The First Book of the Chronicles

1

1ADAM, SETH, Enosh; 2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; 3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; 4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 6And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah. 7And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. 8The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raama: Sheba, and Dedan. 10And Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 11And Mizraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 12and Pathrusim, and Casluhim — from whence came the Philistines — and Caphtorim. 13And Canaan begot Zidon his first-born, and Heth; 14and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite; 15and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite; 16and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. 17The Sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. 18And Arpachshad begot Shelah, and Shelah begot Eber. 19And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 20And Joktan begot Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah; 21and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah; 22and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba; 23and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah; 25Eber, Peleg, Reu; 26Serug, Nahor, Terah; 27Abram — the same is Abraham. 28The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael. 29These are their generations: the first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 30Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, 31Jetur, Naphish, and Kedem. These are the sons of Ishmael. 32And the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan. 33And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 34And Abraham begot Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel. 35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam and Korah. 36The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. 37The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 38And the sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. 39And the sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister. 40The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah, and Anah. 41The sons of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Hamran, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 42The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz, and Aran. 43Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before their reigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 44And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 45And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. 46And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Avith. 47And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. 48And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead. 49And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 50And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 51And Hadad died. And the chiefs of Edom were: the chief of Timna, the chief of Alvah, the chief of Jetheth; 52the chief of Oholibamah, the chief of Elah, the chief of Pinon; 53the chief of Kenaz, the chief of Teman, the chief of Mibzar; 54the chief of Magdiel, the chief of Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.

2

1These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 2Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born unto him of Bath-shua the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him. 4And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5The sons of Perez: Hezron, and Hamul. 6And the sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. 7And the sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass concerning the devoted thing. 8And the sons of Ethan: Azariah. 9The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10And Ram begot Amminadab; and Amminadab begot Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11and Nahshon begot Salma, and Salma begot Boaz; 12and Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse; 13and Jesse begot his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third; 14Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth; 15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. 16And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17And Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite. 18And Caleb the son of Hezron begot children of Azubah his wife — and of Jerioth — and these were her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19And Azubah died, and Caleb took unto him Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20And Hur begot Uri, and Uri begot Bezalel. 21And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead; whom he took to wife when he was threescore years old; and she bore him Segub. 22And Segub begot Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. 23And Geshur and Aram took Havvoth-jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages thereof, even threescore cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb-ephrath, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa. 25And the sons of Jerahmeel the first-born of Hezron were Ram the first-born, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, Ahijah. 26And Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. 27And the sons of Ram the first-born of Jerahmeel were Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28And the sons of Onam were Shammai, and Jada; and the sons of Shammai: Nadab, and Abishur. 29And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban, and Molid. 30And the sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; but Seled died without children. 31And the sons of Appaim: Ishi. And the sons of Ishi: Sheshan. And the sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children. 33And the sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35So Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bore him Attai. 36And Attai begot Nathan, and Nathan begot Zabad; 37and Zabad begot Ephlal, and Ephlal begot Obed; 38and Obed begot Jehu, and Jehu begot Azariah; 39and Azariah begot Helez, and Helez begot Eleasah; 40and Eleasah begot Sisamai, and Sisamai begot Shallum; 41and Shallum begot Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begot Elishama. 42And the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his first-born, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43And the sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44And Shema begot Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem begot Shammai. 45And the son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth-zur. 46And Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begot Gazez. 47And the sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49And the wife of Shaaph the father of Madmannah bore Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea. And the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50These were the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur the first-born of Ephrath: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim; 51Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader. 52And Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had sons: Haroeh, and half of the Menuhoth. 53And the families of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, and the Puthites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zorathites, and the Eshtaolites. 54The sons of Salma: Beth-lehem, and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. 55And the families of scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

3

1Now these were the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; 2the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. 4Six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years. 5And these were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel; 6and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet; 7and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia; 8and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 9All these were the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister. 10And Solomon’s son was Rehoboam; Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son; 11Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son; 12Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son; 13Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son; 14Amon his son, Josiah his son. 15And the sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 16And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. 17And the sons of Jeconiah — the same is Assir — Shealtiel his son; 18and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister; 20and Hashubah and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five. 21And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah; the sons of Jeshaiah: Rephaiah; the sons of Rephaiah: Arnan; the sons of Arnan: Obadiah; the sons of Obadiah: Shecaniah. 22And the sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah; and the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six. 23And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three. 24And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

