David's Wish to Build a House for God-1 Chronicles 17:1-27 7 1 While King David was living in his house, Yahweh gave him peace with all his enemies around him. 2 So the king said to the prophet Nathan, "Look, I'm living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of Elohim remains in the tent."

3 Nathan told the king, "Do everything you have in mind, because Yahweh is with you."

4 But that same night Yahweh spoke his word to Nathan: 5 "Say to my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh says: Are you the one who will build me a house to live in? 6 I haven't lived in a house from the day I took Israel out of Egypt to this day. Instead, I moved around in a tent, the tent of meeting. 7 In all the places I've moved with all the Israelites, did I ever ask any of the judgesb of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people Israel why they didn't build me a house of cedar?'

8 "Now this is what you will say to my servant David: 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name famous like the names of the greatest people on earth. 10 I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will no longer oppress them as they used to do 11 ever since I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. So I will give you peace with all your enemies. I, Yahweh, tell you that Yahweh will make a house for you.

12 "'When the time comes for you to lie down in death with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants, one who will come from you. I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Ab , and he will be my Son. If he sins, I will punish him with a rod and with blows inflicted by people. 15 But I will never stop showing him my love as I did to Saul, whom I took out of your way. 16 Your royal house will remain in my presencea forever. Your throne will be established forever.'"

17 Nathan told David all these words and everything he had seen.

18 King David went into the tent and sat in front of Yahweh. "Who am I, Adonay Yahweh ," he asked, "and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 19 And even this you consider to be a small act, Adonay Yahweh . You've also spoken about the distant future of my house. Adonay Yahweh, this is the teaching about the man.

20 "What more can I, David, say to you, Adonay Yahweh , since you know me so well! 21 You've done this great thing because of your promise and your own desire. You made it known to me.

22 "That is why you are great, Adonay Yahweh . There is no one like you, and there is no other god except you, as we have heard with our own ears. 23 Who is like your people Israel? It is the one nation on earth that Elohim came to free in order to make its people his own, to make his nameb known, and to do great and wonderful things for them. You forcedc nations and their gods out of the way of your people, whom you freed from Egypt to be your own. 24 You created the people of Israel to be your people forever. And you, Yahweh , became their Elohim.

25 "Now, Yahweh Elohim , keep the promise you made to me and my house forever. Do as you promised. 26 Your name will be respected forever when people say, 'Yahweh Tsebaoth is Elohim over Israel.' And the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. 27 You, Yahweh Tsebaoth , Elohim of Israel, have revealed it especially to me, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' That is why I have found the courage to offer this prayer to you.

28 "Adonay Yahweh , you are Elohim , and your words are trustworthy. You promised me this good thing. 29 Now, please bless my house so that it may continue in your presence forever. Indeed, you, Adonay Yahweh , have promised it. With your blessing my house will be blessed forever."

David's Successes-1 Chronicles 18:1-17 8 1 After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took control of the main Philistine city from them.d 2 He also defeated Moab, made the Moabites lie down on the ground, and measured them with a rope. He measured two lengths which were to be killed, and one length which was to be spared. So the Moabites became David's subjects and paid taxes to him.

3 When David went to restore his control over the territory along the Euphrates River, he defeated Zobah's King Hadadezer, son of Rehob. 4 David took 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn't pull chariots.

5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Everywhere David went, Yahweh gave him victories.

7 David took the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer'sa servants, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8 King David also took a large quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities.

9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer's whole army, 10 he sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi.) Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and bronze with him. 11 King David dedicated these articles to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he conquered- 12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the goods taken from Zobah's King Hadadezer, son of Rehob.

13 David made a name for himself by killing 18,000 Edomitesb in the Dead Sea region as he returned to Jerusalem. 14 He put troops everywhere in Edom, and all the Edomites were David's subjects. Everywhere David went, Yahweh gave him victories.

