Study Desk

Then David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bicri will cause greater disaster for us than Absalom did! Take your lord's servants and pursue him. Otherwise he will secure fortified cities for himself and get away from us."

One of Joab's soldiers who stood over Amasa said, "Whoever is for Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!"

During David's reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the Lord . The Lord said, "It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites."

So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)

David said to the Gibeonites, "What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord 's inheritance?"

The Gibeonites said to him, "We have no claim to silver or gold from Saul or from his family, nor would we be justified in putting to death anyone in Israel." David asked, "What then are you asking me to do for you?"

They replied to the king, "As for this man who exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and left without status throughout all the borders of Israel—

Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day, nor the wild animals by night.

They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin at Zela in the grave of his father Kish. After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land.

In my distress I called to the Lord ; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

For I have obeyed the Lord 's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.

He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.

You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.

My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition.

But evil people are like thorns— all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated,