1st
CHRONICLES
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§ Peoples and cities and their relationship with the Israelites¤1 °1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, °2 Kenan,
Mahalel, Jared, °3 Enoch,
Methuselah, Lamech, °4 Noah,
Shem, Ham and Japheth. °5 Sons of
Japheth: Gomer, Magog, the Medes, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras. °6 Sons of
Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, Togarmah. °7 Sons of Javan: Elisha, Tarshish,
the Kittim, the Daanites. °8 Sons of
Ham: Cush, Misraim, Put, Canaan. °9 Sons of
Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca, Sons of Raamah: Sheba, Dedan. °10 Cush
became father of Nimrod, the first potentate on earth. °11 Misraim
became of the people of Lud, of Anam, of Lehab, of Naptu, °12 of
Pathros, Casluh and Caphtor, from which the Philistines came. °13 Canaan
became father of Sidon, his firstborn, then Heth, °14 and the
Jebusites, the Amorites, Girgashites, °15 Hivites, Sinites, °16 Arvadites,
Zemarites, Hamathites. °17 Sons of
Shem, Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram. Sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and
Meshech. °18 Arpachshad
became father of Shelah, and Shelah became father of Eber. °19 To Eber
were born two sons; the first was called Peleg, because it was in his time
the earth was divided, and his brother was called Joktan. °20 Joktan
became father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, °21 Hadoram,
Uzal, Diklah, °22 Ebal,
Abimael, Sheba, °23 Ophir,
Havilah, Jobab; all these are sons of Joktan. °24 Shem,
Arpachshad, Shelah, °25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, °26 Serug,
Nahor, Terah, °27 Abram,
that is Abraham. § Descendants of Abraham
°28 Sons of
Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. °29 Sons
of Ishmael: Nebaioth (his first born) then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, °30 Mishma,
Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, °31 Jetur,
Naphish and Kedemah. °32 Sons of
Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, °33 Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
Sons of Joksham: Sheba and Dedan. Sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch,
Abida, Eldaah. °34 Abraham
was the father of Isaac who had two sons: Esau and Israel. °35 The descendants
of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. °36 The
descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and
Amalek. °37 The
descendants of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. °38 The sons
of Seir were: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. °39 The clans
descended from Lotan were Hori and Homam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna. °40 The clans
descended from Shobal were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The
descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. °41 Anah had a son named Dishon, who
was the ancestor of the clans of Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. °42 Ezer was
the ancestor of the clans of Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. °43 Here are
the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before an Israelite king ruled: Bela
son of Bero; his city was called Dinhabah. °44 When Bela died, Jobab son of
Zerah from Bozrah became king. °45
When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites
became king. °46 When
Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king; he defeated the Midianites in
the country of Moab, and his city was called Avith. °47 When
Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah became king. °48 Samlah died and Saul of
Rehoboth-Han-Nahar became king. °49
When Saul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor became
king. °50 When
Baal-Hanan died, Hadad became king. His city was called Pai; his wife’s name
was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, from Mezahab. °51 After
Hadad died, these were the chiefs of Edom: Chief of Timna, Chief of Aliah,
Chief Jetheth, °52 Chief
Oholibamah, Chief of Elah, Chief Pinon, °53 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief
Mibzar, °54 Chief
Magdiel, and Chief Iram. § The sons of Jacob and the descendants of Judah¤2 °1 These are the sons of Israel:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar and Zebulun; °2 Dan,
Joseph and Benjamin, Nephtali; Gad and Asher. °3 Judah had
five sons in all. The first three were born to him by Bath-Shua the Canaanite
woman. They were Er, Onan and Shelah. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was so evil that
Yahweh put him to death. °4 By
his daughter-in-law Tamar, Judah had two more sons, Perez and Zerah. °5 Perez had
two sons, Hezron and Hamul. °6 His brother Zerah had five sons:
Zimri, Hetan, Heman, Calcol and Dara. °7 One of them, Achar, son of Carmi –
brought trouble upon the people of Israel by keeping loot that had been
devoted to God. °8 Ethan
had one son, Azariah. °9 Hezron
became the father of Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb. °10 Ram was the father of Amminadab;
Amminadab of Nahshan. °11 Nahshan,
who was a prince of the tribe of Judah, was the father of Salmon; Salmon of
Boaz; °12 Boaz
of Obed; Obed of Jesse. °13 Jesse
had seven sons: Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, Shammah, °14 Nethanel,
Raddai, °15 Ozem
and David, the youngest. Jesse had two daughters: Zerwiah and Abigail. °16 Zerwiah
had three sons: Abishai, Joab and Asahel. °17 Abigail married Jether the
Ishmaelite. They had a son named Amasa. °18 Caleb,
son of Hezron, married Azubah and had a daughter named Jerioth. Jerioth had
three sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. °19 Azubah died, and Caleb married
Ephrath, and they had a son named Hur. °20 Hur became father of Uri and
grandfather of Bezalel. °21 When
Hezron was sixty years old he married Machir’s daughter, the sister of
Gilead. They had a son named Segub, who had a son named Jair. °22 Jair
ruled twenty-three towns in the land of Gilead. °23 But the kingdoms of Geshur and
Aram took from them the villages of Jair, that is Kenath and its towns, sixty
towns in all. All this had belonged to the descendants of Machir, father of
Gilead. °24 After
Hezron’s death, his son Caleb married Ephrathah, his father’s widow. They had
a son named Ashur, the father of Tekoa. °25 Jerahmeel,
Hezron’s eldest son, had five sons: Ram, his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and
Ahijah. °26 Jerahmeel
had another wife called Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. °27 Ram had
three sons: Maaz, Jamin and Eker. °28 Onam was
the father of Shammai and Jada; Shammai, of Nadab and Abishur. °29 Abishur’s
wife was called Abihail; she bore him Ahban and Molid. °30 Nadab had
two sons, Seled and Appaim, but Seled died leaving no son. °31 Appaim
was the father of Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan; Sheshan was the father
of Ahlai. °32 Jada,
Shammai’s brother, had two sons: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died leaving no
sons. °33 Jonathan
had two sons: Peleth and Zaza. These were all descendants of Jerahmeel. °34 Sheshan
had no sons, only daughters. °35 He had an Egyptian slave named
Jarha to whom he gave his daughter in marriage. °36 They had a
son named Attai. The ancestral line from Attai to Elishama is as follows:
Attai, Nathan, °37 Zabad,
Ephlal, Obed, °38 Jehu,
Azariah, °39 Helez,
Eleasah, °40 Sismai,
Shallum, °41 Jekamiah,
and Elishama. °42 The
firstborn son of Caleb, Jerahmeel’s brother, was named Mesha. Mesha was the
father of Ziph, who was the father of Meresha. °43 Meresha
was father of Hebron who had four sons: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. °44 Shema
became father of Raham and grandfather of Jorkeam. Rekem became father of
Shammai °45 and
grandfather of Maon. Maon became father of Bethzur. °46 Caleb had
a concubine named Ephah who gave birth to Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran also
had a son named Gazez. °47 Jahdai
had six sons: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph. °48 Caleb had
another concubine, Maacah, who gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah. °49 Later she
had two more sons: Shaaph, who founded the town of Madmannah, and Sheva, who
founded the towns of Machbenah and Gibea. The daughter of Caleb was Achsah. °50 The following
were also descendants of Caleb. Hur was the firstborn son of Ephrath. Hur’s
son Shobal was father of Kiriath-Jearim; °51 Salma, father of Bethlehem, and
Haroeh, father of Beth-Gader. °52 Shobal,
the father of Kiriath-Jearim was the father of the people of Haroah, that is
half of the Manahathites, °53 and
also the clans living in Kiriath-Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites
and Mishraites. The people of the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol belonged to
these clans. °54 Sons of
Salma: Bethlehem, Netophath, Atroth Beth-Joab, and the Zorites, who were one
of the clans in Manaheth. °55 The
Soferites lived in the town of Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and
Sucathites. They were Cainites, descendants of Jamat, the Rechabites’
ancestor. § The descendants of David¤3 °1 These are the sons of David who
were born to him while he was in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, whose mother
was Ahinoam from Jezreel; second, Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from
Carmel; °2 third,
Absalom, whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; fourth,
Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith; °3 fifth, Shephatiah, whose mother
was Abital; sixth, Ithream, whose mother was Eglah. °4 All six
were born to him in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months. He ruled as king for thirty-three years in
Jerusalem. °5 Many
sons were born to him in Jerusalem. By his wife Bathsheba, daughter of
Ammiel, he had four sons: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. Nine other sons
were: °6 Ibhar,
Elishama, Eliphelet, °7 Nogah,
Nepheg, Japhia, °8 Elishama,
Eliada, and Eliphelet. °9 All these
were sons of David, besides other sons by the concubines. Tamar was their
sister. °10 These are
the descendants of King Solomon from father to son: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa,
Jehoshaphat, °11 Joram,
Ahaziah, Joash, °12 Amaziah,
Azariah, Jotham, °13 Ahaz,
Hezekiah, Manasseh, °14 Amon,
and Josiah. °15 Josiah
had four sons: Johanan, the firstborn, Jehoiakim second, Zedekiah third, and
Shallum fourth. °16 The
sons of Jehoiakim were: Jeconiah and Zedekiah. °17 These are
the descendants of King Jeconiah, who was taken captive by the Babylonians.
Jeconiah had seven sons: Shealtiel, °18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar,
Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. °19
Pedaiah had two sons: Zerubbabel and Shimei.
Zerubbabel had two sons, Meshullam and Hananiah, and one daughter, Shelomith.
