Study Desk

Then, even a brave man with the heart of a lion will melt because all Israel knows that your father and the valiant men with him are warriors.

Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, because they dared not be seen entering the city.

"You must not go!" the people pleaded. "If we have to flee, they will not pay any attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not pay any attention to us because you are worth 10,000 of us. Therefore, it is better if you support us from the city."

Afterward, Joab blew the ram's horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab restrained them.

Joab replied to him, "You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but today you aren't taking good news, because the king's son is dead."

That day's victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, "The king is grieving over his son."

All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: "The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies, and he rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord 's anointed?"

All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king's or been honored at all?"

Now Amasa was writhing in his blood in the middle of the highway, and the man had seen that all the people stopped. So he moved Amasa from the highway to the field and threw a garment over him because he realized that all those who encountered Amasa were stopping.

During David's reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord . The Lord answered, "It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family when he killed the Gibeonites."

David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between David and Jonathan, Saul's son.

Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they shook because He burned with anger.

He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

David's conscience troubled him after he had taken a census of the troops. He said to the Lord , "I have sinned greatly in what I've done. Now, Lord , because I've been very foolish, please take away Your servant's guilt."

David answered Gad, "I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the Lord 's hands because His mercies are great, but don't let me fall into human hands."

"Show loyalty to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your table because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

The Lord will bring back his own blood on his head because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, without my father David's knowledge. With his sword, Joab murdered Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.

However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the Lord 's name had not been built.

The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there because it was the most famous high place. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on that altar.