Study Desk

Be strong and courageous! Let's fight hard for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord 's will be done!"

King Hadadezer sent for the Syrians who were on the east side of the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam under the command of Shobach, commander of the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah.

When Bathsheba heard that her husband had been killed, she mourned for him.

One day a visitor arrived at the rich man's home. The rich man didn't want to kill one of his own animals to fix a meal for him; instead, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal for his guest."

For having done such a cruel thing, he must pay back four times as much as he took."

You sinned in secret, but I will make this happen in broad daylight for all Israel to see.'"

But because you have shown such contempt for the Lord in doing this, your child will die."

David got up from the floor, took a bath, combed his hair, and changed his clothes. Then he went and worshiped in the house of the Lord . When he returned to the palace, he asked for food and ate it as soon as it was served.

"We don't understand this," his officials said to him. "While the child was alive, you wept for him and would not eat; but as soon as he died, you got up and ate!"

Now gather the rest of your forces, attack the city and take it yourself. I don't want to get the credit for capturing it."

He was so much in love with her that he became sick, because it seemed impossible for him to have her; as a virgin, she was kept from meeting men.

and emptied them out of the pan for him to eat, but he wouldn't. He said, "Send everyone away"—and they all left.

Then Amnon was filled with a deep hatred for her; he hated her now even more than he had loved her before. He said to her, "Get out!"

The servant put her out and locked the door. Tamar was wearing a long robe with full sleeves, the usual clothing for an unmarried princess in those days.

And Absalom hated Amnon so much for having raped his sister Tamar that he would no longer even speak to him.

"No, my son," the king answered. "It would be too much trouble for you if we all went." Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in, and he asked Absalom to leave.

But Absalom kept on insisting until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king

Absalom fled and went to the king of Geshur, Talmai son of Ammihud, and stayed there three years. David mourned a long time for his son Amnon;

but when he got over Amnon's death, he was filled with longing for his son Absalom.

so he sent for a clever woman who lived in Tekoa. When she arrived, he said to her, "Pretend that you are in mourning; put on your mourning clothes, and don't comb your hair. Act like a woman who has been in mourning for a long time.