Introduction

When the Sacred books began to be organized, the Mosaic books were followed by a history of Israel that went from the Book of Joshua to the Book of Kings. Their authors shared the prophets’ views that were also those of Deuteronomy: God made a covenant with Israel, gave it the land, provided that Israel would remain faithful to the covenant. In the course of the centuries, there were more and more infidelities and this is why the two kingdoms, Israel and then Judah, lost their land. Yet, after the disaster, there was still hope. God did not go back on his promise: the land of Palestine and the Temple of Jerusalem remain at the center of God’s plan and the conversion of the people will usher in a new age.

In the fifth century, this hope encouraged those who were returning from the Exile, as well as the last prophets. Then, with Zerubbabel, Nehemiah and Ezra, the Temple and the city were rebuilt and the cult was reorganized. Time was passing by and the Jewish community was getting used to being just a province of the Persian Empire: it was satisfied with having imposed its own identity under the leadership of its priests. This is when the books of the royal period seem dated.

People no longer expected anything from the kings and priests had full authority… There was no interest in the history of the kingdom but rather, in the roles that priests had in it. The Mosaic books were rewritten to put the laws dealing with worship in the first place and this type of work continued until the contemporary period, that is to say, Ezra’s reform. The history of Israel will take its readers from Moses, who foresaw everything, to Ezra, who reformed everything, by way of holy King David who established the liturgy.

The Book of Chronicles was written in this setting. The book is full of genealogies since the religious status of priests depended on their family of origin. Therefore, we should not be surprised by the fabulous genealogies at the beginning of the book. It is full of extraordinary numbers (this was also the case of Numbers with the 600,000 men of Exodus). This history is only interested in the Kingdom of Judah as it ignores or condemns a priori everything the others tribes of Israel had experienced.

Did the authors want Chronicles to replace the previous books that we have mentioned? God did not allow that to happen and Chronicles simply completed Samuel and Kings. They even preserved strange traditions that the latter ignored. At times, they show the narrow-mindedness that characterizes people who live for one or two principles. But they also offer us a grandiose vision of the worship of God, a people’s prayer and the conviction that this chosen people can and must have its own identity. Among other things, we will notice this conviction: unity constitutes both the richness and the first obligation of the people of God, that is to say, the condition for our obedience to God to be authentic. This assertion is still valid for the Church of Christ.

Peoples and cities and their relationship with the Israelites

1 Adam, Seth, Enosh,

2 Kenan, Mahalel, Ared,

3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,

4 Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

5 Sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, the Medes, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras.

6 Sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, Togarmah.

7 Sons of Javan: Elisha, Tarshish, the Kittim, the Daanites.

8 Sons of Ham: Cush, Misraim, Put, Canaan.

9 Sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca, Sons of Raamah: Sheba, Dedan.

10 Cush became father of Nimrod, the first potentate on earth.

11 Misraim became of the people of Lud, of Anam, of Lehab, of Naptu,

12 of Pathros, Casluh and Caphtor, from which the Philistines came.

13 Canaan became father of Sidon, his firstborn, then Heth,
14 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, Gir gashites,

15 Hivites, Sinites,

16 Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites.

17 Sons of Shem, Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram. Sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech.

18 Arpa chshad became father of Shelah, and Shelah became father of Eber.

19 To Eber were born two sons; the first was called Peleg, because it was in his time the earth was divided, and his brother was called Joktan.

20 Joktan became father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,

23 Ophir, Havilah, Jobab; all these are sons of Joktan.

24 Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,

25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,

27 Abram, that is Abraham.


Descendants of Abraham

28 Sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.

29 Sons of Ishmael: Nebaioth (his first born) then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,

31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.

32 Sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan,

33 Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Sons of Joksham: Sheba and Dedan. Sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, Eldaah.

34 Abraham was the father of Isaac who had two sons: Esau and Israel.

35 The descendants of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Ko rah.

36 The descendants of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and Amalek.

37 The descendants of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

38 The sons of Seir were: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

39 The clans descended from Lotan were Hori and Homam. Lotan’s sister was named Timna.

40 The clans descended from Shobal were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The descendants of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.

41 Anah had a son named Dishon, who was the ancestor of the clans of Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.

42 Ezer was the ancestor of the clans of Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan.

43 Here are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before an Israelite king ruled: Bela son of Bero; his city was called Dinhabah.

44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah became king.

45 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites became king.

46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king; he defeated the Midianites in the country of Moab, and his city was called Avith.

47 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah became king.

48 Samlah died and Saul of Rehoboth-han-nahar became king.

49 When Saul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor became king.

50 When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king. His city was called Pai; his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, from Mezahab.

51 After Hadad died, these were the chiefs of Edom: Chief of Timna, Chief of Aliah, Chief Jetheth,

52 Chief Oholiba mah, Chief of Elah, Chief Pinon,

53 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,

54 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram.

The sons of Jacob and the descendants of Judah

1 These are the sons of Israel: Reu ben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issa char and Zebulun;

2 Dan, Joseph and Benjamin, Nephtali; Gad and Asher.

3 Judah had five sons in all. The first three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite woman. They were Er, Onan and Shelah. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was so evil that Yahweh put him to death.

4 By his daughter-in-law Tamar, Judah had two more sons, Perez and Zerah.

5 Perez had two sons, Hezron and Hamul.

6 His brother Zerah had five sons: Zimri, Hetan, Heman, Calcol and Dara.

7 One of them, Achar, son of Carmi – brought trouble upon the people of Israel by keeping loot that had been devoted to God.

8 Ethan had one son, Azariah.

9 Hezron became the father of Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.

10 Ram was the father of Amminadab; Amminadab of Nahshan.

11 Nahshan, who was a prince of the tribe of Judah, was the father of Salmon; Salmon of Boaz;

12 Boaz of Obed; Obed of Jesse.

13 Jesse had seven sons: Eliab, the firstborn, Abinadab, Shammah,

14 Nethanel, Raddai,

15 Ozem and David, the youngest. Jesse had two daughters: Zerwiah and Abigail.

16 Zer wiah had three sons: Abishai, Joab and Asahel.

17 Abigail married Jether the Ishmaelite. They had a son named Amasa.

18 Caleb, son of Hezron, married Azu bah and had a daughter named Jerioth. Jerioth had three sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon.

19 Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, and they had a son named Hur.

20 Hur became father of Uri and grandfather of Bezalel.

21 When Hezron was sixty years old he married Machir’s daughter, the sister of Gilead. They had a son named Segub, who had a son named Jair.

22 Jair ruled twenty-three towns in the land of Gilead.

23 But the kingdoms of Geshur and Aram took from them the villages of Jair, that is Kenath and its towns, sixty towns in all. All this had belonged to the descendants of Machir, father of Gilead.

24 After Hezron’s death, his son Caleb married Ephrathah, his father’s widow. They had a son named Ashur, the father of Tekoa.

25 Jerahmeel, Hezron’s eldest son, had five sons: Ram, his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah.

26 Jerahmeel had another wife called Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

27 Ram had three sons: Maaz, Jamin and Eker.

28 Onam was the father of Shammai and Jada; Shammai, of Nadab and Abi shur.

29 Abishur’s wife was called Abihail; she bore him Ahban and Molid.

30 Nadab had two sons, Seled and Ap pa im, but Se led died leaving no son.

31 Appa im was the father of Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan; Sheshan was the father of Ahlai.

32 Jada, Shammai’s bro ther, had two sons: Jether and Jonathan. Je ther died leaving no sons.

33 Jonathan had two sons: Peleth and Zaza.
These were all descendants of Je rah me el.

34 Sheshan had no sons, only daughters.

35 He had an Egyptian slave named Jarha to whom he gave his daughter in marriage.

36 They had a son named Attai. The ancestral line from Attai to Elishama is as follows: Attai, Nathan,

37 Zabad, Ephlal, Obed,

38 Jehu, Az ariah,

39 Helez, Eleasah,

40 Sismai, Shallum,

41 Jeka miah, and Elishama.

42 The firstborn son of Caleb, Je rah meel’s brother, was named Mesha. Mesha was the father of Ziph, who was the father of Meresha.

43 Mere sha was father of Hebron who had four sons: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema.

44 Shema became father of Raham and grandfather of Jorkeam. Rekem became father of Shammai

45 and grandfather of Maon. Maon became father of Bethzur.

46 Caleb had a concubine named Ep hah who gave birth to Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran also had a son named Gazez.

47 Jahdai had six sons: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Sha aph.

48 Caleb had another concubine, Maacah, who gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah.

49 Later she had two more sons: Shaaph, who founded the town of Madmannah, and Sheva, who founded the towns of Machbenah and Gibea. The daughter of Caleb was Achsah.

50 The following were also descendants of Caleb. Hur was the firstborn son of Ephrath. Hur’s son Shobal was father of Kiriath-jearim;

51 Salma, father of Beth lehem, and Haroeh, father of Beth-gader.

52 Shobal, the father of Kiriath-jearim was the father of the people of Haroah, that is half of the Mana hathites,

53 and also the clans living in Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. The people of the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol belonged to these clans.

54 Sons of Salma: Bethlehem, Neto phath, Atroth Beth-Joab, and the Zorites, who were one of the clans in Manaheth.

55 The Soferites lived in the town of Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimea thites, and Suca thites. They were Cainites, descendants of Jamat, the Recha bites’ ancestor.

The descendants of David

1 These are the sons of David who were born to him while he was in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; second, Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Car mel;

2 third, Absa lom, whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; fourth, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;

3 fifth, Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; sixth, Ithream, whose mother was Eglah.

4 All six were born to him in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months.
He ruled as king for thirty-three years in Jeru salem.

5 Many sons were born to him in Jerusalem. By his wife Bathsheba, daughter of Ammiel, he had four sons: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. Nine other sons were:

6 Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet,

7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

8 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphe let.

