September 19, 2025 • 55 mins
Chapter 23 of Heroes in the Bible: David with Dr. Tony Evans is inspired by 2 Samuel 8-10.
Strength & Love - David rises to a new level of power, influence, and favor. He truly is living like a man after God’s own heart… But sin is always lurking in the shadows, awaiting a moment to strike.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Romans 15:13, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Learn more about Dr. Tony Evans at https://tonyevans.org/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be
sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so
you get the newest episodes right as they come out.
Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:20):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
expands the power of Israel with alarming speed. He establishes
the small nation of former slaves into the most powerful
nation in the region. David serves up justice to the
corrupt nations, liberates the oppressed nations, and elevates the poor nations.
(00:43):
The Giant Slayer is world famous and it is impossible
for him to be forgotten. This episode has a few
battles that give us some epic fights. David even faces
another giant, but there are also some tender and emotional
moments in this episode. David the Warrior and David the
Poet interchained seamlessly and we get to witness compelling acts
(01:04):
of love and kindness. We will also get to meet
another character, in this episode a boy who has remained
hidden from David for fear of his life. However, the
two of them will share a bond unlike anything since Jonathan.
This boy will bring out some of David's best qualities
and remind us that for all of the King's bloody conquests,
(01:24):
he is still a tender poet at heart. This episode
will be longer than any we've had before, but for
good reason. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story.
See what David sees and feel what David feels. In
Episode twenty three, Strength and Love.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Prelude to chapter twenty three, Wake Up. The nurse maid
cried out, Prince, Wake up. Prince Methhabisheth woke up to
his panic nurse maids shaking him awake.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We don't have much time. We need to get you
to safety.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Mephibischev, only five years old, did not know what to
make of the pandemonium. The nurse maid put on his clothes,
grabbed his hand, and escorted him out of his home.
They ran out into the second floor, overlooking the city.
Mephibischef saw flames in the distance, red hues engulfed the horizon,
and the skies were painted black from the smoke.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
What is happening, the young child said, where are we going?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
The Philistines have overtaken the borders of Israel. Your father
and grandfather have fallen, and there is no one to protect.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Us, she yelled. Mephibischef tugged away at his nurse maid's
hand and began to cry.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
My father is dead, he yelled, where is my mother?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
There is no time. We must get you away from
here before the Philistines come.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
No, the young prince cried, no, no, I want my father.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Jonathan is dead.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The nursemaid shouted.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Come with me if you don't want to die either.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
She picked up the crying boy and began to run
down the stairs leading into the courtyard. Methhibisheth tugged and
cried to be released. Out of panic, he threw himself
out of her arms and tumbled down the stairs. He
cried out in intense pain. The nurse maid ran down
to him. She looked down at his legs. Both feet
were completely broken. She held him helplessly as the five
(03:26):
year old boy wailed in pain.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
I want my father, he cried out.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I know, she whispered in his ear. Stroking the back
of his hair. I know the son of Jonathan and
grandson of Saul, whimpered in her arms. Plumes of smoke
blocked out the sun, and all hope seemed lost for
the little Prince Chapter twenty three. Strength and love. All
(03:54):
feared and respected his name. There was not a king
or commander in the East that did not tremble when
they heard he was marching up against them. David's name
had stretched past the hill country of the Philistines all
the way into Moab in Syria. No evil nation was
safe as long as David resided on the throne of Jerusalem.
Yet even so they tried to take hold of Israel
(04:15):
and make them captive again. Kings tried and failed to
take hold of cities on the borders of Israel. They
wanted to posture themselves against David and proved their strength.
They shouted and clamored, they roared and raved, But the
King of Israel would not flinch. In just a few years,
as King David had lived up to the name giant slayer.
(04:36):
First it was the Philistines, the age long foe of
God's people, seized the borderlands of Israel. The families of
farmers and herdsmen were either cast out or taken as slaves.
The Philistines spited David and as God by oppressing the people.
David leaned over the table of meeting. Across from him
was Joab. The two of them discussed marching up to
(04:58):
defend the borders, but David had another idea.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
No matter how many times we've defended ourselves, they continue
to attack us, David said. They take hold of our cities,
we drive them out, and then they repeat the process.
The king shook his head and sighed, the fence is
not working. It is time we show them our true strength.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Joe Ab perked up and gave David a curious look.
David did not smile. He maintained his intense gaze at
the map and pointed to a spot in the heart
of Philistine land metheg Amah, he said in the Philistine's
native language, otherwise known as Gath. David rolled back his
shoulders and drove a blade through the map.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
We will march towards Gath and hit them in the heart.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Days later, they marched past the borders of Israel to
the Philistine city of Gath. David looked up at the
jagged hills leading down to the city. He remembered fleeing
to Gath when he was running from Saul. Akish king
had given him a safe haven when he and his
men were in need. However, that bond was severed when
the Philistines continued to attack them. Up until now, David
(06:09):
had shown mercy by not marching against their territory, but
too much Hebrew blood had been spilled at the hand
of the Philistines. They advanced to the borders of Gath.
David stood in front of his men with the sword
of Goliath strapped to his back. He took it out
and looked at it. He had carried it for so
long that it seemed more like his sword now. David
(06:30):
remembered it being heavier when he first used it, Yet
now the weight seemed comfortable, like an extension of his
own arms. He looked down at the city and waved
for his men to begin their attack. What followed was
an all out conquest of the city. David did not
only defeat the Philistine guards, but he also subdued the capital.
(06:51):
The wicked people of Gath would no longer be able
to raise up armies. The harm the people of Israel.
But David would have no more slaughter, no more he
At the hand of these uncircumcised dogs, they would learn
to fear the Lord and think twice before marching against
his children. The second nation to feel the scorn of
David was Moab. The bond he shared with Moab through
(07:14):
his great grandmother Ruth, was severed by years of betrayal.
The Moabites were at odds with Israel, seeking to conquer
land close to them. David would not allow the Moabites
to press up against Israel, especially when their king was
not a man of his word. They were a rising
nation that was growing in both number and wickedness. David
(07:35):
knew he had to make a decision regarding the Moabites.
Would he shrink back and wait for them to attack,
or would he establish the nation of Israel as a
people not to be trifled with. After careful planning, David
chose to march. Moab was inundated with the armies of David.
They broke down their gates with battering rams and set
(07:56):
fire to the temples of their false gods. David entered
in with strength, and all trembled at the sight of him.
Although David was not a brutal man. He understood the
culture of the Moabites. For years, they had brutally slaughtered
surrounding nations, putting their heads on pikes, and sacrificing children
to their gods. A simple defeat would not resonate with them.
(08:18):
David needed to send a clear message of strength. After
they conquered the army of Moab, David rode in on
horseback and had the Moabites sat in three lines lying
on the ground. He scanned the crowd.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
You and now under the rule of Israel, he said,
we have shown ourselves more than capable of utterly destroying
your city. If we chose, we could burn it to
the ground. However, we will not, for we believe in
a God of mercy. I also know your works and
(08:52):
your predisposition to violence. Perhaps this will send a clear
message to you.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To his men, and two of the three lines of
Morabite soldiers were put to death. Screams and whales echoed
throughout the valley and blood soaked the ground below. Only
one line was spared.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
You may return to your homes and recover what you
have lost.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
David said to the remaining survivors.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
However, we will expect tributes from you. If you do
your diligence to pay, we will spare you and take
care of your borders. Perhaps many years from now we
can live in peace.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
With each other. The next people that challenged David were
the Syrians. The Syrians were divided into two kingdoms, Zoba
and Damascus. Both had their boots on the throats of
surrounding villages, preventing trade from coming in through the Euphrates River.
David knew that if he could gain power over the
Euphrates River, he could open up trade for Israel and
(09:55):
other small nations. It would be a great economic success
for them and the poor nations of the East. David
was reminded of God's promise to Abraham so many years ago,
when he said.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Unto thy seed, I have given this wad from the
river of Egypt under the great river, the River Euphrates.
The Euphrates is promised to our people.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He said to the elders, if we.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Can take power over it, we can bless the world.
God knows we would be good stewards of the river,
so I am confident he will give us favor against
the Syrians. The elders agreed, so David marched to go
take hold of the river. The first kingdom to come
against him was Zoba, led by King had A Deezer.
(10:43):
Had A Dezer was a power hungry and bloodthirsty king
bent on maintaining his oppressive grip over the surrounding land.
He arrogantly marched up against David, posturing with tens of
thousands of men. However, David knew just where to hurt
the most, direct all of your folks, on horsemen and chariots.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
He said to his foot soldiers, be swift on your.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Feet and aim low at the legs.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
So off they went. The two armies converged in the middle.
Determined to gain the upper hand, David led from the front,
lighting past the soldiers and taking out the horsemen. The
armies of Israel rampaged against the Syrians, successfully taking a
one thousand, seven hundred horsemen, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and
one hundred chariots. David's ferocity in battle was a thing
(11:31):
to behold. Many soldiers stood back and watched as the
king maneuvered through the battlefield. He was like a poet,
his sword the ink and the battlefield his marchment. King
had Adezer was outmatched and called for reinforcements from Damascus.
Thousands of soldiers came to the battlefield seeking to overwhelm David. However,
(11:51):
they barely came close to winning. Twenty two thousand more
Syrians died on the battlefield that day. An overwhelming torrent
of it was displayed. Similarly to the Moabites, the Syrians
were made subjects of Israel, paying tribute to them for
safety and economic stability. The Euphrates was now controlled by Israel,
(12:13):
and David opened up trade for the other nations, freeing
the chokehold the Syrians had on the region. TOI, the
King of Hamath was grateful for the victory David had
over the Syrians. For many years, the Syrians had oppressed
and slaughtered the people of Hamath. King Toy sent his
son Joram to bring gifts of silver, gold, and bronze
(12:34):
to David as the thanks. David received it with humility
and offered the entire gift up to the Lord. All
the spoils of war were given as an offering to
the Lord, either dedicated for the priests or as a
gift to the poor. David kept very little wealth for himself.
He did not build more palaces or plant more gardens.
He knew that the victory he gained was from the Lord,
(12:57):
and to the victor go the spoils. The entire continent
knew once and for all that David was the king
elevated by God, and no one would defeat him, no
one from the outside. That is. David sat on the
rooftop of his palace, looking down at the city below, Jerusalem,
(13:18):
the City of David, a symbol of God's favor on
his reign as king. The radiance of the setting sun
warmed the evening, painting it in a candescent orange. It
was a beautiful sight to behold. Israel was now a
strong and noble fortress for God's people. However, peace came
at a great price, particularly to David's body. The king
(13:41):
leaned back and drew a deep breath, his body ached
from months of battle. His recent victories were sweet, but
there was a tinge of bitterness in every one of them.
Before he was king, he dreamed of fighting and ruling
alongside Jonathan, his friend and brother in arms. He was
a constant source of ancouragement and love in his life, and
(14:02):
he missed him dearly. His heart ached at the thought
of him, David leaned back and recollected the times they shared.
