The construction of his own palace and the reception of the Ark within the folds of a new Tabernacle in Zion, now awoke in the king the desire to build a more ample and permanent Temple for Jehovah. The design received the Divine approval, but it was intimated to him by Nathan the prophet, that as _he was a man of war and blood_ (1 Chr. xxviii. 3), so peaceful a work would be better reserved for another. The refusal, however, was accompanied by a promise of the permanence of his dynasty; the mercy of Jehovah should not be taken from him as it had been from Saul; a son of his own should carry on the work, and his throne should be established for ever (2 Sam. vii. 12–17; 1 Chr. xvii. 3–15). CHAPTER III. _DAVID’S ARMY, HIS CONQUESTS, HIS SIN._ 2 SAM. VIII.–XII. 1 CHRON. XVIII.–XX. B.C. 1040–1033. THUS assured of the continuance of his kingdom, David began by a series of conquests to extend his power beyond the immediate boundaries of his own people, and to found an imperial dominion, which for the first time realized the prophetic description contained in the Promise made to his forefather Abraham (Gen. xv. 18–21). As instrumental to these conquests the military organization[286] of the Israelites was now materially developed, and David was enabled within ten years after the reduction of the fortress of Jebus to push his conquests far and wide, and _get him a name like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth_ (2 Sam. vii. 9). 1. On the South-west he turned his arms against his old enemies the _Philistines_, and subdued them, capturing Gath with its _daughter towns_[287] (1 Chr. xviii. 1). 2. On the South-east the _Edomites_ felt the weight of his arms. Together with Joab he carried on a campaign of six months against them (Comp. 2 Sam. viii. 14 with 1 K. xi. 15), during which period he put vast numbers to the sword, established garrisons in the country, and thus became master of the Eastern arm of the Red sea, and the caravan-routes to the marts and harbours of Arabia[288]. (Comp. Gen. xxvii. 29, 37, 40; Ps. lx. 6–12.) 3. On the North-east the kingdom of _Zobah_ had acquired considerable influence under Hadadezer, son of Rehob. David attacked him as he went to _recover his border at the river Euphrates_ (2 Sam. viii. 3), and defeated him with a loss of 1,000 chariots, 700 cavalry, and 20,000 infantry. Hadadezer’s allies, the Syrians of Damascus, then marched to his assistance, but they were routed with a loss of 22,000 men, and became David’s vassals. The wealth of Zobah was considerable. Several of Hadadezer’s officers carried _shields of gold_ (2 Sam. viii. 7), that is, probably, “iron or wooden frames overlaid with plates of the precious metal;” these David brought to Jerusalem, as also large stores of brass from other Syrian cities (1 Chr. xviii. 7, 8).