2 Samuel 21:1-14
New International Version
The Gibeonites Avenged
21 During the reign of David, there was a famine(A) for three successive years; so David sought(B) the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
2 The king summoned the Gibeonites(C) and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”(D)
4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”(E)
“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.
5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed(F) before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen(G) one.”
So the king said, “I will give them to you.”
7 The king spared Mephibosheth(H) son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath(I) before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,(J) whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.(K) 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death(L) during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.(M)
10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.(N) 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul(O) and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead.(P) (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan,(Q) where the Philistines had hung(R) them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)(S) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela(T) in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,(U) God answered prayer(V) in behalf of the land.(W)
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 21:8 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and Septuagint manuscripts Michal
1 Chronicles 21:1-6
New International Version
David Counts the Fighting Men(A)
21 Satan(B) rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census(C) of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count(D) the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
3 But Joab replied, “May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over.(E) My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel(F) there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him.
2 Samuel 24:10-14
New International Version
10 David was conscience-stricken(A) after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned(B) greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.(C)”
11 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad(D) the prophet, David’s seer:(E) 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”
13 So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three[a] years of famine(F) in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague(G) in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
14 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy(H) is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 24:13 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 21:12); Hebrew seven
1 Chronicles 21:7-13
New International Version
7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
9 The Lord said to Gad,(A) David’s seer,(B) 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”
11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: 12 three years of famine,(C) three months of being swept away[a] before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword(D) of the Lord(E)—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy(F) is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 21:12 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Samuel 24:13) of fleeing
2 Samuel 24:15-17
New International Version
15 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.(A) 16 When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented(B) concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord(C) was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
17 When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,[a] have done wrong. These are but sheep.(D) What have they done?(E) Let your hand fall on me and my family.”(F)
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 24:17 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have the shepherd.
1 Chronicles 21:14-17
New International Version
14 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.(A) 15 And God sent an angel(B) to destroy Jerusalem.(C) But as the angel was doing so, the Lord saw it and relented(D) concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying(E) the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah[a] the Jebusite.
16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.(F)
17 David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd,[b] have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep.(G) What have they done? Lord my God, let your hand fall on me and my family,(H) but do not let this plague remain on your people.”
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 21:15 Hebrew Ornan, a variant of Araunah; also in verses 18-28
- 1 Chronicles 21:17 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see 2 Samuel 24:17 and note); Masoretic Text does not have the shepherd.
2 Samuel 24:18-25
New International Version
David Builds an Altar(A)
18 On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah(B) the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. 20 When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.
21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”(C)
22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen(D) for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 Your Majesty, Araunah[a] gives(E) all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”
24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”(F)
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels[b](G) of silver for them. 25 David built an altar(H) to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer(I) in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 24:23 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts King Araunah
- 2 Samuel 24:24 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19
New International Version
David Builds an Altar
18 Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor(A) of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord.
20 While Araunah was threshing wheat,(B) he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground.
22 David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.”
23 Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.”
24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
25 So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels[a] of gold for the site. 26 David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire(C) from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
27 Then the Lord spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29 The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon.(D) 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
22 Then David said, “The house of the Lord God(E) is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
Preparations for the Temple
2 So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners(F) residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters(G) to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God. 3 He provided a large amount of iron to make nails for the doors of the gateways and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed.(H) 4 He also provided more cedar logs(I) than could be counted, for the Sidonians and Tyrians had brought large numbers of them to David.
5 David said, “My son Solomon is young(J) and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor(K) in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.
6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build(L) a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart(M) to build(N) a house for the Name(O) of the Lord my God. 8 But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars.(P) You are not to build a house for my Name,(Q) because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace(R) and rest,(S) and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,[b](T) and I will grant Israel peace and quiet(U) during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name.(V) He will be my son,(W) and I will be his father. And I will establish(X) the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’(Y)
11 “Now, my son, the Lord be with(Z) you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. 12 May the Lord give you discretion and understanding(AA) when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 13 Then you will have success(AB) if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws(AC) that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.(AD) Do not be afraid or discouraged.
14 “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents[c] of gold, a million talents[d] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.(AE) 15 You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters,(AF) as well as those skilled in every kind of work 16 in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen(AG) beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”
17 Then David ordered(AH) all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest(AI) on every side?(AJ) For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. 19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.(AK) Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 21:25 That is, about 15 pounds or about 6.9 kilograms
- 1 Chronicles 22:9 Solomon sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for peace.
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 3,750 tons or about 3,400 metric tons
- 1 Chronicles 22:14 That is, about 37,500 tons or about 34,000 metric tons
Psalm 30
New International Version
Psalm 30[a]
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt(A) you, Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths(B)
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.(C)
2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,(D)
and you healed me.(E)
3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;(F)
you spared me from going down to the pit.(G)
4 Sing(H) the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;(I)
praise his holy name.(J)
5 For his anger(K) lasts only a moment,(L)
but his favor lasts a lifetime;(M)
weeping(N) may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.(O)
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”(P)
7 Lord, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,(Q)
I was dismayed.
Footnotes
- Psalm 30:1 In Hebrew texts 30:1-12 is numbered 30:2-13.
- Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
- Psalm 30:7 That is, Mount Zion
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