The men of Judah represented only one tribe. Also, the people of Judah had started the rebellion against David.
Whose words were harsher, the men of Judah or the men of Israel?
The word of the men of Judah was harsher than the word of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 20
2 Samuel 20:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:1ULT:
And a man of wickedness was met there, and his name {was} Sheba, the son of Bichri, a man of Benjamin. And he blew on a shofar, and he said, “{There} is no portion to us in David, and no inheritance {is} to us in the son of Jesse. A man to his tents, Israel!”
UST:
There was a man there at Gilgal whose name was Sheba. He was the son of Bichri. He was a man who often caused trouble. He came from the tribe of Benjamin. He blew a ram’s horn and called out, “David, that son of Jesse, does not belong to us at all! So, my fellow Israelites, let us return to our homes!”
Why was Sheba called a man of wickedness?
He was called a man of wickedness because he blew a shofar and told the men of Israel to return home; he said David did not belong to them at all.
2 Samuel 20:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:2ULT:
And all of the men of Israel went up from after David {to} after Sheba, the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah clung to their king from the Jordan and to Jerusalem.
UST:
Then the leaders of the Israelite tribes decided not to escort David back to Jerusalem. Instead, they did what Sheba had said {and returned to their homes}. But the leaders of the tribe of Judah remained with David. They still wanted him to be their king. So they escorted him from near the Jordan River back to the city of Jerusalem.
How was the response of the men of Judah to Sheba different from the men of Israel?
The men of Judah clung to their king, but the men of Israel did what Sheba had said and returned to their homes.
2 Samuel 20:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:3ULT:
And David came to his house {in} Jerusalem, and the king took the ten concubine wives whom he had left to keep the house, and he put them {in} a house of keeping, and he sustained them, but he did not go in to them. And they were confined until the day of their death, a widowhood of life.
UST:
When David arrived at the palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten secondary wives whom he had left there to take care of the palace and put them in another residence where someone guarded them. David provided what they needed, but he never had sexual relations with them again. It was as if they were widows, even though their husband was still alive. They had to stay in that residence until they died.
How did David’s relationship with his ten concubines change?
He put them in another residence where someone guarded them. They had to stay in that house until they died. David provided what they needed, but he never had sexual relations with them again.
2 Samuel 20:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:4ULT:
And the king said to Amasa, “Call up the men of Judah to me, three days. And you, stand here.”
UST:
Then King David told Amasa, “Summon the soldiers of the tribe of Judah to come here by the day after tomorrow. You must be here also{, ready to lead them into battle}.”
What did the king tell Amasa to do? (20:4-5)
The king told Amasa to call up the men of Judah within three days and to be there himself.
2 Samuel 20:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:5ULT:
And Amasa went to call up Judah, but he delayed beyond the appointment that he had appointed him.
UST:
So Amasa went to summon the Judean soldiers. But he did not return within the time that David had specified.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:6ULT:
And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba, the son of Bichri, will harm us more than Absalom. You, take the servants of your lord and pursue after him, lest he find fortified cities for himself and remove our eyes.”
UST:
Then David told Abishai, “{If we do not capture him quickly,} Sheba son of Bichri will hurt us even more than Absalom did. So I want you to take the soldiers who are already here with me and go to capture him. If you do not do that, we will no longer know where he is going. That would allow him and his soldiers to go into cities that have walls {and then it would be difficult to defeat them}.”
How did David respond when Amasa was delayed? (20:6-7)
David told Abishai to take the soldiers already here and go to capture him. If not, we will no longer know where his is going, and the delay would allow him and his soldiers to go into fortified cities.
2 Samuel 20:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:7ULT:
And the men of Joab and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and all of the warriors went out after him. And they went out from Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
UST:
So Abishai led those soldiers out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba. They included Joab’s personal guard, the king’s elite bodyguards, and the men who had been David’s army when he was in Gath.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:8ULT:
They {were} near the great stone that {is} in Gibeon, and Amasa came to their faces. Now Joab was girded {with}his garment {as} his clothing, and on him {was} a belt of a sword strapped on his waist in its sheath. And he, he went out, and it fell.
UST:
When they arrived at the large rock that is in the region of Gibeah, Amasa met them{, leading a large army of Judean soldiers}. Joab was wearing armor for battle, and he had fastened a {short} sword in its sheath to his belt. He approached Amasa, and as he did, he made the sword fall out of its sheath into his hand.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:9ULT:
And Joab said to Amasa, “Peace {to} you, my brother?” And the right hand of Joab held onto the beard of Amasa to kiss him.
UST:
Joab said to Amasa, “Hello, cousin! Are you doing well?” Then Joab grabbed Amasa’s beard with his right hand so that he could kiss him {on the cheek as a friendly greeting}.
What did Joab do when he greeted Amasa? (20:9-10)
As Joab held Amasa’s beard with his right hand to kiss him, he struck him in the stomach with the sword in his left hand.
2 Samuel 20:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:10ULT:
But Amasa did not guard himself against the sword that {was} in the hand of Joab. And he struck him with it in the stomach, and his intestines poured out to the ground, and he did not do again to him, and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
UST:
Amasa did not think that Joab would hurt him with the sword he was holding in his hand. But Joab thrust it into Amasa’s belly, and his insides spilled out onto the ground. Amasa eventually died from this wound. Joab did not stab him again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai {and the soldiers they were leading} left and continued to pursue Sheba.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:11ULT:
And a man from the young men of Joab stood beside him, and he said, “Whoever delights in Joab and whoever {is} to David, after Joab!”
UST:
One of the young men who carried Joab’s weapons stayed next to Amasa’s body. He called out {to the Judean soldiers}, “Everyone who wants Joab to be our commander and who wants David to be our king, go with Joab {to capture Sheba}!”
What did one of Joab’s men do after Joab stabbed Amasa? (20:11-13)
He stood by Amasa and called for those who delighted in Joab and David to follow Joab, and then he removed Amasa’s body from the road into a field so the soldiers would not stop to look.
2 Samuel 20:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:12ULT:
Now Amasa was rolling himself in blood in the midst of the road. And the man saw that all of the people stood. So he removed Amasa from the road {to} a field, and he threw a garment over him, because he saw everyone coming to him, that he stood.
UST:
Amasa {had fallen onto the road, and} he was rocking back and forth and bleeding severely {as he lay slowly dying}. Joab’s soldier saw that the Judean soldiers were all stopping when they came to where Amasa was. So he dragged him off the road into a field and threw a cloth over him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:13ULT:
When he had pushed {him} from the road, each man passed on after Joab to pursue after Sheba, the son of Bichri.
UST:
After that soldier took Amasa’s body off the road, the other soldiers continued on and went with Joab to pursue Sheba.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:14ULT:
And he passed through all of the tribes of Israel to Abel and Beth Maacah. And all of the Berites, now they gathered themselves, and they also came after him.
UST:
Sheba fled north through the whole length of the territory of Israel and finally came to the city of Abel Beth Maacah. The soldiers of the Berites had formed their army and had also come north with Sheba as their commander.
