Translation in British English (The First Book of the Chronicles)
1:1 Adam, Seth, Enos,
1:2 Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared,
1:3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1:5 Japheth’s offspring: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
1:6 Gomer’s progeny: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
1:7 Javan’s lineage: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
1:8 Ham’s sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
1:9 Cush’s descendants: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtecha. Raamah’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
1:10 Cush fathered Nimrod, who became a mighty one on earth.
1:11 Mizraim fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
1:12 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
1:13 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
1:14 and the Jebusite, Amorite, Girgashite,
1:15 Hivite, Arkite, Sinite,
1:16 Arvadite, Zemarite, and Hamathite.
1:17 Shem’s sons: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
1:18 Arphaxad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
1:19 Eber had two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; his brother’s name was Joktan.
1:20 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
1:21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
1:22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
1:23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were Joktan’s sons.
1:24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
1:25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
1:26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,
1:27 Abram, who is Abraham.
1:28 Abraham’s sons: Isaac and Ishmael.
1:29 These are their genealogies: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s firstborn, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
1:30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
1:31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are Ishmael’s sons.
1:32 Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
1:33 Midian’s sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these are Keturah’s children.
1:34 Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaac’s sons: Esau and Israel.
1:35 Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
1:36 Eliphaz’s sons: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.
1:37 Reuel’s sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
1:38 Seir’s sons: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1:39 Lotan’s sons: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
1:40 Shobal’s sons: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon’s sons: Aiah and Anah.
1:41 Anah’s son: Dishon. Dishon’s sons: Amram, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
1:42 Ezer’s sons: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. Dishan’s sons: Uz and Aran.
1:43 These are the kings who reigned in Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor; his city was Dinhabah.
1:44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him.
1:45 After Jobab’s death, Husham from the land of the Temanites ruled.
1:46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the field of Moab, succeeded him; his city was Avith.
1:47 After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.
1:48 After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth by the river succeeded him.
1:49 When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor succeeded him.
1:50 After Baal-hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; his city was Pai, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.
1:51 Hadad also died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timnah, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth, 1:52 chief Aholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon, 1:53 chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar, 1:54 chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
2:1 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar and Zebulun; 2:2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin; Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
2:3 Judah’s sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bathshua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight, so He put him to death.
2:4 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. All of Judah’s sons were five.
2:5 Perez’s sons: Hezron and Hamul.
2:6 Zerah’s sons: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Darda—five in total.
2:7 Carmi’s son: Achar, who troubled Israel by violating the ban.
2:8 Ethan’s son: Azariah.
2:9 Hezron’s sons, born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
2:10 Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, leader of Judah’s sons; 2:11 Nahshon fathered Salmon, and Salmon fathered Boaz, 2:12 Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse, 2:13 Jesse fathered his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 2:14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 2:15 Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh. 2:16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s sons: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel—three.
2:17 Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
2:18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. Her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
2:19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
2:20 Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.
2:21 Later, Hezron went to the daughter of Machir father of Gilead. He married her when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub.
2:22 Segub fathered Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in the land of Gilead.
2:23 But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair along with Kenath and its surrounding villages—sixty towns. All these belonged to Machir father of Gilead.
2:24 After Hezron’s death, Caleb Ephrathah’s wife Abijah bore him Ashhur father of Tekoa.
2:25 Jerahmeel, Hezron’s firstborn, had sons: Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
2:26 Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah; she was Onam’s mother.
2:27 Ram, Jerahmeel’s firstborn, had sons: Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
2:28 Onam’s sons: Shammai and Jada. Shammai’s sons: Nadab and Abishur.
2:29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.
2:30 Nadab’s sons: Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.
2:31 Appaim’s son: Ishi. Ishi’s son: Sheshan. Sheshan’s children: Ahlai.
2:32 Jada, Shammai’s brother, had sons: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.
2:33 Jonathan’s sons: Peleth and Zaza. These were Jerahmeel’s sons.
2:34 Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had an Egyptian servant named Jarha.
2:35 Sheshan gave his daughter to his servant Jarha as a wife; she bore him Attai.
2:36 Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad. 2:37 Zabad fathered Ephlal, and Ephlal fathered Obed. 2:38 Obed fathered Jehu, and Jehu fathered Azariah. 2:39 Azariah fathered Helez, and Helez fathered Eleasah. 2:40 Eleasah fathered Sisamai, and Sisamai fathered Shallum. 2:41 Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.
2:42 Caleb, Jerahmeel’s brother, had sons: Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph. The sons of Mareshah, the father of Hebron.
2:43 Hebron’s sons: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
2:44 Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem fathered Shammai.
2:45 Shammai’s son was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth-zur.
2:46 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran fathered Gazez.
2:47 Jahdai’s sons: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
2:48 Caleb’s concubine Maacah bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
2:49 She also bore Shaaph, the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah.
2:50 These were Caleb’s descendants. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim, 2:51 Salma, the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph, the father of Beth-gader.
2:52 Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim, had other sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
2:53 And the families of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.
