eng_aiv Amundson Interpretive Version 1 Chronicles 1 Chronicles 1 Chronicles 1 Chr 1 Chronicles id=eng_aiv name=Amundson Interpretive Version (AIV) status=draft spec=USFM-USX 3.1.1 export=2026-11-02 char:add=translator-addition-italic char:wj=words-of-Jesus-as-received-unmapped note:f=footnotes para:r=parallel-passage-references para:d=psalm-superscriptions From Adam to Abraham (Genesis 5:1–32; Genesis 10:1–32; Genesis 11:10–26) Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 1.4 LXX; Hebrew does not include The sons of; see Genesis 5:32. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath,1.6 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Vulgate (see also LXX and Genesis 10:3); most Hebrew manuscripts Diphath and Togarmah. And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 1.9 Sabta is a variant of Sabtah; see Genesis 10:7. And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one1.10 Or he established himself as a mighty warrior on the earth. And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, and the Pathrusites, and the Casluhites (from whom came out the Philistines), and the Caphtorites.1.12 Some translators adjust the Hebrew word order to the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites (from whom the Philistines came); see also Jeremiah 47:4 and Amos 9:7. And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram:, Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.1.17 One Hebrew manuscript and some LXX manuscripts (see also Genesis 10:23); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include The sons of Aram: 1.17 Meshech is a variant of Mash; see Genesis 10:23. And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. And to Eber were born two sons. The name of one was Peleg,1.19 Peleg means division. for in his days the earth was divided, and the name of his brother was Joktan. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, and Obal,1.22 LXX and Syriac (see also Genesis 10:28); Hebrew Ebal and Abimael, and Sheba, and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,1.24 Some LXX manuscripts Shem, Arphaxad, Cainan, Shelah; see also Genesis 10:24 LXX and Luke 3:35–36. Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram (that is, Abraham). The Descendants of Abraham (Genesis 25:12–18) The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. These are their genealogies: The firstborn of Ishmael Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. And the sons born to Keturah concubine of Abraham: Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. The Descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:1–19) The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. And the sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz; and by Timna, Amalek. 1.36 Many Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also Genesis 36:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Zephi The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. The Descendants of Seir (Genesis 36:20–30) And the sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan. And the sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam, and the sister of Lotan was Timna. 1.39 Homam is a variant of Hemam; see Genesis 36:22. The sons of Shobal: Alvan,1.40 LXX (see also Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Alian and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho,1.40 LXX (see also Genesis 36:23); Hebrew Shephi and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. The sons of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Hemdan,1.41 LXX (see also Genesis 36:26); Hebrew Hamran and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.1.42 LXX (see also Genesis 36:27); Hebrew Jaakan The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. The Kings of Edom (Genesis 36:31–43) And these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before the face of the reigning of a king over the sons of Israel: Bela son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanite reigned in his place. And Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad reigned in his place, who struck down Midian in the field of Moab. And the name of his city was Avith. And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place. And Samlah died, and Saul from Rehoboth of the River1.48 That is, the Euphrates reigned in his place. And Saul died, and Baal-hanan son of Achbor reigned in his place. And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place. And the name of his city was Pau, and the name of His wife was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab. 1.50 Many MT manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also Genesis 36:39); most MT manuscripts Pai And Hadad died. And the chiefs of Edom were: Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth, Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom. The Sons of Israel (Genesis 35:21–26; Genesis 38:1–30) These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; these three were born to him of a daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er the firstborn of Judah was wicked in the eyes of YHWH, and He put him to death. And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore to him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. And the sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara;2.6 Zimri is a variant of Zabdi; see Joshua 7:1. five of them in all. 2.6 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 4:31) Darda And the son of Carmi: Achar2.7 Hebrew sons troubler of Israel, who transgressed regarding the devoted thing. 2.7 Achar means troubler; also called Achan in Joshua 7 and Joshua 22. And the sons of Ethan: Azariah. And the sons of Hezron who were born to him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 2.9 Chelubai is a variant of Caleb; see verse 18. And Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, a leader of the sons of Judah. And Nahshon begat Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, 2.11 LXX (see also Ruth 4:20–21); Hebrew Salma; twice in this verse and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, 2.13 Shimea is a variant of Shammah, Shimeah, and Shimei; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 2 Samuel 13:3, and 2 Samuel 21:21. Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh. And their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel—three. And Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite. 2.17 Jether is a variant of Ithra; see 2 Samuel 17:25. And Caleb son of Hezron had children by Azubah his wife and by Jerioth. And these were her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. And Azubah died, and Caleb took as his wife Ephrath,2.19 Ephrath is a variant of Ephrathah; see verse 50. and she bore to him Hur. And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezalel. And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir father of Gilead, and he married her. And he was a son of sixty years, and she bore to him Segub. And Segub begat Jair, and he had unto him twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. And Geshur and Aram took Havvoth-jair,2.23 Or the villages of Jair with Kenath and its daughters—sixty towns. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. And after the death of Hezron in Caleb-ephrathah, the wife of Hezron, Abijah, bore2.24 Or After Hezron died, Caleb had relations with Ephrathah, the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore; see also LXX. to him Ashhur father2.24 Or the founder; also in verses 42, 45, 49, and possibly elsewhere of Tekoa. And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron: The firstborn Ram, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. And to Jerahmeel was another wife, and her name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam. And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were: Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. And the sons of Onam were: Shammai and Jada. And the sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore to him Ahban and Molid. And the sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. And Seled died without sons. And the sons of Appaim: Ishi. And the sons of Ishi: Sheshan. And the sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan. And Jether died without sons. And the sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. Unto Sheshan there were no sons, but only daughters. And unto Sheshan was a servant, an Egyptian, and his name was Jarha. And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant for a wife, and she bore to him Attai. And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, and Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, and Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, and Eleasah begat Sismai, and Sismai begat Shallum, and Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama. And the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha2.42 Hebrew; LXX Mareshah his firstborn (he was the father of Ziph), and his son Mareshah, the father of Hebron. And the sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. And Shema begat Raham the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begat Shammai. And a son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth-zur. And Ephah, concubine of Caleb, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez. And Haran begat Gazez. And the sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. The concubine of Caleb, Maacah, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. And she gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea. And the daughter of Caleb was Acsah. These were the sons of Caleb. The sons2.50 LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew son of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah:2.50 Ephrathah is a variant of Ephrath; see verse 19. Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. And the sons Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim were: Haroeh, half the Manahathites, and the clans of Kiriath-jearim—the Ithrite, and the Puthite, and the Shumathite, and the Mishraite. From these came the Zorathite and the Eshtaolite. The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, and the Netophathite, Atroth-beth-joab, and half the Manahathite, the Zorite, and the clans of the scribes2.55 Or of the Sopherim who dwelt at Jabez—the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.2.55 Or the father of Beth-rekab or the founder of the house of Rechab The Descendants of David (2 Samuel 3:1–5) And these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel by Abigail the Carmelitess; the third Absalom son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth Shephatiah by Abital; the sixth Ithream by Eglah his wife. Six were born to him in Hebron, and he reigned there seven years and six months. And thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon—four by Bathsheba3.5 Shimea is a variant of Shammua; see 2 Samuel 5:14 and 1 Chronicles 14:4. daughter of Ammiel;3.5 One Hebrew manuscript and Vulgate (see also LXX and 2 Samuel 11:3); most Hebrew manuscripts Bath-shua 3.5 Ammiel is a variant of Eliam; see 2 Samuel 11:3. and Ibhar, and Elishua,3.6 Two Hebrew manuscripts (see also 2 Samuel 5:15 and 1 Chronicles 14:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Elishama and Eliphelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet—nine. All were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister. The Descendants of Solomon And the son of Solomon was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, 3.11 Joram is a variant spelling of Jehoram. Amaziah his son, Azariah3.12 Azariah is also called Uzziah; see 2 Chronicles 26:1. his son, Jotham his son, Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, Amon his son, and Josiah his son. And the sons of Josiah: The firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 3.15 Shallum is another name for Jehoahaz. And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah3.16 Jeconiah is a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 17; see 2 Kings 24:6. his son, and Zedekiah his son. The Royal Line After the Exile And the sons of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son, and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister, and Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—five. And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the sons of Shechaniah. And the sons of Shechaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat—six. And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam—three. And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani—seven. The Descendants of Judah The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. And Reaiah son of Shobal begat Jahath, and Jahath begat Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathite. And these were the sons4.3 LXX (see also Vulgate); Hebrew These were of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash. And the name of their sister was Hazelelponi. And Penuel was the father4.4 Or the founder; also in verses 5, 12, 14, 17, 18, and possibly elsewhere of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah the father of Bethlehem. And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. And Naarah bore to him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. And the sons of Helah: Zereth, and Zohar,4.7 Alternate MT reading; the other alternate (see also Vulgate) reads Izhar. and Ethnan. And Koz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. The Prayer of Jabez And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,4.9 Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain or distress. saying, “Because I have brought forth in pain.” And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, saying, “If only You would greatly bless me and enlarge my territory! And may Your hand be with me, that You would keep me from evil, not to grieve me.” And God brought in for him that which he asked. More Descendants of Judah And Chelub the brother of Shuhah begat Mehir; he was the father of Eshton. And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah father of Ir-nahash. These were the men of Rechah. And the sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. And the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.4.13 Vulgate and some LXX; Hebrew does not include and Meonothai. And Meonothai begat Ophrah, and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of Ge-harashim,4.14 Ge-harashim means valley of craftsmen. for they were craftsmen. And the sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. And the sons of Elah and Kenaz.4.15 That is And the son of Elah: Kenaz And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. And the sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon. And she bore4.17 That is Mered’s wife Bithiah bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah father of Eshtemoa. And His wife, a Judean,4.18 Or a Judahite bore Jared the father of Gedor. And Heber the father of Sochoh, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these were the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. And the sons of the wife of Hodiah the sister of Naham: The father of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maachathite.4.19 Or The father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite And the sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of the workers of the linen of the house of Ashbea, and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. (And the records are ancient.) They were the potters and those who dwelt at Netaim and Gederah. They dwelt there with the king for his work. The Descendants of Simeon The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. 