Quotes About Authority

So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.

And say to Amasa, ëArenít you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!í”

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldnít Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORDís anointed?”

And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.

That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ramís horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;

The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.

I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

I ground them as the dust of the earth; I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets.

Foreigners cower before me; when they hear me, they obey me.

The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ëHe who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

Nevertheless, the kingís word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel.

“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ëI am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.í”

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.

At that time Adonijah, Davidís son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.