Reuben’s descendants lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 9Some of them lived eastward as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because they had so much livestock in Gilead. 10In Saul’s day they fought a war against the Hagrites, defeated them, and lived in their tents throughout the entire region east of Gilead.
1 Chronicles 6
Levi’s Descendants
1 (1 Chronicles 6:1–81 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 5:27–6:66 in the Hebrew Bible.)Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3Amram’s children were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua. 5Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi. 6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. 7Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 8Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. 9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan. 10Johanan was the father of Azariah. (He was the one who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.) 11Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. 12Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum. 13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. 14Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. 15Jehozadak was taken captive when the Lord used Nebuchadnezzar to take Judah and Jerusalem away into captivity.
16Levi’s sons were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. 17These are the names of Gershom’s sons: Libni and Shimei. 18Kohath’s sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi.
These are the descendants of Levi’s sons. They are grouped by families:
20Gershom’s son was Libni. Libni’s son was Jahath. Jahath’s son was Zimmah. 21Zimmah’s son was Joah. Joah’s son was Iddo. Iddo’s son was Zerah. Zerah’s son was Jeatherai.
22These were Kohath’s descendants: Kohath’s son was Amminadab. Amminadab’s son was Korah. Korah’s son was Assir. 23Assir’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph’s son was Assir. 24Assir’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Uriel. Uriel’s son was Uzziah. Uzziah’s son was Shaul. 25Elkanah’s sons were Amasai and Ahimoth. 26Ahimoth’s son was Elkanah. Elkanah’s son was Zophai. Zophai’s son was Nahath. 27Nahath’s son was Eliab. Eliab’s son was Jeroham. Jeroham’s son was Elkanah. 28Samuel’s sons were Joel, who was his firstborn, and Abijah, who was his second son.
29These were Merari’s descendants: Merari’s son was Mahli. Mahli’s son was Libni. Libni’s son was Shimei. Shimei’s son was Uzzah. 30Uzzah’s son was Shimea. Shimea’s son was Haggiah. Haggiah’s son was Asaiah.
31David put men in charge of the music in the Lord’s temple after the ark was placed there permanently. 32They served as musicians in the courtyard in front of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations set down for them.
33These are the men who served (their descendants also served):
The musician Heman was from Kohath’s family line. Heman was the son of Joel, who was the son of Samuel, 34who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Jeroham, who was the son of Eliel, who was the son of Toah, 35who was the son of Zuph, who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Mahath, who was the son of Amasai, 36who was the son of Elkanah, who was the son of Joel, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Zephaniah, 37who was the son of Tahath, who was the son of Assir, who was the son of Ebiasaph, who was the son of Korah, 38who was the son of Izhar, who was the son of Kohath, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Israel.
39Heman’s relative Asaph stood on his right. He was the son of Berechiah, who was the son of Shimea, 40who was the son of Michael, who was the son of Baaseiah, who was the son of Malchiah, 41who was the son of Ethni, who was the son of Zerah, who was the son of Adaiah, 42who was the son of Ethan, who was the son of Zimmah, who was the son of Shimei, 43who was the son of Jahath, who was the son of Gershom, who was the son of Levi.
44On the left was Ethan, one of Heman’s relatives descended from Merari. Ethan was the son of Kishi, who was the son of Abdi, who was the son of Malluch, 45who was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Amaziah, who was the son of Hilkiah, 46who was the son of Amzi, who was the son of Bani, who was the son of Shemer, 47who was the son of Mahli, who was the son of Mushi, who was the son of Merari, who was the son of Levi.
48Their relatives, the Levites, were assigned all the other duties in the tent, the house of God.
49Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense. They did all the work in the most holy place and removed Israel’s sins to make Israel acceptable to God. They did exactly what God’s servant Moses had commanded.
50These were Aaron’s descendants: His son was Eleazar. Eleazar’s son was Phinehas. Phinehas’ son was Abishua. 51Abishua’s son was Bukki. Bukki’s son was Uzzi. Uzzi’s son was Zerahiah. 52Zerahiah’s son was Meraioth. Meraioth’s son was Amariah. Amariah’s son was Ahitub. 53Ahitub’s son was Zadok. Zadok’s son was Ahimaaz.
The Cities Belonging to Levi’s Descendants
54These are the places where Levi’s descendants lived, the places where they settled in the territory chosen for them when lots were drawn:
The ⌞first⌟ lot was drawn for the descendants of Aaron from the family descended from Kohath. 55They were given Hebron in the territory of Judah as well as the pastureland around it, 56but the fields belonging to the city and its villages were given to Caleb, son of Jephunneh. 57Aaron’s descendants were given Hebron as a city of refuge, Libnah with its pastureland, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pastureland, 58Hilen with its pastureland, Debir with its pastureland, 59Ashan with its pastureland, and Beth Shemesh with its pastureland. 60From the tribe of Benjamin, Aaron’s descendants received Geba with its pastureland, Alemeth with its pastureland, and Anathoth with its pastureland. There was a total of 13 cities for their families.
61The rest of Kohath’s descendants received 10 cities chosen by lot from the families of half of the tribe of Manasseh. 62The families of Gershom’s descendants were given 13 cities chosen by lot from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and ⌞the part of⌟ the tribe of Manasseh that lived in Bashan. 63The families of Merari’s descendants were given 12 cities chosen by lot from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
64So the Israelites gave the Levites the cities with their pasturelands. 65They gave ⌞them⌟ the cities chosen by lot and mentioned here by name from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
66Some of the families of Kohath’s descendants had cities chosen by lot from the tribe of Ephraim. 67They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its pastureland in the hills of Ephraim, Gezer with its pastureland, 68Jokmeam with its pastureland, Beth Horon with its pastureland, 69Aijalon with its pastureland, and Gath Rimmon with its pastureland. 70From half of the tribe of Manasseh, they were given Aner with its pastureland and Bileam with its pastureland for the families of the rest of Kohath’s descendants.
71Gershom’s descendants received Golan in Bashan with its pastureland and Ashtaroth with its pastureland from the families of half of the tribe of Manasseh. 72From the tribe of Issachar, they received Kedesh with its pastureland, Daberath with its pastureland, 73Ramoth with its pastureland, and Anem with its pastureland. 74From the tribe of Asher, they received Mashal with its pastureland, Abdon with its pastureland, 75Hukok with its pastureland, and Rehob with its pastureland. 76From the tribe of Naphtali, they received Kedesh in Galilee with its pastureland, Hammon with its pastureland, and Kiriathaim with its pastureland.
77The rest of Merari’s descendants received Rimmono with its pastureland and Tabor with its pastureland from the tribe of Zebulun. 78From the tribe of Reuben, (The last part of verse 79 has been moved to verse 78 to express the complex Hebrew sentence structure more clearly in English.) Merari’s descendants received land east of the Jordan River and across from Jericho: Bezer in the wilderness with its pastureland, Jahzah with its pastureland, 79Kedemoth with its pastureland and Mephaath with its pastureland. 80From the tribe of Gad, they received Ramoth in Gilead with its pastureland, Mahanaim with its pastureland, 81Heshbon with its pastureland, and Jazer with its pastureland.
1 Chronicles 7
Issachar’s Descendants
1Issachar’s four sons were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. 2Tola’s sons were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. These men were heads of the families of Tola. They were soldiers grouped according to their ancestry. In David’s day there were 22,600 of them. 3The five descendants of Uzzi were Izrahiah and Izrahiah’s sons Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All of them were heads ⌞of families⌟. 4They had many wives and children. So in addition to these men grouped according to their ancestry and families, there were 36,000 soldiers. 5Their relatives (that is, all of Issachar’s families) were fighting men. A total of 87,000 of them was recorded in the genealogy.
