撒母耳記下24:1-25

 

24:1 耶和華又向以色列人發怒，就激動大衛，使他吩咐人去數點以色列人和猶大人。
24:2 大衛就吩咐跟隨他的元帥約押說：「你去走遍以色列眾支派，從但直到別是巴，數點百姓，我好知道他們的數目。」
24:3 約押對王說：「無論百姓多少，願耶和華─你的上帝再加增百倍，使我主我王親眼得見。我主我王何必喜悅行這事呢？」
24:4 但王的命令勝過約押和眾軍長。約押和眾軍長就從王面前出去，數點以色列的百姓。
24:5 他們過了約旦河，在迦得谷中、城的右邊亞羅珥安營，與雅謝相對，
24:6 又到了基列和他停‧合示地，又到了但‧雅安，繞到西頓，
24:7 來到泰爾的保障，並希未人和迦南人的各城，又到猶大南方的別是巴。
24:8 他們走遍全地，過了九個月零二十天，就回到耶路撒冷。
24:9 約押將百姓的總數奏告於王：以色列拿刀的勇士有八十萬；猶大有五十萬。
24:10 大衛數點百姓以後，就心中自責，禱告耶和華說：「我行這事大有罪了。耶和華啊，求你除掉僕人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。」
24:11 大衛早晨起來，耶和華的話臨到先知迦得，就是大衛的先見，說：
24:12 「你去告訴大衛，說耶和華如此說：『我有三樣災，隨你選擇一樣，我好降與你。』」
24:13 於是迦得來見大衛，對他說：「你願意國中有七年的饑荒呢？是在你敵人面前逃跑，被追趕三個月呢？是在你國中有三日的瘟疫呢？現在你要揣摩思想，我好回覆那差我來的。」
24:14 大衛對迦得說：「我甚為難！我願落在耶和華的手裡，因為他有豐盛的憐憫。我不願落在人的手裡。」
24:15 於是，耶和華降瘟疫與以色列人，自早晨到所定的時候；從但直到別是巴，民間死了七萬人。
24:16 天使向耶路撒冷伸手要滅城的時候，耶和華後悔，就不降這災了，吩咐滅民的天使說：「夠了！住手吧！」那時耶和華的使者在耶布斯人亞勞拿的禾場那裡。
24:17 大衛看見滅民的天使，就禱告耶和華說：「我犯了罪，行了惡；但這群羊做了甚麼呢？願你的手攻擊我和我的父家。」
24:18 當日，迦得來見大衛，對他說：「你上去，在耶布斯人亞勞拿的禾場上為耶和華築一座壇。」
24:19 大衛就照著迦得奉耶和華名所說的話上去了。
24:20 亞勞拿觀看，見王和他臣僕前來，就迎接出去，臉伏於地，向王下拜，
24:21 說：「我主我王為何來到僕人這裡呢？」大衛說：「我要買你這禾場，為耶和華築一座壇，使民間的瘟疫止住。」
24:22 亞勞拿對大衛說：「我主我王，你喜悅用甚麼，就拿去獻祭。看哪，這裡有牛可以作燔祭，有打糧的器具和套牛的軛可以當柴燒。
24:23 王啊，這一切，我亞勞拿都奉給你」；又對王說：「願耶和華─你的上帝悅納你。」
24:24 王對亞勞拿說：「不然。我必要按著價值向你買；我不肯用白得之物作燔祭獻給耶和華─我的上帝。」大衛就用五十舍客勒銀子買了那禾場與牛。
24:25 大衛在那裡為耶和華築了一座壇，獻燔祭和平安祭。如此，耶和華垂聽國民所求的，瘟疫在以色列人中就止住了。

 

 Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

² So the king said to Joab and the army commanders^[a] with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”

³ But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”

⁴ The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

⁵ After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. ⁶ They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. ⁷ Then they went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah.

⁸ After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

⁹ Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

¹⁰ David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

¹¹ Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: ¹² “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

¹³ So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three^[b] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

¹⁴ David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

¹⁵ So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. ¹⁶ When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,^[c] have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

David Builds an Altar

¹⁸ On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” ¹⁹ So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. ²⁰ When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”

“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

²² Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. ²³ Your Majesty, Araunah^[d] gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lord your God accept you.”

²⁴ But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels^[e] of silver for them. ²⁵ David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

 

*************

 

    大衛點數人數是出於心中的驕傲，想知道自己擁有多少百姓，好展現國力有多麼強大！這樣的做法是上帝所不喜悅，一開始約押亞警告他：「無論百姓多少，願耶和華─你的上帝再加增百倍，使我主我王親眼得見。我主我王何必喜悅行這事呢？」

 

    數點百姓以後，就心中自責，禱告耶和華說：「我行這事大有罪了。耶和華啊，求你除掉僕人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。」

 

    但是事情做了收不回來，上帝的災難仍然臨到，使大衛知道，上帝是輕慢不得的！

 

    我們平時服事也要注意這些事，不是照自己的喜好，而是要照上帝的喜好行事，所以教會要有懲治的作為！如《韋斯敏斯德信條第卅章論教會的懲戒》第三節所說：「教會為了矯正或獲得犯罪的弟兄，阻止其他弟兄犯同樣的罪，除去那足以感染全團的酵；擁護基督的尊榮和福音神聖的承認；避免上帝的震怒（如他們容忍惡譽昭彰和剛愎的犯罪者來褻瀆上帝的聖約，和此約的印證，此忿怒正可臨到教會），必須實行懲戒。」

 

    因此，弟兄姊妹要互相勸勉，好使教會保持聖潔，蒙上帝喜悅與賜福！

 

撒母耳記下23章

     撒母耳記下23:1-39   ,

撒母耳記下23:1-39

 

23:1 以下是大衛末了的話。耶西的兒子大衛得居高位，是雅各上帝所膏的，作以色列的美歌者，說：
23:2 耶和華的靈藉著我說：他的話在我口中。
23:3 以色列的上帝、以色列的磐石曉諭我說：那以公義治理人民的，敬畏上帝執掌權柄，
23:4 他必像日出的晨光，如無雲的清晨，雨後的晴光，使地發生嫩草。
23:5 我家在上帝面前並非如此；上帝卻與我立永遠的約。這約凡事堅穩，關乎我的一切救恩和我一切所想望的，他豈不為我成就嗎？
23:6 但匪類都必像荊棘被丟棄；人不敢用手拿它；
23:7 拿它的人必帶鐵器和槍桿，終久它必被火焚燒。
23:8 大衛勇士的名字記在下面：他革捫人約設‧巴設，又稱伊斯尼人亞底挪，他是軍長的統領，一時擊殺了八百人。
23:9 其次是亞合人朵多的兒子以利亞撒。從前非利士人聚集要打仗，以色列人迎著上去，有跟隨大衛的三個勇士向非利士人罵陣，其中有以利亞撒。
23:10 他起來擊殺非利士人，直到手臂疲乏，手黏住刀把。那日耶和華使以色列人大獲全勝；眾民在以利亞撒後頭專奪財物。
23:11 其次是哈拉人亞基的兒子沙瑪。一日，非利士人聚集成群，在一塊長滿紅豆的田裡，眾民就在非利士人面前逃跑。
23:12 沙瑪卻站在那田間擊殺非利士人，救護了那田。耶和華使以色列人大獲全勝。
23:13 收割的時候，有三十個勇士中的三個人下到亞杜蘭洞見大衛。非利士的軍兵在利乏音谷安營。
23:14 那時大衛在山寨，非利士人的防營在伯利恆。
23:15 大衛渴想，說：「甚願有人將伯利恆城門旁、井裡的水打來給我喝。」
23:16 這三個勇士就闖過非利士人的營盤，從伯利恆城門旁的井裡打水，拿來奉給大衛。他卻不肯喝，將水奠在耶和華面前，
23:17 說：「耶和華啊，這三個人冒死去打水；這水好像他們的血一般，我斷不敢喝。」如此，大衛不肯喝。這是三個勇士所做的事。
23:18 洗魯雅的兒子、約押的兄弟亞比篩是這三個勇士的首領；他舉槍殺了三百人，就在三個勇士裡得了名。
23:19 他在這三個勇士裡是最尊貴的，所以作他們的首領，只是不及前三個勇士。
23:20 有甲薛勇士耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅行過大能的事；他殺了摩押人亞利伊勒的兩個兒子，又在下雪的時候下坑裡去，殺了一個獅子，
23:21 又殺了一個強壯的埃及人；埃及人手裡拿著槍，比拿雅只拿著棍子下去，從埃及人手裡奪過槍來，用那槍將他殺死。
23:22 這是耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅所行的事，就在三個勇士裡得了名。
23:23 他比那三十個勇士都尊貴，只是不及前三個勇士。大衛立他作護衛長。
23:24 三十個勇士裡有約押的兄弟亞撒黑，伯利恆人朵多的兒子伊勒哈難，
23:25 哈律人沙瑪，哈律人以利加，
23:26 帕勒提人希利斯，提哥亞人益吉的兒子以拉，
23:27 亞拿突人亞比以謝，戶沙人米本乃，
23:28 亞合人撒們，尼陀法人瑪哈萊，
23:29 尼陀法人巴拿的兒子希立，便雅憫族、基比亞人利拜的兒子以太，
23:30 比拉頓人比拿雅，迦實溪人希太，
23:31 伯亞拉巴人亞比亞本，巴魯米人押斯瑪弗，
23:32 沙本人以利雅哈巴，雅善兒子中的約拿單，
23:33 哈拉人沙瑪，哈拉人沙拉的兒子亞希暗，
23:34 瑪迦人亞哈拜的兒子以利法列，基羅人亞希多弗的兒子以連，
23:35 迦密人希斯萊，亞巴人帕萊，
23:36 瑣巴人拿單的兒子以甲，迦得人巴尼，
23:37 亞捫人洗勒，比錄人拿哈萊（是給洗魯雅的兒子約押拿兵器的），
23:38 以帖人以拉，以帖人迦立，
23:39 赫人烏利亞，共有三十七人。