He remembered the covenant they both made long ago. He
remembered Jonathan's words after he saved him from Saul.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
All those who seek to destroy you will now be eliminated,
and God will pave the way for your kingdom. Please,
I beg you show love to my house. When God
removes your enemies, be kind to my wife and children.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
David watched the sunset, considering all that he wished he
could have done with Jonathan. He shook his head in
disappointment and said to himself, I will keep my promise
to my friend. I will not break my covenant. The
next morning, David was sitting at his desk, mulling over
new trade agreements made since the conquest of the Euphrates.
(14:52):
All was silent as David sifted through the parchment. The
door knocked and an old man entered the room. It
was the a servant from the house of Saul. He
had served the previous king and his family for years
before the death of Jonathan and the other sons. You
asked for me, my lord, the old man said pensively.
(15:13):
Zeba was the head of Saul's home and oversaw all
the care of the family. Since Isposhet's death, he had
been out of work along with his fifteen children. David smiled, Yes, Zeba,
thank you for coming. I have a request.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Would you please inquire if there is anyone else from
the house of Saul that I can show kindness to.
I wish to bless his family for Jonathan's sake.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
The servant looked confused. It was uncommon for kings to
bless the living relatives of a previous king. More often
they would be searched out and killed. However, David was
a king of a different breed. He desired to show
mercy to the family of Saul.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Is there still anyone in the house of Saul that
is living?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
David asked again. Yes, Zeba said, there is a living
son of Jonathan. He is a cripple and still in
his youth. David's heart sank. He had not known any
if Jonathan's sons were still alive. He thought they all
died in the battle with the Philistines. The king held
back tears, trying to hold himself together. He felt the
(16:23):
pangs of guilt that he had not known or asked sooner.
Where is he now, David asked gently. He is in
the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel. His wife
was the boy's nursemaid. Their home is in lou de.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Bar, Zeba said. The old man. Paused for a moment
and gathered his thoughts.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
My King, although the boy has royal blood, he does
not carry himself as royalty. He is more of a
servant in that house than a prince. He hobbles along
and tends to the animals. It is sad sight to
see he is not a threat to your throne.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
David could not take any more shame. I do not
ask with violent intentions. Please bring him to me, he commanded.
I need to speak with him and bless him. Zeba
bowed his head and departed. The king breathed in deeply
and let out more tears of lament. He was grieved
that he had not held up his promise to Jonathan.
(17:27):
The sun was light and drifting in the middle of
the sky. Not a cloud was in sight for miles,
and Maphibischaf was feeling the unforgiving heat on his neck.
The animals in the bar needed more water, and Maphibischaf
was determined to get it to them. Lame in both
his feet, he was forced to walk with his knees
and hands. He had created an efficient way to get around,
(17:50):
using his hands and arms to act as crutches as
he walked with his knees. Even the most trivial of
tasks were challenged to him, but he refused to let
it define. He would crawl to and from the well,
pushing the cart holding pails of water. It was a
task there would have taken anyone else less than ten minutes,
but it was a laborious chore for him. He wanted
(18:11):
to be useful to Makir. Since the death of his father,
Makir and his family had embraced him as their own. However,
he would never quite be one of them. Not only
was Maphibischef the son of a prince, but he was
also lame. They were always wanting to coddle him and
let him rest in the shade while they worked, but
Maphibichef refused. He conceded that he would never be a
(18:34):
warrior like his father, but he would at least be useful.
After his eighth trip to the well, Mephibischef was interrupted.
Makir came out of the house and waved him down, saying, mamphibischeth,
my boy, come in. You have an old friend here
to see you. No one ever came to visit Mamphibichef.
In fact, most people didn't know he existed. He preferred
(18:57):
it that way, since he was the last remaining heir
a Saul's throne. He did not want King David or
his subjects learning about him. Perhaps David would want to
kill the remaining descendants of Saul to secure his place
on the throne. Maphibischef came in to see Zebra standing
inside Zebra, he exclaimed, is that you? Zebra smiled and nodded.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It is, my prince, it is. It has been far
too long.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Maphibischeff rushed to Zebra's side and embraced him.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I have come to take you to Jerusalem. The king
desires to speak with you.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Maphibaschef's countenance dampened. He looked up at mckeir in questioning, Have.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I been given up so he can slay me?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
He asked Zebra and mckeir shrugged.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
He says his intentions are good, but there is.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
No way to be sure, Zebra said.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Your grandfather seemed to be very wary.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Of David.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
He did not trust him and drove him out of
the country because of it.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
However, your father and he were very close, mckir said,
perhaps kindness awaits you in the city of David. Maphibischef
was not so sure. He had heard stories of David
as a child. However, his grandfather, Saul seemed to be
vehemently opposed to him and spent a great deal of
resources to kill him. Maphibischef was conflicted and scared. Yet
(20:21):
there was no more hiding. Now he would venture to
the King's house in Jerusalem with Zebra and face David.
Zebra and Maphibuschef rode into Jerusalem on a small carriage
pulled by two colts. The two of them traveled the
road leading into Jerusalem in silence, not quite sure how
to feel about what would happen next. Maphibuschef sat uncomfortably
(20:43):
in place, feeling more vulnerable than usual. His hands began
to shake in nervousness. Zeba looked over and placed a
hand on his shoulder. He had no encouraging words, just
a friendly and fotherly grin of reassurance. The walls of
Jerusalem were larger than anything Maphibichef had seen before. He
recalled how big the palace walls and Ghibea were when
(21:04):
he lived with his father and grandfather, but they were
not nearly as massive as these. The carriage entered through
the gates into the heart of the city, where David's
home resided. Maphibischeth drew a deep breath and exited the cart.
He followed Zeba a few paces behind, using his hands
and knees to hobble forward. He could feel the confused
stairs of palace servants on him. He hated being in public.
(21:27):
He felt like a freak. Even more embarrassing, he was
the only one among them who knew he was a prince.
The large wooden doors opened to reveal a large hall
leading to the King's courtroom. Torches were mounted on the walls,
illuminating the intricately woven tapestries. Maphibischeth stared at them in awe.
They told stories of David's mighty battles and military exploits.
(21:51):
The young man was enthralled with the details. Re Counting
the battle, he saw one of King David as a
boy slaying Goliath with his sling. He saw another with
David surrounded by a hundred Philistines. Then his eyes were
led to another tapestry, one with David back to back
with another man fighting an army of Amalekites. Mephibichef hobbled
(22:11):
closer to see the figure's face in the firelight. It
was unmistakably his father, Jonathan. Mephibichef could not help but smile.
He felt a single tear streamed down his cheek. He
did not always think about his father. His death was
a painful memory he desired to forget. As he was
taking in the tapestry, a voice called from behind him, Mephibuchef,
(22:34):
he asked. The crippled prince turned around to see King
David standing behind him a few paces back. Mephibichef wiped
away tears and immediately fell on his face in homage.
The boy trembled in fear and laid prostrate on the floor.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Please, Sir, I am your servant, Do not kill me.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
David was dismayed and shook his head emphatically kill you.
Oh no, my son, do not be afraid. David knelt
down and helped the boy back up on to his knees.
Mephibichaff took notice of how David remained at eye level
with him. No one ever knelt down to speak to him.
They remained upright and above him. It had been a
(23:14):
long time since anyone looked him in the eye this way.
David's warm smile melted away any fear Mephibicheff had. With
a gentle voice, he said, I am glad you have come.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Had I known you were alive, I would have sent
for you sooner.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
I am sorry.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Why would you the king apologize to me? I am
a cripple and the descendant of your enemy's saul.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
That is not true, David exclaimed. I loved your grandfather dearly.
He was the Lord's anointed king, and I was loyal
to him till the very end. However, it was your
father I truly love. I made a promise to him
long ago that I would look after his children.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
You loved my father.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Maphibicheff asked.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
He died when I was very young. I know very
little of him.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
David gave a large and beaming smile. He wrapped his
arms around Mafhibicheff and.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Laughed, Oh, yes, my dear child, I loved your father
more than anyone else in this world, closer than a brother,
he was to me. David gestured for Mephibichef to walk
with him, so David kept a slow pace while the
boy crawled beside him. He led him into the middle
of the hall, where a feast was laid out before them.
(24:37):
The two of them sat and spoke for a long while.
Zeba was close by, keeping a distance so the two
of them might talk.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
In primate. David told stories of Jonathan's bravery in battle
and his tenderness towards him. He talked about their unbreakable
bond and the promises they made to one another.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I vowed that I would take care of you, Maphibicheff.
I intend on keeping that vowl, David said, consider yourself
like a son in this household. You will always eat
at my table and dine with me as a member
of the family. As I was brought in by your
grandfather and your father, so I will bring you in.
(25:16):
Maphibischef was overwhelmed by the gesture, but David was not
done with his generosity. Zeba, David called out. The servant
stepped forward and bowed his head. David smiled at the
two of them and said, Mephibischef, I hereby restore all
the land that belonged to Saul, and give it to you.
You will inherit the land of your grandfather.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Maphibuscheff was taken back. He shook his head and hid
his face. Tears broke through. He was ashamed by the
generosity and overwhelmed what the grace David had shown.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
No, he yelled, I am sorry, my king, but I
am not worthy.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Maphibuischef said, who.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Am i that you are mindful of me? I am
nothing you should regard for a dead dog. I am
a whimbering child and a cripple. You should not bless me.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
So David leaned over the table and placed his hand
on the boy's shoulder. There was a gentleness in his
eyes he did not expect from a king. Come with me,
he whispered. David took Mamphibischeff to the roof of his home.
Both of them gazed at the stars. The galaxies above
shone with unfathomable brilliance. Mephibichef was filled with wonder. He
(26:31):
spent much of his days looking up, but never quite
like this. The boy turned his gaze to David. His
eyes were fixed on the stars. He looked at them
like one would to a lifelong love. It took Memphibichef
the moment to realize he was gazing into the face
of heaven. Considering his god. David smiled and began to
(26:53):
recite him he had written long ago. His voice was
smooth and gentle, but it traveled like the wind. Mephibuisheth
listened to him, saying, O Lord.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the
earth above the heavens? You have established your glory out
of the mouth of simple infants. You have shown straight.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
When I look to.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and
the stars which you have set in plays.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
What is man.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
That you are mindful of him? And humanity that you care?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Huhs.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Yet you have us a little lower than the heavenly beings,
and crowned us with glory, and all you have given
us dominion over your handiwork. You have put all things
(28:26):
under our feet. All beasts of the field, the air,
the water, and the forests have been given to us
as stewards. O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your
(28:47):
name in all the earth?
Speaker 2 (28:52):
The king looked down at the starstruck boy beside him.
He knelt down and looked him in the eye. We
all may be.
Speaker 5 (28:58):
Dogs and whip ring children, Maphibischeff, the god sees it
fit to be kind to us. What we deserve is
another thing entirely. David stood to his feet and called
up Zeba. The old servant scaled the ladder leading up
to the rooftop and bowed his head to the king.