15 So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 16 Zeruiah's son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. 17 Ahitub's son Zadok and Abiathar's son Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal scribe. 18 Jehoiada's son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David's sons were priests.c David Keeps His Promise to Jonathan 9 1 David asked, "Is there anyone left in Saul's family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

2 Now, Saul's family had a servant whose name was Ziba. He was summoned to come to David. "Are you Ziba?" the king asked him.

"Yes, I am," he answered.

3 David asked, "Is there someone left in Saul's family to whom I can show Elohim's kindness?"

"Jonathan has a son who is disabled," Ziba answered.

4 "Where is he?" the king asked.

Ziba replied, "He is at the home of Machir, Ammiel's son, in Lo Debar."

5 So King David sent men to get him from the home of Ammiel's son Machir in Lo Debar. 6 When Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul) came to David, he quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground.

"Mephibosheth!" David said to him.

"Yes, sir," he answered.

7 "Don't be afraid," David told him, "I will certainly show you kindness for your father Jonathan's sake. I will give back to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."

8 Mephibosheth bowed down again and answered, "Who am I that you would look at a dead dog like me?"

9 Then the king called for Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants should farm the land for him and harvest the crops so that your master's family will have food to eat. However, your master's grandson Mephibosheth will always eat at my table." (Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.) 11 Ziba responded, "I will do everything you've commanded, Your Majesty." From then on, Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. Everyone who lived at Ziba's home became Mephibosheth's servant. 13 However, Mephibosheth, who was disabled, lived in Jerusalem. He always ate at the king's table.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram-1 Chronicles 19:1-19 10 1 Later the king of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king in his place. 2 David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun as his father Nahash showed me kindness." So David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his father's death. But when David's servants entered Ammonite territory, 3 the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Hasn't David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it?" 4 So Hanun took David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

5 After David was told what had happened, he sent someone to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return to Jerusalem."

6 The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So they hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah (20,000 foot soldiers), the army of the king of Maacah (1,000 men), and the men of Tob (12,000 men).

7 After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 8 The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. Abishai organized them for combat against the Ammonites.

11 Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for my troops, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your troops, I'll come to help you. 12 Be strong! Let's prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our Elohim , and Yahweh will do what he considers right."

13 Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled. 14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, the Ammonites fled from Abishai and went into the city. So Joab stopped his campaign against the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.

15 Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the Arameans reassembled their troops. 16 Hadadezer sent messengers to get Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. The Arameans came to Helam with Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, leading them.

17 When David was told about this, he assembled Israel's army, crossed the Jordan River, and came to Helam. The Arameans formed a battle line against David's troops and fought him. 18 The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 700 chariot drivers and 40,000 horsemen. David struck Shobach dead.

19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. And the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

David Takes Bathsheba-1 Chronicles 20:1 11 1 In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, his mercenaries, and Israel's army to war. They destroyed the Ammonites and attacked Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem.

2 Now, when evening came, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the royal palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, and she was very pretty. 3 David sent someone to ask about the woman. The man said, "She's Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite." 4 So David sent messengers and took her. She came to him, and he went to bed with her. (She had just cleansed herself after her monthly period.) Then she went home. 5 The woman had become pregnant. So she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant.

6 Then David sent a messenger to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the troops were and how the war was going.

8 "Go home," David said to Uriah, "and wash your feet." Uriah left the royal palace, and the king sent a present to him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace among his superior's mercenaries. He didn't go home.

10 When they told David, "Uriah didn't go home," David asked Uriah, "Didn't you just come from a journey? Why didn't you go home?"

11 Uriah answered David, "The ark and the army of Israel and Judah are in temporary shelters, and my commander Joab and Your Majesty's mercenaries are living in the field. Should I then go to my house to eat and drink and go to bed with my wife? I solemnly swear, as sure as you're living, I won't do this!"

12 David said to Uriah, "Then stay here today, and tomorrow I'll send you back." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 David summoned him, ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But that evening Uriah went to lie down on his bed among his superior's mercenaries. He didn't go home.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, "Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is heaviest. Then abandon him so that he'll be struck down and die."

16 Since Joab had kept the city under observation, he put Uriah at the place where he knew the experienced warriors were. 17 The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of the people, namely, some of David's mercenaries, fell and died-including Uriah the Hittite.