What did Joab and his men do when they found Sheba in Abel Beth Maacah? (20:14-15)
They besieged him in the city built a dirt ramp up against the outer wall of the city to batter and collapse the city wall.
2 Samuel 20:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:15ULT:
And they came, and they besieged against him in Abel Beth Maacah. And they poured out a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart. And all of the people who {were} with Joab were destroying to make the wall fall.
UST:
Joab and the soldiers he was commanding {found out that Sheba had gone there, so they} went there and surrounded the city. They built a dirt ramp up against the outer wall of the city. Then they started battering the wall to try to make it collapse.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:16ULT:
But a wise woman called from the city, “Listen, listen! Please say to Joab, ‘Approach to here, and let me speak to you.’”
UST:
But a wise woman who lived in that city {stood on the top of the wall and} shouted, “Listen to me! Please ask Joab to come here, because I want to talk to him!”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:17ULT:
And he approached to her, and the woman said, “{Are you} Joab?”
And he said, “I {am}.”
And she said to him, “Hear the words of your female servant.”
And he said, “I am listening.”
UST:
So {they told Joab and} he came there, and the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” He replied, “Yes, I am.” She said to him, “Please listen to what I say.” He replied, “I am listening.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:18ULT:
So she spoke, saying, “Speaking, they spoke in former {times}, saying, ‘Inquiring, they shall inquire at Abel,’ and thus they ended.
UST:
She said, “For a long time people have said, ‘When people have problems, they ought to ask the people who live in the city of Abel what they should do.’ By getting good advice here, they have solved their problems.
How did the wise woman describe the residents of her city of Abel to Joab? (20:18-19)
She described the residents as peaceful and loyal Israelites.
2 Samuel 20:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:19ULT:
I {am} pacified and faithful {ones} of Israel. You are seeking to kill a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you devour the inheritance of Yahweh?”
UST:
We who live in this city are peaceful and loyal Israelites. But you are trying to destroy our city. Many towns and villages in this area depend on us. You should not be trying to destroy a community that belongs to Yahweh!”
What did the woman ask Joab?
The woman asked Joab why he would try to destroy an Israelite community.
2 Samuel 20:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:20ULT:
And Joab answered and said, “Profane, profane to me if I should devour or if I should destroy!
UST:
Joab replied, “I certainly do not want to destroy your city at all!
What condition did Joab give the woman for withdrawing from the city? (20:20-21)
Joab said that if they would give him Sheba, who is rebelling against King David, he would go away from the city.
2 Samuel 20:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:21ULT:
The matter {is} not thus, but a man from the hill country of Ephraim—Sheba, the son of Bichri, is his name—has lifted his hand against the king, against David. Give him alone, and let me go from the city.”
And the woman said to Joab, “Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”
UST:
That is not what we want to do. But Sheba son of Bichri, a man from the hilly area where the people of the tribe of Ephraim live, is rebelling against King David. If you surrender only him to us, then we will go away from this city.” The woman replied to Joab, “We agree. We will cut off his head and throw it over the wall to you.”
How did the people of the city respond to Joab’s condition? (20:21-22)
The woman came to the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba and threw it to Joab.
2 Samuel 20:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:22ULT:
And the woman came to all of the people in her wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba, the son of Bichri, and they threw {it} to Joab. And he blew on the shofar, and they dispersed from the city, a man to his tent. And Joab returned {to} Jerusalem, to the king.
UST:
Then this woman went to the leaders of the city and told them what she had said to Joab. {They agreed, and} they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it over the wall to Joab. Then Joab blew his ram’s horn {to signal that his soldiers should stop fighting}. They left that city and returned to their homes. Joab returned to Jerusalem and told King David what had happened.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:23ULT:
Now Joab {was} over all of the army of Israel. And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, {was} over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites.
UST:
{After David became king again,} Joab was the commander of the entire Israelite army. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the commander of David’s elite corps of bodyguards.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:24ULT:
And Adoniram {was} over the forced labor, and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, {was} the recorder.
UST:
Adoniram supervised the men whom the king forced to work for him. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the man who reported to the people everything that David decided.
What was Adoniram’s responsibility?
Adoniram was over the forced labor.
2 Samuel 20:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:25ULT:
And Sheva {was} the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar {were} priests.
UST:
Sheva was the official secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 20:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 20:26ULT:
And also Ira the Jairite was a priest to David.
UST:
And Ira from the city of Jair was David’s advisor.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21
2 Samuel 21:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:1ULT:
Now {there} was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year. And David sought the face of Yahweh, and Yahweh said, “To Saul and to the house {is} blood, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
UST:
During the time when David ruled, there was a famine in Israel continuously for three years. David asked Yahweh why this was happening. Yahweh told him, “{There is a famine to show that} you need to punish Saul’s family because Saul killed so many people from the Gibeonite group.”
Why was there a famine in the land for three years? (21:1-2)
There was a famine because of the bloodguilt on Saul and his house. The Israelites had solemnly promised that they would not kill them, but Saul had tried to kill all of them because he wanted the people of Judah and Israel to be the only ones living in that land.
2 Samuel 21:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:2ULT:
And the king called to the Gibeonites, and he spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites {were} not from the sons of Israel. Rather, they {were} from the remnant of the Amorite. And the sons of Israel had sworn to them, but Saul sought to strike them when he was jealous for the sons of Israel and Judah.)
UST:
So the king asked the leaders of Gibeon to come and speak with him. (The people of Gibeon were not Israelites. They were instead an Amorite people group that had survived {when the Israelites invaded the land of Canaan and killed the rest of the Amorites}. The Israelites had solemnly promised that they would not kill them. But Saul had tried to kill all of them because he eagerly wanted the people of Israel and Judah to be the only ones living in that land.)
Why did King David want to make atonement to the Gibeonites? (21:2-3)
David wanted to make atonement so that they ask Yahweh to do good things for us Israelites again.
2 Samuel 21:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:3ULT:
And David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you, and with what shall I atone, then bless the inheritance of Yahweh?”
UST:
David said to the Gibeonite leaders, “What can I do to make up for what Saul did to your people so that you would then ask Yahweh to do good things for us Israelites again?”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:4ULT:
And the Gibeonites said to him, “{There is} no silver or gold for us with Saul or with his house. And {there is} not for us a man to kill in Israel.”
And he said, “What are you saying I shall do for you?”
UST:
They replied, “You cannot make up for what Saul did to us by having his family pay us any amount of money. And we do not have the right to kill any Israelites.” So David asked, “So what are you asking me to do for you?”
What did David agree to do to atone for the injustice done to the Gibeonites?
David agreed to do whatever the Gibeonites asked him to do.
2 Samuel 21:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:5ULT:
And they said to the king, “The man who ended us and who intended against us {that} we should be destroyed from stationing ourselves in all of the border of Israel,
UST:
They replied, “That man Saul wanted to destroy us so that none of us would live anywhere in Israel. And he killed many of us.
What did the Gibeonites request from David to atone for Saul’s actions? (21:5-6)
They requested that seven men from Saul’s sons be given to them so they could hang them before Yahweh at Gibeah.
2 Samuel 21:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:6ULT:
let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before Yahweh at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.”
And the king said, “I, I will give.”
