Study Desk

So the king said to Joab the captain of the army who was with him, "Go through all the families of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. Number the people, so I may know how many there are."

But the king's word was stronger than Joab and the captains of the army. So Joab and the army leaders went out from the king to number the people of Israel.

David's heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So he said to the Lord, "I have sinned. But now I beg you, O Lord. Take away the sin of Your servant, for I have acted like a fool."

So Gad came to David and told him, and said, "Will you have seven years without food in your land? Or will you run from those who hate you for three months, while they come after you? Or will there be disease in your land for three days? Now think about it. Decide what answer I should return to Him Who sent me."

So the Lord sent a disease upon Israel from the morning until the time given. And 70,000 men died, from Dan to Beersheba.

So David went up at Gad's word, just as the Lord had told him.

But the king said to Araunah, "No, I will buy it from you for a price. I will not give burnt gifts to the Lord my God which I do not pay for." So David bought the grain-floor and the bulls for fifty pieces of silver.

And David built an altar there to the Lord. He gave burnt gifts and peace gifts. So the Lord listened to the prayers for the land, and stopped the disease in Israel.

So his servants said to him, "Let a young woman who has never had a man be found for my lord the king. Let her help the king and become his nurse. And let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm."

So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and found Abishag the Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.

Now Haggith's son Adonijah honored himself, saying, "I will be king." So he made war-wagons and horsemen ready for himself, with fifty men to run in front of him.

So now come, let me give you words of wisdom and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.

So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was helping him.

I promised you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place.' And I will even do so this day."

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Let it be so! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so!

So Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down to Gihon. And they brought Solomon with them, on King David's horse.

Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God have set him apart as king in Gihon. They have come up from there filled with joy, so there is much noise in the city. This is the noise you have heard.

So King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. Adonijah came and put his face to the ground in front of King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

"I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong. Show yourself to be a man.

So act with wisdom. Do not let his gray hair go down to the grave in peace.