4

1The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 2And Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath; and Jahath begot Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. 3And these were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazlelponi; 4and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur the first-born of Ephrath, the father of Beth-lehem. 5And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6And Naarah bore him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Timeni, and Ahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7And the sons of Helah were Zereth, and Zohar, and Ethnan. 8And Koz begot Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. 9And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying: ’Because I bore him with pain.’ 10And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying: ’Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest work deliverance from evil, that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him that which he requested. 11And Chelub the brother of Shuhah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12And Eshton begot Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. 13And the sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath. 14And Meonothai begot Ophrah; and Seraiah begot Joab the father of Ge-harashim; for they were craftsmen. 15And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah: Kenaz. 16And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. 17And the sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon. And she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa — 18and his wife Hajehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah — and these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh whom Mered took. 19And the sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. 20And the sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth. 21The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Ladah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea; 22and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And the records are ancient. 23These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plantations and hedges; there they dwelt occupied in the king’s work. 24The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamim, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; 25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26And the sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. 27And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah. 28And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual; 29and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad; 30and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag; 31and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David. 32And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities; 33and all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy. 34And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah; 35and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel; 36and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshoaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah; 37and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah; 38these mentioned by name were princes in their families; and their fathers’ houses increased greatly. 39And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. 40And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they that dwelt there aforetime were of Ham. 41And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the Meunim that were found there, and destroyed them utterly, unto this day, and dwelt in their stead; because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43And they smote the remnant of the Amalekites that escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.

5

1And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel — for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born. 2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he that is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s — 3the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son; 5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son; 6Beerah his son, whom Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive; he was prince of the Reubenites. 7And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon; 9and eastward he dwelt even unto the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates; because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead. 10And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead. 11And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salcah: 12Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan; 13and their brethren of their fathers’ houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven. 14These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jehishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz; 15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers’ houses. 16And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in the towns thereof, and in all the open lands of the plain, upon their borders. 17All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. 18The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as many as were valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty and four thousand seven hundred and threescore, that were able to go forth to war. 19And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab. 20And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him. 21And they took away their cattle: of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand; and of souls of men a hundred thousand. 22For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity. 23And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir and mount Hermon, where they increased. 24And these were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses. 25And they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.