(29:20):
David placed a hand on Maphibicheff's shoulder and said, I
have given the boy his grandfather's land, all that belonged
to Saul, and his house has been given to him.
I appoint you and your sons to work the land
and property on his behalf. You and your family will
have a place to call home once again, and you
(29:42):
shall take care of this young prince.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
David turned back to Mephibischef and said.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
But you will always have a place at my table.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
For the first time in years, the son of Jonathan
felt tall again. He leaped to David's waist and hunt
him returned the embrace. Miles away from Jerusalem, to the east,
the King of Aman lay on his deathbed in the
heat of the day. The old king rested his head,
ready to embrace the unknown King Nahsh had been defeated
(30:16):
by David a few years prior, but had since come
to embrace the role of subject. He was loyal to
David and Israel, paying tribute monthly and opening up trade
to Israel's allies. His son, Hanoon, however, was not as loyal.
Hanun saw the presence of Israel as a mark of
shame on their nation. He hated Israel and resented David
(30:37):
for his success over them. When David heard of Nahsh's death,
he was cut to the heart and grieved. As a
sign of goodwill to his heir and the new king
of Ammon, David sent his servants with gifts of good will.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
Nay Hash and I had good faith with one another.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
David told his servants, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Desired the same between Hannun and I go bring gifts
and tell him that I am at his service. If
he is in need of extra resources, council or military aid,
I shall send it.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
So the servants ventured off to Ammon. The area had
been sapped of much of its resources for quite some time.
As the servants of David entered in, they could not
help but feel uneasy. There was a darkness to the city,
perhaps because the new king had darkness in his heart.
The servants walked into the palace of Hanoon with trepidation,
noticing the glaring looks from palace guards and servants. The
(31:34):
halls of the Ammonite king were bare. There were not torches, tapestries,
or symbols of prior conquests, just cold and dark stone.
At the center of the hall was King Hanouon. He
sat up anxiously on his throne with four of his
advisers sitting on either side of him. Hanoon tapped on
the side of his throne and frowned. The advisers whispered
(31:55):
in his ear next to him, saying, do.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
You really think David means us no harm?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Our?
Speaker 8 (32:01):
King?
Speaker 9 (32:01):
They whispered, if he really honored you and your father,
he would have never conquered us. Surely, these men are
only here as spies. They want to overthrow us. Do
not be ignorant and accept their gifts.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
The indecipherable hissing of the advisers made the men uneasy.
They looked at each other and questioned whether they should
leave swiftly. However, before the men had a chance to leave,
Hanoon spoke, saying.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
You think I am a fool.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
He leaned over his throne and spat in their direction.
Speaker 5 (32:33):
I know you are only here to spy on me.
You desire to humiliate me and my people in our
weakened state. Well I will not have it.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Hanon stood to his feet, ship.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Over the table of wine.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
His high pitched and whiny voice was unpleasant to the ear.
The messengers recoiled at his outburst. As they turned around,
the king clapped his hands together, signaling the palace guards
to seize them.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Not so fast, dabs of David. Your nation has humiliated
us for too long. It is time to return the favor.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
The guards kicked them in the knees, forcing them to
the wood. The king stepped down with his dagger and
pointed it at them. He sneered and.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
Said, shave off half their beards.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
The men's eyes widened with fear as the guards pinned
them down and took daggers to their faces. A man's
beard was a sign of their freedom. It is what
differentiated them from common slaves. To shave off half their
beard would be a disgrace. The men straddled, but ultimately
failed to defend themselves. Half their beards were shaved off
(33:39):
and they were beaten until red in the face. Then
King Hanoun took his own dagger and cut off the
lower half of their garments, exposing their gentitals before everyone.
He laughed and pointed. To make it even worse, he
paraded them in front of the palace for all to see.
After humiliating them, he forced them out to fly back home.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Tell your king that I will no longer be paying.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Tribute, he spat as he spoke, raving at them as
they ran away.
Speaker 10 (34:08):
Tell your dog of a king that I shall amass
an army so large that he will be bowing before.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
Me and begging for mercy. I shall do to him
what I have done to you. Tell David, I will
be waiting.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
The men were in tears, running for their lives back
to Israel. However, they would not go back home to Jerusalem.
They remained hidden in Jericho, too embarrassed to be seen
by anyone. The four servants of David remained in a
small cottage outside the city of Jericho. They had retrieved
new garments to cover themselves, but were still too ashamed
(34:44):
to enter into the public. They did not want to
be seen with half of their beards, so they remained
hidden and embarrassed. It was late and the sun had
just retreated behind the hills. When the cottage door knocked.
It creaked open, and a hooded figure entered the room.
The men unsheathed their swords, but then stopped when they
saw it was their king. David removed his hood and smiled, Hello,
(35:09):
my brothers, he said gently. The men were overwhelmed with emotion.
They fell to their king's feet and thanked him for coming.
Speaker 11 (35:18):
We are sorry, David, we failed.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
You, They cried, you did nothing of the sort. David said.
His face was filled with understanding and sympathy. He touched
their faces and shook his head.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
I am sorry they did this to you.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
King Hanun said that he is a massion army to
come up against you.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
They said, he told us that he would do the
same to you.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
David clenched his jaw. Did he know. The King's demeanor shifted,
and he stood up straight. He looked down at his
servants and.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
Said, stay here until your beards grow back. Rest assured
that you have done nothing wrong. I will avenge this
shame he has put upon you.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
With those words. Joab was waiting for him outside.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
I will not endure with the Ammonites any longer. Take
them out. Joab grinned and bowed his head. He and
Abishi gathered the army of Israel and marched east to
avenge their brothers. David had endured many insults in his lifetime.
He had been forgotten by his father, mocked by giants,
and hunted by kings. However, no one would lay a hand.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
On his sheep and live to tell the tale. King
Hanun was about to feel the fury of the Shepherd
of Israel. The two brothers sat on top of a
hill overlooking the encampment of the Ammonites. Joab and Abishi
peered down, counting the vast sea of enemy soldiers.
Speaker 11 (36:44):
King Hanun wasn't joking. Abishai said, he has hired the
Syrians as mercenaries.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
He was also able to hire the small kingdoms of
Makah and Tob.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Joab said, at.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
Least thirty thousand extra men at his disposal. Not to
mention the four hundred thousand horsemen in seven hundred cherries.
It's Amon already has. We must expect all of them
to march against us tomorrow.
Speaker 11 (37:05):
Seems excessive for such a small amount of Israelite dugs.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Abishi jested. Joe Ab smirked and gestured to the encampment.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
You see how their men are split into two different camps.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Abishi looked down. The enemy encampment was resting in a
valley outside the city of Ammon. The Syrians were on
the northern side, near the battlefield, and the Ammonites were
on the southern side, near the city gates. Joab pointed
to the trails leading to the battlefield on each side.
Speaker 7 (37:35):
You see what they're doing. They're planning on attacking us
from the front of the battlefield and the rear.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Abishi looked closely and saw that his brother was right.
They virtually doubled them in size. They had plenty of
men to split into two armies and attack from both sides.
Abishi stroked his beard and thought for a moment. Then
he smiled.
Speaker 11 (37:55):
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Brother?
Speaker 6 (37:57):
He asked. Joe Ab returned smile and nodded. I will
take the front, you will take the rear, he said. Tomorrow,
I will take our mightiest warriors, Shama Eliezar, Uriah, josh
Obeim and the other mighty men and face the Syrians
head on. You will stay back and meet the Ammonites
when they try to ambush us in the rear.
Speaker 11 (38:19):
That is under six hundred men against thirty thousand, Joab.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Abishi warned, are you sure that.
Speaker 11 (38:24):
You won't be overwhelmed?
Speaker 7 (38:26):
Give me six hundred of David's trained mighty men against
thirty thousand of any army.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Joe Ab responded with pride.
Speaker 7 (38:33):
However, if the Syrians prove to be too strong for me,
then I shall call out with the ramshorn. If the
Ammonites overwhelm you, then you call out, We will come
to your aid.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Abishi nodded in the affirmative.
Speaker 11 (38:46):
Be of good courage to the brother. Let us all
be courageous for our men and for the nation of God.
May God do what seems good in his sight.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The next morning, joe Ab and Abishi prepared their men
for battle. The sun had not yet risen, but the
warm summer wind from the east was already howling. It
was an ugly day for a battle. Joab and his
men marched north towards the valley. He and six hundred
of David's finest marched in perfect cadence with each other.
They were disciplined and seasoned, warriors forged in the fires
(39:17):
of exile. Joab had no doubt that they could easily
subdue the Syrian mercenaries. They were hired hands. They had
no passion to protect the Ammonite city. He looked forward
to breaking their will. Joab could spot the Syrians in
the distance forward. Joab commanded, and the men were off
(39:37):
in a run. Israel's bravest galloped towards their enemy with
ferocious be They cried out with bloodthirsty roars, sending chills
down the Syrian spines. The armies drew closer and Joab
called out for the men to attack. Information they had
planned for this.
Speaker 5 (39:55):
They were ready spears and shields.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Joab yelled. The men brought their shields in front of
their bodies and drew out their spears and attacked in
a triangular formation, with Joab at the ten. Hundreds of
Syrians began to fall as the mighty men drove forward through.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
The fray, drop spears swords out.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Joab yelled. The men immediately drove their spears into the
nearest soldier and drew out their swords. Then they formed
a circle with the enemy on every side. Attack. Joab
commanded the men began an all outslaughter of the Syrians.
The mighty men of Israel obeyed their feet in the
blood of their enemies. It did not take long for
(40:35):
the Syrian commanders to waft to a retreat. Not one
of Joab's men was lost, a testament for the training
of King David. Around the other end of the valley,
near the city gates, King Hanoon set atop his horse
with tens of thousands of soldiers behind him.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
I want all that victory.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
He yelled to his men.
Speaker 10 (40:56):
I want you to humiliate them, drag them by their
beards and scorned their mothers, take their dignity, then take
their lives.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
So King Hanuon marched with his men to take out
Joab and the others. However, before they could gain momentum,
Abishai attacked from the real He and the army of
Israel leaped into battle, quickly gaining the upper hand on
the Ammonites. King Hanuon and his men stubbornly persisted against
the Army of Israel, they thought, thinking they had the
security of the Syrians. However, when Hanuon saw that the
(41:31):
Syrians were fleeing, he knew all hope was lost.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
Great faith.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Hannon called out.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Run back to the city.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
We will live to fight another day.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
So the Ammonites fled, and the armies of Israel cheered
in victory. Joab and Abishi returned home to Jerusalem and
brought reports back to their king. They were sure to
mention the fear in Hanun's eyes. When he saw the
Syrians flee, David was pleased with his men and reassured
of God's favor over the nation of Israel.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
They are dogs, every last one of them.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Had a deezer, yelled. The King of Syria raved and
ranted from the latest defeat. He pointed to King Hanoon
in anger.
Speaker 5 (42:13):
You sent us into a blood bath.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
The king of a mon sneered at the King of
Syria and.