°20 Meshullam
had five sons: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed. °21 Hananiah’s
two sons were Pelatish and Jeshiah. Jeshiah was the father of Rephaiah, who
was the father of Arnan, who was the father of Obadiah and grandfather of
Shecaniah. °22 Shecaniah’s
son was Shemaiah and his five grandsons were: Hattush, Igal, Bariah,
Nedariah, and Shaphat. °23 Neariah’s
three sons were: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam. °24 Elioenai’s seven sons were:
Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani. § Heads of families of the twelve tribes¤4 °1 Some of the descendants of Judah
are: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. °2 Shobal was the father of Reaiah,
who was the father of Jahath, the father of Ahumai and Lahad: these people
lived in Zorah. °3 These
were the descendants of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, whose sister was
called Hazzelelponi. °4 Penuel
became father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the
descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, father of Bethlehem. °5 Ashhur,
father of Tekoa, had two wives: Helah and Naarah. °6 Naarah bore him four sons:
Ahuzaam, Hepher, the Temeni and the Haahashtari. °7 Ashur had three sons by Helah:
Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan. °8 Koz
became father of Anub and Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. °9 Jabez was
the known of them. His mother had given him the name Jabez, to recall that
“In pain she had given birth to him.” °10 Jabez called on the God of Israel,
“If you truly bless me, you will give me much land. Be with me, and keep me
from anything that might harm or cause me pain.” God gave him what he had
prayed for. °11 Chelub,
the brother of Shuhah, became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
°12 Eshton,
had three sons, Bethrapha, Paseah and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of
Imahas. The descendants of these men lived in Recah. °13 Kenaz had
two sons, Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel also had two sons: Hathath and
Meonothai, °14 who
became the father of Ophrah. Seraiah became the father of Joab, the founder
of Craftsmen’s Valley, where skilled workers lived. °15 Caleb,
son of Jephunneh had three sons: Iru, Elah and Naam. Son of Elah: Kenaz. °16 The sons of
Jehallelel were: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. °17 Ezrah had
four sons: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered’s wife Bithiah, a daughter
of the King of Egypt, gave birth to a daughter, Miriam, and two sons, Shammai
and Ishbah. Ishbah was the father of Eshtemoa. °18 Mered also had a wife from the
tribe of Judah who gave birth to three sons: Jered, the father of Gedor;
Heber, father of Soco; and Jekuthiel, father of Zanoah. °19 Hodiah
married the sister of Naham. Their descendants formed the clan of Garm, which
lived in the town of Keilah, and the clan of Maacath, which lived in the town
of Eshtemoa. °20 The sons
of Shimon were: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi were: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth. °21 The
descendants of Shelah son of Judah were: Er, father of Lecah; Laadah, father
of Mareshah; and the clans of linen weavers of Beth-Ashbea; °22 Jokim and
the people who lived in Cozeba; Joash and Saraph who went to Moab to take
wives before returning to Bethlehem (these are events of long ago.) °23 They were
potters and lived in the towns of Netaim and Gederah; they stayed with the
king there, employed in his workshop. °24 Simeon
had five sons; Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. °25 Shaul’s
son was Shallum, his grandson was Mibsam, and his great-grandson was Mishma. °26 The sons
of Mishma were: Hammuel, Zakur, Simi. °27 Simi had sixteen sons and
daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, and none of their
families increased as the families of Judah did. °28 They
lived in Beersheba, Moladah and Hazarshual, °29 Bilhah, Ezem and Tolad, °30 Bethuel,
Hormah and Ziklag. °31 Beth-Marcaboth,
Hazarsusim, Bethbiri, Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of
David. °32 Their
outlying villages were: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, five towns, °33 with all
their surrounding villages as far as Baalath. Here they had their settlements
and sorted themselves into their various groups. °34 Meshobab,
Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, °35
Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of
Asiel, °36 Elioenei,
Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, °37 Ziza,
Ben-Shiphi, Benallon, Ben-Jedaiah, Ben-Shimri, Ben-Shemaiah. °38 These men
came with their clans and families; they grew in number and spread. °39 As they
searched for pasture for their flocks they traveled from the Gerar pass to
the eastern end of the valley, °40
where they found good, fat pasture; the land was
broad, untroubled, peaceful. Hamites had been living there before them. °41 But in
the time of Hezekiah king of Judah this group of Simeon’s tribe arrived
there, overran their tents and the dwellings they found there. They wiped
them out through an anathema still in force today and settled in their place,
since there was pasturage for their flocks. °42 Some of
them, belonging to the sons of Simeon, reached Mount Seir: five hundred men
led by Pelathiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. °43 They
defeated the surviving fugitives of Amalek and still live there today. ¤5 °1 Descendants of Reuben, firstborn
of Israel. He was indeed the firstborn but, when he had relations with his
father’s concubine, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of
Israel. The group of Joseph, however did not keep this firstborn right °2 because
Judah proved more powerful than his brothers (and from him proceeds the
Ruler), but the firstborn right belongs to the tribes of Joseph. °3 Sons of
Reuben, firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi. °4 Sons of
Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, °5 Micah his
son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, °6 Beerah his son, whom
Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria carried off into exile. He was a prince of
the Reubenites. °7 His
kinsmen, by clans, grouped according to their kinship: Jeiel, the chief,
Zechariah, °8 Bela
son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. These lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and
Baal-Mehon. °9 These
extended to the east toward the River Euphrates, reaching the desert, because
their flocks had multiplied in the land of Galaad. °10 In the
days of Saul they waged war against the Agarites who were defeated, and they
occupied their homes east of Galaad. °11 The sons
of Gad lived opposite them, in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah. °12 First,
Joel, and then Shapham, Janai and Shaphat in Bashan. °13 The other
families of the tribe were those of Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan,
Zia, and Eber. °14 These are
the descendants of Abihail, whose ancestors were traced back as follows:
Abihail, Huri, Jaroah, Gilead, Michael, Jeshishai, Jahdo, Buz. °15 Ahi son
of Abdiel, and grandson of Guni, was head of these clans. °16 They had
settled in the territory of Gilead and Bashan, in the towns there and all
over the pasture lands of Sharon. °17
(All were listed in the family records in the days
of king Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel). °18 The
people of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh, were 44,760 valiant men,
well-trained in the use of shields, swords, and bows. °19 They
waged war against the Hagrite tribes of Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab, and as
they put their trust in God and called on him for help, °20 they were
victorious over the Hagrites and all their allies. °21 They took with them from the
Hagrites’ livestock, 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. °22 They took
100,000 prisoners of war, but many of the enemy had been killed for it was
God’s war. And they settled in what had been Hagrite territory until the
exile. °23 The half
tribe of Manasseh settled in the land between Bashan and Baal-Hermon, Senir
and Mount Hermon, and they were very numerous. °24 These are the heads of their
clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These
were famous warriors and leaders of their clans. °25 But they
were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped the gods of the
peoples whom God had driven out of the land. °26 So the
God of Israel brought against them the anger of Pul, king of Assyria, and of
Tilgath-Pilneser, king of Assyria, who deported the tribes of Reuben, Gad and
the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were taken off to Halah near Habor and the
river Gozan. They are still there today. § The ancestral line of the high priests°27 Sons of
Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari. °28
Sons of Kohat: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. °29 Sons of
Amram: Aaron, Moses and Mary. Sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and
Ithamar. °30 The
descendants of Eleazar from one generation to the next are as follows:
Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, °31 Zerahiah, Meraioth, °32 Amariah,
Ahitub, °33 Zadok,
Ahimaaz, °34 Azariah,
Johanan, °35 Azariah
(the one who served as priest in the Temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem),
°36 Amariah,
Ahitub, °37 Zadok,
Shallum, °38 Hilkiah,
Azariah, °39 Seraiah,
Jehozadak. °40 Jehozadak
was deported when Yahweh, through King Nebuchadnezzar, sent into exile the
people of Judah and Jerusalem. § The families of Levi¤6 °1 Levi had three sons: Gershom,
Kohath and Merari. °2 These are
the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. °3 Sons of
Kohath: Amran, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. °4 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the families of Levi according to their ancestors. °5 Descendants
of Gershon from one generation to the next: Libni, Jahath, Zimmah, °6 Joah,
Iddo, Zerah, Jeatheral. °7 Descendants
of Kohath from one generation to the next: Amminadab, Korah, Assir, °8 Elkanah,
Ebiasaph, Assir, °9 Tahath,
Uriel, Uzziah, Shaul. °10 Elkanah
had two sons, Amasai and Ahimoth. °11
Elkanah, son of Ahimoth, Zophai, Nahath, °12 Eliab,
Jeroham, Elkanah. °13 The
sons of Elkanah were: Samuel his firstborn, and Abijah. Samuel had two sons:
Joel, the firstborn, and Abijah, the younger. °14 Descendants
of Merari from one generation to the next: Mahli, Libni, °15 Shimei,
Uzzah, Shimea, Haggiah, Asaiah. °16 These are
the men David named to lead the singing in the Temple of Yahweh when the ark
had come to rest there. °17 They
were responsible for the singing before the Holy Tent of the Tent of Meeting
until Solomon had built the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. They did their
duties in accordance with the rules. °18 These are
the men who accomplished this ministry, and their sons: Of the clan of Kohath: Herman, the leader of
the first choir, was the son of Joel. His ancestral line went back to Jacob
as follows: Herman, Joel, Samuel, °19
Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, Zuph, °20 Elkanah,
Mahath, Amasai, °21 Elkanah,
Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah, °22 Tahath,
Assir, Ebiasaph, Korah, °23 Izhar,
Kohath, Levi, Israel. °24 His
brother Asaph was leader of the second choir. His ancestral line went back to
Levi as follows: Asaph, Berechiah, Shimea, °25 Michael, Baaseiah, Malchijah, °26 Ethni,
Zerah, Adaiah, °27 Ethan,
Zimmah, Shimei, °28 Jahath,
Gershon, Levi. °29 Ethan of
the clan of Merari was the leader of the third choir, at the left side. His
ancestral line went back to Levi as follows: Ethan, Kishi, Abdi, Malluch, °30 Hashabiah,
Amaziah, Hilkiah, °31 Amzi,
Bani, Shemer, °32 Mahli,
Mushi, Medrari, Levi. °33 Their
brother Levites were in charge of the Holy Tent of the Temple of Yahweh. °34 Aaron and
his descendants burned the offerings on the altar for burnt offering and on
the altar of incense. They were responsible for all the worship in the Most
Holy Place and for the atonement for Israel’s sins, according to the
instructions of Moses, the servant of God. °35 This is
the line of Aaron’s descendants: Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua, °36 Bukki,
Uzzi, Zerahiah, °37 Meraioth,
Amariah, Ahitub, °38 Zadok,
Ahimaaz. °39 These are
the places they lived in, according to the boundaries of their settlements. °40 To the
sons of Aaron of the Kohath clan (to whom the first share of land was
assigned) they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and the pasture lands nearby. °41 The
fields and villages of this town, however, had been given to Caleb, son of
Jephunneh. °42 The
following towns were given to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, a city of
refuge, Jattir, Libnah, Eshtemoa, °43
Hilen, Debir, °44 Ashan, and Beth-Shemesh, with
pasture lands near them. °45 In
the territory of Benjamin they were given the following towns with their
pasture lands: Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth. A total of thirteen towns were
given them for all their families to live in. °46 To the
rest of the clan of Kohath, family by family, ten towns were given from the
territory of the half tribe of Manasseh. °47 The clan of Gershom, family by
family, were given thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher,
Naphtali and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan. °48 The clan of Merari, family by
family, were given twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and
Zebulun. °49 The
people of Israel gave these towns with their pasture lands to the Levites. °50 They
received from the territories of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin the towns to
which they gave names. °51 The clans
of Kohath obtained towns by lot from the tribe of Ephraim. °52 They were
given the following towns with their pasture lands: Shechem, the city of
refuge in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, °53 Jokmeam, Beth-Horon, °54 Aijalon,
and Gath Rimmon. °55 In
the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh, they were given the towns of
Aner and Beileam with their pasture lands. °56 The clan
of Gershon, family by family, were given the following towns with their
pasture lands. In the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in
Bashan, and Ashtaroth. °57 In
the territory of Issachar: Kedesh, Daberath, °58 Ramoth, and Anem. °59 In the
territory of Asher: Mashal, Abdon, °60 Hukok, and Rehob. °61 In the
territory of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim. °62 To the
rest of the clan of Merari were given the following towns with their pasture
lands. In the territory of Zebulun: Rimmono and Tabor. °63 In the
territory of Reuben, beyond the Jordan River near Jericho: Bezer on the high,
flat land, Jahzah, °64 Kedemoth,
and Mephaath. °65 In
the territory of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, °66 Heshbon, and Jazer. § Clans and families of the northern tribes
¤7 °1 Issachar had four sons: Tola,
Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. °2 Tola had six
sons: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. They were heads of
families of the clan of Tola and famous warriors. In the time of David, the
descendants numbered 22,600. Uzzi had one son, Izrahiah. °3 Izrahiah
had four sons: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of these were
chiefs °4 and
they were obliged to enlist their troops: 36,000 men, for they had many wives
and children. °5 The
family records of all the clans of Issachar listed a total of 87,000 men able
to give military service. °6 Benjamin
had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. °7 Bela had
five sons: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri. They were heads of families
in the clan and famous warriors. Their family records listed 22,034 men able
to give military service. °8 Becher
had nine sons: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah,
Anathoth, and Alemeth. °9 Their family records listed
20,200 men able to give military service. Shuppin and Huppin also belonged to
this tribe. °10 Jediael
had one son, Bilhan who had seven sons: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah,
Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. °11 They were heads of families in
the clan and famous warriors, 17,200 ready for service in war. °12 Shuppin
and Huppin also belong to this tribe. °13 Naphtali
had four sons: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They were descendants of
Bilhah. °14 Manasseh
had Asriel by his Aramean concubine. She gave birth also to Machir, father of
Gilead. °15 And
Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was
Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had
daughters. °16 Maacah,
wife of Machir, gave birth to two sons, whom they named Peresh and Sheresh.