2:54 The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Ataroth-beth-joab, half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
2:55 The families of scribes living at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
3:1 These are David’s sons born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelitess; 3:2 the third Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth Adonijah, son of Haggith; 3:3 the fifth Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth Ithream, by his wife Eglah.
3:4 Six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. Then he reigned for thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
3:5 These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—four by Bath-shua, daughter of Ammiel. 3:6 Then: Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, 3:7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 3:8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine in total.
3:9 All these were David’s sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
3:10 Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 3:11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 3:12 Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, 3:14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.
3:15 Josiah’s sons: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
3:16 Jehoiakim’s sons: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
3:17 Jeconiah’s descendants: Assir, Shealtiel his son, 3:18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
3:19 Pedaiah’s sons: Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel’s sons: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister; 3:20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—five in total.
3:21 Hananiah’s descendants: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.
3:22 Shecaniah’s descendants: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in total.
3:23 Neariah’s sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam—three.
3:24 Elioenai’s progeny were Hodaiah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Dalaiah, and Anani — a total of seven.
4:1 Offspring of Judah: Pharez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
4:2 Reaiah, son of Shobal, fathered Jahath; Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These are the Zorathite clans.
4:3 Offspring of Etam’s patriarch: Jezreel, Ishma, Idbash, and their sister Hazelelponi;
4:4 Penuel, patriarch of Gedor, and Ezer, patriarch of Hushah. These are the descendants of Hur, Ephratah’s firstborn and progenitor of Bethlehem.
4:5 Ashur, progenitor of Tekoa, had two wives: Helah and Naarah.
4:6 Naarah bore him Ahuzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were Naarah’s sons.
4:7 Helah’s sons: Zereth, Jezoar, and Ethnan.
4:8 Coz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the Aharhel clans, descendants of Harum.
4:9 Jabez surpassed his brothers in honour. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “I bore him in sorrow.”
4:10 Jabez implored the God of Israel, “Oh, that You would bless me abundantly, enlarge my territory, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from evil, so I may not suffer!” God granted his request.
4:11 Chelub, Shuah’s brother, fathered Mehir, who was Eshton’s father.
4:12 Eshton fathered Bethrapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the progenitor of Irnahash. These are the men of Recah.
4:13 Kenaz’s sons: Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel’s sons: Hathath.
4:14 Meonothai fathered Ophrah, and Seraiah fathered Joab, patriarch of the Craftsmen’s Valley, for they were craftsmen.
4:15 Caleb son of Jephunneh’s offspring: Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah’s sons, including Kenaz.
4:16 Jehallelel’s sons: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
4:17 Ezra’s sons: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. She bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, father of Eshtemoa.
4:18 His Judahite wife bore Jered, father of Gedor, Heber, father of Soco, and Jekuthiel, father of Zanoah. These are Bithiah’s sons, Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Mered married.
4:19 Hodiah’s wife, sister of Naham, bore Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
4:20 Shimon’s sons: Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. Ishi’s sons: Zoheth and Benzoheth.
4:21 Shelah son of Judah’s descendants: Er, father of Lecah, Laadah, father of Mareshah, and the fine linen workers’ families from Beth Ashbea,
4:22 Jokim, men of Chozeba, Joash, Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi Lehem. These accounts are ancient.
4:23 They were potters residing in Netaim and Gederah, serving the king’s purposes.
4:24 Simeon’s sons: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul;
4:25 his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, his son Mishma.
4:26 Mishma’s sons: his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, his son Shimei.
4:27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, nor did their family multiply like the Judeans.
4:28 They settled in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual,
4:29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
4:30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
4:31 Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David’s reign.
4:32 Their villages: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan—five cities;
4:33 and all their surrounding villages as far as Baal. These were their dwellings, and they have their genealogy.
4:34 Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah, son of Amaziah;
4:35 Joel, Jehu son of Josibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel;
4:36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah;
4:37 Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah—
4:38 these listed by name were leaders in their families, and their ancestral houses spread extensively.
4:39 They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, seeking pasture for their flocks.
4:40 They found lush and good pasture; the land was spacious, peaceful, and undisturbed, for Ham’s descendants had lived there previously.
4:41 These, listed by name, came during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah. They attacked their tents and the Meunites found there, annihilating them to this day, and settled in their place because there was pasture for their flocks.
4:42 Some of them, five hundred Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, sons of Ishi.
4:43 They struck down the remaining Amalekites who had escaped and have lived there to this day.
5:1 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn—(though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to Joseph’s sons, Israel’s son, because he defiled his father’s bed, and his lineage is not counted for the birthright;
5:2 Judah became prominent among his brothers, and a leader came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph)—
5:3 the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
5:4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
5:5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,
5:6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser, king of Assyria, took captive; he was a leader of the Reubenites.
5:7 His kin, by their clans, when the lineage of their generations was recorded: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
5:8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. He lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon;
5:9 he settled eastward to the edge of the desert, from the Euphrates River, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead.
5:10 In Saul’s days, they waged war against the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; they lived in their tents throughout the entire territory of Gilead.
5:11 The Gadites lived opposite them in Bashan, as far as Salecah:
5:12 Joel the chief, Shapham the second, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan.