Speaker 10 (42:18):
Replied, I hired you, and your men tucked their tails
and ran like children.
Speaker 5 (42:24):
They are so weak that thirty thousand.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
Of them could not even beat six hundred.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
You dare call us week after your pathetic showing.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Had a Deezer was fuming with anger.
Speaker 5 (42:37):
You started this, Hanoon, but we will finish it.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
The King of Syria brought in his commander, Shobach. He
was a giant of a man with legs. The size
of tree trunks and arms as solid as stone. He
wore a heavy coat of mail and thick leather boots.
The entire nation of Syria feared and revered him.
Speaker 10 (42:57):
Commander, show back, I want you to ten seven hundred
chariots and forty thousand horsemen passed the Euphrates march against
Jing David and remind him that he leads a nation
and a former slaves.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Shobuk bowed his head and left. King Hanoun also departed
to amass more men. He would attack Israel again. The
warrior king looked down at the Jordan River. The waters
were calm enough to cross, but still too deep to tread. Lightly,
he stepped in. The cool water was refreshing compared to
the hot sun beating down above him. As he led
(43:36):
his men through the water, he could not help but
think of his ancestors crossing Jordan so long ago. How
God had provided a way for the Ark of the
Covenant to cross. Yet the waters would not part for him.
He waded through, watching the light bounce off the vibrant
turquoise waters. Once they were across, it was not long
before reaching helem. There, the Syrian army was awaiting him. David,
(44:00):
Shama Eliezar, and Abeshi stood at the front, mounted on horses.
The Syrian army was colossal compared to what they had
faced in the past. They dwarfed Israel in size and horses. However,
but Israel lacked in size they made up for in
the favor of God. David knew the victory was won already,
(44:21):
he only needed to step into it bravely. The king
looked at the sea of Syrians arrayed before them. He
turned back to his men and rose his sword high
in the air.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
Take heart, my brothers, for we fight for the nation
of God.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
As David often did, he ran into battle without a
care as to who was behind him. He galloped on
horseback fiercely towards the enemy. He howled with a fierce
cry from his belly, and responded. The men of Israel
ran behind him. Inspired by the bravery of their king.
The forty thousand horsemen charged of David. Compared the Dicks,
(44:57):
His battle against Goliath seemed like nothing, like a tempest.
The Syrians raged against the King of Israel, however, they
were outmatched. David faulted into the valley, raging through the
enemy like a wild fire and dry brush. His anger
was popable, spilling over onto the Syrians like the volcanic round.
His men were fighting behind him, advancing more and more
(45:20):
into the center of the fray. David continued to slice
to the enemy until he was knocked off his horse
at the Yeld. He fell onto his back and the
wind immediately left his locks. As he tried to recover,
a large boom kicked him in the side, sending him
flying in the air. David landed in the dust.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
And looked duck.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
He was Schobal The giant commanded. Schobach thrust his sword
downward a David, but he quickly pulled to the side
and dodged him. David rose to his feet and picked
up his sword. He and the commander of Syria circled
one another, waiting for the right moment to strike. Shobak
moved first, swinging his broadsword at a David blocked the
(46:01):
attack with his sword, but was knocked off balance. Schoboch
was stronger than David. Each blow with his sword was
carried with the strength of ten men. David continued to
parry each attack, barely getting any chance to retaliate. David
looked closely for an opening as he dodged and parried
each blow, but time was running out. He did not
(46:22):
know how many more blows his bones could handle. He
could feel his arms shaking and his wrists growing tired.
David had laughed quickly, but there seemed to be no
way of killing him. Every inch of his body was
covered in mail, and his feet were protected by heavy boots.
Yet there was one area that was uncovered, the space
between his armor and his helmet. It was ironic that
(46:45):
David had not thought of this first. He took out
his sling, placed a stone in it, and drew it back.
Schoboch advanced with his sword, ready to kill, and David
released his sling into the earth. The stone hit Schoboch
on the cheek, cracking it and drawing blood. He stumbled
back and held his face. While he was reeling in pain,
(47:06):
David pounced and drove his sword through his armor and
into his stomach. Chobach fell on to his knees and
fell to the ground with his face in the dirt.
David cried out into disguise, and the flurry of soldiers
around him quickly took over the battle. Israel came upon
the Syrians with unstoppable force, and David once again to
(47:27):
prove his dominance over them. They were subdued and Israel
was victorious once again. All the kings of Syria and
the surrounding nations saw that there was no stopping the
people of Israel. They made peace with David and became
subjects to him. Although the Ammonites continued to fight, the
Syrians would no longer come to their aid. David's dominance
(47:50):
in the land became renowned. His fearlessness and battle earned
him the respect of every king and warrior in the land.
He conquered cities, expanded his kingdom, and brought security to
the once tormented and vulnerable nation of Israel. From the
outside looking in, there seemed to be nothing that could
vanquish King David. No foe was too large or mighty
(48:12):
to bring him down, and no army was vast enough
to come against him. However, David would soon face an
enemy greater than Goliath or Schobach. He would wrestle with
a foe too formidable for even the giant slayer to vanquish.
The chosen hero of God would soon be brought to
his knees in defeat.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
Love injustice David held mercy, tenderness, and compassion in one hand,
while holding judgment, violence, and ferocity in another. This episode
gave us a perspective of David through two different lenses.
The first perspective was through the lens of surrounding nations.
To them, the giant slayer was decisive in his speech,
(48:54):
heavy with his sword, and pragmatic with his strategy. He
dealt harshly with the corrupt and his oppressive nations. The
second perspective was through the lens of meth Phibischef. To him,
David was compassionate, giving of himself, and deeply poetic. He
dealt graciously with the crippled son of Jonathan, and he
proved that his heart harbored no bitterness towards Saul. This
(49:17):
episode further communicated to us David's dual nature. He was
fierce but fair. He had strength, and he had love.
I personally love that David could not be reduced to
just one thing. He had depth, nuance, and range. In
this episode we get Pete David. This is the king
we knew he would become. But even in the beginning
(49:40):
of the episode, we get some hints that something may
be awry. If you go back and listen, you will
hear little warnings of things to come. At the end
of the next episode, we will discuss a few of
those clues. I can't wait for you to notice them.
The most compelling storyline in this episode was meth Fibischef.
The prelude was heart wrenching as we listened to the
(50:03):
poor whimperings of a child who wants his mom and dad.
Any parent's heart aches at the thought of their child
being hurt and afraid without them. It takes David a
while to find out my Fibischef is even alive. When
he does, he lavishes upon him praise and favor. There
was a tender moment between the two of them when
(50:23):
the Fibischeff rejects David's favor and says, I am sorry,
my king, but I am not worthy. Who am I
that you are mindful of me? I am nothing you
show regard for a dead dog. I am a whimpering
child and a cripple. You should not bless me in
this way. I am not my father. He was a
(50:45):
mighty warrior. I am a cripple. Mepibischeff was convinced he
was not worthy of David's love. David took me Fibischef
outside and showed him the stars. Then he recited, saw me,
Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is your name? And
all the earth above the heavens you have established your
(51:05):
glory out of the mouth of simple infants. You have
shown strength when I look at your heavens, the work
of your hands, the moon and the stars which you
have set in place. What is man that you are
mindful of him? And humanity that you care for us?
Yet you have made us only a little lower than
the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.
You have given us dominion over your handiwork. You have
(51:28):
put all things under our feet. All beasts of the field,
the air, the water, and the forest have been given
to us as stewards. O Lord, O Lord, how majestic
is your name in all the earth. It was like
David was throwing the phibis Chef's words right back at him.
He reminded all of us that none of us are
truly worthy of God's love, but he gives it anyway.
(51:51):
Worthy has nothing to do with it. God loves us
because he is loving, not because we deserve love. What
we do with that love is up to us, and
what my phibis Chef does with David's blessing is up
to him. After the beautiful interaction with David and the Phibischef,
we are thrust into a different storyline. The King of
(52:12):
Amen died, and David sent his men with gifts to
offer his condolences. They returned his kindness with evil and
humiliated his servants. You and I may have thought the
same thing when we heard this story. What on earth
were they thinking? Everyone should know by now that David
is not a man to be trifled with. Even more,
he is not a man to allow his people to
(52:33):
be humiliated. David connected with his servants and embraced them
with understanding. Then he made preparations to march against the Ammonites.
Speaker 11 (52:41):
In C. S.
Speaker 1 (52:42):
Lewis's timeless classic The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch,
and the Wardrobe, the beavers who are explaining to the
children who Aslam the lion is Adlam is the king
of Narnia and represents Jesus. Adlam is a lion, the lion,
the great Lion, said the beaver. Oh, said Susan, I
(53:02):
thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I
shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion safe, said
mister Beaver, who said anything about safe. Of course, he
isn't safe, but he's good. He's the king. I tell you,
this descriptive of Adam is a wonderful description of King David.
He's good, but he is most definitely not safe. The
(53:23):
King of Israel is compassionate, kind and good, but he
is also passionate, fierce, and dangerous. David marched against Ammon
and vanquished them. Then he marched against the Syrians, who
allied with them, and vanquished them as well. In two
of David's battles, our attention is brought back to the
sword of Goliath and the sling. Remember these are icons
(53:45):
for us to remember who David is at his core.
When we notice the sword, the sling, or Jonathan's armor,
it gives us a pleasant reminder of the shepherd boy
who ran after the lion, and the small runt who
faced the giant. It is good to tether our hearts
to these things and remember where they came from, lest
we get lost. The episode ends with yet another victory,
(54:09):
but we are also given a teaser for the next episode.
From the outside looking in, there seemed to be nothing
that could vanquish King David. No foe was too large
or mighty to bring him down, and no army was
vast enough to come against him. However, David would soon
face an enemy even greater than Goliath or showback. He
would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even the
(54:32):
Giant Slayers to vanquish. The chosen hero of God would
soon be brought to his knees in defeat. Who is
this foe David is going to face? Who could ever
stand a chance against the giant Slayer. We have just
spent twenty three episodes witnessing the gargantuan rise of King David.
But you know what they say, the bigger they are,
(54:52):
the harder they fall. It's now time to learn about
David's greatest defeat, a failure he may never recover from.
Join us for episode twenty four, Lust and Murder. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, Daily prayers and
wisdom the last of lifetime, go to pray dot com
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
(55:15):
The Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
Forward Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
and always be inspired by the Bible. God bless
Hi, I'm doctor Tony Evans and I'm excited for you
to join me on Heroes in the Bible. Please be
sure to follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify so
you get the newest episodes right as they come out.
Welcome to the epic Adventure of David, a story of honor, battle, jealousy, darkness, friendship, love, scandal,
(00:20):
and murder. While most people know of David the Myth,
few know about David the Man. In this episode, David
expands the power of Israel with alarming speed. He establishes
the small nation of former slaves into the most powerful
nation in the region. David serves up justice to the
corrupt nations, liberates the oppressed nations, and elevates the poor nations.