Peresh had two sons: Ulam and Rakem. °17 Ulam had a son named Bedan. These
were the descendants of Gilead, the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh. °18 Gilead’s
sister Molecheth had three sons: Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. °19 Shemida
had four sons: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam. °20 These are
the descendants of Ephraim from one generation to the next: Shuthelah, Bered,
Tahath, Eleadah, Tahath, °21 Zabad,
Shuthelah. Ephraim’s two other sons, Ezer and Elead, were killed when they
tried to steal the cattle belonging to the people of Gath. °22 Ephraim,
their father, mourned for them for a long time and his brothers came to
comfort him. °23 Then
Ephraim went to his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son whom she
called Beriah, because of the trouble that had come to their family. °24 Beriah’s
daughter, Sheerah, built Lower and Upper Beth-Horon and Uzzen-Sheerah. Ephraim also had a son named Rephah. The
descendants of °25 Rephah
were as follows: Resheph, Telah, Tahan, °26 Ladan, Ammihud, Elishama, °27 Nun,
Joshua. °28 They
had lands and settlements in Bethel and its towns, in Naasan to the east in
Gezep and its towns to the west, Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and
its towns. °29 Bethshean,
Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, each with its towns, were controlled by the
descendants of Manasseh. In all these places lived the descendants of Joseph,
son of Jacob. °30 Asher had
four sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and one daughter, Serah. °31 Sons of
Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. Malchiel was the father of Birzaith. °32 Heber had
three sons: Japhlet, Shomer and Hotham; and one daughter Shura. °33 Japhlet
had three sons: Pasah, Bimhal and Ashvath. °34 Shomar, his brother, also had
three sons: Rohgah, Hubbah and Aram. °35 His brother Hotham had four sons:
Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. °36
The sons of Zophal were: Suah, Harnepher, Shual,
Beri and Imrah, °37 Bezer,
Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beerah. °38 The sons ofJether: Jephunneh,
Pispa, and Ara. °39 The
sons of Ulla were descendants of Asher. They were heads of families, and
famous warriors; °40 Asher’s
descendants included 26,000 men able to give military service. ¤8 °1 Benjamin became father of Bela,
his firstborn, Ashbel second, Ahiram third, °2 Nohah fourth, Rapha fifth. °3 Bela had
sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, °4 Abishua,
Naaman and Ahoah, °5 Gera,
Shephuphan and Huram. °6 These are
the sons of Ehud. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Geba and
led them into exile at Manahath: °7 Naaman, Ahijah and Gera. It was
he who led them into exile; he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. °8 He became
father of Shaharaim in the plains of Moab after he had dismissed his wives,
Hushim and Baara. °9 By his new wife he had sons:
Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, °10 Jeuz,
Sachia, Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. °11 By Hushim
he had sons: Abitub and Elpaal. °12
Sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham and Shemed: it was he
who built Ono and Lud with its outlying towns. °13 Beriah
and Shema. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put
to flight the inhabitants of Gath. °14 Shashak was his brother. Jeremoth, °15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, °16 Michael,
Ishpah, Joha were sons of Beriah. °17
Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Haber, °18 Ishmerai,
Izliah, Jobab were sons of Elpaal. °19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, °20 Elioenai,
Zillethai, Eliel, °21 Adaiah,
Beraiah, Shimran were sons of Shimei. °22 Ishpan,
Eber, Eliel, °23 Abdon,
Zichri, Hanan, °24 Hananiah,
Elam, Anthothijah, °25 Iphdeiah,
Penuel were sons of Shashak. °26 Shamsherai,
Shehariah, Athaliah, °27 Jaareshaiah,
Elijah, Zichri were sons of Jeroham. °28 These were the heads of families,
grouped according to their kinship. They lived in Jerusalem. °29 At Gibeon
lived Abi-Gibeon, whose wife was Macaah. °30 His firstborn son was Abdon, then
Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, °31 Gedor,
Ahio, Zecher °32 and
Mikloth who became father of Shimeah. These also, near their kinsmen, lived
with their kinsmen in Jerusalem. °33 Ner was
father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan, Malchi-Shua,
Abinadab and Eshbaal. °34 Son
of Jonathan: Meribbaal. Meribbaal became father of Micah. °35 Sons of
Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, Ahaz. °36 Ahaz became father of Jehoaddah,
Jehoaddah father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri. Zimri became father of Moza,
°37 Moza
father of Binea. Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. °38 Azel had
six sons, whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, his firstborn, then
Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, Hanan. All these were sons of Azel. °39 Sons of
Eshek his brother: Ulam, his firstborn, Jeush second, Eliphelet third. °40 Ulam had
sons, stout fighting men and bowmen. They had numerous sons and grandsons, a
hundred and fifty of them. All these were sons of Benjamin. § Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the exile¤9 °1 All the Israelites were
classified in related groups, but they were listed in the Book of the Kings
of Israel. As for those of Judah, they were deported to Babylon for their
faithlessness. °2 The
first who came back to their towns and their estates were Israelites,
priests, Levites and helpers. °3 So
in Jerusalem lived Judaeans, Benjaminites, Ephraimites and Manassites. °4 Uthai son
of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, one of the sons of Perez
son of Judah. °5 Of
the Shilonites: Asaiah, the firstborn, and his sons. °6 Of the
sons of Zerah: Jeuel. Also their kinsmen: six hundred and ninety. °7 Of the
tribe of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;
°8 Ibneiah
son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri; Mesullam son of Shephatiah,
son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah. °9 They
had nine hundred and fifty-six kinsmen, grouped according to their kinship.
All these men were heads of families. °10 Of the
priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, °11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of
Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house
of God. °12 Adaiah
son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, Maasai son of Adiel, son of
Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer. °13 They had
kinsmen, heads of families, one thousand seven hundred and sixty men who
undertook the duties of the Temple of God. °14 Of the
Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah of the
sons of Merari, °15 Bakbakkar,
Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph, °16 Obadiah
son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son
of Elkanah who lived in the villages of the Netophathites. °17 The
keepers of the gate: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their kinsmen.
Shallum, was their head, °18 and
they still keep station at the royal gate, to the east. These were the
gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites. °19 Shallum son of Kore, son of
Ebiasaph, son of Korah, with his brother Korahites, of the same family, were
responsible for the liturgical service; they were “keepers of the threshold
for the Tent,” for their fathers had guarded the entrance of the camp of
Yahweh. °20 At
one time, Phinehas son of Eleazar had ruled them and they served before
Yahweh. °21 Zechariah
son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the gate at the entrance to the Tent of
Meeting. °22 All
the keepers of the gate at the thresholds were picked men; there were two
hundred and twelve of them and they were registered in their various
villages. These were appointed by David and Samuel the seer because of their
loyalty. °23 They
and their sons had the guardianship of the gates of the House of Yahweh, the
house of the Tent. °24 On
the four sides stood the keepers of the gate, east, west, north, and south. °25 Their
kinsmen in their villages would come to join them for a week from time to
time, °26 since
the four head gatekeepers themselves lived there permanently. Some of them
were responsible for the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. °27 They
spent the night in the precincts of the house of God, their duties being to
guard it and they had the keys with them to open the rooms at the morning. °28 Some of
them were responsible for the furnishings of worship; they counted them
whenever they put them away and took them out. °29 Others were in charge of the
furniture and all the sacred furnishings, the fine flour, the wine, the oil,
the incense, the spices, °30 but
only the priests prepared the mixture for the spices. °31 One of
the Levites, Mattithiah the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible
for the offerings that were to be baked on the pan. °32 Some of
their kinsmen the Kohathites were responsible for the loaves to be set out in
rows sabbath by sabbath. °33 These are
the cantors, heads of the levitical families. When free from service they
lived in the Temple chambers, because they were on duty day and night. °34 These
were the heads of the families of the Levites, grouped according to their
families. These heads lived in Jerusalem. § The ancestors of Saul. His death.°35 In the
city of Gibeon lived Abigibeon and Jeiel, whose wife was called Maacah. °36 His
firstborn was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, °37 Gedor,
Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. °38 Mikloth
became father of Shimeam. Their descendants lived in Jerusalem near other
families of their clans. °39 Ner
became father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan,
Malchi-Shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. °40 Jonathan’s son Merribbaal, became
father of Micah. °41 Micah
had four sons: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz. °42 Ahaz became father of Jarah,
Jarah father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; Zimri became father of Moza, °43 Moza
father of Binea, whose son was °44
Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.
