Shmuel Bet (II Samuel) is the second part of Sefer Shmuel, the third book of Neviim (the Prophets). It tells of the reign of David, from the death of Shaul (Saul) to David's old age.
David laments Shaul and his son Yonatan (Jonathan), who fell on the Gilboa. He is anointed king over Yehudah (Judah) in Chevron (Hebron) and reigns there seven years and six months. Meanwhile Avner (Abner), Shaul's commander, makes Shaul's son Ish-Boshet king over the other shevatim (tribes). The war between the two houses ends after Yoav (Joab) kills Avner and two of Ish-Boshet's officers murder their king. Then all the shevatim come to Chevron and anoint David king over all Yisrael.
King David takes the fortress of Tziyon (Zion) from the Yevusi (Jebusites) and makes Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) his city. He brings up the Aron (Ark) of Hashem with great joy, after Uzzah dies for touching it. In perek 7 David wants to build a house for Hashem, and Natan (Nathan) the navi tells him that Hashem will build a house for David instead. His son will build the house for Hashem's name, and David's throne will stand forever (the root of the belief that the mashiach will come from the house of David). David defeats the Pelishtim (Philistines), Moav, Aram, Edom and Ammon.
Then David takes Bat-Sheva (Bathsheba) and sends her husband Uriyah (Uriah) the Chiti (Hittite) to battle, where he is killed. Natan rebukes him, David admits that he has sinned against Hashem, and Natan tells him that the sword will not leave his house. Amnon violates his sister Tamar, and Avshalom (Absalom) kills Amnon. Later Avshalom rebels, and David flees Yerushalayim, until Yoav kills Avshalom in battle and David mourns his son. On David's return Sheva ben Bichri leads the men of Yisrael away from him, and a wise woman ends the revolt.
The last four perakim tell of the famine for Shaul's wrong against the Givonim (Gibeonites), David's shirah (song) of thanks, his last words, his gibborim (mighty warriors), and the census and plague. The plague ends at the altar David builds on the threshing floor of Aravnah (Araunah). Shmuel Bet has twenty-four perakim; two of its passages are haftarot: 6:1–7:17 for Parshat Shemini, and perek 22 for Parshat Haazinu and the seventh day of Pesach.