In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead.

<t /><p class="bodytext">When David had settled into his palace,<n id="1" /> he<n id="2" /> said to Nathan the prophet, &#8220;Look, I am living in a palace<n id="3" /> made from cedar, while the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s covenant is under a tent.&#8221;<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars,<n id="1" /> Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.