Study Desk

Who then is like thy people Israel, a nation alone in the earth, - whom God went to redeem, to be his own people, to make for thyself a name for great and fearful things, to drive out, nations, from before thy people, whom thou didst redeem out of Egypt;

and didst appoint thy people Israel for thyself as a people, unto times age-abiding, - thou thyself, also, O Yahweh, becoming their God?

For, thou, O my God, hast unveiled the ear of thy servant, that thou wilt build for him a house, - for this cause, hath thy servant found it in his heart to pray before thee.

Now, therefore, let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be unto times age-abiding before thee, - for, thou O Yahweh, hast blessed, and it is to be blessed unto times age-abiding.

he sent Hadoram his son unto King David, to ask after his welfare, and to bless him, because he had made war against Hadarezer and had smitten him, for, a man making wars against Tou, had been Hadarezer, - and he had with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and bronze;

So David reigned over all Israel, - and he was executing justice and righteousness for all his people;

Then said David - I will show lovingkindness unto Hanun, son of Nahash, - for his father shewed unto me lovingkindness. So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father, - and the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, to console him.

Then said the rulers of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, Doth David honour thy father in thine eyes, that he hath sent to thee comforters? Is it not, for the sake of exploring and overthrowing, and spying out the land, that his servants have come to thee?

And, when the sons of Ammon saw, that they had made themselves odious with David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire for themselves - out of Mesopotamia, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah, - chariots, and horsemen.

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah, and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba, - and the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and entered into the war.

And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for the battle, at the opening of the city, - whereas, the kings who had come, were by themselves, in the field.

And he said - If, too strong for me, be the Syrians, then shalt thou come to my help, - but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I help thee.

Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, - and let, Yahweh, do, what is good in his own eyes.

And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and crossed the Jordan, and came unto them, and set in array against them, - and, when David had set in array against the Syrians for battle, they fought with him.

But, Levi and Benjamin, counted he not among them, - for detestable was the word of the king unto Joab.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing, - but, now, I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant, for I have shown myself very foolish.

Choose thee: - Whether, for three years, there be famine, Or, for three months, that thou flee before thine adversaries, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee, Or, for three days, the sword of Yahweh, and pestilence be in the land, with, the messenger of Yahweh, laying waste throughout all the boundary of Israel, - Now, therefore, see, what, answer, I shall return unto him that sent me.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait, - Oh let me fall, I pray thee, into the hand of Yahweh, for abounding are his compassions, exceedingly, but, into the hand of man, let me not fall.

And David said unto Ornan, Grant me the place of the threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar, unto Yahweh, - for silver in full, shalt thou grant it me, that the plague may be stayed from off the people.

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do what is good in his own eyes, - see! I have given the oxen for ascending-sacrifices, and, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for a meal-offering, - the whole, have I given.