Azel had six sons; their names were these: Azrikam, his firstborn, then
Ishmael, Bocheru, Sheariah, Obadiah, Hanan. These were the sons of Azel. ¤10 °1 The Philistines attacked Israel,
and the Israelites fled or were killed on Mount Gilboa. °2 The
Philistines caught up with Saul and killed Jonathan, Abinadab and
Malchi-Shua, the sons of Saul. °3 The
fighting grew heavy about Saul; he was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded.
°4 Then Saul
said to the young man carrying his weapon, “Draw your sword and kill me. I do
not want these godless Philistines to come and gloat over me.” But the young
man was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw
himself on it. °5 Then
the young man threw himself on his sword too and died. °6 And so
Saul died, he and his three sons and all his own together. °7 All the
Israelites who were in the valley heard that the army had fled and that Saul
and his sons were dead. So they abandoned their towns and ran away. The
Philistines then came in and occupied them. °8 When the
Philistines came on the following day to strip the dead, they found Saul and
his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. °9
They stripped him and, taking his head and his
armor, had them carried around the land of the Philistines to proclaim the
good news to their idols and their people. °10 They placed his armor in the
temple of their god, but his head they hung in the temple of Dagon. °11 When all
the people of Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, °12 the
valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons away and brought
them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh, and
they fasted for seven days. °13 Saul died
because he had been unfaithful to Yahweh: he had disobeyed the commands of
Yahweh; he had even consulted the spirits of the dead. °14 As he had
not consulted Yahweh, Yahweh put him to death and gave control of the kingdom
to David son of Jesse. § David is anointed king¤11 °1 All the people of Israel went to
David at Hebron “Look, we are your own flesh and blood. °2 Even when
Saul was our king, you led Israel in battle; and Yahweh your God said to you,
‘You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel and shall be ruler
over them.’” °3 So
all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a
covenant with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh, and he became king of
Israel, just as Yahweh had promised through Samuel. °4 David
with all the Israelites attacked Jerusalem (that is to say, Jebus); there
lived the Jebusites. °5 They said
to David, “You will not get in here.” But David captured the fortress of
Zion, and it became the City of David. °6 David said, “The first man to
attack the Jebusites shall become leader and commander of the army.” Joab son
of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander. °7 David went to live in the
fortress, and because of this it was called the City of David. °8 He then
built a wall around the city, and the Millo as well as the surrounding wall,
while Joab restored the rest of the city. °9 David grew greater and greater,
and Yahweh Sabaoth was with him. § David’s champions°10 These are
the famous warriors of David, those who during his rule struggled with him
and with all Israel, to make him king as Yahweh had promised. °11 This is
the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam the Hachmonite, leader of the Thirty;
one day he wielded his battle-ax against three hundred whom he killed at one
time. °12 After him
there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three champions. °13 He was with
David at Pasdammim where the Philistines had gathered to attack. There was a
field full of barley there. When the Israelites started to run away, °14 Eleazar
took a stand in the middle of the field, defended it and fought the
Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory. °15 The
Thirty leading soldiers went down to David at the rock near the Cave of
Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the
Rephaim. °16 David
was then on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied
Bethlehem. °17 David
sighed, “Oh, if someone would fetch me a drink of water from the well by the
gate of Bethlehem!” °18 At this The Three, forcing their
way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of
Bethlehem and, bringing it away, presented it to David. But David would drink
none of it and poured it out as an offering to Yahweh. °19 “God keep
me,” he said, “from doing this! Am I to drink the blood of these men? For at
the risk of their lives they brought it.” And so he would not drink it. Such
were the deeds of The Three. °20 Abishai,
the brother of Joab, was leader of The Thirty. He fought with his spear
against three hundred whom he killed, winning himself a name among The
Thirty. °21 He
was the most famous of The Thirty and became their captain, but he was not as
famous as The Three. °22 Benaiah
son of Jehoiada, a hero from Kabzeel, did many brave deeds; he killed the two
Ariels of Moab. One snowy day, he went down and killed the lion in a pit. °23 He also
killed an Egyptian, a huge man seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a
gigantic spear in his hand, but Benaiah attacked him with a club, snatched
the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with it. °24 Such were
the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, winning him a name among the thirty
leading soldiers. °25 He was famous among The Thirty,
but he was not as famous as The Three. David put him in command of his
bodyguard. °26 The other
valiant warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab. Elhanan son of Dodo, from
Bethlehem. °27 Shammoth
from Harod, Helez the Pelonite. °28
Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa. Abiezer from
Anathoth. °29 Sibbecai
from Hushah. Ilai from Ahoh. °30 Maharai
from Netophah. Heled son of Baanah, from Netophah. °31 Ithai son of Ribai, from Gibeah
of Benjamin. Benaiah from Pirathon. °32 Hurai from the valleys near
Gaash. Abiel from Bethhaarabah. °33
Azmaveth from Baharum. Eliahba from Shaalbon. °34 Benehashem
from Gizon. Jonathan son of Shagee, from Harar. °35 Ahiam son
of Sachar, from Harar. Eliphelet son of Ur. °36 Hepher
from Mecherah. Ahijah the Pelonite. °37 Hezro from Carmel. Naarai son of
Ezbai. °38 Joel
the brother of Nathan. Mibhar son of Hagri. °39 Zelek the
Ammonite. Naharai from Beeroth, armorbearer to Joab son of Zeruiah. °40 Ira from
Jattir. Gareb from Jattir. °41 Uriah
the Hittite. Zabad son of Ahlai. °42 Adina son
of Shiza (a leading member of the tribe of Reuben, with his own group of
thirty soldiers). °43 Hanan son of Maacah. Joshaphat
the Mithnite. °44 Uzzia
from Ashteroth. Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite. °45 Jediaelson
of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite. °46 Eliel the Mahavite. Jeribai and
Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam. Ithmah the Moabite. °47 Eliel,
Obed, and Jaasiel from Zoba. § David’s early followers¤12 °1 The following men came to David
in Ziklag where he had gone to escape from King Saul. They were valiant and
reliable warriors, members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged. °2 They were
archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging
stones and in shooting arrows with the bow. °3 They were Ahiezer the leader, and
Joash, sons of Hashemar from Gibeah, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth,
Berach and Jehu from Anathoth, °4 Ismaiah
from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of The Thirty; °5 Jeremiah,
Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad from Gederoth, °6 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah,
Shemariah, Shephatiah from Hariph, °7 Elkanah, Eshiah, Azarel, Joezer,
Jashobeam, Korahites, °8 Joelah,
Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor. °9 Some
Gadites also joined David’s troops when he was at the desert fort. They were
valiant fighting men and experts with shield and spear. They were as
fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer. °10 Ezer was
the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third, °11 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah
fifth. °12 Attai
sixth, Eliel seventh, °13 Johanan
eighth, Elzabad ninth, °14 Jeremiah
tenth, Machbannai eleventh. °15 These
sons of God were troop commanders, each one in command of a unit, the junior
officers placed over a hundred, and senior officers over a thousand. °16 These are
the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its
course, and scattered all the people who lived on its banks, both east and
west. °17 Those men
from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fort. °18 David
went to meet them and said, “If you come to me as friends, to give me help,
then I am ready to join you. But if it is to betray me to my enemies, when I
have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and punish you.” °19 Then
God’s spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, leader of The Thirty, and
he called out: “Yours we are, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace to you,
peace to him that helps you, for God is on your side.” David welcomed them and made them officers in
his army. °20 Some
people from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side as he was setting
out with the Philistines to fight Saul. But David did not help the
Philistines, because their chiefs, after consultation, sent him back to
Ziklag. They were afraid he would betray them to his former master Saul. °21 He was on
his way to Ziklag when these Manassites joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael,
Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manasseh. °22 They were
reinforcements for David and his troops, since they were all outstanding
soldiers and became officers in the army. °23 Indeed new men joined David’s
forces almost every day, so that his camp grew into an enormous camp. § The warriors who assured David’s kingship°24 These are
the figures from the list of experienced warriors who joined David at Hebron
to transfer Saul’s kingship to him in accordance with the command of Yahweh: °25 Sons of
Judah carrying shield and spear: 6,800 men equipped for battle. °26 Of the
sons of Simeon; 7,100 well-trained men. °27 Of the sons of Levi: 4,600 °28 in
addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaronites, with 3,700 men; °29 Zadok, a
young and able fighter and 22 commanders of his family. °30 Of the
sons of Benjamin: 3,000 kinsmen of Saul, most of them hitherto in the service
of the House of Saul. °31 Of
the sons of Ephraim: 20,800 men famous in their families. °32 Of the
half tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 men assigned by name to go and proclaim David
king. °33 Of
the sons of Issachar, expert in knowing the times when Israel should take
action, and the way to do it: 200 leaders and all their kinsmen under their
command. °34 Of
Zebulun: 50,000 men fit for service, ready to fight with weapons of every
kind. °35 Of
Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 men armed with shield and
spear. °36 Of
the Danites: 28,600 men ready for battle. °37 Of Asher: 40,000 men fit for
service, ready for battle. °38 From
Transjordania: 120,000 men of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh,
with weapons of every kind. °39 All these
warriors, ready for battle, came to Hebron willingly to proclaim David king
over all Israel; and the rest of Israel, too, were all of one mind in making
David king. °40 For
three days they stayed there, eating and drinking with David, for their
kinsmen had sent food for them. °41
Moreover from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and
Naphtali their neighbors brought provisions, by donkey and camel, mule and ox
– flour cakes, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, quantities of oxen
and sheep; for there was joy in Israel. § The ark is brought to Jerusalem
¤13 °1 David consulted with the commanders
of thousands, of hundreds, and with all the leaders. °2 To the
whole assembly of Israel David said, “If you agree and if Yahweh our God
wills it so, we will send messengers to the rest of our brothers throughout
the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their towns
and nearby lands, and tell them to gather here with us. °3 We will
then go and get the ark of our God, for in the time of Saul we neglected it.” °4 They
agreed to this, for in the eyes of all the people it was the right thing to
do.
