David finished his poem of praise and gratitude for God.
Chapter 23 begins with David's last song.
David had three fighting men - sort of like the original Three Musketeers - who were fierce and did mighty works against the enemies of David. One killed 800 men at one time. The other two were like the first. Once while David was in a stronghold he was thirsty and wanted water. The only water available was under enemy control. So the three broke through enemy lines got to the well and brought David back some water. Instead of drinking it he poured it on the ground as a sacrifice to God to honor the bravery of the men.
There were 30 warriors led by Joab's brother Abishai who killed 300 men with his spear. He was as famous as the three. Another man named Benaiah did some amazing things. He killed 2 of Moab's best fighters and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. He also killed a giant Egyptian with his own spear. Neither of these men were part of the 30. The list of men who were part of the 30 ends with Uriah the Hittite, the man David set up to be killed so he could marry Bathsheba.
Again, the Lord became angry with Israel. He gave David the impression that all the fighting men in Israel should be counted. David instructed Joab and all the army commanders to go all throughout Israel and count how many could serve in the army. Joab asked why David wanted them counted, but David didn't answer. So they counted all the fighting men in Israel. It took 9 months and 20 days. There were 800,000 fighting men in Israel, and 500,000 in Judah.
After the count, David felt guilty and asked God to forgive him. Before the night was over the prophet Gad told David what God had said. God would give him three ways to be punished: 1. Seven years of famine. 2. Their enemies would chase them for 3 months. 3. Three days of horrible disease. David didn't want to be punished by men, so he chose #3. The lord sent an angel to spread disease through the land. 70,000 people died in Israel. When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, God felt sorry for the people and stopped him. David saw the angel killing the people and he asked God why they were being punished, since he was the one who had sinned.
Tomorrow finish 2Samuel read 1Kings 1-2:18
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