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During David's reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the LORD about it, and the LORD said, "Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death."
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(The people of Gibeon were not Israelites; they were a small group of Amorites whom the Israelites had promised to protect, but Saul had tried to destroy them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)
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So David summoned the people of Gibeon and said to them, "What can I do for you? I want to make up for the wrong that was done to you, so that you will bless the LORD's people."
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They answered, "Our quarrel with Saul and his family can't be settled with silver or gold, nor do we want to kill any Israelite." "What, then, do you think I should do for you?" David asked.
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They answered, "Saul wanted to destroy us and leave none of us alive anywhere in Israel.
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So hand over seven of his male descendants, and we will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, the LORD's chosen king." "I will hand them over," the king answered.
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But because of the sacred promise that he and Jonathan had made to each other, David spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul.
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However, he took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul; he also took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai, who was from Meholah.
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David handed them over to the people of Gibeon, who hanged them on the mountain before the LORD ---and all seven of them died together. It was late in the spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest, when they were put to death.
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Then Saul's concubine Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, used sackcloth to make a shelter for herself on the rock where the corpses were, and she stayed there from the beginning of harvest until the autumn rains came. During the day she would keep the birds away from the corpses, and at night she would protect them from wild animals.
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When David heard what Rizpah had done,
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he went and got the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the people of Jabesh in Gilead. (They had stolen them from the public square in Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged the bodies on the day they killed Saul on Mount Gilboa.)
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David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan and also gathered up the bones of the seven men who had been hanged.
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Then they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan in the grave of Saul's father Kish, in Zela in the territory of Benjamin, doing all that the king had commanded. And after that, God answered their prayers for the country.
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There was another war between the Philistines and Israel, and David and his men went and fought the Philistines. During one of the battles David grew tired.
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A giant named Ishbibenob, who was carrying a bronze spear that weighed about seven and a half pounds and who was wearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.
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But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's help, attacked the giant, and killed him. Then David's men made David promise that he would never again go out with them to battle. "You are the hope of Israel, and we don't want to lose you," they said.
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After this there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, during which Sibbecai from Hushah killed a giant named Saph.
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There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath, whose spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom.
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Then there was another battle at Gath, where there was a giant who loved to fight. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.
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He defied the Israelites, and Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shammah, killed him.
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These four were descendants of the giants of Gath, and they were killed by David and his men.
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When the LORD saved David from Saul and his other enemies, David sang this song to the LORD:
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The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress.
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My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. He is my savior; he protects me and saves me from violence.
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I call to the LORD, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the LORD!
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The waves of death were all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me.
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The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me.
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In my trouble I called to the LORD; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.
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Then the earth trembled and shook; the foundations of the sky rocked and quivered because God was angry!
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Smoke poured out of his nostrils, a consuming flame and burning coals from his mouth.
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He tore the sky open and came down, with a dark cloud under his feet.
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He flew swiftly on his winged creature; he traveled on the wings of the wind.
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He covered himself with darkness; thick clouds, full of water, surrounded him;
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burning coals flamed up from the lightning before him.
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Then the LORD thundered from the sky, and the voice of Almighty God was heard.
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He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; with flashes of lightning he sent them running.
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The floor of the ocean was laid bare, and the foundations of the earth were uncovered when the LORD rebuked his enemies and roared at them in anger.
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The LORD reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me out of the deep waters.
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He rescued me from my powerful enemies and from all those who hate me--- they were too strong for me.
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When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the LORD protected me.
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He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.
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The LORD rewards me because I do what is right; he blesses me because I am innocent.
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I have obeyed the law of the LORD; I have not turned away from my God.
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I have observed all his laws; I have not disobeyed his commands.
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He knows that I am faultless, that I have kept myself from doing wrong.
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And so he rewards me because I do what is right, because he knows that I am innocent.
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O LORD, you are faithful to those who are faithful to you, and completely good to those who are perfect.
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You are pure to those who are pure, but hostile to those who are wicked.
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You save those who are humble, but you humble those who are proud.
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You, LORD, are my light; you dispel my darkness.
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You give me strength to attack my enemies and power to overcome their defenses.
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This God---how perfect are his deeds, how dependable his words! He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.