°5 So
David gathered all the people together from the Shihor of Egypt to the Pass
of Hamath to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim. °6 Then
David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kiriath-Jearim in Judah, to bring
up the ark of God which bears the name of Yahweh who is seated on the Cherub. °7 At
Abinadab’s house they placed the ark of God on a new cart. Uzziah and Ahio
were leading the cart. °8 David
and all Israel danced before God with all their might, singing to the accompaniment
of lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. °9 When they
came to the threshing floor of the Javelin, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah
stretched out his hand and took hold of the ark. °10 Then the anger of Yahweh blazed
out against Uzzah, and he killed him because he had laid his hand on the ark,
and he died there in the presence of God. °11 David was disturbed that Yahweh
had punished Uzzah in anger, and so that place has been called Perez-Uzzah
ever since. °12 David
went in fear of God that day and said, “How can I bring the ark of God to my
home?” °13 So
David did not take the ark home to the City of David, but took it to the
house of a man named Obed-Edom of Gath. °14 The ark of God remained with the
family of Obed-Edom, in his house, for three months, and Yahweh blessed the
family of Obed-Edom and everything that belonged to him. ¤14 °1 Hiram, king of Tyre, sent
messengers to David with cedar wood and stonemasons and carpenters to build
him a palace. °2 David
then knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that for
the sake of his people Israel his kingdom was being made prosperous. °3 At
Jerusalem David took more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. °4 These are
the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,
Solomon, °5 Ibhar,
Elishua, Elpelet, °6 Nogab,
Nepheg, Japhia, °7 Elishama,
Beeliada, Eliphelet. °8 When the
Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, they all
marched up to capture him. On hearing this, David went out to meet them. °9 When the
Philistines arrived, they began plundering the Valley of the Rephaim. °10 David
consulted Yahweh, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you turn them over to
me?” Yahweh answered him, “Attack! I will turn them over to you.” °11 The
Philistines went up to Baal-Perazim and there David defeated them. David
said, “God has broken through them just as water breaks through a dam.” For
this reason that place was called Baal Perazim. °12 They had left their gods behind
them there, and David ordered them to be burned. °13 Again the
Philistines started plundering in the valley. °14 David again consulted God, and
God answered, “Do not attack them from the front; go around and get ready to
attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. °15 When you
hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, launch your
attack, for God is going out ahead of you to defeat the army of the
Philistines.” °16 David
did as God had ordered, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon as
far as Gezer. °17 David
became famous everywhere, and Yahweh made every nation afraid of him. ¤15 °1 David put up buildings for
himself in the City of David and prepared a place for the ark of God, and he
put up a tent for it. °2 Then
he said, “Only the Levites shall move the ark of God, since Yahweh has chosen
them to carry the ark and to serve him always.” °3 Then
David gathered all Israel together in Jerusalem to bring the ark of God up to
the place he had prepared for it. °4
David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons
of Levi: °5 of
the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief and his hundred and twenty kinsmen; °6 of the
sons of Merari, Asaiah and his two hundred and twenty kinsmen; °7 of the
sons of Gershom, Joel and his hundred and thirty kinsmen; °8 of the
sons of Elizaphah, Shemaiah and his two hundred kinsmen; °9 of the
sons of Hebron, Eliel and eighty kinsmen; °10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab
and his hundred and twelve kinsmen. °11 David called
in the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel,
Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. °12
He told them, “You are the heads of families of the
Levites. Purify yourselves, you and your brothers, and bring the ark of
Yahweh, the God of Israel, up to the place I have prepared for it. °13 The first
time you were not there to carry it and Yahweh our God punished us for not
consulting him as we should have done.” °14 So the
priests and the Levites purified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh,
the God of Israel, °15 and
the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as
Moses had ordered according to the command of Yahweh. °16 David
then told the leaders of the Levites to assign duties for some Levites to
sing and play a joyful tune with their various musical instruments: harps and
lyres and cymbals. °17 The
Levites then appointed Heman son of Joel, Asaph son of Berechiah, one of his
brothers, Ethan son of Kushaiah, one of their Merarite kinsmen; °18 and with
them, next in rank, their kinsmen as keepers of the gate: Zechariah son of
Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah,
Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel. °19 Heman, Asaph and Ethan the
cantors, were to clash the cymbals of bronze; °20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth,
Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the keyed harp. °21 Mattithiah,
Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, giving the beat, were to
play the octave lyre. °22 Chenaniah
was chosen to be in charge of the transportation, because he was very
skillful at doing these things. °23
Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers to the
ark. °24 The
priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasal, Zechariah, Benaiah and
Eliezer were to sound the trumpet before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah
were to be gatekeepers to the ark. °25 So David,
with the leaders of Israel and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up
the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from Obed-Edom’s house with great
rejoicing. °26 And
while God was securing the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of
Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven sheep. °27 David was
wearing a robe of fine linen, like all the Levites who carried the ark, as
well as the cantors and Chenaniah, the officer in charge of its
transportation. David also wore the linen. °28 Thus all
Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouts of joy to the
sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, making music with harp and lyre. °29 Now as
the ark of the covenant of Yahweh entered the City of David, Michal the
daughter of Saul was watching from the window and saw King David dancing and
leaping with joy and she despised him. ¤16 °1 They brought the ark of God in
and put it inside the tent that David had prepared for it; and they offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. °2 And when David had finished
offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. °3 He then
distributed to all the Israelites, men and women, a loaf of bread each, a
piece of roasted meat, and a raisin cake. § David organizes the levitical cult°4 David
appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, to
commemorate, thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: °5 first
Asaph, second Zechariah, then Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab,
Benaiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel. These were to play the harp and the lyre, while
Asaph was to clash the cymbals. °6
The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to keep
sounding the trumpet before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. °7 That day, David entrusted this
song of praise to Asaph and his brethren: °8 Give
thanks to Yahweh, call upon his name, proclaim his deeds to the peoples. °9 Sing
to him, sing his praise; tell of all his marvels. °10 Glory
in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice! °11 Seek
Yahweh and his strength, seek his face untiringly; °12 Recall
the wondrous deeds he has done, his miracles, the judgments from his mouth. °13 Descendants
of Israel his servant, sons of Jacob his chosen one, °14 he
is Yahweh our God; he rules over all the earth. °15 He remembers his covenant
forever, his promises for many generations, °16 the
covenant he made with Abraham, his promise to Isaac, °17 That
he gave as law to Jacob, an everlasting covenant for Israel. °18 For
he said, “I give you a land Canaan, your own possession,” °19 when
they were easily counted, few in number, strangers to the country. °20 They
wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. °21 But
he let no one oppress them, and punished kings for their sake: °22 “Do
not touch my anointed ones, do not harm my prophets.” °23 Sing
to Yahweh, all the earth. Proclaim his salvation day after day. °24 Tell
his glory among the nations and his wonders to every people. °25 Yahweh
is great, and highly to be praised, more fearsome than all gods. °26 Nothingness
are all the gods of the nations, Yahweh himself made the heavens; °27 splendor
and majesty go before him, praise and joy are in his sanctuary. °28 Give
to Yahweh, families of the peoples, give to Yahweh glory and praise. °29 Give to
Yahweh the glory due his name. Bring out offerings and bow before him,
worship Yahweh in his sacred ornaments. °30 Be
quiet before him, all the earth! Firm has he made the world, not to be moved. °31 Let
the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Say among the nations, “Yahweh is
King!” °32 Let
the sea thunder and all that it holds, let the fields exult and all that is
in them, °33 let
all the trees cry out for joy, and rejoice before Yahweh, for he comes to
rule the earth. °34 Give
thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, his love endures forever. °35 Say,
“Save us, O God, our Savior, gather us and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you.” °36 Blessed
be Yahweh the God of Israel from all eternity and forever! And let all the
people say, “Amen! Alleluia!” °37 David
left there, before the ark of the Covenant of Yahweh, Asaph and his brother
Levites with the permanent charge of the worship that was held before the ark
as each day’s ritual required. °38
He left also Obed-Edom, with his sixty-eight
kinsmen. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be keepers of the gate. °39 He left
Zadok the priest and the priests, his kinsmen, before the Holy Tent of Yahweh
at the High place in Gibeon °40 to
offer burnt offerings to Yahweh regularly, morning and evening, on the altar
for burnt offerings and to carry out all that is written in the Law of Yahweh
laid down for Israel. °41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun
and the rest of those who were chosen and assigned by name to give praise to
God, “For his love is everlasting.” °42 With them were Heman and Jeduthun
who were to sound the trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments accompanying
the hymns to God. The sons of Jeduthun were given charge of the gate. °43 Then all
went away, each to his own house, and David returned to bless his household. § The prophecy of Nathan¤17 °1 Once David was living in his
palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Here am I living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of Yahweh’s covenant dwells beneath a tent cloth.” °2 Nathan
said to David, “Do all that is in your mind, for God is with you.” °3 But that
very night Yahweh said to Nathan, °4
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh says this:
You yourself are not to build a temple for me to live in. °5 I have
never lived in a temple from the day I brought Israel out until today, but
went from tent to tent, from one shelter to another. °6 In
all my journeying with the whole of Israel, did I say to any one of the
rulers of Israel whom I had appointed as shepherds of my people: Why do you
not build me a temple of cedar wood? °7 This you
must say to my servant David: This is the word of Yahweh Sabaoth: I took you
from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel. °8 I have
been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as
you advanced. I will make your name as great as the name of the greatest on
earth. °9 I
will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they
shall live in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked
ever again oppress them, as they did °10 in the days when I appointed
judges over my people Israel. For now I will subdue all their enemies.