9 All these were sons of David, besides other sons by the concubines. Tamar was their sister.

10 These are the descendants of King Solomon from father to son: Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jeho shaphat,

11 Joram, Aha ziah, Joash,

12 Amaziah, Aza riah, Jo tham,

13 Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh,

14 Amon, and Josiah.

15 Jos iah had four sons: Johanan, the firstborn, Jehoiakim second, Zedekiah third, and Shallum fourth.

16 The sons of Jehoiakim were: Jeconiah and Zedekiah.

17 These are the descendants of King Jeconiah, who was taken captive by the Babylonians. Jeconiah had seven sons: Shealtiel,

18 Malchiram, Pedaiah, She nazzar, Jekamiah, Ho sha ma, and Neda biah.

19 Pedaiah had two sons: Zerubba bel and Shimei. Zerubbabel had two sons, Meshullam and Hananiah, and one daughter, Shelomith.

20 Meshullam had five sons: Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed.

21 Hana niah’s two sons were Pela tish and Jeshiah. Jeshiah was the father of Re phaiah, who was the father of Arnan, who was the father of Oba diah and grandfather of Shecaniah.

22 Sheca niah’s son was Shemaiah and his five grandsons were: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Nedariah, and Sha phat.

23 Neariah’s three sons were: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam.

24 Elioe nai’s seven sons were: Hodaviah, Elia shib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

Heads of families of the twelve tribes

1 Some of the descendants of Judah are: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

2 Shobal was the father of Reaiah, who was the father of Jahath, the father of Ahumai and Lahad: these people lived in Zorah.

3 These were the descendants of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, whose sister was called Haz zelelponi.

4 Penuel became father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the descendants of Hur, the first born of Ephrathah, father of Bethlehem.

5 Ashhur, father of Tekoa, had two wives: Helah and Naarah.

6 Naarah bore him four sons: Ahuzaam, Hepher, the Temeni and the Haahashtari.

7 Ashur had three sons by Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan.

8 Koz became father of Anub and Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel son of Harum.

9 Jabez was the known of them. His mother had given him the name Jabez, to recall that “In pain she had given birth to him.”

10 Jabez called on the God of Israel, “If you truly bless me, you will give me much land. Be with me, and keep me from anything that might harm or cause me pain.” God gave him what he had prayed for.

11 Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.

12 Eshton, had three sons, Bethra pha, Paseah and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Imahas. The descendants of these men lived in Recah.

13 Kenaz had two sons, Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel also had two sons: Hathath and Meonothai,

14 who became the father of Ophrah. Seraiah became the father of Joab, the founder of Craftsmen’s Valley, where skilled workers lived.

15 Caleb, son of Jephunneh had three sons: Iru, Elah and Naam. Son of Elah: Kenaz.

16 The sons of Jehallelel were: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

17 Ezrah had four sons: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered’s wife Bithiah, a daughter of the King of Egypt, gave birth to a daughter, Miriam, and two sons, Shammai and Ishbah. Ishbah was the father of Eshtemoa.

18 Mered also had a wife from the tribe of Judah who gave birth to three sons: Jered, the father of Gedor; Heber, father of Soco; and Jekuthiel, father of Zanoah.

19 Hodiah married the sister of Naham. Their descendants formed the clan of Garm, which lived in the town of Keilah, and the clan of Maacath, which lived in the town of Eshtemoa.

20 The sons of Shimon were: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon.
The sons of Ishi were: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.

21 The descendants of Shelah son of Judah were: Er, father of Lecah; Laadah, father of Mareshah; and the clans of linen weavers of Beth-ashbea;

22 Jokim and the people who lived in Cozeba; Joash and Saraph who went to Moab to take wives before re turning to Bethlehem (these are events of long ago.)

23 They were potters and lived in the towns of Netaim and Gederah; they stayed with the king there, employed in his workshop.

24 Simeon had five sons; Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.

25 Sha ul’s son was Shallum, his grandson was Mibsam, and his great-grandson was Mishma.

26 The sons of Mishma were: Hammuel, Zakur, Simi.

27 Simi had sixteen sons and daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, and none of their families increased as the families of Judah did.

28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah and Ha zarshual,

29 Bilhah, Ezem and Tolad,

30 Be thu el, Hormah and Ziklag.

31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazarsusim, Beth biri, Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.

32 Their outlying villages were: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, five towns,

33 with all their surrounding villages as far as Baalath. Here they had their settlements and sorted themselves into their various groups.

34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,

35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshi biah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel,

36 Elioenei, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asa i ah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,

37 Ziza, Ben-shiphi, Benallon, Ben-jedaiah, Ben -shimri, Ben-shemaiah.

38 These men came with their clans and families; they grew in number and spread.

39 As they searched for pasture for their flocks they traveled from the Gerar pass to the eastern end of the valley,

40 where they found good, fat pasture; the land was broad, untroubled, peaceful.
Hamites had been living there before them.

41 But in the time of Hezekiah king of Judah this group of Simeon’s tribe arrived there, overran their tents and the dwellings they found there. They wiped them out through an anathema still in force today and settled in their place, since there was pasturage for their flocks.

42 Some of them, belonging to the sons of Simeon, reached Mount Seir: five hundred men led by Pe lathiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.

43 They defeated the surviving fugitives of Amalek and still live there today.

1 Descendants of Reuben, firstborn of Israel. He was indeed the firstborn but, when he had relations with his father’s concubine, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel. The group of Joseph, however did not keep this firstborn right

2 because Judah proved more powerful than his brothers (and from him proceeds the Ruler), but the firstborn right belongs to the tribes of Joseph.

3 Sons of Reuben, firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi.

4 Sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

6 Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried off into exile. He was a prince of the Reubenites.

7 His kinsmen, by clans, grouped according to their kinship: Jeiel, the chief, Zecha riah,

8 Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.
These lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal-Mehon.

9 These extended to the east toward the River Euphrates, reaching the desert, because their flocks had multiplied in the land of Galaad.

10 In the days of Saul they waged war against the Agarites who were defeated, and they occupied their homes east of Galaad.

11 The sons of Gad lived opposite them, in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.

12 First, Joel, and then Sha pham, Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.

13 The other families of the tribe were those of Michael, Meshullam, She ba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber.

14 These are the descendants of Abi hail, whose ancestors were traced back as follows: Abihail, Huri, Jaroah, Gilead, Michael, Jeshi shai, Jahdo, Buz.

15 Ahi son of Abdiel, and grandson of Guni, was head of these clans.

16 They had settled in the territory of Gi lead and Bashan, in the towns there and all over the pasture lands of Sharon.

17 (All were listed in the family records in the days of king Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel).

18 The people of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh, were 44,760 valiant men, well-trained in the use of shields, swords, and bows.

19 They waged war against the Hagrite tribes of Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab, and as they put their trust in God and called on him for help,

20 they were victorious over the Hagrites and all their allies.

21 They took with them from the Hagrites’ livestock, 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys.

22 They took 100 ,000 prisoners of war, but many of the enemy had been killed for it was God’s war. And they settled in what had been Hagrite territory until the exile.

23 The half tribe of Manasseh settled in the land between Bashan and Baal-hermon, Senir and Mount Hermon, and they were very numerous.

24 These are the heads of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These were famous warriors and leaders of their clans.

25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped the gods of the peoples whom God had driven out of the land.

26 So the God of Israel brought against them the anger of Pul, king of Assyria, and of Tilgath-pilneser, king of Assyria, who deported the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Ma nasseh. They were taken off to Halah near Habor and the river Gozan. They are still there today.
The ancestral line of the high priests

27 Sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.

28 Sons of Kohat: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

29 Sons of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Mary. Sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

30 The descendants of Eleazar from one generation to the next are as follows: Phinehas, Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi,

31 Zera hiah, Meraioth,

32 Amariah, Ahi tub,

33 Zadok, Ahimaaz,

34 Azariah, Jo ha nan,

35 Azariah (the one who served as priest in the Tem ple that Solomon built in Jerusalem),

36 Amariah, Ahitub,

37 Za dok, Shallum,

38 Hilkiah, Azariah,

39 Se raiah, Jehozadak.

40 Jehozadak was de ported when Yahweh, through King Nebuchadnezzar, sent into exile the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

The families of Levi

1 Levi had three sons: Gershom, Kohath and Merari.

2 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.

3 Sons of Kohath: Amran, Izhar, He bron, and Uzziel.

4 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their ancestors.

5 Descendants of Gershon from one gen eration to the next: Libni, Jahath, Zim mah,

6 Joah, Iddo, Zerah, Jeatheral.

7 Descendants of Kohath from one gen eration to the next: Amminadab, Korah, Assir,

8 Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir,

9 Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, Shaul.

10 Elkanah had two sons, Amasai and Ahimoth.

11 El ka nah, son of Ahimoth, Zophai, Nahath,

12 Eliab, Jeroham, El ka nah.

13 The sons of Elkanah were: Samuel his firstborn, and Abijah. Samuel had two sons: Joel, the firstborn, and Abijah, the younger.

14 Descendants of Merari from one ge neration to the next: Mahli, Libni,

15 Shi mei, Uzzah, Shimea, Haggiah, Asaiah.

16 These are the men David named to lead the singing in the Temple of Yahweh when the ark had come to rest there.

17 They were responsible for the singing before the Holy Tent of the Tent of Meeting until Solomon had built the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem. They did their duties in accordance with the rules.

18 These are the men who accomplished this ministry, and their sons:
Of the clan of Kohath: Herman, the leader of the first choir, was the son of Joel. His ancestral line went back to Jacob as follows: Herman, Joel, Sa muel,

19 Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, Zuph,

20 Elkanah, Mahath, Ama sai,

21 El ka nah, Joel, Azariah, Zepha niah,

22 Ta hath, Assir, Ebiasaph, Korah,

23 Izhar, Kohath, Levi, Israel.

24 His brother Asaph was leader of the second choir. His ancestral line went back to Levi as follows: Asaph, Bere chiah, Shimea,

25 Michael, Baase iah, Malchijah,

26 Ethni, Zerah, Adaiah,

27 Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei,

28 Jahath, Ge r sh on, Levi.

29 Ethan of the clan of Merari was the leader of the third choir, at the left side. His ancestral line went back to Levi as follows: Ethan, Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,

30 Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hil kiah,

31 Amzi, Bani, Shemer,

32 Mahli, Mushi, Medrari, Levi.

33 Their brother Levites were in charge of the Holy Tent of the Temple of Yahweh.

34 Aa -r on and his descendants burned the offerings on the altar for burnt offering and on the altar of incense. They were re sponsible for all the worship in the Most Holy Place and for the atonement for Israel’s sins, according to the instructions of Moses, the servant of God.

