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1st Chronicles1The descendants of Adam were Seth,

Enosh,2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,4and Noah. The sons of Noah wereShem, Ham, and Japheth.5The descendants of Japheth wereGomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal,Meshech, and Tiras.6The descendants of Gomer wereAshkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.7The descendants of Javan wereElishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.8The descendants of Ham were Cush,Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.9The descendants of Cush were Seba,Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca.The descendants of Raamah wereSheba and Dedan.10Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod,who was known across the earth as aheroic warrior.11Mizraim was the ancestor of theLudites, Anamites, Lehabites,Naphtuhites,12Pathrusites, Casluhites, and theCaphtorites, from whom the Philistinescame.13Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, theancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan wasalso the ancestor of the Hittites,14Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,15Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,16Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.17The descendants of Shem were Elam,Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. Thedescendants of Aram were Uz, Hul,Gether, and Mash.18Arphaxad was the father of Shelah.Shelah was the father of Eber.19Eber had two sons. The first wasnamed Peleg--"division"--for during hislifetime the people of the world weredivided into different language groupsand dispersed. His brother's name wasJoktan.20Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad,Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,22Obal, Abimael, Sheba,23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All thesewere descendants of Joktan.24So this is the family line descendedfrom Shem: Arphaxad, Shelah,25Eber, Peleg, Reu,26Serug, Nahor, Terah,

27and Abram, later known as Abraham.28The sons of Abraham were Isaac andIshmael.29The sons of Ishmael were Nebaioth(the oldest), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad,Tema,31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. Thesewere the sons of Ishmael.32The sons of Keturah, Abraham'sconcubine, were Zimran, Jokshan,Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Thesons of Jokshan were Sheba andDedan.33The sons of Midian were Ephah,Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. Allthese were sons of Abraham by hisconcubine Keturah.34Abraham was the father of Isaac. Thesons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.35The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel,Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.36The sons of Eliphaz were Teman,Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, andAmalek, who was born to Timna.37The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah,Shammah, and Mizzah.38The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal,Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.39The sons of Lotan were Hori andHeman. Lotan's sister was namedTimna.40The sons of Shobal were Alvan,Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.41The son of Anah was Dishon. Thesons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban,Ithran, and Keran.42The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan,and Akan. The sons of Dishan were Uzand Aran.43These are the kings who ruled inEdom before there were kings in Israel :Bela son of Beor, who ruled from his cityof Dinhabah.44When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerahfrom Bozrah became king.45When Jobab died, Husham from theland of the Temanites became king.46When Husham died, Hadad son ofBedad became king and ruled from thecity of Avith. He was the one whodestroyed the Midianite army in the landof Moab.47When Hadad died, Samlah from thecity of Masrekah became king.48When Samlah died, Shaul from thecity of Rehoboth on the Euphrates Riverbecame king.49When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of

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Acbor became king.50When Baal-hanan died, Hadadbecame king and ruled from the city ofPau. His wife was Mehetabel, thedaughter of Matred and granddaughterof Me-zahab.51Then Hadad died. The clan leaders ofEdom were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,52Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,53Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,54Magdiel, and Iram. These were theclan leaders of Edom.

2The sons of Israel were Reuben,

Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad,and Asher.3Judah had three sons throughBathshua, a Canaanite woman. Theirnames were Er, Onan, and Shelah. Butthe oldest son, Er, was a wicked man,so the LORD killed him.4Later Judah had twin sons throughTamar, his widowed daughter-in-law.Their names were Perez and Zerah. SoJudah had five sons in all.5The sons of Perez were Hezron andHamul.6The sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan,Heman, Calcol, and Darda --five in all.7Achan son of Carmi, one of Zerah'sdescendants, brought disaster on Israelby taking plunder that had been setapart for the LORD.8The son of Ethan was Azariah.9The sons of Hezron were Jerahmeel,Ram, and Caleb.10Ram was the father of Amminadab.Amminadab was the father of Nahshon,a leader of Judah.11Nahshon was the father of Salmon.Salmon was the father of Boaz.12Boaz was the father of Obed. Obedwas the father of Jesse.13Jesse's first son was Eliab, his secondwas Abinadab, his third was Shimea,14his fourth was Nethanel, his fifth wasRaddai,15his sixth was Ozem, and his seventhwas David.16Their sisters were named Zeruiah andAbigail. Zeruiah had three sons namedAbishai, Joab, and Asahel.17Abigail married a man named Jether,an Ishmaelite, and they had a sonnamed Amasa.18Hezron's son Caleb had two wivesnamed Azubah and Jerioth. Azubah'ssons were named Jesher, Shobab, and

Ardon.19After Azubah died, Caleb marriedEphrathah, and they had a son namedHur.20Hur was the father of Uri. Uri was thefather of Bezalel.21When Hezron was sixty years old, hemarried Gilead's sister, the daughter ofMakir. They had a son named Segub.22Segub was the father of Jair, whoruled twenty-three towns in the land ofGilead.23(Later Geshur and Aram captured theTowns of Jair and also took Kenath andits sixty surrounding villages.) All thesewere descendants of Makir, the father ofGilead.24Soon after Hezron died in the town ofCaleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah gavebirth to a son named Ashhur (the fatherof Tekoa).25The sons of Jerahmeel, the oldest sonof Hezron, were Ram (the oldest),Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.26Jerahmeel had a second wife namedAtarah. She was the mother of Onam.27The sons of Ram, the oldest son ofJerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.28The sons of Onam were Shammai andJada. The sons of Shammai wereNadab and Abishur.29The sons of Abishur and his wifeAbihail were Ahban and Molid.30The sons of Nadab were Seled andAppaim. Seled died without children,31but Appaim had a son named Ishi. Theson of Ishi was Sheshan. Sheshan hada descendant named Ahlai.32Shammai's brother, Jada, had twosons named Jether and Jonathan.Jether died without children,33but Jonathan had two sons namedPeleth and Zaza. These were alldescendants of Jerahmeel.34Sheshan had no sons, though he didhave daughters. He also had anEgyptian servant named Jarha.35Sheshan gave one of his daughters tobe the wife of Jarha, and they had a sonnamed Attai.36Attai was the father of Nathan. Nathanwas the father of Zabad.37Zabad was the father of Ephlal. Ephlalwas the father of Obed.38Obed was the father of Jehu. Jehuwas the father of Azariah.39Azariah was the father of Helez. Helezwas the father of Eleasah.40Eleasah was the father of Sismai.Sismai was the father of Shallum.

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41Shallum was the father of Jekamiah.Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.42The oldest son of Caleb, the brother ofJerahmeel, was Mesha, the father ofZiph. Caleb's second son was Mareshah,the father of Hebron.43The sons of Hebron were Korah,Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.44Shema was the father of Raham.Raham was the father of Jorkeam.Rekem was the father of Shammai.45The son of Shammai was Maon. Maonwas the father of Beth-zur.46Caleb's concubine Ephah gave birth toHaran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran wasthe father of Gazez.47The sons of Jahdai were Regem,Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, andShaaph.48Another of Caleb's concubines,Maacah, gave birth to Sheber andTirhanah.49She also gave birth to Shaaph (thefather of Madmannah) and Sheva (thefather of Macbenah and Gibea). Calebalso had a daughter named Acsah.50These were all descendants of Caleb.The sons of Hur, the oldest son ofCaleb's wife Ephrathah, were Shobal(the father of Kiriath-jearim),51Salma (the father of Bethlehem), andHareph (the father of Beth-gader).52The descendants of Shobal (the fatherof Kiriath-jearim) were Haroeh, half theManahathites,53and the families of Kiriath-jearim--theIthrites, Puthites, Shumathites, andMishraites, from whom came the peopleof Zorah and Eshtaol.54The descendants of Salma wereBethlehem, the Netophathites, Atrothbeth-joab, the other half of theManahathites, the Zorites,55and the families of scribes living atJabez--the Tirathites, Shimeathites, andSucathites. All these were Kenites whodescended from Hammath, the father ofthe family of Recab.

3These were the sons who were born

to David in Hebron: The oldest wasAmnon, whose mother was Ahinoam ofJezreel. The second was Kileab, whosemother was Abigail from Carmel.2The third was Absalom, whose motherwas Maacah, the daughter of Talmai,king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah,whose mother was Haggith.3The fifth was Shephatiah, whose

mother was Abital. The sixth wasIthream, whose mother was Eglah.4These six sons were born to David inHebron, where he reigned seven and ahalf years. Then David moved thecapital to Jerusalem, where he reignedanother thirty-three years.5The sons born to David in Jerusalemincluded Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, andSolomon. Bathsheba, the daughter ofAmmiel, was the mother of these sons.6David also had nine other sons: Ibhar,Elishua, Elpelet,7Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,8Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.9These were the sons of David, notincluding the sons of his concubines.David also had a daughter namedTamar.10The descendants of Solomon wereRehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat,11Jehoram, Ahaziah, Joash,12Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham,13Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh,14Amon, and Josiah.15The sons of Josiah were Johanan (theoldest), Jehoiakim (the second),Zedekiah (the third), and Jehoahaz (thefourth).16Jehoiakim was succeeded by his sonJehoiachin; he, in turn, was succeededby his uncle Zedekiah.17The sons of Jehoiachin, who wastaken prisoner by the Babylonians, wereShealtiel,18Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar,Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.19The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabeland Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabelwere Meshullam and Hananiah. He alsohad a daughter named Shelomith.20His five other sons were Hashubah,Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah, and Jushabhesed.21The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiahand Jeshaiah. Jeshaiah's son wasRephaiah. Rephaiah's son was Arnan.Arnan's son was Obadiah. Obadiah'sson was Shecaniah.22Shecaniah's descendants wereShemaiah and his sons, Hattush, Igal,Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat--six in all.23The sons of Neariah were Elioenai,Hizkiah, and Azrikam--three in all.24The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah,Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan,Delaiah, and Anani--seven in all.

4Some of the descendants of Judah

were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and

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Shobal.2Shobal's son Reaiah was the father ofJahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumaiand Lahad. These were the families ofthe Zorathites.3The descendants of Etam were Jezreel,Ishma, Idbash, Hazzelelponi (hisdaughter),4Penuel (the father of Gedor), and Ezer(the father of Hushah). These were thedescendants of Hur (the firstborn ofEphrathah), the ancestor of Bethlehem.5Ashhur (the father of Tekoa) had twowives, named Helah and Naarah.6Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher,Temeni, and Haahashtari.7Helah gave birth to Zereth, Izhar,Ethnan,8and Koz, who became the ancestor ofAnub, Zobebah, and all the families ofAharhel son of Harum.9There was a man named Jabez whowas more distinguished than any of hisbrothers. His mother named him Jabezbecause his birth had been so painful.10He was the one who prayed to theGod of Israel, "Oh, that you would blessme and extend my lands! Please be withme in all that I do, and keep me from alltrouble and pain!" And God granted himhis request.11Kelub (the brother of Shuhah) was thefather of Mehir. Mehir was the father ofEshton.12Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha,Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah wasthe father of Ir-nahash. These were thedescendants of Recah.13The sons of Kenaz were Othniel andSeraiah. Othniel's sons were Hathathand Meonothai.14Meonothai was the father of Ophrah.Seraiah was the father of Joab, thefounder of the Valley of Craftsmen, socalled because many craftsmen livedthere.15The sons of Caleb son of Jephunnehwere Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son ofElah was Kenaz.16The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph,Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.17The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered,Epher, and Jalon. Mered married anEgyptian woman, who became themother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah(the father of Eshtemoa).18Mered also married a woman of Judah,who became the mother of Jered (thefather of Gedor), Heber (the father ofSoco), and Jekuthiel (the father of