5:13 Their kin, according to their ancestral houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven.
5:14 These are the children of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz;
5:15 Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, chief of their ancestral house.
5:16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon within their borders.
5:17 All of them were registered in genealogies during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.
5:18 The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 valiant men, capable of bearing shield and sword, shooting with a bow, and skilled in war.
5:19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.
5:20 They received help against them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands, for they cried out to God during the battle, and He granted their plea because they trusted in Him.
5:21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.
5:22 For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
5:23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.
5:24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
5:25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
5:26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.
6:1 The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
6:2 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
6:3 And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
6:4 Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,
6:5 And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,
6:6 And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,
6:7 Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
6:8 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,
6:9 And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan, 6:10 And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)
6:11 And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,
6:12 And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,
6:13 And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
6:14 And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,
6:15 And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
6:16 The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
6:17 And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.
6:18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
6:19 The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.
6:20 Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
6:21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
6:22 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
6:23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, 6:24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
6:25 And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.
6:26 As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
6:27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
6:28 And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.
6:29 The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,
6:30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
6:31 And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.
6:32 And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.
6:33 And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,
6:34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
6:35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
6:36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
6:37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
6:38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
6:39 And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
6:40 The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,
6:41 The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
6:42 The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
6:43 The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
6:44 And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
6:45 The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
6:46 The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
6:47 The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
6:48 Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
6:49 But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
6:50 And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
6:51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
6:52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
6:53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
6:54 Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.
6:55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.
6:56 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
6:57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,
6:58 And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,
6:59 And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:
6:60 And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
6:61 And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.
6:62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
6:63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
6:64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.
6:65 And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.
6:66 And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.
6:67 And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,
6:68 And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,
6:69 And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:
6:70 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.
6:71 Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:
6:72 And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,
6:73 And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:
6:74 And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,
6:75 And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:
6:76 And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.
6:77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:
6:78 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,
6:79 Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
6:80 And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
6:81 And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.
7:1 Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimrom, four.
7:2 And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
7:3 And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
7:4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
7:5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
7:6 The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7:7 And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
7:8 And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
7:9 And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
7:10 The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
7:11 All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
7:12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
7:13 The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
7:14 The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
7:15 And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
7:16 And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
7:17 And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
7:18 And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
7:19 And the sons of Shemidah were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
7:20 And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
7:21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
7:22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
7:23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
7:24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)
7:25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son.
7:26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son.
7:27 Non his son, Jehoshuah his son.
7:28 And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
7:29 And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
7:30 The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
7:31 And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
7:32 And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
7:33 And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
7:34 And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
7:35 And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
7:36 The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
7:37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
7:38 And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
7:39 And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
7:40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father’s house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
8:1 Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
8:2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
8:3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
8:4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
8:5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
8:6 And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
8:7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
8:8 And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
8:9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
8:10 And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
8:11 And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
8:12 The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
8:13 Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
8:14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
8:15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
8:16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
8:17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
8:18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
8:19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
8:20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, 8:21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
8:22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
8:23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
8:24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
8:25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
8:26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
8:27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
8:28 These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
8:29 And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife’s name was Maachah:
8:30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
8:31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
8:32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
8:33 And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
8:34 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
8:35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
8:36 And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
8:37 And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
8:38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
8:39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
8:40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.
9:1 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.
9:2 Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.
9:3 And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;
9:4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.
9:5 And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
9:6 And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
9:7 And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,
9:8 And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9:9 And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.
9:10 And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,
9:11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
9:12 And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
9:13 And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
9:14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
9:15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;
9:16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.
9:17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;
9:18 Who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
9:19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
9:20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.
9:21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
9:22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.
9:23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.
9:24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
9:25 And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.
9:26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
9:27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.
9:28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.
9:29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
9:30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
9:31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.
9:32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.
9:33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
9:34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
9:35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s name was Maachah:
9:36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab.
9:37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
9:38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
9:39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
9:40 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.
9:41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.
9:42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;
9:43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
9:44 Azel fathered six sons, named Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were Azel’s progeny.
10:1 The Philistines engaged in battle with Israel; the Israelite forces were routed by the Philistines and suffered severe losses on Mount Gilboa.
10:2 The Philistines pressed hard upon Saul and his sons, leading to the demise of Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s offspring.
10:3 As the conflict intensified, Saul found himself besieged by archers, sustaining grave injuries.
10:4 Saul implored his armourbearer to end his life with a sword thrust, fearing dishonour at the hands of the uncircumcised. Yet, his armourbearer, stricken with terror, refused. Consequently, Saul fell on his sword.
10:5 Witnessing Saul’s death, his armourbearer also took his own life with the sword.
10:6 Thus, Saul, his three sons, and his entire household met their demise simultaneously.
10:7 Observing their defeat and the deaths of Saul and his sons, the Israelite men in the vicinity abandoned their towns and fled, leaving them to be occupied by the Philistines.
10:8 The following day, as the Philistines came to plunder the fallen, they discovered Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa.
