Study Desk

He trains me for war so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.

You cleared a path for my feet so that I could walk without stumbling.

They looked for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to the Lord , but he did not answer them.

He is the God who punishes my enemies for me, the one who puts people under my rule.

The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me, ‘Whoever rules people fairly, who rules with respect for God,

Next, there was Eleazar son of Dodai who was there with David when he challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites ran away,

David was thirsty for some water from his hometown, so he said, "Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem."

David said, " Lord , I cannot drink this water. It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives for me." This is why David refused to drink the water. The Three Heroes did many brave things like that.

Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai from Beeroth (Naharai carried the armor for Joab son of Zeruiah);

It took them nine months and 20 days for them to go through the country. After nine months and 20 days they came back to Jerusalem.

David felt ashamed after he had counted the people and said to the Lord , "I have sinned greatly in what I did! Lord , I beg you, forgive me for my sin. I have been very foolish."

So Gad went to David and said to him, "Choose one of these three: seven years of famine for you and your country, being chased by your enemies for three months, or three days of disease in your country. Think about it, and decide which one you want. I must give your answer to the one who sent me."

Araunah said to David, "My lord and king, you can take anything you want for a sacrifice. Here are some oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing boards and the yokes for the wood.

But the king said to Araunah, "No! I must pay you for everything. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver.

Then David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. The Lord answered his prayer for the country. He stopped the disease in Israel.

So they said to him, "We will find a young woman to care for you. She will lie next to you and keep you warm."

So the king's servants began looking everywhere in the country of Israel for a beautiful young woman to keep the king warm. They found a young woman named Abishag, from the town of Shunem, and brought her to the king.

She was very beautiful. She cared for the king and served him, but King David did not have sexual relations with her.

So Bathsheba went in to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag, the girl from Shunem, was caring for him there.

Bathsheba bowed down before the king. The king asked, "What can I do for you?"