4.24 Zerah is a variant of Zohar; see Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15. Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son. And the sons of Mishma: Hamuel his son, Zaccur his son, and Shimei his son. And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, and his brothers did not have many sons and did not multiply any of their clans as much as the sons of Judah. And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual, and Bilhah, and Ezem, and Tolad, and Bethuel, and Hormah, and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and Beth-biri, and in Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David. And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan—five cities— and all the villages that were around these cities, as far as Baal.4.33 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts (see also Joshua 19:8) Baalath These were their dwelling places, and they kept a genealogy to them: Even Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah son of Amaziah, and Joel, and Jehu son of Joshibiah (son of Seraiah, son of Asiel), and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah, and Ziza son of Shiphi (son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah). These coming in by name were leaders in their clans, and the house of their father increased greatly. And they went to the entrance of Gedor, as far as the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. And they found pasture rich and good, and the land broad of sides, and quiet, and peaceful. For some Hamites had lived there formerly. And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and they struck their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and they devoted them to destruction4.41 Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to YHWH, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering. to this day. And they dwelt in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks there. And some of the sons of Simeon went to Mount Seir, five hundred men, and Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, at their head. And they defeated the remnant who had escaped of Amalek, and they have dwelt there to this day. The Descendants of Reuben And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—for he was the firstborn, and because he defiled the bed of his father, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, and he is not reckoned according to birthright. Yet Judah prevailed over his brother, and a leader was from him, and the birthright was to Joseph. The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pilneser5.6 Tilgath-pilneser is a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser; also in verse 26 king of Assyria removed; He was leader of the Reubenite. And his brothers by their clans reckoned to their generations: The chief Jeiel, and Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. He dwelt in Aroer and as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. And they settled in the east as far as the entering in of the wilderness, even from the River Euphrates, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead. And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, and they fell by their hands, and they dwelt in their tents over all the face of the east of Gilead. The Descendants of Gad And the sons of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salcah. Joel was the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan. And their brothers of the house of their fathers were Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Eber—seven. These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief of the house of their fathers. And they dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan, and in its villages, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon on their outskirts. All of them were reckoned in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. The sons of Reuben, and the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of sons of valor, men bearing shield and sword, and drawing with the bow, and skillful in war—forty-four thousand and seven hundred and sixty going out to the host. And they made war with the Hagrites, and Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hands, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle, and He heeded the prayer of them because they put their trust in Him. And they took captive their livestock, of their camels fifty thousand, and of their sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of their donkeys two thousand, and also of their men a hundred thousand. For many fell slain, because the battle was of God. And they dwelt in their place until the exile. The Half-Tribe of Manasseh And the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. From Bashan as far as Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon5.23 That is from Bashan as far as Baal-hermon (that is Senir, also known as Mount Hermon) they multiplied. And these were the heads of the house of their fathers: Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were men mighty in valor, men of renown, and heads to the house of their fathers. And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and played the prostitute after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, the spirit of Tiglath-pilneser king of Assyria), and he removed them—the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—and He took them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and the river of Gozan, to this day. The Descendants of Levi The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. And the sons of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua, and Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi, and Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth, Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, and Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz, and Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan, and Johanan begat Azariah, he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub, and Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum, and Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak. 6.14 Jehozadak is a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 15; see Ezra 3:2. And Jehozadak went in the removing by YHWH of Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. The sons of Levi: Gershom,6.16 Gershom is a variant of Gershon; similarly in verses 17, 20, 43, 62, and 71; see verse 1. Kohath, and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. And the sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these are the clans of the Levites according to their fathers: Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, 6.23 Ebiasaph is a variant of Abiasaph; also in verse 37; see Exodus 6:24. Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. And the sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth. Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, and Nahath his son, 6.26 Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Elkanah. The sons of Elkanah: Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.6.27 Eliab is also called Eliel; see verse 34. Both of these are other names for Elihu; see 1 Samuel 1:1. 6.27 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts include and Samuel his son; see verses 33–34 and 1 Samuel 1:19–20. And the sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn, and his second son Abijah.6.28 See Syriac and some LXX manuscripts (also verse 33 and 1 Samuel 8:2); Hebrew The sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son. The Temple Musicians And these are they whom David stationed over the service of song in the house of YHWH, from the resting of the ark. And they were ministering before the face of the dwelling place of the Tent of Meeting with song, until Solomon had built the house of YHWH in Jerusalem. And they stood according to their judgments over their service. And these are those standing and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathite: Heman the singer, son of Joel, son of Samuel, son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel,6.34 Eliel is also called Eliab; see verse 27. Both of these are other names for Elihu; see 1 Samuel 1:1. son of Toah, son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel. And his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand: Asaph son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, son of Michael, son of Baaseiah,6.40 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, one LXX manuscript, and Syriac Maaseiah son of Malchijah, son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. The sons of Merari and their brothers on the left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. The Descendants of Aaron And their brothers the Levites were appointed to all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God. And Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices on the altar of the burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the work of the holy of Holies,6.49 Or the Most Holy Place and to make atonement upon Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son. Territories for the Levites (Numbers 35:1–8; Joshua 21:1–45) And these were their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory to the sons of Aaron of the family of the Kohathites, for they were by the lot: And they gave to them Hebron in the land of Judah, and its surrounding pasturelands. And the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh. And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron,6.57 See the parallel text at Joshua 21:13: a city of refuge, Hebron and also Libnah and its pasturelands, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa and its pasturelands, and Hilen6.58 Some Hebrew manuscripts; MT Hilez; parallel text at Joshua 21:15 Holon and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands, and Ashan,6.59 Ashan is a variant of Ain; see Joshua 21:16. and Juttah,6.59 Syriac and the parallel text at Joshua 21:16; MT Ashan and its pasturelands and Beth-shemesh and its pasturelands. And from the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon,6.60 LXX, Syriac and parallel text at Joshua 21:17; MT does not include Gibeon, Geba and its pasturelands, and Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands—all their cities were thirteen cities among their families. And to the Kohathite, the rest of the family of the tribe, from the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, they gave by lot ten cities. And to the sons of Gershom6.62 Gershom is a variant of Gershon; also in verse 71; see 1 Chronicles 23:7. according to their clans, from the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribe of Asher, and from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, they gave thirteen cities. To the sons of Merari throughout their clans, from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun, there were allotted twelve cities. And the sons of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their pasturelands. And they gave by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and from the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, these cities that are called by the names. And some of the clans of the sons of Kohath were cities as their territory from the tribe of Ephraim. And they gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem,6.67 See the parallel text at Joshua 21:21: a city of refuge, Shechem and its pasturelands, in the hill country of Ephraim, and also Gezer and its pasturelands, and Jokmeam and its pasturelands, and Beth-horon and its pasturelands, and Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon and its pasturelands. And from the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner and its pasturelands, and Bileam and its pasturelands, for the clan of the sons of Kohath remaining. The sons of Gershom: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands, and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands. And from the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands, and Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands. And from the tribe of Asher, Mashal and its pasturelands, and Abdon and its pasturelands, and Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands. And from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, and Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands. The sons of Merari (the remaining): From the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono and its pasturelands, and Tabor6.77 LXX (they were given) Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono, and Tabor; see Joshua 21:34. and its pasturelands. And