UST:
Give us seven of Saul’s descendants {and allow us to execute them}. We will {kill them and} hang up their bodies in public so that Yahweh can see that we have punished Saul’s family for what he did. We will do this in the city of Gibeah where Saul lived. Yahweh chose him to be the king of Israel {and he should have protected us}.” The king replied, “Very well, I will give them to you {so that you can execute them}.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:7ULT:
Now the king had compassion on Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath of Yahweh that {was} between them, between David and between Jonathan, the son of Saul.
UST:
The king did not give Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth to them. He was Jonathan’s son, and David and Jonathan had made a solemn promise that they would never harm each other’s descendants. They had sworn by Yahweh that they would keep that promise.
How did David respond to the Gibeonites’ request? (21:7-9)
David spared Mephibosheth but gave them the two sons of Rizpah and the five sons of Michal, and the Gibeonites hanged them on the hill.
2 Samuel 21:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:8ULT:
But the king took two of the sons of Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and five of the sons of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel, the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
UST:
Instead, he took two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah, had borne to Saul {as his secondary wife}. Their names were Armoni and Mephibosheth. David also took five of the sons of Merab, Saul’s daughter. Merab’s husband was Adriel son of Barzillai. He was from the city of Meholah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:9ULT:
And he gave them into the hand of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill to the face of Yahweh, and the seven of them fell together. And they, they were killed in the days of the harvest, in the first {days}, at the beginning of the harvest of barley.
UST:
David gave these men to the people of Gibeon {to execute}. They took those seven men to Gibeon and killed them and hanged their bodies up on the hill in that city. That was where people worshiped Yahweh and considered him to be present. The Gibeonites killed those seven men at the same time. Those men died at the beginning of the time of year when people harvest their grain, beginning with barley.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:10ULT:
And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth, and she spread it for herself against a rock, from the beginning of the harvest until water was poured on them from the heavens. And she did not allow a bird of the heavens to rest on them by day or a beast of the field by night.
UST:
Then Rizpah took some rough cloth and hung it from a rock {near the bodies} so she could sit under it and have shade from the sun. She stayed there from the time that people started to harvest barley until the autumn rains began. She did not allow any birds to come near the corpses during the day, and she did not allow any wild animals to come near them during the night.
What did Rizpah do to express her grief for her sons? (21:10-11)
She did not allow any birds to come near the corpses during the day, and she did not allow any animals to come near them during the night from the time that people started to harvest barley until the autumn rains began.
2 Samuel 21:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:11ULT:
And it was declared to David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
UST:
Someone told David what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul’s secondary wife, had done.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:12ULT:
And David went, and he took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the lords of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the open area of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them there on the day the Philistines struck Saul at Gilboa.
UST:
So he went {with some of his servants} to Jabesh Gilead, where the leaders of that city allowed him to take the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. The soldiers from that city had gone stealthily at night and taken their bones from the plaza in the city of Beth Shan. That was where Philistine soldiers had hung them on the day when they had killed Saul {and Jonathan} on Mount Gilboa.
From whom did David take the bones of Saul and Jonathan?
David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the leaders of the city of Jabesh Gilead.
2 Samuel 21:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:13ULT:
And he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of the hanged ones.
UST:
David {and his servants} took the bones of Saul and Jonathan. Some other servants also took the bones of the seven men whom the Gibeonites had hanged.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:14ULT:
And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin, in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. And they did all that the king commanded. And God was entreated for the land after this.
UST:
David’s servants went to the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, in the city of Zela in the land of the tribe of Benjamin. There they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan {and the bones of the men whom the Gibeonites had hanged}. In this way, they did all that the king had commanded them to do. After the Gibeonites punished Saul’s family for what he had done, God answered the Israelites’ prayers for their land {and caused the famine to end}.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:15ULT:
Now war was to the Philistines again with Israel. And David went down, and his servants with him, and they fought the Philistines. And David wearied.
UST:
Later the Philistine army began to fight again against the army of Israel. David went with his soldiers to fight them. During the battle, David became tired.
How did Abishai rescue David when he was weary? (21:15-17)
When David was weary, Abishai helped him by striking and killing the Philistine giant Ishbi Benob, who had intended to kill David.
2 Samuel 21:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:16ULT:
And Ishbi Benob, who {was} among the children of Rapha, and the weight of his spear {was} 300 {shekels} of bronze in weight, and he was girded {with} a new {weapon}, and he said to strike David.
UST:
One of the Philistine soldiers in the battle was a man whose name was Ishbi Benob. He was a giant as his ancestors had been. He carried a bronze spear that weighed almost three and a half kilograms. He also had a dangerous weapon. It seemed to him that he was going to be able to kill David.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:17ULT:
But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, helped him, and he struck the Philistine, and he killed him. Then the men of David adjured him, saying, “You shall not go out with us to battle anymore, so you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”
UST:
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to help David. He attacked the giant and killed him. Then David’s soldiers made David promise that he would not go with them into a battle again. They said that if enemy soldiers killed him in battle, Israel would no longer have him as king to guide them.
Why did David’s men insist that he no longer go into battle with them?
They said that if enemy soldiers killed him in battle, Israel would no longer have him as king to guide them.
2 Samuel 21:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:18ULT:
And it happened after this that {there} was a battle again with the Philistines, at Gob. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck Saph, who {was} among the children of Rapha.
UST:
Later, the Israelite soldiers fought another battle with the Philistines. This happened near Gob. During the battle, Sibbecai, from the clan of Hushah, killed Saph, who was a giant as his ancestors had been.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:19ULT:
And {there} was battle again with the Philistines at Gob. And Elhanan, the son of Jaare Oregim the Bethlehemite, struck Goliath the Gittite, and the wood of his spear {was} like the beam of weavers.
UST:
Later, the Israelite soldiers fought another battle with the Philistines near Gob. During that battle, Elhanan son of Jaare Oregim from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath. Goliath had a great spear whose shaft was very thick, like the bar on a weaver’s loom.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:20ULT:
And {there} was battle again at Gath, and {there} was a man of stature, and the digits of his hands and the digits of his feet {were} six and six, 24 {in} number. And he also was born to Rapha.
UST:
Later, there was another battle near Gath. One of the Philistine soldiers was very tall. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He was a giant as his ancestors had been.
Whom did David and his servants kill in Gath? (21:20-22)
They killed four giants who were born to Rapha in Gath.
2 Samuel 21:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:21ULT:
And he taunted Israel, and Jonathan, the son of Shimeah, the brother of David, struck him.
UST:
He challenged any Israelite soldier to fight him in single combat. David’s older brother Shimeah had a son whose name was Jonathan. Jonathan accepted the challenge, fought this Philistine soldier, and killed him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 21:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 21:22ULT:
These four were born to Rapha in Gath. And they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
UST:
Those four men lived in Gath and were giants as their ancestors had been. David and his soldiers fought them and killed them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22
2 Samuel 22:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:1ULT:
And David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song on the day Yahweh delivered him from the palm of all of his enemies and from the palm of Saul.
UST:
After Yahweh had rescued David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang a song to Yahweh.