18 Then Joab sent a messenger to report to David all the details of the battle. 19 And he commanded the messenger, "When you finish telling the king about the battle, 20 the king may become angry. He might ask you, 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who killed Jerubbesheth'sa son Abimelech? Didn't a woman on the wall of Thebez throw a small millstone at him and kill him? Why did you go so close to the wall?' If the king asks this, then say, 'Your man Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'"

22 The messenger left, and when he arrived, he reported to David everything Joab told him to say.b 23 The messenger said, "Their men overpowered us and came to attack us in the field. Then we forced them back to the entrance of the city gate. 24 The archers on the wall shot down at your mercenaries, and some of Your Majesty's mercenaries died. Your man Uriah the Hittite also is dead."

25 David said to the messenger, "This is what you are to say to Joab, 'Don't let this thingtrouble you, because a sword can kill one person as easily as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and destroy it.' Say this to encourage him."

26 When Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him. 27 When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But Yahweh considered David's actions evil.

Nathan Confronts David 12 1 So Yahweh sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, "There were two men in a certain city. One was rich, and the other was poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cows, 3 but the poor man had only one little female lamb that he had bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter.

4 "Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared her for the traveler."

5 David burned with anger against the man. "I solemnly swear, as Yahweh lives," he said to Nathan, "the man who did this certainly deserves to die! 6 And he must pay back four times the price of the lamb because he did this and had no pity."

7 "You are the man!" Nathan told David. "This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and rescued you from Saul. 8 I gave you your master Saul's house and his wives. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this weren't enough, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise my word by doing what I considered evil? You had Uriah the Hittite killed in battle. You took his wife as your wife. You used the Ammonites to kill him. 10 So warfare will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

11 "This is what Yahweh says: I will stir up trouble against you within your own household, and before your own eyes I will take your wives and give them to someone close to you. He will go to bed with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did this secretly, but I will make this happen in broad daylight in front of all Israel."

13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh."

Nathan replied, "Yahweh has taken away your sin; you will not die. 14 But since you have shown total contempt for Yahweh by this affair, the son that is born to you must die." 15 Then Nathan went home.

Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife had given birth to for David so that the child became sick. 16 David pleaded with Elohim for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night. 17 The older leaders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling. And he wouldn't eat with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. But David's officials were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought, "While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he wouldn't listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm himself."

19 But when David saw that his officials were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" David asked them.

"Yes, he is dead," they answered.

20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into Yahweh's house and worshiped. Then he went home and asked for food. They placed food in front of him, and he ate.

21 His officials asked him, "Why are you acting this way? You fasted and cried over the child when he was alive. But as soon as the child died, you got up and ate."

22 David answered, "As long as the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, 'Who knows? Yahweh may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But why should I fast now that he's dead? Can I bring him back? Someday I'll go to him, but he won't come back to me."

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. Yahweh loved the child 25 and sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah [The LORD'S Beloved].

David Defeats the Ammonites-1 Chronicles 20:1-3 26 Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammonite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress. 27 So he sent messengers to tell David, "I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply. 28 Gather the rest of the troops, surround the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me."

29 So David gathered all the troops and went to Rabbah. He fought against the city and captured it. 30 He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah's king and put it on his own head. (The crown weighed 75 pounds and contained a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city. 31 He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.

The Rape of Tamar 13 1 After this, David's son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David's son Absalom. 2 Amnon was so obsessed with his half sister Tamar that he made himself sick. It seemed impossible for him to be alone with her because she was a virgin.

3 Amnon had a friend by the name of Jonadab, a son of David's brother Shimea. Jonadab was a very clever man. 4 He asked Amnon, "Why are you, the king's son, so worn out morning after morning? Won't you tell me?"

"I'm in love with Absalom's sister Tamar," he answered.

5 Then Jonadab told him, "Lie down on your bed. Act sick, and when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come to feed me. She can prepare a meal in front of me as I watch her, and she can feed me.'"

