Study Desk

David said, "Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son." He sent some officials to Ammon to tell Hanun how sorry he was that his father had died. But when David's officials arrived at Ammon,

They were terribly ashamed. When David found out what had happened to his officials, he sent a message that told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then you can come home."

Thirty-two thousand troops, as well as the king of Maacah and his army, came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonite troops also left their towns and came to prepare for battle.

David heard what was happening, and he sent out Joab with his army.

Then he put his brother Abishai in command of the rest of the army and told them to fight against the Ammonites.

Joab told his brother, "If the Syrians are too much for me to handle, come and help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I'll come and help you.

Joab and his soldiers attacked the Syrians, and the Syrians ran from them.

Later, David himself went to Rabbah, where he took the crown from the statue of their god Milcom. The crown was made of seventy-five pounds of gold, and there was a valuable jewel on it. David put the jewel on his crown, then carried off everything else of value.

David and his soldiers killed these three men from Gath who were descendants of the Rephaim.

But David would not change his mind. And so Joab went everywhere in Israel and Judah and counted the people. He returned to Jerusalem

Araunah and his four sons were threshing wheat at the time, and when they saw the angel, the four sons ran to hide.

Just then, David arrived, and when Araunah saw him, he stopped his work and bowed down.

So David paid Araunah six hundred gold coins for his threshing place.

David built an altar and offered sacrifices to please the Lord and sacrifices to ask his blessing. David prayed, and the Lord answered him by sending fire down on the altar.

When David saw that the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered more sacrifices there at the threshing place,

David sent for his son Solomon and told him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel.

But when your son becomes king, I will give him peace throughout his kingdom. His name will be Solomon, because during his rule I will keep Israel safe and peaceful.

Solomon will build my temple. He will be like a son to me, and I will be like a father to him. In fact, one of his descendants will always rule in Israel."

Solomon, my son, I now pray that the Lord your God will be with you and keep his promise to help you build a temple for him.

May he give you wisdom and knowledge, so that you can rule Israel according to his Law.