Then King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests saying, “Tell the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back to his palace, ¹  when everything Israel is saying has come to the king’s attention. ² 

I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I ¹  taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I ²  continue to be a burden to my lord the king?

I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. ¹  I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!

David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!” ¹ 

God will severely judge Abner ¹  if I do not do for David exactly what the Lord has promised him, ² 

So David sent a message to Joab that said, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David.

He instructed the messenger as follows: “When you finish giving the battle report to the king,

Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry. ¹ 

Then the king told the woman, “Go to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation.” ¹ 

But Absalom said, “Call for ¹  Hushai the Arkite, and let’s hear what he has to say.” ² 

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; ¹  he took notice of my blameless behavior. ² 

When David got up the next morning, the Lord had already spoken ¹  to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

Gad went to David and told him, “Shall seven ¹  years of famine come upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide ²  what I should tell the one who sent me.”

(He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” ¹  Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) ² 

The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, ¹  he ²  killed him on the spot ³  for his negligence. ⁴  He died right there beside the ark of God.

The king said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.”

Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true! ¹ 

He placed garrisons throughout Edom, ¹  and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.

So the Lord sent Nathan ¹  to David. When he came to David, ²  Nathan ³  said, ⁴  “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!’