 

 These are the last words of David:

“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
    the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,
the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
    the hero of Israel’s songs:

² “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me;
    his word was on my tongue.
³ The God of Israel spoke,
    the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,
    when he rules in the fear of God,
⁴ he is like the light of morning at sunrise
    on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
    that brings grass from the earth.’

⁵ “If my house were not right with God,
    surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
    arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
    and grant me my every desire.
⁶ But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
    which are not gathered with the hand.
⁷ Whoever touches thorns
    uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
    they are burned up where they lie.”

⁸ These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:

Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter.

⁹ Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, ¹⁰ but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

¹¹ Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. ¹² But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹³ During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁵ David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁶ So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. ¹⁷ “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

¹⁸ Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. ¹⁹ Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

²⁰ Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²¹ And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²² Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. ²³ He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁴ Among the Thirty were:

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

²⁵ Shammah the Harodite,

Elika the Harodite,

²⁶ Helez the Paltite,

Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth,

Sibbekai^[f] the Hushathite,

²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite,

²⁹ Heled^[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hiddai^[h] from the ravines of Gaash,

³¹ Abi-Albon the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Barhumite,

³² Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

the sons of Jashen,

Jonathan ³³ son of^[i] Shammah the Hararite,

Ahiam son of Sharar^[j] the Hararite,

³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite,

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

³⁵ Hezro the Carmelite,

Paarai the Arbite,

³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah,

the son of Hagri,^[k]

³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

³⁸ Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite

³⁹ and Uriah the Hittite.

There were thirty-seven in all.

 

*************

 

    大衛臨終前感念上帝的保守，更知道上帝與他立的約是永遠的約，就作一首詩來感謝與記念上帝，這首詩沒有在詩篇收錄，然而這是篇宣告：上帝的保守使他和他的子孫可以做王在上帝面前！

 

    這之後又載他的勇士的事蹟和名字，可見上帝紀念這些人、事和物，使他們的忠心永遠被紀念！

 

    其實上帝也這樣善待每一位屬上帝的子民，紀念每一位為上帝擺上的人！上帝給的獎賞在天上也是大的，因為上帝是公平的上帝，他絕對不會虧待人，正如祂應許為主名受苦的人：「當那日，你們要歡喜跳躍，因為你們在天上的賞賜是大的。他們的祖宗待先知也是這樣。」（路加福音6:23）

 

    我們要存這樣盼望向前行！