Study Desk

Then there went [certain], and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards are grown, and [then] return.

And he said, If the Syrians shall be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon shall be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do [that which is] good in his sight.

But Levi and Benjamin he counted not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

And David said to God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

And David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great [are] his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

And David said to God, [Is it] not I [that] commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but [as for] these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be afflicted.

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of [this] threshing-floor, that I may build an altar in it to the LORD: thou shalt grant it to me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Ornan said to David, Take [it] to thee, and let my lord the king do [that which is] good in his eyes: lo, I give [thee] the oxen [also] for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering; I give it all.

And king David said to Ornan, No; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take [that] which [is] thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt-offerings without cost.

So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt-offering, [were] at that season in the high place at Gibeon.

But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Then David said, This [is] the house of the LORD God, and this [is] the altar of the burnt-offering for Israel.

And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;

Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.

And David said, Solomon my son [is] young and tender, and the house [that is] to be built for the LORD [must be] very magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will [therefore] now make preparation for it. So David made abundant preparation before his death.

Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel.

And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God:

Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies around: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.