Study Desk

David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent men to bring him comfort in his sorrow for his father. David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon, to bring him comfort.

They paid for 32,000 war-wagons and for the king of Maacah and his army who came and set up their tents by Medeba. Then the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.

The sons of Ammon came out and were ready for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

Be strong; let us show our strength of heart because of our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what is good in His eyes."

When David was told about it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. He came to them, and made his army ready to fight against them. When David made his army ready for battle, the Syrians fought against him.

Hadadezer's servants saw that they had lost the war against Israel. So they made peace with David and worked for him. The Syrians were not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.

David said to God, "I have sinned very much by doing this thing. But now I beg You, take away the sin of Your servant for I have done a very foolish thing."

David said to Gad, "I am in much trouble. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord. For His loving-kindness is very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man."

David said to him, "Give me this part of the grain-floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. Give it to me for the full price. Then the disease will be turned away from the people."

Ornan said to David, "Take it. Let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. See, I will give the bulls for burnt gifts. I will give the objects made of wood used for beating grain for the fire-wood. And I will give the grain for the grain gift. I will give it all."

But King David said to Ornan, "No, I will buy it for the full price. I will not take what is yours for the Lord. And I will not give a burnt gift for which I do not pay."

So David gave Ornan 600 pieces of gold by weight for the place.

But David could not go in front of it to pray to God. For he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Then David said, "This is the house of the Lord God. And this is the altar of burnt gifts for Israel."

He gave large amounts of iron to be used for making nails for the doors of the gates, and for making the parts that hold it all together. He gave more brass than could be weighed.

And he gave too many cedar trees to number. For the Sidonians and Tyrians brought many cut cedar trees to David.

David said, "My son Solomon is young and does not yet have much learning. And the house that is to be built for the Lord must be very beautiful. It must be very great, and well-known in all lands. So I will get things ready for it to be built." David made many things ready for it before his death.

Then he called for his son Solomon, and gave him the work of building a house for the Lord God of Israel.

He will build a house for My name. He will be My son, and I will be his father. I will make his throne in Israel last forever.'