10:9 They stripped Saul, severed his head, and took his armour, dispatching these tokens throughout Philistia to proclaim the news to their idols and populace.
10:10 Saul’s armour was placed in the temple of their gods, and his head was affixed in the temple of Dagon.
10:11 When the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead learned of the Philistines’ actions against Saul,
10:12 valiant men arose, retrieved Saul’s remains and those of his sons, transported them to Jabesh, interred their bones under the Jabesh oak, and mourned, fasting for seven days.
10:13 Saul met his end due to his betrayal of the LORD, disobeying the divine command and seeking guidance from a spirit medium instead of the LORD.
10:14 Thus, he did not seek the LORD’s counsel, prompting the LORD to cause his death and transfer the kingship to David, son of Jesse.
11:1 Subsequently, all Israel rallied to David at Hebron, proclaiming their kinship and allegiance.
11:2 Previously, even during Saul’s reign, David had been the one leading and safeguarding Israel. The LORD had spoken to David, appointing him shepherd and leader of His people.
11:3 Hence, Israel’s elders convened at Hebron. In the LORD’s presence, David formed a covenant with them, and they anointed him as Israel’s king, fulfilling the LORD’s decree through Samuel.
11:4 David, accompanied by all Israel, journeyed to Jerusalem (formerly Jebus), the homeland of the Jebusites.
11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus challenged David, declaring his inability to enter. Yet, David captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.
11:6 David proclaimed that the first to strike the Jebusites would become a commander. Joab, son of Zeruiah, led the charge and became the leader.
11:7 David took residence in the fortress, hence its designation as the City of David.
11:8 He fortified the city extensively, starting from the Millo and beyond, with Joab reconstructing the remaining areas.
11:9 Under the LORD’s blessing, David’s stature and kingdom flourished.
11:10 The leaders of David’s valiant warriors, alongside all Israel, reinforced his rule in accordance with the LORD’s word concerning Israel.
11:11 Among David’s mighty men was Jashobeam the Hachmonite, head of the officers; he wielded his spear against three hundred, slaying them in a single encounter.
11:12 Following him was Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three elite warriors.
11:13 He stood beside David at Pasdammim when the Philistines assembled for battle in a field of barley. The Israelites fled,
11:14 but they positioned themselves in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. Thus, the LORD secured a significant victory.
11:15 Three of the thirty commanders descended to David in the cave of Adullam while a Philistine encampment was positioned in the Valley of Rephaim.
11:16 At that time, David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine outpost was stationed in Bethlehem.
11:17 David yearned and exclaimed, “If only someone would fetch me a drink from the well at Bethlehem’s gate!”
11:18 The three braved the Philistine army, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it to David. But David refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD.
11:19 He declared, “The LORD forbid that I should do this! Can I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” For they brought it at the risk of their lives. Therefore, he would not drink it. These were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.
11:20 Abishai, Joab’s brother, was the leader of the three. He wielded his spear against three hundred men, slaying them, and earned renown among the three.
11:21 Among the three, he was the most distinguished and became their commander, but he did not equal the first three.
11:22 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, from Kabzeel, a valiant man with a record of mighty deeds, struck down two of Moab’s lion-like warriors. He also descended into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day.
11:23 He killed an Egyptian, a towering figure five cubits tall. The Egyptian held a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
11:24 These were the deeds of Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who gained fame among the three mighty warriors.
11:25 Although distinguished among the thirty, he did not reach the rank of the first three. David appointed him over his personal guard.
11:26 The valiant warriors of the armies included Asahel, brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
11:31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
11:32 Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
11:34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shage the Hararite,
11:35 Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
11:36 Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
11:38 Joel, brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,
11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, armourbearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,
11:42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites and thirty with him,
11:43 Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel, sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
11:45 Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai, and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
11:47 Eliel, Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
12:1 These are the ones who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who supported him in battle.
12:2 They were equipped with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow with either the right or left hand. They were Saul’s kinsmen from Benjamin.
12:3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite.
12:4 Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
12:5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
12:6 Elkanah, Jesiah, Azareel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
12:7 Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
12:8 Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness, mighty warriors, troops fit for battle, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like those of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains;
12:9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
12:14 These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand.
12:15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing its banks, and they put to flight all those living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
12:16 Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to David at the stronghold.
12:17 David went out to meet them and said, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of wrongdoing, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge.”
12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the commanders, and he said, “We are yours, David, and with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
12:19 Some men from Manasseh defected to David when he was going to fight with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help the Philistines, for after consultation, their rulers sent him away, saying, “He will defect to his master Saul at the risk of our heads.”
12:20 As David was returning to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, commanders of units of a thousand in Manasseh.
12:21 They helped David against the raiding bands, for all of them were mighty warriors and commanders in the army.
12:22 Day after day men came to help David until he had a great army, like the army of God.
12:23 These are the numbers of the divisions ready for war that came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the LORD had said.
12:24 The men of Judah carrying shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred, ready for war.
12:25 Of the men of Simeon, mighty warriors ready for battle, seven thousand one hundred.
12:26 Of the Levites, four thousand six hundred.