When did David sing the song that Yahweh was his rock? (22:1-2)
David sang the song on the day Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2 Samuel 22:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:2ULT:
And he said, “Yahweh {is} my rock and my stronghold and my deliverer, mine.
UST:
This is what he sang: “Yahweh, you are like a huge rock or fortress {where I can go to be safe}. I can be confident that you will rescue me when I am in trouble.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:3ULT:
God of my rock, I take refuge in him, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior, you save me from violence.
UST:
Yahweh, you protect me. I am as safe as I would be if I were hiding on top of a cliff. It is as if you are a shield that defends me. You are the powerful God who saves me. You are like a high place where I find refuge. You save me from those who act violently toward me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:4ULT:
{To} the one being praised I call, {to} Yahweh, and I am saved from my enemies.
UST:
You deserve for people to praise you, Yahweh. When I cry to you {for help}, you rescue me from my enemies.
When David calls on Yahweh, what does he say that Yahweh does?
David says when he calls on Yahweh, he is saved from his enemies.
2 Samuel 22:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:5ULT:
For the waves of death surrounded me, the torrents of wickedness terrified me.
UST:
{Someone was trying to kill me, and} I was in such danger of dying that it was as if a huge wave was crashing over me. His wicked plans against me were like floodwaters that were carrying me away, and this made me very afraid.
What did David feel like when he was surrounded by his enemies? (22:5-6)
David felt like the waves of death and the cords of Sheol surrounded him.
2 Samuel 22:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:6ULT:
The cords of Sheol surrounded me, the snares of death confronted me.
UST:
I did not think I could escape going to the place where dead people go. It was as if that place had wrapped ropes around me and was pulling me down into it. It was as if the only direction I could walk was right into a trap where I would surely die.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:7ULT:
In my distress I called {to} Yahweh, and to my God I called. And he heard my voice from his temple, and my cry {was} in his ears.
UST:
But when I was very distressed, I cried out to you, Yahweh my God. From your temple in heaven you could hear me calling, and you listened to my prayer.
How did David respond to his distressing circumstances?
In his distress, David called to Yahweh, and Yahweh heard his voice from his temple.
2 Samuel 22:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:8ULT:
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of the heavens quaked and shook themselves, because it burned to him.
UST:
It made you so angry {that someone was trying to kill me, and you responded so powerfully,} that it was as if there was a great earthquake. It seemed as if the sky itself was shaking.
What happened because God was angry? (22:8-9)
The earth shook and trembled, smoke went up from his nose, and a stream of fire was flowing out from his mouth to burn up everything in its path.
2 Samuel 22:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:9ULT:
Smoke went up from his nose, and fire from his mouth devoured. Coals from him burned.
UST:
{Your power was so great that} it was as if there was a volcano from which smoke was rising, a stream of fire was flowing out that burned up everything in its path, and hot coals were flying into the air that started fires where they landed.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:10ULT:
And he lowered the heavens, and he came down, and a dark cloud {was} under his feet.
UST:
{Your power was so great} when you came {to help me that} it was as if there was a great thunderstorm, with only a little sky visible below the low-hanging dark clouds.
How did Yahweh come down from the heavens? (22:10-12)
He lowered the heavens and came down, riding on a cherub and flying on the wings of the wind.
2 Samuel 22:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:11ULT:
And he rode on a cherub, and he flew. He was seen on the wings of the wind.
UST:
{You came very fast to help me, as if} you were riding on a creature that had wings. It was as if the strong winds {of a thunderstorm} were a bird that you were riding.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:12ULT:
And he set darkness, the booths around him {were} a gathering of waters, clouds of the skies.
UST:
It was as if you had made the darkness of the storm a safe place for you to stay. Yes, it was as if you had a temporary shelter within the clouds that were full of water.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:13ULT:
From the brightness before him, coals of fire burned.
UST:
It was as if it became bright where you were within the clouds, and then lightning bolts came from there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:14ULT:
Yahweh thundered from the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice.
UST:
It was as if there was a loud sound of thunder in the sky because you, Yahweh, the God who is greater than all other gods, had spoken {to announce that you were coming to rescue me}.
How did Yahweh scatter his enemies? (22:14-15)
Yahweh thundered from the heavens, sent out arrows and flashes of lightning, and panicked them.
2 Samuel 22:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:15ULT:
And he sent out arrows, and he scattered them, lightning, and he panicked them.
UST:
It was as if you sent flashes of lightning that made my enemies so afraid that they ran away in different directions, as if you had shot arrows at them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:16ULT:
And the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of Yahweh, from the blast of the breath of his nose.
UST:
Then it was as if you shouted at my enemies {to tell them to stop trying to kill me}. It was as if you blew away all the water that was covering the bottom of the ocean and all the ground that was over the deepest part of the earth.
How were the foundations of the world uncovered?
The foundations of the world were uncovered at the rebuke of Yahweh, from the blast of the breath of his nose.
2 Samuel 22:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:17ULT:
He stretched out from the height, he took hold of me. He drew me out of many waters.
UST:
It was as if you reached down from heaven and grabbed me so that you could pull me up out of the deep water of the ocean.
How did Yahweh rescue David from the strong enemy who hated him? (22:17-18)
David said it was as if Yahweh reached down from heaven and grabbed him so that he could pull David up out of the deep water of the ocean.
2 Samuel 22:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:18ULT:
He delivered me from my strong enemy, from the ones hating me, for they were stronger than me.
UST:
There was a powerful man who wanted to harm me, and there were people who hated me. They were too strong for me to defeat, but you rescued me from them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:19ULT:
They confronted me on the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
UST:
They attacked me, and they would have destroyed me, but you, Yahweh, protected me.
Why did Yahweh deliver David? (22:19-21)
Yahweh delivered David because he delighted in him.
2 Samuel 22:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:20ULT:
And he brought me out to an open space. He delivered me because he delighted in me.
UST:
You brought me to a place where I was safe. You love me, and so you rescued me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:21ULT:
Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands, he has given back to me.
UST:
Yahweh, you did good things for me because I did what was right. I did not harm my enemies, so you made sure that they did not harm me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:22ULT:
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and I have not been wicked from my God.
UST:
Yahweh, I have lived as you want people to live. I have not stopped obeying you, my God, and done wicked things instead.
How did David keep the ways of Yahweh? (22:22-23)
David kept the ways of Yahweh and did not turn away from his statutes.
2 Samuel 22:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:23ULT:
For all of his judgments {are} before me, and his statutes, I have not turned away from them.
UST:
I have remained aware of what you have said people should do, and I have continued to obey all your laws.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:24ULT:
And I have been blameless toward him, and I have kept myself from my iniquity.
UST:
I have not done anything for which you would blame me. I have been careful not to do anything for which you would punish me.
What happened because David was blameless and kept himself from iniquity? (22:24-25)
Yahweh gave back to him according to his righteousness and his cleanness.
2 Samuel 22:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:25ULT:
And Yahweh has given back to me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness before his eyes.
UST:
You have done good things for me because I did what is right. You recognize that I am innocent.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:26ULT:
With the faithful you show yourself faithful; with the mighty blameless, you show yourself blameless.
