1 Chronicles 2-12

International Standard Version

Genealogies of Israel and Judah^(A)

2 Here’s a list of Israel’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

³ Judah’s three sons Er, Onan, and Shelah were born to him through Bath-shua, a Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, became wicked in the Lord’s sight, so he put him to death. ⁴ Judah’s^[a] daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah, so Judah had five sons in all.

⁵ Perez’s sons were Hezron and Hamul.

⁶ Zerah had five sons in all: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara.^[b]

⁷ Carmi’s son was Achar,^[c] who became Israel’s troublemaker by transgressing the Lord’s commandment^[d] regarding things that were to be destroyed.

⁸ Ethan’s son was Azariah.

⁹ Hezron’s sons born to him were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. ¹⁰ Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, who was leader of the descendants of Judah.

¹¹ Nahshon fathered Salma, Salma fathered Boaz, ¹² Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse. ¹³ Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab his second born, Shimea his third born, ¹⁴ Nethanel his fourth born, Raddai his fifth born, ¹⁵ Ozem his sixth born, David his seventh born; ¹⁶ along with their sisters Zeruiah and Abigail.

Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. ¹⁷ Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

¹⁸ Hezron’s son Caleb had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. ¹⁹ When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. ²⁰ Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.

²¹ Later, Hezron married^[e] the daughter of Machir, who had fathered Gilead. He married her when he was 60 years old, and she bore him Segub. ²² Segub fathered Jair, who had 23 towns in the land of Gilead. ²³ But Geshur and Aram took 60 towns from Gilead,^[f] including Havvoth-jair and Kenath, along with their villages. All these were descendants of Machir, who fathered Gilead.

²⁴ After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur, who fathered Tekoa.

²⁵ The descendants of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.

²⁶ Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

²⁷ The descendants of Ram, firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.

²⁸ Onam’s descendants were Shammai and Jada.

Shammai’s descendants were Nadab and Abishur.

²⁹ Abishur’s wife was named Abihail. She bore him Ahban and Molid.

³⁰ Nadab’s descendants were Seled and Appaim. Seled died childless.

³¹ Appaim’s son^[g] was Ishi. Ishi’s son^[h] was Sheshan. Sheshan’s son^[i] was Ahlai.

³² Shammai’s brother Jada’s descendants were Jether and Jonathan, but Jether died childless.

³³ Jonathan’s descendants were Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

³⁴ Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. However, Sheshan had an Egyptian slave named Jarha. ³⁵ So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his slave Jarha, and she bore him Attai.

³⁶ Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad. ³⁷ Zabad fathered Ephlal, Ephlal fathered Obed, ³⁸ Obed fathered Jehu, Jehu fathered Azariah, ³⁹ Azariah fathered Helez, Helez fathered Eleasah, ⁴⁰ Eleasah fathered Sismai, Sismai fathered Shallum. ⁴¹ Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.

⁴² Jerahmeel’s brother Caleb’s descendants were his firstborn Mesha,^[j] who fathered Ziph.

The descendants of Mareshah, who fathered Hebron, were as follows:^[k]

⁴³ Hebron’s descendants were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.

⁴⁴ Shema fathered Raham, who fathered Jorkeam.

Rekem fathered Shammai. ⁴⁵ Shammai’s descendants included^[l] Maon, who fathered Beth-zur. ⁴⁶ Caleb’s mistress Ephah also bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez.

Haran fathered Gazez. ⁴⁷ Jahdai’s descendants were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. ⁴⁸ Caleb’s mistress Maacah bore Sheber, Tirhanah, ⁴⁹ and Shaaph, who fathered Madmannah. Sheva fathered Machbenah and Gibe. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah. ⁵⁰ These were Caleb’s descendants.

The son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, was Shobal, who fathered Kiriath-jearim, ⁵¹ Salma, who fathered Bethlehem, and Hareph, who fathered Beth-gader.

⁵² Shobal, who fathered Kiriath-jearim, had other sons, including Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. ⁵³ The families of Kiriath-jearim included the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites came from them.

⁵⁴ Salma’s descendants were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.

⁵⁵ The families of the scribes who lived at Jabez included the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, who fathered the house of Rechab.

Genealogy of David and Solomon^(B)

3 These are David’s descendants who were born to him in Hebron: Amnon his firstborn by Ahinoam the Jezreelite, Daniel his second born by Abigail the Carmelite, ² Absalom his third born by Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur, Adonijah his fourth born by^[m] Haggith, ³ Shephatiah his fifth born by Abital, and Ithream his sixth born by his wife Eglah. ⁴ These six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months.

He reigned 33 years in Jerusalem. ⁵ These four children^[n] were born to David^[o] by Bath-shua^[p] daughter of Ammiel while he was living^[q] in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, ⁶ followed by nine more: Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, ⁷ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁸ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. ⁹ All these were David’s sons, besides children born to his mistresses. Tamar was their sister.

