Study Desk

And who is like Your people Israel-the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself, to make a name for Yourself through great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt?

For You have made Your people Israel Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

For You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him. Therefore Your servant has found the courage to pray before You.

So now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."

David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and to bless him for fighting against Hadadezer and defeating him. For Tou and Hadadezer had been at war. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze,

Thus David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people:

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, "Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?"

When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba while the Ammonites came from their cities and marched out for battle.

The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country.

"If the Arameans are too strong for me," said Joab, "then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight."

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him.

Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."

David answered Gad, "I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."

Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted."

Ornan said to David, "My lord the king may take whatever seems good. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering-I will give it all."

"No," replied King David, "I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold for the site.