6

1(5-27) The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 2(5-28) And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. 3(5-29) And the children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 4(5-30) Eleazar begot Phinehas, Phinehas begot Abishua; 5(5-31) and Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi; 6(5-32) and Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth; 7(5-33) Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 8(5-34) and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz; 9(5-35) and Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan; 10(5-36) and Johanan begot Azariah — he it is that executed the priest’s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem — 11(5-37) and Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub; 12(5-38) and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum; 13(5-39) and Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah; 14(5-40) and Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak; 15(5-41) and Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. 16(6-1) The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari. 17(6-2) And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni, and Shimei. 18(6-3) And the sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. 19(6-4) The sons of Merari: Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 20(6-5) Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son; 21(6-6) Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. 22(6-7) The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son; 23(6-8) Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son; 24(6-9) Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25(6-10) And the sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth. 26(6-11) As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, and Nahath his son; 27(6-12) Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 28(6-13) And the sons of Samuel: the first-born Vashni; then Abiah. 29(6-14) The sons of Merari: Mahli; Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son; 30(6-15) Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son. 31(6-16) And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. 32(6-17) And they ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they took their station at their service according to their order. 33(6-18) And these are they that took their station, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel; 34(6-19) the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah; 35(6-20) the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai; 36(6-21) the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah; 37(6-22) the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah; 38(6-23) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39(6-24) And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand; even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea; 40(6-25) the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah; 41(6-26) the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah; 42(6-27) the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei; 43(6-28) the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. 44(6-29) And on the left hand their brethren the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch; 45(6-30) the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah; 46(6-31) the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer; 47(6-32) the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48(6-33) And their brethren the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God. 49(6-34) But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of burnt-offering, and upon the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50(6-35) And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son; 51(6-36) Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son; 52(6-37) Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son; 53(6-38) Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. 54(6-39) Now these are their dwelling-places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, for theirs was the first lot, 55(6-40) to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the open land round about it; 56(6-41) but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57(6-42) And to the sons of Aaron they gave the city of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with the open land about it, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with the open land about it; 58(6-43) and Hilen with the open land about it, Debir with the open land about it; 59(6-44) and Ashan with the open land about it, and Beth-shemesh with the open land about it; 60(6-45) and out of the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with the open land about it, and Alemeth with the open land about it, and Anathoth with the open land about it. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities. 61(6-46) And unto the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. 62(6-47) And to the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 63(6-48) Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64(6-49) So the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with the open land about them. 65(6-50) And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name. 66(6-51) And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim. 67(6-52) And they gave unto them the city of refuge, Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim with the open land about it; Gezer also with the open land about it; 68(6-53) and Jokmeam with the open land about it, and Bethhoron with the open land about it; 69(6-54) and Aijalon with the open land about it, and Gath-rimmon with the open land about it; 70(6-55) and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with the open land about it, and Bileam with the open land about it, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath. 71(6-56) Unto the sons of Gershom were given, out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with the open land about it, and Ashtaroth with the open land about it; 72(6-57) and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with the open land about it, Dobrath with the open land about it; 73(6-58) and Ramoth with the open land about it, and Anem with the open land about it; 74(6-59) and out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with the open land about it, and Abdon with the open land about it; 75(6-60) and Hukok with the open land about it; and Rehob with the open land about it; 76(6-61) and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with the open land about it, and Hammon with the open land about it, and Kiriathaim with the open land about it. 77(6-62) Unto the rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari, were given, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with the open land about it, Tabor with the open land about it; 78(6-63) and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given them, out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with the open land about it, and Jahaz with the open land about it, 79(6-64) and Kedemoth with the open land about it, and Mephaath with the open land about it; 80(6-65) and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with the open land about it, and Mahanaim with the open land about it, 81(6-66) and Heshbon with the open land about it, and Jazer with the open land about it.

7

1And of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2And the sons of Tola: Uzzi and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valour according to their generations, even of Tola; their number in the days of David was two and twenty thousand and six hundred. 3And the sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah; and the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Isshiah, five; all of them chief men. 4And with them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the host for war, six and thirty thousand; for they had many wives and sons. 5And their brethren among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valour, reckoned in all by genealogy, were fourscore and seven thousand. 6The sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three. 7And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valour; and they were reckoned by genealogy twenty and two thousand and thirty and four. 8And the sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jeremoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher. 9And they were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valour, twenty thousand and two hundred. 10And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan; and the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 11All these were sons of Jediael, even heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valour, seventeen thousand and two hundred, that were able to go forth in the host for war. 12Shuppim also, and Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, the son of another. 13The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah. 14The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his wife bore — his concubine the Aramitess bore Machir the father of Gilead; 15and Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah — and the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters. 16And Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. 17And the sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ish-hod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah. 19And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. 20And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah — and Bered was his son, and Tahath his son, and Eleadah his son, and Tahath his son, 21and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son — and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in the land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle. 22And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. 23And he went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house. 24And his daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth-horon the nether and the upper, and Uzzen-sheerah. 25And Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son; 26Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son; 27Nun his son, Joshua his son. 28And their possessions and habitations were Beth-el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Aiah and the towns thereof; 29and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and the towns thereof, Taanach and the towns thereof, Megiddo and the towns thereof, Dor and the towns thereof. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel. 30The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister. 31And the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. 32And Heber begot Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister. 33And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Asvath. These are the children of Japhlet. 34And the sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah, and Hubbah, and Aram. 35And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. 36The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shaul, and Beri, and Imrah; 37Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilsha, and Ithran, and Beera. 38And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara. 39And the sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia. 40All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty and six thousand men.