UST:
When people are loyal to you, you act loyally toward them. When people are careful to do good things for others, you do good things for them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:27ULT:
With the purified, you show yourself pure, but with the crooked, you show yourself cunning.
UST:
You allow sincere people to recognize how sincere you are. But when people try to trick others, you show that you are much more clever than they are.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:28ULT:
And you save a lowly people, but your eyes {are} against the ones being high, you bring {them} down.
UST:
You rescue people whom others are afflicting. You are aware of people who are arrogant, and you humiliate them.
What does Yahweh do to the proud? (22:28-29)
Yahweh is aware of people who are arrogant, and he humiliates them.
2 Samuel 22:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:29ULT:
For you {are} my lamp, Yahweh, and Yahweh lightens my darkness.
UST:
Yahweh, you are like a lamp that shines light so that I can see even when it is dark.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:30ULT:
For by you, I run {after} a troop.
By my God, I leap {over} a wall.
UST:
With your help I have caught and defeated a band of raiders. With your help I have captured a city that had walls around it, as if I had leaped over those walls.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:31ULT:
This God, his way {is} perfect. The word of Yahweh is refined. He {is} a shield to all of the ones taking refuge in him.
UST:
My God, everything that you do is perfect. Everything that you say is right. You protect everyone who depends on you, as if you are a shield that defends them.
What is Yahweh to everyone who takes refuge in him?
Yahweh is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
2 Samuel 22:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:32ULT:
For who {is} God except Yahweh? And who {is} a rock except our God?
UST:
Yahweh, you are the only real God. Only you are like a huge rock {where I can go to be safe}.
Why did David say God was his rock and fortress? (22:32-33)
David said God was his rock, the only real God, because God is where he can go to be safe. He said God was his fortress of strength because, to David, God is like a very secure place where he could go to hide from danger.
2 Samuel 22:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:33ULT:
This God {is} my fortress of strength, and he makes my way perfect,
UST:
My God, you are like a very secure place where I can go to hide from danger. You make sure that nothing prevents me from doing what you want me to do.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:34ULT:
making my feet like a deer, and he makes me stand on my high places,
UST:
You enable me to walk about safely in the mountains, as a deer does, without falling.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:35ULT:
training my hands for war, and my arms bend a bow of bronze.
UST:
You teach me how to fight in a battle. You give me the strength to bend {and string} a bronze bow.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:36ULT:
And you give to me the shield of your salvation, and your answer makes me great.
UST:
You have saved me by protecting me like a shield, and by answering my prayers, you have enabled me to defeat my enemies.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:37ULT:
You enlarge my step under me, and my feet do not slip.
UST:
You have given me many ways to respond to each situation. As a result, I have been able to carry out my plans successfully.
Why had David’s feet not slipped?
David says that God gave him many ways to respond to each situation, so that his enemies were not able to trap him.
2 Samuel 22:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:38ULT:
I pursue my enemies, and I destroy them, and I do not return until I have ended them.
UST:
I chased my enemies and defeated them. I did not stop fighting them until I had killed them all.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:39ULT:
And I devour them, and I shatter them, and they do not arise, but they fall under my feet.
UST:
I defeated them so completely that they had no army left. The ones who fell to the ground never got up, because they died of their wounds.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:40
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:40ULT:
And you gird me {with} valor for war; you make the ones rising up under me bow down.
UST:
You have given me the strength and courage to fight battles. When people revolted against me, you enabled me to subdue them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:41
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:41ULT:
And my enemies, you give to me the back of {their} neck; the ones hating me, and I destroy them.
UST:
You enabled me to defeat my enemies and step in triumph on their necks. You gave me power over those who hated me so that I was able to destroy them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:42
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:42ULT:
They look, but {there is} no one saving; to Yahweh, but he does not answer them.
UST:
They looked for someone to rescue them, but no one did. They cried out {for help} to you, Yahweh, but you did not help them.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:43
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:43ULT:
And I beat them like the dust of the earth.
Like the mud of the streets, I pulverize them, I stomp them.
UST:
I defeated them so completely that they were no longer any threat to me, no more than tiny particles of dust would be. It was as if I had flattened them smoothly on the ground like the mud on the streets.
What did David do to his enemies when they looked for a savior?
David defeated them so completely that they were no longer any threat to him no more than tiny particles of dust would be.
2 Samuel 22:44
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:44ULT:
And you rescue me from the disputes of my people. You keep me as the head of nations. People I did not know serve me.
UST:
You rescued me from the Israelites who tried to rebel against me. You preserved me as the ruler of many nations. Foreign people are now my subjects.
What did Yahweh do for David?
Yahweh rescued David from the disputes of his people and kept him as the head of nations.
2 Samuel 22:45
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:45ULT:
Sons of the foreigner come cringing to me. At the hearing of an ear, they hear me.
UST:
Foreign rulers fearfully bow down in front of me {to show their submission}. When they heard about what Yahweh enabled me to do, they obeyed me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:46
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:46ULT:
Sons of the foreigner fade away, and they come trembling from their fortresses.
UST:
I defeat foreign armies that resist me so that they become weak, like a plant that dries up in the sun. They surrender and come out of their cities with walls shaking with weakness and fear.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:47
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:47ULT:
Yahweh {is} alive! And blessed {be} my rock, and may the God of the rock of my salvation be exalted,
UST:
Yahweh, you are the only real God! I praise you! You are like a huge rock {where I can go to be safe}! You are the powerful God who rescues me. Everyone should exalt you.
What did Yahweh do on behalf of David? (22:47-49)
Yahweh enabled David to conquer enemies, protecting him from being captured by them. Yahweh kept David safe when people rebelled against him and rescued hm from men who tried to harm him.
2 Samuel 22:48
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:48ULT:
the God giving vengeance to me and bringing down peoples under me
UST:
You are the God who enables me to conquer enemies who have attacked me. You cause the people of other nations to be subject to my rule.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:49
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:49ULT:
and bringing me out from my enemies.
And from the ones arising {against} me, you lift me up; from a man of violences, you deliver me.
UST:
You kept my enemies from capturing me. People rebelled against me, but it as if their armies had been floodwaters and you lifted me out of them to safety. You rescued me from men who tried to harm me.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 22:50
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:50ULT:
Therefore I thank you, Yahweh, among the nations, and I sing praise to your name,
UST:
Because of all this, I thank you, Yahweh, so that all people groups will know that you are the one who has helped me. I sing to praise you for what you have done that has made you famous.
Why did David sing praises to the name of Yahweh? (22:50-51)
David said he thanks Yahweh so that all people groups will know that Yahweh is the one who has helped him. He sings to praise Yahweh for the great things he has done, faithfully showing kindness to David and to his descendants in the future.
2 Samuel 22:51
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 22:51ULT:
the one magnifying the salvation of his king and doing covenant faithfulness to his anointed, to David, and to his seed until forever.”
UST:
You chose me to be king, and you have done great things to save me from my enemies. You faithfully show kindness to me, David, whom you anointed as king, and you will always show kindness faithfully to my descendants.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23
2 Samuel 23:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:1ULT:
Now these {are} the last words of David. An oracle of David the son of Jesse, and an oracle of the man raised {to} height, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the delightful {one} of the songs of Israel.