Zanoah). Mered's Egyptian wife wasnamed Bithiah, and she was anEgyptian princess.19Hodiah's wife was the sister of Naham.One of her sons was the father of Keilahthe Garmite, and another was the fatherof Eshtemoa the Maacathite.20The sons of Shimon were Amnon,Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. Thedescendants of Ishi were Zoheth andBen-zoheth.21Shelah was one of Judah's sons. Thedescendants of Shelah were Er (thefather of Lecah), Laadah (the father ofMareshah), the families of linen workersat Beth-ashbea,22Jokim, the people of Cozeba, Joash,and Saraph, who ruled over Moab andJashubi-lehem. These names all comefrom ancient records.23They were the potters who lived inNetaim and Gederah. They all workedfor the king.24The sons of Simeon were Nemuel,Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.25The descendants of Shaul wereShallum, Mibsam, and Mishma.26The descendants of Mishma wereHammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei.27Shimei had sixteen sons and sixdaughters, but none of his brothers hadlarge families. So Simeon's tribe neverbecame as large as the tribe of Judah.28They lived in Beersheba, Moladah,Hazar-shual,29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,30Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Bethbiri,and Shaaraim. These towns wereunder their control until the time of KingDavid.32Their descendants also lived in Etam,Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan--fivetowns33and their surrounding villages as faraway as Baalath. This was their territory,and these names are recorded in theirfamily genealogy.34Other descendants of Simeon includedMeshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son ofAmaziah,35Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, son ofSeraiah, son of Asiel,36Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah,Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,37and Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon,son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son ofShemaiah.38These were the names of some of theleaders of Simeon's wealthy clans,

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39who traveled to the region of Gedor, inthe east part of the valley, seekingpastureland for their flocks.40They found lush pastures there, andthe land was quiet and peaceful. Someof Ham's descendants had been living inthe region of Gedor.41But during the reign of King Hezekiahof Judah, the leaders of Simeon invadedit and completely destroyed the homesof the descendants of Ham and of theMeunites. They killed everyone wholived there and took the land forthemselves, because they wanted itsgood pastureland for their flocks.42Five hundred of these invaders fromthe tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir,led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, andUzziel--all sons of Ishi.43They destroyed the few Amalekiteswho had survived, and they have livedthere ever since.

5The oldest son of Israel was Reuben.

But since he dishonored his father bysleeping with one of his father'sconcubines, his birthright was given tothe sons of his brother Joseph. For thisreason, Reuben is not listed in thegenealogy as the firstborn son.2It was the descendants of Judah thatbecame the most powerful tribe andprovided a ruler for the nation, but thebirthright belonged to Joseph.3The sons of Reuben, the oldest son ofIsrael, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, andCarmi.4The descendants of Joel wereShemaiah, Gog, Shimei,5Micah, Reaiah, Baal,6and Beerah. Beerah was the leader ofthe Reubenites when they were takeninto captivity by King Tiglath-pileser ofAssyria.7Beerah's relatives are listed in theirgenealogy by their clans: Jeiel (theleader), Zechariah,8and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema,son of Joel. These Reubenites lived inthe area that stretches from Aroer toNebo and Baal-meon.9And since they had so many cattle inthe land of Gilead, they spread eastwardtoward the edge of the desert thatstretches to the Euphrates River.10During the reign of Saul, theReubenites defeated the Hagrites inbattle. Then they moved into the Hagritesettlements all along the eastern edge

of Gilead.11Across from the Reubenites in the landof Bashan lived the descendants of Gad,who were spread as far east as Salecah.12Joel was the leader in the land ofBashan, and Shapham was second-incommand,along with Janai andShaphat.13Their relatives, the leaders of sevenother clans, were Michael, Meshullam,Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber.14These were all descendants of Abihailson of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead,son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son ofJahdo, son of Buz.15Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was theleader of their clans.16The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead,in Bashan and its villages, andthroughout the Sharon Plain.17All of these were listed in thegenealogical records during the days ofKing Jotham of Judah and KingJeroboam of Israel.18There were 44,760 skilled warriors inthe armies of Reuben, Gad, and thehalf-tribe of Manasseh. They were allskilled in combat and armed with shields,swords, and bows.19They waged war against the Hagrites,the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and theNodabites.20They cried out to God during the battle,and he answered their prayer becausethey trusted in him. So the Hagrites andall their allies were defeated.21The plunder taken from the Hagritesincluded 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep,2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives.22Many of the Hagrites were killed in thebattle because God was fighting againstthem. So they lived in their land untilthey were taken away into exile.23The half-tribe of Manasseh spreadthrough the land from Bashan to Baalhermon,Senir, and Mount Hermon.They were very numerous.24These were the leaders of their clans:Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah,Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. Each of thesemen had a great reputation as a warriorand leader.25But they were unfaithful and violatedtheir covenant with the God of theirancestors. They worshiped the gods ofthe nations that God had destroyed.26So the God of Israel caused King Pulof Assyria (also known as Tiglathpileser)to invade the land and leadaway the people of Reuben, Gad, and

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the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives.The Assyrians exiled them to Halah,Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River,where they remain to this day.

6The sons of Levi were Gershon,

Kohath, and Merari.2The descendants of Kohath includedAmram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.3The children of Amram were Aaron,Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaronwere Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, andIthamar.4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas.Phinehas was the father of Abishua.5Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukkiwas 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. Zadokwas the father of Ahimaaz.9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah.Azariah was the father of Johanan.10Johanan was the father of Azariah, thehigh priest at the Temple built bySolomon in Jerusalem.11Azariah was the father of Amariah.Amariah was the father of Ahitub.12Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadokwas 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,15who went into exile when the LORDsent the people of Judah and Jerusaleminto captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.16The sons of Levi were Gershon,Kohath, and Merari.17The descendants of Gershon includedLibni and Shimei.18The descendants of Kohath includedAmram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.19The descendants of Merari includedMahli and Mushi. The following were theLevite clans, listed according to theirancestral descent:20The descendants of Gershon includedLibni, Jahath, Zimmah,21Joah, Iddo, Zerah, and Jeatherai.22The descendants of Kohath includedAmminadab, Korah, Assir,23Elkanah, Abiasaph, Assir,24Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, and Shaul.25The descendants of Elkanah includedAmasai, Ahimoth,26Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath,

27Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah, and Samuel.28The sons of Samuel were Joel (theolder) and Abijah (the second).29The descendants of Merari includedMahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah,30Shimea, Haggiah, and Asaiah.31David assigned the following men tolead the music at the house of theLORD after he put the Ark there.32They ministered with music there atthe Tabernacle until Solomon built theTemple of the LORD in Jerusalem. Thenthey carried on their work there,following all the regulations handeddown to them.33These are the men who served, alongwith their sons: Heman the musicianwas from the clan of Kohath. Hisgenealogy was traced back through Joel,Samuel,34Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah,35Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai,36Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah,37Tahath, Assir, Abiasaph, Korah,38Izhar, Kohath, Levi, and Israel.39Heman's first assistant was Asaphfrom the clan of Gershon. Asaph'sgenealogy was traced back throughBerekiah, Shimea,40Michael, Baaseiah, Malkijah,41Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah,42Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei,43Jahath, Gershon, and Levi.44Heman's second assistant was Ethanfrom the clan of Merari. Ethan'sgenealogy was traced back throughKishi, Abdi, Malluch,45Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah,46Amzi, Bani, Shemer,47Mahli, Mushi, Merari, and Levi.48Their relatives, also Levites, wereappointed to various other tasks in theTabernacle, the house of God.49Only Aaron and his descendantsserved as priests. They presented theofferings on the altar of burnt offeringand the altar of incense, and theyperformed all the other duties related tothe Most Holy Place. They madeatonement for Israel by following all thecommands that Moses, the servant ofGod, had given them.50The descendants of Aaron wereEleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,51Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah,52Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub,53Zadok, and Ahimaaz.54This is a record of the towns andterritory assigned by means of sacredlots to the descendants of Aaron who

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were from the clan of Kohath.55This included Hebron and itssurrounding pasturelands in Judah,56but the fields and outlying areas weregiven to Caleb son of Jephunneh.57So the descendants of Aaron weregiven the following towns, each with itssurrounding pasturelands: Hebron (acity of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,58Holon, Debir,59Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh.60And from the territory of Benjamin theywere given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, andAnathoth, each with its pasturelands. Soa total of thirteen towns was given to thedescendants of Aaron.61The remaining descendants of Kohathreceived ten towns from the territory ofthe half-tribe of Manasseh by means ofsacred lots.62The descendants of Gershon receivedby sacred lots thirteen towns from theterritories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali,and from the Bashan area of Manasseh,east of the Jordan.63The descendants of Merari receivedby sacred lots twelve towns from theterritories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.64So the people of Israel assigned allthese towns and pasturelands to theLevites.65The towns in the territories of Judah,Simeon, and Benjamin, mentionedabove, were also assigned by means ofsacred lots.66The descendants of Kohath receivedfrom the territory of Ephraim thesetowns, each with its surroundingpasturelands:67Shechem (a city of refuge in the hillcountry of Ephraim), Gezer,68Jokmeam, Beth-horon,69Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon.70The remaining descendants of Kohathwere assigned these towns from theterritory of the half-tribe of Manasseh:Aner and Bileam, each with itspasturelands.71The descendants of Gershon receivedfrom the territory of the half-tribe ofManasseh the town of Golan in Bashanwith its pasturelands and Ashtaroth withits pasturelands.72From the territory of Issachar, theywere given Kedesh, Daberath,73Ramoth, and Anem, with theirpasturelands.74From the territory of Asher, theyreceived Mashal, Abdon,75Hukok, and Rehob, each with its

pasturelands.76From the territory of Naphtali, theywere given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon,and Kiriathaim, each with itspasturelands.77The remaining descendants of Merarireceived from the territory of Zebulunthe towns of Jokneam, Kartah,Rimmono, and Tabor, each with itspasturelands.78From the territory of Reuben, east ofthe Jordan River opposite Jericho, theyreceived Bezer (a desert town), Jahaz,79Kedemoth, and Mephaath, each withits pasturelands.80And from the territory of Gad, theyreceived Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,81Heshbon, and Jazer, each with itspasturelands.