¹⁰ Solomon’s descendants included Rehoboam, his son Abijah, his son Asa, his son Jehoshaphat, ¹¹ his son Joram, his son Ahaziah, his son Joash, ¹² his son Amaziah, his son Azariah, his son Jotham, ¹³ his son Ahaz, his son Hezekiah, his son Manasseh, ¹⁴ his son Amon, and his son Josiah.

¹⁵ Josiah’s descendants included Johanan his firstborn, his second born Jehoiakim, his third born Zedekiah, and his fourth born Shallum.

¹⁶ Jehoiakim’s descendants included his son Jeconiah, and his son Zedekiah.

¹⁷ The descendants of Jeconiah, who was taken^[r] captive to Babylon^[s], included his son Shealtiel, ¹⁸ Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

¹⁹ Pedaiah’s descendants included Zerubbabel and Shimei.

Zerubbabel’s descendants included Meshullam and Hananiah, along with Shelomith their sister ²⁰ and five others:^[t] Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed.

²¹ Hananiah’s descendants included Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son^[u] Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, and his son Shecaniah.

²² Shecaniah’s son was Shemaiah, and the six^[v] sons of Shemaiah were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.

²³ The three sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.

²⁴ The seven sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

Genealogy of Judah

4 Judah’s descendants were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

² Shobal’s son Reaiah fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.

³ These were the descendants of^[w] the ancestor of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and their sister’s name was Hazzelelponi.

⁴ Penuel fathered Gedor and Ezer fathered Hushah.

These were the descendants of Hur, Ephrathah’s firstborn, who fathered Bethlehem: ⁵ Tekoa’s father Ashhur had two wives, Helah and Naarah. ⁶ Naarah bore him these sons: Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari.^[x]

⁷ The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar,^[y] and Ethnan.

⁸ Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Harum’s son Aharhel.

⁹ Jabez enjoyed more honor than his relatives—his mother named him Jabez, she said, “because I bore him in pain.”^[z]

¹⁰ Later on, Jabez called on the God of Israel, asking him,^[aa] “…whether you would bless me again and again, enlarge my territory, keep your power^[ab] with me, keep me from evil, and keep me from harm!” And God granted what he had requested.

¹¹ Chelub, Shuhah’s brother, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. ¹² Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, who fathered Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.

¹³ Kenaz’s descendants were Othniel and Seraiah.

Othniel’s descendants were Hathath ¹⁴ and Meonothai, who fathered Ophrah.

Seraiah fathered Joab, who fathered the Ge-harashim,^[ac] because they became artisans.

¹⁵ The descendants of Jephunneh’s son Caleb were Iru, Elah, and Naam.

Elah’s son^[ad] was Kenaz.

¹⁶ Jehallelel’s descendants were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

¹⁷ Ezrah’s descendants were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon.

Mered’s wife^[ae] conceived Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, who fathered Eshtemoa. ¹⁸ Then his Judean wife bore Jered, who fathered Gedor and then Heber, who fathered Soco and Jekuthiel, who fathered Zanoah. These are the descendants of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married.

¹⁹ The descendants of Hodiah’s wife, Naham’s sister, fathered Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.

²⁰ Shimon’s descendants were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon.

Ishi’s descendants were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.

²¹ The descendants of Judah’s son Shelah were Er, who fathered Lecah, Laadah (who fathered Mareshah and the families who belonged to the guild^[af] of linen workers at Beth-ashbea), ²² Jokim, the men who lived in Cozeba, Joash, and Saraph (who married Moabite families),^[ag] and Jashubi-lehem.^[ah] (The records are ancient.)^{[ai] 23} These people^[aj] were potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah in service to their king, who lived there.

Genealogy of Simeon^(C)

²⁴ Simeon’s descendants were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul, ²⁵ his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.

²⁶ Mishma’s descendants were his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei.

²⁷ Shimei had 16 sons and six daughters, but his relatives did not have many children, nor did their entire family multiply like the Judeans did. ²⁸ They lived in Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹ Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David began to reign.

³² Their cities were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, for a total of^[ak] five cities, ³³ along with all their settlements that surrounded these cities as far as Baal—this is their settlement history.^[al]

They kept this genealogical record for themselves: ³⁴ Meshobab, Jamlech, Amaziah’s son Joshah, ³⁵ Joel, Joshibiah’s son Jehu (who was the grandson of Seraiah and great-grandson of Asiel), ³⁶ Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, ³⁷ Shiphi’s son Ziza (who was the grandson of Shiphi, who was fathered by Allon, who was fathered by Jedaiah, who was fathered by Shimri, who was fathered by Shemaiah)— ³⁸ these people,^[am] enumerated by name, were leaders in their respective families, and their clans grew to be very abundant.