(00:43):
The Giant Slayer is world famous and it is impossible
for him to be forgotten. This episode has a few
battles that give us some epic fights. David even faces
another giant, but there are also some tender and emotional
moments in this episode. David the Warrior and David the
Poet interchained seamlessly and we get to witness compelling acts
(01:04):
of love and kindness. We will also get to meet
another character, in this episode a boy who has remained
hidden from David for fear of his life. However, the
two of them will share a bond unlike anything since Jonathan.
This boy will bring out some of David's best qualities
and remind us that for all of the King's bloody conquests,
(01:24):
he is still a tender poet at heart. This episode
will be longer than any we've had before, but for
good reason. Allow yourself to be immersed in the story.
See what David sees and feel what David feels. In
Episode twenty three, Strength and Love.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Prelude to chapter twenty three, Wake Up. The nurse maid
cried out, Prince, Wake up. Prince Methhabisheth woke up to
his panic nurse maids shaking him awake.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
We don't have much time. We need to get you
to safety.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Mephibischev, only five years old, did not know what to
make of the pandemonium. The nurse maid put on his clothes,
grabbed his hand, and escorted him out of his home.
They ran out into the second floor, overlooking the city.
Mephibischef saw flames in the distance, red hues engulfed the horizon,
and the skies were painted black from the smoke.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
What is happening, the young child said, where are we going?
Speaker 3 (02:31):
The Philistines have overtaken the borders of Israel. Your father
and grandfather have fallen, and there is no one to protect.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Us, she yelled. Mephibischef tugged away at his nurse maid's
hand and began to cry.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
My father is dead, he yelled, where is my mother?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
There is no time. We must get you away from
here before the Philistines come.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
No, the young prince cried, no, no, I want my father.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Jonathan is dead.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
The nursemaid shouted.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
Come with me if you don't want to die either.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
She picked up the crying boy and began to run
down the stairs leading into the courtyard. Methhibisheth tugged and
cried to be released. Out of panic, he threw himself
out of her arms and tumbled down the stairs. He
cried out in intense pain. The nurse maid ran down
to him. She looked down at his legs. Both feet
were completely broken. She held him helplessly as the five
(03:26):
year old boy wailed in pain.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
I want my father, he cried out.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
I know, she whispered in his ear. Stroking the back
of his hair. I know the son of Jonathan and
grandson of Saul, whimpered in her arms. Plumes of smoke
blocked out the sun, and all hope seemed lost for
the little Prince Chapter twenty three. Strength and love. All
(03:54):
feared and respected his name. There was not a king
or commander in the East that did not tremble when
they heard he was marching up against them. David's name
had stretched past the hill country of the Philistines all
the way into Moab in Syria. No evil nation was
safe as long as David resided on the throne of Jerusalem.
Yet even so they tried to take hold of Israel
(04:15):
and make them captive again. Kings tried and failed to
take hold of cities on the borders of Israel. They
wanted to posture themselves against David and proved their strength.
They shouted and clamored, they roared and raved, But the
King of Israel would not flinch. In just a few years,
as King David had lived up to the name giant slayer.
(04:36):
First it was the Philistines, the age long foe of
God's people, seized the borderlands of Israel. The families of
farmers and herdsmen were either cast out or taken as slaves.
The Philistines spited David and as God by oppressing the people.
David leaned over the table of meeting. Across from him
was Joab. The two of them discussed marching up to
(04:58):
defend the borders, but David had another idea.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
No matter how many times we've defended ourselves, they continue
to attack us, David said. They take hold of our cities,
we drive them out, and then they repeat the process.
The king shook his head and sighed, the fence is
not working. It is time we show them our true strength.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Joe Ab perked up and gave David a curious look.
David did not smile. He maintained his intense gaze at
the map and pointed to a spot in the heart
of Philistine land metheg Amah, he said in the Philistine's
native language, otherwise known as Gath. David rolled back his
shoulders and drove a blade through the map.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
We will march towards Gath and hit them in the heart.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Days later, they marched past the borders of Israel to
the Philistine city of Gath. David looked up at the
jagged hills leading down to the city. He remembered fleeing
to Gath when he was running from Saul. Akish king
had given him a safe haven when he and his
men were in need. However, that bond was severed when
the Philistines continued to attack them. Up until now, David
(06:09):
had shown mercy by not marching against their territory, but
too much Hebrew blood had been spilled at the hand
of the Philistines. They advanced to the borders of Gath.
David stood in front of his men with the sword
of Goliath strapped to his back. He took it out
and looked at it. He had carried it for so
long that it seemed more like his sword now. David
(06:30):
remembered it being heavier when he first used it, Yet
now the weight seemed comfortable, like an extension of his
own arms. He looked down at the city and waved
for his men to begin their attack. What followed was
an all out conquest of the city. David did not
only defeat the Philistine guards, but he also subdued the capital.
(06:51):
The wicked people of Gath would no longer be able
to raise up armies. The harm the people of Israel.
But David would have no more slaughter, no more he
At the hand of these uncircumcised dogs, they would learn
to fear the Lord and think twice before marching against
his children. The second nation to feel the scorn of
David was Moab. The bond he shared with Moab through
(07:14):
his great grandmother Ruth, was severed by years of betrayal.
The Moabites were at odds with Israel, seeking to conquer
land close to them. David would not allow the Moabites
to press up against Israel, especially when their king was
not a man of his word. They were a rising
nation that was growing in both number and wickedness. David
(07:35):
knew he had to make a decision regarding the Moabites.
Would he shrink back and wait for them to attack,
or would he establish the nation of Israel as a
people not to be trifled with. After careful planning, David
chose to march. Moab was inundated with the armies of David.
They broke down their gates with battering rams and set
(07:56):
fire to the temples of their false gods. David entered
in with strength, and all trembled at the sight of him.
Although David was not a brutal man. He understood the
culture of the Moabites. For years, they had brutally slaughtered
surrounding nations, putting their heads on pikes, and sacrificing children
to their gods. A simple defeat would not resonate with them.
(08:18):
David needed to send a clear message of strength. After
they conquered the army of Moab, David rode in on
horseback and had the Moabites sat in three lines lying
on the ground. He scanned the crowd.
Speaker 5 (08:30):
You and now under the rule of Israel, he said,
we have shown ourselves more than capable of utterly destroying
your city. If we chose, we could burn it to
the ground. However, we will not, for we believe in
a God of mercy. I also know your works and
(08:52):
your predisposition to violence. Perhaps this will send a clear
message to you.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
To his men, and two of the three lines of
Morabite soldiers were put to death. Screams and whales echoed
throughout the valley and blood soaked the ground below. Only
one line was spared.
Speaker 5 (09:13):
You may return to your homes and recover what you
have lost.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
David said to the remaining survivors.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
However, we will expect tributes from you. If you do
your diligence to pay, we will spare you and take
care of your borders. Perhaps many years from now we
can live in peace.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
With each other. The next people that challenged David were
the Syrians. The Syrians were divided into two kingdoms, Zoba
and Damascus. Both had their boots on the throats of
surrounding villages, preventing trade from coming in through the Euphrates River.
David knew that if he could gain power over the
Euphrates River, he could open up trade for Israel and
(09:55):
other small nations. It would be a great economic success
for them and the poor nations of the East. David
was reminded of God's promise to Abraham so many years ago,
when he said.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Unto thy seed, I have given this wad from the
river of Egypt under the great river, the River Euphrates.
The Euphrates is promised to our people.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
He said to the elders, if we.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Can take power over it, we can bless the world.
God knows we would be good stewards of the river,
so I am confident he will give us favor against
the Syrians. The elders agreed, so David marched to go
take hold of the river. The first kingdom to come
against him was Zoba, led by King had A Deezer.
(10:43):
Had A Dezer was a power hungry and bloodthirsty king
bent on maintaining his oppressive grip over the surrounding land.
He arrogantly marched up against David, posturing with tens of
thousands of men. However, David knew just where to hurt
the most, direct all of your folks, on horsemen and chariots.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
He said to his foot soldiers, be swift on your.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Feet and aim low at the legs.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
So off they went. The two armies converged in the middle.
Determined to gain the upper hand, David led from the front,
lighting past the soldiers and taking out the horsemen. The
armies of Israel rampaged against the Syrians, successfully taking a
one thousand, seven hundred horsemen, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and
one hundred chariots. David's ferocity in battle was a thing
(11:31):
to behold. Many soldiers stood back and watched as the
king maneuvered through the battlefield. He was like a poet,
his sword the ink and the battlefield his marchment. King
had Adezer was outmatched and called for reinforcements from Damascus.
Thousands of soldiers came to the battlefield seeking to overwhelm David. However,
(11:51):
they barely came close to winning. Twenty two thousand more
Syrians died on the battlefield that day. An overwhelming torrent
of it was displayed. Similarly to the Moabites, the Syrians
were made subjects of Israel, paying tribute to them for
safety and economic stability. The Euphrates was now controlled by Israel,
(12:13):
and David opened up trade for the other nations, freeing
the chokehold the Syrians had on the region. TOI, the
King of Hamath was grateful for the victory David had
over the Syrians. For many years, the Syrians had oppressed
and slaughtered the people of Hamath. King Toy sent his
son Joram to bring gifts of silver, gold, and bronze
(12:34):
to David as the thanks. David received it with humility
and offered the entire gift up to the Lord. All
the spoils of war were given as an offering to
the Lord, either dedicated for the priests or as a
gift to the poor. David kept very little wealth for himself.
He did not build more palaces or plant more gardens.
He knew that the victory he gained was from the Lord,
(12:57):
and to the victor go the spoils. The entire continent
knew once and for all that David was the king
elevated by God, and no one would defeat him, no
one from the outside. That is. David sat on the
rooftop of his palace, looking down at the city below, Jerusalem,
(13:18):
the City of David, a symbol of God's favor on
his reign as king. The radiance of the setting sun
warmed the evening, painting it in a candescent orange. It
was a beautiful sight to behold. Israel was now a
strong and noble fortress for God's people. However, peace came
at a great price, particularly to David's body. The king
(13:41):
leaned back and drew a deep breath, his body ached
from months of battle. His recent victories were sweet, but
there was a tinge of bitterness in every one of them.
Before he was king, he dreamed of fighting and ruling
alongside Jonathan, his friend and brother in arms. He was
a constant source of ancouragement and love in his life, and
(14:02):
he missed him dearly. His heart ached at the thought
of him, David leaned back and recollected the times they shared.
He remembered the covenant they both made long ago. He
remembered Jonathan's words after he saved him from Saul.
Speaker 7 (14:17):
All those who seek to destroy you will now be eliminated,
and God will pave the way for your kingdom. Please,
I beg you show love to my house. When God
removes your enemies, be kind to my wife and children.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
David watched the sunset, considering all that he wished he
could have done with Jonathan. He shook his head in
disappointment and said to himself, I will keep my promise
to my friend. I will not break my covenant. The
next morning, David was sitting at his desk, mulling over
new trade agreements made since the conquest of the Euphrates.
