<p class="bodytext">&#8220;So now, say this to my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd<n id="1" /> to make you leader of my people Israel.

He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third.<n id="1" /> The Moabites became David&#8217;s subjects and brought tribute.<n id="2" />

He placed garrisons throughout Edom,<n id="1" /> and all the Edomites became David&#8217;s subjects. The <sc>Lordsc> protected David wherever he campaigned.

<p class="bodytext">So they informed David, &#8220;Uriah has not gone down to his house.&#8221; So David said to Uriah, &#8220;Haven&#8217;t you just arrived from a journey? Why haven&#8217;t you gone down to your house?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">In those days Ahithophel&#8217;s advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation.<n id="1" /> Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.<n id="2" />p>

Now send word quickly to David and warn him,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Don&#8217;t spend the night at the fords of the desert<n id="2" /> tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over,<n id="3" /> or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">These are the names of David&#8217;s warriors:p> <p class="bodytext">Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers.<n id="1" /> He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.<n id="2" />