Study Desk

After David had been living in his palace awhile, he said to Natan the prophet, "Here, I'm living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark for the covenant of Adonai is kept under a tent!"

Natan said to David, "Go, do everything that is in your heart, for God is with you."

I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me; I will not take my grace away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.

What more can David say to you about the honor you are bestowing on your servant? For you know your servant intimately.

Adonai , it is for your servant's sake and in accordance with your own heart that you have done all this greatness and revealed all these great things.

Who can be compared with your people Isra'el? What other nation on earth did God set out to redeem and turn into a people for himself? You made yourself a reputation by doing great and terrifying things, as you drove out the nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt.

For you made your people Isra'el your people forever; and you, Adonai , became their God.

May your name be confirmed and magnified forever; so that it will be said, ‘ Adonai -Tzva'ot is the God of Isra'el and the God for Isra'el, and the dynasty of David your servant will be set up in your presence.'

For you, my God, have disclosed to your servant that you will build him a house. This is why your servant has the courage to pray to you.

and now it has pleased you to bless the family of your servant and thereby cause it to continue forever in your presence. For you, Adonai , have blessed, and it is blessed forever."

David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. He reserved enough horses for 100 chariots and disabled the rest.

he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet and congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadar‘ezer — for Hadar‘ezer had been at war with To‘u — and [he sent] all kinds of articles made of silver, gold and bronze,

David ruled over all Isra'el; he administered law and justice for all his people.

He said, "If Aram is too strong for me, you help me; but if the army of ‘Amon is too strong for you, then I will help you.

Take courage, and let's be strong for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May Adonai do what seems good to him."

It was reported to David; so he gathered all Isra'el together and crossed the Yarden to engage them. David deployed his forces for battle against Aram; and after he had done so, fought them.

David said to God, "I have greatly sinned by doing this. But now, please! Put aside your servant's sin, for I have done a very foolish thing."

David said to Gad, "This is very hard for me. Let me fall into the hand of Adonai , because his mercies are very great, rather than have me fall into the hand of man."

Ornan said to David, "Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. I'm giving you the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing-sledges for firewood and the wheat for the grain offering — I'm giving it all."

But King David said to Ornan, "No; I insist on buying it from you at the full price. I refuse to take what is yours for Adonai or offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing."