2 Samuel 13-14 David's family fall apart. One son rapes his sister, another son murders the rapist, and David seems entirely unable to bring himself to punish anyone. The consequences of sin are severe.

2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 20 David, at the height of his reign as king, falls into sin. He commits adultery and murder and has his sin exposed by the prophet Nathan.

2 Samuel 8-10; 1 Chronicles 18-19 King David destroys his enemies and fulfills his promise to Jonathon. The reign of David is at a high point as he extends his control over all the enemies that surround him.

2 Samuel 5-8, 1 Chronicles 11:4-9; 12-17 David finally rules from his throne, first in Hebron, then in Jerusalem. The City of David becomes the City of David, the ark comes to its home, and David is given a covenant that will bear his name and echo throughout history.

1 Chronicles 11, 2 Samuel 2-4 With the death of Saul, David makes a claim to the throne. Ishbosheth and Abner stand in the way for a while. For two years, Civil War rages between the houses of David and Saul. Way too many people get stabbed in the stomach. Way too many. Seriously.

1 Samuel 29-2 Samuel 1; 1 Chronicles 10 The saga of David and Saul comes to an end. David gets out of a fight he wants no part of, then has to rescue his family from raiders. Saul falls in battle, joining Samuel in death just as was promised. After 40 years, Israel's first king is dead.

1 Samuel 26-28 Once more David confronts Saul with a chance to kill him, but he doesn't take it. David flees to Gath, offering his services to a pagan king. Saul, facing a Philistine army, consults an old friend through the services of a medium. God's plan to place David on the throne follows a rather strange path, but the end is in sight for Saul.

1 Samuel 23-25- David takes his men and flees from place to place in the wilderness, narrowly avoiding the murderous intent of Saul. Along the way David takes two new wives, one as a result of an insult from a fool.

1 Samuel 21-22; 2 Samuel 23:8-17 David has had enough of spears and assassins and makes his break with King Saul. He makes his way to the priests at the Tabernacle, with terrible consequences, and then to Gath, then to a cave and a wood. He is a man on the run and Saul is deadly in pursuit.

1 Samuel 18:10-20:42 The victorious David goes from success to success in Israel, but a violently jealous king plots his downfall.