8

1And Benjamin begot Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third; 2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3And Bela had sons, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud; 4and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah; 5and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. 6And these are the sons of Ehud — these are the heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried captive to Manahath; 7and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, were they that carried them captive — and he begot Uzza, and Ahihud. 8And Shaharaim begot children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away, to wit, Hushim and Baara his wives; 9he begot of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam; 10and Jeuz, and Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ houses. 11and of Hushim he begot Abitub, and Elpaal. 12And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof; 13and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath. 14And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth; 15and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder; 16and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, were the sons of Beriah. 17And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber; 18and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, were the sons of Elpaal. 19And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi; 20and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel; 21and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, were the sons of Shimei. 22And Ishpan, and Ebed, and Eliel; 23and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan; 24and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothiah; 25and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, were the sons of Shashak. 26And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah; 27and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, were the sons of Jeroham. 28These were heads of fathers’ houses throughout their generations, chief men; these dwelt in Jerusalem. 29And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah; 30and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab; 31and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher. 32And Mikloth begot Shimeah. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren. 33And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 34And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begot Micah. 35And the sons of Micah; Pithon, and Melech, and Taarea, and Ahaz. 36And Ahaz begot Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza; 37and Moza begot Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers; and had many sons, and sons’ sons, a hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.

9

1So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel; and Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their transgression. 2Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim. 3And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah. 5And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the first-born and his sons. 6And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety. 7And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibneiah; 9and their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were heads of fathers’ houses by their fathers’ houses. 10And of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin; 11and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God; 12and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; 13and their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. 14And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; 15and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph; 16and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites. 17And the porters: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brother Shallum the chief; 18who hitherto waited in the king’s gate eastward; they were the porters for the camp of the children of Levi. 19And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the Tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entry; 20and Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, the LORD being with him. 21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting. 22All these that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. 23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, even the house of the Tent, by wards. 24On the four sides were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25And their brethren, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them; 26for the four chief porters were in a set office. These were the Levites. They were also over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God. 27And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge thereof was upon them, and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning. 28And certain of them had charge of the vessels of service; for by tale were they brought in and by tale were they taken out. 29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy vessels, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. 30And some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices. 31And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were baked on griddles. 32And some of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath. 33And these are the singers, heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night. 34These were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, by their generations, chief men; these dwelt at Jerusalem. 35And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah; 36and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab; 37and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38And Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren. 39And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begot Micah. 41And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Taharea, and Ahaz. 42And Ahaz begot Jarah; and Jarah begot Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza. 43And Moza begot Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

10

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was in anguish by reason of the archers. 4Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer: ’Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and make a mock of me.’ But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. 5And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died. 6So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together. 7And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto their idols, and to the people. 10And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. 11And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the terebinth in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of a ghost, to inquire thereby, 14and inquired not of the LORD; therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

11

1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying: ’Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2In times past, even when Saul was king, it was thou that didst lead out and bring in Israel; and the LORD thy God said unto thee: Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over My people Israel.’ 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Samuel. 4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem — the same is Jebus — and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David: ’Thou shalt not come in hither.’ Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. 6And David said: ’Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.’ And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. 7And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. 8And he built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9And David waxed greater and greater; for the LORD of hosts was with him. 10Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who held strongly with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them at one time. 12And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14But they stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory. 15And three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David, unto the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. 17And David longed, and said: ’Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!’ 18And the three broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD, 19and said: ’My God forbid it me, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it.’ Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 20And Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three. 21Of the three in the second rank he was the most honourable, and was made their captain; howbeit he attained not to the first three. 22Beniah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he smote the two altar-hearths of Moab; he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow. 23And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men. 25Behold, he was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three; and David set him over his guard. 26Also the mighty men of valour: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem; 27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite; 28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite; 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite; 30Mahrai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite; 31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite; 32Hurai of Nahale-gaash, Abiel the Arbathite; 33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite; 34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite; 35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur; 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite; 37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai; 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri; 39Zelek the Ammonite, Nahrai the Berothite, the armour-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah; 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite; 41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai; 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him; 43Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite; 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite; 45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite; 46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite; 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