12:27 Jehoiada, leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred;
12:28 Zadok, a young warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two commanders.
12:29 Of the Benjaminites, the relatives of Saul, three thousand, for until then the majority of them had remained loyal to Saul’s house.
12:30 Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, famous in their own clans.
12:31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, designated by name to come and make David king.
12:32 Of the Issacharites, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do, two hundred chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.
12:33 Of Zebulun, fifty thousand experienced soldiers, equipped for battle with all types of weapons, who could maintain formation with a unified purpose.
12:34 Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, and with them shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.
12:35 Of the Danites, experienced in warfare, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
12:36 Of Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle, forty thousand.
12:37 From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all types of weapons for battle, one hundred and twenty thousand.
12:38 All these were fighting men who volunteered to serve in the ranks. They came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel was also of one mind to make David king.
12:39 They spent three days there with David, feasting on the provisions their kin had prepared for them.
12:40 Their neighbors, from as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of flour, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
13:1 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
13:2 David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let’s send a message far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands, to join us.
13:3 And let’s bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
13:4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people.
13:5 So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.
13:6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.
13:7 They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it.
13:8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing and playing lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
13:9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark because the oxen stumbled.
13:10 The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
13:11 David was angry because the LORD’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez Uzzah to this day.
13:12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
13:13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
13:14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had.
14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.
14:2 And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
14:3 In Jerusalem, David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.
14:4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went up in search of David. But David heard about it and went out to meet them.
14:9 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;
14:10 so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The LORD answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”
14:11 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and there David defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.
14:12 The Philistines had left their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.
14:13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley;
14:14 and again David inquired of God. God answered him, “Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
14:15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
14:16 So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
14:17 The fame of David spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.
15:1 David built houses for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
15:2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever.”
15:3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
15:4 He gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
15:5 From the descendants of Kohath, Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;
15:6 from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
15:7 from the descendants of Gershom, Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
15:8 from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
15:9 from the descendants of Hebron, Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
15:10 from the descendants of Uzziel, Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
15:11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
15:12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
15:13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
15:14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
15:15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps, and cymbals.
15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
15:18 and with them their relatives from the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;
15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to Alamoth,
15:21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with harps tuned to the Sheminith.
15:22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music because he was skillful.
15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark.
15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
15:25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with rejoicing.
15:26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed.
15:27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.
15:28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
15:29 As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
16:1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
16:2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
16:3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a good piece of meat, and a raisin cake to every Israelite man and woman.
16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
16:5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
16:6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
16:7 That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD:
16:8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
16:9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
16:10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
16:11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
16:12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
16:13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
16:14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
16:15 He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16:16 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
16:17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
16:18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
16:19 When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
16:20 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
16:21 He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
16:22 “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
16:23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
16:24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
16:25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
16:26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
16:27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
16:28 Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
16:32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
16:33 Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
16:34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
16:35 Cry out, “Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”
16:36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And all the people proclaimed, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
16:37 There, in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, he left Asaph and his brothers to minister before the Ark continually, as each day required.
16:38 Along with them, he left Obed-edom and his 68 brethren, including Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah, to serve as gatekeepers.
16:39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests were stationed before the Tabernacle of the LORD at the high altar in Gibeon,
16:40 to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had commanded Israel.
16:41 With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, “for his love endures forever.”
16:42 Heman and Jeduthun were also there with trumpets and cymbals for the musicians and with musical instruments for the songs of God. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed as gatekeepers.
16:43 Then all the people departed, each to their own home, and David returned to bless his family.
17:1 While David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
17:2 Nathan replied to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
17:3 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
17:4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not to build me a house to dwell in.
17:5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up until this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.
17:6 In all my travels with all Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, asking, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'”
17:7 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.
17:8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth.
17:9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
17:10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you.
17:11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
17:12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
17:13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor.
17:14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'”
17:15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
17:16 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
17:17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God.
17:18 What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant,
17:19 LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
17:20 There is no one like you, LORD, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
17:21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
17:22 You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
17:23 “Now, LORD, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised,
17:24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
17:25 LORD my God, you have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you.
17:26 And now, LORD, you are God and have promised this good thing to your servant.
17:27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”
18:1 After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.
18:2 David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought tribute.
18:3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, near Hamath, as he went to establish his rule by the Euphrates River.
18:4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
18:5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.
18:6 He put garrisons in the Syrian kingdom of Damascus, and the Syrians became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
18:7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
18:8 From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
18:9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,
18:10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze.
18:11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:
18:12 Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
18:13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
18:14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
18:15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
18:16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
18:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
18:18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
19:1 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king.
19:2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites,
19:3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the land and overthrow it?”
19:4 So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
19:5 When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then return.”
19:6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-Naharaim, Aram-Maacah, and Zobah.
19:7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and encamped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and came for battle.
19:8 On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men.
19:9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
19:10 When Joab saw that the battle lines were against him both in front and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and deployed them against the Arameans.
19:11 He put the rest of the army under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites.
19:12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.
19:13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.”
19:14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.