35 This is the line of Aaron’s descendants: Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,

36 Buk ki, Uzzi, Zerahiah,

37 Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub,

38 Zadok, Ahimaaz.

39 These are the places they lived in, according to the boundaries of their set tle ments.

40 To the sons of Aaron of the Kohath clan (to whom the first share of land was assigned) they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and the pasture lands nearby.

41 The fields and villages of this town, however, had been given to Caleb, son of Jephunneh.

42 The following towns were given to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, a city of refuge, Jattir, Lib nah, Eshtemoa,

43 Hilen, Debir,

44 Ashan, and Beth-Shemesh, with pasture lands near them.

45 In the territory of Benjamin they were given the following towns with their pasture lands: Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth. A total of thirteen towns were given them for all their families to live in.

46 To the rest of the clan of Kohath, family by family, ten towns were given from the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh.

47 The clan of Gershom, family by family, were given thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

48 The clan of Merari, family by family, were given twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebu lun.

49 The people of Israel gave these towns with their pasture lands to the Le vites.

50 They received from the territories of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin the towns to which they gave names.

51 The clans of Kohath obtained towns by lot from the tribe of Ephraim.

52 They were given the follow ing towns with their pasture lands: Shechem, the city of refuge in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer,

53 Jokmeam, Beth-Horon,

54 Aija lon, and Gath Rimmon.

55 In the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh, they were given the towns of Aner and Beileam with their pasture lands.

56 The clan of Gershon, family by family, were given the following towns with their pasture lands. In the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan, and Ashtaroth.

57 In the territory of Issachar: Kedesh, Daberath,

58 Ra moth, and Anem.

59 In the territory of Asher: Mashal, Abdon,

60 Hukok, and Rehob.

61 In the territory of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiria thaim.

62 To the rest of the clan of Merari were given the following towns with their pasture lands. In the territory of Ze bulun: Rimmono and Tabor.

63 In the territory of Reuben, beyond the Jordan River near Jericho: Bezer on the high, flat land, Jahzah,

64 Kedemoth, and Mephaath.

65 In the territory of Gad: Ramoth in Gi lead, Mahanaim,

66 He sh bon, and Jazer.

Clans and families of the northern tribes

1 Issachar had four sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shim ron.

2 Tola had six sons: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. They were heads of fami lies of the clan of Tola and famous warriors. In the time of David, the descendants numbered 22,600. Uzzi had one son, Izrahiah.

3 Iz ra hiah had four sons: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of these were chiefs

4 and they were obliged to enlist their troops: 36,000 men, for they had many wives and children.

5 The family records of all the clans of Issachar listed a total of 87,000 men able to give military service.

6 Benjamin had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael.

7 Bela had five sons: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jeri-moth and Iri. They were heads of families in the clan and famous warriors. Their family records listed 22,034 men able to give military service.

8 Becher had nine sons: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Ana thoth, and Ale meth.

9 Their family records listed 20,200 men able to give military service. Shuppin and Huppin also belonged to this tribe.

10 Jediael had one son, Bilhan who had seven sons: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tar shish, and Ahishahar.

11 They were heads of families in the clan and famous warriors, 17,200 ready for service in war.

12 Shuppin and Huppin also belong to this tribe.

13 Naphtali had four sons: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They were des cendants of Bilhah.

14 Manasseh had Asriel by his Ara mean concubine. She gave birth also to Machir, father of Gilead.

15 And Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters.

16 Maacah, wife of Machir, gave birth to two sons, whom they named Peresh and Sheresh. Peresh had two sons: Ulam and Rakem.

17 Ulam had a son named Bedan. These were the descendants of Gilead, the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh.

18 Gilead’s sister Molecheth had three sons: Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.

19 Shemida had four sons: Ahian, She chem, Likhi and Aniam.

20 These are the descendants of Eph raim from one generation to the next: Shuthelah, Bered, Tahath, Elea dah, Tahath,

21 Zabad, Shuthelah. Eph raim’s two other sons, Ezer and Elead, were killed when they tried to steal the cattle belonging to the people of Gath.

22 Ephraim, their father, mourned for them for a long time and his brothers came to comfort him.

23 Then Eph ra im went to his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son whom she called Beriah, because of the trouble that had come to their family.

24 Beriah’s daughter, Sheerah, built Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.
Ephraim also had a son named Re phah. The descendants of

25 Rephah were as follows: Resheph, Telah, Tahan,

26 La dan, Ammihud, Elishama,

27 Nun, Jo shua.

28 They had lands and settlements in Bethel and its towns, in Naasan to the east in Gezep and its towns to the west, Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns.

29 Bethshean, Taanach, Me giddo, Dor, each with its towns, were controlled by the descendants of Manas seh. In all these places lived the descendants of Joseph, son of Jacob.

30 Asher had four sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and one daughter, Se rah.

31 Sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. Malchiel was the father of Birzaith.

32 Heber had three sons: Japhlet, Shomer and Ho tham; and one daughter Shura.

33 Japhlet had three sons: Pasah, Bimhal and Ash vath.

34 Shomar, his brother, also had three sons: Roh gah, Hubbah and Aram.

35 His brother Hotham had four sons: Zo phah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.

36 The sons of Zophal were: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri and Imrah,

37 Bezer, Hod, Sham ma, Shil shah, Ithran and Beerah.

38 The sons ofJether: Jephun neh, Pispa, and Ara.

39 The sons of Ulla were descendants of A sher. They were heads of families, and famous warriors;

40 Asher’s descendants included 26,000 men able to give military service.

1 Benjamin became father of Bela, his firstborn, Ashbel second, Ahi ram third,

2 Nohah fourth, Rapha fifth.

3 Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Ab ihud,

4 Abi shua, Naaman and Ahoah,

5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.

6 These are the sons of Ehud. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Geba and led them into exile at Mana hath:

7 Naaman, Ahijah and Gera. It was he who led them into exile; he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

8 He became father of Shaharaim in the plains of Moab after he had dismissed his wives, Hushim and Baara.

9 By his new wife he had sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,

10 Jeuz, Sachia, Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.

11 By Hushim he had sons: Abitub and Elpaal.

12 Sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham and Shemed: it was he who built Ono and Lud with its outlying towns.

13 Beriah and Shema. They were heads of families of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath.

14 Shashak was his brother. Jeremoth,

15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

16 Mi chael, Ishpah, Joha were sons of Beriah.

17 Ze ba diah, Meshullam, Hizki, Haber,

18 Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab were sons of Elpaal.

19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,

20 Elioenai, Zillethai, Eliel,

21 Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimran were sons of Shimei.

22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,

23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

24 Hananiah, Elam, An thothijah,

25 Iph deiah, Penuel were sons of Shashak.

26 Sham sherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

27 Ja are shaiah, El ij ah, Zichri were sons of Jeroham.

28 These were the heads of families, grouped according to their kinship. They lived in Jerusalem.

29 At Gibeon lived Abi-gibeon, whose wife was Macaah.

30 His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher

32 and Mikloth who became father of Shimeah. These also, near their kinsmen, lived with their kinsmen in Jerusalem.

33 Ner was father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.

34 Son of Jonathan: Meribbaal. Meribba al became father of Micah.

35 Sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, Ahaz.

36 A h az became father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah father of Alemeth, Azma veth and Zimri. Zimri became father of Moza,

37 Moza father of Binea. Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

38 Azel had six sons, whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, his firstborn, then Ishmael, Sheariah, Oba diah, Ha nan. All these were sons of Azel.

39 Sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam, his firstborn, Jeush second, Eliphelet third.

40 Ulam had sons, stout fighting men and bowmen. They had numerous sons and grandsons, a hundred and fifty of them.
All these were sons of Benjamin.

Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the exile

1 All the Israelites were classified in related groups, but they were listed in the Book of the Kings of Israel. As for those of Judah, they were deported to Babylon for their faithlessness.

2 The first who came back to their towns and their estates were Israelites, priests, Levites and helpers.

3 So in Jerusalem lived Judaeans, Benjamini tes, Ephrai mites and Manassites.

4 Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, one of the sons of Perez son of Judah.

5 Of the Shilonites: Asaiah, the firstborn, and his sons.

6 Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel. Also their kinsmen: six hundred and ninety.

7 Of the tribe of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hasse nuah;

8 Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri; Mesul lam son of She phatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.

9 They had nine hundred and fifty-six kinsmen, grouped according to their kinship. All these men were heads of families.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,

11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Mera ioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God.

12 Adaiah son of Jero ham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.

13 They had kinsmen, heads of families, one thousand seven hundred and sixty men who undertook the duties of the Temple of God.

14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Has shub, son of Azrikam, son of Hasha biah of the sons of Merari,

15 Bak bakkar, Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph,

16 Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 The keepers of the gate: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their kinsmen. Shallum, was their head,

18 and they still keep station at the royal gate, to the east. These were the gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites.

19 Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebia saph, son of Korah, with his brother Kora hites, of the same family, were responsible for the liturgical service; they were “keepers of the threshold for the Tent,” for their fathers had guarded the entrance of the camp of Yahweh.

20 At one time, Phi nehas son of Eleazar had ruled them and they served before Yah weh.

21 Ze cha riah son of Meshelemiah was keeper of the gate at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

22 All the keepers of the gate at the thresholds were picked men; there were two hundred and twelve of them and they were registered in their various villages. These were appointed by David and Samuel the seer because of their loyalty.