UST:
David son of Jesse was a man whom God caused to become great. The God whom the descendants of Jacob worship chose him to be the king of Israel. David wrote beautiful songs for the people of Israel. This is the last song that he wrote.
What are the last words of David said to be? (23:1-2)
They are the oracle of David, the man raised to a high position, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the one who wrote beautiful songs for the people of Israel.
2 Samuel 23:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:2ULT:
“The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, and his word {was} on my tongue.
UST:
“The Spirit of Yahweh used me to say what he wanted to say. The message that I spoke came from him.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:3ULT:
The God of Israel spoke to me, the Rock of Israel said, ‘A righteous one ruling over man {is} ruling {in} the fear of God,
UST:
The God whom we Israelite people worship has spoken. The one who protects us Israelites said to me, ‘Kings who rule fairly over people have great respect for me.
What did the God of Israel say to David? (23:3-4)
The God of Israel said that a righteous one ruling over man in the fear of God is like the light of morning when the sun rises.
2 Samuel 23:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:4ULT:
and {is} like the light of morning, {when} the sun rises, a morning {with} no clouds, {like} grass from the earth from brightness after rain.’
UST:
They are like the light that appears at dawn when the sun rises on a cloudless morning. The sunshine causes grass to sprout after the rain ends.’
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:5ULT:
For {is} not my house thus with God? For he has made a covenant with me forever, ordered in everything and secured. For all my salvation and every desire, surely will he not make {it} sprout?
UST:
And that is how God will surely bless my family, since he made a covenant with me that will last forever. He prepared that covenant carefully and guaranteed it. He will certainly act to help me and make the things happen that I truly want.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:6ULT:
But the wicked, all of them, {will be} like a thorn thrown away because they do not take in the hand.
UST:
But God will remove all the people who disrespect him, just as people throw away thorns that hurt their hands when they try to pick them up.
Why will the wicked be like a thorn thrown away? (23:6-7)
God will remove people who disrespect him, just as people throw away thorns that hurt their hands when they try to pick them up.
2 Samuel 23:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:7ULT:
But the man {who} touches them will be filled {with} iron or the wood of a spear. And burning, they will be burned in the fire in place.”
UST:
Someone who wants to get rid of thornbushes does not grab them. Instead, he uses an iron shovel or a wooden stick to dig them out. Then he burns them right there.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:8ULT:
These {are} the names of the warriors who {were} to David. Josheb Basshebeth the Tahchemonite {was} the head of the Three. He was lifting his spear against 800, slain at one time.
UST:
Here is a description of David’s greatest warriors. Three of them were the very greatest. Their leader was Josheb Basshebeth the Tahchemonite. He once fought and killed 800 enemy soldiers in a single battle.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:9ULT:
And after him {was} Eleazar the son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi, among the three warriors with David. When they taunted the Philistines, they had gathered themselves there for battle, and the men of Israel went up,
UST:
The next of David’s very greatest warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. The Philistine army invaded Israel, and the Israelite army came to fight them. The {Philistines were winning the battle, so the} other Israelite soldiers retreated.
How did Eleazar defeat the Philistines? (23:9-10)
When other Israelites retreated in fear, Eleazar arose and struck the Philistines until his hand cramped and he could not let go of his sword, Yahweh won a great victory for the Israelites on that day.
2 Samuel 23:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:10ULT:
he, he arose and struck the Philistines until his hand tired and his hand clung to the sword. And Yahweh did great salvation on that day, and the people returned after him only to plunder.
UST:
But Eleazar fought even harder against the Philistine soldiers until he had almost no strength left. He had held his sword so hard for so long that his hand cramped and he could not let go of his sword. Yahweh won a great victory for the Israelites on that day. The other Israelite soldiers only came back to the battlefield to take the armor from the Philistines whom Eleazar had killed.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:11ULT:
And after him {was} Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. Now the Philistines gathered themselves to Lehi, and a portion of the field there was full {of} lentils, and the people fled from the face of the Philistines.
UST:
The next of David’s very greatest warriors was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. Once the Philistine army invaded Israel and came to the city of Lehi, where there was a field of ripe lentils {that they wanted to steal}. The other Israelite soldiers ran away from the Philistine troops.
What did Shammah defend against the Philistines? (23:11-12)
When other Israelite soldiers ran away from the battle, Shammah stationed himself in the middle of the field full of ripe lentils and fought and killed the Philistines, who wanted to steal the lentils. And so Yahweh won a great victory for the Israelites.
2 Samuel 23:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:12ULT:
But he stationed himself in the midst of the portion, and he delivered it, and he struck the Philistines. And Yahweh did great salvation.
UST:
But Shammah stood in the middle of the field. He fought and killed Philistine soldiers {so that they could not steal the lentils}. And so Yahweh won a great victory for the Israelites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:13ULT:
And three from the head Thirty went down, and they came to the harvest, to David, to the cave of Adullam. And a troop of Philistines was camping in the Valley of the Raphaites.
UST:
At the time when David was staying in the cave of Adullam, three other men who were among his 30 greatest warriors came to help him. It was summer. A group of Philistine soldiers had set up their tents in the Valley of the Raphaites.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:14ULT:
And David {was} then in the stronghold, and a garrison of the Philistines {was} then {in} Bethlehem.
UST:
David was staying in the cave {because it was safe there}, and another group of Philistine soldiers was occupying {his home town of} Bethlehem.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:15ULT:
And David desired, and he said, “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that {is} at the gate?”
UST:
One day David felt very thirsty. He said, “If only someone would bring me some water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
What did the three mighty warriors do when they heard David express his desire for water from the well of Bethlehem? (23:15-16)
The three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well, and brought it to David.
2 Samuel 23:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:16ULT:
And the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem that {is} at the gate. And they carried {it} away and brought {it} to David. But he was not willing to drink it, and he poured it out to Yahweh.
UST:
So these three of his greatest warriors fought their way through the camp of Philistine soldiers at Bethlehem. They drew some water from the well there and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out on the ground {as an offering} to Yahweh.
Why did David refuse to drink the water from the well of Bethlehem? (23:16-17)
David said it would not be right to drink it because he said that would be like drinking the blood of these men who were willing to die to get it for him.
2 Samuel 23:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:17ULT:
And he said, “Profane to me, Yahweh, from my doing this, the blood of the men having gone with their lives!” And he was not willing to drink it.
These {things} the three warriors did.
UST:
He said, “Yahweh, it would certainly not be right for me to drink this water! That would be like drinking the blood of these men who were willing to die to get it for me!” So he refused to drink it. That was one of the things that those three of his greatest warriors did.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:18ULT:
And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, he {was} the head of the three, and he was lifting his spear against 300, slain. And to him {was} a name among the Three.
UST:
Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s younger brother, was the leader of those three of David’s greatest soldiers. He once fought against 300 enemy soldiers and killed them all. As a result, he became famous like the three very greatest soldiers.
For what was Abishai known? (23:18-19)
He once fought against 300 enemy soldiers and killed them all. As a result, he became famous like the three very greatest soldiers.