7The four sons of Issachar were Tola,

Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.2The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah,Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel.Each of them was the leader of anancestral clan. At the time of King David,the total number of men available formilitary service from these families was22,600.3The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah. The sonsof Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel,and Isshiah. These five became theleaders of clans.4The total number of men available formilitary service among theirdescendants was 36,000, for all five ofthem had many wives and many sons.5The total number of men available formilitary service from all the clans of thetribe of Issachar was 87,000. All of themwere listed in their tribal genealogy.6Three of Benjamin's sons were Bela,Beker, and Jediael.7The sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi,Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. These fivewarriors were the leaders of clans. Thetotal number of men available formilitary service among theirdescendants was 22,034. All of themwere listed in their family genealogy.8The sons of Beker were Zemirah,Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth,Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth.9According to their family genealogy,there were 20,200 men available formilitary service among theirdescendants, in addition to their clanleaders.10The son of Jediael was Bilhan. The

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sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin,Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, andAhishahar.11They were the leaders of the clans ofJediael, and their descendants included17,200 men available for military service.12The sons of Ir were Shuppim andHuppim. Hushim was the son of Aher.13The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel,Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. They were alldescendants of Jacob's wife Bilhah.14The sons of Manasseh, born to hisAramean concubine, were Asriel andMakir. Makir was the father of Gilead.15Makir found wives for Huppim andShuppim. Makir's sister was namedMaacah. One of his descendants wasZelophehad, who had only daughters.16Makir's wife, Maacah, gave birth to ason whom she named Peresh. Hisbrother's name was Sheresh. The sonsof Peresh were Ulam and Rakem.17The son of Ulam was Bedan. All thesewere considered Gileadites,descendants of Makir son of Manasseh.18Makir's sister Hammoleketh gave birthto Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.19The sons of Shemida were Ahian,Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.20The descendants of Ephraim wereShuthelah, Bered, Tahath, Eleadah,Tahath,21Zabad, and Shuthelah. Ephraim's sonsEzer and Elead were killed trying tosteal livestock from the local farmersnear Gath.22Their father, Ephraim, mourned forthem a long time, and his relatives cameto comfort him.23Afterward Ephraim slept with his wife,and she became pregnant and gavebirth to a son. Ephraim named himBeriah because of the tragedy his familyhad suffered.24Ephraim had a daughter namedSheerah. She built the towns of Lowerand Upper Beth-horon and Uzzensheerah.25Ephraim's line of descent was Rephah,Resheph, Telah, Tahan,26Ladan, Ammihud, Elishama,27Nun, and Joshua.28The descendants of Ephraim lived inthe territory that included Bethel and itssurrounding towns to the south, Naaranto the east, Gezer and its villages to thewest, and Shechem and its surroundingvillages to the north as far as Ayyah andits towns.29Along the border of Manasseh werethe towns of Beth-shan, Taanach,

Megiddo, Dor, and their surroundingvillages. The descendants of Josephson of Israel lived in these towns.30The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah,Ishvi, and Beriah. They had a sisternamed Serah.31The sons of Beriah were Heber andMalkiel (the father of Birzaith).32The sons of Heber were Japhlet,Shomer, and Hotham. They had a sisternamed Shua.33The sons of Japhlet were Pasach,Bimhal, and Ashvath.34The sons of Shomer were Ahi, Rohgah,Hubbah, and Aram.35The sons of his brother Helem wereZophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.36The sons of Zophah were Suah,Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran,and Beera.38The sons of Jether were Jephunneh,Pispah, and Ara.39The sons of Ulla were Arah, Hanniel,and Rizia.40Each of these descendants of Asherwas the head of an ancestral clan. Theywere all skilled warriors and prominentleaders. There were 26,000 menavailable for military service among thedescendants listed in their tribalgenealogy.

8The sons of Benjamin, in order of

age, included Bela (the oldest), Ashbel,Aharah,2Nohah, and Rapha.3The sons of Bela were Addar, Gera,Abihud,4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.6The sons of Ehud, leaders of the clansliving at Geba, were driven out andmoved to Manahath.7Ehud's sons were Naaman, Ahijah, andGera. Gera, the father of Uzza andAhihud, led them when they moved.8After Shaharaim divorced his wivesHushim and Baara, he had children inthe land of Moab.9Hodesh, his new wife, gave birth toJobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,10Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These sonsall became the leaders of clans.11Shaharaim's wife Hushim had alreadygiven birth to Abitub and Elpaal.12The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham,Shemed (who built Ono and Lod andtheir villages),

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13Beriah, and Shema. They were theleaders of the clans living in Aijalon, andthey drove out the inhabitants of Gath.14Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,16Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were thesons of Beriah.17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,18Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were thesons of Elpaal.19Jakim, Zicri, Zabdi,20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath werethe sons of Shimei.22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,23Abdon, Zicri, Hanan,24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,25Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons ofShashak.26Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zicri were thesons of Jeroham.28These were the leaders of theancestral clans, and they were listed intheir tribal genealogy. They all lived inJerusalem.29Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived inGibeon. His wife's name was Maacah,30and his oldest son was named Abdon.Jeiel's other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal,Ner, Nadab,31Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah,32and Mikloth, who was the father ofShimeam. All these families lived neareach other in Jerusalem.33Ner was the father of Kish. Kish wasthe father of Saul. Saul was the father ofJonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, andEshbaal.34Jonathan was the father of Meribbaal.Meribbaal was the father of Micah.35Micah was the father of Pithon, Melech,Tahrea, and Ahaz.36Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadahwas the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth,and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.37Moza was the father of Binea. Bineawas the father of Rephaiah. Rephaiahwas the father of Eleasah. Eleasah wasthe father of Azel.38Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bokeru,Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.These were the sons of Azel.39Azel's brother Eshek had three sons:Ulam (the oldest), Jeush (the second),and Eliphelet (the third).40The sons of Ulam were all skilledwarriors and expert archers. They hadmany sons and grandsons--150 in all.All these were descendants of Benjamin.

9All Israel was listed in the

genealogical record in The Book of theKings of Israel. The people of Judahwere exiled to Babylon because theywere unfaithful to the LORD.2The first to return to their property intheir former towns were common people.With them came some of the priests,Levites, and Temple assistants.3People from the tribes of Judah,Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manassehcame and settled in Jerusalem.4One family that returned was that ofUthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, sonof Imri, son of Bani, a descendant ofPerez son of Judah.5Others returned from the Shilonite clan,including Asaiah (the oldest) and hissons.6From the Zerahite clan, Jeuel returnedwith his relatives. In all, 690 familiesfrom the tribe of Judah returned.7From the tribe of Benjamin came Salluson of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, sonof Hassenuah;8Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son ofUzzi, son of Micri; Meshullam son ofShephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.9These men were all leaders of clans,and they were listed in their tribalgenealogy. In all, 956 families from thetribe of Benjamin returned.10Among the priests who returned wereJedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jakin,11Azariah son of Hilkiah, son ofMeshullam, son of Zadok, son ofMeraioth, son of Ahitub. Azariah was thechief officer of the house of God.12Other returning priests were Adaiahson of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son ofMalkijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, sonof Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son ofMeshillemith, son of Immer.13In all, 1,760 priests returned. Theywere heads of clans and very able men.They were responsible for ministering atthe house of God.14The Levites who returned wereShemaiah son of Hasshub, son ofAzrikam, son of Hashabiah, adescendant of Merari;15Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniahson of Mica, son of Zicri, son of Asaph;16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son ofGalal, son of Jeduthun; and Berekiahson of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived inthe area of Netophah.17The gatekeepers who returned were

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Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, andtheir relatives. Shallum was the chiefgatekeeper.18Prior to this time, they wereresponsible for the King's Gate on theeast side. These men served asgatekeepers for the camps of theLevites.19Shallum was the son of Kore, adescendant of Abiasaph, from the clanof Korah. He and his relatives, theKorahites, were responsible for guardingthe entrance to the sanctuary, just astheir ancestors had guarded theTabernacle in the camp of the LORD.20Phinehas son of Eleazar had been incharge of the gatekeepers in earliertimes, and the LORD had been with him.21And later Zechariah son ofMeshelemiah had been responsible forguarding the entrance to the Tabernacle.22In all, there were 212 gatekeepers inthose days, and they were listed bygenealogies in their villages. David andSamuel the seer had appointed theirancestors because they were reliablemen.23These gatekeepers and theirdescendants, by their divisions, wereresponsible for guarding the entrance tothe house of the LORD, the house thatwas formerly a tent.24The gatekeepers were stationed on allfour sides--east, west, north, and south.25From time to time, their relatives in thevillages came to share their duties forseven-day periods.26The four chief gatekeepers, all Levites,were in an office of great trust, for theywere responsible for the rooms andtreasuries at the house of God.27They would spend the night aroundthe house of God, since it was their dutyto guard it. It was also their job to openthe gates every morning.28Some of the gatekeepers wereassigned to care for the various utensilsused in worship. They checked them inand out to avoid any loss.29Others were responsible for thefurnishings, the items in the sanctuary,and the supplies such as choice flour,wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.30But it was the priests who preparedthe spices and incense.31Mattithiah, a Levite and the oldest sonof Shallum the Korahite, was entrustedwith baking the bread used in theofferings.32And some members of the clan of

Kohath were in charge of preparing thebread to be set on the table eachSabbath day.33The musicians, all prominent Levites,lived at the Temple. They were exemptfrom other responsibilities there sincethey were on duty at all hours.34All these men lived in Jerusalem. Theywere the heads of Levite families andwere listed as prominent leaders in theirtribal genealogy.35Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived inGibeon. His wife's name was Maacah,36and his oldest son was named Abdon.Jeiel's other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal,Ner, Nadab,37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. Allthese families lived near each other inJerusalem.39Ner was the father of Kish. Kish wasthe father of Saul. Saul was the father ofJonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, andEshbaal.40Jonathan was the father of Meribbaal.Meribbaal was the father of Micah.41The sons of Micah were Pithon,Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.42Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadahwas the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth,and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza.43Moza was the father of Binea. Binea'sson was Rephaiah. Rephaiah's son wasEleasah. Eleasah's son was Azel.44Azel had six sons, and their nameswere Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael,Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. Thesewere the sons of Azel.

10Now the Philistines attacked Israel,

forcing the Israelites to flee. Many wereslaughtered on the slopes of MountGilboa.2The Philistines closed in on Saul andhis sons, and they killed three of hissons--Jonathan, Abinadab, andMalkishua.3The fighting grew very fierce aroundSaul, and the Philistine archers caughtup with him and wounded him severely.4Saul groaned to his armor bearer,"Take your sword and run me throughbefore these pagan Philistines comeand humiliate me." But his armor bearerwas afraid and would not do it. So Saultook his own sword and fell on it.5When his armor bearer realized thatSaul was dead, he fell on his own swordand died.

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6So Saul and his three sons died theretogether, bringing his dynasty to an end.7When the Israelites in the JezreelValley saw that their army had beenrouted and that Saul and his sons weredead, they abandoned their towns andfled. So the Philistines moved in andoccupied their towns.8The next day when the Philistines wentout to strip the dead, they found thebodies of Saul and his sons on MountGilboa.9So they stripped off Saul's armor andcut off his head. Then they proclaimedthe news of Saul's death before theiridols and to the people throughout theland of Philistia.10They placed his armor in the temple oftheir gods, and they fastened his headto the wall in the temple of Dagon.11But when the people of Jabesh-gileadheard what the Philistines had done toSaul,12their warriors went out and brought thebodies of Saul and his three sons backto Jabesh. Then they buried theirremains beneath the oak tree at Jabesh,and they fasted for seven days.13So Saul died because he wasunfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obeythe LORD's command, and he evenconsulted a medium14instead of asking the LORD forguidance. So the LORD killed him andturned his kingdom over to David son ofJesse.