23 They and their sons had the guardianship of the gates of the House of Yahweh, the house of the Tent.

24 On the four sides stood the keepers of the gate, east, west, north, and south.

25 Their kinsmen in their villages would come to join them for a week from time to time,

26 since the four head gate keepers themselves lived there permanently. Some of them were responsible for the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

27 They spent the night in the precincts of the house of God, their duties being to guard it and they had the keys with them to open the rooms at the morning.

28 Some of them were responsible for the furnishings of worship; they counted them whenever they put them away and took them out.

29 Others were in charge of the furniture and all the sacred furnishings, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, the spices,

30 but only the priests prepared the mixture for the spices.

31 One of the Levites, Mattithiah the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for the offerings that were to be baked on the pan.

32 Some of their kinsmen the Kohathites were responsible for the loaves to be set out in rows sabbath by sabbath.

33 These are the cantors, heads of the levitical families. When free from service they lived in the Temple chambers, because they were on duty day and night.

34 These were the heads of the families of the Levites, grouped according to their families. These heads lived in Jerusalem.
The ancestors of Saul. His death.

35 In the city of Gibeon lived Abigi be on and Jeiel, whose wife was called Maa cah.

36 His firstborn was Ab don, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Na dab,

37 Gedor, Ahio, Ze cha riah, and Mikloth.

38 Mik loth became father of Shi meam. Their descendants lived in Jerusalem near other families of their clans.

39 Ner became father of Kish, Kish father of Saul, Saul father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal.

40 Jonathan’s son Merribbaal, became father of Micah.

41 Micah had four sons: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz.

42 Ahaz became father of Jarah, Jarah father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; Zimri became father of Moza,

43 Moza father of Binea, whose son was

44 Re pha iah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel. Azel had six sons; their names were these: Azrikam, his firstborn, then Ish mael, Bocheru, Sheariah, Obadiah, Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

1 The Philistines attacked Israel, and the Israelites fled or were killed on Mount Gilboa.

2 The Philistines caught up with Saul and killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 The fighting grew heavy about Saul; he was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded.

4 Then Saul said to the young man carrying his weapon, “Draw your sword and kill me. I do not want these godless Phil istines to come and gloat over me.” But the young man was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.

5 Then the young man threw himself on his sword too and died.

6 And so Saul died, he and his three sons and all his own together.

7 All the Israelites who were in the valley heard that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they abandoned their towns and ran away. The Philistines then came in and occupied them.

8 When the Philistines came on the following day to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

9 They stripped him and, taking his head and his armor, had them carried around the land of the Philistines to proclaim the good news to their idols and their people.

10 They placed his armor in the temple of their god, but his head they hung in the temple of Dagon.

11 When all the people of Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 the valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons away and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh, and they fasted for seven days.

13 Saul died because he had been unfaithful to Yahweh: he had disobeyed the commands of Yahweh; he had even consulted the spirits of the dead.

14 As he had not consulted Yahweh, Yahweh put him to death and gave control of the kingdom to David son of Jesse.

David is anointed king

1 All the people of Israel went to David at Hebron “Look, we are your own flesh and blood.

2 Even when Saul was our king, you led Israel in battle; and Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel and shall be ruler over them.’”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh, and he became king of Israel, just as Yah weh had promised through Samuel.

4 David with all the Israelites attacked Jerusalem (that is to say, Jebus); there lived the Jebusites.

5 They said to David, “You will not get in here.” But David captured the fortress of Zion, and it became the City of David.

6 David said, “The first man to attack the Jebusites shall become leader and commander of the army.” Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander.

7 David went to live in the fortress, and because of this it was called the City of David.

8 He then built a wall around the city, and the Millo as well as the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.

9 David grew greater and greater, and Yahweh Sabaoth was with him.


David’s champions

10 These are the famous warriors of David, those who during his rule strug gled with him and with all Israel, to make him king as Yahweh had promised.

11 This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam the Hachmonite, leader of the Thirty; one day he wielded his battle-ax against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

12 After him there was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three cham pions.

13 He was with David at Pasdam mim where the Philistines had gathered to attack. There was a field full of barley there. When the Israelites started to run away,

14 Eleazar took a stand in the middle of the field, defended it and fought the Philistines. So Yahweh brought about a great victory.

15 The Thirty leading soldiers went down to David at the rock near the Cave of Adullam while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of the Rephaim.

16 David was then on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Beth lehem.

17 David sighed, “Oh, if someone would fetch me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!”

18 At this The Three, forcing their way through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem and, bringing it away, presented it to David. But David would drink none of it and poured it out as an offering to Yahweh.

19 “God keep me,” he said, “from doing this! Am I to drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” And so he would not drink it. Such were the deeds of The Three.

20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was leader of The Thirty. He fought with his spear against three hundred whom he killed, winning himself a name among The Thirty.

21 He was the most famous of The Thirty and became their captain, but he was not as famous as The Three.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a hero from Kabzeel, did many brave deeds; he killed the two Ariels of Moab. One snowy day, he went down and killed the lion in a pit.

23 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a gigantic spear in his hand, but Benaiah attacked him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed the man with it.

24 Such were the deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoi ada, winning him a name among the thirty leading soldiers.

25 He was famous among The Thirty, but he was not as famous as The Three. David put him in command of his bodyguard.

26 The other valiant warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab. Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem.

27 Sham moth from Harod, Helez the Pelonite.

28 Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa. Ab iezer from Anathoth.

29 Sibbecai from Hushah. Ilai from Ahoh.

30 Maharai from Netophah. Heled son of Baanah, from Netophah.

31 Ithai son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Ben jamin. Benaiah from Pirathon.

32 Hurai from the valleys near Gaash. Abiel from Bethhaarabah.

33 Azmaveth from Ba ha rum. Eliahba from Shaalbon.

34 Bene hashem from Gizon. Jonathan son of Shagee, from Harar.

35 Ahiam son of Sachar, from Harar. Eliphelet son of Ur.

36 Hepher from Mecherah. Ahijah the Pelonite.

37 Hezro from Carmel. Naarai son of Ezbai.

38 Joel the brother of Nathan. Mibhar son of Hagri.

39 Zelek the Ammonite. Naharai from Beeroth, armor bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah.

40 Ira from Jattir. Gareb from Jattir.

41 Uriah the Hittite. Zabad son of Ahlai.

42 Adina son of Shiza (a leading member of the tribe of Reuben, with his own group of thirty soldiers).

43 Hanan son of Maacah. Joshaphat the Mithnite.

44 Uzzia from Ashte roth. Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham the Aroerite.

45 Jediaelson of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite.

46 Eliel the Mahavite. Jeribai and Josha viah, sons of Elnaam. Ithmah the Moabite.

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Zoba.

David’s early followers

1 The following men came to David in Ziklag where he had gone to escape from King Saul. They were valiant and reliable warriors, members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul be longed.

2 They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow.

3 They were Ahiezer the leader, and Joash, sons of Hashemar from Gibeah, Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, Berach and Jehu from Ana thoth,

4 Is maiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of The Thirty;

5 Jeremiah, Ja haziel, Johanan and Jozabad from Ge deroth, 6 Eluzai, Jeri moth, Bealiah, She mariah, Shepha tiah from Hariph,

7 Elkanah, Eshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Ja sho beam, Korahites,

8 Joe lah, Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham from Gedor.

9 Some Gadites also joined David’s troops when he was at the desert fort. They were valiant fighting men and experts with shield and spear. They were as fierce-looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.

10 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah second, Eliab third,

11 Mishman nah fourth, Jeremiah fifth.

12 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,

13 Johanan eighth, Elza bad ninth,

14 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh.

15 These sons of God were troop commanders, each one in command of a unit, the junior officers placed over a hundred, and senior officers over a thousand.

16 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its course, and scattered all the people who lived on its banks, both east and west.

17 Those men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the fort.

18 David went to meet them and said, “If you come to me as friends, to give me help, then I am ready to join you. But if it is to betray me to my enemies, when I have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and punish you.”

19 Then God’s spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, leader of The Thirty, and he called out: “Yours we are, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace to you, peace to him that helps you, for God is on your side.”
David welcomed them and made them officers in his army.

20 Some people from the tribe of Ma nas seh went over to David’s side as he was setting out with the Philistines to fight Saul. But David did not help the Philistines, because their chiefs, after consultation, sent him back to Ziklag. They were afraid he would betray them to his former master Saul.

21 He was on his way to Ziklag when these Manas sites joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jedi a el, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, Zillethai, commanders of thousands in Manas seh.

22 They were reinforcements for Da vid and his troops, since they were all outstanding soldiers and became officers in the army.

23 Indeed new men joined David’s forces almost every day, so that his camp grew into an enormous camp.


The warriors who assured David’s kingship

24 These are the figures from the list of experienced warriors who joined David at Hebron to transfer Saul’s kingship to him in accordance with the command of Yahweh:

25 Sons of Judah carrying shield and spear: 6,800 men equipped for battle.

26 Of the sons of Simeon; 7,100 well-trained men.

27 Of the sons of Levi: 4,600

28 in addition to Jehoiada, in command of the Aaron ites, with 3,700 men;

29 Zadok, a young and able fight er and 22 commanders of his family.

30 Of the sons of Benjamin: 3,000 kinsmen of Saul, most of them hitherto in the service of the House of Saul.

31 Of the sons of Ephraim: 20,800 men famous in their families.

32 Of the half tribe of Ma nasseh: 18,000 men assigned by name to go and proclaim David king.

33 Of the sons of Issachar, expert in knowing the times when Israel should take action, and the way to do it: 20 0 leaders and all their kinsmen under their command.

34 Of Zebulun: 50,000 men fit for ser vice, ready to fight with weapons of every kind.

35 Of Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 men armed with shield and spear.

36 Of the Danites: 28,600 men ready for battle.

37 Of Asher: 40,000 men fit for service, ready for battle.

38 From Trans jordania: 120,000 men of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, with weapons of every kind.

39 All these warriors, ready for battle, came to Hebron willingly to proclaim David king over all Israel; and the rest of Israel, too, were all of one mind in making David king.

