Military Divisions

27 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers' houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

^2 (A)Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000. ³ He was a ^(B)descendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month. ^4 (C)Dodai the Ahohite^[a] was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000. ⁵ The third commander, for the third month, was ^(D)Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000. ⁶ This is the Benaiah ^(E)who was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division.^{[b] 7 (F)}Asahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000. ⁸ The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was ^(G)Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000. ⁹ Sixth, for the sixth month, was ^(H)Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000. ¹⁰ Seventh, for the seventh month, was ^(I)Helez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. ¹¹ Eighth, for the eighth month, was ^(J)Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. ¹² Ninth, for the ninth month, was ^(K)Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000. ¹³ Tenth, for the tenth month, was ^(L)Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. ¹⁴ Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was ^(M)Benaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. ¹⁵ Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was ^(N)Heldai the Netophathite, of ^(O)Othniel; in his division were 24,000.

Leaders of Tribes

¹⁶ Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; ¹⁷ for Levi, ^(P)Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, ^(Q)Zadok; ¹⁸ for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; ¹⁹ for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; ²⁰ for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; ²¹ for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; ²² for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the ^(R)leaders of the tribes of Israel. ²³ David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the ^(S)Lord had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but ^(T)did not finish. Yet ^(U)wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.

²⁵ Over the king's treasuries was ^(V)Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; ²⁶ and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; ²⁷ and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸ Over the olive and ^(W)sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. ²⁹ Over the herds that pastured in ^(X)Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. ³⁰ Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the ^(Y)Hagrite. ³¹ All these were stewards of King David's property.

³² Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons. ^33 (Z)Ahithophel was the ^(AA)king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of ^(AB)Benaiah, and ^(AC)Abiathar. Joab was ^(AD)commander of the king's army.

David's Charge to Israel

28 ^(AE)David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the ^(AF)officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the ^(AG)commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the ^(AH)stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the ^(AI)mighty men and all the seasoned warriors. ² Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. ^(AJ)I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the ^(AK)footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. ³ But God said to me, ^(AL)‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ ⁴ Yet the Lord God of Israel ^(AM)chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel ^(AN)forever. ^(AO)For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's ^(AP)house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ And of ^(AQ)all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he ^(AR)has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me, ‘It is ^(AS)Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom ^(AT)forever ^(AU)if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ ⁸ Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

David's Charge to Solomon

⁹ “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a ^(AV)whole heart and with a willing mind, ^(AW)for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. ^(AX)If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. ¹⁰ Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; ^(AY)be strong and do it.”

¹¹ Then David gave Solomon his son the ^(AZ)plan of the ^(BA)vestibule of the temple,^[c] and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the ^(BB)mercy seat; ¹² and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, ^(BC)the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; ¹³ for the ^(BD)divisions of the priests and of the ^(BE)Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, ¹⁴ the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, ¹⁵ the weight of the golden ^(BF)lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, ¹⁶ the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, ¹⁷ and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; ¹⁸ for the ^(BG)altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the ^(BH)cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. ¹⁹ “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, ^(BI)all the work to be done according to the plan.”

²⁰ Then David said to Solomon his son, ^(BJ)“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. ²¹ And behold the ^(BK)divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be ^(BL)every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning ^(A)the times and the seasons, brothers,^{[a] (B)}you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that ^(C)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then ^(D)sudden destruction will come upon them ^(E)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you ^(F)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(G)children^[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(H)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ^(I)keep awake and ^(J)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(K)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(L)having put on the breastplate of ^(M)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(N)wrath, but ^(O)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (P)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, ^(Q)to respect those who labor among you and ^(R)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(S)Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(T)the idle,^{[c] (U)}encourage the fainthearted, ^(V)help the weak, ^(W)be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that ^(X)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(Y)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ^16 (Z)Rejoice always, ^17 (AA)pray without ceasing, ^18 (AB)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ^19 (AC)Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise ^(AD)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(AE)test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may ^(AF)the God of peace himself ^(AG)sanctify you completely, and may your ^(AH)whole ^(AI)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at ^(AJ)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (AK)He who calls you is faithful; ^(AL)he will surely do it.

^25 (AM)Brothers, pray for us.

^26 (AN)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I put you under oath before the Lord to have ^(AO)this letter read to all the brothers.

^28 (AP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.