from beyond the Jordan by Jericho, at the east of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness and its pasturelands, and Jahzah and its pasturelands, 6.78 Jahzah is a variant of Jahaz; see Numbers 21:23. and Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands. And from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, and Mahanaim and its pasturelands, and Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands. The Descendants of Issachar And the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah,7.1 Puah is a variant of Puvah; see Genesis 46:13 and Numbers 26:23. Jashub, and Shimron—four. And the sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, the heads of the house of their fathers, of Tola, mighty men of valor in their generations. In the days of David their number was twenty-two thousand and six hundred. And the sons7.3 Or son; also in verses 10 and 17 of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, and Isshiah—five chiefs, all of them. And with them by their generations according to the houses of their fathers were troops of the host of battle, thirty-six thousand. For they had many wives and sons. And their brothers among all the clans of Issachar were mighty men, eighty-seven thousand in all reckoned. The Descendants of Benjamin Of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael—three. And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri—five heads of a house of fathers, mighty of valor, and reckoned twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. And the sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were sons of Becher. And they were reckoned according to their generations, heads of a house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand and two hundred. And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar. All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of the fathers, mighty men of valor, were seventeen thousand and two hundred going out to the host for battle. And Shuppim and Huppim were sons of Ir, and Hushim was son of Aher. The Descendants of Naphtali The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel,7.13 Jahziel is a variant of Jahzeel; see Genesis 46:24. and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum,7.13 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew and LXX manuscripts Shillem; see Genesis 46:24 and Numbers 26:49. the sons of Bilhah. The Descendants of Manasseh The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead. And Machir took a wife of Huppim and of Shuppim, and the name of his sister was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad, and Zelophehad begat only daughters. And 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. And the sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh. And His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah. And the sons of Shemida were: Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam. The Descendants of Ephraim And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son, and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. And Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath who were born in the land, because they came down to take away their livestock. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. And he went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because disaster had come upon his house. 7.23 Beriah sounds like the Hebrew for tragedy or disaster. And his daughter was Sheerah, and she built Beth-horon Lower and Upper, and Uzzen-sheerah. And Rephah was his son, and Resheph his son,7.25 Some LXX manuscripts; Hebrew does not include his son. and Telah his son, and Tahan his son, Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun7.27 Or Non his son, Joshua his son. And their possessions and dwelling places were Bethel and its daughters, and to the east Naaran, and to the west Gezer and its daughters, and Shechem and its daughters, as far as Ayyah7.28 Ayyah is another name for Gaza; see also LXX. and its daughters. And along the borders of the sons of Manasseh were Beth-shean7.29 Beth-shean is a variant of Beth-shan; see 1 Samuel 31:10 and 2 Samuel 21:12. and its daughters, Taanach and its daughters, Megiddo and its daughters, Dor and its daughters. In these dwelt the sons of Joseph son of Israel. The Descendants of Asher The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel; he was the father of Birzaith. And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister. And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhlet. And the sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah,7.34 Or The sons of his brother Shemer: Rohgah; note that Shemer is a variant of Shomer; see verse 32. and Jehubbah, and Aram. And the sons of Helem7.35 Helem is possibly another name for Hotham; see verse 32. his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah, Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran,7.37 Ithran is possibly a variant of Jether; see verse 38. and Beera. And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara. And the sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia. All these were the sons of Asher, heads of the house of their fathers, choice mighty men of valor, heads of the princes. They were reckoned for the host, for battle, and their number of men was twenty-six thousand. Genealogy from Benjamin to Saul And Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. And the sons of Bela: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,8.3 Possibly Gera the father of Ehud; see verse 7. and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. And these are the sons of Ehud—these were the heads of fathers of those dwelling in Geba, and they carried them away to Manahath: Even Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera. He carried them away, and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.8.7 Or and Gera, that is Heglam, who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. And Shaharaim begat in the land of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. And he begat by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam, and Jeuz, and Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers. And by Hushim he begat: Abitub and Elpaal. And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed (he built Ono and Lod and its daughters), and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers of those dwelling in Aijalon; they drove out those dwelling in Gath), and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder, and Michael, and Ispah, and Joha—the sons of Beriah, and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber, and Ishmerai, and Jizliah, and Jobab—the sons of Elpaal, and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel, and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath—the sons of Shimei, and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel, and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, and Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, and Iphdeiah, and Penuel—the sons of Shashak, and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah, and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri—the sons of Jeroham. These were heads of fathers by their generations; these heads dwelt in Jerusalem. And Jeiel the father of Gibeon8.29 Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 9:35); Hebrew And the father of Gibeon dwelt at Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah; and his firstborn son was Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal,8.30 Some LXX manuscripts include Ner; see 1 Chronicles 9:36. and Nadab, and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.8.31 Zecher is likely a variant of Zechariah; see 1 Chronicles 9:37. And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also dwelt alongside their brothers in Jerusalem with their brothers. 8.32 Shimeah is a variant of Shimeam; see 1 Chronicles 9:38. The Family of Saul And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 8.33 Esh-baal is also called Ish-bosheth; see 2 Samuel 2:8. And the son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal begat Micah.8.34 Merib-baal is also called Mephibosheth; see 2 Samuel 4:4. 8.34 Micah is a variant of Mica; see 2 Samuel 9:12. And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 8.35 Tarea is a variant of Tahrea; see 1 Chronicles 9:41. And Ahaz begat Jehoadah, and Jehoadah begat Alemeth and Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri begat Moza, 8.36 Jehoaddah is a variant of Jarah or Jadah; see 1 Chronicles 9:42. and Moza begat Binea, Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 8.37 Raphah is a variant of Rephaiah; see 1 Chronicles 9:43. And Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan—all these the sons of Azel. And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, bending the bow and multiplying sons and grandsons—a hundred and fifty. All these were sons of Benjamin. The People of Jerusalem And all Israel was reckoned, and behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was removed to Babylon for their trespass. And the first dwellers who were in their possessions in their cities of Israel were the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.9.2 That is, the temple servants And in Jerusalem dwelt some of the sons of Judah, and some of the sons of Benjamin, and some of the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh: Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani of Perez son of Judah. And of the Shilonite: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred and ninety. And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Senuah; and Ibneiah son of Jeroham; and Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah; and their brothers according to their generations—nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers according to the house of their fathers. And of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin; and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, leader in the house of God; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer; 9.12 Meshillemith is a variant of Meshillemoth; see Nehemiah 11:13. and their brothers, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and sixty mighty of valor for the work of the service of the house of God. And of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah son of Micha, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; and Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who dwelt in the villages of the Netophathite. And the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the chief; and until then at the Gate of the King on the east they had been the gatekeepers for the camps of the sons of Levi. And Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his brothers from the house of his father, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tabernacle—and their fathers were over the camp of YHWH, keepers of the entrance. 9.19 Ebiasaph is a variant of Abiasaph; see Exodus 6:24. And Phinehas son of Eleazar had been the officer over them formerly; YHWH was with him. Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting. All those chosen for gatekeepers at the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. They in their villages were reckoned—David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. And they and their children were over the gates of the house of YHWH, even of the house of the tabernacle, by watches. On the four sides were the gatekeepers: The east, west, north, and south. And their brothers in their villages were to come in for seven days from time to time with these. For in office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites, and they were over the chambers and over the treasuries of the house of God. And around the house of God they lodged, because on them was the watch. And they were over the opening morning by morning. And some of them were in charge of the vessels of service, for by number they brought them in and by number they took them out. And some of them were appointed over the vessels and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. And some of the sons of the priests were mixing the ointment of the spices. And Mattithiah of the Levites (he was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite) was entrusted over the work of the flat cakes. And some of the sons of the Kohathites from their brothers were over the bread of the arrangement, to prepare it Sabbath by Sabbath. And these singers, the heads of fathers of the Levites in the chambers, were free, for by day and by night they were over them in the work. These the heads of the fathers of the Levites throughout their generations were heads; these dwelt in Jerusalem. The Descendants of Saul And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah, 9.35 Or the founder and His firstborn son was Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt alongside their brothers in Jerusalem with their brothers. 9.38 Shimeam is a variant of Shimeah; see 1 Chronicles 8:32. And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal. And a son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal begat Micah. And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz. 9.41 Vulgate and Syriac (see also LXX and 1 Chronicles 8:35); Hebrew Pithon, Melech, and Tahrea; note that Tahrea is a variant of Tarea. And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza; 9.42 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and LXX Jadah; and Jadah; note that Jarah and Jadah are variants of Jehoaddah; see 1 Chronicles 8:36. and Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 9.43 Rephaiah is a variant of Raphah; see 1 Chronicles 8:37. And unto Azel were six sons, and these their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel. Saul’s Overthrow and Death (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 2 Samuel 1:1–16) And the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and they fell slain on Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. And the battle was heavy against Saul, and those shooting with the bow found him, and he was wounded by those shooting. And Saul said to the bearer of his armor, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” And the bearer of his armor was not willing, for he was exceedingly afraid. And Saul took a sword and fell on it. And the bearer of his armor saw that Saul was dead, and he fell himself likewise on the sword, and he died. And Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house—they died together. The Philistines Possess the Towns (1 Samuel 31:7–10) And all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, and they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them. And it came to pass the next day that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. And they stripped him and lifted up his head, and his armor, and they sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to proclaim tidings to their idols and the people. And they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and his head they fastened in the house of Dagon. Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul (1 Samuel 31:11–13) And all Jabesh-gilead heard of all that the Philistines had done to Saul, and all the men of valor arose and lifted up the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and they brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak10.12 Or terebinth or great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. And Saul died for his unfaithfulness that he trespassed against YHWH, against the word of YHWH, because he did not keep it, and also because he consulted a medium to inquire. He inquired not of YHWH. And He killed him and turned over the kingdom to David son of Jesse. David Anointed King of All Israel (2 Samuel 5:1–5) And all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Even in time past,11.2 Or For some time even before, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. And YHWH your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be ruler over My people Israel.’” And all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the face of YHWH. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of YHWH by Samuel. David Conquers Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–11) And David went, and all Israel, to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, and there were the Jebusite, those dwelling in the land. And those dwelling in Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here.” And David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). And David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusite first shall be head and chief.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became head. And David dwelt in the stronghold; upon thus they called it the City of David. And he built the city around it, from the Millo11.8 That is, the terrace and to the surrounding area, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. And David went, going on and becoming great, and YHWH of Hosts was with him. David’s Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:8–39) And these were the heads of the mighty who were unto David, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king according to the word of YHWH concerning Israel. And these are the numbers of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundred, whom he wounded at one time. 11.11 Or of the Thirty; some LXX manuscripts of the Three; see 2 Samuel 23:8. And after him was Eleazar son of Dodo11.12 Dodo is a variant of Dodai; see 1 Chronicles 27:4. the Ahohite—he was among the three mighty men. He was with David at Pas-dammim, and the Philistines were gathered there for battle. And a portion of ground there was full of barley, and the people fled from the Philistines. And they stationed themselves in the midst of the portion, and snatched it up, and struck the Philistines. And YHWH brought about a great victory. And three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the camp of the Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed and said, “Who will give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” And the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and they drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they lifted it and brought it to David. And David would not drink it, and he poured it out to YHWH, and he said, “Far be it from me, my God, that I should do this; shall I drink the blood of these men with their lives? For with their lives they brought it.” And he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men. And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the Three, and He wielded his spear against three hundred, killed them, and won a name among the three. 11.20 Hebrew; Syriac the Thirty; also in verse 21 He was doubly honored above the three, and he became captain unto them. And to the Three he did not attain. Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a man of valor, of great deeds, from Kabzeel: He struck down two champions of Moab,11.22 Or two sons of Ariel of Moab and He went down and killed the lion in the midst of a pit on the day of the snow. And he killed an Egyptian, a man of measure five by the cubit,11.23 5 cubits is approximately 7 feet 6 inches or 229 centimeters tall. and in the hand of the Egyptian was a spear like a weavers’ beam. And he went down to him with a staff and wrested the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and he killed him with his own spear. These things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and to him was a name among the three mighty men. Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, and to the three he did not attain. And David set him over his guard. And the mighty men of the armies: Asah-el the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 11.27 Shammoth the Harorite is a variant of Shammah the Harodite; see 2 Samuel 23:25. Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 11.31 Ithai is a variant of Ittai; see 2 Samuel 23:29. Hurai of the brooks11.32 Hurai is a variant of Hiddai; see 2 Samuel 23:30. of Gaash, Abiel11.32 Or from the ravines the Arbathite, 11.32 Abiel is a variant of Abi-albon; see 2 Samuel 23:31. Azmaveth the Baharumite,11.33 Baharumite is a variant of Barhumite; see 2 Samuel 23:31. Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite, 11.34 Hashem is a variant of Jashen; see LXX and 2 Samuel 23:32. Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, 11.35 Sachar is a variant of Sharar; see 2 Samuel 23:33. Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, bearer of the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenite, and with him thirty, Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. The Mighty Men Join David at Ziklag And these were those coming in to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul son of Kish (and they were among the mighty men, helpers in battle, armed with bows, using the right hand and the left with stones and with arrows with the bow, brothers of Saul from Benjamin). The chief was Ahiezer, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah; and Jehu the Anathothite; and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite; Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite; Elkanah, and Jisshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam the Korahites; and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. And some of the Gadite separated themselves unto David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, setting in array shield and spear, and their faces the face of the lion, and as swift as gazelles on the mountains: Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh. These from the sons of Gad were captains of the host, the least one over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand. These are the ones who passed over the Jordan in the first month, and it had overflowed on all its banks. And all in the valleys they put to flight, to the east and to the west. And there came some from the sons of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David. And David went out to meet them, and he answered and said to them, “If you⁺ have come to me in peace to help me, the heart of me will be united with you⁺; but if to betray me to my enemies—without violence in my hands—the God of our fathers shall see and judge you.” And the Spirit came upon Amasai chief of the Thirty: “To you, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse, peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you.” And David received them and made them leaders of the troop. And some from Manasseh fell to David when he was going with the Philistines against Saul to the battle. (They did not help them, for by counsel the lords of the Philistines sent him away, saying, “With our heads he may fall to his master Saul.”) When he went to Ziklag, they fell to him from Manasseh: Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, the heads of the thousands who were from Manasseh. And they helped with David against the bands, for all were mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army. For at that time day by day they came to David to help him, until it was a great camp, like the camp of God. David’s Army Grows at Hebron And these were the numbers of the heads of the armed of the host who came to David at Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of YHWH. Of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand and eight hundred armed of the host. Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor of the host, seven thousand and a hundred. Of the sons of Levi four thousand and six hundred, and Jehoiada the leader from Aaron, and with him three thousand and seven hundred; and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of the house of his father twenty-two captains. And of the sons of Benjamin, brothers of Saul, three thousand—and until then the greatest part of them were keeping the charge of the house of Saul. And of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred mighty men of valor, men of renown according to the house of their fathers. And of the half-tribe of Manasseh,12.31 That is, the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan eighteen thousand who were marked by name, to come and make David king. And of the sons of Issachar, knowing discernment of the times, knowing what Israel ought to do, their heads—two hundred—and all their brothers at their command. Of Zebulun, going forth to the host, arranging battle with all weapons of war, fifty thousand, and to help David12.33 LXX; Hebrew does not include David. without a double heart.12.33 That is, with one purpose or with undivided loyalty And of Naphtali, a thousand captains, and with them, with shield and spear, thirty-seven thousand. And of the Danite, arranging for battle, twenty-eight thousand and six hundred. And of Asher, going forth to the host to arrange for battle, forty thousand. And from the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with every of weapon of war for battle, a hundred and twenty thousand. All these men of war, keeping rank with a perfect heart, came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king. And they were there with David three days eating and drinking, for their brothers had prepared for them. And those very near to them as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali were bringing food on the donkeys, and on the camels, and on the mules, and on the oxen, and provisions of flour, and cakes of figs, and cakes of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and oxen, and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel. David Fetches the Ark (2 Samuel 6:1–4) And David counseled with the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it is good to you⁺ breaking forth from YHWH our God, let us send out to our brothers remaining in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and the Levites in their cities and their pasturelands, that they may gather together to us. And let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek Him13.3 Or did not seek it or did not inquire of it in the days of Saul.” And all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. And David gathered together all Israel from the Shihor13.5 That is from the River Shihor in Egypt and as far as Lebo-Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah (to Kiriath-jearim), which was unto Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, YHWH, dwelling between the cherubim, where the Name is proclaimed. 13.6 Or the ark of God, which is called by the Name of YHWH who is enthroned between the cherubim; or the ark of God, YHWH, who is enthroned between the cherubim, where His Name is called And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart. Uzzah Touches the Ark (2 Samuel 6:5–11) And David and all Israel played before the face of God with all the might, with singing, and on harps, and on stringed instruments, and on tambourines, and on cymbals, and with the trumpets. And they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, and Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen had stumbled. 