40 For three days they stayed there, eating and drinking with David, for their kinsmen had sent food for them.

41 Moreover from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali their neighbors brought provisions, by donkey and camel, mule and ox – flour cakes, fig cakes, bunches of raisins, wine, oil, quantities of oxen and sheep; for there was joy in Israel.

The ark is brought to Jerusalem

1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands, of hundreds, and with all the leaders.

2 To the whole assembly of Israel David said, “If you agree and if Yahweh our God wills it so, we will send messengers to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their towns and nearby lands, and tell them to gather here with us.

3 We will then go and get the ark of our God, for in the time of Saul we neglected it.”

4 They agreed to this, for in the eyes of all the people it was the right thing to do.

5 So David gathered all the people together from the Shihor of Egypt to the Pass of Hamath to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 Then David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim in Judah, to bring up the ark of God which bears the name of Yahweh who is seated on the Cherub.

7 At Abinadab’s house they placed the ark of God on a new cart. Uzziah and Ahio were leading the cart.

8 David and all Israel danced before God with all their might, singing to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of the Javelin, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah stretched out his hand and took hold of the ark.

10 Then the anger of Yahweh blazed out against Uzzah, and he killed him because he had laid his hand on the ark, and he died there in the presence of God.

11 Da vid was disturbed that Yahweh had punished Uzzah in anger, and so that place has been called Perez-uzzah ever since.

12 David went in fear of God that day and said, “How can I bring the ark of God to my home?”

13 So David did not take the ark home to the City of David, but took it to the house of a man named Obed-edom of Gath.

14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom, in his house, for three months, and Yahweh blessed the family of Obed-edom and everything that belonged to him.

1 Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David with cedar wood and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace.

2 David then knew that Yah weh had established him as king over Israel, and that for the sake of his people Israel his kingdom was being made prosperous.

3 At Jerusalem David took more wives and fathered more sons and daughters.

4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Eli shua, Elpelet,

6 Nogab, Ne pheg, Japhia,

7 Eli shama, Beeliada, Eli phelet.

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, they all marched up to capture him. On hearing this, David went out to meet them.

9 When the Philistines arrived, they began plundering the Valley of the Rephaim.

10 David consulted Yahweh, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you turn them over to me?” Yahweh answered him, “Attack! I will turn them over to you.”

11 The Philistines went up to Baal-perazim and there David defeated them. David said, “God has broken through them just as water breaks through a dam.” For this reason that place was called Baal Pera zim.

12 They had left their gods behind them there, and David ordered them to be burned.

13 Again the Philistines started plundering in the valley.

14 David again consulted God, and God answered, “Do not attack them from the front; go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, launch your attack, for God is going out ahead of you to defeat the army of the Philistines.”

16 David did as God had ordered, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon as far as Gezer.

17 David became famous everywhere, and Yahweh made every nation afraid of him.

1 David put up buildings for himself in the City of David and prepared a place for the ark of God, and he put up a tent for it.

2 Then he said, “Only the Levites shall move the ark of God, since Yahweh has chosen them to carry the ark and to serve him always.”

3 Then David gathered all Israel together in Jeru salem to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it.

4 David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi:

5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief and his hundred and twenty kinsmen;

6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah and his two hundred and twenty kinsmen;

7 of the sons of Ger shom, Joel and his hundred and thirty kinsmen;

8 of the sons of Eliza phah, She maiah and his two hundred kinsmen;

9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel and eighty kinsmen;

10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab and his hundred and twelve kinsmen.

11 David called in the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab.

12 He told them, “You are the heads of families of the Levites. Purify yourselves, you and your brothers, and bring the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, up to the place I have prepared for it.

13 The first time you were not there to carry it and Yahweh our God punished us for not consulting him as we should have done.”

14 So the priests and the Levites purified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel,

15 and the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered according to the command of Yahweh.

16 David then told the leaders of the Levites to assign duties for some Levites to sing and play a joyful tune with their various musical instruments: harps and lyres and cymbals.

17 The Levites then appointed Heman son of Joel, Asaph son of Berechiah, one of his brothers, Ethan son of Kushaiah, one of their Merarite kinsmen;

18 and with them, next in rank, their kinsmen as keepers of the gate: Zechariah son of Jaaziel, Shemi ramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mik neiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel.

19 Heman, Asaph and Ethan the cantors, were to clash the cymbals of bronze;

20 Zecha riah, Jaaziel, Shemira moth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the keyed harp.

21 Mattithiah, Eli phelehu, Mikneiah, Obed -edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, giving the beat, were to play the octave lyre.

22 Chenaniah was chosen to be in charge of the transportation, because he was very skillful at doing these things.

23 Be re chiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers to the ark.

24 The priests She baniah, Josha phat, Netha nel, Ama sal, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer were to sound the trumpet before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gate keepers to the ark.

25 So David, with the leaders of Israel and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from Obed-edom’s house with great rejoicing.

26 And while God was securing the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven sheep.

27 David was wearing a robe of fine linen, like all the Levites who carried the ark, as well as the cantors and Che naniah, the officer in charge of its transportation. David also wore the linen.

28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouts of joy to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, making music with harp and lyre.

29 Now as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh entered the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul was watching from the window and saw King David dancing and leaping with joy and she despised him.

1 They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had prepared for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

2 And when David had finished offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of Yah weh.

3 He then distributed to all the Israelites, men and women, a loaf of bread each, a piece of roasted meat, and a raisin cake.
David organizes the levitical cult

4 David appointed some of the Levites to minis ter before the ark of Yahweh, to commemorate, thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:

5 first Asaph, second Zechariah, then Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel. These were to play the harp and the lyre, while Asaph was to clash the cymbals.

6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to keep sounding the trumpet before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.

7 That day, David entrusted this song of praise to Asaph and his brethren:

8 Give thanks to Yahweh, call upon his name, proclaim his deeds to the peoples.

9 Sing to him, sing his praise; tell of all his marvels.

10 Glory in his holy name, let the hearts that seek Yahweh rejoice!

11 Seek Yahweh and his strength, seek his face untiringly;

12 Recall the wondrous deeds he has done, his miracles, the judgments from his mouth.

13 Descendants of Israel his servant, sons of Jacob his chosen one,

14 he is Yahweh our God; he rules over all the earth.

15 He remembers his cove nant forever, his promises for many generations,

16 the covenant he made with Abra ham, his promise to Isaac,

17 That he gave as law to Jacob, an everlasting covenant for Israel.

18 For he said, “I give you a land Cana an, your own possession,”

19 when they were easily counted, few in number, strangers to the country.

20 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

21 But he let no one oppress them, and punished kings for their sake:

22 “Do not touch my anointed ones, do not harm my prophets.”

23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth. Pro claim his sal vation day after day.

24 Tell his glory among the nations and his wonders to every people.

25 Yahweh is great, and highly to be praised, more fearsome than all gods.

26 Nothingness are all the gods of the nations, Yahweh himself made the heavens;

27 splendor and majesty go before him, praise and joy are in his sanctuary.

28 Give to Yahweh, families of the peoples, give to Yahweh glory and praise.

29 Give to Yahweh the glory due his name. Bring out offerings and bow before him, worship Yahweh in his sacred ornaments.

30 Be quiet before him, all the earth! Firm has he made the world, not to be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Say among the nations, “Yahweh is King!”

32 Let the sea thunder and all that it holds, let the fields exult and all that is in them,

33 let all the trees cry out for joy, and rejoice before Yahweh, for he comes to rule the earth.

34 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, his love endures forever.

35 Say, “Save us, O God, our Savior, gather us and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you.”

36 Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel from all eternity and forever! And let all the people say, “Amen! Alleluia!”

37 David left there, before the ark of the Covenant of Yahweh, Asaph and his brother Levites with the permanent charge of the worship that was held be fore the ark as each day’s ritual required.

38 He left also Obed-edom, with his sixty-eight kinsmen. Obed-edom son of Jedu thun, and Hosah were to be keepers of the gate.

39 He left Zadok the priest and the priests, his kinsmen, before the Holy Tent of Yahweh at the High place in Gibeon

40 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh regularly, morning and evening, on the altar for burnt offerings and to carry out all that is written in the Law of Yahweh laid down for Israel.

41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those who were chosen and assigned by name to give praise to God, “For his love is everlasting.”

42 With them were Heman and Jeduthun who were to sound the trumpets, cymbals and musical instruments accompanying the hymns to God. The sons of Jeduthun were given charge of the gate.

43 Then all went away, each to his own house, and David returned to bless his household.

The prophecy of Nathan

1 Once David was living in his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Here am I living in a house of cedar, while the ark of Yahweh’s covenant dwells beneath a tent cloth.”

2 Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your mind, for God is with you.”

3 But that very night Yahweh said to Nathan,

4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Yahweh says this: You yourself are not to build a temple for me to live in.

5 I have never lived in a temple from the day I brought Israel out until today, but went from tent to tent, from one shelter to another.

6 In all my journeying with the whole of Israel, did I say to any one of the rulers of Israel whom I had appointed as shepherds of my people: Why do you not build me a temple of cedar wood?

7 This you must say to my servant David: This is the word of Yahweh Sabaoth: I took you from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced. I will make your name as great as the name of the greatest on earth.

9 I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall live in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked ever again oppress them, as they did

10 in the days when I appointed judges over my peo ple Israel. For now I will subdue all their enemies. More over I tell you that I will build you a house.

11 And when your days are ended and you must die and be buried with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.

12 He will build a temple for me and I will make his throne firm forever.

13 I will be a father to him and he a son to me. I will not withdraw my support from him, as I withdrew it from Saul.

14 I will put him in charge of my people and his kingdom shall be established forever.”

15 Nathan told David accordingly all these words and this vision.


David’s prayer

16 King David then went in and, seated before Yahweh, said: “I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, Yahweh God, nor is my family.

