Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.

Jonadab said to the king, “Look! The king’s sons have come! It’s just as I said!”

Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.

When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him.

Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!”

David said to him, “If you leave with me you will be a burden to me.

Then the army marched out to the field to fight against Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.

You are my brothers – my very own flesh and blood! Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?’

From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.

When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.

He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him.

But King Solomon will be empowered and David’s dynasty will endure permanently before the Lord.”

Ben-Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon’s daughter Taphath.)

Each day Solomon’s royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal,

Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses.

He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.

So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed,

King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all.