³⁹ They journeyed as far as the entrance of Gedor on the east side of the valley in order to find pasture for their flocks. ⁴⁰ They discovered abundant and excellent grazing lands there, where the land was very broad, secure, and tranquil, because the former inhabitants there were descendants of Ham. ⁴¹ Later on, during the reign^[an] of King Hezekiah of Judah, these people,^[ao] enumerated by name, came and attacked both their homes^[ap] and the Meunim who had settled there and who remain exterminated to this day. They settled down there, taking their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. ⁴² Some of them—that is, 500 Simeonite men—went to Mount Seir.^[aq] Under the leadership of Ishi’s sons Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, ⁴³ they destroyed the survivors of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

Genealogy of Reuben^(D)

5 Here is a record of^[ar] the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israel’s son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. ² Even though Judah became prominent among his relatives—that is, the Commander-in-chief^[as] will be his descendant—nevertheless the right of the firstborn went to Joseph.)

³ The descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, included Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

⁴ Joel’s descendants were his son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, ⁵ his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, ⁶ and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried away into exile, and who was a governor of the descendants of Reuben.

⁷ His relatives, listed by families when the genealogy was enrolled according to their generations, included^[at] the chief, Jeiel, Zechariah, ⁸ and Azaz’s son Bela, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel, who lived in Aroer, near Nebo and Baal-meon. ⁹ He also lived eastward as far as the entrance to the wilderness this side of the Euphrates River,^[au] because their cattle had increased in the territory of Gilead. ¹⁰ During the reign^[av] of Saul they declared war on the Hagrites, who fell in battle by their hand. They lived in their tents throughout all of east Gilead.

Genealogy of Gad

¹¹ Gad’s descendants lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: ¹² They included^[aw] Joel their chief, Shapham their second in command,^[ax] Janai, and Shaphat, who lived^[ay] in Bashan. ¹³ Their seven relatives, according to the households of their clans, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. ¹⁴ These were the descendants of Huri’s son Abihail, who was fathered by Jaroah, who was fathered by Gilead, who was fathered by Michael, who was fathered by Jeshishai, who was fathered by Jahdo, and who was fathered by Buz: ¹⁵ Abdiel’s son Ahi, who was the grandson of Guni, was chief in their clan. ¹⁶ They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and in all the surrounding suburbs^[az] of Sharon as far as their borders. ¹⁷ All of them were enrolled by genealogies during the reign^[ba] of King Jotham of Judah and during the reign^[bb] of King Jeroboam of Israel.

¹⁸ The descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh produced 44,700 valiant soldiers expert in shield, sword, and bow. Trained in warfare, they were equipped to serve at a moment’s notice. ¹⁹ They fought in battle against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. ²⁰ When they received assistance against them, the Hagrites and all of their allies were handed over to their control, because they cried out to God during the battle. He honored their entreaty, because they had placed their trust in him. ²¹ They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 war captives from their possessions. ²² Many fell slain, because the battle’s outcome was directed by God. They lived in their territory^[bc] until the exile.

Genealogy of Manasseh

²³ The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, spread out from Bashan to Baal-hermon, including^[bd] Senir and Mount Hermon. ²⁴ These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel—they were mighty warriors, well known men, and leaders of their clans. ²⁵ But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors by prostituting themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had exterminated right in front of them. ²⁶ So the God of Israel incited^[be] King Pul of Assyria (also known as^[bf] King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), who took them prisoner and brought the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the Gozan River, where they remain^[bg] to this day.

Genealogy of Levi’s Sons^(E)

6 ^[bh]Levi’s descendants included^[bi] Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. ² Kohath’s sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ³ Amram’s descendants included Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron’s sons included Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ⁴ Eleazar fathered Phinehas, Phinehas fathered Abishua, ⁵ Abishua fathered Bukki, Bukki fathered Uzzi, ⁶ Uzzi fathered Zerahiah, Zerahiah fathered Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, ⁸ Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Ahimaaz, ⁹ Ahimaaz fathered Azariah, Azariah fathered Johanan, ¹⁰ and Johanan fathered Azariah, who served as priest in the Temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem. ¹¹ Azariah fathered Amariah, Amariah fathered Ahitub, ¹² Ahitub fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Shallum, ¹³ Shallum fathered Hilkiah, Hilkiah fathered Azariah, ¹⁴ Azariah fathered Seraiah, and Seraiah fathered Jehozadak. ¹⁵ The Lord sent Jehozadak, Judah, and Jerusalem into exile, using Nebuchadnezzar to do it.^[bj]

^16 [bk]Levi’s descendants included Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. ¹⁷ These are the names of Gershom’s descendants: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁸ Kohath’s sons included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ¹⁹ Merari’s sons included Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the descendants of Levi according to their ancestry: ²⁰ Gershom’s clan included^[bl] his son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, ²¹ his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.

²² Kohath’s descendants included Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, ²³ his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, ²⁴ his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.

²⁵ Elkanah’s descendants included Amasai and Ahimoth, ²⁶ his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath, ²⁷ his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.

²⁸ Samuel’s descendants included Joel his firstborn and his second son^[bm] Abijah.