17 Yet in your eyes, O God, this is still not enough. For you have made a promise for my descendants reaching into the distant future and you have looked on me as a great man.

18 What more can I say to you? For you know your servant David.

19 You yourself have done this because you have looked kind
ly on your servant and you wanted to show your own greatness.

20 O Yahweh, there is none like you, no God ex cept you alone, that we have ever heard of.

21 Is there another people on the earth like your people Israel, whom you rescued from slavery in Egypt to make them your own people, giving yourself a name for great and terrible things by driving nations out before your people whom you rescued from Egypt?

22 You made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, have become their God.

23 Now, Yahweh, let the promise you have made to me and to my descendants be always kept.

24 May this promise hold good and your name be exalted forever; may they say, ‘Yahweh Sabaoth, the God of Israel, is God for Israel.’ And let my descendants be established before you forever.

25 O my God, you have just made known to me that you will build me a house; because of this I have to offer this prayer in your presence.

26 Yes, Yahweh, you are God indeed, and you have made this kind promise to me.

27 Be pleased, then, to bless my house so that they may remain forever in your favor. You, Yahweh, are the one who blesses, and your blessing will rest on them forever.”

The wars of David

1 After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, taking Gath and its outlying villages.

2 He also defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became subject to David, paying him taxes.

3 At Hamath David defeated Hadade zer, king of Zobah, who was trying to gain control of the territory by the river Euphrates.

4 David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him; David hamstrung all the chariot teams, keeping only a hundred of them.

5 The Arameans of Damascus came to the help of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, but David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.

6 Then David established governors in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David, paying him taxes. Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory.

7 David took the golden shields of the guards of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 From Tibhath and from Cun, towns belonging to Hada dezer, David took a great quantity of bronze; with this Solomon would make the bronze Sea and the bronze pillars and furnishings.

9 When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah,

10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadadezer, since Hada de zer was the ene my of Tou. Ha do ram brought articles of every kind in gold, silver and bronze,

11 which King David also consecrated to Yahweh together with the silver and gold he had taken from all the nations: Edom, Moab, Ammonites, Philistines, Amalek.

12 After that David defeated the Edo mites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand of them.

13 He imposed governors on Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory.

14 David ruled over all Israel, administering law and justice to all his people.

15 Joab son of Zeruiah was in command of the army; Jehoshapat son of Ahilud was recorder;

16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests; Shavsha was secretary;

17 Bena iah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Che retites and Pelethites; David’s sons were the chief assistants of the King.

1 Afterwards Nahash, king of the Ammo nites, died and his son Hanun became king.

2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun, son of Nahash, since his father was kind to me.” And David sent messengers with his condolences on his father’s death. But when David’s servants reached Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to present these con dolences,

3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Do you think David means to honor your father when he sends you messengers of sympathy? On the contrary he has sent them here as spies to explore the land, so that he can conquer it.”

4 Hanun had David’s servants seized, shaved their beards, cut their clothes half-way up to the hips and sent them away.

5 As soon as David was told what had happened to these men, he sent someone to meet them, for the men were too ashamed to return home. And he said, “Stay in Jericho, until your beards have grown again, and come back then.”

6 The Ammonites saw that they had made David their enemy and so Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from the Aramaeans of Upper Mesopotamia, of Maacah and of Zobah.

7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots; also the king of Maacah with his army. These came and encamped before Mede ba, while the Ammonites came out from all their cities and got ready to fight.

8 When David heard this, he sent Joab with the whole army and the warriors.

9 The Ammonites marched out and took up their positions at the entrance to the town, but the kings who had come remained in the open country.

10 Joab, seeing that he had to fight on two fronts, to his front and to his rear, chose the best fighters of the Israelites and drew them up in line facing the Aramaeans.

11 He placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, to face the Ammonites. He said to him,

12 “If the Aramaeans prove too strong for me, you shall come to my help; if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I will come to yours.

13 Take courage and fight hard for the sake of our people and the towns of our God. And may Yahweh do as he thinks right.”

14 Joab and the force with him ad vanced to attack the Aramaeans,who fled before him.

15 When the Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans were running away, they too fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and withdrew into their town. Then Joab came back to Jerusalem.

16 Seeing that they had been defeated by Israel, the Aramaeans sent messengers and mobilized the Aramae ans from beyond the river, with Sho phach, commander of Hadadezer’s army, at their head.

17 News of this was brought to David, who gathered the Israelite troops, crossed the Jordan, and met them. David drew up his line of battle facing the Ara maeans, and the fighting began.

18 But the Aramaeans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their chariot teams and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, their general.

19 When the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. After this the Aramaeans refused to give help to the Ammonites.

1 At the turn of the year, the time when kings go to war, Joab set out with the army to invade the land of the Ammonites and went to lay siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it.

2 David took the gold crown from the head of the Ammonite idol Milcom; they found that it weighed about seventy five pounds. In it was set a precious stone which made an ornament for David’s head. He carried off a great quantity of loot from the town.

3 He brought away its population and set them to work with saws, iron picks and axes. David treated all the Ammonite towns in the same way. Then David and the whole army returned to Jerusalem.

4 After this, war broke out again with the Philistines at Gezer. This was when Sibbecai of Hushah killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim. The Phi listines were defeated.

5 War with the Philistines broke out again, and Elha nan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath of Gath, the shaft of whose spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam.

6 There was another battle at Gath, where there was a giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all. He too was a descendant of Raphaim.

7 He defied Israel and Jo nathan, son of David’s brother Shi mea, killed him.

8 These men were descended from Raphaim of Gath and they were killed by David and his guards.

The census

1 Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel and so he made David take a census of the Israelites.

2 David said to Joab and to the senior army officers, “Go, and take a census of Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, then come back that I may know their number.”

3 Joab said, “May Yahweh multiply the people a hundred times! My lord king, are they not all your servants? Why do you want to do this? Will you bring guilt upon Israel?”

4 But the king enforced his order on Joab, and Joab went away, traveling through the whole country of Israel before he returned to Jerusalem.

5 Joab gave David the figures for the census of the people: the whole of Israel numbered one million, one hundred thousand men capable of drawing sword, and Judah four hundred and seventy thousand capable of drawing sword.

6 But Joab disapproved of the king’s command, and, because of this he had not taken any census of Levi or of Benjamin.

7 God looked with displeasure on what had been done and so he began to punish Israel.

8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. But now I beg you to forgive me for this fault. I have been very foolish.”

9 Then Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s prophet,

10 “Go and say to David, ‘Yahweh says this: I offer you three things; choose one of them for me to do to you.”

11 So Gad went to David and said, “Yahweh says this, ‘Take your choice:

12 three years of famine, three months running away from the armies of your enemies, or three days of Yahweh’s own sword, an epidemic in your land, with Yahweh’s destroying angel bringing death throughout Israel.’ Now decide how I am to answer him who sends me.”

13 David said to Gad, “This is a hard choice, but let me rather fall into the power of Yahweh, since his mercy is very great; and not into the power of men.”

14 So Yahweh sent an epidemic on Israel, and sev enty thousand men of the Israelites died.

15 God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, Yahweh looked and changed his mind; and he said to the destroying angel, “Enough! Now withdraw your hand.” The angel of Yahweh was standing beside the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

16 David saw the angel of Yahweh standing between the heavens and earth with a naked sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

17 And David prayed to God, “Was it not I who sinned, by ordering this wicked census? But these, this flock, what have they done? Yahweh my God, let your hand lie heavy on me and on my family; but let your people escape the plague.”

18 The angel of Yahweh then said to Gad, “David must go up and build an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

19 So David obeyed the command which Gad had spoken in the name of Yahweh.

20 Now Ornan, as he turned, had seen the angel and had hidden, with his four sons. Ornan was threshing wheat

21 when David came to him. When Ornan looked up and saw David coming, he left the threshing floor and with his face to the ground did homage to David.

22 Then David said to Ornan, “Sell me your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh. Let me have it at its full price, that the plague may be turned away from the people.”

23 “Take it,” Ornan said to David, “and let my lord the king do as he thinks right. Look, I will give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing sled for the wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I give them all.”

24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, I must buy it from you at the full price; I will not take for Yahweh what is yours, or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

25 So David gave Ornan six hundred gold coins for the threshing place.

26 David built an altar there to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called on Yahweh, and Yahweh answered him with fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings

27 and ordered the angel to put his sword away.

28 Then David saw that Yahweh had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, so he kept on offering sacrifices there.

29 The Holy Tent of Yahweh that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar for burnt offerings were at that time at the High place at Gibeon,

30 but David had not been able to go there before God to consult him, so fearful was he of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.

1 Then David said, “Here is where the Temple of Yahweh God will be; and this is where the people of Israel are to offer burnt offerings.”


Preparations for the building of the temple

2 David gave orders to gather all the strangers living in the land of Israel and he set stonecutters to prepare stone blocks for building the Temple of God.

3 David furthermore stored up great quantities of iron to make nails for the wooden gates and for clamps, and more bronze than could be weighed;

4 logs of cedar too, beyond number, the Sidonians and Tyrians having brought cedar logs to David in great quantities.

5 Then David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the Tem ple to be built for Yahweh must be of great splendor, and famous for its magnificence in every country. I will make preparations for him.” And so, before he died, David laid away large amounts of the materials needed.

6 He then sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel,

7 “My son, my heart was set on building a temple for the name of Yahweh my God.

8 But Yahweh told me, ‘You have shed much blood and fought great battles; it is not for you to build a temple for my name, since you have shed so much blood on the earth in my presence.

9 But now a son is born to you. He shall be a man of peace, and I will give him peace from all the enemies that surround him; for Solomon is his name, and in his days I will give Israel peace and quiet.

10 He shall build a temple for my name; he shall be a son to me and I a father to him. His dynasty will rule Israel forever.

11 Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and give you success in building a temple for Yahweh your God, as he has said concerning you.

12 Yet may he give you insight and wisdom so that you may govern Israel according to his Law.

13 Success will be yours if you carefully observe the statutes and the ordinances that Yahweh has prescribed to Moses for Israel. Be strong and stand fast, be fearless, be confident.