2 Samuel 23:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:19ULT:
{Is it not} that he was the most honored of the three? And he became to them a commander. But he did not come to the Three.
UST:
He was the most famous of those three of David’s greatest soldiers, and he became their leader, although the three very greatest warriors were even more famous.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:20ULT:
And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, {was} a son of a man of valor, many deeds, from Kabzeel. He, he struck the two Ariel of Moab. And he, he went down and struck a lion in the midst of the pit on a day of snow.
UST:
Benaiah son of Jehoiada from the city of Kabzeel was another of David’s greatest soldiers. He won many great victories. He killed two of the best warriors in the Moabite army in single combat. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion there.
How did Benaiah kill a huge Egyptian soldier? (23:20-21)
Benaiah went down against the Egyptian with a staff, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
2 Samuel 23:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:21ULT:
And he himself struck a man of Egypt, a man of appearance. Now in the hand of the Egyptian {was} a spear, and he went down against him with a staff. But he seized the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his spear.
UST:
He also killed a huge Egyptian soldier. That soldier had a spear as a weapon. Benaiah had only a thick wooden rod. But he attacked the soldier and pulled the spear out of his hand. Then he killed him with his own spear.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:22ULT:
These {things}, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada did. And to him {was} a name among the three warriors.
UST:
Those are some of the things that Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. As a result, he became famous as one of those three of David’s greatest warriors.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:23ULT:
More than the Thirty, he was honored, but to the Three, he did not come.
And David put him to his bodyguard.
UST:
He was more famous than David’s other thirty greatest warriors, although the three very greatest warriors were even more famous. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:24ULT:
Asahel the brother of Joab {was} among the Thirty; Elhanan, the son of Dodo {of} Bethlehem;
UST:
These are the names of David’s greatest warriors: Asahel the brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:25ULT:
Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
UST:
Shammah the Harodite; Elika the Harodite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:26
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:26ULT:
Helez the Paltite; Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
UST:
Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:27
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:27ULT:
Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
UST:
Abiezer the Anathothite; Mebunnai the Hushathite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:28
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:28ULT:
Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
UST:
Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai the Netophathite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:29
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:29ULT:
Heleb, the son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai, the son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin;
UST:
Heleb son of Baanah the Netophathite; Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:30
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:30ULT:
Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai of the wadis of Gaash;
UST:
Benaiah the Pirathonite; Hiddai from the place where streams flow through Gaash;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:31
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:31ULT:
Abi Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
UST:
Abi Albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth the Barhumite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:32
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:32ULT:
Eliahba the Shaalbonite; the sons of Jashen, Jonathan;
UST:
Eliahba the Shaalbonite; Jonathan son of Jashen;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:33
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:33ULT:
Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam, the son of Sharar the Hararite;
UST:
Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:34
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:34ULT:
Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
UST:
Eliphelet son of Ahasbai son of the Maacathite; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:35
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:35ULT:
Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
UST:
Hezro the Carmelite; Paarai the Arbite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:36
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:36ULT:
Igal, the son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
UST:
Igal son of Nathan from Zobah; Bani the Gadite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:37
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:37ULT:
Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, the carrier of the equipment of Joab, the son of Zeruiah;
UST:
Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the weapons of Joab son of Zeruiah;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:38
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:38ULT:
Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
UST:
Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 23:39
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 23:39ULT:
Uriah the Hittite; {in} all, 37.
UST:
and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether, these were 37 of David’s greatest warriors.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24
2 Samuel 24:1
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:1ULT:
And the nose of Yahweh added to burn against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”
UST:
Yahweh was angry with the Israelite people again, and he led David to do something that caused trouble for them. David caused that trouble by saying, “Find out how many soldiers Israel and Judah have.”
What did David ask Joab to do? (24:1-2)
David asked Joab to go through all the tribes of Israel and count the men who could fight as soldiers.
2 Samuel 24:2
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:2ULT:
And the king said to Joab, the commander of the army that {was} with him, “Go about, please, among all of the tribes of Israel, from Dan and to Beersheba, and muster the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
UST:
King David said to Joab, the commander of his regular army, “I want you to go with your officers through the territories of all the tribes of Israel, from Dan {in the far north} to Beersheba {in the far south}, and count the men who can fight as soldiers. That way I will know how many Israelite men we have who can fight as soldiers in the army.”
Why was Joab reluctant to count the people? (24:2-4)
Joab did not understand why David wanted to count the people, and he did not think it was a good idea to count how many soldiers they had.
2 Samuel 24:3
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:3ULT:
And Joab said to the king, “Now may Yahweh your God add to the people like them and like them a hundred times, and may the eyes of my lord the king be seeing. But my lord the king, why does he delight in this matter?”
UST:
But Joab replied to the king, “Your Majesty, I hope that Yahweh our God will give us Israelites a hundred times more soldiers than we have now. I hope that you will see this happen {in your own lifetime}. But I do not think it is a good idea to count how many soldiers we have.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:4
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:4ULT:
But the word of the king prevailed against Joab and over the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out to the face of the king to muster the people, Israel.
UST:
But King David insisted that Joab do as he had said, and he ordered the commanders of the army to do it. So they left his court and went out to count the Israelite men who could fight in war.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:5
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:5ULT:
And they crossed the Jordan, and they camped at Aroer, south of the city that {is} in the midst of the wadi, Gad and to Jazer.
UST:
They crossed the Jordan River and set up their tents south of Aroer, in the middle of the valley. From there they went through the territory of the tribe of Gad, and from there they went {north} to Jazer.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:6
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:6ULT:
And they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi. And they came to Dan Jaan, and around to Sidon.
UST:
Then they went {north} to Gilead and to the area of Tahtim Hodshi. Then they went to Dan Jaan {in the far north of Israel}, and then they went {farther west} to Sidon.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:7
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:7ULT:
And they came {to} the fortress of Tyre and {to} all of the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. And they went out to the Negev of Judah, {to} Beersheba.
UST:
Then they went south to Tyre, a city that had high walls around it, and also to all the cities where some Hivites and Canaanites still lived. Then they went to Beersheba, in the desolate area in the southern part of the territory of Judah.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:8
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:8ULT:
So they went about in all of the land. And they came, at the end of nine months and twenty days, {to} Jerusalem.
UST:
It took them nine months and 20 days to finish going throughout the land {and counting the people}. After that, they returned to Jerusalem.
How long did it take for Joab to go throughout all the land and return to Jerusalem?
It took nine months and twenty days for Joab to go throughout all the land and return to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 24:9
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:9ULT:
And Joab gave the number of the mustering of the people to the king. And Israel was 800,000 men of valor drawing the sword, and the men of Judah {were} 500,000 men.
UST:
They reported to King David the number of men that they had counted. There were 800,000 men in Israel and 500,000 men in Judah who were fit to serve as soldiers in the army.
How many fighting men did Joab count?
They reported to David that there were 800,000 men in Israel and 500,000 men in Judah who were fit to serve as soldiers in the army.
