People of the World where are you going? Turn back to God! Back to your faithful principles!
PAYING PENALTY FOR BLOODY DEEDS
Paying Penalty For Bloody Deeds. The king said to him, “Do as he has said. Strike him down and bury him, so that you may remove from me and from my father’s house the innocent blood which Joab shed.
A FOOLISH AND FATAL PETITION
A Foolish And Fatal Petition. So now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.” He said, “Please speak to King Solomon, for he will not refuse you; ask that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.”
DAVID’S INSTRUCTIONS TO SOLOMON
David’s Instructions to Solomon. When David’s time to die approached, he gave instructions to Solomon his son, saying, “I am going the way of all the earth [as dust to dust]. Be strong and prove yourself a man.
NATHAN AND BATHSHEBA BEFORE DAVID
Nathan and Bathsheba Before David. While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
DAVID’S CENSUS A PROUD HEART HUMBLED
David’s Census A Proud Heart Humbled. So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan [in the north] to Beersheba [in the south], and conduct a census of the people, so that I may know the number of the people.”
ONE HEAD SAVES MANY
One Head Saves Many. Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people [to inform them of the agreement]. And they beheaded Sheba the son of Bichri and threw his head [down] to Joab. So he blew the trumpet [signaling the end of the attack], and they dispersed from the city, every man to his own tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem to [David] the king.
THE REBELLION OF SHEBA
The Rebellion of Sheba. There happened to be there a worthless and wicked man named Sheba the son of Bichri, a Benjamite. He blew a trumpet [to call Israel to revolt] and said, “We have no portion in David And no inheritance in the son of Jesse, Every man to his tents, O Israel!”
BRINGING THE KING BACK, DAVID RETURNS TO JERUSALEM
Bringing The King Back, David Returns To Jerusalem. Then King David sent word to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house [in Jerusalem], since the word of all Israel has come to the king, and to his house?
JOAB REBUKES DAVID MOURNING TOO LATE
Joab Rebukes David Mourning Too Late. Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have put all your servants to shame who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and concubines.
DAVID HEARS OF ABSALOM’S DEATH
David Hears of Absalom’s Death. The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom [my son] safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all those who rise against you to do evil, be [dead] like that young man is.”