Benjamin’s Descendants
6Benjamin had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. 7Bela’s five sons were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were heads of families and fighting men. In the genealogy 22,034 of them were recorded. 8Becher’s sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. These were all of Becher’s sons. 9In the genealogy 22,200 of them were recorded according to their ancestry (the heads of their families and fighting men). 10Jediael’s son was Bilhan. Bilhan’s sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11All of these men were Jediael’s descendants. They headed families that produced 17,200 fighting men who could go to war. 12The Shuppites and Huppites were Ir’s descendants. The Hushites were descendants of someone else.
Naphtali’s Descendants
13Naphtali’s sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They were Bilhah’s grandsons.
Manasseh’s Descendants Who Lived West of the Jordan River
14Manasseh’s sons were Asriel and Machir. Their mother was Manasseh’s Aramean concubine. (A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.) Machir was the first to settle Gilead. 15He married a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. His wife’s (Or “sister’s.”) name was Maacah. The name of his second son was Zelophehad. Zelophehad had only daughters. 16Maacah, Machir’s wife, had a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother’s name was Sheresh, whose sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17Ulam’s son was Bedan. These were the people of Gilead, descendants of Machir (son of Manasseh). 18Bedan’s sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19Shemida’s sons were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
Ephraim’s Descendants
20Ephraim’s son was Shuthelah. Shuthelah’s son was Bered. Bered’s son was Tahath. Tahath’s son was Eleadah. Eleadah’s son was Tahath. 21Tahath’s son was Zabad. Zabad’s son was Shuthelah.
Ephraim’s sons Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath when they came to take their livestock. 22Their father Ephraim mourned a long time, even though his brothers tried to comfort him. 23Then he slept with his wife, and she became pregnant. She gave birth to a son, and Ephraim named him Beriah [Tragedy], because tragedy had come to his home. 24Beriah’s daughter was Sheerah, who built Upper and Lower Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah. 25Beriah’s son was Rephah. Rephah’s son was Resheph. Resheph’s son was Telah. Telah’s son was Tahan. 26Tahan’s son was Ladan. Ladan’s son was Ammihud. Ammihud’s son was Elishama. 27Elishama’s son was Nun. Nun’s son was Joshua.
28The land and homes of Ephraim’s descendants were in Bethel and its villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer with its villages to the west, Shechem and its villages, and as far as Gaza and its villages. 29Next to Manasseh were Beth Shean and its villages, Taanach and its villages, Megiddo and its villages, and Dor and its villages. The descendants of Joseph, son of Israel, live in these cities.
Asher’s Descendants
30Asher’s sons were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. 31Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malchiel, who first settled Birzaith. 32Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. 33Japhlet’s sons were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s sons. 34The sons of his brother Shomer were Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. 35His brother Helem’s sons were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. 36Zophah’s sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, 37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilsha, Ithran, and Beera. 38Jether’s sons were Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. 39Ulla’s sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. 40All of these men were Asher’s descendants—heads of their families, outstanding men, soldiers, and distinguished leaders. Their military roster had 26,000 recorded in it.
1 Chronicles 8
Benjamin’s Descendants
1Benjamin was the father of Bela (his firstborn), Ashbel (his second son), Aharah (his third son), 2Nohah (his fourth son), and Rapha (his fifth son). 3Bela’s sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
6These were Ehud’s sons, who were heads of the families living in Geba and who were taken away as captives to Manahath: 7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera led the rest of them away as captives. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8Shaharaim divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. But later in Moab, 9he and his wife Hodesh had the following sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. All of Shaharaim’s sons became heads of families. 11He and Hushim were the parents of Abitub and Elpaal. 12Elpaal’s sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed (who built Ono, Lod, and Lod’s villages).
13Beriah and Shema were the heads of the families who lived in Aijalon. They forced out the people living in Gath. 14Their brothers (Greek; Masoretic Text “Ahio.”) were Shashak and Jeremoth. 15Beriah’s sons were Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ishpah, and Joha. 17Elpaal’s sons were Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab. 19Shimei’s sons were Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath. 22Shashak’s sons were Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel. 26Jeroham’s sons were Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri. 28These were the heads of families listed by their ancestry. They were the heads of families. They lived in Jerusalem.
29Jeiel, (Dead Sea Scrolls, Greek, Targum, Latin, 1 Chronicles 9:35; Masoretic Text omits “Jeiel.”) who first settled Gibeon, lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah. 30His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They lived next to their relatives in Jerusalem. 33Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34Jonathan’s son was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal was the father of Micah. 35Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. 37Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Raphah. Raphah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel. 38Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these men were Azel’s sons. 39His brother Eshek’s sons were Ulam (the firstborn), Jeush (the second son), and Eliphelet (the third son). 40Ulam’s sons were soldiers, skilled archers. They had many sons and grandsons, 150 in all. All of these men were Benjamin’s descendants.
1 Chronicles 9
The People Who Lived in Jerusalem
1All Israel was recorded in the genealogies in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. The Israelites were taken away to Babylon as captives because they had sinned. 2The first to settle again on their property in their own cities were ⌞some⌟ Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3Jerusalem was settled by descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh:
4From the descendants of Perez, son of Judah, was Uthai, who was the son of Ammihud, grandson of Omri, and great-grandson of Imri. (Imri’s father was Bani.) 5From the descendants of Shilah were Asaiah (the firstborn) and his sons. 6And from the descendants of Zerah were Jeuel and their relatives, 690 in all.
7From the descendants of Benjamin were Sallu (son of Meshullam, grandson of Hodaviah, and great-grandson of Hassenuah), 8Ibneiah (son of Jeroham), Elah (son of Uzzi and grandson of Michri), and Meshullam (son of Shephatiah, grandson of Reuel, and great-grandson of Ibniah), 9and their relatives according to their ancestry. All of these men were heads of their families. A total of 956 of them lived in Jerusalem.
10From the priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11and Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah, grandson of Meshullam, and great-grandson of Zadok. Zadok’s father was Meraioth, the son of Ahitub (the official in charge of God’s temple). 12Also from the priests were Adaiah (son of Jeroham, grandson of Pashhur, and great-grandson of Malchiah) and Maasai (son of Adiel, grandson of Jahzerah, and great-grandson of Meshullam, whose father was Meshillemith, son of Immer). 13Their relatives who were heads of their families totaled 1,760 soldiers. They served in God’s temple and settled in Jerusalem.
14From the Levites descended from Merari were Shemaiah (son of Hasshub, grandson of Azrikam, and great-grandson of Hashabiah), 15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah (son of Mica, grandson of Zichri, and great-grandson of Asaph), 16Obadiah (son of Shemaiah, grandson of Galal, and great-grandson of Jeduthun), and Berechiah (son of Asa and grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the villages belonging to the Netophathites).
17The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. (Shallum was in charge.) 18Formerly, they were stationed at the king’s gate on the east side. They were the gatekeepers for the Levite quarters.
19Shallum (son of Kore, grandson of Ebiasaph, great-grandson of Korah) and the members of his family (Korah’s descendants) were responsible for serving as watchmen at the entrances to the tent, as their ancestors had been in charge of guarding the entrances to the Lord’s camp. 20(Phinehas, Eleazar’s son, had been the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him.) 21Zechariah, son of Meshelemiah, was the keeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22The men chosen to be gatekeepers at the entrances totaled 212. Their genealogies were recorded in their villages. David and the seer (A seer is a prophet.) Samuel appointed them to these positions because they were trustworthy. 23So they and their descendants were assigned to be gatekeepers for the Lord’s house, that is, the tent.
24The gatekeepers were on the four sides (east, west, north, and south). 25Their relatives had to come from their villages from time to time. They would come to serve under the gatekeepers’ supervision for a period of seven days. 26The four chief Levite gatekeepers were in charge of the rooms and treasures in God’s temple because of their faithfulness. 27They would spend the night stationed around God’s temple because they had to guard it and open it every morning.
28Some of them were in charge of the utensils for worship. They would count them when they brought them in and when they took them out. 29Other descendants of Korah were placed in charge of the utensils, the holy utensils, the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. 30Some of the priests’ sons prepared the mixture of spices. 31Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum, Korah’s descendant, was entrusted with preparing the flat bread. 32Some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible for setting the bread out in rows every day of rest—a holy day.
