WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.140 Ethan: Welcome to Immerse: the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:03.257 --> 00:00:04.357 Day 200 and 9 00:00:04.795 --> 00:00:07.665 these are the names of David's mightiest warriors. 00:00:08.695 --> 00:00:14.315 The first was Jashobium the Hachmanite, who was the leader of the three, the three 00:00:14.315 --> 00:00:16.555 mightiest warriors among David's men. 00:00:17.265 --> 00:00:22.035 He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. 00:00:23.105 --> 00:00:29.170 Next in rank among the three was Eleazar, son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoa. 00:00:30.130 --> 00:00:35.060 Once, Eliezer and David stood together against the Philistines when the 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:37.260 entire Israelite army had fled. 00:00:38.050 --> 00:00:43.010 He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the 00:00:43.010 --> 00:00:45.220 Lord gave him a great victory that day. 00:00:46.010 --> 00:00:49.890 The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder. 00:00:50.950 --> 00:00:54.350 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agi from Herer. 00:00:55.290 --> 00:00:59.800 One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites 00:00:59.810 --> 00:01:01.410 in a field full of lentils. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:06.230 The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the 00:01:06.230 --> 00:01:08.420 field and beat back the Philistines. 00:01:09.070 --> 00:01:11.360 So the Lord brought about a great victory. 00:01:11.975 --> 00:01:16.935 Once, during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine 00:01:16.955 --> 00:01:19.275 army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. 00:01:19.965 --> 00:01:24.415 The three, who were among the thirty, an elite group among David's fighting 00:01:24.415 --> 00:01:26.655 men, went down to meet him there. 00:01:27.515 --> 00:01:30.145 David was staying in the stronghold at the time. 00:01:30.675 --> 00:01:34.225 And a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. 00:01:35.295 --> 00:01:41.105 David remarked longingly to his men, Oh, how I would love some of that good water 00:01:41.105 --> 00:01:43.325 from the well by the gate in Bethlehem. 00:01:44.745 --> 00:01:49.295 So the three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from 00:01:49.295 --> 00:01:52.825 the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. 00:01:53.570 --> 00:01:55.300 But he refused to drink it. 00:01:55.890 --> 00:01:59.320 Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 00:02:00.220 --> 00:02:03.750 The Lord forbid that I should drink this, he exclaimed. 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:07.780 This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked 00:02:07.810 --> 00:02:09.500 their lives to bring it to me. 00:02:10.600 --> 00:02:12.200 So David did not drink it. 00:02:13.090 --> 00:02:15.580 These are examples of the exploits of the three. 00:02:16.695 --> 00:02:21.765 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. 00:02:22.625 --> 00:02:27.385 He once used his spear to kill three hundred enemy warriors in a single battle. 00:02:28.215 --> 00:02:31.705 It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 00:02:32.605 --> 00:02:36.265 Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander. 00:02:36.695 --> 00:02:42.105 Though he was not one of the three, there was also Benea, son of Jehoiada, 00:02:42.495 --> 00:02:44.665 a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. 00:02:45.585 --> 00:02:50.195 He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. 00:02:51.105 --> 00:02:56.535 Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 00:02:57.315 --> 00:03:01.595 Once, armed only with a club, he killed an imposing Egyptian 00:03:01.595 --> 00:03:03.505 warrior who was armed with a spear. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:08.520 Benea wrenched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with it. 00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:13.840 Deeds like these made Benea as famous as the Three Mightiest Warriors. 00:03:14.540 --> 00:03:17.680 He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:22.410 was not one of the Three, and David made him captain of his bodyguard. 00:03:23.460 --> 00:03:28.445 Other members of the Thirty included Azahel, Joab's brother. 00:03:29.265 --> 00:03:32.185 Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem. 00:03:33.235 --> 00:03:34.885 Shammah, from Herod. 00:03:36.255 --> 00:03:37.925 Elika, from Herod. 00:03:38.825 --> 00:03:40.305 Helaz, from Pelan. 00:03:41.995 --> 00:03:45.035 Ira, son of Ikesh, from Tekoa. 00:03:46.205 --> 00:03:48.025 Abiyezer, from Ananoth. 00:03:48.995 --> 00:03:59.625 Sibachai, from Heusha, Zalman from Ahoah, Meharai from Netopha, Helot, son of Baena 00:03:59.635 --> 00:04:08.705 from Netopha, Ithai, son of Raibai, from Gibeah in the land of Benjamin, Benea 00:04:08.715 --> 00:04:12.895 from Pirithon, Heurai from Nehali Gayash. 00:04:15.005 --> 00:04:18.895 Abba Alban from Aruba Veth. 00:04:19.105 --> 00:04:23.685 From Beri Eli from Shea Alban. 00:04:25.005 --> 00:04:34.175 The sons of Jason, Jonathan, son of Shay from Haer Hyam, son of Sherah from 00:04:34.445 --> 00:04:39.015 Haer Ali, son of a Hassah from Meka. 00:04:41.465 --> 00:04:44.075 Son of AEL from Glo. 00:04:45.885 --> 00:04:47.415 Ro from Carmel. 00:04:49.285 --> 00:04:50.365 Ari from Aba. 00:04:51.995 --> 00:04:52.055 Aal. 00:04:52.115 --> 00:04:54.005 Son of Nathan from Zoba. 00:04:54.985 --> 00:04:56.275 Be Nai from Gadd. 00:04:57.345 --> 00:04:59.115 Zeik from Amman. 00:05:00.235 --> 00:05:01.945 Nera from Biro. 00:05:02.625 --> 00:05:04.455 The armor bearer of Joab. 00:05:04.605 --> 00:05:13.615 Son of Zaia, IRA from Jaar, gay rib from Jaar, Uriah, the Hittite. 