Moreover I tell you that I will build you a house. °11 And when your days are ended and
you must die and be buried with your ancestors, I will raise up your
offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will make his kingdom
strong. °12 He
will build a temple for me and I will make his throne firm forever. °13 I will be
a father to him and he a son to me. I will not withdraw my support from him,
as I withdrew it from Saul. °14 I
will put him in charge of my people and his kingdom shall be established
forever.” °15 Nathan
told David accordingly all these words and this vision. § David’s prayer
°16 King
David then went in and, seated before Yahweh, said: “I am not worthy of what you
have already done for me, Yahweh God, nor is my family. °17 Yet in
your eyes, O God, this is still not enough. For you have made a promise for
my descendants reaching into the distant future and you have looked on me as
a great man. °18 What
more can I say to you? For you know your servant David. °19 You
yourself have done this because you have looked kindly on your servant and
you wanted to show your own greatness. °20 O Yahweh,
there is none like you, no God except you alone, that we have ever heard of. °21 Is there
another people on the earth like your people Israel, whom you rescued from
slavery in Egypt to make them your own people, giving yourself a name for
great and terrible things by driving nations out before your people whom you
rescued from Egypt? °22 You made
your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, have become
their God. °23 Now,
Yahweh, let the promise you have made to me and to my descendants be always
kept. °24 May
this promise hold good and your name be exalted forever; may they say,
‘Yahweh Sabaoth, the God of Israel, is God for Israel.’ And let my
descendants be established before you forever. °25 O my God,
you have just made known to me that you will build me a house; because of
this I have to offer this prayer in your presence. °26 Yes,
Yahweh, you are God indeed, and you have made this kind promise to me. °27 Be
pleased, then, to bless my house so that they may remain forever in your
favor. You, Yahweh, are the one who blesses, and your blessing will rest on
them forever.” § The wars of David
¤18 °1 After this, David defeated the
Philistines and subdued them, taking Gath and its outlying villages. °2 He also
defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became subject to David, paying him
taxes. °3 At Hamath
David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, who was trying to gain control of
the territory by the river Euphrates. °4 David captured one thousand
chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him;
David hamstrung all the chariot teams, keeping only a hundred of them. °5 The
Arameans of Damascus came to the help of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, but David
killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans. °6 Then David established governors
in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David, paying him
taxes. Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory. °7 David
took the golden shields of the guards of Hadadezer and brought them to
Jerusalem. °8 From
Tibhath and from Cun, towns belonging to Hadadezer, David took a great
quantity of bronze; with this Solomon would make the bronze Sea and the
bronze pillars and furnishings. °9 When Tou,
king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,
king of Zobah, °10 he
sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on
fighting and defeating Hadadezer, since Hadadezer was the enemy of Tou.
Hadoram brought articles of every kind in gold, silver and bronze, °11 which
King David also consecrated to Yahweh together with the silver and gold he
had taken from all the nations: Edom, Moab, Ammonites, Philistines, Amalek. °12 After
that David defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand of
them. °13 He
imposed governors on Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David.
Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory. °14 David
ruled over all Israel, administering law and justice to all his people. °15 Joab son
of Zeruiah was in command of the army; Jehoshapat son of Ahilud was recorder;
°16 Zadok
son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests; Shavsha was
secretary; °17 Benaiah
son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cheretites and Pelethites; David’s sons
were the chief assistants of the King. ¤19 °1 Afterwards Nahash, king of the
Ammonites, died and his son Hanun became king. °2 David
thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun, son of Nahash, since his father was
kind to me.” And David sent messengers with his condolences on his father’s
death. But when David’s servants reached Hanun in the land of the Ammonites
to present these condolences, °3 the
Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Do you think David means to honor your
father when he sends you messengers of sympathy? On the contrary he has sent
them here as spies to explore the land, so that he can conquer it.” °4 Hanun had
David’s servants seized, shaved their beards, cut their clothes half-way up
to the hips and sent them away. °5
As soon as David was told what had happened to these
men, he sent someone to meet them, for the men were too ashamed to return
home. And he said, “Stay in Jericho, until your beards have grown again, and
come back then.” °6 The
Ammonites saw that they had made David their enemy and so Hanun and the
Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers
from the Aramaeans of Upper Mesopotamia, of Maacah and of Zobah. °7 They
hired thirty-two thousand chariots; also the king of Maacah with his army.
These came and encamped before Medeba, while the Ammonites came out from all
their cities and got ready to fight. °8 When David heard this, he sent
Joab with the whole army and the warriors. °9 The
Ammonites marched out and took up their positions at the entrance to the
town, but the kings who had come remained in the open country. °10 Joab,
seeing that he had to fight on two fronts, to his front and to his rear,
chose the best fighters of the Israelites and drew them up in line facing the
Aramaeans. °11 He
placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, to
face the Ammonites. He said to him, °12 “If the Aramaeans prove too
strong for me, you shall come to my help; if the Ammonites prove too strong
for you, I will come to yours. °13
Take courage and fight hard for the sake of our
people and the towns of our God. And may Yahweh do as he thinks right.” °14 Joab and the
force with him advanced to attack the Aramaeans,who fled before him. °15 When the
Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans were running away, they too fled before
Abishai, Joab’s brother, and withdrew into their town. Then Joab came back to
Jerusalem. °16 Seeing
that they had been defeated by Israel, the Aramaeans sent messengers and
mobilized the Aramaeans from beyond the river, with Shophach, commander of
Hadadezer’s army, at their head. °17
News of this was brought to David, who gathered the
Israelite troops, crossed the Jordan, and met them. David drew up his line of
battle facing the Aramaeans, and the fighting began. °18 But the
Aramaeans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their
chariot teams and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach,
their general. °19 When
the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by
Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. After this the
Aramaeans refused to give help to the Ammonites. ¤20 °1 At the turn of the year, the time
when kings go to war, Joab set out with the army to invade the land of the
Ammonites and went to lay siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in
Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it. °2 David took the gold crown from the
head of the Ammonite idol Milcom; they found that it weighed about seventy
five pounds. In it was set a precious stone which made an ornament for
David’s head. He carried off a great quantity of loot from the town. °3 He
brought away its population and set them to work with saws, iron picks and
axes. David treated all the Ammonite towns in the same way. Then David and
the whole army returned to Jerusalem. °4 After
this, war broke out again with the Philistines at Gezer. This was when
Sibbecai of Hushah killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim. The
Philistines were defeated. °5 War with the Philistines broke
out again, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of
Gath, the shaft of whose spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam. °6 There was
another battle at Gath, where there was a giant with six fingers on each hand
and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all. He too was a descendant of
Raphaim. °7 He
defied Israel and Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimea, killed him. °8 These men
were descended from Raphaim of Gath and they were killed by David and his
guards. § The census¤21 °1 Satan wanted to bring trouble on
the people of Israel and so he made David take a census of the Israelites. °2 David
said to Joab and to the senior army officers, “Go, and take a census of
Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, then come back that I may know their number.” °3 Joab
said, “May Yahweh multiply the people a hundred times! My lord king, are they
not all your servants? Why do you want to do this? Will you bring guilt upon
Israel?” °4 But the
king enforced his order on Joab, and Joab went away, traveling through the
whole country of Israel before he returned to Jerusalem. °5 Joab gave
David the figures for the census of the people: the whole of Israel numbered
one million, one hundred thousand men capable of drawing sword, and Judah
four hundred and seventy thousand capable of drawing sword. °6 But Joab
disapproved of the king’s command, and, because of this he had not taken any
census of Levi or of Benjamin. °7 God
looked with displeasure on what had been done and so he began to punish
Israel. °8 Then
David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. But now I beg you to
forgive me for this fault. I have been very foolish.” °9 Then
Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s prophet, °10 “Go and say to David, ‘Yahweh
says this: I offer you three things; choose one of them for me to do to you.”
°11 So
Gad went to David and said, “Yahweh says this, ‘Take your choice: °12 three
years of famine, three months running away from the armies of your enemies,
or three days of Yahweh’s own sword, an epidemic in your land, with Yahweh’s
destroying angel bringing death throughout Israel.’ Now decide how I am to
answer him who sends me.” °13 David
said to Gad, “This is a hard choice, but let me rather fall into the power of
Yahweh, since his mercy is very great; and not into the power of men.” °14 So Yahweh
sent an epidemic on Israel, and seventy thousand men of the Israelites died. °15 God sent the
angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, Yahweh
looked and changed his mind; and he said to the destroying angel, “Enough!
Now withdraw your hand.” The angel of Yahweh was standing beside the
threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. °16 David saw the angel of Yahweh
standing between the heavens and earth with a naked sword in his hand, ready
to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell
on their faces. °17 And
David prayed to God, “Was it not I who sinned, by ordering this wicked
census? But these, this flock, what have they done? Yahweh my God, let your
hand lie heavy on me and on my family; but let your people escape the
plague.” °18 The angel
of Yahweh then said to Gad, “David must go up and build an altar to Yahweh on
the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” °19 So David obeyed the command which
Gad had spoken in the name of Yahweh. °20 Now Ornan, as he turned, had seen
the angel and had hidden, with his four sons. Ornan was threshing wheat °21 when
David came to him. When Ornan looked up and saw David coming, he left the
threshing floor and with his face to the ground did homage to David. °22 Then
David said to Ornan, “Sell me your threshing floor, to build an altar to
Yahweh. Let me have it at its full price, that the plague may be turned away
from the people.” °23 “Take
it,” Ornan said to David, “and let my lord the king do as he thinks right.
Look, I will give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing sled for
the wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I give them all.” °24 But King
David said to Ornan, “No, I must buy it from you at the full price; I will
not take for Yahweh what is yours, or offer burnt offerings that cost me
nothing.” °25 So
David gave Ornan six hundred gold coins for the threshing place. °26 David
built an altar there to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings. He called on Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him with fire from heaven
on the altar for burnt offerings °27 and ordered the angel to put his
sword away. °28 Then
David saw that Yahweh had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the
Jebusite, so he kept on offering sacrifices there. °29 The Holy
Tent of Yahweh that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar for burnt
offerings were at that time at the High place at Gibeon, °30 but David
had not been able to go there before God to consult him, so fearful was he of
the sword of the angel of Yahweh. ¤22 °1 Then David said, “Here is where
the Temple of Yahweh God will be; and this is where the people of Israel are
to offer burnt offerings.” § Preparations for the building of the temple
°2 David
gave orders to gather all the strangers living in the land of Israel and he
set stonecutters to prepare stone blocks for building the Temple of God. °3 David
furthermore stored up great quantities of iron to make nails for the wooden
gates and for clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed; °4 logs of
cedar too, beyond number, the Sidonians and Tyrians having brought cedar logs
to David in great quantities. °5 Then
David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the Temple to be
built for Yahweh must be of great splendor, and famous for its magnificence
in every country. I will make preparations for him.” And so, before he died,
David laid away large amounts of the materials needed. °6 He then
sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for Yahweh, the
God of Israel, °7 “My
son, my heart was set on building a temple for the name of Yahweh my God. °8 But
Yahweh told me, ‘You have shed much blood and fought great battles; it is not
for you to build a temple for my name, since you have shed so much blood on
the earth in my presence. °9 But
now a son is born to you. He shall be a man of peace, and I will give him
peace from all the enemies that surround him; for Solomon is his name, and in
his days I will give Israel peace and quiet. °10 He shall build a temple for my
name; he shall be a son to me and I a father to him. His dynasty will rule
Israel forever. °11 Now,
my son, may Yahweh be with you and give you success in building a temple for
Yahweh your God, as he has said concerning you. °12 Yet may he give you insight and
wisdom so that you may govern Israel according to his Law. °13 Success
will be yours if you carefully observe the statutes and the ordinances that
Yahweh has prescribed to Moses for Israel. Be strong and stand fast, be
fearless, be confident. °14 Poor
as I am, I have set aside for the Temple of Yahweh four thousand tons of
gold, and nearly forty thousand tons of silver and more bronze and iron than
can be weighed; I have stored up wood and stone too, to which you must add
more. °15 You
will have many workmen, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, skilled artisans of
every kind, °16 while
your supply of gold and silver, bronze and iron, will be unlimited. Set to
work, then, and may Yahweh be with you!” °17 David
then commanded all the Israelite leaders to help his son Solomon, °18 “Is not
Yahweh your God with you? He has given you peace on all sides, since he has
let me conquer all the people who lived in this land, and the land has been
subdued for Yahweh and for his people. °19 So now devote heart and soul to
the search for Yahweh your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of Yahweh your
God, so that the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy things of God may
be brought to the Temple that is built for the name of Yahweh.” § The work of the Levites¤23 °1 When David was very old, he made
his son Solomon king over Israel. °2 He then gathered all the Israelite
leaders together, with the priests and Levites. °3 A census
was taken of those Levites thirty years old or older. The total was
thirty-eight thousand; °4 twenty-four
thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh;
six thousand were scribes and judges; °5 four thousand were keepers of the
gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that
purpose. °6 Then
David divided the Levites into three groups, according to their clans:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari. °7 For the
Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. °8 Sons
of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in all. °9 Sons of
Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of
families of Ladan. °10 Sons
of Shimei: Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four
in all. °11 Jahath
was the eldest, Zirah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many
children and were counted as one family. °12 Sons of
Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all. °13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses.