19:15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
19:16 After seeing that they had been defeated by Israel, the Arameans sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
19:17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to them. David drew up his forces against them, and when he fought them, the Arameans fled before him.
19:18 David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.
19:19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After that, the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces. He laid waste the land of the Ammonites and went to Rabbah and besieged it, but David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.
20:2 David took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David’s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city
20:3 and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes. David did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
20:4 In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued.
20:5 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.
20:6 In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
20:7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
20:8 These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
21:2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
21:3 But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
21:4 Yet the king’s command overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem.
21:5 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: in all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
21:6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king’s command was repugnant to him.
21:7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
21:8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done very foolishly.”
21:9 The LORD said to Gad, David’s seer,
21:10 “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.'”
21:11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Take your choice:
21:12 three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the LORD—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to the one who sent me.”
21:13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
21:14 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.
21:15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
21:16 David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown.
21:17 David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the census of the people? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done, LORD my God? Let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.”
21:18 Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
21:19 So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.
21:20 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.
21:21 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.”
21:22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
21:23 Everything, O king, Araunah gives to his majesty.” Araunah also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.”
21:24 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 for fifty shekels of silver.
21:25 And David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
21:26 The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.
21:27 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there.
21:28 The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon.
21:29 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
22:1 Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
22:2 David instructed the assembly of foreigners residing within the borders of Israel, directing the stonemasons to carve out refined stones for the construction of God’s sanctuary.
22:3 David accumulated vast quantities of iron for fabricating the nails for gate hinges and brackets, and an immense stockpile of bronze, its weight immeasurable;
22:4 also, an abundance of cedar logs, as the Sidonians and Tyrians transported copious amounts of cedar to David.
22:5 David observed, “Solomon, my son, is inexperienced and delicate, and the temple destined for the LORD must be exceptionally grand, to gain renown and splendour in all lands. Hence, I will make preparations now.” Thus, David amassed materials profusely before his demise.
22:6 Subsequently, he summoned his son Solomon, imparting the task of constructing a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel.
22:7 David conveyed to Solomon, “My son, I harboured the intention of building a temple for the name of the LORD my God.
22:8 However, the LORD addressed me, saying, ‘You have shed blood abundantly and waged great wars. You are not to construct a temple for My name, as you have spilled much blood on the earth in My presence.
22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to you. He shall be a man of tranquillity, and I will grant him respite from all his adversaries surrounding him. His name shall be Solomon, and during his reign, I will bestow peace and calm upon Israel.
22:10 He will erect a temple for My name. He shall be My son, and I shall be his father. I will establish the sovereignty of his kingdom over Israel perpetually.
22:11 Now, my son, may the LORD be with you. Prosper in constructing the temple of the LORD your God, as He has instructed you.
22:12 May the LORD grant you discernment and insight, and may He appoint you over Israel, so that you may adhere to the law of the LORD your God.
22:13 Then you shall prosper, if you diligently observe the statutes and rulings which the LORD charged Moses with for Israel. Be strong and resolute; do not fear nor be disheartened.
22:14 Now, see, in my tribulation, I have prepared for the LORD’s temple one hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, and an abundance of bronze and iron, beyond weighing; timber and stone too I have amassed, and you may add to these.
22:15 Moreover, a multitude of workmen are at your disposal, skilled in every form of labour, stonecutters, carpenters, and artisans of every craft for any kind of work.
22:16 The gold, the silver, the bronze, and the iron are without measure. Arise and begin the work, and may the LORD be with you.”
22:17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to support Solomon his son, declaring,
22:18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? Has He not granted you peace on all sides? For He has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and His people.
22:19 Now, set your hearts and souls to seek the LORD your God. Arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the temple built for the name of the LORD.”
23:1 When David was advanced in age and full of years, he appointed Solomon his son as king over Israel.
23:2 He assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites.
23:3 The Levites, thirty years old and above, were counted, and their individual number amounted to thirty-eight thousand.
23:4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the LORD’s house; six thousand were officers and judges;
23:5 four thousand were gatekeepers; and four thousand praised the LORD with the musical instruments “I have made for giving praise,” David said.
23:6 David organized them into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
23:7 Of the Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei.
23:8 The sons of Ladan: the chief Jehiel, Zetham, and Joel, three.
23:9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the clans of Ladan.
23:10 And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
23:11 Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, therefore they were counted as one clan in the records.
23:12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
23:13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to Him, and to bless in His name forever.
23:14 Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
23:15 The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
23:16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
23:17 The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
23:18 The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
23:19 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
23:20 The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Jesiah the second.
23:21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
23:22 Eleazar died having no sons, only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.
23:23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
23:24 These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses, the heads of the fathers as they were registered by name in their headcount, doing the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward.
23:25 For David said, “The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.
23:26 And also, the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of its equipment for its service.”
23:27 For by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above.
23:28 Their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, the chambers, and the purification of all holy things, the work of the service of the house of God,
23:29 for the showbread, the fine flour for the grain offering, the unleavened wafers, what is baked in the pan, what is mixed, and all measurements of quantity and size;
23:30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening;
23:31 and to offer all burnt offerings to the LORD on the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before the LORD;
23:32 and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of the LORD.
