Study Desk

When the king had settled into his palace^(a) and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains."^(b)

So Nathan told the king, "Go and do all that is on your heart, for the Lord is with you."

But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

"Go to My servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build a house for Me to live in?^(c)

From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not lived in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as My dwelling.^(d)

In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked anyone among the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel: Why haven't you built Me a house of cedar?'

"Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel.^(e)

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.^(f)

I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,^(g) so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel.^(h) I will give you rest from all your enemies. "‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you.

When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.⁽ⁱ⁾

He will build a house for My name,^(j) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.^(k)

I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.^(l) When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others.

But My faithful love will never leave him^(m) as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.⁽ⁿ⁾

Your house and kingdom will endure before Me^[a] forever,^(o) and your throne will be established forever.'"^(p)

Nathan spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.

Then King David went in,^(q) sat in the Lord 's presence, and said, Who am I, Lord God , and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

What You have done so far^[b] was a little thing to You, Lord God , for You have also spoken about Your servant's house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^[c] for mankind, Lord God .

What more can David say to You? You know Your servant,^(r) Lord God .

Because of Your word and according to Your will, You have revealed all these great things to Your servant.

This is why You are great,^(s) Lord God . There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You,^(t) as all we have heard confirms.

And who is like Your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for Himself, to make a name for Himself, and to perform for them^[d] great and awesome acts, driving out nations and their gods before Your people You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt.^(u)

You established Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You, Lord , have become their God.^(v)

Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that You have made to Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised,

so that Your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, "The Lord of Hosts is God over Israel." The house of Your servant David^(w) will be established before You

since You, Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, "I will build a house for you." Therefore, Your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to You.

Lord God , You are God; Your words are true, and You have promised this grace to Your servant.

Now, please bless Your servant's house so that it will continue before You forever. For You, Lord God , have spoken, and with Your blessing Your servant's house will be blessed forever.^(x)

After this, David defeated the Philistines,^(a) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^[a] from Philistine control.^[b](b)

He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute.^(c)

David also defeated Hadadezer^(d) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.

David captured 1,700 horsemen^[c] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses^(e) and kept 100 chariots.^[d]

When the Arameans of Damascus^(f) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men.

Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^(g)

David took the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem.^(h)

King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^[e] and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities.

When King Toi of Hamath⁽ⁱ⁾ heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.

King David also dedicated these to the Lord , along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued^(j)—

from Edom,^[f] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.^[h](k)

He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.^(l) The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary;

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;^(m) and David's sons were chief officials.^[i]

David asked, "Is there anyone remaining from Saul's family I can show kindness to because of Jonathan?"^(a)

There was a servant of Saul's family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "I am your servant," he replied.

So the king asked, "Is there anyone left of Saul's family that I can show the kindness of God to?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still Jonathan's son who was injured in both feet."^(b)

The king asked him, "Where is he?" Ziba answered the king, "You'll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel."

So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, bowed down to the ground and paid homage. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "I am your servant," he replied.

"Don't be afraid," David said to him, "since I intend to show you kindness because of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul's fields, and you will always eat meals at my table."

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?"

Then the king summoned Saul's attendant Ziba and said to him, "I have given to your master's grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family.

You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master's grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, is always to eat at my table." Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.

Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do all my lord the king commands." So Mephibosheth ate at David's^[a] table just like one of the king's sons.

Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica.^(c) All those living in Ziba's house were Mephibosheth's servants.

However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king's table. His feet had been injured.

Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.^(a)

Then David said, "I'll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent his emissaries to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, "Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he's showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn't David sent his emissaries in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it?"^(b)

So Hanun took David's emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.^(c)

When this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return."

When the Ammonites realized they had become repulsive to David, they hired 20,000 foot soldiers from the Arameans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 men from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 men from Tob.

David heard about it and sent Joab and all the fighting men.

The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance to the city gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were in the field by themselves.

When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.

He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai who lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

"If the Arameans are too strong for me," Joab said, "then you will be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I'll come to help you.

Be strong! We must prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God.^(d) May the Lord 's will be done."^[a]

Joab and his troops advanced to fight against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the attack against the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.

Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who were across the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer's army, leading them.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans lined up in formation to engage David in battle and fought against him.

But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 700 of their charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.^[b] He also struck down Shobach commander of their army, who died there.

When all the kings who were Hadadezer's subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. After this, the Arameans were afraid to ever help the Ammonites again.