²⁹ Merari’s descendants included Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, ³⁰ his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.

David’s Musicians

³¹ These are the men^[bn] to whom David handed responsibility for music in the Temple of the Lord, after the ark came to rest there. ³² They ministered in song^[bo] in front of the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon had built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They served in accordance with orders of service designated for them.

³³ These are the men who served, including their descendants: From the descendants of Kohath, there was^[bp] Heman the singer, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Samuel, ³⁴ who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Jeroham, who had been fathered by Eliel, who had been fathered by Toah, ³⁵ who had been fathered by Zuph, who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Mahath, who had been fathered by Amasai, ³⁶ who had been fathered by Elkanah, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Azariah, who had been fathered by Zephaniah, ³⁷ who had been fathered by Tahath, who had been fathered by Assir, who had been fathered by Ebiasaph, who had been fathered by Korah, ³⁸ who had been fathered by Izhar, who had been fathered by Kohath, who had been fathered by Levi, who had been fathered by Israel.

³⁹ There was also^[bq] his brother Asaph, who stood to Heman’s^[br] right. Asaph had been fathered by Berechiah, who had been fathered by Shimea, ⁴⁰ who had been fathered by Michael, who had been fathered by Baaseiah, who had been fathered by Malchijah, ⁴¹ who had been fathered by Ethni, who had been fathered by Zerah, who had been fathered by Adaiah, ⁴² who had been fathered by Ethan, who had been fathered by Zimmah, who had been fathered by Shimei, ⁴³ who had been fathered by Jahath, who had been fathered by Gershom, and who had been fathered by Levi.

⁴⁴ To Heman’s^[bs] left were their relatives who were Merari’s sons: Ethan, who had been fathered by Kishi, who had been fathered by Abdi, who had been fathered by Malluch, ⁴⁵ who had been fathered by Hashabiah, who had been fathered by Amaziah, who had been fathered by Hilkiah, ⁴⁶ who had been fathered by Amzi, who had been fathered by Bani, who had been fathered by Shemer, ⁴⁷ who had been fathered by Mahli, who had been fathered by Mushi, who had been fathered by Merari, who had been fathered by Levi, ⁴⁸ along with their relatives, descendants of Levi who had been appointed for all the service of the tent of the Temple of God.

⁴⁹ Meanwhile, Aaron and his sons presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, carrying out the work of the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel in accordance with everything that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

⁵⁰ These are Aaron’s sons: his son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, ⁵¹ his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, ⁵² his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, ⁵³ his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.

Levitical Settlements^(F)

⁵⁴ These are the settlement locations allotted within their borders to Aaron’s descendants in the Kohathite clan since the lot was cast in their favor first. ⁵⁵ Hebron in the territory of Judah was allotted to them, along with its surrounding suburbs.^{[bt] 56} The fields adjacent to^[bu] the city and its villages were allotted to Jephunneh’s son Caleb. ⁵⁷ They allotted these cities of refuge to the descendants of Aaron: Hebron, Libnah with its surrounding suburbs, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its surrounding suburbs, ⁵⁸ Hilen with its surrounding suburbs, Debir with its surrounding suburbs, ⁵⁹ Ashan with its surrounding suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its surrounding suburbs. ⁶⁰ From the tribe of Benjamin were allotted^[bv] Geba with its surrounding suburbs, Alemeth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anathoth with its surrounding suburbs. All their towns allotted to their families totaled thirteen.

⁶¹ Ten towns were allocated to the rest of the descendants of Kohath by lot out of the family of the tribe, that is, the half-tribe of Manasseh. ⁶² To the descendants of Gershom according to their families were allotted 13 towns in Bashan from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. ⁶³ The descendants of Merari were allotted 12 towns according to their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁶⁴ So the people of Israel gave the descendants of Levi the towns with their surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁵ allocating these towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

⁶⁶ A few of the families of Kohath’s descendants had towns of their territory allotted from^[bw] the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ They were given these cities of refuge: Shechem with its surrounding suburbs in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam with its surrounding suburbs, Beth-horon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁶⁹ Aijalon with its surrounding suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁰ and (from of the half-tribe of Manasseh), Aner with its surrounding suburbs, and Bileam with its surrounding suburbs for the rest of the Kohathite families.

⁷¹ From the half-tribe of Manasseh the descendants of Gershom were allotted Golan in Bashan with its surrounding suburbs and Ashtaroth with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷² From the tribe of Issachar were allotted Kedesh with its surrounding suburbs, Daberath with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷³ Ramoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anem with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁴ From of the tribe of Asher were allotted Mashal with its surrounding suburbs, Abdon with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁵ Hukok with its surrounding suburbs, and Rehob with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁶ From the tribe of Naphtali were allotted Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding suburbs, Hammon with its surrounding suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its surrounding suburbs. ⁷⁷ From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the descendants of Merari were allotted Rimmono with its surrounding suburbs, and Tabor with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁸ across the Jordan from Jericho, that is, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben were allotted Bezer in the steppe with its surrounding suburbs, Jahzah with its surrounding suburbs, ⁷⁹ Kedemoth with its surrounding suburbs, and Mephaath with its surrounding suburbs. ⁸⁰ From the tribe of Gad were allotted Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding suburbs, Mahanaim with its surrounding suburbs, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its surrounding suburbs, and Jazer with its surrounding suburbs.

