Study Desk

Three years of famine? Or three months of running away from the armies of your enemies? Or three days during which the Lord attacks you with his sword and sends an epidemic on your land, using his angel to bring death throughout Israel? What answer shall I give the Lord ?"

Then he sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but he changed his mind and said to the angel, "Stop! That's enough!" The angel was standing by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.

David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people—all of whom were wearing sackcloth—bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.

There at the threshing place Araunah and his four sons were threshing wheat, and when they saw the angel, the sons ran and hid.

As soon as Araunah saw King David approaching, he left the threshing place and bowed low, with his face touching the ground.

The Lord told the angel to put his sword away, and the angel obeyed.

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

He sent for his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for the Lord , the God of Israel.

He did, however, make me a promise. He said, ‘You will have a son who will rule in peace, because I will give him peace from all his enemies. His name will be Solomon, because during his reign I will give Israel peace and security.

He will build a temple for me. He will be my son, and I will be his father. His dynasty will rule Israel forever.'"

David continued, "Now, son, may the Lord your God be with you, and may he keep his promise to make you successful in building 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.

When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

His oldest son, Amram, was the father of Aaron and Moses. (Aaron and his descendants were set apart to be in charge of the sacred objects forever, to burn incense in the worship of the Lord , to serve him, and to bless the people in his name.

but Eleazar died without having any sons, only daughters. His daughters married their cousins, the sons of Kish.

These were the descendants of Levi, by clans and families, every one of them registered by name. Each of his descendants, twenty years of age or older, had a share in the work of the Lord 's Temple.

David said, "The Lord God of Israel has given peace to his people, and he himself will live in Jerusalem forever.

The descendants of Eleazar and of Ithamar took turns drawing lots. Then they were registered by Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite secretary. The king, his officials, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of the priestly families and of the Levite families, were all witnesses.

The head of each family and one of his younger brothers drew lots for their assignments, just as their relatives, the priests descended from Aaron, had done. King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites were witnesses.

All of his sons played cymbals and harps under their father's direction, to accompany the Temple worship. And Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under orders from the king.