(14:52):
All was silent as David sifted through the parchment. The
door knocked and an old man entered the room. It
was the a servant from the house of Saul. He
had served the previous king and his family for years
before the death of Jonathan and the other sons. You
asked for me, my lord, the old man said pensively.
(15:13):
Zeba was the head of Saul's home and oversaw all
the care of the family. Since Isposhet's death, he had
been out of work along with his fifteen children. David smiled, Yes, Zeba,
thank you for coming. I have a request.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Would you please inquire if there is anyone else from
the house of Saul that I can show kindness to.
I wish to bless his family for Jonathan's sake.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
The servant looked confused. It was uncommon for kings to
bless the living relatives of a previous king. More often
they would be searched out and killed. However, David was
a king of a different breed. He desired to show
mercy to the family of Saul.
Speaker 5 (15:55):
Is there still anyone in the house of Saul that
is living?
Speaker 3 (15:59):
David asked again. Yes, Zeba said, there is a living
son of Jonathan. He is a cripple and still in
his youth. David's heart sank. He had not known any
if Jonathan's sons were still alive. He thought they all
died in the battle with the Philistines. The king held
back tears, trying to hold himself together. He felt the
(16:23):
pangs of guilt that he had not known or asked sooner.
Where is he now, David asked gently. He is in
the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel. His wife
was the boy's nursemaid. Their home is in lou de.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Bar, Zeba said. The old man. Paused for a moment
and gathered his thoughts.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
My King, although the boy has royal blood, he does
not carry himself as royalty. He is more of a
servant in that house than a prince. He hobbles along
and tends to the animals. It is sad sight to
see he is not a threat to your throne.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
David could not take any more shame. I do not
ask with violent intentions. Please bring him to me, he commanded.
I need to speak with him and bless him. Zeba
bowed his head and departed. The king breathed in deeply
and let out more tears of lament. He was grieved
that he had not held up his promise to Jonathan.
(17:27):
The sun was light and drifting in the middle of
the sky. Not a cloud was in sight for miles,
and Maphibischaf was feeling the unforgiving heat on his neck.
The animals in the bar needed more water, and Maphibischaf
was determined to get it to them. Lame in both
his feet, he was forced to walk with his knees
and hands. He had created an efficient way to get around,
(17:50):
using his hands and arms to act as crutches as
he walked with his knees. Even the most trivial of
tasks were challenged to him, but he refused to let
it define. He would crawl to and from the well,
pushing the cart holding pails of water. It was a
task there would have taken anyone else less than ten minutes,
but it was a laborious chore for him. He wanted
(18:11):
to be useful to Makir. Since the death of his father,
Makir and his family had embraced him as their own. However,
he would never quite be one of them. Not only
was Maphibischef the son of a prince, but he was
also lame. They were always wanting to coddle him and
let him rest in the shade while they worked, but
Maphibichef refused. He conceded that he would never be a
(18:34):
warrior like his father, but he would at least be useful.
After his eighth trip to the well, Mephibischef was interrupted.
Makir came out of the house and waved him down, saying, mamphibischeth,
my boy, come in. You have an old friend here
to see you. No one ever came to visit Mamphibichef.
In fact, most people didn't know he existed. He preferred
(18:57):
it that way, since he was the last remaining heir
a Saul's throne. He did not want King David or
his subjects learning about him. Perhaps David would want to
kill the remaining descendants of Saul to secure his place
on the throne. Maphibischef came in to see Zebra standing
inside Zebra, he exclaimed, is that you? Zebra smiled and nodded.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
It is, my prince, it is. It has been far
too long.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Maphibischeff rushed to Zebra's side and embraced him.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I have come to take you to Jerusalem. The king
desires to speak with you.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Maphibaschef's countenance dampened. He looked up at mckeir in questioning, Have.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I been given up so he can slay me?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
He asked Zebra and mckeir shrugged.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
He says his intentions are good, but there is.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
No way to be sure, Zebra said.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Your grandfather seemed to be very wary.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Of David.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
He did not trust him and drove him out of
the country because of it.
Speaker 8 (19:59):
However, your father and he were very close, mckir said,
perhaps kindness awaits you in the city of David. Maphibischef
was not so sure. He had heard stories of David
as a child. However, his grandfather, Saul seemed to be
vehemently opposed to him and spent a great deal of
resources to kill him. Maphibischef was conflicted and scared. Yet
(20:21):
there was no more hiding. Now he would venture to
the King's house in Jerusalem with Zebra and face David.
Zebra and Maphibuschef rode into Jerusalem on a small carriage
pulled by two colts. The two of them traveled the
road leading into Jerusalem in silence, not quite sure how
to feel about what would happen next. Maphibuschef sat uncomfortably
(20:43):
in place, feeling more vulnerable than usual. His hands began
to shake in nervousness. Zeba looked over and placed a
hand on his shoulder. He had no encouraging words, just
a friendly and fotherly grin of reassurance. The walls of
Jerusalem were larger than anything Maphibichef had seen before. He
recalled how big the palace walls and Ghibea were when
(21:04):
he lived with his father and grandfather, but they were
not nearly as massive as these. The carriage entered through
the gates into the heart of the city, where David's
home resided. Maphibischeth drew a deep breath and exited the cart.
He followed Zeba a few paces behind, using his hands
and knees to hobble forward. He could feel the confused
stairs of palace servants on him. He hated being in public.
(21:27):
He felt like a freak. Even more embarrassing, he was
the only one among them who knew he was a prince.
The large wooden doors opened to reveal a large hall
leading to the King's courtroom. Torches were mounted on the walls,
illuminating the intricately woven tapestries. Maphibischeth stared at them in awe.
They told stories of David's mighty battles and military exploits.
(21:51):
The young man was enthralled with the details. Re Counting
the battle, he saw one of King David as a
boy slaying Goliath with his sling. He saw another with
David surrounded by a hundred Philistines. Then his eyes were
led to another tapestry, one with David back to back
with another man fighting an army of Amalekites. Mephibichef hobbled
(22:11):
closer to see the figure's face in the firelight. It
was unmistakably his father, Jonathan. Mephibichef could not help but smile.
He felt a single tear streamed down his cheek. He
did not always think about his father. His death was
a painful memory he desired to forget. As he was
taking in the tapestry, a voice called from behind him, Mephibuchef,
(22:34):
he asked. The crippled prince turned around to see King
David standing behind him a few paces back. Mephibichef wiped
away tears and immediately fell on his face in homage.
The boy trembled in fear and laid prostrate on the floor.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Please, Sir, I am your servant, Do not kill me.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
David was dismayed and shook his head emphatically kill you.
Oh no, my son, do not be afraid. David knelt
down and helped the boy back up on to his knees.
Mephibichaff took notice of how David remained at eye level
with him. No one ever knelt down to speak to him.
They remained upright and above him. It had been a
(23:14):
long time since anyone looked him in the eye this way.
David's warm smile melted away any fear Mephibicheff had. With
a gentle voice, he said, I am glad you have come.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Had I known you were alive, I would have sent
for you sooner.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
I am sorry.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Why would you the king apologize to me? I am
a cripple and the descendant of your enemy's saul.
Speaker 5 (23:39):
That is not true, David exclaimed. I loved your grandfather dearly.
He was the Lord's anointed king, and I was loyal
to him till the very end. However, it was your
father I truly love. I made a promise to him
long ago that I would look after his children.
Speaker 4 (24:01):
You loved my father.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Maphibicheff asked.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
He died when I was very young. I know very
little of him.
Speaker 2 (24:09):
David gave a large and beaming smile. He wrapped his
arms around Mafhibicheff and.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Laughed, Oh, yes, my dear child, I loved your father
more than anyone else in this world, closer than a brother,
he was to me. David gestured for Mephibichef to walk
with him, so David kept a slow pace while the
boy crawled beside him. He led him into the middle
of the hall, where a feast was laid out before them.
(24:37):
The two of them sat and spoke for a long while.
Zeba was close by, keeping a distance so the two
of them might talk.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
In primate. David told stories of Jonathan's bravery in battle
and his tenderness towards him. He talked about their unbreakable
bond and the promises they made to one another.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
I vowed that I would take care of you, Maphibicheff.
I intend on keeping that vowl, David said, consider yourself
like a son in this household. You will always eat
at my table and dine with me as a member
of the family. As I was brought in by your
grandfather and your father, so I will bring you in.
(25:16):
Maphibischef was overwhelmed by the gesture, but David was not
done with his generosity. Zeba, David called out. The servant
stepped forward and bowed his head. David smiled at the
two of them and said, Mephibischef, I hereby restore all
the land that belonged to Saul, and give it to you.
You will inherit the land of your grandfather.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Maphibuscheff was taken back. He shook his head and hid
his face. Tears broke through. He was ashamed by the
generosity and overwhelmed what the grace David had shown.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
No, he yelled, I am sorry, my king, but I
am not worthy.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Maphibuischef said, who.
Speaker 4 (25:57):
Am i that you are mindful of me? I am
nothing you should regard for a dead dog. I am
a whimbering child and a cripple. You should not bless me.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
So David leaned over the table and placed his hand
on the boy's shoulder. There was a gentleness in his
eyes he did not expect from a king. Come with me,
he whispered. David took Mamphibischeff to the roof of his home.
Both of them gazed at the stars. The galaxies above
shone with unfathomable brilliance. Mephibichef was filled with wonder. He
(26:31):
spent much of his days looking up, but never quite
like this. The boy turned his gaze to David. His
eyes were fixed on the stars. He looked at them
like one would to a lifelong love. It took Memphibichef
the moment to realize he was gazing into the face
of heaven. Considering his god. David smiled and began to
(26:53):
recite him he had written long ago. His voice was
smooth and gentle, but it traveled like the wind. Mephibuisheth
listened to him, saying, O Lord.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the
earth above the heavens? You have established your glory out
of the mouth of simple infants. You have shown straight.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
When I look to.
Speaker 5 (27:34):
Your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and
the stars which you have set in plays.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
What is man.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
That you are mindful of him? And humanity that you care?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Huhs.
Speaker 5 (28:05):
Yet you have us a little lower than the heavenly beings,
and crowned us with glory, and all you have given
us dominion over your handiwork. You have put all things
(28:26):
under our feet. All beasts of the field, the air,
the water, and the forests have been given to us
as stewards. O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your
(28:47):
name in all the earth?
Speaker 2 (28:52):
The king looked down at the starstruck boy beside him.
He knelt down and looked him in the eye. We
all may be.
Speaker 5 (28:58):
Dogs and whip ring children, Maphibischeff, the god sees it
fit to be kind to us. What we deserve is
another thing entirely. David stood to his feet and called
up Zeba. The old servant scaled the ladder leading up
to the rooftop and bowed his head to the king.
(29:20):
David placed a hand on Maphibicheff's shoulder and said, I
have given the boy his grandfather's land, all that belonged
to Saul, and his house has been given to him.