Aaron and his descendants were set apart to be in charge of the sacred
objects forever, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to serve him and
to bless the people in his name forever. °14 As for Moses, the man of God, his
sons were included among the Levites. °15 Sons of Moses: Gershom and
Eliezer. °16 Sons
of Gershom: Shebuel, the first: °17
Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had
no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. °18 Sons of
Izhar: Shelomith, the first. °19 Sons
of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth. °20 Sons of
Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second. °21 Sons of
Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. °22 Eleazar
died leaving no sons but only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish,
married these. °23 Sons
of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all. °24 These
were the sons of Levi by their families, the heads of families, and those
registered by name, individually; whoever was twenty years old or older had
his duty in the service of the Temple of Yahweh. °25 For David had said, “Yahweh, the
God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem
forever. °26 The
Levites are no longer required to carry the Holy Tent or anything used in its
service.” °27 According
to the last words of David, the Levites who had been registered were of
twenty years and older. °28 Their
duty is to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Temple of Yahweh,
in the courts and chambers, to purify everything that is sacred; their duty
is to serve the Temple of God. °29
They are also responsible for the loaves set out in
rows, and for the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened
bread, the cakes baked on the griddle or mixed, and they are to weigh and
measure the Temple offerings. °30 They
have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also
in the evening, °31 and
at every burnt offering to Yahweh on the sabbath, New Moon or solemn feast,
in such numbers as are prescribed. They must always be present before Yahweh.
°32 In
serving the Temple of Yahweh they observe the ritual of the Tent of Meeting,
the ritual of the sanctuary and the ritual of their brethren, the sons of
Aaron. § The classification of the Priests¤24 °1 These are the groups to which the
descendants of Aaron belong. Sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar. °2 Nadab and
Abihu died in their father’s lifetime leaving no children, so Eleazar and
Ithamar became priests. °3 David
divided them into groups with the help of Zadok, one of Eleazar’s sons, and
Ahimelech, one of the sons of Ithamar, and made a register of them according
to their duties. °4 The
sons of Eleazar were found to have more leading men than the sons of Ithamar;
accordingly, from the heads of families of the sons of Eleazar they made
sixteen groups, and from those of the sons of Ithamar, eight. °5 They
divided them, both parties, by lot: there were Temple officials and spiritual
leaders among the sons of Eleazar, as well as among the sons of Ithamar. °6 One of
the Levites, the scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, recorded them in the
presence of the king, his officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of
Abiathar and the heads of the priestly and levitical families. They took
turns in drawing lots for each family of the sons of Eleazar and for the sons
of Ithamar. °7 The first
lot fell to Jehoiarib, to Jedaiah the second, °8 Harim the third, Seorim the
fourth, °9 Malchijah
the fifth, Mijamin the sixth, °10 Hakkoz
the seventh, Abijah the eighth, °11
Jeshua the ninth, Shecaniah the tenth, °12 Eliashib
the eleventh, Jakim the twelfth, °13
Huppah the thirteenth, Ishbaal the fourteenth, °14 Bilgah
the fifteenth, Immer the sixteenth, °15 Hezir the seventeenth, Happizzez the
eighteenth, °16 Pethahiah
the nineteenth, Jehezkel the twentieth, °17 Jachin the twenty-first, Gamul
the twenty-second, °18 Delaiah
the twenty-third, Maaziah the twenty-fourth. °19 These men
were registered according to their various duties, to enter the Temple of
Yahweh according to the regulations that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given
through Haran, their ancestor. °20 As
regards the rest of the sons of Levi: Sons of Amram: Shubael. Sons of Shubael:
Jehdeiah. °21 For
Rehabiah, for the sons of Rehabiah: the eldest, Isshiah. °22 Izharites:
Shelomoth: Jahath. °23 Sons
of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam
the fourth. °24 Sons
of Uzziel: Micah; sons of Micah: Shamir; °25 the brother of Micah: Isshiah;
sons of Micah: Isshiah, Zechariah. °26 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
Sons of Jaaziah: his son; °27 sons of Merari: for Jaaziah his
son: Shoham, Zaccur, Ibri: °28 for Mahli: Eleazar who had no
sons; °29 for
Kish: the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. °30 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder,
Jerimoth. °31 These
were the sons of Levi by their families. The head of each family and one of
his younger brothers drew lots for their assignments, just as their
relatives, the priests descended from Aaron, had done. King David, Zadok,
Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites were
witnesses. § The cantors¤25 °1 For the liturgy, David and the
senior army officers set apart the sons of Asaph, of Heman and of Jeduthun,
who prophesied playing lyre and harp and cymbal, and a list was made of those
with these duties to perform. °2 Sons of
Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the
direction of Asaph who prophesied whenever the king commanded. °3 For
Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, Mattithiah;
there were six of them under the direction of their father Jeduthun who, to
the sound of the lyre, sang praise and thanks to the Lord. °4 For
Heman: sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth,
Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romantiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi,
Hothir, Mahazioth. °5 All
these were sons of Heman, the king’s seer; these sounded the trumpet when
Yahweh’s word came. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters; °6 all of
them sang in the Temple of Yahweh under their father’s direction to the sound
of cymbal, harp and lyre, for the liturgy in the house of Yahweh at the
king’s direction. °7 All of
these, whether of Asaph, Jeduthun or Heman, who were trained in singing to
Yahweh, all of them skilled men, were altogether two hundred and
eighty-eight. °8 They
drew lots to determine the assignment of duties of each of them whether they
were young or old, experts or beginners. °9 The first lot fell to the Asaphite,
Joseph. The second was Gedaliah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °10 The third
was Zaccur, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °11 The
fourth was Izri, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °12 The fifth
was Nethaniah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °13 The sixth
was Bukkiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °14 The
seventh was Jesharelah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °15 The
eighth was Jeshaiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °16 The ninth
was Mattaniah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °17 The tenth
was Shimei, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °18 The
eleventh was Azarel, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °19 The
twelfth was Hashabiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °20 The
thirteenth was Shubael, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °21 The
fourteenth was Mattithiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °22 The
fifteenth was Jeremoth, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °23 The sixteenth
was Hananiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °24 The
seventeenth was Joshbekashah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °25 The
eighteenth was Hanani, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °26 The
nineteenth was Mallothi, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °27 The
twentieth was Eliathah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °28 The
twenty-first was Hothir, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °29 The
twenty-second was Giddalti, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °30 The
twenty-third was Mahazioth, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. °31 The
twenty-fourth was Romamtiezer, he and his sons and brothers were twelve. § The keepers of the gate¤26 °1 These are the assignments of work
for the Levites who served as Temple guards. For the Korahites: Meshelemiah
son of Kore, one of the sons of Ebiasahp. °2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah
the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, °3 Elam the
fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. °4 Obed-Edom
had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar
the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, °5
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai
the eighth; God had indeed blessed him. °6 Shemaiah
had sons who were important men in their clan because of their great ability.
°7 Sons of
Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad and his brothers, Elihu and Semachia,
brave men. °8 All
these were sons of Obed-Edom. These and their sons and brothers were highly
qualified for this work. For Obed-Edom, sixty-two. °9 Meshelemiah
had sons and brothers: eighteen brave men. °10 Hosah,
son of Merari, had sons: Shimri was the first, for although he was not the
firstborn his father had made him the chief. °11 Hilkiah was the second, Tebaliah
the third, Zechariah the fourth. Altogether thirteen members of Hosah’s
family were Temple guards. °12 The
Temple guards were divided into groups, according to their families, and they
were assigned duties in the Temple, just as the other Levites were. °13 They drew
lots, junior and senior family alike, to see which gate it would be
responsible for. °14 For
the east side the lot fell to Shelemiah, whose son Zechariah was a shrewd
counselor; when they drew lots, the lot for the north side fell to the
latter. °15 To
Obed-Edom went the south, and to his sons the storehouse. °16 To
Shuppim and Hosah went the west with the Gate of the Felled Treetrunk on the
upper road. Watches were established for each family. °17 On the
east, six daily; on the north, four daily; on the south, four daily; at the
storehouse, two each side; °18 for
the Parbar. °19 These
were the orders of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and Merarites. °20 Others of
their fellow Levites were in charge of the Temple Treasury and the storerooms
for gifts dedicated to God. °21 The sons
of Ladan, sons of Gershon, through Ladan had the Jehielites for heads of the
families of Ladan the Gershonite. °22 The Jehielites, Zetham and Joel
his brother, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of Yahweh. °23 As regard
the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites; °24 Shebuel
son of Gershom, son of Moses, was the officer responsible for the treasuries.