24:1 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24:2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
24:3 David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their service in their priestly duties.
24:4 There were more leaders found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, and thus they were divided: among the sons of Eleazar, sixteen leaders of ancestral houses; and among the sons of Ithamar, eight leaders of their ancestral houses.
24:5 They were divided impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among both the descendants of Eleazar and the descendants of Ithamar.
24:6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, one of the Levites, recorded them before the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families of the priests and the Levites. One family was taken for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.
24:7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
24:8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
24:9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
24:11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
24:12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
24:13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
24:14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
24:15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,
24:16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,
24:17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,
24:18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
24:19 These were their assignments for their service when entering the house of the LORD according to their regulations, given by their ancestor Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
24:20 Of the rest of the descendants of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
24:21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.
24:22 Of the Izharites, Shelomith; of the sons of Shelomith, Jahath.
24:23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24:24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
24:25 The brother of Micah was Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
24:26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
24:27 The descendants of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
24:28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
24:29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.
24:30 And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their ancestral houses.
24:31 They also cast lots just as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, did in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and the Levites. The principal families did the same as their younger brothers.
25:1 Furthermore, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The number of the men who performed their service was:
25:2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s order.
25:3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
25:4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekasha, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
25:5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God to lift up the horn. And God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
25:6 All these were under the direction of their father for music in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king’s order.
25:7 The number of them, along with their brothers who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
25:8 And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.
25:9 The first lot for Asaph fell to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah. He and his brothers and sons were twelve;
25:10 the third to Zaccur, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:11 the fourth to Izri, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:12 the fifth to Nethaniah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:13 the sixth to Bukkiah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:14 the seventh to Jesharelah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:16 the ninth to Mattaniah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:17 the tenth to Shimei, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:18 the eleventh to Azarel, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:20 the thirteenth to Shubael, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:23 the sixteenth to Hananiah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:25 the eighteenth to Hanani, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:26 the nineteenth to Mallothi, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:27 the twentieth to Eliathah, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:28 the twenty-first to Hothir, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:29 the twenty-second to Giddalti, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth, he and his sons and brothers, twelve;
25:31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, he and his sons and brothers, twelve.
26:1 Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
26:2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
26:3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
26:4 The sons of Obed-edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth.
26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God had blessed him.
26:6 Also, to Shemaiah his son were born sons who governed their father’s houses, for they were men of great valor.
26:7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were capable men, Elihu and Semachiah.
26:8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their brothers, able men with strength for the service, sixty-two of Obed-edom.
26:9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, capable men, eighteen.
26:10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),
26:11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
26:12 Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brothers, to serve in the house of the LORD.
26:13 They cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their father’s houses, for every gate.
26:14 The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise and prudent counsellor, they cast lots, and his lot came out for the north.
26:15 To Obed-edom the south, and to his sons the storehouse.
26:16 To Shuppim and Hosah the west, with the gate Shallecheth, by the ascending road, watch corresponding to watch.
26:17 On the east six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and at the storehouse two by two.
26:18 At Parbar to the west, four at the road and two at Parbar.
26:19 These are the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.
26:20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things.
26:21 The sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Laadan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
26:22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD.
26:23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
26:24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries.
26:25 And his relatives by Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
26:26 This Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated things that King David, the heads of the fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army had dedicated.
26:27 They dedicated part of the spoils won in battles to maintain the house of the LORD.
26:28 And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated; whatever anyone had dedicated, it was under the charge of Shelomith and his relatives.
26:29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to external duties over Israel, as officers and judges.
26:30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had oversight of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the service of the king.
26:31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, a search was made, and mighty men of valor were found among them at Jazer of Gilead.
26:32 His relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred heads of fathers’ houses. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and affairs of the king.
27:1 Now the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in any matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—each division had twenty-four thousand.
27:2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.
27:4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:6 This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty and over the thirty; and in his division was Ammizabad his son.
27:7 The fourth commander for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:8 The fifth commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:9 The sixth commander for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:10 The seventh commander for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:11 The eighth commander for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:12 The ninth commander for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:13 The tenth commander for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:14 The eleventh commander for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:15 The twelfth commander for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
27:16 Over the tribes of Israel: the commander of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah;
27:17 of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of the Aaronites, Zadok;
27:18 of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
27:19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel;
27:20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
27:21 of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
27:22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
27:23 David did not count those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.
27:24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but he did not finish. Wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered into the chronicles of King David.
27:25 Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah;
27:26 over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub;
27:27 over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite;
27:28 over the olive trees and the sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; over the oil cellars was Joash;
27:29 over the herds that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai;
27:30 over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite;
27:31 and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the stewards of King David’s property.
27:32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of wisdom, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons;
27:33 Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend;
27:34 after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.
28:1 David assembled all the leaders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the officers, the mighty men, and all the valiant warriors, to Jerusalem.
28:2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God, and had prepared for the building.