11Then all Israel went to David at

Hebron and told him, "We are allmembers of your family.2For a long time, even while Saul wasour king, you were the one who reallyled Israel. And the LORD your God hastold you, 'You will be the shepherd of mypeople Israel. You will be their leader.' "3So there at Hebron David made acovenant with the leaders of Israelbefore the LORD. They anointed himking of Israel, just as the LORD hadpromised through Samuel.4Then David and all Israel went toJerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to becalled), where the Jebusites, originalinhabitants of the land, lived.5The people of Jebus said to David,"You will never get in here!" But Davidcaptured the fortress of Zion, now calledthe City of David.6David had said to his troops, "Whoever

leads the attack against the Jebusiteswill become the commander of myarmies!" And Joab, the son of David'ssister Zeruiah, led the attack, so hebecame the commander of David'sarmies.7David made the fortress his home, andthat is why it is called the City of David.8He extended the city from the Millo tothe surrounding area, while Joab rebuiltthe rest of Jerusalem.9And David became more and morepowerful, because the LORD Almightywas with him.10These are the leaders of David'smighty men. Together with all Israel,they determined to make David theirking, just as the LORD had promisedconcerning Israel.11Here is the record of David's mightiestmen: The first was Jashobeam theHacmonite, who was commander of theThree--the three greatest warriorsamong David's men. He once used hisspear to kill three hundred enemywarriors in a single battle.12Next in rank among the Three wasEleazar son of Dodai, a descendant ofAhoah.13He was with David in the battle againstthe Philistines at Pas-dammim. Thebattle took place in a field full of barley,and the Israelite army fled.14But Eleazar and David held theirground in the middle of the field andbeat back the Philistines. So the LORDsaved them by giving them a greatvictory.15Once when David was at the rock nearthe cave of Adullam, the Philistine armywas camped in the valley of Rephaim.The Three (who were among the Thirty--an elite group among David's fightingmen) went down to meet him there.16David was staying in the stronghold atthe time, and a Philistine detachmenthad occupied the town of Bethlehem.17David remarked longingly to his men,"Oh, how I would love some of that goodwater from the well in Bethlehem, theone by the gate."18So the Three broke through thePhilistine lines, drew some water fromthe well, and brought it back to David.But David refused to drink it. Instead, hepoured it out before the LORD.19"God forbid that I should drink this!" heexclaimed. "This water is as precious asthe blood of these men who risked theirlives to bring it to me." So David did not

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drink it. This is an example of theexploits of the Three.20Abishai, the brother of Joab, was theleader of the Thirty. He once used hisspear to kill three hundred enemywarriors in a single battle. It was by suchfeats that he became as famous as theThree.21Abishai was the most famous of theThirty and was their commander, thoughhe was not one of the Three.22There was also Benaiah son ofJehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel.He did many heroic deeds, whichincluded killing two of Moab's mightiestwarriors. Another time he chased a liondown into a pit. Then, despite the snowand slippery ground, he caught the lionand killed it.23Another time, armed with only a club,he killed an Egyptian warrior who wasseven and a half feet tall and whosespear was as thick as a weaver's beam.Benaiah wrenched the spear from theEgyptian's hand and killed him with it.24These are some of the deeds thatmade Benaiah as famous as the Three.25He was more honored than the othermembers of the Thirty, though he wasnot one of the Three. And David madehim commander of his bodyguard.26These were also included amongDavid's mighty men: Asahel, Joab'sbrother; Elhanan son of Dodo fromBethlehem;27Shammah from Harod; Helez fromPelon;28Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezerfrom Anathoth;29Sibbecai from Hushah; Zalmon fromAhoah;30Maharai from Netophah; Heled son ofBaanah from Netophah;31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (fromthe tribe of Benjamin); Benaiah fromPirathon;32Hurai from near Nahale-gaash ; Abialbonthe Arbathite;33Azmaveth from Bahurim ; Eliahba fromShaalbon;34the sons of Jashen from Gizon;Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar;35Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;Eliphal son of Ur;36Hepher from Mekerah; Ahijah fromPelon;37Hezro from Carmel; Paarai son ofEzbai;38Joel, the brother of Nathan; Mibharson of Hagri;

39Zelek from Ammon; Naharai fromBeeroth (Joab's armor bearer);40Ira from Jattir; Gareb from Jattir;41Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;42Adina son of Shiza, the Reubeniteleader who had thirty men with him;43Hanan son of Maacah; Joshaphat fromMithna;44Uzzia from Ashtaroth; Shama andJeiel, the sons of Hotham, from Aroer;45Jediael son of Shimri; Joha, hisbrother, from Tiz;46Eliel from Mahavah; Jeribai andJoshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; Ithmahfrom Moab;47Eliel and Obed; Jaasiel from Zobah.

12The following men joined David at

Ziklag while he was hiding from Saulson of Kish. They were among thewarriors who fought beside David inbattle.2All of them were expert archers, andthey could shoot arrows or sling stoneswith their left hand as well as their right.They were all relatives of Saul from thetribe of Benjamin.3Their leader was Ahiezer son ofShemaah from Gibeah; his brotherJoash was second-in-command. Thesewere the other warriors: Jeziel and Pelet,sons of Azmaveth; Beracah and Jehufrom Anathoth;4Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famouswarrior and leader among the Thirty;Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, andJozabad from Gederah;5Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah,and Shephatiah from Haruph;6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, andJashobeam, who were Korahites;7Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jerohamfrom Gedor.8Some brave and experienced warriorsfrom the tribe of Gad also defected toDavid while he was at the stronghold inthe wilderness. They were expert withboth shield and spear, as fierce as lionsand as swift as deer on the mountains.9Ezer was their leader. Obadiah wassecond. Eliab was third.10Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiahwas fifth.11Attai was sixth. Eliel was seventh.12Johanan was eighth. Elzabad wasninth.13Jeremiah was tenth. Macbannai waseleventh.14These warriors from Gad were army

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commanders. The weakest among themcould take on a hundred regular troops,and the strongest could take on athousand!15They crossed the Jordan River duringits seasonal flooding at the beginning ofthe year and drove out all the peopleliving in the lowlands on both the eastand west banks.16Others from Benjamin and Judahcame to David at the stronghold.17David went out to meet them and said,"If you have come in peace to help me,we are friends. But if you have come tobetray me to my enemies when I aminnocent, then may the God of ourancestors see and judge you."18Then the Spirit came upon Amasai,who later became a leader among theThirty, and he said, "We are yours,David! We are on your side, son ofJesse. Peace and prosperity be with you,and success to all who help you, foryour God is the one who helps you." SoDavid let them join him, and he madethem officers over his troops.19Some men from Manasseh defectedfrom the Israelite army and joined Davidwhen he went with the Philistines to fightagainst Saul. But as it turned out, thePhilistine leaders refused to let Davidand his men go with them. After muchdiscussion, they sent them back, forthey said, "It will cost us our lives ifDavid switches loyalties to Saul andturns against us."20Here is a list of the men fromManasseh who defected to David as hewas returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad,Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, andZillethai. Each commanded a thousandtroops from the tribe of Manasseh.21They helped David chase down bandsof raiders, for they were all brave andable warriors who became commandersin his army.22Day after day more men joined Daviduntil he had a great army, like the armyof God.23These are the numbers of armedwarriors who joined David at Hebron.They were all eager to see Davidbecome king instead of Saul, just as theLORD had promised.24From the tribe of Judah, there were6,800 warriors armed with shields andspears.25From the tribe of Simeon, there were7,100 warriors.26From the tribe of Levi, there were

4,600 troops.27This included Jehoiada, leader of thefamily of Aaron, who had 3,700 underhis command.28This also included Zadok, a youngwarrior, with twenty-two members of hisfamily who were all officers.29From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul'srelatives, there were 3,000 warriors.Most of the men from Benjamin hadremained loyal to Saul until this time.30From the tribe of Ephraim, there were20,800 warriors, each famous in his ownclan.31From the half-tribe of Manasseh westof the Jordan, 18,000 men were sent forthe express purpose of helping Davidbecome king.32From the tribe of Issachar, there were200 leaders of the tribe with theirrelatives. All these men understood thetemper of the times and knew the bestcourse for Israel to take.33From the tribe of Zebulun, there were50,000 skilled warriors. They were fullyarmed and prepared for battle andcompletely loyal to David.34From the tribe of Naphtali, there were1,000 officers and 37,000 warriorsarmed with shields and spears.35From the tribe of Dan, there were28,600 warriors, all prepared for battle.36From the tribe of Asher, there were40,000 trained warriors, all prepared forbattle.37From the east side of the JordanRiver--where the tribes of Reuben andGad and the half-tribe of Manassehlived--there were 120,000 troops armedwith every kind of weapon.38All these men came in battle array toHebron with the single purpose ofmaking David the king of Israel. In fact,all Israel agreed that David should betheir king.39They feasted and drank with David forthree days, for preparations had beenmade by their relatives for their arrival.40And people from as far away asIssachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali broughtfood on donkeys, camels, mules, andoxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes,raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheepwere brought to the celebration. Therewas great joy throughout the land ofIsrael.

13David consulted with all his

officials, including the generals and

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captains of his army.2Then he addressed the entire assemblyof Israel as follows: "If you approve andif it is the will of the LORD our God, letus send messages to all the Israelitesthroughout the land, including thepriests and Levites in their towns andpasturelands. Let us invite them to comeand join us.3It is time to bring back the Ark of ourGod, for we neglected it during the reignof Saul."4The whole assembly agreed to this, forthe people could see it was the rightthing to do.5So David summoned all the people ofIsrael, from one end of the country tothe other, to join in bringing the Ark ofGod from Kiriath-jearim.6Then David and all Israel went toBaalah of Judah (also called Kiriathjearim)to bring back the Ark of God,which bears the name of the LORD whois enthroned between the cherubim.7They transported the Ark of God fromthe house of Abinadab on a new cart,with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it.8David and all Israel were celebratingbefore God with all their might, singingand playing all kinds of musicalinstruments--lyres, harps, tambourines,cymbals, and trumpets.9But when they arrived at the threshingfloor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, andUzzah put out his hand to steady theArk.10Then the LORD's anger blazed outagainst Uzzah, and he struck him deadbecause he had laid his hand on the Ark.So Uzzah died there in the presence ofGod.11David was angry because the LORD'sanger had blazed out against Uzzah. Henamed that place Perez-uzzah (whichmeans "outbreak against Uzzah"). It isstill called that today.12David was now afraid of God andasked, "How can I ever bring the Ark ofGod back into my care?"13So David decided not to move the Arkinto the City of David. He took it insteadto the home of Obed-edom of Gath.14The Ark of God remained there withthe family of Obed-edom for threemonths, and the LORD blessed him andhis entire household.

14Now King Hiram of Tyre sent

messengers to David, along with

stonemasons and carpenters to buildhim a palace. Hiram also sent manycedar logs for lumber.2And David realized that the LORD hadmade him king over Israel and hadmade his kingdom very great for thesake of his people Israel.3Then David married more wives inJerusalem, and they had many sonsand daughters.4These are the names of David's sonswho were born in Jerusalem: Shimea,Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,7Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.8When the Philistines heard that Davidhad been anointed king over all Israel,they mobilized all their forces to capturehim. But David was told they werecoming, so he and his men marched outto meet them.9The Philistines had arrived in the valleyof Rephaim and raided it.10So David asked God, "Should I go outto fight the Philistines? Will you handthem over to me?" The LORD replied,"Yes, go ahead. I will give you thevictory."11So David and his troops went to Baalperazimand defeated the Philistinesthere. "God has done it!" Davidexclaimed. "He used me to burstthrough my enemies like a raging flood!"So that place was named Baal-perazim(which means "the Lord who burststhrough").12The Philistines had abandoned theiridols there, so David gave orders toburn them up.13But after a while, the Philistinesreturned and raided the valley again.14And once again David asked Godwhat to do. "Do not attack them straighton," God replied. "Instead, circle aroundbehind them and attack them near thebalsam trees.15When you hear a sound like marchingfeet in the tops of the balsam trees,attack! That will be the signal that God ismoving ahead of you to strike down thePhilistines."16So David did what God commanded,and he struck down the Philistine armyall the way from Gibeon to Gezer.17So David's fame spread everywhere,and the LORD caused all the nations tofear David.