12

1Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he was yet shut up because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow; they were of Saul’s brethren of Benjamin. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite; 4and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; (12-5) and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; 5(12-6) Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Hariphite; 6(12-7) Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7(12-8) and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of the troop. 8(12-9) And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valour, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains; 9(12-10) Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third; 10(12-11) Mashmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth; 11(12-12) Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh; 12(12-13) Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth; 13(12-14) Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh. 14(12-15) These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host; he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand. 15(12-16) These are they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west. 16(12-17) And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold unto David. 17(12-18) And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them: ’If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if ye be come to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and give judgment.’ 18(12-19) Then the spirit clothed Amasai, who was chief of the captains: Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse; peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. 19(12-20) Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but they helped them not; for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying: ’He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.’ 20(12-21) As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh. 21(12-22) And they helped David against the troop, for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. 22(12-23) For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great host, like the host of God. 23(12-24) And these are the numbers of the heads of them that were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24(12-25) The children of Judah that bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war. 25(12-26) Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred. 26(12-27) Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred. 27(12-28) And Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred; 28(12-29) and Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father’s house twenty and two captains. 29(12-30) And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand; for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30(12-31) And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31(12-32) And of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king. 32(12-33) And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 33(12-34) Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand; and that could order the battle array, and were not of double heart. 34(12-35) And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand. 35(12-36) And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred. 36(12-37) And of Asher, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, forty thousand. 37(12-38) And on the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand. 38(12-39) All these, being men of war, that could order the battle array, came with a whole heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39(12-40) And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had made preparation for them. 40(12-41) Moreover they that were nigh unto them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, victual of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

13

1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader. 2And David said unto all the assembly of Israel: ’If it seem good unto you, and if it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad everywhere unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites that are in their cities that have open land about them, that they may gather themselves unto us; 3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us; for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.’ 4And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5So David assembled all Israel together, from Shihor the brook of Egypt even unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, the LORD that sitteth upon the cherubim, whereon is called the Name. 7And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8And David and all Israel played before God with all their might; even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. 9And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 10And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God. 11And David was displeased, because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzza; and that place was called Perez-uzza unto this day. 12And David was afraid of God that day, saying: ’How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?’ 13So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.

14

1And Huram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. 2And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was exalted exceedingly, for His people Israel’s sake. 3And David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David begot more sons and daughters. 4And these are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon; 5and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet; 6and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia; 7and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet. 8And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went out to meet them. 9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10And David inquired of God, saying: ’Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt Thou deliver them into my hand?’ And the LORD said unto him: ’Go up; for I will deliver them into thy hand.’ 11So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and David said: ’God hath broken mine enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters.’ Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 12And they left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire. 13And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. 14And David inquired again of God; and God said unto him: ’Thou shalt not go up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. 15And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God is gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.’ 16And David did as God commanded him; and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer. 17And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.

15

1And David made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. 2Then David said: ’None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of the LORD, and to minister unto Him for ever.’ 3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto its place, which he had prepared for it. 4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron, and the Levites; 5of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twenty; 6of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty; 7of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and thirty; 8of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred; 9of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore; 10of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twelve. 11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12and said unto them: ’Ye are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13For because ye bore it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not according to the ordinance.’ 14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the bars thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. 16And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy. 17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphalehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers. 19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed, with cymbals of brass to sound aloud; 20and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth; 21and Mattithiah, and Eliphalehu, and Mikneiahu, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith, to lead. 22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song; he was master in the song, because he was skilful. 23And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers for the ark. 24And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. 25So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams. 27And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the singers in the song; and David had upon him an ephod of linen. 28Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps. 29And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and making merry; and she despised him in her heart.

16

1And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God. 2And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a cake made in a pan, and a sweet cake. 4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD, the God of Israel: 5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with psalteries and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud; 6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God. 7Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren. 8O give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name; make known His doings among the peoples. 9Sing unto Him, sing praises unto Him; speak ye of all His marvellous works. 10Glory ye in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 11Seek ye the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually. 12Remember His marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth; 13O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones. 14He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 15Remember His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations; 16The covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac; 17And He established it unto Jacob for a statute, to Israel for an everlasting covenant; 18Saying: ’Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.’ 19When ye were but a few men in number, yea, very few, and sojourners in it, 20And when they went about from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people, 21He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea, for their sake He reproved kings: 22’Touch not Mine anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’ 23Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; proclaim His salvation from day to day. 24Declare His glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples. 25For great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. 26For all the gods of the peoples are things of nought; but the LORD made the heavens. 27Honour and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place. 28Ascribe unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the peoples, ascribe unto the LORD glory and strength. 29Ascribe unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 30Tremble before Him, all the earth; the world also is established that it cannot be moved. 31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations: ’The LORD reigneth.’ 32Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; let the field exult, and all that is therein; 33Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy, before the LORD, for He is come to judge the earth. 34O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. 35And say ye: ’Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks unto Thy holy name, that we may triumph in Thy praise.’ 36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said: ’Amen,’ and praised the LORD. 37So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; 38and Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jedithun and Hosah to be door-keepers; 39and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40to offer burnt-offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of burnt-offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He commanded unto Israel; 41and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endureth for ever; 42and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals, and with instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate. 43And all the people departed every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

