God's Story: A Narrative Adaptation of the Bible

In the final days of Solomon’s reign, a prophet named Ahijah approached Jeroboam, a Ephraimite from the town of Shechem, as he was returning to his hometown. He took his cloak, tore it into 12 pieces, and said to him, “Take 10 of these pieces for yourself, for Yahweh has torn ten of the tribes of Israel away from Solomon’s line and has given them to you because he worshipped other gods. If you follow the commands of God and do what is right, as David did, Yahweh will be with you and will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one built for David.” When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam went to Shechem where people from all of Israel had gathered to crown him king. There Jeroboam called out to him, “Your father worked us very hard both in the building of the temple as well as in his army. If you are easier on us, we will gladly serve you.” Rehoboam asked for advice from his father’s councilors and they said, “If today you give these people the answer they want they will always be your se...

When David’s army learned of the king’s reaction to the news of Absalom's death their triumphant joy faded away and they snuck back into their camp, not like victors, but with shame as though it had been they that had been defeated. Joab went immediately to David and said, “You have humiliated the men who just fought bravely to save the lives of you and your family. Why do you seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear that we mean nothing to you. Your men believe you would have been happier if Absalom had lived and we had all died. You need to go out there and encourage your men or by tonight you won’t have a single person left loyal to you.” Though David’s sorrow at the loss of his son was immense he took Joab’s advice and showed his support for his soldiers by spending the night among them. But this attempted coup by Absalom would have consequences beyond his death. Throughout the land the people were arguing among themselves over whe...

Near the end of David’s life, his eldest son Amnon committed a terrible abuse against his half-sister Tamar. When David learned of this he was furious, but because it was his eldest son, he did not put him to death as the law of Moses commanded. After two years, Tamar’s brother Absalom decided that he would become the instrument of justice against his hated half-brother. He asked David to have Amnon join him in a field where his sheep were being watched. He gave his brother too much to drink and then had his men kill him. Absalom quickly fled the country fearing what his father would do when he found out. David still loved his Absalom in spite of what he had done, but that kinslaying prevented him from reaching out to his son. Joab could see David’s anguish, so he devised a plan. He sent an old woman to meet with the king and told her what to say. When she arrived, she bowed before the king and said, “Help me, your majesty.” “What is troubling you?” David replied. “I am a widow, ...

As time passed David began to question whether or not he should stay in Gath, so he asked Yahweh, “Should I return to Judah, the land of my fathers?” Yahweh instructed David to settled in the Judean city of Hebron. With their most famous commander returned, the people of Judah soon declared him king of Judah, where he reigned for seven years. During this time, having already married Michal and Abigail, David soon found he desired yet more wives and soon married Ahinoam, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. Except for Michal, each of these wives gave David children: first Ahinoam’s son Amnon, then Abigail’s son Kileab who died at a young age, Maacah’s son Absalom and daughter Tamar, Haggith’s son Adonijah, Abital’s son Shephatiah, and Eglah’s son Ithream. But David didn’t know that Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, had escaped with one of Saul’s sons, Ish-Bosheth, and had crowned him the new king over all of Israel. When the Judeans heard the news they refused to acknowledge h...