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15David now built several buildings

for himself in the City of David. He alsoprepared a place for the Ark of God andset up a special tent there to shelter it.2Then he issued these instructions:"When we transport the Ark of God thistime, no one except the Levites maycarry it. The LORD has chosen them tocarry the Ark of the LORD and tominister before him forever."3Then David summoned all the Israelitesto Jerusalem to bring the Ark of theLORD to the place he had prepared forit.4These are the priests and Levites whowere called together:5There were 120 from the clan of Kohath,with Uriel as their leader.6There were 220 from the clan of Merari,with Asaiah as their leader.7There were 130 from the clan ofGershon, with Joel as their leader.8There were 200 descendants ofElizaphan, with Shemaiah as theirleader.9There were 80 descendants of Hebron,with Eliel as their leader.10There were 112 descendants of Uzziel,with Amminadab as their leader.11Then David summoned the priests,Zadok and Abiathar, and these Leviteleaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah,Eliel, and Amminadab.12He said to them, "You are the leadersof the Levite families. You must purifyyourselves and all your fellow Levites,so you can bring the Ark of the LORD,the God of Israel, to the place I haveprepared for it.13Because you Levites did not carry theArk the first time, the anger of the LORDour God burst out against us. We failedto ask God how to move it in the properway."14So the priests and the Levites purifiedthemselves in order to bring the Ark ofthe LORD, the God of Israel, toJerusalem.15Then the Levites carried the Ark ofGod on their shoulders with its carryingpoles, just as the LORD had instructedMoses.16David also ordered the Levite leadersto appoint a choir of Levites who weresingers and musicians to sing joyfulsongs to the accompaniment of lyres,harps, and cymbals.17So the Levites appointed Heman son

of Joel, Asaph son of Berekiah, andEthan son of Kushaiah from the clan ofMerari to direct the musicians.18The following men were chosen astheir assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel,Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab,Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah,Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and thegatekeepers, Obed-edom and Jeiel.19Heman, Asaph, and Ethan werechosen to sound the bronze cymbals.20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel,Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiahwere chosen to play the lyres.21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah,Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah werechosen to play the harps.22Kenaniah, the head Levite, waschosen as the choir leader because ofhis skill.23Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen toguard the Ark.24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel,Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, andEliezer--all of whom were priests--werechosen to blow the trumpets as theymarched in front of the Ark of God.Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen toguard the Ark.25Then David and the leaders of Israeland the generals of the army went to thehome of Obed-edom to bring the Ark ofthe LORD's covenant up to Jerusalemwith a great celebration.26And because God was clearly helpingthe Levites as they carried the Ark of theLORD's covenant, they sacrificed sevenbulls and seven lambs.27David was dressed in a robe of finelinen, as were the Levites who carriedthe Ark, the singers, and Kenaniah thesong leader. David was also wearing apriestly tunic.28So all Israel brought up the Ark of theLORD's covenant to Jerusalem withshouts of joy, the blowing of horns andtrumpets, the crashing of cymbals, andloud playing on harps and lyres.29But as the Ark of the LORD's covenantentered the City of David, Michal, thedaughter of Saul, looked down from herwindow. When she saw King Daviddancing and leaping for joy, she wasfilled with contempt for him.

16So they brought the Ark of God

into the special tent David had preparedfor it, and they sacrificed burnt offeringsand peace offerings before God.

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2When he had finished, David blessedthe people in the name of the LORD.3Then he gave a gift of food to everyman and woman in Israel: a loaf ofbread, a cake of dates, and a cake ofraisins.4David appointed the following Levites tolead the people in worship before theArk of the LORD by asking for hisblessings and giving thanks and praiseto the LORD, the God of Israel.5Asaph, the leader of this group,sounded the cymbals. His assistantswere Zechariah (the second), then Jeiel,Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab,Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. Theyplayed the harps and lyres.6The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel,played the trumpets regularly before theArk of God's covenant.7That day David gave to Asaph and hisfellow Levites this song of thanksgivingto the LORD:8Give thanks to the LORD and proclaimhis greatness. Let the whole world knowwhat he has done.9Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Telleveryone about his miracles.10Exult in his holy name; O worshipersof the LORD, rejoice!11Search for the LORD and for hisstrength, and keep on searching.12Think of the wonderful works he hasdone, the miracles, and the judgmentshe handed down,13O children of Israel, God's servant, Odescendants of Jacob, God's chosenone.14He is the LORD our God. His rule isseen throughout the land.15He always stands by his covenant --the commitment he made to a thousandgenerations.16This is the covenant he made withAbraham and the oath he swore toIsaac.17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,to the people of Israel as a never-endingtreaty:18"I will give you the land of Canaan asyour special possession."19He said this when they were few innumber, a tiny group of strangers inCanaan.20They wandered back and forthbetween nations, from one kingdom toanother.21Yet he did not let anyone oppressthem. He warned kings on their behalf:22"Do not touch these people I have

chosen, and do not hurt my prophets."23Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!Each day proclaim the good news thathe saves.24Publish his glorious deeds among thenations. Tell everyone about theamazing things he does.25Great is the LORD! He is most worthyof praise! He is to be revered above allgods.26The gods of other nations are merelyidols, but the LORD made the heavens!27Honor and majesty surround him;strength and beauty are in his dwelling.28O nations of the world, recognize theLORD, recognize that the LORD isglorious and strong.29Give to the LORD the glory hedeserves! Bring your offering and cometo worship him. Worship the LORD in allhis holy splendor.30Let all the earth tremble before him.The world is firmly established andcannot be shaken.31Let the heavens be glad, and let theearth rejoice! Tell all the nations that theLORD is king.32Let the sea and everything in it shouthis praise! Let the fields and their cropsburst forth with joy!33Let the trees of the forest rustle withpraise before the LORD! For he iscoming to judge the earth.34Give thanks to the LORD, for he isgood! His faithful love endures forever.35Cry out, "Save us, O God of oursalvation! Gather and rescue us fromamong the nations, so we can thankyour holy name and rejoice and praiseyou."36Blessed be the LORD, the God ofIsrael, from everlasting to everlasting!And all the people shouted "Amen!" andpraised the LORD.37David arranged for Asaph and hisfellow Levites to minister regularlybefore the Ark of the LORD's covenant,doing whatever needed to be done eachday.38This group included Obed-edom (sonof Jeduthun), Hosah, and sixty-eightother Levites as gatekeepers.39Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok thepriest and his fellow priests at theTabernacle of the LORD on the hill ofGibeon, where they continued tominister before the LORD.40They sacrificed the regular burntofferings to the LORD each morning andevening on the altar set aside for that

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purpose, obeying everything written inthe law of the LORD, which he hadgiven to Israel.41David also appointed Heman,Jeduthun, and the others chosen byname to give thanks to the LORD, "forhis faithful love endures forever."42They used their trumpets, cymbals,and other instruments to accompany thesongs of praise to God. And the sons ofJeduthun were appointed asgatekeepers.43Then all the people returned to theirhomes, and David returned home tobless his family.

17Now when David was settled in

his palace, he said to Nathan theprophet, "Here I am living in thisbeautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of theLORD's covenant is out in a tent!"2Nathan replied, "Go ahead with whatyou have in mind, for God is with you."3But that same night God said to Nathan,4"Go and tell my servant David, 'This iswhat the LORD says: You are not theone to build me a temple to live in.5I have never lived in a temple, from theday I brought the Israelites out of Egyptuntil now. My home has always been atent, moving from one place to another.6And I never once complained to Israel'sleaders, the shepherds of my people. Ihave never asked them, "Why haven'tyou built me a beautiful cedar temple?" '7"Now go and say to my servant David,'This is what the LORD Almighty says: Ichose you to lead my people Israelwhen you were just a shepherd boy,tending your sheep out in the pasture.8I have been with you wherever youhave gone, and I have destroyed allyour enemies. Now I will make yourname famous throughout the earth!9And I have provided a permanenthomeland for my people Israel, a secureplace where they will never be disturbed.It will be their own land where wickednations won't oppress them as they didin the past,10from the time I appointed judges torule my people. And I will subdue allyour enemies. " 'And now I declare thatthe LORD will build a house for you--adynasty of kings!11For when you die, I will raise up one ofyour sons, and I will make his kingdomstrong.12He is the one who will build a house--a

temple--for me. And I will establish histhrone forever.13I will be his father, and he will be myson. I will not take my unfailing love fromhim as I took it from Saul, who ruledbefore you.14I will establish him over my dynastyand my kingdom for all time, and histhrone will be secure forever.' "15So Nathan went back to David andtold him everything the LORD had said.16Then King David went in and satbefore the LORD and prayed, "Who amI, O LORD God, and what is my family,that you have brought me this far?17And now, O God, in addition toeverything else, you speak of giving mea lasting dynasty! You speak as though Iwere someone very great, O LORDGod!18What more can I say about the wayyou have honored me? You know what Iam really like.19For my sake, O LORD, and accordingto your will, you have done all thesegreat things and have made themknown.20"O LORD, there is no one like you--there is no other God. We have nevereven heard of another god like you!21What other nation on earth is likeIsrael? What other nation, O God, haveyou redeemed from slavery to be yourown people? You made a great namefor yourself when you rescued yourpeople from Egypt. You performedawesome miracles and drove out thenations that stood in their way.22You chose Israel to be your peopleforever, and you, O LORD, havebecome their God.23"And now, O LORD, do as you havepromised concerning me and my family.May it be a promise that will last forever.24And may your name be establishedand honored forever so that all the worldwill say, 'The LORD Almighty is Godover Israel!' And may the dynasty ofyour servant David be established inyour presence.25"O my God, I have been bold enoughto pray this prayer because you haverevealed that you will build a house forme--an eternal dynasty!26For you are God, O LORD. And youhave promised these good things to me,your servant.27And now, it has pleased you to blessme and my family so that our dynastywill continue forever before you. For

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when you grant a blessing, O LORD, itis an eternal blessing!"

18After this, David subdued and

humbled the Philistines by conqueringGath and its surrounding towns.2David also conquered the land of Moab,and the Moabites became David'ssubjects and brought him tribute money.3Then David destroyed the forces ofKing Hadadezer of Zobah, as far asHamath, when Hadadezer marched outto strengthen his control along theEuphrates River.4David captured one thousand chariots,seven thousand charioteers, and twentythousand foot soldiers. Then he crippledall but one hundred of the chariot horses.5When Arameans from Damascusarrived to help Hadadezer, David killedtwenty-two thousand of them.6Then he placed several army garrisonsin Damascus, the Aramean capital, andthe Arameans became David's subjectsand brought him tribute money. So theLORD gave David victory wherever hewent.7David brought the gold shields ofHadadezer's officers to Jerusalem,8along with a large amount of bronzefrom Hadadezer's cities of Tebah andCun. Later Solomon melted the bronzeand used it for the Temple. He molded itinto the bronze Sea, the pillars, and thevarious bronze utensils used at theTemple.9When King Toi of Hamath heard thatDavid had destroyed the army of KingHadadezer of Zobah,10he sent his son Joram to congratulateDavid on his success. Hadadezer andToi had long been enemies, and therehad been many wars between them.Joram presented David with many giftsof gold, silver, and bronze.11King David dedicated all these gifts tothe LORD, along with the silver and goldhe had taken from the other nations hehad subdued--Edom, Moab, Ammon,Philistia, and Amalek.12Abishai son of Zeruiah destroyedeighteen thousand Edomites in theValley of Salt.13He placed army garrisons throughoutEdom, and all the Edomites becameDavid's subjects. This was anotherexample of how the LORD made Davidvictorious wherever he went.14David reigned over all Israel and was

fair to everyone.15Joab son of Zeruiah was commanderof the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahiludwas the royal historian.16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelechson of Abiathar were the priests.Seraiah was the court secretary.17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captainof the king's bodyguard. David's sonsserved as the king's chief assistants.

