Study Desk

David asked the Egyptian, "Who is your master? Where do you come from?" The Egyptian answered, "I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. Three days ago I got sick, and my master left me behind.

Then Saul said, ‘Please kill me. I am hurt badly. And I am about to die anyway.'

Then David talked with the young soldier who had told him about Saul's death. David asked, "Where are you from?" The young soldier answered, "I am the son of a foreigner. I am an Amalekite."

This made Abner very angry. He said, "I have been loyal to Saul and his family. I did not give you to David. I am not a traitor working for Judah. But now you are saying that I did this bad thing.

King David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a fancy house made of cedar wood, but God's Holy Box is still kept in a tent!"

And I chose a place for my people, the Israelites. I planted the Israelites. I gave them their own place to live so that they will not have to move from place to place anymore. In the past, I sent judges to lead my people, but evil people gave them many troubles. That will not happen now. I am giving you peace from all of your enemies. I promise that I will make your family a family of kings.

Then King David went in and sat in front of the Lord . David said, "Lord God , why am I so important to you? Why is my family important? Why have you made me so important?

I am nothing but a servant, but Lord God , you have also said these kind things about my future family. Lord God , you don't always talk like this to people, do you?

How can I continue talking to you? Lord God , you know that I am only a servant.

There was a servant named Ziba from Saul's family. David's servants called Ziba to David. King David said to Ziba, "Are you Ziba?" Ziba said, "Yes, I am your servant Ziba."

Mephibosheth bowed to David again and he said, "I am no better than a dead dog, but you are being very kind to me."

He said to King David, "I am your servant. I will do everything that my lord the king commands." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

Later, Bathsheba became pregnant. She sent word to him saying, "I am pregnant."

"This is what the Lord says: ‘I am bringing trouble against you. This trouble will come from your own family. I will take your wives from you and give them to someone who is very close to you. He will have sexual relations with your wives, and everyone will know it!

King David said to her, "What's your problem?" The woman said, "I am a widow. My husband is dead.

But if you go back to Jerusalem, you can disagree with Ahithophel and make his advice useless. Tell Absalom, ‘King, I am your servant. I served your father, but now I will serve you.'

I know that I sinned. That is why today I am the first person from Joseph's family to come down and meet you, my lord and king."

David said, "What should I do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Are you trying to cause me trouble? No one will be put to death in Israel today! Today I know that I am king over Israel."

Mephibosheth answered, "My lord and king, my servant tricked me. I am crippled so I said to my servant, Ziba, ‘Go saddle a donkey for me so that I can go with the king.'

But Barzillai said to the king, "Do you know how old I am? Do you think I can go with you to Jerusalem?