33These were the musicians who were the heads of the Levite families. They lived in rooms in the temple and were free from other duties because they were on duty day and night. 34They were the heads of the Levite families according to their ancestry. These head Levites lived in Jerusalem.
Saul’s Descendants
35Jeiel, who first settled Gibeon, lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah. 36His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They lived next to their relatives in Jerusalem. 39Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40Jonathan’s son was Meribbaal, and Meribbaal was the father of Micah. 41Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, and Tarea. 42Ahaz was the father of Jarah. Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. 43Moza was the father of Binea. Binea’s son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah’s son was Eleasah. Eleasah’s son was Azel. 44Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these men were Azel’s sons.
1 Chronicles 10
The Death of Saul
(1 Samuel 31:1–13)
1When the Philistines fought against Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3The heaviest fighting was against Saul. When the archers got him in their range, he was wounded by them.
4Saul told his armorbearer, “Draw your sword! Stab me, or these godless men will come and make fun of me.” But his armorbearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 5When the armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on the sword and died. 6So Saul, his three sons, and his dynasty died together.
7When all the people of Israel in the valley saw that ⌞their army⌟ had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities. So the Philistines came to live in these cities.
8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped him and took his head and his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell their idols and the people this good news. 10They put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head to the temple of Dagon.
11When all the people of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the fighting men came and took away the dead bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried the bones under the oak tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted seven days.
13So Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord: He did not obey the Lord’s word. He asked a medium to request information ⌞from a dead person⌟. 14He didn’t request information from the Lord. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingship over to David, Jesse’s son.
1 Chronicles 11
David Anointed King of Israel
(2 Samuel 5:1–3)
1All Israel gathered around David at Hebron. “We are your own flesh and blood,” they said. 2“Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. The Lord your God has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’ ”
3All the leaders of Israel had come to Hebron. David made an agreement with them at Hebron in front of the Lord. So they anointed David king of Israel, as the Lord had spoken through Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 5:6–10)
4David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that region. 5They told David, “You will never get in here.” But David captured the fortress Zion (that is, the City of David).
6Now, David said, “Whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will be made a general and a prince.” Zeruiah’s son Joab was the first to go ⌞into Jerusalem⌟, so he became the general.
7David lived in the fortress, so it was called the City of David. 8He built the city ⌞of Jerusalem⌟ around it, starting from the Millo (The exact place referred to as “the Millo” is unknown.) and making a complete circuit. Joab rebuilt the rest of the city. 9David continued to grow more powerful because the Lord of Armies was with him.
David’s Three Fighting Men
(2 Samuel 23:8–17)
10Now, these were the commanders of David’s fighting men, who exercised power with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel they made him king according to the Lord’s word to Israel. 11The first of David’s fighting men was Jashobeam, son of Hachmon, the leader of the three. (2 Samuel 23:8, Greek; Masoretic Text “thirty.”) He used his spear to kill 300 men on one occasion. 12Next in rank to him was Eleazar, another one of the three fighting men. He was the son of Dodo and grandson of Aho. 13Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field of ripe barley. When the troops fled from the Philistines, 14they stood in the middle of the field and defended it by killing Philistines. So the Lord saved ⌞them⌟ with an impressive victory. 15Once three of the thirty leading men went down to David’s rock at the cave of Adullam when the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16While David was in the fortified camp, Philistine troops were in Bethlehem.
17David was thirsty and said, “I wish I could have a drink of water from the cistern at the city gate of Bethlehem.” 18So the three burst into the Philistine camp and drew water from the cistern. They brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ⌞as an offering⌟ to the Lord 19and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, God. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it.
These are the things which the three fighting men did.
David’s Thirty Fighting Men
(2 Samuel 23:18–39)
20Joab’s brother Abishai was the leader of the thirty. He used his spear to kill 300 men, but he was not one of the three, 21although he was honored more than they were. So he became their captain but didn’t become a member of the three.
22Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was from Kabzeel and was a brave man who did many things. He killed two distinguished soldiers from Moab. He also went into a cistern and killed a lion on the day it snowed. 23He killed an eight-foot-tall Egyptian. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s beam in his hand. But Benaiah went to him with a club, grabbed the spear away from him, and killed him with it. 24These are the things that Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, did. He was as famous as the three fighting men. 25He was honored more than the thirty, but he was not a member of the three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards.
26The distinguished fighting men were
Joab’s brother Asahel,
Elhanan (son of Dodo) from Bethlehem,
27Shammoth from Harod,
Helez the Pelonite,
28Ira (son of Ikkesh) from Tekoa,
Abiezer from Anathoth,
29Sibbecai (son of Hushai),
Ilai (descendant of Ahohi),
30Maharai from Netophah,
Heled (son of Baanah) from Netophah,
31Ithai (son of Ribai) from Gibeah in Benjamin,
Benaiah from Pirathon,
32Hurai from the Gaash ravines,
Abiel from Beth Arabah,
33Azmaveth from Bahurim,
Eliahba from Shaalbon,
34Bene Hashem from Gizon,
Jonathan (son of Shage the Hararite),
35Ahiam (son of Sachar the Hararite),
Eliphal (son of Ur),
36Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro from Carmel,
Naari (son of Ezbai),
38Joel (son of Nathan),
Mibhar (son of Hagri),
39Zelek from Ammon,
Naharai from Beroth, armorbearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab,
40Ira (descendant of Ithra),
Gareb (descendant of Ithra),
41Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad (son of Ahlai),
42Adina (son of Shiza) from the tribe of Reuben (who was leader of the tribe of Reuben and had his own group of thirty soldiers),
43Hanan (son of Maacah),
and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44Uzzia from Ashteroth,
Shama and Jeiel (sons of Hotham from Aroer),
45Jediael (son of Shimri) and
his brother Joha the Tizite,
46Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai and Joshaviah (sons of Elnaam),
Ithmah from Moab,
47Eliel,
Obed, and
Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
1 Chronicles 12
The Men Who Helped David Become King
1These are the men who came to David at Ziklag when he was banished by Saul, son of Kish. They were among the soldiers who went into battle with David. 2They were armed with bows and could sling stones or shoot arrows with either their right or their left hands. They were Saul’s relatives, ⌞from the tribe of⌟ Benjamin. 3Ahiezer was the leader, then Joash (they were the sons of Shemaah from Gibeah), Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth, 4Ishmaiah from Gibeon (one of the thirty fighting men and one of their leaders), (1 Chronicles 12:4b–40 in English Bibles is 1 Chronicles 12:5–41 in the Hebrew Bible.) Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah, 5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah from Haruph, 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam (Korah’s descendants), 7and Joelah and Zebadiah, Jeroham’s sons from Gedor.
8Some men left Gad to join David at the fortified camp in the desert. They were warriors, trained soldiers, able to fight with shields and spears. They looked like lions and were as fast as gazelles on the hills. 9Ezer was the first of these soldiers. The second was Obadiah. The third was Eliab. 10The fourth was Mishmannah. The fifth was Jeremiah. 11The sixth was Attai. The seventh was Eliel. 12The eighth was Johanan. The ninth was Elzabad. 13The tenth was Jeremiah. The eleventh was Machbannai. 14These descendants of Gad were army officers. The least able one was in command of 100 men, and the best one was in command of 1,000. 15In the first month of the year, these men crossed the Jordan River when it was flooding its banks. They chased away all the people in the valleys to the east and west.
16Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fortified camp. 17David went to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven’t committed a crime, may the God of our ancestors see this and judge you.”
18Then the Spirit gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength ⌞to say⌟,
“We are yours, David.
We are with you, son of Jesse.
Success, success to you!
Success to those who help you,
because your God is helping you.”
So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.