28:3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’
28:4 Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the leader, and from the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among my father’s sons, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel.
28:5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.
28:6 And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
28:7 Moreover, I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues to obey my commands and decrees as is being done at this time.’
28:8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.
28:9 And you, Solomon my son, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing spirit. For the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
28:10 Pay attention now; for the LORD has selected you to construct a sanctuary as a house: be steadfast, and commence.
28:11 Subsequently, David handed over to Solomon his son the blueprint of the portico, the various chambers, the treasuries, the upper rooms, the inner sanctuaries, and the space for the mercy seat,
28:12 as well as the design for everything he received through inspiration, including the courts of the LORD’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses for the temple of God, and the storehouses for the consecrated items.
28:13 Additionally, he provided for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, all the tasks of serving in the LORD’s temple, and all the service utensils in the temple of the LORD.
28:14 He allocated gold by weight for golden items, for every type of service tool; similarly, silver for all the silver tools by weight, for every kind of service:
28:15 the weight for the golden lampstands and their lamps, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and for the silver lampstands, silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the function of each lampstand.
28:16 He designated gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables:
28:17 also pure gold for the fleshhooks, the bowls, and the cups; and for the golden basins, he allocated gold by weight for each basin; and silver by weight for each silver basin:
28:18 and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the design of the cherubim chariot, that stretched their wings and overshadowed the covenant ark of the LORD.
28:19 David affirmed, “All this was made clear to me in writing by the LORD’s hand upon me, including all the details of this design.”
28:20 And David encouraged Solomon his son, “Be resolute and courageous, and do it: do not fear or be disheartened, for the LORD God, my God, is with you; He will not leave you or forsake you until you have completed all the work for the service of the LORD’s temple.
28:21 And behold, the divisions of the priests and the Levites, they shall be with you for the entire service of the house of God: and for all kinds of craftsmanship, every willing expert, for any service; the officials and the entire populace will fully obey your command.”
29:1 Furthermore, King David addressed the entire assembly, “Solomon my son, whom God has exclusively chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the task is immense: this palace is not for humans, but for the LORD God.
29:2 Now, I have wholeheartedly prepared for the temple of my God: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones and setting stones, stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
29:3 Moreover, due to my devotion to the house of my God, I have contributed from my personal wealth, gold and silver, which I have donated to the temple of my God, over and above everything I have prepared for the holy temple.
29:4 Specifically, three thousand talents of gold from the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings:
29:5 the gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all sorts of craftsmanship by artisans. And now, who is prepared to dedicate their service to the LORD today?
29:6 Then the leaders of the families, the princes of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, along with the supervisors of the king’s projects, contributed willingly.
29:7 They donated for the service of the temple of God: gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, silver ten thousand talents, bronze eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
29:8 Those possessing precious stones donated them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD, under the stewardship of Jehiel the Gershonite.
29:9 The people rejoiced for their voluntary offerings, for they gave to the LORD wholeheartedly; King David also rejoiced immensely.
29:10 Consequently, David praised the LORD in the presence of the entire assembly, proclaiming, “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel our ancestor, from eternity to eternity.
29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the splendor, the triumph, and the majesty: indeed, everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to You; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You are exalted as sovereign over all.
29:12 Both wealth and honor come from You, and You rule over all; in Your hand are strength and might, and it is in Your hand to magnify and to strengthen everyone.
29:13 Now, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.
29:14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give so generously in this manner? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
29:15 For we are strangers before You, and sojourners, as all our ancestors were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, without hope.
29:16 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a temple for Your holy name comes from Your hand, and is all Your own.
29:17 I am aware, my God, that You test the heart and delight in integrity. In the integrity of my heart, I have joyfully offered all these things; and now I have witnessed Your people, who are present here, offering to You willingly.
29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our ancestors, maintain this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You;
29:19 grant to Solomon my son a whole heart to adhere to Your commands, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, to accomplish all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provisions.
29:20 Then David said to the entire assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God.” And the entire assembly blessed the LORD God of their ancestors, and bowed low and worshipped the LORD and the king.
29:21 They offered sacrifices to the LORD and presented burnt offerings to the LORD the next day: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, along with their libations, and sacrifices in great numbers for all Israel:
29:22 They ate and drank before the LORD on that day with immense gladness. And they reaffirmed Solomon son of David as king, anointing him before the LORD as ruler, and Zadok as the priest.
29:23 Solomon then sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
29:24 All the princes, the valiant men, and all the sons of King David pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
29:25 The LORD greatly exalted Solomon in the eyes of all Israel, bestowing upon him such regal splendor as no king before him in Israel had ever received.
29:26 Thus, David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
29:27 His reign over Israel lasted forty years; seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
29:28 He passed away at a ripe old age, content with life, wealth, and honor; and Solomon his son succeeded him as king.
29:29 The acts of King David, from beginning to end, are chronicled in the record of Samuel the seer, in the record of Nathan the prophet, and in the record of Gad the seer,
29:30 detailing his reign, his power, the events that unfolded during his time, over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the lands.
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