14 Poor as I am, I have set aside for the Temple of Yahweh four thousand tons of gold, and nearly forty thousand tons of silver and more bronze and iron than can be weighed; I have stored up wood and stone too, to which you must add more.

15 You will have many workmen, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, skilled artisans of every kind,

16 while your supply of gold and silver, bronze and iron, will be unlimited. Set to work, then, and may Yahweh be with you!”

17 David then commanded all the Israelite leaders to help his son Solomon,

18 “Is not Yahweh your God with you? He has given you peace on all sides, since he has let me conquer all the people who lived in this land, and the land has been subdued for Yahweh and for his people.

19 So now devote heart and soul to the search for Yahweh your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of Yahweh your God, so that the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy things of God may be brought to the Temple that is built for the name of Yahweh.”

The work of the Levites

1 When David was very old, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

2 He then gathered all the Israelite leaders together, with the priests and Levites.

3 A census was taken of those Le vites thirty years old or older. The total was thirty-eight thousand;

4 twenty-four thousand of these were responsible for the services of the house of Yahweh; six thousand were scribes and judges;

5 four thousand were keepers of the gate; four thousand praised Yahweh on the instruments David had made for that purpose.

6 Then David divided the Levites into three groups, according to their clans: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

7 For the Gershonites: Ladan and Shi mei.

8 Sons of Ladan: Jehiel first, Zetham, Joel; three in all.

9 Sons of Shimei: She lomoth, Haziel, Haran; three in all. These are the heads of families of Ladan.

10 Sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei; four in all.

11 Jahath was the eldest, Zirah the second, then Jeush and Beriah, who had not many children and were counted as one family.

12 Sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, Uzziel; four in all.

13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart to be in charge of the sacred objects forever, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to serve him and to bless the people in his name forever.

14 As for Moses, the man of God, his sons were included among the Levites.

15 Sons of Moses: Ger shom and Eliezer.

16 Sons of Ger shom: Shebuel, the first:

17 Eliezer had sons: Rehabiah, the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.

18 Sons of Izhar: Shelomith, the first.

19 Sons of Hebron: Jeriah first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, Jekameam fourth.

20 Sons of Uzziel: Micah first, Isshiah second.

21 Sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Elea zar died leaving no sons but only daughters; their cousins, the sons of Kish, married these.

23 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jeremoth; three in all.

24 These were the sons of Levi by their families, the heads of families, and those registered by name, individually; whoever was twenty years old or older had his duty in the service of the Temple of Yahweh.

25 For David had said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people, and he dwells in Jerusalem forever.

26 The Levites are no longer required to carry the Holy
Tent or anything used in its service.”

27 According to the last words of David, the Le vites who had been registered were of twenty years and older.

28 Their duty is to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the Temple of Yahweh, in the courts and chambers, to purify everything that is sacred; their duty is to serve the Temple of God.

29 They are also responsible for the loaves set out in rows, and for the flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the cakes baked on the griddle or mixed, and they are to weigh and measure the Temple offerings.

30 They have to be present every morning to give glory and praise to Yahweh, and also in the evening,

31 and at every burnt offering to Yahweh on the sabbath, New Moon or solemn feast, in such numbers as are prescribed. They must always be present before Yahweh.

32 In serving the Temple of Yahweh they observe the ritual of the Tent of Meeting, the ritual of the sanctuary and the ritual of their brethren, the sons of Aaron.

The classification of the Priests

1 These are the groups to which the descendants of Aaron belong. Sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar.

2 Nadab and Abihu died in their father’s lifetime leaving no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests.

3 David divided them into groups with the help of Zadok, one of Eleazar’s sons, and Ahimelech, one of the sons of Ithamar, and made a register of them according to their duties.

4 The sons of Eleazar were found to have more leading men than the sons of Ithamar; accordingly, from the heads of families of the sons of Eleazar they made sixteen groups, and from those of the sons of Ithamar, eight.

5 They divided them, both parties, by lot: there were Temple officials and spiritual leaders among the sons of Eleazar, as well as among the sons of Ithamar.

6 One of the Levites, the scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, recorded them in the presence of the king, his officers, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar and the heads of the priestly and levitical families. They took turns in drawing lots for each family of the sons of Eleazar and for the sons of Ithamar.

7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, to Je daiah the second,

8 Harim the third, Seorim the fourth,

9 Malchijah the fifth, Mijamin the sixth,

10 Hakkoz the seventh, Abijah the eighth,

11 Jeshua the ninth, Shecaniah the tenth,

12 Eliashib the eleventh, Jakim the twelfth,

13 Hup pah the thirteenth, Ishbaal the fourteenth,

14 Bil gah the fifteenth, Immer the sixteenth,

15 Hezir the seventeenth, Hap pizzez the eighteenth,

16 Pethahiah the nineteenth, Jehezkel the twentieth,

17 Ja chin the twenty-first, Gamul the twenty-second,

18 Delaiah the twenty-third, Maaziah the twenty-fourth.

19 These men were registered according to their various duties, to enter the Temple of Yahweh according to the regulations that Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given through Haran, their ancestor.

20 As regards the rest of the sons of Levi:
Sons of Amram: Shubael. Sons of Shu bael: Jeh deiah.

21 For Rehabiah, for the sons of Rehabiah: the eldest, Is shiah.

22 Izharites: Shelomoth: Jahath.

23 Sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Ama riah the second, Jahaziel the third, Je ka meam the fourth.

24 Sons of Uzziel: Micah; sons of Micah: Shamir;

25 the brother of Micah: Isshiah; sons of Mi cah: Isshiah, Zecha riah.

26 Sons of Me ra ri: Mahli and Mushi. Sons of Jaaziah: his son;

27 sons of Merari: for Jaaziah his son: Shoham, Zaccur, Ibri:

28 for Mahli: Eleazar who had no sons;

29 for Kish: the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.

30 Sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, Jerimoth.

31 These were the sons of Levi by their families. The head of each family and one of his younger brothers drew lots for their assignments, just as their relatives, the priests descended from Aaron, had done. King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites were witnesses.

The cantors

1 For the liturgy, David and the senior army officers set apart the sons of Asaph, of Heman and of Je duthun, who prophesied playing lyre and harp and cymbal, and a list was made of those with these duties to perform.

2 Sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Netha niah, Asharelah; the sons of As aph were under the direction of Asaph who prophesied whenever the king commanded.

3 For Jeduthun: sons of Jeduthun: Geda liah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, Matti thiah; there were six of them under the direction of their father Jeduthun who, to the sound of the lyre, sang praise and thanks to the Lord.

4 For Heman: sons of Heman: Buk kiah, Mat ta niah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jeri moth, Hana niah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Roman tiezer, Joshbekashah, Mal lothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.

5 All these were sons of Heman, the king’s seer; these sounded the trumpet when Yah weh’s word came. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters;

6 all of them sang in the Temple of Yahweh under their father’s direction to the sound of cymbal, harp and lyre, for the liturgy in the house of Yahweh at the king’s direction.

7 All of these, whether of Asaph, Je duthun or Heman, who were trained in singing to Yahweh, all of them skilled men, were altogether two hundred and eighty-eight.

8 They drew lots to determine the assignment of duties of each of them whether they were young or old, experts or beginners.

9 The first lot fell to the Asaphite, Joseph. The second was Gedaliah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

10 The third was Zaccur, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

11 The fourth was Izri, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

12 The fifth was Nethaniah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

13 The sixth was Bukkiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

14 The seventh was Jesha relah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

15 The eighth was Jeshaiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

16 The ninth was Matta niah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

17 The tenth was Shimei, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

18 The eleventh was Azarel, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

19 The twelfth was Hashabiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

20 The thirteenth was Shubael, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

21 The fourteenth was Mat tithiah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

22 The fifteenth was Jeremoth, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

23 The sixteenth was Hana niah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

24 The seventeenth was Joshbe kashah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

25 The eighteenth was Hanani, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

26 The nineteenth was Mallothi, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

27 The twentieth was Elia thah, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

28 The twenty-first was Hothir, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

29 The twenty-second was Giddalti, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

30 The twenty-third was Mahazioth, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

31 The twenty-fourth was Romamtiezer, he and his sons and brothers were twelve.

The keepers of the gate

1 These are the assignments of work for the Levites who served as Temple guards. For the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Ebiasahp.

2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.

4 Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Netha nel the fifth,

5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.

6 Shema iah had sons who were important men in their clan because of their great ability.

7 Sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elza bad and his brothers, Elihu and Sema chia, brave men.

8 All these were sons of Obed-edom. These and their sons and brothers were highly qualified for this work. For Obed-edom, sixty-two.

9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers: eighteen brave men.

10 Hosah, son of Merari, had sons: Shimri was the first, for although he was not the firstborn his father had made him the chief.

11 Hilkiah was the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. Altogether thirteen members of Hosah’s family were Temple guards.

12 The Temple guards were divided into groups, according to their families, and they were assigned duties in the Temple, just as the other Levites were.

13 They drew lots, junior and senior family alike, to see which gate it would be responsible for.

14 For the east side the lot fell to She lemiah, whose son Zechariah was a shrewd counselor; when they drew lots, the lot for the north side fell to the latter.

15 To Obed-edom went the south, and to his sons the storehouse.

16 To Shuppim and Hosah went the west with the Gate of the Felled Treetrunk on the upper road. Watches were established for each family.

17 On the east, six daily; on the north, four daily; on the south, four daily; at the storehouse, two each side;

18 for the Parbar.

19 These were the orders of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and Merarites.

20 Others of their fellow Levites were in charge of the Temple Treasury and the storerooms for gifts dedicated to God.

21 The sons of Ladan, sons of Ger shon, through Ladan had the Jehielites for heads of the families of Ladan the Ger shonite.

22 The Jehielites, Zetham and Joel his brother, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of Yahweh.

23 As regard the Amramites, Izha rites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites;

24 Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, was the officer responsible for the treasuries.