19Some time after this, King Nahash

of the Ammonites died, and his sonHanun became king.2David said, "I am going to showcomplete loyalty to Hanun because hisfather, Nahash, was always completelyloyal to me." So David sentambassadors to express sympathy toHanun about his father's death. Butwhen David's ambassadors arrived inthe land of Ammon,3Hanun's advisers said to him, "Do youreally think these men are coming hereto honor your father? No! David hassent them to spy out the land so thatthey can come in and conquer it!"4So Hanun seized David's ambassadorsand shaved their beards, cut off theirrobes at the buttocks, and sent themback to David in shame.5When David heard what had happened,he sent messengers to tell the men tostay at Jericho until their beards grewout, for they were very embarrassed bytheir appearance.6Now the people of Ammon realizedhow seriously they had angered David,so Hanun and the Ammonites sentthirty-eight tons of silver to hire chariotsand troops from Aram-naharaim, Arammaacah,and Zobah.7They also hired thirty-two thousandchariots and secured the support of theking of Maacah and his army. Theseforces camped at Medeba, where theywere joined by the Ammonite troops thatHanun had recruited from his own towns.8When David heard about this, he sentJoab and all his warriors to fight them.9The Ammonite troops drew up theirbattle lines at the gate of the city, whilethe other kings positioned themselves tofight in the open fields.10When Joab saw that he would have tofight on two fronts, he chose the besttroops in his army. He placed themunder his personal command and ledthem out to fight the Arameans in the

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fields.11He left the rest of the army under thecommand of his brother Abishai, whowas to attack the Ammonites.12"If the Arameans are too strong for me,then come over and help me," Joab toldhis brother. "And if the Ammonites aretoo strong for you, I will help you.13Be courageous! Let us fight bravely tosave our people and the cities of ourGod. May the LORD's will be done."14When Joab and his troops attacked,the Arameans began to run away.15And when the Ammonites saw theArameans running, they ran fromAbishai and retreated into the city. ThenJoab returned to Jerusalem.16The Arameans now realized that theywere no match for Israel, so theysummoned additional Aramean troopsfrom the other side of the EuphratesRiver. These troops arrived under thecommand of Shobach, the commanderof all Hadadezer's forces.17When David heard what washappening, he mobilized all Israel,crossed the Jordan River, andpositioned his troops in battle formation.Then he engaged the enemy troops inbattle, and they fought against him.18But again the Arameans fled from theIsraelites. This time David's forces killedseven thousand charioteers and fortythousand foot soldiers, includingShobach, the commander of their army.19When the servants of Hadadezerrealized they had been defeated byIsrael, they surrendered to David andbecame his subjects. After that, theArameans were no longer willing to helpthe Ammonites.

20The following spring, the time of

year when kings go to war, Joab led theIsraelite army in successful attacksagainst the towns and villages of theAmmonites. In the process they laidsiege to the city of Rabbah anddestroyed it. But David had stayedbehind in Jerusalem.2When David arrived at Rabbah, heremoved the crown from the king's head,and it was placed on David's own head.The crown was made of gold and setwith gems, and it weighed aboutseventy-five pounds. David took a vastamount of plunder from the city.3He also made slaves of the people ofRabbah and forced them to labor with

saws, picks, and axes. That is how hedealt with the people of all theAmmonite cities. Then David and hisarmy returned to Jerusalem.4After this, war broke out with thePhilistines at Gezer. As they fought,Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, adescendant of the giants, and so thePhilistines were subdued.5During another battle with thePhilistines, Elhanan son of Jair killedLahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath.The handle of Lahmi's spear was asthick as a weaver's beam!6In another battle with the Philistines atGath, a huge man with six fingers oneach hand and six toes on each foot--adescendant of the giants--7defied and taunted Israel. But he waskilled by Jonathan, the son of David'sbrother Shimea.8These Philistines were descendants ofthe giants of Gath, but they were killedby David and his warriors.

21Satan rose up against Israel and

caused David to take a census of theIsraelites.2David gave these orders to Joab andhis commanders: "Take a census of allthe people in the land--from Beershebain the south to Dan in the north--andbring me the totals so I may know howmany there are."3But Joab replied, "May the LORDincrease the number of his people ahundred times over! But why, my lord,do you want to do this? Are they not allyour servants? Why must you causeIsrael to sin?"4But the king insisted that Joab take thecensus, so Joab traveled throughoutIsrael to count the people. Then hereturned to Jerusalem5and reported the number of people toDavid. There were 1,100,000 men ofmilitary age in Israel, and 470,000 inJudah.6But Joab did not include the tribes ofLevi and Benjamin in the censusbecause he was so distressed at whatthe king had made him do.7God was very displeased with thecensus, and he punished Israel for it.8Then David said to God, "I have sinnedgreatly and shouldn't have taken thecensus. Please forgive me for doing thisfoolish thing."9Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David's

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seer. This was the message:10"Go and say to David, 'This is what theLORD says: I will give you three choices.Choose one of these punishments, and Iwill do it.' "11So Gad came to David and said,"These are the choices the LORD hasgiven you.12You may choose three years of famine,three months of destruction by yourenemies, or three days of severe plagueas the angel of the LORD bringsdevastation throughout the land of Israel.Think this over and let me know whatanswer to give the LORD."13"This is a desperate situation!" Davidreplied to Gad. "But let me fall into thehands of the LORD, for his mercy isvery great. Do not let me fall into humanhands."14So the LORD sent a plague uponIsrael, and seventy thousand peopledied as a result.15And God sent an angel to destroyJerusalem. But just as the angel waspreparing to destroy it, the LORDrelented and said to the death angel,"Stop! That is enough!" At that momentthe angel of the LORD was standing bythe threshing floor of Araunah theJebusite.16David looked up and saw the angel ofthe LORD standing between heavenand earth with his sword drawn,stretched out over Jerusalem. So Davidand the leaders of Israel put onsackcloth to show their distress and felldown with their faces to the ground.17And David said to God, "I am the onewho called for the census! I am the onewho has sinned and done wrong! Butthese people are innocent--what havethey done? O LORD my God, let youranger fall against me and my family, butdo not destroy your people."18Then the angel of the LORD told Gadto instruct David to build an altar to theLORD at the threshing floor of Araunahthe Jebusite.19So David obeyed the instructions theLORD had given him through Gad.20Araunah, who was busy threshingwheat at the time, turned and saw theangel there. His four sons, who werewith him, ran away and hid.21When Araunah saw the kingapproaching, he left his threshing floorand bowed to the ground before David.22David said to Araunah, "Let me buythis threshing floor from you at its full

price. Then I will build an altar to theLORD there, so that he will stop theplague."23"Take it, my lord, and use it as youwish," Araunah said to David. "Here areoxen for the burnt offerings, and you canuse the threshing tools for wood to builda fire on the altar. And take the wheatfor the grain offering. I will give it all toyou."24But the king replied to Araunah, "No, Iinsist on paying what it is worth. I cannottake what is yours and give it to theLORD. I will not offer a burnt offeringthat has cost me nothing!"25So David gave Araunah six hundredpieces of gold in payment for thethreshing floor.26David built an altar there to the LORDand sacrificed burnt offerings and peaceofferings. And when David prayed, theLORD answered him by sending firefrom heaven to burn up the offering onthe altar.27Then the LORD spoke to the angel,who put the sword back into its sheath.28When David saw that the LORD hadanswered his prayer, he offeredsacrifices there at Araunah's threshingfloor.29At that time, the Tabernacle of theLORD and the altar that Moses made inthe wilderness were located at the hill ofGibeon.30But David was not able to go there toinquire of God, because he was terrifiedby the drawn sword of the angel of theLORD.

22Then David said, "This will be the

location for the Temple of the LORDGod and the place of the altar forIsrael's burnt offerings!"2So David gave orders to call togetherthe foreigners living in Israel, and heassigned them the task of preparingblocks of stone for building the Templeof God.3David provided large amounts of ironfor the nails that would be needed forthe doors in the gates and for theclamps, and more bronze than theycould ever weigh.4He also provided innumerable cedarlogs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon hadbrought vast amounts of cedar to David.5David said, "My son Solomon is stillyoung and inexperienced, and theTemple of the LORD must be a

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magnificent structure, famous andglorious throughout the world. So I willbegin making preparations for it now."So David collected vast amounts ofbuilding materials before his death.6Then David sent for his son Solomonand instructed him to build a Temple forthe LORD, the God of Israel.7"I wanted to build a Temple to honorthe name of the LORD my God," Davidtold him.8"But the LORD said to me, 'You havekilled many men in the great battles youhave fought. And since you have shedso much blood before me, you will notbe the one to build a Temple to honormy name.9But you will have a son who willexperience peace and rest. I will givehim peace with his enemies in all thesurrounding lands. His name will beSolomon, and I will give peace and quietto Israel during his reign.10He is the one who will build a Templeto honor my name. He will be my son,and I will be his father. And I willestablish the throne of his kingdom overIsrael forever.'11"Now, my son, may the LORD be withyou and give you success as you followhis instructions in building the Temple ofthe LORD your God.12And may the LORD give you wisdomand understanding, that you may obeythe law of the LORD your God as yourule over Israel.13For if you carefully obey the laws andregulations that the LORD gave to Israelthrough Moses, you will be successful.Be strong and courageous; do not beafraid or lose heart!14"I have worked hard to providematerials for building the Temple of theLORD--nearly four thousand tons ofgold, nearly forty thousand tons of silver,and so much iron and bronze that itcannot be weighed. I have alsogathered lumber and stone for the walls,though you may need to add more.15You have many skilled stonemasonsand carpenters and craftsmen of everykind available to you.16They are expert goldsmiths andsilversmiths and workers of bronze andiron. Now begin the work, and may theLORD be with you!"17Then David ordered all the leaders ofIsrael to assist Solomon in this project.18"The LORD your God is with you," hedeclared. "He has given you peace with

the surrounding nations. He has handedthem over to me, and they are nowsubject to the LORD and his people.19Now seek the LORD your God with allyour heart. Build the sanctuary of theLORD God so that you can bring the Arkof the LORD's covenant and the holyvessels of God into the Temple built tohonor the LORD's name."

23When David was an old man, he

appointed his son Solomon to be kingover Israel.2David summoned all the politicalleaders of Israel, together with thepriests and Levites, for the coronationceremony.3All the Levites who were thirty years oldor older were counted, and the totalcame to thirty-eight thousand.4Then David said, "Twenty-fourthousand of them will supervise thework at the Temple of the LORD. Sixthousand are to serve as officials andjudges.5Four thousand will work as gatekeepers,and another four thousand will praisethe LORD with the musical instruments Ihave made."6Then David divided the Levites intodivisions named after the clansdescended from the three sons of Levi--Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.7The Gershonite family units weredefined by their lines of descent fromLibni and Shimei, the sons of Gershon.8Three of the descendants of Libni wereJehiel (the family leader), Zetham, andJoel.9These were the leaders of the family ofLibni. Three of the descendants ofShimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, andHaran.10Four other descendants of Shimeiwere Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.11Jahath was the family leader, and Zizawas next. Jeush and Beriah werecounted as a single family becauseneither had many sons.12The descendants of Kohath includedAmram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.13The sons of Amram were Aaron andMoses. Aaron and his descendantswere set apart to dedicate the most holythings, to offer sacrifices in the LORD'spresence, to serve the LORD, and topronounce blessings in his name forever.14As for Moses, the man of God, hissons were included with the tribe of Levi.