Genealogy of Issachar^(G)

7 The four descendants of Issachar included^[bx] Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. ² Tola’s descendants included Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, leaders of their ancestral house of Tola, who were valiant warriors during their lifetimes. During the life of David, they numbered 22,600. ³ Uzzi fathered Izrahiah, and Izrahiah fathered Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, all five of them leaders. ⁴ In addition to them, according to their ancestral records were 36,000 members of their trained army by their generations, because they had many wives and children. ⁵ As recorded in their genealogy, a total of 87,000 trained warriors belonged to all of the clans of Issachar.

Genealogy of Benjamin^(H)

⁶ Benjamin’s three descendants included Bela, Becher, and Jediael.

⁷ Bela’s five descendants included Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, who were leaders of their ancestral households. Valiant warriors, their enrollment totaled 22,034 according to their genealogies.

⁸ Becher’s descendants included Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were descendants of Becher, ⁹ and their genealogical enrollment totaled 20,200 valiant warriors, delineated according to their generations as leaders of their ancestral households.

¹⁰ Jediael fathered Bilhan, and Bilhan’s descendants included Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. ¹¹ All these were descendants through Jediael according to the heads of their ancestral households. Their valiant warriors totaled 17,200 equipped and ready for battle.

¹² In addition, Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and the Hushites were^[by] descended from Aher.

Genealogy of Naphtali^(I)

¹³ Naphtali’s descendants included Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, descended through Bilhah.

Genealogy of Manasseh

¹⁴ Manasseh’s descendants included Asriel, whom his Aramean mistress bore, along with Machir, who fathered Gilead. ¹⁵ Machir chose wives for his sons^[bz] Huppim and for Shuppim. He had a sister named Maacah. His second son^[ca] was named Zelophehad, and Zelophehad fathered only^[cb] daughters.^{[cc] 16} Machir’s wife Maacah bore a son whom she named Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. ¹⁷ Ulam’s son was Bedan. These were the children of Machir’s son Gilead, who was also a descendant of Manasseh. ¹⁸ His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. ¹⁹ Shemida’s sons included Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

Genealogy of Ephraim

²⁰ Ephraim’s descendants included Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath, ²¹ his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah, his son Ezer, and Elead. The people of Gath, who were native to the land, killed them when^[cd] they came down to raid their cattle. ²² So their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. ²³ Later, Ephraim had marital relations with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, whom he named Beriah,^[ce] because his household had been visited with disaster.

²⁴ His daughter Sheerah built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, along with Uzzen-sheerah. ²⁵ Rephah was also his descendant,^[cf] as were Resheph, Telah, Tahan, ²⁶ Ladan, Ammihud, Elishama, ²⁷ Nun, and Joshua. ²⁸ Their possessions and settlements included Bethel and its towns,^[cg] Naaran to the east, Gezer and its towns to the west, Shechem and its towns as far as Ayyah and its towns ²⁹ along the borders of the descendants of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its towns. In these lived the descendants of Israel’s son Joseph.

Genealogy of Asher^(J)

³⁰ Asher’s descendants included Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.

³¹ Beriah’s descendants included Heber and Malchiel, who fathered Birzaith. ³² Heber fathered Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua.

³³ Japhlet’s descendants included Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the descendants of Japhlet.

³⁴ Shemer’s descendants included Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.

³⁵ His brother Helem’s descendants included Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.

³⁶ Zophah’s descendants included Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, ³⁷ Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.

³⁸ Jether’s descendants included Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.

³⁹ Ulla’s descendants included Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.

⁴⁰ All of these were men of Asher, leaders of ancestral households, choice valiant mighty warriors, and chiefs among princes. Their enrolled genealogies for battle conscription^[ch] totaled 26,000 men.

Genealogy of Benjamin^(K)

8 Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel his second born, Aharah his third born, ² Nohah his fourth born, and Rapha his fifth born.

³ Bela’s descendants included^[ci] Addar, Gera, Abihud, ⁴ Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, ⁵ Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

⁶ Ehud’s descendants, who were leaders of their ancestral households in Geba and who were taken into exile to Manahath, included: ⁷ Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera (also known as Heglam), who fathered Uzza and Ahihud.

⁸ Shaharaim fathered sons in the land of Moab after he had divorced^[cj] his wives Hushim and Baara. ⁹ By his wife Hodesh he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, ¹⁰ Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons and leaders of ancestral households.

¹¹ He also fathered his sons Abitub and Elpaal by Hushim.

