--- title: "2 Samuel: Summary & All 24 Chapters · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/ description: "The Second Book of Samuel, a royal history in 24 chapters. Bp. Challoner’s summary of all 24 chapters, and the full text free." --- Old Testament # The Second Book of Samuel The Second Book of Samuel is the tenth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 24 chapters and 694 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 2 Kings. [Start reading: 2 Samuel 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/1/) Chapters 1–24: [1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/1/) … [24](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/24/) ## About 2 Samuel About 2 Samuel · Royal history The second book of Samuel follows David's reign: the capture of Jerusalem, God's promise of an everlasting dynasty, and then the long ruin that flows from David's sin against Uriah and his wife. It is anonymous, continuous with the first book, and unsparing toward its hero — the king's crimes and their consequences are told at full length. It was written to record both the covenant with David's house, on which all messianic hope rests, and the truth that no king in Israel stood above the law of God. *2 Samuel in Bless* | | | |---|---| | Testament | Old Testament — book 10 of 46, 10 of 73 in the Bible | | Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) | | Chapters | 24 | | Verses | 694, as Bless numbers them | | In the Douay-Rheims | 2 Kings | | Latin | Clementine Vulgate, 23 of 24 chapters | | Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 24 chapters · 34 notes | | Catechism | 6 paragraphs cite it | Chapter by chapter ## All 24 chapters, *in brief.* Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text. 1. ### [2 Samuel 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/1/) 27 verses David mourneth for the death of Saul and Jonathan: he ordereth the man to be slain who pretended he had killed Saul. 2. ### [2 Samuel 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/2/) 32 verses David is received and anointed king of Juda. Isboseth the son of Saul reigneth over the rest of Israel. A battle between Abner and Joab. 3. ### [2 Samuel 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/3/) 39 verses David groweth daily stronger. Abner cometh over to him: he is treacherously slain by Joab. 4. ### [2 Samuel 4](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/4/) 12 verses Isboseth is murdered by two of his servants. David punisheth the murderers. 5. ### [2 Samuel 5](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/5/) 25 verses David is anointed king of all Israel. He taketh Jerusalem, and dwelleth there. He defeateth the Philistines. 6. ### [2 Samuel 6](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/6/) 23 verses David fetcheth the ark from Cariathiarim. Oza is struck dead for touching it. It is deposited in the house of Obededom: and from thence carried to David's house. 7. ### [2 Samuel 7](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) 29 verses David's purpose to build a temple is rewarded with the promise of great blessings in his seed: his prayer and thanksgiving. 8. ### [2 Samuel 8](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/8/) 18 verses David's victories, and his chief officers. 9. ### [2 Samuel 9](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/9/) 13 verses David's kindness to Miphiboseth for the sake of his father Jonathan. 10. ### [2 Samuel 10](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/10/) 19 verses The Ammonites shamefully abuse the ambassadors of David: they hire the Syrians to the their assistance: but are overthrown with their allies. 11. ### [2 Samuel 11](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/11/) 27 verses David falleth into the crime of adultery with Bethsabee: and not finding other means to conceal it, causeth her husband Urias to be slain. Then marrieth her, who beareth him a son. 12. ### [2 Samuel 12](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/12/) 31 verses Nathan's parable. David confesseth his sin, and is forgiven: yet so as to be sentenced to most severe temporal punishments. The death of the child. The birth of Solomon. The taking of Rabbath. 13. ### [2 Samuel 13](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/13/) 38 verses Ammon ravisheth Thamar. For which Absalom killeth him, and flieth to Gessur. 14. ### [2 Samuel 14](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/14/) 33 verses Joab procureth Absalom's return, and his admittance to the king's presence. 15. ### [2 Samuel 15](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/15/) 37 verses Absalom's policy and conspiracy. David is obliged to flee. 16. ### [2 Samuel 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/16/) 23 verses Siba bringeth provisions to David. Semei curseth him. Absalom defileth his father's wives. 17. ### [2 Samuel 17](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/17/) 29 verses Achitophel's counsel is defeated by Chusai: who sendeth intelligence to David. Achitophel hangeth himself. 18. ### [2 Samuel 18](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/18/) 33 verses Absalom is defeated, and slain by Joab. David mourneth for him. 19. ### [2 Samuel 19](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/19/) 43 verses David, at the remonstrances of Joab, ceaseth his mourning. He is invited back and met by Semei and Miphiboseth: a strife between the men of Juda and the men of Israel. 20. ### [2 Samuel 20](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/20/) 26 verses Seba's rebellion. Amasa is slain by Joab. Abela is besieged, but upon the citizens casting over the wall the head of Seba, Joab departeth with all his army. 21. ### [2 Samuel 21](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/21/) 22 verses A famine of three years, for the sin of Saul against the Gabaonites, at whose desire seven of Saul's race are crucified. War again with the Philistines. 22. ### [2 Samuel 22](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/22/) 51 verses King David's psalm of thanksgiving for his deliverance from all his enemies. 23. ### [2 Samuel 23](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/23/) 39 verses The last words of David. A catalogue of his valiant men. 24. ### [2 Samuel 24](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/24/) 25 verses David numbereth the people: God sendeth a pestilence, which is stopt by David's prayer and sacrifice. Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries Coming up ## Read at *Mass.* From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 2 Samuel is read at the principal Mass on 3 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings: | Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation | |---|---|---|---| | [Sun, Dec 20, 2026](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2026/12/20/) | Fourth Sunday of Advent | First Reading | [2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) | | [Thu, Dec 24, 2026](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2026/12/24/) | Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | [2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) | | [Fri, Mar 19, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/03/19/) | St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary | First Reading | [2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) | | [Fri, Dec 24, 2027](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2027/12/24/) computed | Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent | First Reading | [2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) | | [Sat, Jan 22, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/01/22/) computed | Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children | First Reading | [2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/1/) | | [Mon, Jan 24, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/01/24/) computed | St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | [2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/5/) | | [Thu, Jan 27, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/01/27/) computed | Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | [2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/7/) | | [Fri, Jan 28, 2028](https://blessbible.app/calendar/2028/01/28/) computed | St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | [2 Samuel 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17](https://blessbible.app/bible/2-samuel/11/) | Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish. [Previous book The First Book of Samuel](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-samuel/) [Next book The First Book of Kings](https://blessbible.app/bible/1-kings/)