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15The sons of Moses were Gershom andEliezer.16The descendants of Gershom includedShebuel, the family leader.17Eliezer had only one son, Rehabiah,the family leader. Rehabiah hadnumerous descendants.18The descendants of Izhar includedShelomith, the family leader.19The descendants of Hebron includedJeriah (the family leader), Amariah (thesecond), Jahaziel (the third), andJekameam (the fourth).20The descendants of Uzziel includedMicah (the family leader) and Isshiah(the second).21The descendants of Merari includedMahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahliwere Eleazar and Kish.22Eleazar died with no sons, onlydaughters. His daughters married theircousins, the sons of Kish.23The three sons of Mushi were Mahli,Eder, and Jerimoth.24These were the descendants of Leviby clans, the leaders of their familygroups, registered carefully by name.Each had to be twenty years old or olderto qualify for service in the house of theLORD.25For David said, "The LORD, the Godof Israel, has given us peace, and hewill always live in Jerusalem.26Now the Levites will no longer need tocarry the Tabernacle and its utensilsfrom place to place."27It was according to David's finalinstructions that all the Levites twentyyears old or older were registered forservice.28The work of the Levites was to assistthe priests, the descendants of Aaron,as they served at the house of theLORD. They also took care of thecourtyards and side rooms, helpedperform the ceremonies of purification,and served in many other ways in thehouse of God.29They were in charge of the sacredbread that was set out on the table, thechoice flour for the grain offerings, thewafers made without yeast, the cakescooked in olive oil, and the other mixedbreads. They were also responsible tocheck all the weights and measures.30And each morning and evening theystood before the LORD to sing songs ofthanks and praise to him.31They assisted with the burnt offeringsthat were presented to the LORD on

Sabbath days, at new mooncelebrations, and at all the appointedfestivals. The proper number of Levitesserved in the LORD's presence at alltimes, following all the procedures theyhad been given.32And so, under the supervision of thepriests, the Levites watched over theTabernacle and the Temple andfaithfully carried out their duties ofservice at the house of the LORD.

24This is how Aaron's descendants,

the priests, were divided into groups forservice. The sons of Aaron were Nadab,Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.2But Nadab and Abihu died before theirfather did, and they had no sons. Soonly Eleazar and Ithamar were left tocarry on as priests.3With the help of Zadok, who was adescendant of Eleazar, and ofAhimelech, who was a descendant ofIthamar, David divided Aaron'sdescendants into groups according totheir various duties.4Eleazar's descendants were dividedinto sixteen groups and Ithamar's intoeight, for there were more family leadersamong the descendants of Eleazar.5All tasks were assigned to the variousgroups by means of sacred lots so thatno preference would be shown, for therewere many qualified officials servingGod in the sanctuary from among thedescendants of both Eleazar andIthamar.6Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite,acted as secretary and wrote down thenames and assignments in the presenceof the king, Zadok the priest, Ahimelechson of Abiathar, and the family leadersof the priests and Levites. Thedescendants of Eleazar and Ithamartook turns casting lots.7The first lot fell to Jehoiarib. Thesecond lot fell to Jedaiah.8The third lot fell to Harim. The fourth lotfell to Seorim.9The fifth lot fell to Malkijah. The sixth lotfell to Mijamin.10The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz. Theeighth lot fell to Abijah.11The ninth lot fell to Jeshua. The tenthlot fell to Shecaniah.12The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib. Thetwelfth lot fell to Jakim.13The thirteenth lot fell to Huppah. Thefourteenth lot fell to Jeshebeab.

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14The fifteenth lot fell to Bilgah. Thesixteenth lot fell to Immer.15The seventeenth lot fell to Hezir. Theeighteenth lot fell to Happizzez.16The nineteenth lot fell to Pethahiah.The twentieth lot fell to Jehezkel.17The twenty-first lot fell to Jakin. Thetwenty-second lot fell to Gamul.18The twenty-third lot fell to Delaiah. Thetwenty-fourth lot fell to Maaziah.19Each group carried out its duties in thehouse of the LORD according to theprocedures established by theirancestor Aaron in obedience to thecommands of the LORD, the God ofIsrael.20These were the other family leadersdescended from Levi: From thedescendants of Amram, the leader wasShebuel. From the descendants ofShebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah.21From the descendants of Rehabiah,the leader was Isshiah.22From the descendants of Izhar, theleader was Shelomith. From thedescendants of Shelomith, the leaderwas Jahath.23From the descendants of Hebron,Jeriah was the leader, Amariah wassecond-in-command, Jahaziel was third,and Jekameam was fourth.24From the descendants of Uzziel, theleader was Micah. From thedescendants of Micah, the leader wasShamir,25along with Isshiah, the brother ofMicah. From the descendants of Isshiah,the leader was Zechariah.26From the descendants of Merari, theleaders were Mahli and Mushi. From thedescendants of Jaaziah, the leader wasBeno.27From the descendants of Merarithrough Jaaziah, the leaders were Beno,Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.28From the descendants of Mahli, theleader was Eleazar, though he had nosons.29From the descendants of Kish, theleader was Jerahmeel.30From the descendants of Mushi, theleaders were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.These were the descendants of Levi intheir various families.31Like the descendants of Aaron, theywere assigned to their duties by meansof sacred lots, without regard to age orrank. It was done in the presence ofKing David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and thefamily leaders of the priests and the

Levites.

25David and the army commanders

then appointed men from the families ofAsaph, Heman, and Jeduthun toproclaim God's messages to theaccompaniment of harps, lyres, andcymbals. Here is a list of their namesand their work:2From the sons of Asaph, there wereZaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, andAsarelah. They worked under thedirection of their father, Asaph, whoproclaimed God's messages by theking's orders.3Jeduthun had six sons: Gedaliah, Zeri,Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, andMattithiah. They worked under thedirection of their father, Jeduthun, whoproclaimed God's messages to theaccompaniment of the harp, offeringthanks and praise to the LORD.4Heman's sons were Bukkiah, Mattaniah,Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah,Hanani, Eliathah, Geddalti, Romamtiezer,Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir,and Mahazioth.5All these were the sons of Heman, theking's seer, for God had honored himwith fourteen sons and three daughters.6All these men were under the directionof their fathers as they made music atthe house of the LORD. Theirresponsibilities included the playing ofcymbals, lyres, and harps at the houseof God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Hemanreported directly to the king.7They and their families were all trainedin making music before the LORD, andeach of them--288 in all--was anaccomplished musician.8The musicians were appointed to theirparticular term of service by means ofsacred lots, without regard to whetherthey were young or old, teacher orstudent.9The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaphclan and twelve of his sons and relatives.The second lot fell to Gedaliah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.10The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelveof his sons and relatives.11The fourth lot fell to Zeri and twelve ofhis sons and relatives.12The fifth lot fell to Nethaniah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.13The sixth lot fell to Bukkiah and twelveof his sons and relatives.14The seventh lot fell to Asarelah and

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twelve of his sons and relatives.15The eighth lot fell to Jeshaiah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.16The ninth lot fell to Mattaniah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.17The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelveof his sons and relatives.18The eleventh lot fell to Uzziel andtwelve of his sons and relatives.19The twelfth lot fell to Hashabiah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.20The thirteenth lot fell to Shubael andtwelve of his sons and relatives.21The fourteenth lot fell to Mattithiah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.22The fifteenth lot fell to Jerimoth andtwelve of his sons and relatives.23The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.24The seventeenth lot fell toJoshbekashah and twelve of his sonsand relatives.25The eighteenth lot fell to Hanani andtwelve of his sons and relatives.26The nineteenth lot fell to Mallothi andtwelve of his sons and relatives.27The twentieth lot fell to Eliathah andtwelve of his sons and relatives.28The twenty-first lot fell to Hothir andtwelve of his sons and relatives.29The twenty-second lot fell to Geddaltiand twelve of his sons and relatives.30The twenty-third lot fell to Mahaziothand twelve of his sons and relatives.31The twenty-fourth lot fell to Romamtiezerand twelve of his sons andrelatives.

26These are the divisions of the

gatekeepers: From the Korahites, therewas Meshelemiah son of Kore, of thefamily of Asaph.2The sons of Meshelemiah wereZechariah (the oldest), Jediael (thesecond), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel(the fourth),3Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth),and Eliehoenai (the seventh).4The sons of Obed-edom, alsogatekeepers, were Shemaiah (theoldest), Jehozabad (the second), Joah(the third), Sacar (the fourth), Nethanel(the fifth),5Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (theseventh), and Peullethai (the eighth).God had richly blessed Obed-edom.6Obed-edom's son Shemaiah had sonswith great ability who earned positionsof great authority in the clan.

7Their names were Othni, Rephael,Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives,Elihu and Semakiah, were also verycapable men.8All of these descendants of Obed-edom,including their sons and grandsons--sixty-two of them in all--were verycapable men, well qualified for theirwork.9Meshelemiah's eighteen sons andrelatives were also very capable men.10Hosah, of the Merari clan, appointedShimri as the leader among his sons,though he was not the oldest.11His other sons included Hilkiah (thesecond), Tebaliah (the third), andZechariah (the fourth). Hosah's sonsand relatives, who served asgatekeepers, numbered thirteen in all.12These divisions of the gatekeeperswere named for their family leaders, andlike the other Levites, they served at thehouse of the LORD.13They were assigned by families forguard duty at the various gates, withoutregard to age or training, for it was alldecided by means of sacred lots.14The responsibility for the east gatewent to Meshelemiah and his group.The north gate was assigned to his sonZechariah, a man of unusual wisdom.15The south gate went to Obed-edom,and his sons were put in charge of thestorehouses.16Shuppim and Hosah were assignedthe west gate and the gateway leadingup to the Temple. Guard duties weredivided evenly.17Six Levites were assigned each day tothe east gate, four to the north gate, fourto the south gate, and two to each of thestorehouses.18Six were assigned each day to thewest gate, four to the gateway leadingup to the Temple, and two to thecourtyard.19These were the divisions of thegatekeepers from the clans of Korahand Merari.20Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were incharge of the treasuries of the house ofGod and the storerooms.21From the family of Libni in the clan ofGershon, Jehiel was the leader.22The sons of Jehiel, Zetham and hisbrother Joel, were in charge of thetreasuries of the house of the LORD.23These are the leaders that descendedfrom Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel:24From the clan of Amram, Shebuel was

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a descendant of Gershom son of Moses.He was the chief officer of the treasuries.25His relatives through Eliezer wereRehabiah, Jeshaiah, Joram, Zicri, andShelomoth.26Shelomoth and his relatives were incharge of the treasuries that held all thethings dedicated to the LORD by KingDavid, the family leaders, and thegenerals and captains and other officersof the army.27These men had dedicated some of theplunder they had gained in battle tomaintain the house of the LORD.28Shelomoth and his relatives also caredfor the items dedicated to the LORD bySamuel the seer, Saul son of Kish,Abner son of Ner, and Joab son ofZeruiah. All the other dedicated itemswere in their care, too.29From the clan of Izhar came Kenaniah.He and his sons were appointed toserve as public administrators andjudges throughout Israel.30From the clan of Hebron cameHashabiah. He and his relatives--seventeen hundred capable men--wereput in charge of the Israelite lands westof the Jordan River. They wereresponsible for all matters related to thethings of the LORD and the service ofthe king in that area.31Also from the clan of Hebron cameJeriah, who was the leader of theHebronites according to thegenealogical records. (In the fortiethyear of David's reign, a search wasmade in the records, and capable menfrom the clan of Hebron were found atJazer in the land of Gilead.)32There were twenty-seven hundredcapable men among the relatives ofJeriah. King David sent them to the eastside of the Jordan River and put them incharge of the tribes of Reuben and Gadand the half-tribe of Manasseh. Theywere responsible for all matters relatedto the things of God and the service ofthe king.