13.9 Chidon is a variant of Nacon; see 2 Samuel 6:6. And the anger of YHWH was kindled against Uzza, and He struck him upon that he stretched out his hand upon the ark, and he died there before the face of God. And it was displeasing to David because YHWH broke forth a breach upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzzah13.11 Perez-uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah. to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring to myself the ark of God?” And David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, and he stretched it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the house of Obed-edom in his house three months, and YHWH blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that was unto him. David’s Family Grows (2 Samuel 5:12–16) And Huram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and craftsmen of walls, and craftsmen of wood, to build for him a house. And David knew that YHWH had established him as king over Israel, for was exalted highly his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begat more sons and daughters. And these are the names of the children who were unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 14.4 Shammua is a variant of Shimea; see 1 Chronicles 3:5. and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet, and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet. 14.7 Beeliada is a variant of Eliada; see 2 Samuel 5:16. Two Victories over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17–25) And the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, and all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out before them. And the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines, and have You given them into my hand?” And YHWH said to him, “Go up, and I have given into your hand.” And they went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And David said, “God has broken up my enemies by my hand like the breaking up of waters.” Upon thus they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.14.11 Baal-perazim means The Lord Bursts Out. And they left their gods there, and David gave a commandment, and they were burned with the fire. And the Philistines added again to make a raid on the valley. And David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Circle around them and come upon them in front of the balsam trees.14.14 Or aspen trees or poplar trees; also in verse 15 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of a marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” And David did as God had commanded him, and they drove back the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer. And the name of David went out into all the lands, and YHWH brought the dread of him upon all the nations. Preparing to Move the Ark (2 Samuel 6:12–15) And he built for himself houses in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but only the Levites. For YHWH has chosen them to carry the ark of YHWH and to minister before Him even to forever.” And David gathered together all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of YHWH to its place, which he had prepared for it. And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: Of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief, and of his brothers a hundred and twenty; of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and of his brothers two hundred and twenty; of the sons of Gershom:15.7 Gershom is a variant of Gershon; see 1 Chronicles 23:7. Joel the chief, and of his brothers a hundred and thirty; of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief, and of his brothers two hundred; of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief, and of his brothers eighty; of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief, and of his brothers a hundred and twelve. And David called to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and to the Levites, to Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, and He said to them, “You⁺ are heads of the fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, you⁺ and your⁺ brothers, that you⁺ may bring up the ark of YHWH, God of Israel, to where I have prepared for it. And because at the first it was not you⁺ not, YHWH our God broke out against us because we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark And the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of YHWH, God of Israel; and the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God, as Moses had commanded according to the word of YHWH, on their shoulders with the poles on them. And David spoke to the heads of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers with instruments of song, stringed instruments, and harps, and cymbals, resounding to lift up the voice with joy. And the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan son of Kushaiah; and with them their brothers of the second rank: Zechariah, and Jaaziel,15.18 Several Hebrew manuscripts and most LXX manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 1 Chronicles 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son of Jaaziel or Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel the gatekeepers.15.18 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah or Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Ozias And the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, with cymbals of brass to sound; and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jeheil, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth;15.20 Aziel is a variant of Jaaziel; see verse 18. 15.20 Alamoth is probably a musical or liturgical term; here and in Psalm 46:1. and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with lyres according to Sheminith, to oversee. 15.21 Sheminith is probably a musical term; here and in Psalm 6:1 and Psalm 12:1. And Chenaniah head of the Levites was over the lifting up of song; he instructed in the lifting up, because he was skillful. And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers15.23 Or guardians; also in verse 24 for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the face of the ark of God. And Obed-edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark. Moving the Ark to Jerusalem And it came to pass that David and the elders of Israel and the chiefs of the thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of YHWH from the house of Obed-edom with joy. And it came to pass, in God helping the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of YHWH, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. And David was wrapped in a robe of fine linen, and were all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah head of the lifting up of the singers. And on David was an Ephod of linen. And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of YHWH with shouting, and with the sound of the shofar, and with the trumpets, and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps. Michal’s Contempt for David (2 Samuel 6:16) And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of YHWH came to the City of David, that Michal daughter of Saul looked through the window and saw King David dancing and playing music; and she despised him in her heart. A Tent for the Ark (2 Samuel 6:17–19) And they brought the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the face of God. And David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, and he blessed the people in the name of YHWH. And he distributed to each man of Israel, from man and to woman, to everyone a cake of bread, and a date cake,16.3 Or a portion of meat and a raisin cake. And he put before the face of the ark of YHWH some of the Levites to minister, and to commemorate, and to thank, and to praise YHWH, God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and harps; and Asaph sounded with cymbals. And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the face of the ark of the covenant of God. David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving (Psalm 105:1–15) On that day then David delivered at the beginning to give thanks to YHWH by the hand of Asaph and his brothers: “Give thanks to YHWH, Call upon His name, make known among the peoples His deeds. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him, tell of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; let rejoice the hearts of those seeking YHWH. Seek YHWH and His strength, Seek His face continually. Remember His wonders that He has done, His wonders and the ordinances of His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is YHWH our God; in all the earth are His judgments. Remember16.15 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts He remembers; see Psalm 105:8. His covenant forever, the word He commanded to a thousand generations— that He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. And He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your⁺ inheritance.’ When you⁺ were few in number, indeed few, and sojourners in it, then they wandered from nation to nation and from a kingdom to another people. He permitted no man to oppress them, and He rebuked kings on their behalf: ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and My prophets do not harm.’ Sing to Yahweh, All the Earth (Psalm 96:1–13) Sing to YHWH, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare among the nations His glory, among all the peoples His wonders. For great is YHWH, and greatly to be praised; and He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are nothing, and YHWH made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy in His place. Give to YHWH, O families of peoples, Ascribe to YHWH glory and strength. Ascribe to YHWH the honor of His name; bring an offering and come before His face. Worship YHWH in the beauty of holiness; tremble before Him all the earth. Indeed the world is firmly established; it shall not be moved. Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad, and let them say among the nations, ‘YHWH reigns.’ Let the sea roar and all its fullness; let the field rejoice and all that is in it. Then the trees of the forest shall rejoice before YHWH, for He is coming to judge the earth. Give thanks to YHWH, for He is good; His loving devotion16.34 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant. is even to forever. And say, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and Gather us together, and snatch us up from the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to glory in Your praise.’ Blessed be YHWH, God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting.” And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised YHWH. Worship before the Ark And he left there before the face of the ark of the covenant of YHWH Asaph and his brothers, to minister before the face of the ark regularly, according to the matter of a day in its day, and Obed-edom and their brothers, sixty-eight, and Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be gatekeepers, and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of YHWH at the high place that was in Gibeon, to offer burnt offerings to YHWH on the altar of the burnt offering regularly morning and evening, and for all that is written in the Law of YHWH, which He commanded upon Israel, and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen, who were designated by name to give thanks to YHWH, because “His loving devotion is forever.” And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals to sound aloud, and the instruments of the song of God.16.42 Or instruments for the sacred music And the sons of Jeduthun were the gatekeepers. And all the people departed, every man to his house, and David returned to bless his house. God’s Covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:1–17) And it came to pass, as David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of the covenant of YHWH is under curtains.” And Nathan said to David, “All that is in your heart, do, for God is with you.” And it came to pass in that night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell unto David My servant, thus says YHWH: You shall not build Me a house to dwell in. For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel out of Egypt,17.5 Out of Egypt is implied, but not included in the Hebrew; see 2 Samuel 7:6. even to this day, and I have been from tent to tent, and from the Dwelling Place. In all where I have walked among all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to one of the leaders17.6 Or judges; see verse 10. of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you⁺ not built for Me a house of cedars?’ And now, thus shall you say to My servant David: Thus says YHWH of Hosts: I took you from the sheepfold, from after the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. And I have been with you in all to which you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before your face, and I will make for you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. And I will set a place for My people Israel, and I will plant them, and they will settle in their place, and they shall not be disturbed anymore, nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore as at the beginning and since the days that I appointed judges over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. And I declare to you that YHWH will build a house for you. And it shall come to pass, when your days are fulfilled and you go with your fathers, that I will raise up your seed after you who will be from your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne even to forever. I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And My loving devotion I will not turn aside from him as I turned it aside from him who was before you. And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom even to forever, and his throne will be established even to forever.” According to all these words and according to all this vision, so spoke Nathan to David. David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving (2 Samuel 7:18–29) And King David went in and sat before the face of YHWH, and he said, “Who am I, O YHWH God, and what is my house, that You have brought me as far as here? And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, and You have spoken of the house of Your servant afar off, and have regarded me as a type of the man on high,17.17 Or and have shown me future generations O YHWH God. What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant. O YHWH,17.19 See 2 Samuel 7:20; many translators 18 ...For You know Your servant. 19 O LORD, For the sake of Your servant and according to Your own heart You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O YHWH, none is like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Yourself a great name and to be feared, to drive out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt. For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people even to forever, and You, O YHWH, have become to them God. And now, O YHWH, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, may it be confirmed even to forever, and do as You have spoken. And may Your name be confirmed, even magnified, forever, saying, ‘YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God to Israel.’ And may the house of Your servant David be established before You. For You, my God, have uncovered the ear to Your servant, that You will build for him a house. Upon thus Your servant has found it to pray before You. And now, O YHWH, You are God, and You spoke to Your servant this goodness. And You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may be forever before You. For You, O YHWH, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.” David’s Triumphs (2 Samuel 8:1–14; Psalm 60:1–12) And it came to pass after this that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its daughters from the hand of the Philistines. And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants of David, bringing tribute. And David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath in his going to establish his hand by the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand soldiers on foot, and David hamstrung all the chariots and left of them a hundred chariots. And the Aramaeans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David struck down twenty-two thousand men of Aram. And David placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram became servants of David, bearing tribute, and YHWH preserved David18.6 LXX and Vulgate (see also 2 Samuel 8:6 and Syriac); Hebrew does not include garrisons. in all to which he went. 18.6 Or YHWH saved David; also in verse 13 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and he brought them to Jerusalem. And from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, and the pillars, and the articles of bronze. 18.8 Tibhath is a variant of Tebah; see 2 Samuel 8:8 LXX. And Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 18.9 Tou is a variant of Toi; also in verse 10; see 2 Samuel 8:9. and he sent Hadoram his son to King David to ask of him peace and to bless him, upon that he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him. For Hadadezer had been a man at war with Tou, and he had all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 18.10 Hadoram is a variant of Joram; see 2 Samuel 8:10. These also King David dedicated to YHWH, along with the silver and the gold that he had brought from all the nations—from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. And Abishai son of Zeruiah struck Edom in the Valley of Salt—eighteen thousand. And He put in Edom garrisons, and all Edom became servants of David. And YHWH saved David in all to which he went. David’s Officers (2 Samuel 8:15–18) And David reigned over all Israel, and it came to pass that he was doing judgment and justice to all his people. And Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; and Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha18.16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelech was scribe; 18.16 Shavsha is also called Seraiah, Sheva, and Shisha; see 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 20:25, and 1 Kings 4:3. and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were the chief ministers at the side of the king. David’s Messengers Disgraced (2 Samuel 10:1–8) And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father, and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Is David honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent to you comforters? Is it not in order to search out and to overthrow and to spy out the land that his servants have come to you?” And Hanun took the servants of David and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and he sent them away. And some went and declared to David concerning the men, and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Dwell at Jericho until that your⁺ beards have grown; and return.” And the sons of Ammon saw that they were a stench to David, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver19.6 1,000 talents is approximately 37.7 tons or 34.2 metric tons of silver. to hire for themselves from Aram-naharaim,19.6 That is, Mesopotamia; Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, likely the region between the Euphrates and Balih Rivers in northwestern Mesopotamia. and from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen. And they hired for themselves two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, and they came in and encamped before the face of Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came in to the battle. And David heard, and he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. And the sons of Ammon came out for battle and arrayed themselves before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. David Defeats Ammon and Aram (2 Samuel 10:9–19) And Joab saw that the front of the battle was to him before and behind, and he chose some of the choice in Israel, and he arrayed against Aram. And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they arrayed against the sons of Ammon. And he said, “If Aram is too strong for me, you shall be to me for salvation. And if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will save you. Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God. And YHWH shall do good in His sight.” And Joab drew near, and the people who were with him, against Aram to battle; and they fled from his face. And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram was fleeing, and fled they also before Abishai his brother and entered the city. And Joab went to Jerusalem. And Aram saw that they had been struck by Israel, and they sent messengers and brought out Aram which was beyond the River, and Shophach19.16 That is, the Euphrates the commander of the army of Hadadezer before them. 19.16 Shophach is a variant of Shobach; also in verse 18; see 2 Samuel 10:16. And it was declared to David, and he gathered all Israel and passed over the Jordan, and he came toward them and arrayed against them. And David arrayed in battle against Aram, and they fought with him. And Aram fled before Israel, and David killed of Aram seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand soldiers on foot. And he killed Shophach the commander of the army. And the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, and they made peace with David and became his servants. And Aram was not willing to help the people of Ammon anymore. The Capture of Rabbah (2 Samuel 12:26–31) And it happened, at the time of the return of the year,20.1 That is in the spring of the year at the time of the going out of the kings, that Joab led out the force of the host and destroyed the land of the sons of Ammon, and he came in and besieged Rabbah. And David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it. And David took the crown of their king20.2 Or of Milcom. Milcom, also called Molech, was god of the Ammonites; see Leviticus 18:21 and 1 Kings 11:7. from off his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold,20.2 A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold. and in it were precious stones, and it was on the head of David. And the plunder of the city he brought out in great abundance. And the people who were in it he brought out, and they sawed20.3 Or cut them with the saws, and with the iron picks, and with the axes. Thus David did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. And David returned, and all the people, to Jerusalem. Battles against the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:15–22) And it came to pass afterward that war broke out in Gezer with the Philistines. At that time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai20.4 Sippai is a variant of Saph; see 2 Samuel 21:18. of the sons of the Rephaim,20.4 Or of the giants; see also descendants of Rapha in verses 6 and 8. and they were subdued. And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, and the shaft of his spear was like a beam of a weaver. 20.5 Or Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother; see 2 Samuel 21:19. And there was again war in Gath, where there was a man of stature with digits six and six—twenty-four. And he was born also of Rapha. And he defied Israel, and killed him Jonathan son of Shimea brother of David. These were born of Rapha in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. David’s Military Census (Exodus 30:11–16; 2 Samuel 24:1–9) And Satan21.1 That is, the Accuser or the Adversary stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the heads of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba and as far as Dan and bring it to me, that I may know their number.” And Joab answered, “May YHWH add to His people as they are a hundred times. Are they not, my lord O king, all of them for my lord as servants? Why does my lord require this? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” And the word of the king was strengthened against Joab, and Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and he came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the account of the number of the people to David. And all Israel had a thousand thousands and a hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. And Levi and Benjamin he did not count in their midst, for the word of the king was abominable to Joab. Judgment for David’s Sin (2 Samuel 24:10–14) And it was evil in the eyes of God concerning this thing, and He struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. And take away, please, the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” And YHWH spoke to Gad, seer of David, saying, “Go and declare to David, saying, thus says YHWH: ‘Three things I offer to you; choose for yourself one of them, that I may do it to you.’” And Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says YHWH: ‘Choose for yourself either three years of famine, or three months of being swept away before the faces of your foes—and the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or three days of the sword of YHWH and the plague upon the land and the angel of YHWH destroying in all the territory of Israel.’ And consider what word I should take back to Him who sent me.” 21.12 Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate of fleeing; see 2 Samuel 24:13. And David said to Gad, “There is great distress to me. Let me fall, please, into the hand of YHWH, for very great are His mercies; and into the hand of man do not let me fall.” A Plague on Israel (2 Samuel 24:15–17) And YHWH sent a plague upon Israel, and fell from Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, and as he was destroying, YHWH saw and relented of the disaster, and He said to the angel who was destroying, “Enough now! Restrain your hand.” And the angel of YHWH stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 21.15 Ornan is a variant of Araunah; also in verses 18–28; see 2 Samuel 24:16. And David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of YHWH standing between the earth and between the heavens, and his sword being drawn in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. And David fell, and the elders, covered in sackcloth, on their faces. And David said to God, “Was it not I who said to number the people? And I21.17 Or I, the shepherd, see 2 Samuel 24:17 DSS and LXX. am he who has sinned and done great evil. And these sheep, what have they done? O YHWH my God, please, let Your hand be upon me and upon the house of my father, and not upon Your people, that they should be plagued.” David Builds an Altar (2 Samuel 24:18–25) And the angel of YHWH spoke to Gad, to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to YHWH on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David went up at the word of Gad, which he had spoken in the name of YHWH. And Ornan turned and saw the angel. And his four sons with him hid themselves, and Ornan was threshing wheat. And David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David, and he went out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. And David said to Ornan, “Grant me the place of the threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to YHWH. At the full price you shall grant it to me, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” And Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do good in his eyes. See, I give you the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; all I have given.” And King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for YHWH, so as to offer a burnt offering without cost.” And David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.21.25 600 shekels is approximately 15.1 pounds or 6.8 kilograms of gold. And David built there an altar to YHWH, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he called to YHWH. And He answered him by fire from the heavens on the altar of the burnt offering. And YHWH commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath. At that time David saw that YHWH had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, and he sacrificed there. For the tabernacle of YHWH, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time at the high place in Gibeon. David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of YHWH. Preparations for the Temple And David said, “This is the house of YHWH God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” And David commanded to gather the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, and he appointed hewers to hew stones cut to build the house of God. And iron in abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates and for the joints David provided, and bronze in abundance without weight, and cedar trees in abundance, for the Sidonians and the Tyrians brought cedar trees in abundance to David. And David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for YHWH shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all the lands. I will make preparation now for it.” And David made preparations in abundance before the face of his death. Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple And he called for Solomon his son, and he commanded him to build a house for YHWH, God of Israel. And David said to Solomon, “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house for the Name of YHWH my God. And the word of YHWH came to me, saying, ‘You have shed blood in abundance, and you have made great wars. You shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth before My face. Behold, a son shall be born to you. He shall be a man of rest, and I will give rest to him from all his enemies round about. For Solomon22.9 Solomon sounds like and is probably derived from the Hebrew word for peace. shall be His name, and peace and quietness I will give to Israel in his days. He shall build a house for My Name, and he shall be unto Me son, and I will be unto him Father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel even to forever.’ Now, my son, may YHWH be with you, and may you prosper and build the house of YHWH your God, as He spoke concerning you. Only may YHWH give to you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of YHWH your God. Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and the ordinances with which YHWH commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and be courageous. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. And behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of YHWH a hundred thousand talents of gold,22.14 100,000 talents is approximately 3,770 tons or 3,420 metric tons of gold. and a thousand thousands of talents of silver,22.14 1,000,000 talents is approximately 37,700 tons or 34,200 metric tons of silver. and bronze and iron without weight; for it is so abundant. And timber and stone I have prepared, and to them you may add. And with you in abundance are those doing work: Hewers and craftsmen of stone and of wood, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. To the gold, to the silver, and to the bronze, and to the iron, there is no number. Arise and work, and YHWH be with you.” And David commanded all the heads of Israel to help Solomon his son: “Is not YHWH your⁺ God with you⁺, and has given rest to you⁺ on every side? For He has given into my hand those dwelling in the land, and the land is subdued before the face of YHWH and before His people. Now set your⁺ heart and your⁺ soul to seek YHWH your⁺ God, and arise and build the sanctuary of YHWH God, to bring the ark of the covenant of YHWH and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of YHWH.” The Divisions of the Levites And David was old and was full of days, and his son Solomon he made king over Israel. And he gathered together all the heads of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites. And the Levites were numbered from a son of thirty years and above, and the number by their heads of mighty men was thirty-eight thousand. “From these were twenty-four thousand to preside over the work of the house of YHWH, six thousand and officers and judges, and four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand giving praise to YHWH with instruments that I have made for giving praise.”23.5 It is implied that this is a quote of David. And David separated them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The Gershonites (Numbers 3:21–26; Numbers 4:21–28) Of the Gershonite: Ladan23.7 Ladan is a variant of Libni; also in verses 8 and 9; see 1 Chronicles 6:17. and Shimei. The sons of Laadan: The first Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel—three. 23.8 Jehiel is a variant of Jehieli; see 1 Chronicles 26:21. The sons of Shimei: Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran—three. These were the heads of the fathers of Laadan. And the sons of Shimei:23.10 Shimei was possibly a son or grandson of the Shimei listed in verse 9. Jahath, Zina,23.10 Most Hebrew manuscripts; one Hebrew manuscript, LXX, and Vulgate (see also verse 11) Zizah and Jeush, and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei—four. And Jahath was the head, and Zizah the second. And Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, and they were to a house of a father in one assignment. The Kohathites (Numbers 3:27–32; Numbers 4:1–20) The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was set apart for his sanctifying the holy of holies,23.13 Of the most holy [things] he and his sons even to forever, to burn incense before the face of YHWH, to minister for him, and to give the blessing in His name even to forever. And Moses the man of God, his sons were reckoned to the tribe of Levi. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The sons of Gershom: Shebuel was the first. And of the sons of Eliezer Rehabiah: Was the first. And Eliezer had no other sons, and the sons of Rehabiah multiplied exceedingly. The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the first. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first, and Isshiah the second. The Merarites (Numbers 3:33–37; Numbers 4:29–33) The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. And Eleazar died; there were unto him no sons, but only daughters. And the sons of Kish, their brothers, lifted them. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth—three. 23.23 Jeremoth is a variant of Jerimoth; see 1 Chronicles 24:30. Levite Duties Revised These were the sons of Levi by the houses of their fathers, heads of the fathers, by their appointments, in the number of names, by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of YHWH, from a son of twenty years and above. For David said, “YHWH, God of Israel, has given rest to His people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem even to forever.” And also of the Levites, “No longer shall they carry the tabernacle or any of its articles for its service.” For by the last words of David they were numbering the sons of Levi from a son of twenty years and above. For their duty was at the hand of the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of YHWH, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of every holy thing, and the work of the service of the house of God, and for the bread of the arrangement, and the fine flour for the present, and for the unleavened cakes, and for the pan, and for what is mixed, and for all kinds of measures and sizes, and to stand morning by morning to thank and to give praise to YHWH, and likewise at the evening, and at every presentation of burnt offerings to YHWH on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and for the appointed seasons, by number, according to the ordinance upon them, regularly before the face of YHWH. And they were to keep the charge of the Tent of Meeting, and the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers in the work of the house of YHWH. Twenty-Four Divisions of Priests And the sons of Aaron—these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And Nadab and Abihu died before the face of their father, and there were unto them no children, and Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. And David divided them, and Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their office in their service. And there were found of the sons of Eleazar more for heads of the mighty men than of the sons of Ithamar, and they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar, heads for a house of fathers, sixteen. And among the sons of Ithamar, for a house of their fathers, eight. And they were divided by lot, these with these; for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar. And Shemaiah son of Nethanel the scribe of the Levites wrote them down before the face of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of fathers of the priests and the Levites—one house of a father taken for Eleazar, and one being taken possession of for Ithamar. And the first lot fell to Jehoiarib, to Jedaiah the second, to Harim the third, to Seorim the fourth, to Malchijah the fifth, to Mijamin the sixth, to Koz the seventh, to Abijah the eighth, to Jeshua the ninth, to Shecaniah the tenth, to Eliashib the eleventh, to Jakim the twelfth, to Huppah the thirteenth, to Jeshebeab the fourteenth, to Bilgah the fifteenth, to Immer the sixteenth, to Hezir the seventeenth, to Happizzez the eighteenth, to Pethahiah the nineteenth, to Ezekiel the twentieth, to Jachin the one and twentieth, to Gamul the two and twentieth, to Delaiah the three and twentieth, to Maaziah the four and twentieth. These were their appointments for their service for coming into the house of YHWH, according to their ordinance by the hand of Aaron their father, as YHWH, God of Israel, had commanded him. The Rest of the Levites And those remaining of the sons of Levi: Of the sons of Amram: Shubael;24.20 Shubael (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shebuel; see 1 Chronicles 23:16 and 1 Chronicles 26:24. of the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. To Rehabiah, of the sons of Rehabiah: The first was Isshiah. 24.21 Isshiah is a variant of Jeshaiah; see 1 Chronicles 26:25. Of the Izharite: Shelomoth;24.22 Shelomoth (twice in this verse) is a variant of Shelomith; see 1 Chronicles 23:18. of the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. And of the sons of Hebron Jeriah was the first:24.23 Hebrew And of the sons of Jeriah; see 1 Chronicles 23:19. Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah: Shamir. The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah: Zechariah. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno. The sons of Merari by Jaaziah: Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri. Of Mahli: Eleazar, and were to him no sons. Of Kish: The son of Kish: Jerahmeel. And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 24.30 Jerimoth is a variant of Jeremoth; see 1 Chronicles 23:23. And they also cast lots as their brothers, the sons of Aaron, before the face of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers of the priests and Levites—the chief father as his younger brother. Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians And David and the heads of the host separated for service some of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, to prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals; and the number of the men of work was according to their service: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Shimei,25.3 One Hebrew manuscript and some LXX manuscripts (see also verse 17); most Hebrew manuscripts do not include Shimei. Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six—under the hand of their father Jeduthun, prophesying with a harp for giving of thanks and praise to YHWH. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel,25.4 Shebuel is a variant of Shubael; see verse 20. and Jerimoth,25.4 Jerimoth is a variant of Jeremoth; see verse 22. Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman, seer of the king in the words of God, to lift up a horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hand of their father in the song of the house of YHWH, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Under the hand of the king were Asaph, and Jeduthun, and Heman. And the number of them with their brothers, who were instructed in the songs of YHWH, all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight. And they cast lots for their duty unto the small as well as the great, the teacher with the pupil. And the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers—twelve;25.9 See LXX and the total in verse 7; Hebrew does not include his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the second to Gedaliah—him and his brothers and his sons—twelve; the third to Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the fourth to Izri,25.11 Izri is a variant of Zeri; see verse 3. his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the seventh to Jesharelah,25.14 Jesarelah is a variant of Asarelah; see verse 2. his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the tenth to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the eleventh to Azarel,25.18 Azarel is a variant of Uzziel; see verse 4. his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the fifteenth to Jeremoth,25.22 Jeremoth is a variant of Jerimoth; see verse 4. his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; the four and twentieth to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers—twelve; The Divisions of the Gatekeepers for the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. And the sons of Meshelemiah: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. And to Obed-edom were sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth, for God blessed him. And to Shemaiah his son were born sons who governed throughout the house of their father, because they were mighty ones of valor. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad; his brothers were sons of valor, Elihu and Semachiah. All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their brothers, men of valor with power for work—sixty-two of Obed-edom. And to Meshelemiah were sons and brothers, sons of valor—eighteen. And to Hosah of the sons of Merari were sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth—all the sons and brothers of Hosah, thirteen. Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, the heads of the mighty ones having duties just like their brothers, to serve in the house of YHWH. And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for each gate. And the lot fell for the East to Shelemiah.26.14 Shelemiah is a variant of Meshelemiah; see verse 2. And for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots, and his lot came out for the North. To Obed-edom the South, and to his sons the house of the gatherings. To Shuppim and Hosah for the West, with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway.26.16 Or on the upper road A guard was alongside a guard. To the east the Levites were six, to the north day by day four, to the south day by day four, and at the storehouse two by two. At Parbar26.18 Or the court; twice in this verse on the west, were four at the highway and two at Parbar. These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of the Korahite and among the sons of Merari. The Treasurers, Officers, and Judges And of the Levites, Ahijah was26.20 LXX And of the Levites, their brethren [were] over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the holy things. The sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonite, of Ladan, the heads of the fathers of Laadan the Gershonite were Jehieli,26.21 Ladan is a variant of Libni; see 1 Chronicles 6:17. 