Study Desk

David knew that the Lord had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

His sons who were born there were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

The Philistines heard that David was now king of Israel, and they came into the hill country to try and capture him. But David found out and went into his fortress.

David and his troops also carried away the idols that the Philistines had left behind.

The chest stayed there for three months, and the Lord greatly blessed Obed Edom, his family, and everything he owned. Then someone told King David, "The Lord has done this because the sacred chest is in Obed Edom's house." Right away, David went to Obed Edom's house to get the chest and bring it to David's City. Everyone was celebrating.

He was dancing for the Lord with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth.

David went home so he could ask the Lord to bless his family. But Saul's daughter Michal went out and started yelling at him. "You were really great today!" she said. "You acted like a dirty old man, dancing around half-naked in front of your servants' slave-girls."

David told her, "The Lord didn't choose your father or anyone else in your family to be the leader of his people. The Lord chose me, and I was celebrating in honor of him.

King David moved into his new palace, and the Lord let his kingdom be at peace.

and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me.

I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents.

Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, "The Lord God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David's descendants are his chosen kings."

David set out for the Euphrates River to build a monument there. On his way, he defeated the king of Zobah, whose name was Hadadezer the son of Rehob.

He left some of his soldiers in Damascus, and the Arameans had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him. Everywhere David went, the Lord helped him win battles.

King Toi of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Toi heard that David had attacked and defeated Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Joram to praise and congratulate David. Joram also brought him gifts made of silver, gold, and bronze.

David sent some servants to bring Jonathan's son from Lo-Debar. His name was Mephibosheth, and he was the grandson of Saul. He came to David and knelt down. David asked, "Are you Mephibosheth?" "Yes, I am, Your Majesty."

David called in Ziba, Saul's chief servant, and told him, "Since Mephibosheth is Saul's grandson, I've given him back everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family.

You and your fifteen sons and twenty servants will work for Mephibosheth. You will farm his land and bring in his crops, so that Saul's family and servants will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat with me at my table."

Ziba replied, "Your Majesty, I will do exactly what you tell me to do." So Ziba's family and servants worked for Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth was lame, but he lived in Jerusalem and ate at David's table, just like one of David's own sons. And he had a young son of his own, named Mica.

Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king.