27This is the list of Israelite generals

and captains, and their officers, whoserved the king by supervising the armydivisions that were on duty each monthof the year. Each division served for onemonth and had twenty-four thousandtroops.2Jashobeam son of Zabdiel wascommander of the first division, which

was on duty during the first month.There were twenty-four thousand troopsin his division.3He was a descendant of Perez and wasin charge of all the army officers for thefirst month.4Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah, wascommander of the second division,which was on duty during the secondmonth. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division, andMikloth was his chief officer.5Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest wascommander of the third division, whichwas on duty during the third month.There were twenty-four thousand troopsin his division.6This was the Benaiah who commandedDavid's elite military group known as theThirty. His son Ammizabad was his chiefofficer.7Asahel, the brother of Joab, wascommander of the fourth division, whichwas on duty during the fourth month.There were twenty-four thousand troopsin his division. Asahel was succeededby his son Zebadiah.8Shammah the Izrahite was commanderof the fifth division, which was on dutyduring the fifth month. There weretwenty-four thousand troops in hisdivision.9Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa wascommander of the sixth division, whichwas on duty during the sixth month.There were twenty-four thousand troopsin his division.10Helez, a descendant of Ephraim fromPelon, was commander of the seventhdivision, which was on duty during theseventh month. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division.11Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah fromHushah, was commander of the eighthdivision, which was on duty during theeighth month. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division.12Abiezer from Anathoth in the territoryof Benjamin was commander of theninth division, which was on duty duringthe ninth month. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division.13Maharai, a descendant of Zerah fromNetophah, was commander of the tenthdivision, which was on duty during thetenth month. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division.14Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim wascommander of the eleventh division,which was on duty during the eleventh

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month. There were twenty-fourthousand troops in his division.15Heled, a descendant of Othniel fromNetophah, was commander of thetwelfth division, which was on dutyduring the twelfth month. There weretwenty-four thousand troops in hisdivision.16The following were the tribes of Israeland their leaders:Reuben . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eliezer son ofZicriSimeon . . . . . . . . . Shephatiah son ofMaacah17Levi . . . . . . . . . . . . Hashabiah son ofKemuelAaron (the priests) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zadok18Judah . . . . . . . . . . . Elihu (a brother ofDavid)Issachar . . . . . . . . . . . . . Omri son ofMichael19Zebulun . . . . . . . . . . Ishmaiah son ofObadiahNaphtali . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremoth son ofAzriel20Ephraim . . . . . . . . . . . Hoshea son ofAzaziahManasseh (west) . . . . . . . Joel son ofPedaiah21Manasseh (east ) . . . . Iddo son ofZechariahBenjamin . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaasiel son ofAbner22Dan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Azarel son ofJerohamThese were the leaders of the tribes ofIsrael.23When David took his census, he didnot count those who were younger thantwenty years of age, because the LORDhad promised to make the Israelites asnumerous as the stars in heaven.24Joab began the census but neverfinished it because the anger of Godbroke out against Israel. The final totalwas never recorded in King David'sofficial records.25Azmaveth son of Adiel was in chargeof the palace treasuries. Jonathan sonof Uzziah was in charge of the regionaltreasuries throughout the towns, villages,and fortresses of Israel.26Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of thefield workers who farmed the king'slands.27Shimei from Ramah was in charge ofthe king's vineyards. Zabdi fromShepham was responsible for thegrapes and the supplies of wine.

28Baal-hanan from Geder was in chargeof the king's olive groves and sycamorefigtrees in the foothills of Judah. Joashwas responsible for the supplies of oliveoil.29Shitrai from Sharon was in charge ofthe cattle on the Sharon Plain. Shaphatson of Adlai was responsible for thecattle in the valleys.30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge ofthe camels. Jehdeiah from Meronothwas in charge of the donkeys.31Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of theking's sheep. All these officials wereoverseers of King David's property.32Jonathan, David's uncle, was a wisecounselor to the king, a man of greatinsight, and a scribe. Jehiel theHacmonite was responsible to teach theking's sons.33Ahithophel was the royal adviser.Hushai the Arkite was the king's friend.34Ahithophel was succeeded byJehoiada son of Benaiah and byAbiathar. Joab was commander of theIsraelite army.

28David summoned all his officials

to Jerusalem--the leaders of the tribes,the commanders of the twelve armydivisions, the other generals andcaptains, the overseers of the royalproperty and livestock, the palaceofficials, the mighty men, and all theother warriors in the kingdom.2David rose and stood before them andaddressed them as follows: "Mybrothers and my people! It was mydesire to build a temple where the Ark ofthe LORD's covenant, God's footstool,could rest permanently. I made thenecessary preparations for building it,3but God said to me, 'You must not builda temple to honor my name, for you area warrior and have shed much blood.'4"Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, haschosen me from among all my father'sfamily to be king over Israel forever. Forhe has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule,and from among the families of Judah,he chose my father's family. And fromamong my father's sons, the LORD waspleased to make me king over all Israel.5And from among my sons--for theLORD has given me many children--hechose Solomon to succeed me on thethrone of his kingdom of Israel.6He said to me, 'Your son Solomon willbuild my Temple and its courtyards, for I

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have chosen him as my son, and I willbe his father.7And if he continues to obey mycommands and regulations as he doesnow, I will make his kingdom lastforever.'8So now, with God as our witness, I giveyou this charge for all Israel, the LORD'sassembly: Be careful to obey all thecommands of the LORD your God, sothat you may possess this good landand leave it to your children as apermanent inheritance.9"And Solomon, my son, get to know theGod of your ancestors. Worship andserve him with your whole heart andwith a willing mind. For the LORD seesevery heart and understands and knowsevery plan and thought. If you seek him,you will find him. But if you forsake him,he will reject you forever.10So take this seriously. The LORD haschosen you to build a Temple as hissanctuary. Be strong, and do the work."11Then David gave Solomon the plansfor the Temple and its surroundings,including the treasuries, the upstairsrooms, the inner rooms, and the innersanctuary where the Ark's cover--theplace of atonement--would be kept.12David also gave Solomon all the planshe had in mind for the courtyards of theLORD's Temple, the outside rooms, thetreasuries of God's Temple, and therooms for the dedicated gifts.13The king also gave Solomon theinstructions concerning the work of thevarious divisions of priests and Levitesin the Temple of the LORD. And hegave specifications for the items in theLORD's Temple which were to be usedfor worship and sacrifice.14David gave instructions regarding howmuch gold and silver should be used tomake the necessary items.15He told Solomon the amount of goldneeded for the gold lampstands andlamps, and the amount of silver for thesilver lampstands and lamps, dependingon how each would be used.16He designated the amount of gold forthe table on which the Bread of thePresence would be placed and theamount of silver for other tables.17David also designated the amount ofgold for the solid gold meat hooks usedto handle the sacrificial meat and for thebasins, pitchers, and dishes, as well asthe amount of silver for every dish.18Finally, he designated the amount of

refined gold for the altar of incense andfor the gold cherubim, whose wingswere stretched out over the Ark of theLORD's covenant.19"Every part of this plan," David toldSolomon, "was given to me in writingfrom the hand of the LORD. "20Then David continued, "Be strong andcourageous, and do the work. Don't beafraid or discouraged by the size of thetask, for the LORD God, my God, is withyou. He will not fail you or forsake you.He will see to it that all the work relatedto the Temple of the LORD is finishedcorrectly.21The various divisions of priests andLevites will serve in the Temple of God.Others with skills of every kind willvolunteer, and the leaders and the entirenation are at your command."

29Then King David turned to the

entire assembly and said, "My sonSolomon, whom God has chosen to bethe next king of Israel, is still young andinexperienced. The work ahead of him isenormous, for the Temple he will build isnot just another building--it is for theLORD God himself!2Using every resource at my command,I have gathered as much as I could forbuilding the Temple of my God. Nowthere is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron,and wood, as well as great quantities ofonyx, other precious stones, costlyjewels, and all kinds of fine stone andmarble.3And now because of my devotion to theTemple of my God, I am giving all of myown private treasures of gold and silverto help in the construction. This is inaddition to the building materials I havealready collected for his holy Temple.4I am donating more than 112 tons ofgold from Ophir and over 262 tons ofrefined silver to be used for overlayingthe walls of the buildings5and for the other gold and silver work tobe done by the craftsmen. Now then,who will follow my example? Who iswilling to give offerings to the LORDtoday?"6Then the family leaders, the leaders ofthe tribes of Israel, the generals andcaptains of the army, and the king'sadministrative officers all gave willingly.7For the construction of the Temple ofGod, they gave almost 188 tons of gold,10,000 gold coins, about 375 tons of

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silver, about 675 tons of bronze, andabout 3,750 tons of iron.8They also contributed numerousprecious stones, which were depositedin the treasury of the house of the LORDunder the care of Jehiel, a descendantof Gershon.9The people rejoiced over the offerings,for they had given freely andwholeheartedly to the LORD, and KingDavid was filled with joy.10Then David praised the LORD in thepresence of the whole assembly: "OLORD, the God of our ancestor Israel,may you be praised forever and ever!11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, thepower, the glory, the victory, and themajesty. Everything in the heavens andon earth is yours, O LORD, and this isyour kingdom. We adore you as the onewho is over all things.12Riches and honor come from youalone, for you rule over everything.Power and might are in your hand, andit is at your discretion that people aremade great and given strength.13"O our God, we thank you and praiseyour glorious name!14But who am I, and who are my people,that we could give anything to you?Everything we have has come from you,and we give you only what you havealready given us!15We are here for only a moment,visitors and strangers in the land as ourancestors were before us. Our days onearth are like a shadow, gone so soonwithout a trace.16"O LORD our God, even thesematerials that we have gathered to builda Temple to honor your holy name comefrom you! It all belongs to you!17I know, my God, that you examine ourhearts and rejoice when you findintegrity there. You know I have done allthis with good motives, and I havewatched your people offer their giftswillingly and joyously.18"O LORD, the God of our ancestorsAbraham, Isaac, and Israel, make yourpeople always want to obey you. See toit that their love for you never changes.19Give my son Solomon thewholehearted desire to obey all yourcommands, decrees, and principles, andto build this Temple, for which I havemade all these preparations."20Then David said to the wholeassembly, "Give praise to the LORDyour God!" And the entire assembly

praised the LORD, the God of theirancestors, and they bowed low andknelt before the LORD and the king.21The next day they brought a thousandbulls, a thousand rams, and a thousandmale lambs as burnt offerings to theLORD. They also brought drink offeringsand many other sacrifices on behalf ofIsrael.22They feasted and drank in the LORD'spresence with great joy that day. Andagain they crowned David's sonSolomon as their new king. Theyanointed him before the LORD as theirleader, and they anointed Zadok as theirpriest.23So Solomon took the throne of theLORD in place of his father, David, andhe prospered greatly, and all Israelobeyed him.24All the royal officials, the armycommanders, and the sons of KingDavid pledged their loyalty to KingSolomon.25And the LORD exalted Solomon so theentire nation of Israel stood in awe ofhim, and he gave Solomon even greaterwealth and honor than his father.26So David son of Jesse reigned over allIsrael.27He ruled Israel for forty years in all,seven years from Hebron and thirtythreeyears from Jerusalem.28He died at a ripe old age, havingenjoyed long life, wealth, and honor.Then his son Solomon ruled in his place.29All the events of King David's reign,from beginning to end, are written in TheRecord of Samuel the Seer, The Recordof Nathan the Prophet, and The Recordof Gad the Seer.30These accounts include the mightydeeds of his reign and everything thathappened to him and to Israel and to allthe surrounding kingdoms.