19Some men from Manasseh had deserted ⌞Saul’s army⌟ to join David when he went with the Philistines to attack Saul. (However, David didn’t help the Philistines because their rulers sent him away after considering the matter. They said, “It will cost us our heads when he deserts and joins his master Saul.”) 20When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh deserted to join him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each one was an officer over 1,000 men in Manasseh. 21They helped David fight raiding parties because they were all warriors, commanders in the army. 22From day to day, men came to help David until he had an army as large as God’s army.
23These are the numbers of the men equipped for war. The men joined David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingship over to David, as the Lord had said.
24From Judah’s descendants there were 6,800 men equipped for war. They carried shields and spears.
25From Simeon’s descendants there were 7,100 warriors.
26From Levi’s descendants there were 4,600 27as well as Jehoiada (leader of Aaron’s families). With him there were 3,700 men, 28and Zadok, a young warrior from whose family came 22 officers.
29From Benjamin’s descendants, Saul’s relatives, there were 3,000 men, though most of them remained loyal to Saul’s family. 30From Ephraim’s descendants there were 20,800 warriors who were famous among their families.
31From half of the tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to make David king.
32From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Their relatives were under their command.
33From Zebulun there were 50,000 experienced soldiers. They were equipped for battle with every kind of weapon. Their loyalty was unquestioned.
34From Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders. With them were 37,000 who fought with shields and spears.
35From Dan there were 28,600 ready for battle.
36From Asher there were 40,000 experienced soldiers ready for battle.
37From the east side of the Jordan River, from Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 soldiers ready to fight with all kinds of weapons.
38All of these soldiers, who were prepared for battle, came with a single purpose to Hebron—to make David king of all Israel. The rest of Israel also had agreed to make David king. 39They ate and drank with David for three days because their relatives ⌞in Judah⌟ had provided enough for them. 40Also, their neighbors as far as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There was plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep, because Israel was celebrating.
1 Chronicles 13
David Has the Ark Brought to Obed Edom’s House
(2 Samuel 6:1–11)
1David consulted with every officer who commanded a regiment or battalion. 2Then he told the whole assembly of Israel, “If you approve and if the Lord our God has consented, we will send ⌞an invitation⌟ to the rest of our relatives in every region of Israel and to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands so that they may join us. 3Then we’ll bring back our God’s ark, which we ignored while Saul was king.”
4The whole assembly agreed to this because the people considered it the right thing to do. 5So David gathered all Israel from the Shihor River near Egypt to the border of Hamath in order to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.
6David and all Israel went to Baalah in Kiriath Jearim, which is in Judah, to bring God’s ark ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. (The Lord is enthroned over the angels (Or “cherubim.”)⌞on the ark⌟ where his name is used.) 7David and his men put God’s ark on a new cart from Abinadab’s home. Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart. 8David and all Israel were celebrating in God’s presence with all their might, with songs, with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9But when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, (A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.) the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to grab the ark. 10The Lord became angry with Uzzah and killed him for reaching for the ark. He died in God’s presence.
11David was angry because the Lord had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) 12David was afraid of God that day. “How can I bring God’s ark to my ⌞city⌟?” he asked. 13So he didn’t bring God’s ark to his ⌞home⌟, the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. 14God’s ark stayed at the home of Obed Edom with his family for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed Edom’s family and everything he owned.
1 Chronicles 14
David’s Palace, Wives, and Children in Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 5:11–16)
1King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedarwood, masons, and carpenters to build a palace for David. 2So David realized that the Lord had established him as king of Israel and that his kingdom was made famous for the sake of Israel, the Lord’s people.
3David married more wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
(2 Samuel 5:17–25)
8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, all of them came to attack David. But David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9The Philistines had come and raided the valley of Rephaim.
10David asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord answered him, “Attack! I will hand them over to you.”
11So David ⌞and his men⌟ attacked and defeated the Philistines at Baal Perazim. David said, “Using my power like an overwhelming flood, God has overwhelmed my enemies.” That is why they call that place Baal Perazim [The Lord Overwhelms]. 12The Philistines left their gods there, so David ordered that the gods be burned.
13The Philistines again raided the valley. 14Once more David asked God.
God answered him, “Don’t go after them. Circle around, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. 15As you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out and fight because God has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.”
16David did as God ordered him, and his men defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17David’s fame spread through all lands, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.
1 Chronicles 15
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 6:12–19a)
1After David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for God’s ark and set up a tent for it. 2Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the Lord had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve him forever.
3David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the Lord’s ark to the place he had prepared for it. 4David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites. 5Leading Kohath’s descendants was Uriel, who came with 120 of his relatives. 6Leading Merari’s descendants was Asaiah, who came with 220 of his relatives. 7Leading Gershom’s descendants was Joel, who came with 130 of his relatives. 8Leading Elizaphan’s descendants was Shemaiah, who came with 200 of his relatives. 9Leading Hebron’s descendants was Eliel, who came with 80 of his relatives. 10Leading Uzziel’s descendants was Amminadab, who came with 112 of his relatives.
11David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I prepared for it. 13Because you weren’t there the first time, the Lord our God struck us. We hadn’t dedicated our lives to serving him in the way ⌞he⌟ designated.”
14So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15The Levites carried God’s ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to the Lord’s instructions.
16David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their relatives to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing. 17So the Levites appointed Heman, son of Joel, and from his relatives they appointed Asaph, Berechiah’s son. From their own relatives, Merari’s descendants, they appointed Ethan, son of Kushaiah. 18In addition, they appointed their relatives from the second division: Zechariah, (Greek; Masoretic Text adds “Ben,” or “son.”) Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. Obed Edom and Jeiel were appointed gatekeepers. 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play bronze cymbals. 20Zechariah, Jaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were appointed to play harps according to alamoth. (Unknown musical term.) 21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were appointed to play lyres and to conduct the sheminith. (Unknown musical term.) 22Chenaniah, a Levite leader, instructed others how to sing prophetic songs because he was skilled at it. 23Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of God’s ark. Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
25So David, the leaders of Israel, and the army’s commanders joyfully went to get the ark of the Lord’s promise from Obed Edom’s house. 26Because God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27David was dressed in a fine linen robe, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, the ⌞Levites who were⌟ singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the musicians’ prophetic songs. David also wore a linen ephod. (Ephod is a technical term for a part of the priest’s clothing. Its exact usage and shape are unknown.)
28All Israel brought the ark of the Lord’s promise with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres. 29When the ark of the Lord’s promise came to the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, so she despised him.
1 Chronicles 16
1The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence. 2When David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3He also distributed to every person in Israel—both men and women—a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.
The Levites Lead the Worship in Jerusalem
(2 Samuel 6:19b–20a; Psalms 96:1–13; 105:1–15; 106:1, 47–48)
4David appointed some Levites to serve in front of the Lord’s ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to the Lord God of Israel. 5Asaph was the head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals. 6The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of God’s promise. 7For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to the Lord:
8 “Give thanks to the Lord.
Call on his name.
Make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him.
Make music to praise him.
Meditate on all the miracles he has done.
10 Brag about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Search for the Lord and his strength.
Always seek his presence.
12 Remember the miracles he performed,
the amazing things he did and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you descendants of Israel, his servant,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 “He is the Lord our God.
His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.
15 Remember his promise * forever,
the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,
16 the promise that he made to Abraham,
and his sworn promise to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob,
as an everlasting promise to Israel,
18 by saying, ‘I will give you Canaan.
It is your share of the inheritance.’
19 “While they were few in number,
a small group of foreigners living in that land,
20 they wandered from nation to nation
and from one kingdom to another.
21 He didn’t permit anyone to oppress them.
He warned kings about them:
22 ‘Do not touch my anointed ones
or harm my prophets.’
23 “Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Day after day announce that the Lord saves his people.
24 Tell people about his glory.
Tell all the nations about his miracles.
25 “The Lord is great!
He should be highly praised.
He should be feared more than all ⌞other⌟ gods
26 because all the gods of the nations are idols.
The Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are in his presence.
Strength and joy are where he is.
28 “Give to the Lord, you families of the nations.
Give to the Lord glory and power.
29 Give to the Lord the glory his name deserves.
Bring an offering, and come to him.
Worship the Lord in ⌞his⌟ holy splendor.
30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
“The earth stands firm; it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad.
Say to the nations, ‘The Lord rules as king!’
32 Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.
Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.
33 Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy
in the presence of the Lord when he comes to judge the earth.
34 “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his mercy endures forever.
35 Say, ‘Rescue us, O God our Savior.
Gather us and save us from the nations
so that we may give thanks to your holy name
and make your praise our glory.’
36 Thanks be to the Lord God of Israel
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said amen and praised the Lord.
37David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the ark of the Lord’s promise, as the daily work required. 38David also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives ⌞to serve there⌟. Obed Edom (Jeduthun’s son) and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 39David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in the Lord’s tent at the place of worship in Gibeon. 40They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Lord’s Teachings that he gave Israel. 41With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected, chosen by name, to give thanks to the Lord⌞by singing,⌟ “His mercy endures forever.” 42Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the ⌞other⌟ musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun’s sons were stationed at the gate.
43Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.
1 Chronicles 17
David’s Wish to Build a House for God
(2 Samuel 7:1–29)
1When David was living in his house, he said to the prophet Nathan, “I’m living in a house made of cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s promise is inside a tent.”
2Nathan told David, “Do everything you have in mind, because God is with you.”
3But that same night God spoke his word to Nathan: 4“Say to David, my servant, ‘This is what the Lord says: You must not build this house for me to live in. 5I haven’t lived in a house from the day I brought Israel out ⌞of Egypt⌟ to this day, but I’ve gone from tent site to tent site, moving the tent ⌞of meeting⌟ from one location ⌞to another⌟. 6In all the places I’ve moved with all Israel, did I ever ask any of the judges of Israel whom I ordered to be shepherds of my people why they didn’t build me a house of cedar?’
7“Now this is what you will say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture where you followed sheep so that you could be the leader of my people Israel. 8I was with you wherever you went, and I destroyed all your enemies in front of you. I will make your name like the names of the greatest people on earth. 9I will make a place for my people Israel and plant them there. They will live in their own place and not be troubled anymore. The wicked will no longer frighten them as they used to do 10ever since I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. I will crush all your enemies. I even tell you that I, the Lord, will build a house for you.
11“ ‘When the time comes for you to go and be with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants. He will be one of your sons. I will establish his kingdom. 12He will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. And I will never stop showing him my love as I did to your predecessor. 14I will place him in my royal house forever, and his throne will be established forever.’ ”
15Nathan told David all these words and everything he had seen.
16Then King David went into the tent and sat in front of the Lord. “Who am I, Lord God,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far? 17And this you consider to be a small act, God. You’ve spoken about the distant future of my house. Lord God, you’ve shown me the generation of the great man.
18“What more can I do for you in light of the honor ⌞you have given⌟ to me and since you know me so well! 19Lord, you’ve done this great thing for my sake and your own desire. You made this great thing known to me.
20“Lord, there is no one like you, and there is no other god except you, as we have heard with our own ears. 21Who is like your people Israel? It is the one nation on earth that God came to free in order to make its people his own, to make your name known, and to do great and wonderful things for them. You forced the nations and their gods out of the way of your people, whom you freed from Egypt. 22You made the people of Israel to be your people forever. And you, Lord, became their God.
23“Now, Lord, faithfully keep the promise you made to me and my house forever. Do as you promised. 24Your name will endure and be respected forever when ⌞people⌟ say, ‘The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ And the house of David, your servant, will be established in your presence. 25You, my God, have revealed especially to me that you will build me a house. That is why I have found ⌞the courage⌟ to pray to you.
26“Almighty Lord, you are God. You promised me this good thing. 27Now, you were pleased to bless my house so that it may continue in your presence forever. Indeed, you, Lord, have blessed it. It will be blessed forever.”
1 Chronicles 18
David’s Successes
(2 Samuel 8:1–18)
1After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took Gath and its surrounding villages from them.
2He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟.
3When David went to establish his control ⌞over the territory⌟ along the Euphrates River, he defeated King Hadadezer at Hamath. 4David took 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn’t pull chariots.
5When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟. Everywhere David went, the Lord gave him victories.
7David took the gold shields that Hadadezer’s servants carried, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities. (⌞Later⌟ Solomon used it to make the pool, pillars, and utensils ⌞for the temple⌟.)
9When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Zobah’s King Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Tou.) 11King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations—from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12Zeruiah’s son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region. 13He put troops in Edom, and all its people became David’s subjects. Everywhere David went, the Lord gave him victories.
14So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 15Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. 16Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Abimelech (Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, 2 Samuel 8:17, Greek, Syriac, Latin, Arabic “Ahimelech.”) were priests. Shavsha was the royal scribe. 17Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were his main officials.
1 Chronicles 19
David Defeats Ammon and Aram
(2 Samuel 10:1–19)
1Later King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun because his father Nahash showed me kindness.” So David sent messengers to comfort Hanun after his father’s ⌞death⌟. But when David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to comfort Hanun, 3the Ammonite princes asked Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Haven’t his servants come to explore, destroy, and spy on the country?” 4So Hanun took David’s men, shaved them, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.
5After people told David ⌞what had happened⌟ to the men, he sent ⌞someone⌟ to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return ⌞to Jerusalem⌟.”
6The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and horses from the Arameans in Upper Mesopotamia, Maacah, and Zobah. 7They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army. They camped near Medeba. The Ammonites gathered for the battle from their cities.
8After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 9The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the kings who had come remained by themselves in the open country.
10When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 11He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. They organized for combat against the Ammonites.
12Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my ⌞troops⌟, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your ⌞troops⌟, I’ll help you. 13Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord will do what he considers right.”
14Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled. 15When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they, too, fled from Joab’s brother Abishai and went into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the kings sent ⌞messengers⌟ to get ⌞other⌟ Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, led them.
17When David was told ⌞about this⌟, he assembled Israel’s army, crossed the Jordan, and confronted them. David formed a battle line against the Arameans, and they fought him. 18The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 7,000 chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. David also killed Shophach. 19When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with David and became his subjects. And the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
1 Chronicles 20
David Defeats the Philistines
(2 Samuel 11:1; 12:26–31; 21:15–22)
1In the spring, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led the army ⌞to war⌟. They destroyed the Ammonites and came to Rabbah to attack it, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 2He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king and put it on David’s head. (The crown was found to weigh 75 pounds, and in it was a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city. 3He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. (One Hebrew manuscript, 2 Samuel 12:31; other Hebrew manuscripts “saws.”) He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.
4After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai from Hushah (Or “a descendant of Hushah.”) killed Sippai, a descendant of Haraphah, and the Philistines were defeated. 5When more fighting broke out with the Philistines, Elhanan, son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath. (The shaft of Lahmi’s spear was like a beam used by weavers.) 6In another battle at Gath, there was a tall man who had 24 fingers and toes: six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was a descendant of Haraphah. 7When he challenged Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimea, killed him. 8These ⌞men⌟ were the descendants of Haraphah from Gath, and David and his men killed them.
1 Chronicles 21
David Counts the People
(2 Samuel 24:1–25)
1Satan attempted to attack Israel by provoking David to count the Israelites. 2David said to Joab and the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan. Bring me ⌞the results⌟ so that I may know how many ⌞people⌟ there are.”
3Joab responded, “May the Lord multiply his people a hundred times over. But, Your Majesty, aren’t they all your servants? Why are you trying to do this? Why do you wish to make Israel guilty of ⌞this⌟ sin?”
4However, the king overruled Joab. So Joab left, went throughout Israel, and returned to Jerusalem. 5Joab reported the census figures to David: In Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could serve in the army, and in Judah there were 470,000 who could serve in the army. 6Joab didn’t include Levi and Benjamin in the number because he was disgusted with the king’s order.