I appoint you and your sons to work the land
and property on his behalf. You and your family will
have a place to call home once again, and you
(29:42):
shall take care of this young prince.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
David turned back to Mephibischef and said.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
But you will always have a place at my table.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
For the first time in years, the son of Jonathan
felt tall again. He leaped to David's waist and hunt
him returned the embrace. Miles away from Jerusalem, to the east,
the King of Aman lay on his deathbed in the
heat of the day. The old king rested his head,
ready to embrace the unknown King Nahsh had been defeated
(30:16):
by David a few years prior, but had since come
to embrace the role of subject. He was loyal to
David and Israel, paying tribute monthly and opening up trade
to Israel's allies. His son, Hanoon, however, was not as loyal.
Hanun saw the presence of Israel as a mark of
shame on their nation. He hated Israel and resented David
(30:37):
for his success over them. When David heard of Nahsh's death,
he was cut to the heart and grieved. As a
sign of goodwill to his heir and the new king
of Ammon, David sent his servants with gifts of good will.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
Nay Hash and I had good faith with one another.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
David told his servants, I.
Speaker 5 (30:55):
Desired the same between Hannun and I go bring gifts
and tell him that I am at his service. If
he is in need of extra resources, council or military aid,
I shall send it.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
So the servants ventured off to Ammon. The area had
been sapped of much of its resources for quite some time.
As the servants of David entered in, they could not
help but feel uneasy. There was a darkness to the city,
perhaps because the new king had darkness in his heart.
The servants walked into the palace of Hanoon with trepidation,
noticing the glaring looks from palace guards and servants. The
(31:34):
halls of the Ammonite king were bare. There were not torches, tapestries,
or symbols of prior conquests, just cold and dark stone.
At the center of the hall was King Hanouon. He
sat up anxiously on his throne with four of his
advisers sitting on either side of him. Hanoon tapped on
the side of his throne and frowned. The advisers whispered
(31:55):
in his ear next to him, saying, do.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
You really think David means us no harm?
Speaker 4 (32:00):
Our?
Speaker 8 (32:01):
King?
Speaker 9 (32:01):
They whispered, if he really honored you and your father,
he would have never conquered us. Surely, these men are
only here as spies. They want to overthrow us. Do
not be ignorant and accept their gifts.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
The indecipherable hissing of the advisers made the men uneasy.
They looked at each other and questioned whether they should
leave swiftly. However, before the men had a chance to leave,
Hanoon spoke, saying.
Speaker 5 (32:29):
You think I am a fool.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
He leaned over his throne and spat in their direction.
Speaker 5 (32:33):
I know you are only here to spy on me.
You desire to humiliate me and my people in our
weakened state. Well I will not have it.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
Hanon stood to his feet, ship.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
Over the table of wine.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
His high pitched and whiny voice was unpleasant to the ear.
The messengers recoiled at his outburst. As they turned around,
the king clapped his hands together, signaling the palace guards
to seize them.
Speaker 5 (32:58):
Not so fast, dabs of David. Your nation has humiliated
us for too long. It is time to return the favor.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
The guards kicked them in the knees, forcing them to
the wood. The king stepped down with his dagger and
pointed it at them. He sneered and.
Speaker 5 (33:16):
Said, shave off half their beards.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
The men's eyes widened with fear as the guards pinned
them down and took daggers to their faces. A man's
beard was a sign of their freedom. It is what
differentiated them from common slaves. To shave off half their
beard would be a disgrace. The men straddled, but ultimately
failed to defend themselves. Half their beards were shaved off
(33:39):
and they were beaten until red in the face. Then
King Hanoun took his own dagger and cut off the
lower half of their garments, exposing their gentitals before everyone.
He laughed and pointed. To make it even worse, he
paraded them in front of the palace for all to see.
After humiliating them, he forced them out to fly back home.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
Tell your king that I will no longer be paying.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Tribute, he spat as he spoke, raving at them as
they ran away.
Speaker 10 (34:08):
Tell your dog of a king that I shall amass
an army so large that he will be bowing before.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
Me and begging for mercy. I shall do to him
what I have done to you. Tell David, I will
be waiting.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
The men were in tears, running for their lives back
to Israel. However, they would not go back home to Jerusalem.
They remained hidden in Jericho, too embarrassed to be seen
by anyone. The four servants of David remained in a
small cottage outside the city of Jericho. They had retrieved
new garments to cover themselves, but were still too ashamed
(34:44):
to enter into the public. They did not want to
be seen with half of their beards, so they remained
hidden and embarrassed. It was late and the sun had
just retreated behind the hills. When the cottage door knocked.
It creaked open, and a hooded figure entered the room.
The men unsheathed their swords, but then stopped when they
saw it was their king. David removed his hood and smiled, Hello,
(35:09):
my brothers, he said gently. The men were overwhelmed with emotion.
They fell to their king's feet and thanked him for coming.
Speaker 11 (35:18):
We are sorry, David, we failed.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
You, They cried, you did nothing of the sort. David said.
His face was filled with understanding and sympathy. He touched
their faces and shook his head.
Speaker 5 (35:30):
I am sorry they did this to you.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
King Hanun said that he is a massion army to
come up against you.
Speaker 5 (35:36):
They said, he told us that he would do the
same to you.
Speaker 2 (35:39):
David clenched his jaw. Did he know. The King's demeanor shifted,
and he stood up straight. He looked down at his
servants and.
Speaker 5 (35:47):
Said, stay here until your beards grow back. Rest assured
that you have done nothing wrong. I will avenge this
shame he has put upon you.
Speaker 2 (35:58):
With those words. Joab was waiting for him outside.
Speaker 5 (36:03):
I will not endure with the Ammonites any longer. Take
them out. Joab grinned and bowed his head. He and
Abishi gathered the army of Israel and marched east to
avenge their brothers. David had endured many insults in his lifetime.
He had been forgotten by his father, mocked by giants,
and hunted by kings. However, no one would lay a hand.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
On his sheep and live to tell the tale. King
Hanun was about to feel the fury of the Shepherd
of Israel. The two brothers sat on top of a
hill overlooking the encampment of the Ammonites. Joab and Abishi
peered down, counting the vast sea of enemy soldiers.
Speaker 11 (36:44):
King Hanun wasn't joking. Abishai said, he has hired the
Syrians as mercenaries.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
He was also able to hire the small kingdoms of
Makah and Tob.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Joab said, at.
Speaker 7 (36:54):
Least thirty thousand extra men at his disposal. Not to
mention the four hundred thousand horsemen in seven hundred cherries.
It's Amon already has. We must expect all of them
to march against us tomorrow.
Speaker 11 (37:05):
Seems excessive for such a small amount of Israelite dugs.
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Abishi jested. Joe Ab smirked and gestured to the encampment.
Speaker 7 (37:14):
You see how their men are split into two different camps.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Abishi looked down. The enemy encampment was resting in a
valley outside the city of Ammon. The Syrians were on
the northern side, near the battlefield, and the Ammonites were
on the southern side, near the city gates. Joab pointed
to the trails leading to the battlefield on each side.
Speaker 7 (37:35):
You see what they're doing. They're planning on attacking us
from the front of the battlefield and the rear.
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Abishi looked closely and saw that his brother was right.
They virtually doubled them in size. They had plenty of
men to split into two armies and attack from both sides.
Abishi stroked his beard and thought for a moment. Then
he smiled.
Speaker 11 (37:55):
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Brother?
Speaker 6 (37:57):
He asked. Joe Ab returned smile and nodded. I will
take the front, you will take the rear, he said. Tomorrow,
I will take our mightiest warriors, Shama Eliezar, Uriah, josh
Obeim and the other mighty men and face the Syrians
head on. You will stay back and meet the Ammonites
when they try to ambush us in the rear.
Speaker 11 (38:19):
That is under six hundred men against thirty thousand, Joab.
Speaker 2 (38:22):
Abishi warned, are you sure that.
Speaker 11 (38:24):
You won't be overwhelmed?
Speaker 7 (38:26):
Give me six hundred of David's trained mighty men against
thirty thousand of any army.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
Joe Ab responded with pride.
Speaker 7 (38:33):
However, if the Syrians prove to be too strong for me,
then I shall call out with the ramshorn. If the
Ammonites overwhelm you, then you call out, We will come
to your aid.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Abishi nodded in the affirmative.
Speaker 11 (38:46):
Be of good courage to the brother. Let us all
be courageous for our men and for the nation of God.
May God do what seems good in his sight.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
The next morning, joe Ab and Abishi prepared their men
for battle. The sun had not yet risen, but the
warm summer wind from the east was already howling. It
was an ugly day for a battle. Joab and his
men marched north towards the valley. He and six hundred
of David's finest marched in perfect cadence with each other.
They were disciplined and seasoned, warriors forged in the fires
(39:17):
of exile. Joab had no doubt that they could easily
subdue the Syrian mercenaries. They were hired hands. They had
no passion to protect the Ammonite city. He looked forward
to breaking their will. Joab could spot the Syrians in
the distance forward. Joab commanded, and the men were off
(39:37):
in a run. Israel's bravest galloped towards their enemy with
ferocious be They cried out with bloodthirsty roars, sending chills
down the Syrian spines. The armies drew closer and Joab
called out for the men to attack. Information they had
planned for this.
Speaker 5 (39:55):
They were ready spears and shields.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Joab yelled. The men brought their shields in front of
their bodies and drew out their spears and attacked in
a triangular formation, with Joab at the ten. Hundreds of
Syrians began to fall as the mighty men drove forward through.
Speaker 5 (40:11):
The fray, drop spears swords out.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Joab yelled. The men immediately drove their spears into the
nearest soldier and drew out their swords. Then they formed
a circle with the enemy on every side. Attack. Joab
commanded the men began an all outslaughter of the Syrians.
The mighty men of Israel obeyed their feet in the
blood of their enemies. It did not take long for
(40:35):
the Syrian commanders to waft to a retreat. Not one
of Joab's men was lost, a testament for the training
of King David. Around the other end of the valley,
near the city gates, King Hanoon set atop his horse
with tens of thousands of soldiers behind him.
Speaker 5 (40:52):
I want all that victory.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
He yelled to his men.
Speaker 10 (40:56):
I want you to humiliate them, drag them by their
beards and scorned their mothers, take their dignity, then take
their lives.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
So King Hanuon marched with his men to take out
Joab and the others. However, before they could gain momentum,
Abishai attacked from the real He and the army of
Israel leaped into battle, quickly gaining the upper hand on
the Ammonites. King Hanuon and his men stubbornly persisted against
the Army of Israel, they thought, thinking they had the
security of the Syrians. However, when Hanuon saw that the
(41:31):
Syrians were fleeing, he knew all hope was lost.
Speaker 5 (41:34):
Great faith.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Hannon called out.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
Run back to the city.
Speaker 5 (41:38):
We will live to fight another day.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
So the Ammonites fled, and the armies of Israel cheered
in victory. Joab and Abishi returned home to Jerusalem and
brought reports back to their king. They were sure to
mention the fear in Hanun's eyes. When he saw the
Syrians flee, David was pleased with his men and reassured
of God's favor over the nation of Israel.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
They are dogs, every last one of them.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
Had a deezer, yelled. The King of Syria raved and
ranted from the latest defeat. He pointed to King Hanoon
in anger.