¹² Elpaal’s descendants included Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod, along with its towns),^{[ck] 13} Beriah and Shema, leaders of ancestral households in Aijalon who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath, ¹⁴ Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, ¹⁵ Zebadiah, Arad, and Eder.

¹⁶ Beriah’s descendants included Michael, Ishpah, and Joha.

¹⁷ Elpaal’s descendants included Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸ Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab.

¹⁹ Shimei’s descendants included Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, ²¹ Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath.

²² Shashak’s descendants included Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, ²³ Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, ²⁴ Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, ²⁵ Iphdeiah, and Penuel.

²⁶ Jeroham’s descendants included Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, ²⁷ Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri.

²⁸ All of these were the leaders of ancestral households, chiefs according to their generations. They lived in Jerusalem.

²⁹ Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife was named Maacah. ³⁰ His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, ³¹ Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, ³² and Mikloth, who fathered Shimeah. Now these also lived with their relatives across town in Jerusalem from^[cl] their other^[cm] relatives.

³³ Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.^[cn]

³⁴ Jonathan fathered Merib-baal and Merib-baal fathered Micah.

³⁵ Micah’s descendants included Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.

³⁶ Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. ³⁷ Moza fathered Binea, and Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

³⁸ Azel had six sons. Their names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan—all of these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹ The sons of his brother Eshek included Ulam his firstborn, Jeush his second, and Eliphelet his third. ⁴⁰ Ulam’s descendants were valiant warriors and archers. They had 150 children and grandchildren, all descendants of Benjamin.

Summary of the Genealogies

9 All of Israel was enumerated by genealogy and recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel^[co] as^[cp] Judah was being taken captive into exile to Babylon due to their disobedience.^{[cq] 2} The first to settle on their own property in their own towns of Israel were priests, descendants of Levi, and the Temple Servants.^[cr]

Jerusalem after the Exile

³ In Jerusalem there lived some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh including^{[cs] 4} Ammihud’s son Uthai, who was the grandson of Omri, who was the great-grandson of Imri, who was fathered by Bani from the descendants of Judah’s son Perez. ⁵ From the descendants of Shilon there was^[ct] Asaiah the firstborn, along with his descendants. ⁶ From the descendants of Zerah there was Jeuel, along with 690 of their relatives. ⁷ From the descendants of Benjamin there was Meshullam’s son Sallu, who was also the grandson of Hodaviah and great-grandson of Hassenuah, ⁸ Jeroham’s son Ibneiah, Uzzi’s son Elah, who was also Michri’s grandson, and Shephatiah’s son Meshullam, who was the grandson of Reuel and great-grandson of Ibnijah, ⁹ along with 956 of their relatives according to their generations. All of these were leaders of families according to their ancestral households.

Priests in Service

¹⁰ From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, ¹¹ and Hilkiah’s son Azariah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Zadok, who was fathered by Meraioth, who was fathered by Ahitub, the Chief Operating Officer^[cu] of the Temple of God. ¹² There was^[cv] Jeroham’s son Adaiah, who was fathered by Pashhur, who was fathered by Malchijah, and Adiel’s son Maasai, who was fathered by Jahzerah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Meshillemith, who was fathered by Immer, ¹³ along with 1,760 of their relatives, who were leaders of their ancestral households, valiant and qualified to serve in the Temple of God.

Levitical Families

¹⁴ From the descendants of Levi there was Hasshub’s son Shemaiah, who was the grandson of Azrikam, who was fathered by Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari; ¹⁵ along with Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mica’s son Mattaniah, who was the grandson of Zichri and great-grandson of Asaph, ¹⁶ and Shemaiah’s son Obadiah, who was the grandson of Galal, who was fathered by Jeduthun, and Asa’s son Berechiah, who was the grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

¹⁷ The gatekeepers included^[cw] Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and other^[cx] relatives. Shallum was the leader. ¹⁸ He used to be stationed in the King’s Gate on the east side as one of^[cy] the gatekeepers of the camp belonging to the descendants of Levi. ¹⁹ Kore’s son Shallum, who was the grandson of Ebiasaph and the great-grandson of Korah, and the descendants of Korah (who were relatives of his ancestral house) were over the service responsibilities and served as guardians of the entrances of the Tent, just as their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of the Lord and guardians of the entrance. ²⁰ Eleazar’s son Phinehas used to be Commander-in-Chief^[cz] over them—the Lord was with him. ²¹ Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah was gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ²² All these, who had been set apart as gatekeepers at the entrances, numbered 212 and had been enrolled by genealogies in their villages.

David and Samuel the seer installed them in their positions of trust, ²³ so they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the House of the Tent, as guardians. ²⁴ The guardians were stationed on four sides—east, west, north, and south. ²⁵ Their relatives who lived in their villages were required to visit every seven days to be with them in turn, ²⁶ because the four senior gatekeepers (who were descendants of Levi) had been placed in charge of the chambers and the treasury of the Temple of God. ²⁷ They spent the night near the Temple of God, since they had been entrusted to guard it. They were in charge of opening it every morning.

