Quotes About Leadership

Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and Davidís sons were chief officials at the kingís side.

Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son.

So Hanun took Davidís servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba while the Ammonites came from their cities and marched out for battle.

On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country.

When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joabís brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him.

Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”

But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the kingís command was detestable to him.

So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ëYou must choose

And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my fatherís house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”

So David went up at the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David.

Ornan said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering—I will give it all.”