Speaker 5 (42:13):
You sent us into a blood bath.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
The king of a mon sneered at the King of
Syria and.
Speaker 10 (42:18):
Replied, I hired you, and your men tucked their tails
and ran like children.
Speaker 5 (42:24):
They are so weak that thirty thousand.
Speaker 3 (42:27):
Of them could not even beat six hundred.
Speaker 5 (42:31):
You dare call us week after your pathetic showing.
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Had a Deezer was fuming with anger.
Speaker 5 (42:37):
You started this, Hanoon, but we will finish it.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
The King of Syria brought in his commander, Shobach. He
was a giant of a man with legs. The size
of tree trunks and arms as solid as stone. He
wore a heavy coat of mail and thick leather boots.
The entire nation of Syria feared and revered him.
Speaker 10 (42:57):
Commander, show back, I want you to ten seven hundred
chariots and forty thousand horsemen passed the Euphrates march against
Jing David and remind him that he leads a nation
and a former slaves.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Shobuk bowed his head and left. King Hanoun also departed
to amass more men. He would attack Israel again. The
warrior king looked down at the Jordan River. The waters
were calm enough to cross, but still too deep to tread. Lightly,
he stepped in. The cool water was refreshing compared to
the hot sun beating down above him. As he led
(43:36):
his men through the water, he could not help but
think of his ancestors crossing Jordan so long ago. How
God had provided a way for the Ark of the
Covenant to cross. Yet the waters would not part for him.
He waded through, watching the light bounce off the vibrant
turquoise waters. Once they were across, it was not long
before reaching helem. There, the Syrian army was awaiting him. David,
(44:00):
Shama Eliezar, and Abeshi stood at the front, mounted on horses.
The Syrian army was colossal compared to what they had
faced in the past. They dwarfed Israel in size and horses. However,
but Israel lacked in size they made up for in
the favor of God. David knew the victory was won already,
(44:21):
he only needed to step into it bravely. The king
looked at the sea of Syrians arrayed before them. He
turned back to his men and rose his sword high
in the air.
Speaker 5 (44:30):
Take heart, my brothers, for we fight for the nation
of God.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
As David often did, he ran into battle without a
care as to who was behind him. He galloped on
horseback fiercely towards the enemy. He howled with a fierce
cry from his belly, and responded. The men of Israel
ran behind him. Inspired by the bravery of their king.
The forty thousand horsemen charged of David. Compared the Dicks,
(44:57):
His battle against Goliath seemed like nothing, like a tempest.
The Syrians raged against the King of Israel, however, they
were outmatched. David faulted into the valley, raging through the
enemy like a wild fire and dry brush. His anger
was popable, spilling over onto the Syrians like the volcanic round.
His men were fighting behind him, advancing more and more
(45:20):
into the center of the fray. David continued to slice
to the enemy until he was knocked off his horse
at the Yeld. He fell onto his back and the
wind immediately left his locks. As he tried to recover,
a large boom kicked him in the side, sending him
flying in the air. David landed in the dust.
Speaker 1 (45:38):
And looked duck.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
He was Schobal The giant commanded. Schobach thrust his sword
downward a David, but he quickly pulled to the side
and dodged him. David rose to his feet and picked
up his sword. He and the commander of Syria circled
one another, waiting for the right moment to strike. Shobak
moved first, swinging his broadsword at a David blocked the
(46:01):
attack with his sword, but was knocked off balance. Schoboch
was stronger than David. Each blow with his sword was
carried with the strength of ten men. David continued to
parry each attack, barely getting any chance to retaliate. David
looked closely for an opening as he dodged and parried
each blow, but time was running out. He did not
(46:22):
know how many more blows his bones could handle. He
could feel his arms shaking and his wrists growing tired.
David had laughed quickly, but there seemed to be no
way of killing him. Every inch of his body was
covered in mail, and his feet were protected by heavy boots.
Yet there was one area that was uncovered, the space
between his armor and his helmet. It was ironic that
(46:45):
David had not thought of this first. He took out
his sling, placed a stone in it, and drew it back.
Schoboch advanced with his sword, ready to kill, and David
released his sling into the earth. The stone hit Schoboch
on the cheek, cracking it and drawing blood. He stumbled
back and held his face. While he was reeling in pain,
(47:06):
David pounced and drove his sword through his armor and
into his stomach. Chobach fell on to his knees and
fell to the ground with his face in the dirt.
David cried out into disguise, and the flurry of soldiers
around him quickly took over the battle. Israel came upon
the Syrians with unstoppable force, and David once again to
(47:27):
prove his dominance over them. They were subdued and Israel
was victorious once again. All the kings of Syria and
the surrounding nations saw that there was no stopping the
people of Israel. They made peace with David and became
subjects to him. Although the Ammonites continued to fight, the
Syrians would no longer come to their aid. David's dominance
(47:50):
in the land became renowned. His fearlessness and battle earned
him the respect of every king and warrior in the land.
He conquered cities, expanded his kingdom, and brought security to
the once tormented and vulnerable nation of Israel. From the
outside looking in, there seemed to be nothing that could
vanquish King David. No foe was too large or mighty
(48:12):
to bring him down, and no army was vast enough
to come against him. However, David would soon face an
enemy greater than Goliath or Schobach. He would wrestle with
a foe too formidable for even the giant slayer to vanquish.
The chosen hero of God would soon be brought to
his knees in defeat.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
Love injustice David held mercy, tenderness, and compassion in one hand,
while holding judgment, violence, and ferocity in another. This episode
gave us a perspective of David through two different lenses.
The first perspective was through the lens of surrounding nations.
To them, the giant slayer was decisive in his speech,
(48:54):
heavy with his sword, and pragmatic with his strategy. He
dealt harshly with the corrupt and his oppressive nations. The
second perspective was through the lens of meth Phibischef. To him,
David was compassionate, giving of himself, and deeply poetic. He
dealt graciously with the crippled son of Jonathan, and he
proved that his heart harbored no bitterness towards Saul. This
(49:17):
episode further communicated to us David's dual nature. He was
fierce but fair. He had strength, and he had love.
I personally love that David could not be reduced to
just one thing. He had depth, nuance, and range. In
this episode we get Pete David. This is the king
we knew he would become. But even in the beginning
(49:40):
of the episode, we get some hints that something may
be awry. If you go back and listen, you will
hear little warnings of things to come. At the end
of the next episode, we will discuss a few of
those clues. I can't wait for you to notice them.
The most compelling storyline in this episode was meth Fibischef.
The prelude was heart wrenching as we listened to the
(50:03):
poor whimperings of a child who wants his mom and dad.
Any parent's heart aches at the thought of their child
being hurt and afraid without them. It takes David a
while to find out my Fibischef is even alive. When
he does, he lavishes upon him praise and favor. There
was a tender moment between the two of them when
(50:23):
the Fibischeff rejects David's favor and says, I am sorry,
my king, but I am not worthy. Who am I
that you are mindful of me? I am nothing you
show regard for a dead dog. I am a whimpering
child and a cripple. You should not bless me in
this way. I am not my father. He was a
(50:45):
mighty warrior. I am a cripple. Mepibischeff was convinced he
was not worthy of David's love. David took me Fibischef
outside and showed him the stars. Then he recited, saw me,
Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is your name? And
all the earth above the heavens you have established your
(51:05):
glory out of the mouth of simple infants. You have
shown strength when I look at your heavens, the work
of your hands, the moon and the stars which you
have set in place. What is man that you are
mindful of him? And humanity that you care for us?
Yet you have made us only a little lower than
the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.
You have given us dominion over your handiwork. You have
(51:28):
put all things under our feet. All beasts of the field,
the air, the water, and the forest have been given
to us as stewards. O Lord, O Lord, how majestic
is your name in all the earth. It was like
David was throwing the phibis Chef's words right back at him.
He reminded all of us that none of us are
truly worthy of God's love, but he gives it anyway.
(51:51):
Worthy has nothing to do with it. God loves us
because he is loving, not because we deserve love. What
we do with that love is up to us, and
what my phibis Chef does with David's blessing is up
to him. After the beautiful interaction with David and the Phibischef,
we are thrust into a different storyline. The King of
(52:12):
Amen died, and David sent his men with gifts to
offer his condolences. They returned his kindness with evil and
humiliated his servants. You and I may have thought the
same thing when we heard this story. What on earth
were they thinking? Everyone should know by now that David
is not a man to be trifled with. Even more,
he is not a man to allow his people to
(52:33):
be humiliated. David connected with his servants and embraced them
with understanding. Then he made preparations to march against the Ammonites.
Speaker 11 (52:41):
In C. S.
Speaker 1 (52:42):
Lewis's timeless classic The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch,
and the Wardrobe, the beavers who are explaining to the
children who Aslam the lion is Adlam is the king
of Narnia and represents Jesus. Adlam is a lion, the lion,
the great Lion, said the beaver. Oh, said Susan, I
(53:02):
thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I
shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion safe, said
mister Beaver, who said anything about safe. Of course, he
isn't safe, but he's good. He's the king. I tell you,
this descriptive of Adam is a wonderful description of King David.
He's good, but he is most definitely not safe. The
(53:23):
King of Israel is compassionate, kind and good, but he
is also passionate, fierce, and dangerous. David marched against Ammon
and vanquished them. Then he marched against the Syrians, who
allied with them, and vanquished them as well. In two
of David's battles, our attention is brought back to the
sword of Goliath and the sling. Remember these are icons
(53:45):
for us to remember who David is at his core.
When we notice the sword, the sling, or Jonathan's armor,
it gives us a pleasant reminder of the shepherd boy
who ran after the lion, and the small runt who
faced the giant. It is good to tether our hearts
to these things and remember where they came from, lest
we get lost. The episode ends with yet another victory,
(54:09):
but we are also given a teaser for the next episode.
From the outside looking in, there seemed to be nothing
that could vanquish King David. No foe was too large
or mighty to bring him down, and no army was
vast enough to come against him. However, David would soon
face an enemy even greater than Goliath or showback. He
would wrestle with a foe too formidable for even the
(54:32):
Giant Slayers to vanquish. The chosen hero of God would
soon be brought to his knees in defeat. Who is
this foe David is going to face? Who could ever
stand a chance against the giant Slayer. We have just
spent twenty three episodes witnessing the gargantuan rise of King David.
But you know what they say, the bigger they are,
(54:52):
the harder they fall. It's now time to learn about
David's greatest defeat, a failure he may never recover from.
Join us for episode twenty four, Lust and Murder. Thanks
again for listening. For more inspiring stories, Daily prayers and
wisdom the last of lifetime, go to pray dot com
and to expand your heroes in the Bible Journey, download
(55:15):
The Heroes of the Faith devotional at Tonyevans dot org.
Forward Slash Heroes. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify
to get the newest episodes right as they come out,
and always be inspired by the Bible. God bless
Host
Dr. Tony Evans
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