Study Desk

So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel had made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah).

Then the Gibeonites said to him, "For us it is not a matter of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put anyone to death in Israel." Nevertheless David said, "I will do for you whatever you say."

Now when the Philistines were at war with Israel again, David went down, and his servants with him; and when they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, "You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel."

Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck and killed Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant.

And there was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

"He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down With thick darkness under His feet.

"The LORD has treated me in accordance with my righteousness; In accordance with the cleanliness of my hands He has repaid me.

"So the LORD has repaid me in accordance with my righteousness, In accordance with my cleanliness before His eyes.

"With the one who is faithful You show Yourself faithful, With the blameless one You prove Yourself blameless;

With the one who is pure You show Yourself pure, But with the perverted You show Yourself astute.

"For You have encircled me with strength for battle; You have forced those who rose up against me to bow down under me.

"Is my house not indeed so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Properly ordered in all things, and secured; For will He not indeed make All my salvation and all my delight grow?

Instead, the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, And they will be completely burned with fire in their place."

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there to battle and the men of Israel had withdrawn.

And he killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

So the king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, "Roam about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people."

Then David went up in accordance with the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.

Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with garments, but he could not keep warm.

The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not become intimate with her.