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The LORD alone is God; God alone is our defense.
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This God is my strong refuge; he makes my pathway safe.
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He makes me sure-footed as a deer; he keeps me safe on the mountains.
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He trains me for battle, so that I can use the strongest bow.
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O LORD, you protect me and save me; your help has made me great.
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You have kept me from being captured, and I have never fallen.
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I pursue my enemies and defeat them; I do not stop until I destroy them.
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I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they lie defeated before me.
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You give me strength for the battle and victory over my enemies.
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You make my enemies run from me; I destroy those who hate me.
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They look for help, but no one saves them; they call to the LORD, but he does not answer.
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I crush them, and they become like dust; I trample on them like mud in the streets.
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You saved me from my rebellious people and maintained my rule over the nations; people I did not know have now become my subjects.
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Foreigners bow before me; when they hear me, they obey.
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They lose their courage and come trembling from their fortresses.
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The LORD lives! Praise my defender! Proclaim the greatness of the strong God who saves me!
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He gives me victory over my enemies; he subdues the nations under me
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and saves me from my foes. O LORD, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent men.
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And so I praise you among the nations; I sing praises to you.
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God gives great victories to his king; he shows constant love to the one he has chosen, to David and his descendants forever.
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David son of Jesse was the man whom God made great, whom the God of Jacob chose to be king, and who was the composer of beautiful songs for Israel. These are David's last words:
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The spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his message is on my lips.
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The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: "The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God,
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is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn, the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain."
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And that is how God will bless my descendants, because he has made an eternal covenant with me, an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed. That is all I desire; that will be my victory, and God will surely bring it about.
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But godless people are like thorns that are thrown away; no one can touch them barehanded.
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You must use an iron tool or a spear; they will be burned completely.
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These are the names of David's famous soldiers: the first was Josheb Basshebeth from Tachemon, who was the leader of "The Three"; he fought with his spear against eight hundred men and killed them all in one battle.
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The second of the famous three was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh. One day he and David challenged the Philistines who had gathered for battle. The Israelites fell back,
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but he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand was so cramped that he could not let go of his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. After it was over, the Israelites returned to where Eleazar was and stripped the armor from the dead.
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The third of the famous three was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a field of peas. The Israelites fled from the Philistines,
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but Shammah stood his ground in the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. The LORD won a great victory that day.
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Near the beginning of harvest time three of "The Thirty" went down to Adullam Cave, where David was, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley.
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At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem.
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David grew homesick and said, "How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem!"
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The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the LORD
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and said, " LORD, I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!" So he refused to drink it. Those were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.
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Joab's brother Abishai (their mother was Zeruiah) was the leader of "The Famous Thirty." He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and became famous among "The Thirty."
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He was the most famous of "The Thirty" and became their leader, but he was not as famous as "The Three."
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Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was another famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
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He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man who was armed with a spear. Benaiah attacked him with his club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with it.
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Those were the brave deeds of Benaiah, who was one of "The Thirty."
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He was outstanding among them, but was not as famous as "The Three." David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
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Other members of "The Thirty" included: Asahel, Joab's brother Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem Shammah and Elika from Harod Helez from Pelet Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa Abiezer from Anathoth Mebunnai from Hushah Zalmon from Ahoh Maharai from Netophah Heleb son of Baanah from Netophah Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin Benaiah from Pirathon Hiddai from the valleys near Gaash Abialbon from Arabah Azmaveth from Bahurim Eliahba from Shaalbon The sons of Jashen Jonathan Shammah from Harar Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar Eliphelet son of Ahasbai from Maacah Eliam son of Ahithophel from Gilo Hezro from Carmel Paarai from Arab Igal son of Nathan from Zobah Bani from Gad Zelek from Ammon Naharai from Beeroth, Joab's armorbearer Ira and Gareb from Jattir Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven famous soldiers in all.
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From Paul, Silas, and Timothy--- To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be yours.
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We always thank God for you all and always mention you in our prayers.
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For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.
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Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.
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For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.
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You imitated us and the Lord; and even though you suffered much, you received the message with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.
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So you became an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
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For not only did the message about the Lord go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing, then, that we need to say.
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All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God
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and to wait for his Son to come from heaven---his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God's anger that is coming.