7God considered the census to be sinful, so he struck Israel ⌞with a plague⌟.
8David said to God, “I have committed a terrible sin by doing this thing. Forgive me because I have acted very foolishly.”
9The Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer. (A seer is a prophet.) 10“Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I’m offering you three choices. Choose the one you want me to do to you.’ ”
11When Gad came to David, he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your pick: 12either three years of famine, or three months during which your enemies will chase you away when their swords catch up to you, or three days of the Lord’s sword—a plague in the land with the Messenger of the Lord destroying the whole country of Israel.’ Decide what answer I should give the one who sent me.”
13“I’m in a desperate situation,” David told Gad. “Please let me fall into the Lord’s hands because he is extremely merciful. But don’t let me fall into human hands.”
14So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and 70,000 Israelites died. 15God also sent a Messenger to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was destroying it, the Lord reconsidered and changed his mind about the disaster. “Enough!” he said to the destroying Messenger. “Put down your weapon.” The Messenger of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor (A threshing floor is an outdoor area where grain is separated from its husks.) of Ornan the Jebusite.
16When David looked up, he saw the Messenger of the Lord standing between heaven and earth. The Messenger had a sword in his hand and stretched it over Jerusalem. David and the leaders were dressed in sackcloth. They bowed down with their faces touching the ground. 17David said to God, “I’m the one who ordered the people to be counted. I am the one who sinned and did wrong. What have these sheep done? Lord my God, let your punishment be against me and my father’s family, but don’t punish your people with a plague.”
18The Lord’s Messenger told Gad to tell David to go and set up an altar for the Lord at Ornan the Jebusite’s threshing floor. 19David went as Gad had told him in the Lord’s name.
20Now, Ornan had turned around and seen the Messenger. Ornan’s four sons who were with him hid, but Ornan kept on threshing the wheat.
21When David arrived, Ornan looked up and saw him. So he left the threshing floor and bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of David. 22David said to Ornan, “Let me have the land this threshing floor is on. I’ll build an altar for the Lord on it. Sell it to me for the full price. Then the plague on the people will stop.”
23Ornan said to David, “Take it, Your Majesty, and do whatever you think is right. I’ll give you oxen for the burnt offering, threshers (Threshers are devices used to separate grain from its husks.) for firewood, and wheat for the grain offering. I’ll give you everything.”
24“No,” King David told Ornan, “I insist on buying it for the full price. I won’t take what is yours for the Lord and offer burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.” 25So David gave Ornan 15 pounds of gold for that place.
26David built an altar for the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him by ⌞sending⌟ fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings. 27So the Lord spoke to the Messenger, and he put his sword back in its scabbard.
28At that time, when David saw the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. 29The Lord’s tent that Moses made in the desert and the altar for burnt offerings were at the worship site at Gibeon. 30However, David couldn’t go there to consult God because he was frightened by the sword of the Lord’s Messenger.
1 Chronicles 22
1Then David said, “This is where the Lord God’s temple will be. Israel’s altar for burnt offerings will also be here.”
David Helps Solomon Prepare to Build the Temple
2David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build God’s temple. 3David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn’t be weighed. 4The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn’t be counted.
5David thought, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for the Lord must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I’ll prepare ⌞the building materials⌟ for him.” So David prepared many materials ⌞for Solomon⌟ before he died.
6He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. 7David told his son Solomon, “I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of the Lord, my God. 8But the Lord spoke his word to me by saying, ‘You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence. 9You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet. 10He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.’ ”
11⌞David continued,⌟ “Now, son, the Lord will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of the Lord your God as he predicted you would. 12The Lord will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of the Lord your God. 13Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees the Lord commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or terrified.
14“Despite my troubles I’ve made preparations for the Lord’s temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can’t be weighed. I’ve also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them. 15You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work. 16The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May the Lord be with you.”
17David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18⌞David said,⌟ “Isn’t the Lord your God with you? Hasn’t he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by the Lord and his people. 19So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving the Lord your God. Start building the holy place of the Lord God so that you can bring the ark of the Lord’s promise and God’s holy utensils into the temple that will be built for the Lord’s name.”
1 Chronicles 23
The Levites Are Organized to Serve in the Temple
1When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel. 2He gathered all the officials of Israel and the priests and Levites. 3Every male Levite who was at least 30 years old was counted. There were 38,000. 4Of these, 24,000 were appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple, 6,000 were appointed to be officers and judges, 54,000 were appointed to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 were appointed to praise the Lord with the instruments David had made for praising God. 6David organized the Levites into divisions based on which of Levi’s sons (Gershon, Kohath, or Merari) they were descended from.
7Ladan and Shimei were Gershon’s descendants. 8Ladan had three sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel. 9Shimei had three sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. They were the heads of Ladan’s families. 10Shimei’s sons were Jahath, Zina, (Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, Greek, Latin “Ziza” (see verse 11).) Jeush, and Beriah. They were Shimei’s four sons. 11Jahath was the first, and Ziza was the second. Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons, so they were given an assignment as one family.
12Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 13Amram’s sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his sons were forever designated to dedicate the most holy things ⌞to God⌟, to offer sacrifices to the Lord, to serve him, and always give the blessing in his name. 14The sons of Moses, the man of God, were counted with the tribe of Levi. 15Moses’ sons were Gershom and Eliezer. 16Gershom’s only son was Shebuel. 17Eliezer’s only son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons. 18Izhar’s only son was Shelomith. 19Hebron’s first son was Jeriah; his second was Amariah; his third was Jahaziel; his fourth was Jekameam. 20Uzziel’s first son was Micah; his second was Isshiah.
21Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. 22Eleazar died without having any sons. He only had daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. 23Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
24These were Levi’s descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in the Lord’s temple was at least 20 years old. 25David had said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest. He will now live in Jerusalem forever. 26The Levites will no longer have to carry the tent and all the utensils used in worship.”
27David’s last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old. 28They were appointed to stand beside Aaron’s descendants to serve in the Lord’s temple. They were appointed to be in charge of the courtyards and the temple rooms, to ensure that all the holy things were clean, (“Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.) and to serve in God’s temple. 29They were also responsible for the rows of bread, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread wafers, and the bread made in frying pans. In addition, they were responsible for mixing the ingredients and keeping track of all weights and measures. 30They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to the Lord every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening. 31They were appointed to stand in front of the Lord in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made—on weekly days of rest—holy days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals. 32They were appointed to follow the regulations for the tent of meeting and the holy place and to help their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, as they served in the Lord’s temple.
1 Chronicles 24
The Organization of the Priests
1The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows: Aaron’s sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
3David, Eleazar’s descendant Zadok, and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron’s descendants into groups for service. 4Since Eleazar’s descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar’s descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar’s descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar’s descendants had 8 family leaders. 5Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants. 6The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech (son of Abiathar), and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.
7The first lot drawn was for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9the fifth for Malchiah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, 11the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, 16the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, 17the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. 19These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at the Lord’s temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.
The Organization of the Levites
20⌞The following men were leaders⌟ for Levi’s descendants ⌞from Kohath⌟:
Jehdeiah (for Amram’s descendants through Shubael),
21Isshiah (⌞for Amram’s descendants⌟ through Rehabiah),
22Jahath (for Izhar’s descendants through Shelomoth),
23Jeriah (for Hebron’s descendants (Greek, 1 Chronicles 23:19; Masoretic Text lacks “for Hebron’s descendants.”)),
Amariah (the second ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
Jahaziel (the third ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
Jekameam (the fourth ⌞of Hebron’s descendants⌟),
24Shamir (for Uzziel’s descendants through Micah),
25and Zechariah (for ⌞Uzziel’s⌟ descendants through Micah’s brother Isshiah).
