Study Desk

The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by the Lord 's battle cry, by the powerful breath from his nose.

For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.

He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!"

The Lord 's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.

he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it seemed stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.

Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three.

He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

The king told Joab, the general in command of his army, "Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the size of the army."

David said to Gad, "I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord , for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!"

When the angel extended his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was killing the people, "That's enough! Stop now!" (Now the Lord 's angel was near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.)

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching him, he went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground.

Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David replied, "To buy from you the threshing floor so I can build an altar for the Lord , so that the plague may be removed from the people."

His servants advised him, "A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king's needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm."

Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, "I will be king!" He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.

(Now his father had never corrected him by saying, "Why do you do such things?" He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.)

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the king's servants.

But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon.

So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)