Thematic Bible: Loyal


Thematic Bible



Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue. Abishai 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. We do not want to lose you! They said. Verse ConceptsNot Extinguishing

The people cried loudly as David's followers left. The king crossed Kidron Brook. His men followed him. They went to the wilderness. Verse ConceptsValleysTemporary Stay In The Wilderness

They answered Joshua: All that you command us we will do. Wherever you send us we will go. Just as we listened to Moses in all things, we will listen to you in all things. May Jehovah your God be with you, as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your commandment, and does not listen to your words in all that you command him must be put to death. Be strong and of a good courage.

All the people understood and approved of everything the king did. That day all the people of Israel knew the king was not responsible for killing Ner's son Abner.

David went up the slope of the Mount of Olives. He was barefoot and crying. He covered his head to show his sorrow. Everyone with him was crying. They covered their heads too. Verse ConceptsBarefeetHead coveringSelf PitySuffering, Emotional Aspects OfVeilsWeepingShoes

You must not go with us, they answered. It will not make any difference to the enemy if the rest of us turn and run. It will not matter even if half of us are killed. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It will be better if you stay here in the city and send us help. Verse ConceptsValuesTens Of ThousandsPeople HelpingHalf Of GroupsGreat IndividualsWorth

All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king. Verse ConceptsAgreeing For GoodMaking Kings

David asked: Why were you not afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy Jehovah's (YHWH) anointed king? Verse ConceptsThe Lord's AnointedKilling KingsWhy Do You Do This?

He told his men: Stop talking foolishly. We are not going to attack Saul. He is my king. I pray that Jehovah will keep me from doing anything to harm his chosen king. David stopped his men by saying this to them. He did not let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went out onto the road. Then David got up and left the cave. He called to Saul: My lord! When Saul looked back. David knelt down with his face touching the ground. read more.
David asked Saul: Why do you listen to rumors that I am trying to harm you? Today you saw how Jehovah handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you I spared you. I said: 'I will not raise my hand against my lord because you are Jehovah's anointed.'

David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai the brother of Joab: Who will go to Saul's camp with me? I will, Abishai answered. David and Abishai entered Saul's camp at night. They found Saul sleeping in the center of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were sleeping around him. Abishai said to David: God put your enemy in your power tonight. Let me plunge his own spear through him and pin him to the ground. I will do it with just one blow. I will not have to strike twice! read more.
But David said: Do not harm him! Jehovah will certainly punish whoever harms his chosen king. By the living God Jehovah, David declared, I know that Jehovah will kill Saul, either when his time comes to die a natural death or when he dies in battle. Jehovah forbid that I should try to harm the one Jehovah anointed to be king. Just take his spear and his water jar and go. David took the spear and the water jar from beside Saul's head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw it or knew what happened. No one woke up. They were all sound asleep, because Jehovah sent a heavy sleep on them all. Then David crossed over to the other side of the valley. He went to the top of the hill a great distance away. David shouted to Saul's troops and to Abner: Abner! Can you hear me? Who is calling to the king? Abner asked. David answered, Abner, are you the greatest man in Israel? Why are you not protecting your master, the king? Someone entered the camp to kill your master. You failed in your duty, Abner! I swear by the living God Jehovah all of you deserve to die. You have not protected your master, whom Jehovah made king. Look for the king's spear? Where is the water jar that was near his head?

The man told Joab: Even if I felt the weight of twenty pounds of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king's son. We heard the order the king gave you, Abishai, and Ittai. Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. Would you have stood by me if I did something treacherous to him? There is nothing hidden from the king. You would turn against me.

David grew homesick. He said: I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate at Bethlehem! The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp. They then drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. He poured it out as an offering to Jehovah.

Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar: Ahithophel advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do one thing. But I advised them to do something else. Quickly send messengers to tell David: 'Do not rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert. Make sure you cross the river. Otherwise Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.'

In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple. He made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash and gave them the following orders: When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace. One third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. The other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards. read more.
The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king. You are to guard King Jehoash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed. The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him, those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty. He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple. He stationed the men with drawn swords all around the front of the Temple, to protect the king. Then Jehoiada led Joash out and placed the crown on his head. He gave him a copy of the laws governing kingship. Then Jehoash was anointed and proclaimed king. The people clapped their hands and shouted: Long live the king!

In those days, while Mordecai was seated at the king's gate two of the king's servants, Bigthan and Teresh, keepers of the gate, being angry, looked for a chance to attack King Ahasuerus. Mordecai had knowledge of their purpose and sent word of it to Esther the queen. Esther gave the news to the king in Mordecai's name. It was investigated and found to be true. The two men were put to death by hanging on a tree: and it was recorded in the records before the king.

Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him: You have made your soldiers ashamed! They saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and wives as well. You are more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. You show your officers and soldiers that they do not mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive even if the rest of us were dead.

Barzillai was a very old man. He was eighty years old. He was very rich. He supplied the king with food while he was staying at Mahanaim. Verse ConceptsAbundance, MaterialPeople ProvidingWealthy People

Rachel and Leah asked: Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father's house? Are we not accounted as foreigners by him? He sold us and also utterly consumed the price paid for us. For all the riches that God took away from our father belong to us and to our children. Do what God told you to do.