26The following men were leaders from Levi’s descendants from Merari:
Mahli, Mushi, and Merari’s son Jaaziah,
27Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri (for Merari’s descendants through his son Jaaziah),
28Eleazar (who had no sons, for Mahli’s descendants),
29Jerahmeel (for ⌞Mahli’s⌟ descendants through Kish),
30Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth (for Mushi’s descendants).
These were Levi’s descendants according to their families. 31They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.
1 Chronicles 25
David Appoints Musicians for the Temple
1David and the army commanders appointed the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to serve as prophets with lyres, harps, and cymbals. This is the list of the men who performed this service:
2From the sons of Asaph were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. (They were directed by Asaph, who served as a prophet under the king’s direction.)
3From the sons of Jeduthun were Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah. (The six brothers were directed by their father, the prophet Jeduthun. They thanked and praised the Lord as they played lyres.)
4From the sons of Heman were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5(All of them were the sons of the king’s seer (A seer is a prophet.) Heman. They were given to him to make him prominent, as God had promised. So God gave Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters.)
6All these ⌞Levites⌟ sang at the Lord’s temple under the direction of their fathers Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. They played cymbals, lyres, and harps for worship in God’s temple under the direction of the king. 7They, along with their relatives, were trained, skilled musicians for the Lord. There were 288 of them.
8They drew lots for their assignment of duties, the youngest as well as the oldest, the skilled ⌞musicians⌟ along with the students.
9The first lot drawn chose Joseph, the son of Asaph.
The second chose Gedaliah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
10The third chose Zaccur, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
11The fourth chose Izri, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
12The fifth chose Nethaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
13The sixth chose Bukkiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
14The seventh chose Jesarelah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
15The eighth chose Jeshaiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
16The ninth chose Mattaniah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
17The tenth chose Shimei, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
18The eleventh chose Azarel, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
19The twelfth chose Hashabiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
20The thirteenth chose Shubael, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
21The fourteenth chose Mattithiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
22The fifteenth chose Jeremoth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
23The sixteenth chose Hananiah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
24The seventeenth chose Joshbekashah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
25The eighteenth chose Hanani, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
26The nineteenth chose Mallothi, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
27The twentieth chose Eliathah, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
28The twenty-first chose Hothir, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
29The twenty-second chose Giddalti, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
30The twenty-third chose Mahazioth, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
31The twenty-fourth chose Romamti Ezer, his sons, and his relatives—12 men.
1 Chronicles 26
David Appoints Gatekeepers for the Temple
1The following were the divisions of the gatekeepers: For Korah’s descendants there was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, from the descendants of Asaph. 2Meshelemiah’s sons were Zechariah (the firstborn), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth), 3Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth), Eliehoenai (the seventh).
4⌞Also for Korah’s descendants⌟ there were Obed Edom’s sons Shemaiah (the firstborn), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sachar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth), 5Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), Peullethai (the eighth). God had blessed Obed Edom. 6His son Shemaiah had sons who ruled their families because they were soldiers. 7Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, and Othni’s skilled brothers Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, as well as Elihu and Semachiah. 8All of these people were Obed Edom’s descendants. They, their sons, and their relatives were skilled and had the ability to perform the service. Obed Edom’s family included 62 men.
9Meshelemiah’s sons and relatives were 18 skilled men.
10From the descendants of Merari there were Hosah’s sons. Shimri was the head, although he was not the firstborn. His father appointed him head. 11Hosah’s other sons were Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). There were 13 sons and relatives of Hosah.
12These divisions of gatekeepers through their head men were assigned duties with their relatives to serve in the Lord’s temple. 13They drew lots by families, youngest and oldest alike, for every gate. 14Shelemiah was chosen for the east side. His son Zechariah, a counselor who displayed insight, was chosen for the north side. 15Obed Edom was chosen for the south side, and his sons were chosen for the storerooms. 16Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the west side with Shallecheth Gate at the gateway that goes to the palace.
One squad of guards served its watch after another. 17On the east side there were six Levites. On the north there were four every day. On the south there were four every day. At the storerooms there were four, two at each entrance. 18At the courtyard on the west there were four Levites at the gateway to the palace and two at the courtyard itself. 19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among Korah’s and Merari’s descendants.
David Appoints Treasurers for the Temple
20Ahijah, a Levite, was in charge of the treasuries in God’s temple and the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God. 21⌞There were also⌟ the descendants of Ladan, who was descended from Gershon. ⌞Those who served⌟ for Ladan, the descendant of Gershon, were the heads of Ladan’s families: Jehiel 22⌞and⌟ Jehiel’s sons Zetham and Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries in the Lord’s temple. 23For the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, 24there was Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’ son Gershom. He was the highest-ranking official in charge of the treasuries. 25From his relatives on Eliezer’s side of the family was Shelomith. (Eliezer’s son was Rehabiah; his grandson was Jeshaiah; his great-grandson was Joram. Joram’s son was Zichri; his grandson was Shelomith.) 26He and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the gifts dedicated to God that King David, the heads of families, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the commanders of the army had donated. 27(They had donated some of the loot taken in battle to support the Lord’s temple.) 28Everything that Samuel the seer, (A seer is a prophet.) Saul (son of Kish), Abner (son of Ner), and Joab (son of Zeruiah) had donated—everything that had been donated—was under the supervision of Shelomith and his relatives.
David Appoints Levites to Oversee Israel’s Worship
29From Izhar’s descendants Chenaniah and his sons were assigned duties. They served as officials and judges outside ⌞the temple⌟ in Israel. 30From Hebron’s descendants Hashabiah and his 1,700 skilled, male relatives were appointed to serve Israel west of the Jordan River. They did everything the Lord wanted them to do, and they served the king. 31Jeriah was the head of Hebron’s descendants. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, the ancestry of Hebron’s descendants was researched family by family. Warriors from these families were found at Jazer in Gilead. 32Jeriah’s relatives were 2,700 skilled men, who were heads of families. King David appointed them to be overseers in every matter involving God or the king for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.
1 Chronicles 27
David’s Government Officials
1This is a list of Israelite family heads, regiment and battalion commanders, and officers who were serving the king in all the army’s units. Throughout each year they came for a month at a time and then left. Each unit consisted of 24,000 men.
2Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first unit, the one during the first month. In his unit there were 24,000. 3He was a descendant of Perez, and he was head of all of the army’s officers for the first month.
4Dodai, Ahoh’s descendant, was in charge of the unit during the second month. It was his unit. (Mikloth was one of its leaders.) In Dodai’s unit there were 24,000.
5The third commander of the army during the third month was Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada. He was the head, and in his unit there were 24,000. 6This Benaiah was one of the thirty fighting men and commander of the thirty as well as his own unit. His son was Ammizabad.
7Asahel, Joab’s brother, was in charge of the fourth unit during the fourth month, and after him was his son Zebadiah. In his unit there were 24,000.
8Shamhuth, Izrah’s descendant, was commander of the fifth unit during the fifth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
9Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, was in charge of the sixth unit during the sixth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
10Helez, a Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim, was in charge of the seventh unit during the seventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.
11Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was in charge of the eighth unit during the eighth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
12Abiezer, a member of the tribe of Benjamin from Anathoth, was in charge of the ninth unit during the ninth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
13Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were 24,000.
14Benaiah, a member of the tribe of Ephraim from Pirathon, was in charge of the eleventh unit during the eleventh month. In his unit there were 24,000.
15During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniel’s descendant. In his unit there were 24,000.
16The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel:
for the tribe of Reuben
Eliezer, son of Zichri
for the tribe of Simeon
Shephatiah, son of Maacah
17for the tribe of Levi
Hashabiah, son of Kemuel
for the family of Aaron
Zadok
18for the tribe of Judah
Elihu, one of David’s brothers
for the tribe of Issachar
Omri, son of Michael
19for the tribe of Zebulun
Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah
for the tribe of Naphtali
Jerimoth, son of Azriel
20for the tribe of Ephraim
Hoshea, son of Azaziah
for half of the tribe of Manasseh
Joel, son of Pedaiah
21for the half of Manasseh in Gilead
Iddo, son of Zechariah
for the tribe of Benjamin
Jaasiel, son of Abner
22for the tribe of Dan
Azarel, son of Jeroham
These were the commanders of Israel’s tribes.