²⁸ Some were responsible for the service utensils, and they were required to take an inventory of them when they were brought in and out. ²⁹ Others were responsible for the furniture and for all of the holy utensils, including the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices. ³⁰ Other descendants of the priests prepared the mixed spices. ³¹ Mattithiah, a descendant of Levi and firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of making the offering^[da] cakes. ³² Some of their Kohathite relatives were responsible to prepare the rows of bread for each Sabbath. ³³ These singers, leaders of ancestral households of the descendants of Levi, were living in the chambers of the Temple. Freed from other service responsibilities, they were on duty day and night. ³⁴ These leaders of the descendants of Levi, enrolled according to their genealogies, lived in Jerusalem.

Genealogy of King Saul

³⁵ Jeiel, who fathered Gibeon, lived in the city of^[db] Gibeon. His wife was named Maacah. ³⁶ His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by^[dc] Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷ Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. ³⁸ Mikloth fathered Shimeam. They lived across town from^[dd] their relatives in Jerusalem. ³⁹ Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. ⁴⁰ Jonathan fathered Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah.

⁴¹ Micah’s descendants included Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. ⁴² Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza, and ⁴³ Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. ⁴⁴ Azel had six descendants with these names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan—these were the descendants of Azel.

The Death of Saul and His Sons^(L)

10 The Philistines were fighting against Israel, and each^[de] soldier^[df] of Israel fled before the Philistines. They fell slain on the mountain of Gilboa. ² The Philistines followed after Saul and after his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons. ³ The heaviest fighting was against Saul,^[dg] and when the archers who were shooting located Saul, he was gravely wounded by them.^[dh]

⁴ Saul ordered his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised people will come and abuse me.”

But his armor bearer did not want to do it^[di] because he was very frightened, so Saul took the sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his^[dj] sword and died. ⁶ Therefore Saul, his three sons, and all his entire household died together. ⁷ When that part of the army^[dk] of Israel that was in the valley saw that the rest of the^[dl] army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and occupied them.

The Philistines Desecrate Saul’s Body^(M)

⁸ The Philistines came to strip the dead the next day, and they found Saul dead on Gilboa mountain, along with his sons. ⁹ They stripped him, took his head and armor, and sent messengers throughout the territory of the Philistines to report the news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ Then they put Saul’s^[dm] armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his skull to the wall of^[dn] the temple of Dagon.

The People of Jabesh-gilead Give Saul a Proper Burial^(N)

¹¹ When all the residents of^[do] Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² every valiant soldier^[dp] got up, removed the bodies of Saul and his sons, took them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk^[dq] tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted for seven days. ¹³ So Saul died for his transgressions; that is, he acted unfaithfully to the Lord by transgressing the message from the Lord (which he did not keep), by consulting a medium for advice, ¹⁴ and by not seeking counsel^[dr] from the Lord, who therefore put him to death and turned the kingdom over to Jesse’s son David.

David is Anointed King^(O)

11 Later on, all of Israel gathered together at Hebron in order to tell David, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood!^{[ds] 2} Even back when Saul was ruling as king, you kept on leading the army of Israel out to battle^[dt] and bringing them in again.^[du] The Lord your God told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and will be Commander-in-Chief^[dv] over my people Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where David entered into a covenant in^[dw] the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel, just as the Lord had sent word through^[dx] Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem

⁴ Later, David and all of Israel marched to Jerusalem (then known as Jebus, where the Jebusites lived when they inhabited the land). ⁵ The inhabitants of Jebus told David, “You’re not coming in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.

⁶ David had announced, “Whoever first attacks the Jebusites will be appointed chief and commander.” When Zeruiah’s son Joab went up first, he became chief. ⁷ David occupied^[dy] the fortress, so it was named the City of David after him. ⁸ He built up the walls surrounding the city in a complete circle from the terrace ramparts,^[dz] and Joab repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ David became more and more prestigious because the Lord of the Heavenly Armies was with him.

David’s Elite Soldiers^(P)

¹⁰ These are the leaders of the elite warriors who were strong supporters of David in his kingdom, along with all of Israel, in keeping with the message from the Lord concerning Israel. ¹¹ This record of the warriors who were for David included^[ea] Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam,^[eb] leader of the platoons,^[ec] who killed 300 with his spear in a single encounter.

¹² Next to him among the Three Warriors^[ed] was Dodo^[ee] the Ahohite’s son Eleazar. ¹³ He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were there to engage them in battle. There was a field planted with barley, and the army had run away from the Philistines, ¹⁴ but they took a defensive stand in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines while the Lord saved them by means of a great victory.^[ef]

¹⁵ Later, the Three Warriors went down to David’s hideout^[eg] at the cave of Adullam when the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants.^{[eh] 16} David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David expressed a longing, “Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that’s by the city gate!” ¹⁸ So the Three Warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, poured it out in the Lord’s presence, and ¹⁹ said in response, “May God forbid me to do this! I won’t drink the blood of these men, will I? After all, they risked their lives to bring it to me.”^[ei] That’s why he wouldn’t drink it. The Three Warriors did these things.

