Study Desk

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you.

therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord , have blessed and are blessed forever."

David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him,

and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you.

Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him."

So Joab and the troops who were with him advanced toward the Arameans for battle; and they fled before him.

But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly."

Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord , for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands."

Then Ornan said to David, "Take it; and let my lord the king do what seems good to him; see, I present the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. I give it all."

But King David said to Ornan, "No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

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

For the tabernacle of the Lord , which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon;

but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord .

Then David said, "Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel."

David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God.

David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing,

and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David.

For David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.