1 Chronicles 8-11

New King James Version

The Family Tree of King Saul of Benjamin^(A)

8 Now Benjamin begot ^(B)Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, ^[a]Aharah the third, ² Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. ³ The sons of Bela were ^[b]Addar, Gera, Abihud, ⁴ Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, ⁵ Gera, ^[c]Shephuphan, and Huram.

⁶ These are the sons of Ehud, who were the heads of the fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of ^(C)Geba, and who forced them to move to ^(D)Manahath: ⁷ Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera who forced them to move. He begot Uzza and Ahihud.

⁸ Also Shaharaim had children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. ⁹ By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, ¹⁰ Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of their fathers’ houses.

¹¹ And by Hushim he begot Abitub and Elpaal. ¹² The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns; ¹³ and Beriah and ^(E)Shema, who were heads of their fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. ¹⁴ Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, ¹⁵ Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, ¹⁶ Michael, Ispah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. ¹⁷ Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸ Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. ¹⁹ Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, ²¹ Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of ^[d]Shimei. ²² Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, ²³ Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, ²⁴ Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah, ²⁵ Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. ²⁶ Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, ²⁷ Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.

²⁸ These were heads of the fathers’ houses by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.

²⁹ Now ^[e]the father of Gibeon, whose ^(F)wife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. ³⁰ And his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, ³¹ Gedor, Ahio, ^[f]Zecher, ³² and Mikloth, who begot ^[g]Shimeah. They also dwelt ^[h]alongside their ^[i]relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren. ^33 (G)Ner^[j] begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, ^[k]Abinadab, and ^[l]Esh-Baal. ³⁴ The son of Jonathan was ^[m]Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot ^(H)Micah. ³⁵ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, ^[n]Tarea, and Ahaz. ³⁶ And Ahaz begot ^[o]Jehoaddah; Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza. ³⁷ Moza begot Binea, ^[p]Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

³⁸ Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹ And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.

⁴⁰ The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor—archers. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty in all. These were all sons of Benjamin.

Priests and Levites in Jerusalem

9 So ^(I)all Israel was ^[q]recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. ^2 (J)And the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and ^(K)the Nethinim.

Dwellers in Jerusalem

³ Now in ^(L)Jerusalem the children of Judah dwelt, and some of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: ⁴ Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the descendants of Perez, the son of Judah. ⁵ Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. ⁶ Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren—six hundred and ninety. ⁷ Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; ⁸ Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah; ⁹ and their brethren, according to their generations—nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of a father’s house in their fathers’ houses.

The Priests at Jerusalem

^10 (M)Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin; ^11 [r]Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ^(N)officer over the house of God; ¹² Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer; ¹³ and their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses—one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were ^[s]very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

The Levites at Jerusalem

¹⁴ Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; ¹⁵ Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of ^(O)Zichri, the son of Asaph; ^16 (P)Obadiah the son of ^(Q)Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

The Levite Gatekeepers

¹⁷ And the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was the chief. ¹⁸ Until then they had been gatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi at the King’s Gate on the east.

¹⁹ Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, from his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, ^[t]gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to the camp of the Lord. ²⁰ And ^(R)Phinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the Lord was with him. ^21 (S)Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was ^[u]keeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

²² All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. ^(T)They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel ^(U)the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. ²³ So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment. ²⁴ The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south. ²⁵ And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time ^(V)for seven days. ²⁶ For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. ²⁷ And they lodged all around the house of God because ^[v]they had the ^(W)responsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning.

Other Levite Responsibilities

²⁸ Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count. ²⁹ Some of them were appointed over the furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over the ^(X)fine flour and the wine and the oil and the incense and the spices. ³⁰ And some of the sons of the priests made ^(Y)the ointment of the spices.

³¹ Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office ^(Z)over the things that were baked in the pans. ³² And some of their brethren of the sons of the Kohathites ^(AA)were in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath.

³³ These are ^(AB)the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night. ³⁴ These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were heads throughout their generations. They dwelt at Jerusalem.

The Family of King Saul

³⁵ Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was ^(AC)Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon. ³⁶ His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷ Gedor, Ahio, ^[w]Zechariah, and Mikloth. ³⁸ And Mikloth begot ^[x]Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren. ^39 (AD)Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. ⁴⁰ The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah. ⁴¹ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, ^[y]Tahrea, ^(AE)and^[z] Ahaz. ⁴² And Ahaz begot ^[aa]Jarah; Jarah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza; ⁴³ Moza begot Binea, ^[ab]Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

⁴⁴ And Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

Tragic End of Saul and His Sons^(AF)

10 Now ^(AG)the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. ² Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, ^[ac]Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. ³ The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers. ⁴ Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. ⁵ And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. ⁶ So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together. ⁷ And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

⁸ So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to ^[ad]strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among the people. ^10 (AH)Then they put his armor in the ^[ae]temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

¹¹ And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the ^(AI)valiant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to ^(AJ)Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

¹³ So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had ^[af]committed against the Lord, ^(AK)because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because ^(AL)he consulted a medium for guidance. ¹⁴ But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and ^(AM)turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

David Made King over All Israel^(AN)

11 Then ^(AO)all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. ² Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your ^(AP)God said to you, ‘You shall ^(AQ)shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ” ³ Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And ^(AR)they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord ^[ag]by ^(AS)Samuel.

The City of David^(AT)

⁴ And David and all Israel ^(AU)went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, ^(AV)where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. ⁵ But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). ⁶ Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be ^[ah]chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. ⁷ Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it ^[ai]the City of David. ⁸ And he built the city around it, from ^[aj]the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab ^[ak]repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ So David ^(AW)went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with ^(AX)him.

The Mighty Men of David^(AY)

¹⁰ Now ^(AZ)these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to ^(BA)the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

¹¹ And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: ^(BB)Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, ^(BC)chief of ^[al]the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.

¹² After him was Eleazar the son of ^(BD)Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. ¹³ He was with David at ^[am]Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. ¹⁴ But they ^[an]stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹⁵ Now three of the thirty chief men ^(BE)went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped ^(BF)in the Valley of ^[ao]Rephaim. ¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. ¹⁷ And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” ¹⁸ So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. ¹⁹ And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

^20 (BG)Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of another ^[ap]three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three. ^21 (BH)Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.

²² Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who ^[aq]had done many deeds. ^(BI)He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. ²³ And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, ^[ar]five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men. ²⁵ Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.

²⁶ Also the mighty warriors were ^(BJ)Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ^27 [as]Shammoth the Harorite, ^(BK)Helez the ^[at]Pelonite, ^28 (BL)Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, ^(BM)Abiezer the Anathothite, ^29 [au]Sibbechai the Hushathite, ^[av]Ilai the Ahohite, ^30 (BN)Maharai the Netophathite, ^[aw]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, ^31 [ax]Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, ^(BO)Benaiah the Pirathonite, ^32 [ay]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, ^[az]Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth the ^[ba]Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ the sons of ^[bb]Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam the son of ^[bc]Sacar the Hararite, ^[bd]Eliphal the son of ^[be]Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ^37 [bf]Hezro the Carmelite, ^[bg]Naarai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the ^[bh]Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah), ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ^41 (BP)Uriah the Hittite, ^[bi]Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him, ⁴³ Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, ⁴⁵ Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.