David’s Other Valiant Soldiers^(Q)

²⁰ Joab’s brother Abishai was the lieutenant^[ej] in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. ²¹ He was more well-known than the Three,^[ek] but he never attained the stature of the Three.

²² Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named^[el] Ariel from Moab^[em] and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. ²³ He also killed a soldier^[en] from Egypt of enormous height—five cubits^[eo] tall. The Egyptian carried a spear comparable in size to a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three Warriors. ²⁵ He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to^[ep] the Three Warriors. David placed him in charge of his security detail.

²⁶ The elite forces included Asahel (Joab’s brother), Dodo’s son Elhanan from Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth from Haror,^[eq] Helez the Pelonite,^{[er] 28} Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, ²⁹ Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰ Maharai from Netophah, Baanah’s son Heled from Netophah, ³¹ Ribai’s son Ithai from Gibeah, controlled by^[es] the descendants of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, ³² Hurai from the wadis^[et] of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon, ³⁴ Hashem the Gizonite, Shagee the Hararite’s son Jonathan, ³⁵ Sachar the Hararite’s son Ahiam, Ur’s son Eliphal, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷ Hezro from Carmel, Ezbai’s son Naarai, ³⁸ Joel (Nathan’s brother), Hagri’s son Mibhar, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth, who was the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Ahlai’s son Zabad, ⁴² Shiza the Reubenite’s son Adina, a leader of the descendants of Reuben, along with thirty others with him, ⁴³ Maacah’s son Hanan, Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Hotham the Aroerite’s sons Shama and Jeiel, ⁴⁵ Shimri’s son Jediael and his brother Joha the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite, Elnaam’s sons Jeribai and Joshaviah, Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s Time in the Wilderness^(R)

12 Here’s a list of those who came to David at Ziklag when he was unable to travel freely due to Saul son of Kish. They were among the elite soldiers who assisted him in battle. ² Equipped as archers, they could use both their right and left hands to shoot arrows and hurl stones. As descendants of Benjamin, they were Saul’s relatives. ³ Their leaders were Shemaah’s sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth, ⁴ Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them),^[eu] Jeremiah,^[ev] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah, ^5 [ew]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, ⁶ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the descendants of Korah, ⁷ and Jeroham’s sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.

⁸ Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks^[ex] and as agile^[ey] as a gazelle on a mountain slope. ⁹ Their leader was Ezer, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, ¹⁰ Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹¹ Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, ¹² Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. ¹⁴ These descendants of Gad were army leaders. The least of them^[ez] was equal to a hundred other soldiers^[fa] and the greatest to a thousand. ¹⁵ These men^[fb] crossed the Jordan in the first month of the year^[fc] during flood season and chased out everyone in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

¹⁶ Later, some descendants of Benjamin and Judah approached David at his stronghold, ¹⁷ and David went out to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come in peace to be of help to me, then you’ll have my commitment.^[fd] But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I’m innocent of wrongdoing, then may the God of our ancestors watch and judge.”

¹⁸ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, leader of the Thirty, and he said,

So David received them and assigned them to be officers over troops. ¹⁹ Some of the descendants of Manasseh joined^[fe] David when he was going to fight against Saul, accompanied by the Philistines. Even so, David was of no help to them, because the Philistine rulers were counseled to send him away. They told themselves, “He’s going to go over to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”

²⁰ As he traveled toward Ziklag, these descendants of Manasseh joined^[ff] him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders in charge thousands in Manasseh. ²¹ They helped David against raiders, since they were all warriors and commanders in the army. ²² Indeed people kept coming to David every day to help him, until his army became a great, vast army.^[fg]

David’s Army at Hebron

²³ What follows is a listing of the divisions of battle-ready troops who joined David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with what the Lord had spoken. ²⁴ The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors, ²⁵ the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100, ²⁶ and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.

²⁷ Jehoiada, a senior officer^[fh] in the house of Aaron, brought^[fi] with him 3,700. ²⁸ Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.

²⁹ The tribe of^[fj] Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of^[fk] Saul’s dynasty.

³⁰ The tribe of Ephraim supplied^[fl] 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.

³¹ The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.

³² The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.

³³ The tribe of Zebulun supplied 50,000 experienced troops, trained in the use of every kind of war weapon, in order to help David^[fm] with undivided loyalty.

³⁴ The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.

³⁵ The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.

³⁶ The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.

³⁷ The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of^[fn] the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.

³⁸ All these warriors arrived in battle order at Hebron, fully intending to establish David as king over all Israel. Furthermore, all of the rest of Israel were united in their intent to make David king. ³⁹ They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.

⁴⁰ Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought^[fo] abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.