David&#8217;s power steadily grew, for the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies was with him.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for.<n id="1" />

but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it<n id="1" /> and defeated the Philistines; the <sc>Lordsc> gave them a great victory.<n id="2" />p>

These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> is great and certainly worthy of praise,p> <p class="poetry">he is more awesome than<n id="1" /> all gods.p>

<p class="bodytext">They cast lots to determine their responsibilities &#8211; oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student.<n id="1" />p>

Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.<n id="1" />p>

I was with you wherever you went and I defeated<n id="1" /> all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.<n id="2" />

The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the <sc>Lordsc> with a willing attitude;<n id="1" /> King David was also very happy.<n id="2" />p>

They held a feast<n id="1" /> before the <sc>Lordsc> that day and celebrated.<n id="2" />p> <p class="bodytext">Then they designated Solomon, David&#8217;s son, as king a second time;<n id="3" /> before the <sc>Lordsc> they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest.

But the <sc>Lordsc> said to me:<n id="1" /> &#8216;You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me,<n id="2" /> for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me.

<t /><p class="bodytext">King David said to the entire assembly: &#8220;My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man,<n id="1" /> and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the <sc>Lordsc> God.