Study Desk

but the leaders of the people of ‘Amon said to Hanun, "Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending people to comfort you? Haven't his servants come to you in order to look the city over, overthrow it and reconnoiter the land?"

They hired 32,000 chariots, as well as the king of Ma‘akhah with his people, who came and pitched their camp in front of Meidva. Then the people of ‘Amon assembled themselves from their cities and went out to fight.

When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av with his entire army of trained soldiers.

while the rest of the army he put under the command of Avishai his brother to deploy against the army of ‘Amon.

When the people of ‘Amon saw that Aram had fled, they likewise fled before Avishai his brother and retreated into the city. Then Yo'av went to Yerushalayim.

It was reported to David; so he gathered all Isra'el together and crossed the Yarden to engage them. David deployed his forces for battle against Aram; and after he had done so, fought them.

When all Hadar‘ezer's servants saw that they had been defeated by Isra'el, they made peace with David and became his subjects; and Aram would no longer help the people of ‘Amon.

These were sons of the giant in Gat; they fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Yo'av said, "May Adonai make his people a hundred times as many as they are now! But, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants in any case? Why does my lord the king require this? Why should he bring guilt upon Isra'el?"

David said to Gad, "This is very hard for me. Let me fall into the hand of Adonai , because his mercies are very great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man."

God also sent an angel to destroy Yerushalayim, but when he was about to carry out the destruction, Adonai saw it and changed his mind about causing such distress; so he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now withdraw your hand." The angel of Adonai was standing at the threshing-floor of Ornan the Y'vusi.

David raised his eyes and saw the angel of Adonai standing between the earth and the sky, and in his hand was a drawn sword stretched out over Yerushalayim. Then David and the leaders, wearing sackcloth, fell on their faces.

Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. As Ornan was threshing wheat,

David approached Ornan. When Ornan looked and saw David, he went out from the threshing-floor and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground.

Adonai gave an order to the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.

David said, "Shlomo my son is young and inexperienced, while the house to be built for Adonai must be so magnificent and splendid that its fame and glory will be known in every country; so I will make preparations for him." Therefore David made extensive preparations before his death.

Then he summoned Shlomo his son and charged him to build a house for Adonai , the God of Isra'el.

But you will have a son who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies that surround him; for his name is to be Shlomo, and during his reign I will give peace and quiet to Isra'el.

It is he who will build a house for my name. He will be my son and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Isra'el forever.'

May Adonai give you common sense and understanding, and may he give you his orders concerning Isra'el, so that you will observe the Torah of Adonai your God.