26.21 Jehieli is a variant of Jehiel; also in verse 22; see 1 Chronicles 23:8. the sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasuries of the house of YHWH. Of the Amramite, the Izharite, the Hebronite, and the Uzzielite: And Shebuel son of Gershom son of Moses was overseer of the treasuries. And his brothers through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26.25 Jeshaiah is a variant of Isshiah; see 1 Chronicles 24:21. This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasuries of the holy things that David the king and the heads of the fathers, even heads of thousands and of hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. From the battles and from the plunder they dedicated to strengthen the house of YHWH, and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, had dedicated—all sanctified under the hand of Shelomith and his brothers. Of the Izharite: Chenaniah and his sons unto the outside work26.29 Or the work outside (the temple) or the work outside (Jerusalem) were over Israel as officials and judges. Of the Hebronite: Hashabiah and his brothers, sons of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, were over the inspection of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of YHWH, and in the service of the king. Of the Hebronite, Jerijah26.31 Jerijah is a variant of Jeriah; see 1 Chronicles 23:19. was the head of the Hebronite, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead. And his brothers, sons of valor, two thousand and seven hundred heads of the fathers, king David appointed over the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter of God and matter of the king. Twelve Captains for Twelve Months And these are the sons of Israel according to their number of the heads of the fathers and the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter of the divisions who came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year—one division being twenty-four thousand. Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel—and in his division twenty-four thousand— of the sons of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. And over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his division, and Mikloth was the leader, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 27.4 Dodai is a variant of Dodo; see 2 Samuel 23:9. The captain of the third army for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief priest, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. This Benaiah was mighty among the Thirty, and over the thirty, and over his division was Ammizabad his son. The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The fifth, for the fifth month, was the captain Shamhuth27.8 Shamhuth is a variant of Shammoth or Shammah; see 1 Chronicles 11:27 and 2 Samuel 23:25. the Izrahite, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamite, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahite, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the sons of Ephraim, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai27.15 Heldai is a variant of Heled; see 1 Chronicles 11:30 and 2 Samuel 23:29. the Netophathite, of Othniel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand. The Leaders of the Twelve Tribes And over the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenite, the officer was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonite, Shephatiah son of Maacah; over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron, Zadok; over Judah was Elihu of the brothers of David; over Issachar, Omri son of Michael; over Zebulun was Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; over the sons of Ephraim was Hoshea son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; over the half of Manasseh in Gilead was Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; over Dan was Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. David did not take their number from a son of twenty years and under, because YHWH had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. Joab son of Zeruiah began to number, and he did not finish, and there was wrath for this upon Israel. The count did not go up into the number of the Words of the Days of King David. David’s Various Overseers And over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth son of Adiel; and over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers, Jonathan son of Uzziah; and over those who did the work of the field for the service of the ground was Ezri son of Chelub; and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the vineyards for the treasuries of wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite; and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that are in the Shephelah27.28 Or foothills or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the store of the oil was Joash; and over the herd that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herd in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai; and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; and over the flock was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were heads of the property that was unto King David. The Counselors And Jonathan uncle of David—was a counselor, a wise man, and he was a scribe; and Jehiel son of Hachmoni was with the sons of the king; and Ahithophel was counselor of the king; and Hushai the Archite was companion of the king. And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and the head of the host of the king was Joab. David Commissions Solomon And David assembled all the heads of Israel, the heads of the tribes, and the heads of the divisions who served the king, and the heads of the thousands, and the heads of the hundreds, and the heads of all the property and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials and the mighty men, and all the mighty men of valor at Jerusalem. And King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of YHWH, and for the footstool of our God, and I had made preparations to build it. And God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war, and you have shed blood.’ And YHWH, God of Israel, chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For among Judah he chose for a leader, and in the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons—for many sons YHWH has given me—also He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of YHWH over Israel. And He said to me, ‘Solomon your son—he shall build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish his kingdom even to forever, if he is strong to do My commandments and My ordinances, as this day.’ And now in the eyes of all Israel the assembly of YHWH, and in the ears of our God, be careful and seek out all the commandments of YHWH your⁺ God, that you⁺ may possess the good land for your⁺ children and leave it as an inheritance after you⁺ even to forever. And as for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for YHWH searches all hearts, and He understands all the intent of thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. See now, for YHWH has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it.” The Plans for the Temple And David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch of the temple,28.11 LXX; Hebrew does not include of the temple. and its houses, and its treasuries, and its upper chambers, and its inner chambers, and the house of the mercy seat,28.11 Or atonement cover and the pattern of all that was by the Spirit with him,28.12 Or all that he had in mind of the courts of the house of YHWH, and of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the holy things, and for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of YHWH, and for all the articles of service in the house of YHWH: Even the gold by weight for the gold, for all articles of every kind of service; and for all articles of silver by weight, and for all articles of every kind of service; and the weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight of each lampstand and for each lampstand, and its lamps; and for the lampstands of silver, by weight for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the service of each lampstand and for each lampstand; and the gold by weight for the tables of the showbread, for each table; and the silver for the tables of silver; and the forks, and the sprinkling bowls, and the pitchers of pure gold; and the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, by weight for every bowl; and for the altar of incense, the refined gold by weight; and for the pattern of the chariot of the gold cherubim, spreading and covering over the ark of the covenant of YHWH. “The entirety is in writing from the hand of YHWH upon me. He has made me understand all the works of the pattern.” And David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and be courageous and do it. Do not fear and do not be dismayed, for YHWH God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you and he will not forsake you until the completion of all the work of the service of the house of YHWH. And behold, the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and with you for all manner of workmanship is every willing one with wisdom for every service, and the heads and all the people are according to all your command.” Offerings for the Temple And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon My son—the one whom God has chosen—is young and tender, and the work is great, because the palace is not for man, but for YHWH God. And with all my power I have provided for the house of my God: The gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and the wood for the things of wood, onyx stones, and settings, and stones of glistening and various colors, and all precious stone, and stones of marble, in abundance. And again, in my delighting in the house of my God, is unto me a peculiar treasure of gold and silver I have given to the house of my God above all that I have prepared for the house of the sanctuary: Three thousand talents of gold29.4 3,000 talents is approximately 113 tons or 103 metric tons of gold. (of the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver,29.4 7,000 talents is approximately 264 tons or 239.5 metric tons of silver. to overlay the walls of the houses, even the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and for all the work by the hand of craftsmen. And who is willing to consecrate himself today to YHWH?” And the heads of the fathers, and the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the heads of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the heads of the work of the king, offered freely. And they gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents of gold,29.7 5,000 talents is approximately 188.5 tons or 171 metric tons of gold. and a myriad of darics,29.7 Or 10,000 gold drachmas; that is, approximately 185.2 pounds or 84 kilograms of gold coins and ten thousand talents of silver,29.7 10,000 talents is approximately 377 tons or 342 metric tons of silver. and a myriad and eight thousand talents of bronze,29.7 18,000 talents is approximately 678.6 tons or 615.6 metric tons of bronze. and a hundred thousand talents of iron.29.7 100,000 talents is approximately 3,770 tons or 3,420 metric tons of iron. And he with whom stones were found gave them to the treasury of the house of YHWH, by the hand of Jehiel29.8 Jehiel is a variant of Jehieli; see 1 Chronicles 26:21. the Gershonite. And the people rejoiced, because they offered freely, for with a loyal heart they offered freely to YHWH. And also David the king rejoiced with great joy. David’s Prayer of Blessing And David blessed YHWH before all the assembly, and David said, “Blessed are You, O YHWH, God of Israel, our Father, from forever and even to forever. To You, O YHWH, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, because of everything in the heavens and on earth. To You, O YHWH, is the kingdom, and You are exalted over all as head. And the riches and the honor are from before You, and You reign over all, and in Your hand is power and might, and in Your hand is to exalt and to give strength to all. And now, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should retain power like this to offer freely? For from You are all things, and from Your hand we have given to You. For we are sojourners before You, and pilgrims, as all our fathers. As a shadow are our days on the earth, and without hope. O YHWH our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build for You a house—for Your holy name—is from Your hand, and all is unto You. And I know, my God, that You examine the heart, and in uprightness You are pleased. I, in the uprightness of my heart, I have offered freely all these things; and now Your people found here I have seen with joy to offer freely to You. O YHWH, God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You. And to Solomon my son give a perfect heart, to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your statutes, and to do the whole, even to build the palace for which I have prepared.” And David said to all the assembly, “Bless now YHWH your⁺ God.” And all the assembly blessed YHWH, the God of their fathers, and they bowed down, and paid homage to YHWH and to the king. Solomon Anointed King (1 Kings 1:32–40) And they made sacrifices to YHWH and offered burnt offerings to YHWH on that next day: A thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. And they ate and drank before the face of YHWH on that day with great joy. And Solomon son of David they made king a second time, and they anointed him before YHWH for a leader, and Zadok for priest. And Solomon sat on the throne of YHWH as king instead of David his father, and he prospered. And all Israel listened to him. And all the leaders, and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David gave a hand under King Solomon. And YHWH exceedingly exalted Solomon in the eyes of all Israel, and He bestowed on him royal majesty as had not been on any king in Israel before him. David’s Reign and Death (1 Kings 2:10–12) And David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the days that he reigned over Israel were forty years—in Hebron he reigned seven years, and in Jerusalem He reigned thirty-three. And he died in a good old age, full of days and riches and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. And the acts of David the king, the first and the last, indeed 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, with all his reign, and his might, and the times that happened to him and to Israel and to all the kingdoms of the lands.