17

1And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet: ’Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD dwelleth under curtains.’ 2And Nathan said unto David: ’Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee.’ 3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4’Go and tell David My servant: Thus saith the LORD: Thou shalt not build Me a house to dwell in; 5for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 6In all places wherein I have walked among all Israel, spoke I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar? 7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people Israel; 8and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. 9And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disquieted no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first, 10even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that the LORD will build thee a house. 11And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee; 14but I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.’ 15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. 16Then David the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he said: ’Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me thus far? 17And this was a small thing in Thine eyes, O God; but Thou hast spoken of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me after the manner of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18What can David say yet more unto Thee concerning the honour which is done to Thy servant? for Thou knowest Thy servant. 19O LORD, for Thy servant’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20O LORD, there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21And who is like Thy people Israel, a nation one in the earth, whom God went to redeem unto Himself for a people, to make Thee a name by great and tremendous things, in driving out nations from before Thy people, whom Thou didst redeem out of Egypt. 22For Thy people Israel didst Thou make Thine own people for ever; and Thou, LORD, becamest their God. 23And now, O LORD, let the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as Thou hast spoken. 24Yea, let it be established, and let Thy name be magnified for ever, that it may be said: The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Thy servant shall be established before Thee. 25For Thou, O my God, hast revealed to Thy servant that Thou wilt build him a house; therefore hath Thy servant taken heart to pray before Thee. 26And now, O LORD, Thou alone art God, and hast promised this good thing unto Thy servant; 27and now it hath pleased Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee; for Thou, O LORD, hast blessed, and so let Thy servant be blessed for ever.’

18

1And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought presents. 3And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah by Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion at the river Euphrates. 4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. 5And when the Arameans of Damascus came to succour Hadarezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Arameans two and twenty thousand men. 6Then David put garrisons in Aram Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, and brought presents. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went. 7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadarezer, David took very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. 9And when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah, 10he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to salute him, and to bless him — because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him; for Hadarezer had wars with Tou — and he had with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass. 11These also did king David dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. 12Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand. 13And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD gave victory to David whithersoever he went. 14And David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness unto all his people. 15And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 16And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Shavsha was scribe; 17and Beniah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

19

1And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 2And David said: ’l will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. 3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun: ’Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?’ 4So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their hips, and sent them away. 5Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said: ’Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.’ 6And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Aram-naharaim, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah. 7So they hired them thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people; who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle. 8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 9And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. 10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Arameans. 11And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12And he said: ’If the Arameans be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. 13Be of good courage, and let us prove strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the LORD do that which seemeth Him good.’ 14So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle to meet the Arameans; and they fled before him. 15And when the children of Ammon saw that the Arameans were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. 16And when the Arameans saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and brought out the Arameans that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head. 17And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him. 18And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David slew of the Arameans the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. 19And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him; neither would the Arameans help the children of Ammon any more.