23David didn’t count those under 20 years old, because the Lord had promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. 24Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but didn’t finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.
25These were all the commanders in charge of King David’s property: (The last part of verse 32 has been moved to the beginning of verse 25 to express the complex Hebrew paragraph structure more clearly in English.)
for the royal treasuries
Azmaveth, son of Adiel
for the goods in the fields, cities, villages, and watchtowers
Jonathan, son of Uzziah
26for the farm workers in the fields
Ezri, son of Chelub
27for the vineyards
Shimei from Ramah
for storing wine that came from the vineyards
Zabdi from Shepham
28for the olive and fig trees in the foothills
Baal Hanan from Gedor
for storing olive oil
Joash
29for the herds grazing in Sharon
Shitrai from Sharon
for the herds in the valleys
Shaphat, son of Adlai
30for the camels
Obil, a descendant of Ishmael
for the donkeys
Jehdeiah from Meronoth
31for the flocks
Jaziz from Hagar
32David’s uncle Jonathan, an educated man who possessed insight, was David’s adviser. Jonathan and Jehiel, son of Hachmoni, were in charge of the king’s sons. 33Ahithophel was the king’s adviser. Hushai, a descendant of Archi, was the king’s friend. 34Jehoiada (son of Benaiah) and Abiathar succeeded Ahithophel. Joab was the commander of the royal army.
1 Chronicles 28
David’s Public Assembly at Jerusalem
1David held a meeting in Jerusalem for all the leaders of Israel—the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the army units that served the king, the commanders of regiments and battalions, the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, the palace officials, the soldiers, and the fighting men.
2David stood in front of them and said, “Listen to me, my relatives and subjects. I had my heart set on building the temple where the ark of the Lord’s promise could be placed. This temple would be a stool for our God’s feet, and I have made preparations to build it. 3But God told me, ‘You must not build the temple for my name. You have fought wars and caused bloodshed.’ 4Yet, from my entire family the Lord God of Israel chose me to be king of Israel permanently. He had chosen the tribe of Judah to lead ⌞Israel⌟. From the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. From among my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king of all Israel. 5And of all my sons (the Lord has given me many sons) he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingdom to rule Israel.
6“He told me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my temple and my courtyards because I have chosen him to be my son. I will be his father. 7I will establish his kingdom forever if he will remain determined to obey my commands and laws, as he is doing today.’ 8Now, ⌞leaders, I order you⌟ in the sight of Israel (the Lord’s congregation) and as our God listens to dedicate your lives to doing everything the Lord your God has commanded. Then you will be able to possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants.
9“And you, my son Solomon, learn to know your father’s God. Serve the Lord wholeheartedly and willingly because he searches every heart and understands every thought ⌞we have⌟. If you dedicate your life to serving him, he will accept you. But if you abandon him, he will reject you from then on. 10So be careful, because the Lord has chosen you to build the temple as his holy place. Be strong, and do it.”
11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the entrance hall and the temple, its storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the throne of mercy. 12He gave him plans for the courtyards of the Lord’s temple and for all the rooms around it. (These rooms served as treasuries for God’s temple and the gifts dedicated to God.) 13He determined the divisions of priests and Levites. He planned all the work done for worship in the Lord’s temple. He designed all the utensils for worship in the Lord’s temple. 14⌞David specified⌟ the weight of gold to be used for each of the utensils for worship, 15the weight of the gold lamp stands and their gold lamps (⌞that is,⌟ the weight of gold for each lamp stand and its lamps), the weight of silver for each silver lamp stand and its lamps (according to the use of each lamp stand for worship), 16the weight of gold for each table with the rows of bread, and the silver for the silver tables, 17the pure gold for the forks, bowls, and pitchers, the weight of each gold bowl, the weight of each silver bowl, 18and the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot, that is, the gold angels (Or “cherubim.”) with their wings spread to cover the ark of the Lord’s promise. 19⌞David said,⌟ “All this was written for me by the Lord’s hand. He made all the details of the plan clear to me.”
20David also told his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or terrified. The Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not abandon you before all the work on the Lord’s temple is finished. 21Here are also the divisions of the priests and Levites for every type of worship in God’s temple. You have with you every skilled worker to do all the work. In addition, all the leaders and people are at your command.”
1 Chronicles 29
1Then King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. Yet, the work is important because this palace is not for a person but for the Lord God. 2With all my might I gathered ⌞the materials⌟ for the temple of my God: gold for gold objects, silver for silver objects, bronze for bronze objects, iron for iron objects, wood for wooden objects, onyx stones and settings, black stones, stones of different colors, gems, and marble. 3Moreover, I delight in the temple of my God. I have a personal treasury of gold and silver that I’m giving to my God’s temple in addition to everything else I gathered for the holy temple. 4There are 225,000 pounds of gold from Ophir and 525,000 pounds of refined silver. They are to be used to cover the walls of the buildings, 5to make gold objects, silver objects, and everything else the craftsmen will make. Who else is willing to make an offering and dedicate himself to the Lord today?”
6Then the leaders of the families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of regiments and battalions, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave generously. 7They gave 375,186 pounds of gold, 750,000 pounds of silver, 135,000 pounds of bronze, and 7,500,000 pounds of iron for the work on God’s temple. 8Whoever happened to have precious stones gave them to Jehiel, Gershon’s descendant, for the treasury of the Lord’s temple. 9The people were overjoyed that the leaders gave so generously and wholeheartedly to the Lord.
King David was also overjoyed, and 10he praised the Lord while the whole assembly watched. David said,
“May you be praised, Lord God of Israel,
our father forever and ever.*
11 Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Lord,
because everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
The kingdom is yours, Lord,
and you are honored as head of all things.
12 Riches and honor are in front of you.
You rule everything.
You hold power and strength in your hands,
and you can make anyone great and strong.
13 “Our God, we thank you
and praise your wonderful name.
14 But who am I and who are my people
that you enable us to give so generously?
Everything comes from you.
We give you only what has come from your hands.
15 To you we are all like our ancestors—
foreigners without permanent homes.
Our days are as fleeting as shadows on the ground.
There’s no hope ⌞for them⌟.
16“Lord, our God, all this wealth that we gathered to build a temple for your holy name is from you. All of it is yours. 17I know, my God, that you examine hearts and delight in honesty. With an honest heart I have willingly offered all these things. I’ve been overjoyed to see your people here offering so willingly to you. 18Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, always watch over your people’s deepest thoughts. Keep their hearts directed toward you. 19Make my son Solomon completely committed ⌞to you⌟ so that he will obey your commands, requests, and laws and do everything to build the palace I have planned.”
Solomon Is Made King
20Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God!” So the whole assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors and knelt in front of the Lord and the king.
21The next day they sacrificed to the Lord. They sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord: 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs, wine offerings, and many sacrifices for all Israel. 22That day they ate and drank as they joyfully celebrated in front of the Lord. For the second time they made David’s son Solomon king. On the Lord’s behalf they anointed Solomon to be leader and Zadok to be the priest.
23Then Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David. Solomon was successful and all Israel obeyed him. 24All the leaders and soldiers and all of King David’s sons pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. 25The Lord made Solomon extremely powerful, as all Israel could see. The people of Israel gave him royal honor like no king of Israel before him ever had.
David’s Reign
(1 Kings 2:10–12)
26David, son of Jesse, had ruled all Israel. 27He ruled as king of Israel for 40 years. He ruled for 7 years in Hebron and for 33 in Jerusalem. 28He died at a very old age. His long life was full of wealth and honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him as king.
29Everything about King David from first to last is written in the records of the seer (A seer is a prophet.) Samuel, the prophet Nathan, and the seer Gad. 30It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.