Upon learning of Saulâs defeat by the Philistines, David sings a song lamenting the deaths of Saul and his friend, Jonathan. David goes to Hebron, where his followers and the southern tribe of Judah anoint him as king. Meanwhile, Saulâs chief commander, Abner, garners the support of the northern tribes and instates Saulâs son, Ish-Bosheth, as king of Israel. A war ensues between the conflicting regimes, played out in a series of small hand-to-hand contests between Abnerâs men and the army of Joab, Davidâs general.
When Ish-Bosheth falsely accuses Abner of sleeping with one of the royal concubines, Abner defects to Davidâs court. David welcomes Abnerâs support. Abner convinces the other tribes to recognize Davidâs claim to the throne. Joab, however, seeks revenge for his brotherâs earlier death at Abnerâs hands, and he stabs Abner in secret. Davidâs public censure of Joab and mourning for Abner wins Israelâs respect, and two of Ish-Boshethâs men betray their ruler by presenting David with the severed head of the northern king. David is horrified that they have killed an innocent man, and he publicly executes these men. The united tribes declare David king of Israel.
David leads the Israelites in conquering the city of Jerusalem, a Canaanite stronghold lingering in the heart of Israelâs territory. He erects his palace there and calls it âThe City of Davidâ or âZion.â Growing in power, David quells the ever-present Philistine threat in a decisive military victory. With the help of thirty thousand Israelites, David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem in an elaborate procession. Amidst shouting and music, David dances and leaps in front of the Ark, to the embarrassment of his wife Michal. David rebukes her, claiming that he will humiliate himself as much as he wants so long as it pleases God. God is pleased that David has made a permanent home for the Ark and reveals a message to Davidâs prophet, Nathan. God vows to grant Israel rest from foreign opposition and promises that the kingdom of David will last forever. With Joabâs services, David subdues the nations of the surrounding area, expanding Israelâs borders while developing diplomatic relations with the neighboring kingdoms.
One day, David watches a woman bathing from the rooftop of his palace. He summons the woman, Bathsheba, and has sex with her, and the woman becomes pregnant. Unable to disguise his indiscretion, David sends her husband, Uriah, to die on the battlefield. David marries Bathsheba, but Nathan confronts the king about his wrongdoing. Nathan tells a parable about a wealthy man who steals a poor manâs only prized sheep. David is outraged by such selfishness, and Nathan informs David that the parable is about him. Nathan predicts that God will bring calamity on Davidâs household. David repents for his wrongdoing, but, despite his fasting and praying, Bathshebaâs son dies during childbirth. Afterward, David and Bathsheba have another son, Solomon.
Davidâs older son Amnon falls in love with his half-sister Tamar and rapes her.