Weekly Recap #14 - II Samuel 11 thru I Kings 9

Don't you just love reading about David? 

Although David sinned.....he was still considered a man "after God's own heart". 

I'm so glad that God doesn't look at my outward appearance.....or what goes on in my mind sometimes.....but He looks at my heart!!!

Let's get started....here are some high-lights of things that stood out to me during this week's reading.....

~~~It was spring of the year and David was supposed to be at war, but he chose Joab and the army to go and fight and he stayed behind in Jerusalem.  Late one afternoon David was on the rooftop of the palace and he saw Bathsheba taking a bath.....he sent for her and slept with her.  She had just completed the purification ritual after having her menstrual period. Later....she discovered she was pregnant and sent a messenger to David to tell him.  Now....here's why scripture told us about her period....this was to show that the baby couldn't have been her husband, Uriah's....only David's....because Uriah was off at war!!!

So...David sent for Uriah....and tried to trick him into going home from battle so that he would sleep with

Bathsheba and Uriah would think the baby was his....but Uriah refused to go home to "wine and dine and sleep with my wife" while all the other men were living in tents and sleeping in open fields.  David sent a letter to Joab, the commander of the Israelite army, to put Uriah on the front lines of battle....and Uriah was killed.

Bathsheba mourned for her husband....but when the mourning period was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace and she became one of his wives.

BUT THE LORD.....was very displeased with what David had done!!!

Now....if David had been where he was supposed to have been.....at war with his men....he wouldn't have been tempted by Bathsheba!!!

~~~David and Bathsheba's child died.....he comforted her....slept with her....and she became pregnant and gave birth to Solomon.

~~~Three of David's children make up this next story.....Absalom, Amnon and Tamar.

Absalom and Tamar were full brother and sister....and Amnon was their half brother.

Now....Amnon became sexually obsessed with Tamar.  She was a virgin....and she was all that Amnon could think about.   Finally.....Amnon raped Tamar then hated her and sent her away.  She stayed with her brother Absalom....who swore revenge on Amnon.

~~~Two years later, during sheep shearing time, Absalom prepared a feast for his  brothers.  He gave his men instructions to get Amnon drunk, then kill him.....which they did.  Then, the other brothers fled...and Absalom escaped.  David mourned for Amnon.

~~~Absalom was very handsome.  He cut his hair only once a year....and only then because it was so heavy.  The weight of it was 5 lbs.  He had 3 sons and one daughter who was named Tamar (just like his sister).

~~~Finally, Absalom met with his father, David.....but one of my commentaries said this was a very formal meeting....since David kissed Absalom, and there was no other show of emotion....no hugging, or weeping....only a formal kiss.

(this reminded me of Judas' kiss of betrayal to Jesus)

~~~After the meeting, Absalom started revolting against David and turning people against his father by turning their hearts toward himself.  He sent secret messengers to all the tribes of Israel to start up a rebellion against David.  When David found out that all of Israel had joined Absalom, he and his men left Jerusalem....leaving his concubines behind to guard the palace.  Absalom slept with his father's concubines in a tent on the rooftop for all to see.

~~~Absalom's army continued to fight with David's army and during the battle, Absalom came upon some of David's men.  As he tried to escape on his mule, he rode underneath the thick branches of a tree and his hair got caught in the tree and his mule kept going.  As Absalom was left dangling in the branches, Joab took 3 daggers and plunged them into Absalom's heart.  Then, 10 of Joab's armor bearers surrounded Absalom and killed him.  David wept and grieved over his son's death.

~~~The Philistines once again battled with the Israelites.  During this battle there were 4 Philistine giants killed.  One of the giants had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot.  One of the 4 giants was a brother to Goliath.

~~~David gave a final farewell address which was his final public expression of worship to God as king.

~~~David grew old and couldn't keep warm....so his advisers found a young virgin to lay with him and keep him warm.  Her name was Abishag.

~~~Adonijah, David's son....decided to declare himself king, but David had his son by Bathsheba....Solomon....anointed king instead....as was God's plan.  When Adonijah heard the news, he was afraid of Solomon and pleaded for king Solomon to not kill him.  David gave final instructions to Solomon regarding certain men who had served David....then David died after being king for 40 years.

~~~Adonijah asked Bathsheba to request from Solomon to allow him to marry Abishag....since Abishag was part of David's "harem"....this was actually a plot by Adonijah to take over the throne from Solomon....so Adonijah was put to death since he had not held up his promise to not interfere with Solomon's reign.

~~~The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream asking him what he would ask God for.  Since Solomon chose wisdom....the Lord also blessed him with riches and fame.

~~~Two prostitutes came to king Solomon to have an argument settled.  They lived together and both had given birth within 3 days of each other.  One of the women rolled over on her baby and it died....so she took the son of the other woman and gave her the dead baby as she slept.  King Solomon ordered the baby be cut in half and divided between the women....the mother who cried "no"....to let the other woman have the baby....he knew was the real mother.

~~~Solomon got together a huge labor force to build the Lord's Temple.  The stones used in the construction were finished at the quarry so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site.

(I thought this was so interesting.  I felt it was an act of respect to try to build the temple with the least noise as possible)

It took 7 years to build the Temple.

~~~The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the Temple....and Solomon prayed to the Lord and he and all the people of Israel dedicated the Temple to the Lord.

Here are some interesting facts regarding the daily food required for Solomon's palace:

150 bushels of flour

300 bushels of meal

10 oxen from the fattening pens

20 pasture fed cattle

100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer and poultry!!!

Now...that's a lot of food!!!

Hope each of you had a good time reading this week.  Since we've started reading in Kings....the chapters are much longer....and it's taking a bit longer to read each day....especially, as I try to take notes as I go along!!! 

Did any of you get something out of this week's scripture that I might have overlooked?

If so....leave me a comment....let me know!!!

Blessings to you!!!

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!