00:05:14.725 --> 00:05:16.245 There were 37 in all. 00:05:18.305 --> 00:05:23.095 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel and he caused 00:05:23.095 --> 00:05:28.285 David to harm them by taking a census Go and count the people of 00:05:28.305 --> 00:05:30.705 Israel and Judah, the Lord told him. 00:05:31.765 --> 00:05:36.445 So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, Take a census 00:05:36.445 --> 00:05:41.755 of all the tribes of Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, 00:05:42.215 --> 00:05:44.435 so I may know how many people there are. 00:05:45.555 --> 00:05:51.165 But Joab replied to the king, May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred 00:05:51.165 --> 00:05:53.445 times as many people as there are now. 00:05:54.035 --> 00:05:57.785 But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? 00:05:58.895 --> 00:06:03.075 But the king insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the 00:06:03.075 --> 00:06:06.445 commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel. 00:06:07.025 --> 00:06:11.375 First they crossed the Jordan and camped at Aror, south of the town in 00:06:11.375 --> 00:06:13.295 the valley in the direction of Gad. 00:06:14.005 --> 00:06:19.185 Then they went on to Jazer, then to Gilead in the land of Tathim hotshai. 00:06:19.695 --> 00:06:22.215 And to Dan Jayan and around Toda. 00:06:24.035 --> 00:06:27.635 Then they came to the fortress of Tre and all the towns of 00:06:27.635 --> 00:06:29.375 the High VITs and Canaanites. 00:06:29.995 --> 00:06:35.995 Finally, they went south to Judah as far as Beersheba having gone through the 00:06:35.995 --> 00:06:38.695 entire land for nine months and 20 days. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.690 They returned to Jerusalem. 00:06:41.450 --> 00:06:43.970 Joab reported the number of people to the king. 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:49.120 There were 800, 000 capable warriors in Israel who could handle 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:52.400 a sword, and 500, 000 in Judah. 00:06:53.370 --> 00:06:57.810 But after he had taken the census, David's conscience began to bother him. 00:06:58.540 --> 00:07:03.110 And he said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly by taking this census. 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:07.190 Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing. 00:07:08.395 --> 00:07:11.215 The next morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet 00:07:11.215 --> 00:07:13.215 Gad, who was David's seer. 00:07:13.735 --> 00:07:15.015 This was the message. 00:07:15.935 --> 00:07:19.515 Go and say to David, This is what the Lord says. 00:07:20.485 --> 00:07:22.265 I will give you three choices. 00:07:22.985 --> 00:07:26.235 Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you. 00:07:27.385 --> 00:07:32.235 So Gad came to David and asked him, Will you choose three years of 00:07:32.235 --> 00:07:36.705 famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies? 00:07:37.195 --> 00:07:40.345 Or three days of severe plague throughout your land. 00:07:41.325 --> 00:07:45.415 Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me. 00:07:46.495 --> 00:07:52.215 I'm in a desperate situation, David replied to Gad, but let us fall into the 00:07:52.215 --> 00:07:55.155 hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great. 00:07:55.635 --> 00:07:57.935 Do not let me fall into human hands. 00:07:59.155 --> 00:08:04.545 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning and it lasted for three days. 00:08:05.225 --> 00:08:09.825 A total of 70, 000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in 00:08:09.825 --> 00:08:12.095 the north to Beersheba in the south. 00:08:12.935 --> 00:08:17.945 But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to 00:08:17.945 --> 00:08:21.245 the death angel, Stop, that is enough. 00:08:22.505 --> 00:08:25.645 At that moment, the angel of the Lord was by the threshing 00:08:25.645 --> 00:08:27.525 floor of Arana the Jebusite. 00:08:28.655 --> 00:08:33.485 When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, I am the one 00:08:33.495 --> 00:08:35.225 who has sinned and done wrong. 00:08:35.825 --> 00:08:38.195 But these people are as innocent as sheep. 00:08:38.515 --> 00:08:39.555 What have they done? 00:08:40.365 --> 00:08:43.295 Let your anger fall against me and my family. 00:08:44.445 --> 00:08:48.965 That day Gad came to David and said to him, Go up and build an 00:08:48.975 --> 00:08:51.655 altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Aaronah the Jebusite. 00:08:53.755 --> 00:08:56.665 So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. 00:08:57.715 --> 00:09:01.255 When Aronah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he 00:09:01.255 --> 00:09:04.365 came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 00:09:05.455 --> 00:09:07.915 Why have you come, my lord the king? 00:09:08.265 --> 00:09:09.225 Aronah asked. 00:09:10.125 --> 00:09:14.615 David replied, I have come to buy your threshing floor and to 00:09:14.615 --> 00:09:18.095 build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague. 00:09:19.165 --> 00:09:24.335 Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish, Aronah said to David. 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:27.920 Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:31.890 threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. 00:09:32.730 --> 00:09:36.250 I will give it all to you, your majesty, and may the Lord 00:09:36.250 --> 00:09:38.290 your God accept your sacrifice. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:45.510 But the king replied to Arana, No, I insist on buying it, for I will not 00:09:45.510 --> 00:09:49.610 present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing. 00:09:50.815 --> 00:09:55.675 So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. 00:09:56.745 --> 00:10:00.355 David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt 00:10:00.365 --> 00:10:02.085 offerings and peace offerings. 00:10:02.705 --> 00:10:05.735 And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the 00:10:05.735 --> 00:10:07.535 plague on Israel was stopped. 00:10:09.305 --> 00:10:12.155 This concludes today's Immerse Reading Experience. 00:10:12.295 --> 00:10:13.485 Thank you for joining us.