25 His kinsmen through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, Shelomoth his son.

26 This Shelomoth and his kinsmen were in charge of all the gifts dedicated to Yahweh by King David and by the heads of families as officers of thousands, of hundreds, or as other senior officers.

27 There was a part of the loot they captured in battle and dedicated for use in the Temple

28 and also the things that Samuel, the seer, and Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated. All that had been dedicated was under the responsibility of Shelomoth and his kinsmen.

29 For the Izharites: Chananiah and his sons were in charge of Israel’s civil affairs as officials and judges.

30 For the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred fighting men, were appointed as overseers of all Israel west of Jordan, for all the service of Yahweh and the service of the king.

31 For the Hebro nites: Jerijah the chief. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, the family line of the Hebronite families was investigated and fighting men were found belonging to them at Jazer in Gilead.

32 King David appointed two thousand seven hun dred fighting men, kinsmen to Jerijah and heads of families, as overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Ma nasseh for all the service of Yahweh and the sacrifices of the king.

Military and civil organization

1 Census of the sons of Israel; The heads of families, the co m manders of thousands and hundreds, and other officers who served the king in all that referred to the divisions of twenty-four thousand men each, that were on duty for a month, each month of the year.

2 For the first month Jasho beam, son of Zabdiel,

3 son of Perez, and chief of all the offi cers of the division had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

4 For the second month Dodai, the Aho hite had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

5 For the third month Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the chief priest, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

6 Benaiah who was champion of The Thirty, was overseer for The Thirty and for his division. Ammizabad was his son.

7 For the fourth month was Asahel, the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. He had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

8 For the fifth month, Shamhuth the Izrahite had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

9 For the sixth month, Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

10 For the seventh month, Helez the Pelonite, an Ephrai mite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

11 For the eighth month, Sibbecai of Hushah, a Zerahite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

12 For the ninth month, Abiezer of Ana thoth, a Benjaminite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

13 For the tenth month, Ma harai of Netophah, a Zerahite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

14 For the eleventh month, Benaiah of Pirathon, an Ephraimite, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

15 For the twelfth month, Heldai from Netophah, of Othniel, had charge of a division of twenty-four thousand men.

16 Overseers for the tribes of Israel: Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer for the Reubenites, Shephatiah, son of Maacha for the Simeonites,

17 Hashab iah, son of Kemuel for the Levites, Zadok for the Aaronites,

18 Elihu, one of David’s brothers, for the Judaeans, Omri son of Michael for the Issachari tes,

19 Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah for the Zebulunites, Jeremoth, son of Azriel for the Naphta lite,

20 Hoshea, son of Aza ziah for the Ephraimites, Joel, son of Pedaiah for the half tribe of Ma nasseh,

21 Iddo, son of Zechariah for the half tribe of Manasseh in Gad, Jaasiel, son of Abner for the Benjami nites,

22 Azarel, son of Jeroham for the Danites. These were the officials for the tribes of Israel.

23 David took no census of those who were twenty years old and under, since Yahweh had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.

24 Joab, son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish it for God punished Israel because of this census. The final figures were never recorded in the official records of King David.

25 This is the list of those who administered the king’s property. Overseers for the king’s storerooms: Azma veth son of Adiel. Commissioner for the stores in provincial towns, villages, castles: Jonathan son of Uzziah.

26 For the agricultural workers employed on the land: Ezri son of Chelub.

27 For the vineyards: Shimei of Ramah. For those in the vineyards who looked after the wine cellars: Zabdi of Shepham.

28 For the olives and sycamores in the lowlands: Baal-hanan of Geder. For the stores of oil: Joash.

29 For cattle in pasture at Sharon: Shitrai of Sharon. For cattle in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai.

30 For camels: Obil, the Ishma elite. For donkeys: Jeh deiah of Mera noth.

31 For flocks: Jaziz, the Ha grite. All these were overseers for King David’s property.

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a skillful adviser and a scholar. Jehiel son of Hach moni attended the king’s sons.

33 Ahitho phel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was Friend of the King.

34 Jehoia da, son of Bena iah, and Abia thar succeeded Ahitho phel. Joab was commander of the king’s armies.

David’s instructions for the temple

1 David held a meeting in Jerusa lem of all the officials of Israel, the overseers for the tribes, and the officials in the royal service, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the overseers for all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important men.

2 Then King David got up and said: “My brothers and my people, listen to me. I had set my heart on building a settled home for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, as a footstool for our God. I have made preparations for building,

3 but God has said to me, ‘You are not to build a temple for my name, for you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’

4 Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose Judah for leader, my family within the tribe of Judah, and of my father’s sons, myself. He was pleased to make me king of all Israel.

5 Of all my sons – he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of Yahweh over Israel.

6 He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the man to build my Temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me and I will be a father to him.

7 I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws and commands as he does now.’

8 So now in the sight of all Israel and of the assem bly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God, I tell you to observe and meditate on all the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you may possess this prosperous land and leave it to your children after you as an inheritance forever.

9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind; for Yahweh knows all our thoughts and desires. If you seek him, he will let you find him; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever.

10 Realize at this moment that Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for him as sanctuary. Be strong and set to work.”

11 David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, the buildings, the treasuries, the upper rooms, the inner apartments and the room where the mercy Seat would be.

12 He also gave him a description of all he had in mind for the courts of Yahweh’s House, all the surrounding apartments, the treasuries of Yahweh’s House and the treasuries of votive offerings;

13 also of the orders of priests and Levites, the liturgical duties in Yahweh’s House.

14 He instructed him about how much silver and gold was to be used for making the utensils,

15 the bullion for the golden lamp stands and their lamps, the gold bullion for the silver lamp stand, for the lampstand and its lamps according to the requirements for each lamp stand,

16 gold bullion for the tables on which the rows of bread were set, for each of these tables, the silver for the silver tables,

17 the forks, the sprinkling bowls, basins of pure gold, the gold bullion for the bowls, for each of the bowls,

18 the bullion of refined gold for the altar of incense. He gave him the plans for the chariot, for the golden cherubim with wings outspread covering the ark of the covenant of Yahweh –

19 all this in accordance with the plan drawn according to the instructions which Yahweh himself gave him to carry out.

20 Then David said to his son Solo mon, “Be strong, stand firm; be fearless, be determined and set to work, because Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have finished all the work to be done for the House of Yahweh.

21 Here are the orders of priests and Levites for all the duties of the House of God; every willing man of any aptitude will help you in all this work; the officials and all the people are entirely at your command.”

1 Then King David said to the whole assembly, “Solomon my son, whom Yahweh has chosen, is still young and the work is great; this palace is not for people but for Yahweh God.

2 With all my means, I have provided for the house of my God, adding gold to gold, silver to silver, bronze to bronze, iron to iron, wood to wood, onyx, inlaid stones, colored and striped stones, precious stones of every kind, masses of alabaster.

3 What is more, the gold and silver that I have in my own treasury I give out of love for the house of God, above what I have provided already for the Holy House –

4 115 tons of the finest gold, gold of Ophir, 265 tons of pure silver for plating the walls of the buildings.

5 Whatever gold you have, whatever silver, or workmanship of the craftsman’s hand, will each of you offer it to Yahweh today?”

6 Then the heads of families, the officials for the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and those who managed the king’s affairs,

7 gave for the service of the house of God 190 tons of gold, 380 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron.

8 Those who had precious stones brought them to Jehiel, the Gershonite for the treasury of Yahweh’s House.

9 The people rejoiced at what had been given so readily, since their gifts to Yahweh had been made wholeheartedly. King David too was filled with joy.

10 In sight of the whole assembly David blessed Yahweh and said:
“May you be blessed, Yahweh God of Israel our ancestor, forever and ever!

11 Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, splendor, length of days, glory, for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty forever, O Yahweh; you are supreme ruler over all.

12 Riches and honor go before you, you are ruler of all, in your hand lie strength and power; You are the one who gives greatness and strength to all.

13 At this time, our God, we give you thanks, we praise the splendor of your name.

14 For who am I and what is my people to have received all that we give you back now? All comes from you; what we have received from your own hand we have given to you.

15 For we are strangers before you, settlers only, as all our ancestors were; our days on earth pass like a shadow, and there is no hope beyond.

16 Yahweh, our God, all this wealth that we have brought together to build a house for your holy Name, comes from your hand, all is yours.

17 O my God, I know that you examine the heart and delight in honesty, and in honesty of heart I have willingly given all this; and now with joy I have seen your people here offer their gifts willingly.

18 O Yahweh, God of our fathers, Abra ham, Isaac, and Israel, keep such thoughts in the hearts and minds of your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you.

19 Give Solomon my son a heart determined to keep your commandments, your de crees, your statutes; may he practice them all, and build this palace I have prepared for you.”

20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless now Yahweh your God!” And the whole assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and went on their knees to give honor to Yahweh and to the king.

21 The following day, the Israelites offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to Yahweh: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, a thousand lambs with their wine offerings, as well as many sacrifices for the whole of Israel.

22 They ate and drank that day in Yahweh’s presence with great joy. Then they made Solomon, son of David, their second king and anointed him to rule over them in the name of Yahweh, and anointed Zadok as priest.

23 Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh, in place of David his father. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.

24 All the officials, all the champions, and even all the sons of King David, swore fidelity to King Solomon.

25 Yahweh exalted Solo mon greatly in the eyes of all Israel, and gave him a glorious reign such as had not been enjoyed by any king over Israel before him.

26 David son of Jesse had reigned over the whole of Israel.

27 His reign over Israel had lasted forty years; he had reigned in Hebron for seven years, and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.

28 He died at a good old age, with his fill of days, of riches, of honor. Then his son Solomon succeeded him.

29 The history of King David, from first to last, can be found in the records of Samuel, the prophet, the records of Nathan the prophet, and the records of Gad, the prophet.

30 These records tell how he ruled, how powerful he was, and all the things that happened to him, to Israel, and to the surrounding kingdoms.