Study Desk

He will build a house for My name, and I will build the throne of his nation to last forever.

What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God.

For this reason You are great, O Lord God. There is none like You. And there is no God but You, by all that we have heard with our ears.

What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel. God went to make them free to be His people and to make a name for Himself. You did a great thing for Yourself and great things for Your land. You did them before Your people whom You have made free from Egypt, from nations and their gods.

For You have made for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever. O Lord, You have become their God.

For You, O Lord of All, the God of Israel, have shown this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.' So Your servant has found strength of heart to pray this prayer to You.

So now may it please You to bring good to the house of Your servant, that it may last forever before You. For You have spoken, O Lord God. May Your good come to the family of Your servant forever."

David took 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. He cut the legs of some of the war-wagon horses, but saved enough of them for 100 war-wagons.

So David ruled all of Israel. He did what was right and good and fair for all his people.

David said to him, "Do not be afraid. For I will be sure to show kindness to you because of your father Jonathan. I will return to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will eat at my table always."

Again Mephibosheth put his face to the ground and said, "Who am I? Why should you care for a dead dog like me?"

You and your sons and your servants will grow food on the land for him. You will bring in the food so your owner's grandson may eat. But Mephibosheth your owner's grandson will always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king's table. Both his feet had been hurt and he could not walk.

When David heard about it, he sent men to meet them, for they were very ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces. Then return."

Now when the sons of Ammon saw that they had become hated by David, they paid for the help of the Syrians of Beth-rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers. And they paid for the help of the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and 12,000 men of Tob.

The sons of Ammon came to the city gate and got ready for battle. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and behind him. So he chose all the best men of Israel and dressed them for battle against the Syrians.

He put the rest of the people under the rule of his brother Abishai. He dressed them for battle against the sons of Ammon.

Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians dressed themselves for battle against David, and fought against him.