Study Desk

Joab saw that the enemy troops would attack him in front and from the rear, so he chose the best of Israel's soldiers and put them in position facing the Syrians.

The Syrians realized that they had been defeated by the Israelites, so they brought troops from the Syrian states on the east side of the Euphrates River and placed them under the command of Shobach, commander of the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah.

Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census.

God was displeased with what had been done, so he punished Israel.

So the Lord sent an epidemic on the people of Israel, and seventy thousand of them died.

David said to him, "Sell me your threshing place, so that I can build an altar to the Lord , to stop the epidemic. I'll give you the full price."

David saw by this that the Lord had answered his prayer, so he offered sacrifices on the altar at Araunah's threshing place.

So David said, "This is where the Temple of the Lord God will be. Here is the altar where the people of Israel are to offer burnt offerings."

He supplied a large amount of iron for making nails and clamps for the wooden gates, and so much bronze that no one could weigh it.

David thought, "The Temple that my son Solomon is to build must be splendid and world-famous. But he is young and inexperienced, so I must make preparations for it." So David got large amounts of the materials ready before he died.

But the Lord told me that I had killed too many people and fought too many wars. And so, because of all the bloodshed I have caused, he would not let me build a temple for him.

And may the Lord your God give you insight and wisdom so that you may govern Israel according to his Law.

Now serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. Start building the Temple, so that you can place in it the Covenant Box of the Lord and all the other sacred objects used in worshiping him."

Shimei had four sons: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah, in order of age. Jeush and Beriah did not have many descendants, so they were counted as one clan.

So there is no longer any need for the Levites to carry the Tent of the Lord 's presence and all the equipment used in worship."

Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and left no descendants, so their brothers Eleazar and Ithamar became priests.

King David commanded all the officials of Israel to assemble in Jerusalem. So all the officials of the tribes, the officials who administered the work of the kingdom, the leaders of the clans, the supervisors of the property and livestock that belonged to the king and his sons—indeed all the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important men—gathered in Jerusalem.

"So now, my people, in the presence of our God and of this assembly of all Israel, the Lord 's people, I charge you to obey carefully everything that the Lord our God has commanded us, so that you may continue to possess this good land and so that you may hand it on to succeeding generations forever."

The people had given willingly to the Lord , and they were happy that so much had been given. King David also was extremely happy.

So that day they were very happy as they ate and drank in the presence of the Lord . For a second time they proclaimed Solomon king. In the name of the Lord they anointed him as their ruler and Zadok as priest.