Quotes About Duty

He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but Davidís place was empty.

saying, ëPlease let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.í That is why he did not come to the kingís table.”

David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

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

You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your masterís grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your masterís grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.

But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his masterís servants; he did not go down to his house.

Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”

“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.

Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”

The kingís servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.”

“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands.

The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ëProtect the young man Absalom for my sake.í

So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ëGuard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.í

Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of this cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was the daughter of a king.”

and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace,

a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple—

the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king.

You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.