6 So Amnon lay down and acted sick, and the king came to see him. Amnon asked the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come and make some bread in front of me, and she can feed me."

7 David sent for Tamar at the palace. "Please go to your brother Amnon's home," he said, "and prepare some food for him."

8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's home. He was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made flat bread in front of him, and cooked it. 9 Then she took the pan and served him the bread. But he refused to eat.

"Have everyone leave me," he said. So everyone left him.

10 Amnon told Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom so that you can feed me."

Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in the bedroom. 11 When she handed it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, Tamar!"

12 "No," she told him, "don't rape me! That shouldn't be done in Israel. Don't do this godless act! 13 Where could I go in my disgrace? And you will be considered one of the godless fools in Israel! Speak to the king. He won't refuse your request to marry me."

14 But Amnon wouldn't listen to her. He grabbed his sister and raped her.

15 Now, Amnon developed an intense hatred for her. His hatred for her was greater than the lust he had felt for her. "Get out of here," he told her.

16 She said to him, "No, sending me away is a greater wrong than the other thing you did to me!" But he wouldn't listen to her.

17 Then he called his personal servant and said, "Get rid of her. Put her out, and bolt the door behind her." 18 (She was wearing a longsleeved gown. The king's virgin daughters wore this kind of robe.) So his servant took her out and bolted the door behind her. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head, tore the longsleeved gown she had on, put her hands on her head, and went away crying.

20 Her brother Absalom asked her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Sister, be quiet for now. He's your brother. Don't dwell on this matter." So Tamar stayed there at the home of her brother Absalom and was depressed.

21 When King David heard about this, he became very angry. But David didn't punish his son Amnon. He favored Amnon because he was his firstborn son.a 22 Absalom wouldn't speak at all to Amnon. He hated Amnon for raping his sister Tamar.

The Murder of Amnon 23 Two years later Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal Hazor near Ephraim. He invited all the king's sons.b 24 Absalom went to the king and said, "Since I have sheepshearers, Your Majesty and your officials are invited to feast with me."

25 "No, Son," the king answered Absalom. "If we all go, we'll be a burden to you." Even when Absalom continued to urgec him, David did not want to go, though he did give Absalom his blessing.

26 So Absalom said, "If you won't go, then please let my brother Amnon go with us."

"Why should he go with you?" the king asked him. 27 But when Absalom urged him, he let Amnon and all the rest of the king's sons go with him.

28 Then Absalom gave an order to his servants. "Watch now," he said. "When Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I'll tell you, Attack Amnon.' Then kill him. Don't be afraid. I've given you the order, haven't I? Be strong and courageous."

29 Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled. 30 While they were on their way, David heard this rumor: "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not a single one is left." 31 The king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing beside him with their clothes torn to show their grief.

32 Then Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimea, said, "Sir, don't think that all the young men, all the king's sons, have been killed. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom decided to do this the day his half brother raped his sister Tamar. 33 You shouldn't burden your heart with the idea that all the king's sons are dead, Your Majesty. Only Amnon is dead. 34 Absalom has fled."

When the servant who kept watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road beside the mountain west of him. 35 Then Jonadab told the king, "The king's sons have come. It's just as I said." 36 When he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived and cried loudly. The king and all his men also cried very bitterly.

37 Absalom, however, fled to Geshur's King Talmai, Ammihud's son. But the king mourned for his son Amnon every day. 38 Absalom, having fled to Geshur, stayed there three years. 39 King David began to long for Absalom once people had consoled him over Amnon's death.

Absalom Returns to Jerusalem 14 1 Joab, Zeruiah's son, knew the king was still thinking about Absalom. 2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to get a clever woman from there. He told her, "Please act like a mourner, and dress in mourning clothes. Don't rub olive oil on yourself,a but act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3 Go to the king, and tell him this. . ." Then Joab told her exactly what to say.

4 The woman from Tekoa cameb to the king and immediately bowed down with her face touching the ground. "Help me, Your Majesty," she said.

5 The king asked her, "What can I do for you?"