°25 His
kinsmen through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son,
Zichri his son, Shelomoth his son. °26 This Shelomoth and his kinsmen
were in charge of all the gifts dedicated to Yahweh by King David and by the
heads of families as officers of thousands, of hundreds, or as other senior
officers. °27 There
was a part of the loot they captured in battle and dedicated for use in the
Temple °28 and
also the things that Samuel, the seer, and Saul son of Kish, Abner son of
Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated. All that had been dedicated was
under the responsibility of Shelomoth and his kinsmen. °29 For the
Izharites: Chananiah and his sons were in charge of Israel’s civil affairs as
officials and judges. °30 For the
Hebronites: Hashabiah and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred fighting
men, were appointed as overseers of all Israel west of Jordan, for all the
service of Yahweh and the service of the king. °31 For the Hebronites: Jerijah the
chief. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, the family line of the
Hebronite families was investigated and fighting men were found belonging to
them at Jazer in Gilead. °32 King
David appointed two thousand seven hundred fighting men, kinsmen to Jerijah
and heads of families, as overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the
half tribe of Manasseh for all the service of Yahweh and the sacrifices of
the king. § Military and civil organization¤27 °1 Census of the sons of Israel; The
heads of families, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and other officers
who served the king in all that referred to the divisions of twenty-four
thousand men each, that were on duty for a month, each month of the year. °2 For the
first month Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, °3 son of Perez, and chief of all
the officers of the division had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand
men. °4 For
the second month Dodai, the Ahohite had charge of a division of twenty-four
thousand men. °5 For
the third month Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief priest, had charge of a
division of twenty-four thousand men. °6 Benaiah who was champion of The
Thirty, was overseer for The Thirty and for his division. Ammizabad was his
son. °7 For
the fourth month was Asahel, the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded
him. He had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men. °8 For the
fifth month, Shamhuth the Izrahite had charge of a division of twenty-four
thousand men. °9 For
the sixth month, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa had charge of a division of
twenty-four thousand men. °10 For
the seventh month, Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite, had charge of a
division of twenty-four thousand men. °11 For the eighth month, Sibbecai of
Hushah, a Zerahite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men. °12 For the
ninth month, Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite, had charge of a division of
twenty-four thousand men. °13 For
the tenth month, Maharai of Netophah, a Zerahite, had charge of a division of
twenty-four thousand men. °14 For
the eleventh month, Benaiah of Pirathon, an Ephraimite, had charge of a
division of twenty-four thousand men. °15 For the twelfth month, Heldai
from Netophah, of Othniel, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand
men. °16 Overseers
for the tribes of Israel: Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer for the
Reubenites, Shephatiah, son of Maacha for the Simeonites, °17 Hashabiah,
son of Kemuel for the Levites, Zadok for the Aaronites, °18 Elihu,
one of David’s brothers, for the Judaeans, Omri son of Michael for the
Issacharites, °19 Ishmaiah,
son of Obadiah for the Zebulunites, Jeremoth, son of Azriel for the
Naphtalite, °20 Hoshea,
son of Azaziah for the Ephraimites, Joel, son of Pedaiah for the half tribe
of Manasseh, °21 Iddo,
son of Zechariah for the half tribe of Manasseh in Gad, Jaasiel, son of Abner
for the Benjaminites, °22 Azarel,
son of Jeroham for the Danites. These were the officials for the tribes of
Israel. °23 David
took no census of those who were twenty years old and under, since Yahweh had
promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. °24 Joab, son
of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish it for God punished Israel
because of this census. The final figures were never recorded in the official
records of King David. °25 This is
the list of those who administered the king’s property. Overseers for the
king’s storerooms: Azmaveth son of Adiel. Commissioner for the stores in
provincial towns, villages, castles: Jonathan son of Uzziah. °26 For the
agricultural workers employed on the land: Ezri son of Chelub. °27 For the
vineyards: Shimei of Ramah. For those in the vineyards who looked after the
wine cellars: Zabdi of Shepham. °28
For the olives and sycamores in the lowlands:
Baal-Hanan of Geder. For the stores of oil: Joash. °29 For cattle in pasture at Sharon:
Shitrai of Sharon. For cattle in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai. °30 For
camels: Obil, the Ishmaelite. For donkeys: Jehdeiah of Meranoth. °31 For
flocks: Jaziz, the Hagrite. All these were overseers for King David’s
property. °32 Jonathan,
David’s uncle, was a skillful adviser and a scholar. Jehiel son of Hachmoni
attended the king's sons. °33 Ahithophel
was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was Friend of the King. °34 Jehoiada,
son of Benaiah, and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was commander of the
king’s armies. § David’s instructions for the temple¤28 °1 David held a meeting in Jerusalem
of all the officials of Israel, the overseers for the tribes, and the
officials in the royal service, the commanders of thousands, the commanders
of hundreds, the overseers for all the property and livestock of the king and
his sons, together with the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important
men. °2 Then
King David got up and said: “My brothers and my people, listen to me. I
had set my heart on building a settled home for the ark of the covenant of
Yahweh, as a footstool for our God. I have made preparations for building, °3 but God
has said to me, ‘You are not to build a temple for my name, for you have been
a man of war and have shed blood.’ °4 Yahweh, the
God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose
Judah for leader, my family within the tribe of Judah, and of my father’s
sons, myself. He was pleased to make me king of all Israel. °5 Of all my
sons – he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Yahweh over
Israel. °6 He
said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the man to build my Temple and my courts,
for I have chosen him to be a son to me and I will be a father to him. °7 I will
make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws
and commands as he does now.’ °8 So now
in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing
of our God, I tell you to observe and meditate on all the commandments of
Yahweh your God, so that you may possess this prosperous land and leave it to
your children after you as an inheritance forever. °9 And you,
Solomon my son, know the God of your father, serve him with an undivided
heart and a willing mind; for Yahweh knows all our thoughts and desires. If
you seek him, he will let you find him; but if you turn away from him, he
will abandon you forever. °10 Realize
at this moment that Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for him as
sanctuary. Be strong and set to work.” °11 David
gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, the buildings, the
treasuries, the upper rooms, the inner apartments and the room where the
mercy Seat would be. °12 He
also gave him a description of all he had in mind for the courts of Yahweh’s
House, all the surrounding apartments, the treasuries of Yahweh’s House and
the treasuries of votive offerings; °13 also of the orders of priests and
Levites, the liturgical duties in Yahweh’s House. °14 He instructed him about how much
silver and gold was to be used for making the utensils, °15 the
bullion for the golden lampstands and their lamps, the gold bullion for the
silver lampstand, for the lampstand and its lamps according to the
requirements for each lampstand, °16
gold bullion for the tables on which the rows of
bread were set, for each of these tables, the silver for the silver tables, °17 the
forks, the sprinkling bowls, basins of pure gold, the gold bullion for the
bowls, for each of the bowls, °18 the
bullion of refined gold for the altar of incense. He gave him the plans for
the chariot, for the golden cherubim with wings outspread covering the ark of
the covenant of Yahweh – °19 all
this in accordance with the plan drawn according to the instructions which
Yahweh himself gave him to carry out. °20 Then
David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong, stand firm; be fearless, be
determined and set to work, because Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will
not fail you or abandon you before you have finished all the work to be done
for the House of Yahweh. °21 Here
are the orders of priests and Levites for all the duties of the House of God;
every willing man of any aptitude will help you in all this work; the
officials and all the people are entirely at your command.” ¤29 °1 Then King
David said to the whole assembly, “Solomon my son, whom Yahweh has chosen, is
still young and the work is great; this palace is not for people but for
Yahweh God. °2 With
all my means, I have provided for the house of my God, adding gold to gold,
silver to silver, bronze to bronze, iron to iron, wood to wood, onyx, inlaid
stones, colored and striped stones, precious stones of every kind, masses of
alabaster. °3 What is
more, the gold and silver that I have in my own treasury I give out of love
for the house of God, above what I have provided already for the Holy House –
°4 115 tons
of the finest gold, gold of Ophir, 265 tons of pure silver for plating the
walls of the buildings. °5 Whatever
gold you have, whatever silver, or workmanship of the craftsman’s hand, will
each of you offer it to Yahweh today?” °6 Then the
heads of families, the officials for the tribes of Israel, the commanders of
thousands and of hundreds, and those who managed the king’s affairs, °7 gave for
the service of the house of God 190 tons of gold, 380 tons of silver, 675
tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron. °8 Those who had precious stones
brought them to Jehiel, the Gershonite for the treasury of Yahweh’s House. °9 The
people rejoiced at what had been given so readily, since their gifts to
Yahweh had been made wholeheartedly. King David too was filled with joy. °10 In sight
of the whole assembly David blessed Yahweh and said: “May you be blessed, Yahweh God of Israel our
ancestor, forever and ever! °11 Yours,
Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, splendor, length of days, glory, for all
that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty
forever, O Yahweh; you are supreme ruler over all. °12 Riches and honor go before you,
you are ruler of all, in your hand lie strength and power; You are the one
who gives greatness and strength to all. °13 At this
time, our God, we give you thanks, we praise the splendor of your name. °14 For who
am I and what is my people to have received all that we give you back now?
All comes from you; what we have received from your own hand we have given to
you. °15 For
we are strangers before you, settlers only, as all our ancestors were; our
days on earth pass like a shadow, and there is no hope beyond. °16 Yahweh,
our God, all this wealth that we have brought together to build a house for
your holy Name, comes from your hand, all is yours. °17 O my God,
I know that you examine the heart and delight in honesty, and in honesty of
heart I have willingly given all this; and now with joy I have seen your
people here offer their gifts willingly. °18 O Yahweh, God of our fathers,
Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such thoughts in the hearts and minds of
your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you. °19 Give
Solomon my son a heart determined to keep your commandments, your decrees, your
statutes; may he practice them all, and build this palace I have prepared for
you.” °20 Then
David said to the whole assembly, “Bless now Yahweh your God!” And the whole
assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and went on their knees
to give honor to Yahweh and to the king. °21 The following day, the Israelites
offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to Yahweh: a thousand bulls, a
thousand rams, a thousand lambs with their wine offerings, as well as many
sacrifices for the whole of Israel. °22 They ate and drank that day in
Yahweh’s presence with great joy. Then they made Solomon, son of David, their
second king and anointed him to rule over them in the name of Yahweh, and
anointed Zadok as priest. °23 Solomon
sat on the throne of Yahweh, in place of David his father. He prospered, and
all Israel obeyed him. °24 All
the officials, all the champions, and even all the sons of King David, swore
fidelity to King Solomon. °25 Yahweh
exalted Solomon greatly in the eyes of all Israel, and gave him a glorious
reign such as had not been enjoyed by any king over Israel before him. °26 David
son of Jesse had reigned over the whole of Israel. °27 His reign over Israel had lasted
forty years; he had reigned in Hebron for seven years, and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.
°28 He
died at a good old age, with his fill of days, of riches, of honor. Then his
son Solomon succeeded him. °29 The
history of King David, from first to last, can be found in the records of
Samuel, the prophet, the records of Nathan the prophet, and the records of
Gad, the prophet. °30 These
records tell how he ruled, how powerful he was, and all the things that
happened to him, to Israel, and to the surrounding kingdoms. The End. |