20

1And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it. 2And David took the crown of Malcam from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David’s head; and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much. 3And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 4And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giants; and they were subdued. 5And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 6And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born unto the giant. 7And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother slew him. 8These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

21

1And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. 2And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people: ’Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.’ 3And Joab said: ’The LORD make His people a hundred times so many more as they are; but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?’ 4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword; and Judah was four hundred three-score and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6But Levi and Benjamin he did not number among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. 7And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He smote Israel. 8And David said unto God: ’I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing; but now, put away, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.’ 9And the LORD spoke unto Gad, David’s seer, saying: 10’Go and speak unto David, saying: Thus saith the LORD: I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.’ 11So Gad came to David, and said unto him: ’Thus saith the LORD: Take which thou wilt: 12either three years of famine; or three months to be swept away before thy foes, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to Him that sent me.’ 13And David said unto Gad: ’I am in a great strait; let me fall now into the hand of the LORD, for very great are His mercies; and let me not fall into the hand of man.’ 14So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 15And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it; and as he was about to destroy, the LORD beheld, and He repented Him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel: ’It is enough; now stay thy hand.’ And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD standing between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17And David said unto God: ’Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let Thy hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be against me, and against my father’s house; but not against Thy people, that they should be plagued.’ 18Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD. 20And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons that were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed down to David with his face to the ground. 22Then David said to Ornan: ’Give me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar unto the LORD; for the full price shalt thou give it me; that the plague may be stayed from the people.’ 23And Ornan said unto David: ’Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes; lo, I give thee the oxen for burnt-offerings, and the threshing-instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal-offering; I give it all’ 24And king David said to Ornan: ’Nay, but I will verily buy it for the full price; for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer a burnt-offering without cost.’ 25So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. 26And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering. 27And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword back into the sheath thereof. 28At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon. 30But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was terrified because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

22

1Then David said: ’This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.’ 2And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. 3And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight; 4and cedar-trees without number; for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-trees in abundance to David. 5And David said: ’Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries; I will therefore make preparation for him.’ So David prepared abundantly before his death. 6Then He called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7And David said to Solomon: ’My son, as for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God. 8But the word of the LORD came to me, saying: Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build a house unto My name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in My sight. 9Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. 10He shall build a house for My name; and he shall be to Me for a son, and I will be to him for a father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 11Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as He hath spoken concerning thee. 12Only the LORD give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. 13Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel; be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed. 14Now, behold, in my straits I have prepared for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight, for it is in abundance; timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. 15Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all men that are skilful in any manner of work; 16of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.’ 17David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son: 18’Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath He not given you rest on every side? for He hath delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before His people. 19Now set your heart and your soul to seek after the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.’

23

1Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. 2And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. 4Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges; 5and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised the LORD ’with the instruments which I made to praise therewith.’ 6And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 7Of the Gershonites: Ladan, and Shimei. 8The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three. 9The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Ladan. 10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning. 12The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should be sanctified as most holy, he and his sons for ever, to offer before the LORD, to minister unto Him, and to bless in His name for ever. 14But as for Moses the man of God, his sons are named among the tribe of Levi. 15The sons of Moses: Gershom, and Eliezer. 16The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. 17And the sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many. 18The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. 19The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second. 21The sons of Merari: Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar, and Kish. 22And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only; and their brethren the sons of Kish took them to wife. 23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three. 24These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ houses, according to their muster, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward. 25For David said: ’The LORD, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto His people, and He dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever; 26and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.’ 27For by the last ordinances of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28For their station was at the side of the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God; 29for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked on the griddle, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size; 30and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; 31and to offer all burnt-offerings unto the LORD, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and in the appointed seasons, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually, before the LORD; 32and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for the service of the house of the LORD.

24

1And the courses of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. 3And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service. 4And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight. 5Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for they were princes of the sanctuary and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar. 6And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites: one father’s house being taken for Eleazar, and proportionately for Ithamar. 7Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah; 8the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim; 9the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin; 10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah; 11the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah; 12the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim; 13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab; 14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer; 15the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez; 16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel; 17the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul; 18the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah. 19These were the orderings of them in their service, to come into the house of the LORD according to the ordinance given unto them by the hand of Aaron their father, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him. 20And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. 22Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23And Benai, Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. 25The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, his son, 27even the sons of Merari through Jaaziah his son: Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. 28Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. 29Of Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel. 30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses. 31These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ houses of the chief even as those of his younger brother.