2 Samuel 24:10
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:10ULT:
But the heart of David struck him after this, he had counted the people. And David said to Yahweh, “I have sinned greatly {by} what I have done. But now, Yahweh, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”
UST:
But after David’s officers had counted the fighting men of Israel, David felt very badly that he had told them to do that. He confessed to Yahweh, “When I ordered them to do that, I committed a very serious sin. Please forgive me. But now, Yahweh, I admit that what I did was very foolish.”
Why did David feel very badly after he had counted the people?
David realized that he had committed a very serious sin, confessed it to Yahweh, and asked Yahweh to forgive him for his foolish act.
2 Samuel 24:11
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:11ULT:
And David arose in the morning, and the word of Yahweh was to Gad, the prophet, a seer of David, saying,
UST:
When David got up the next morning, Yahweh gave a message to the prophet Gad. He was a man who helped David know what God wanted him to do. Gad said to David,
What message did Yahweh give to David through the prophet Gad? (24:11-12)
Yahweh told David that he must choose one of three punishments.
2 Samuel 24:12
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:12ULT:
“Go, and you shall say to David, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Three I am lifting over you. Choose for yourself one from them, and I will do {it} to you.”’”
UST:
“Go and tell David that I say he must choose one of three punishments that I will describe. I will punish him with the one that he chooses.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:13
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:13ULT:
And Gad came to David, and he declared to him. Then he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land, or three months of your fleeing to the face of your enemies and he is pursuing you, or three days of plague being in your land? Now, know and see what word I shall return {to} the one having sent me.”
UST:
So Gad went to David and told him that Yahweh had said he would need to choose one of three punishments. He then told David, “You can choose for there to be seven years of famine in Israel. You can choose for your enemies to keep defeating you so badly over the course of three months that your army keeps running away from them. Or you can choose for there to be a plague here in Israel for three days. I will go back and tell Yahweh your answer. So think carefully about what you will choose.”
What three choices of punishment did God give to David?
God offered a choice of seven years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of plague in the land.
2 Samuel 24:14
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:14ULT:
And David said to Gad, “Great distress {is} to me. Please, let us fall into the hand of Yahweh, for his mercies {are} many, but into the hand of man, do not let me fall.”
UST:
David said to Gad, “All those are very terrible things for me to choose between! But let Yahweh be the one to punish me {with a plague}, since he is very merciful. Do not let humans be the ones to punish me.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:15
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:15ULT:
And Yahweh caused a plague in Israel from the morning and until the time of appointment. And from the people, from Dan and to Beersheba, 70,000 men died.
UST:
So Yahweh sent a plague on the Israelite people. It started that morning and continued for three days. Throughout the territory of Israel there were 70,000 Israelites who died because of the plague.
Why did not more than 70,000 people die in the plague? (24:15-16)
Yahweh grieved about punishing any more people, and told the angel to lower his hand.
2 Samuel 24:16
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:16ULT:
And the angel stretched out his hand {against} Jerusalem to destroy it, but Yahweh relented concerning the harm. And he said to the angel, the destroyer among the many people, “Now lower your hand.” And the angel of Yahweh was near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
UST:
Then the angel who had killed all those people lifted his hand toward the city of Jerusalem in order to cause a plague that would kill many of the people who lived there. But Yahweh grieved about punishing any more people, and said to the angel “Put your hand back down {and do not cause a plague in Jerusalem}!” When Yahweh said that, his angel was standing near the place where Araunah the Jebusite threshed grain.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:17
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:17ULT:
And David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel, the striker among the people, and he said, “Behold, I, I have sinned, and I, I have committed iniquity. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let your hand be against me and against the house of my father.”
UST:
When David saw the angel who was causing the people to become sick and die, he spoke to Yahweh. He said, “Truly, I am the one who has committed the sin. I have done a very wicked thing, but these people are as innocent as sheep. They have certainly not done anything that is wrong. So you should punish me and my family, not these people!”
What did David request of Yahweh when he saw the angel?
David said that he had sinned, and he asked that Yahweh’s hand be against him and his father’s house, not against the people.
2 Samuel 24:18
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:18ULT:
And Gad came to David on that day, and he said to him, “Go up, set up an altar for Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”
UST:
That day Gad came to David and told him, “Go to the place where Araunah the Jebusite threshes grain and build an altar to worship Yahweh there.”
What did Gad the prophet tell David to do? (24:18-20)
Gad told David to go up and set up an altar for Yahweh on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
2 Samuel 24:19
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:19ULT:
So David went up according to the word of Gad, just as Yahweh had commanded.
UST:
So David did what Gad told him to do, which was what Yahweh had commanded, and he went there.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:20
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:20ULT:
And Araunah looked down, and he saw the king and his servants coming over to him. And Araunah went out, and he prostrated himself to the king, his nose to the ground.
UST:
When Araunah looked down and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he came out of his house and lay down on the ground in front of the king {to honor him}, with his face touching the ground.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:21
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:21ULT:
And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
And David said, “To buy from you the threshing floor to build an altar for Yahweh, that the plague may be restrained from against the people.”
UST:
Araunah said, “Your Majesty, may I ask why you have come to me?” David replied, “I have come to buy this ground where you thresh grain. That way I can build an altar here to Yahweh {and offer sacrifices on it} so that he will stop the plague that has been killing so many Israelites.”
What was David’s purpose for going to Araunah?
David wanted to buy the threshing floor to build an altar for Yahweh so that he will stop the plague that has been killing so many Israelites.
2 Samuel 24:22
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:22ULT:
And Araunah said to David, “May my lord the king take and offer up the good in his eyes. See, the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing instruments and the equipment of the oxen for wood.
UST:
Araunah replied to David, “Your Majesty, please offer to Yahweh whatever you wish. You may take the oxen that you see here and use them for an offering that you burn completely on the altar. And you may take their yokes and the boards that I use for the threshing, which you also see here, and you may use them for the wood that you will burn.
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:23
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:23ULT:
Everything, Araunah gives, O king, to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May Yahweh your God be pleased with you.”
UST:
Your Majesty, I, Araunah, hereby give all these things to you.” Then he said, “I hope that Yahweh your God will accept your offering and grant your request.”
(There are no questions for this verse)
2 Samuel 24:24
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:24ULT:
And the king said to Araunah, “No, but buying, I will buy {it} from you for a price. For I will not offer to Yahweh my God burnt offerings for nothing.”
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for silver, 50 shekels.
UST:
But the king said to Araunah, “No, I will not accept these things as a gift. I will pay you for them. I will not take things that have cost me nothing and burn them completely on an altar as offerings to Yahweh.” So David paid 50 shekels of silver to Araunah for the oxen and the ground.
Why did David insist on buying Araunah’s threshing floor for a price?
David insisted on buying it because he would not offer to Yahweh burnt offerings that cost him nothing.
2 Samuel 24:25
unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: 2 Samuel 24:25ULT:
And David built an altar there for Yahweh, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was restrained from against Israel.
UST:
Then David built an altar there to Yahweh. He burned the oxen completely on the altar as an offering. He also offered fellowship sacrifices. Then Yahweh answered David’s prayers for the people of his land, and he ended the plague that had been killing so many Israelites.
How did David stop the plague in Israel?
David built an altar for Yahweh and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then Yahweh answered David’s prayers, and he ended the plague that had been killing so many Israelites.