25

1Moreover David and the captains of the host separated for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals; and the number of them that did the work according to their service was: 2of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph; under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied according to the direction of the king. 3Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six; under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the LORD. 4Of Heman: the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth; 5all these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the things pertaining to God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6All these were under the hands of their fathers for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the direction of the king — Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. 7And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto the LORD, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight. 8And they cast lots ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar. 9Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve; 10The third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 11The fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 12The fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 13The sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 14The seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 15The eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 16The ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 17The tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 18The eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 19The twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 20For the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 21For the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 22For the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 23For the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 24For the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 25For the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 26For the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 27For the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 28For the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 29For the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 30For the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve; 31For the four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

26

1For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth; 3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth; 5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. 6Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valour. 7The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael and Obed and Elzabad his brethren, valiant men; Elihu also, and Semachiah. 8All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom. 9And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen. 10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief — for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief — 11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. 12These courses of the doorkeepers, even the chief men, had wards over against their brethren, to minister in the house of the LORD. 13And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate. 14And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward. 15To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the Storehouse. 16To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, ward against ward. 17Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the Storehouse two and two. 18For the Precinct westward, four at the causeway, and two at the Precinct. 19These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari. 20And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God, and over the treasuries of the hallowed things. 21The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasuries of the house of the LORD. 23Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites; 24Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasuries. 25And his brethren by Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ houses, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated. 27Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of the LORD. 28And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren. 29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sorts were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges. 30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward; for all the business of the LORD, and for the service of the king. 31Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead. 32And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers’ houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.

27

1Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the heads of fathers’ houses and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand. 2Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 3Of the children of Perez was he, and the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month. 4And over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course, and Mikloth the ruler; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 5The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the priest, chief; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 6This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty; and of his course was Ammizabad his son. 7The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 9The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 10The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 11The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 12The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 13The tenth captain for the tenth month was Mahrai, the Netophathite, of the Zerahites; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 14The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 15The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his course were twenty and four thousand. 16Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok; 18of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel. 23But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under; because the LORD had said He would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven. 24Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David. 25And over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26and over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite; 28and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in the Lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash; 29and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shirtai the Sharonite; and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai; 30and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; 31and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s. 32Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons; 33and Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend; 34and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the captain of the king’s host was Joab.

28

1And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and cattle of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valour, unto Jerusalem. 2Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said: ’Hear me, my brethren, and my people; as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building. 3But God said unto me: Thou shalt not build a house for My name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood. 4Howbeit the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever; for He hath chosen Judah to be prince, and in the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel; 5and of all my sons — for the LORD hath given me many sons — He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6And He said unto me: Solomon thy son, he shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be to Me for a son, and I will be to him for a father. 7And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do My commandments and Mine ordinances, as at this day. 8Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever. 9And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever. 10Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.’ 11Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the ark-cover; 12and the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, for the courts of the house of the LORD, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the hallowed things; 13also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD: 14of gold by weight for the vessels of gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; of silver for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service; 15by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, silver by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick; 16and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; 17and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the jars, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl; 18and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 19’All this do I give thee in writing, as the LORD hath made me wise by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.’ 20And David said to Solomon his son: ’Be strong and of good courage, and do it; fear not, nor be dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD be finished. 21And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God; and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service; also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.’

29

1And David the king said unto all the congregation: ’Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the brass for the things of brass, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. 3Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, 4even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, wherewith to overlay the walls of the houses; 5of gold for the things of gold, and of silver for the things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto the LORD?’ 6Then the princes of the fathers’ houses, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly; 7and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents. 8And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with a whole heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 10Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation; and David said: ’Blessed be Thou, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all. 12Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou rulest over all; and in Thy hand is power and might; and in Thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. 14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee. 15For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding. 16O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build Thee a house for Thy holy name cometh of Thy hand, and is all Thine own. 17I know also, my God, that Thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy Thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto Thee. 18O LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever, even the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of Thy people, and direct their heart unto Thee; 19and give unto Solomon my son a whole heart, to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made, provision.’ 20And David said to all the congregation: ’Now bless the LORD your God.’ And all the congregation blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and prostrated themselves before the LORD, and before the king. 21And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel; 22and did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be prince, and Zadok to be priest. 23Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel hearkened to him. 24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. 25And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 26Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 28And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 29Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the words of Samuel the seer, and in the words of Nathan the prophet, and in the words of Gad the seer; 30with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.