Chapter 25

The Singers. ¹ David and the leaders of the liturgy set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, who prophesied^[a] to the accompaniment of lyres and harps and cymbals.^(A)

This is the list of those who performed this service: ² Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the guidance of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun, these sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah; six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied to the accompaniment of a lyre, to give thanks and praise to the Lord. ⁴ Of Heman, these sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer for divine matters; to exalt him God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.^{(B) 6} All these, whether of Asaph, Jeduthun, or Heman, were under their fathers’ direction in the singing in the house of the Lord to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres, serving in the house of God, under the guidance of the king.^{(C) 7} Their number, together with that of their kinsmen who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of them skilled men, was two hundred and eighty-eight. ⁸ They cast lots for their functions equally, young and old, master and pupil alike.^(D)

⁹ The first lot fell to Asaph, to the family of Joseph; he and his sons and his kinsmen were twelve. Gedaliah was the second; he and his kinsmen and his sons were twelve. ¹⁰ The third was Zaccur, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹¹ The fourth fell to Izri, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹² The fifth was Nethaniah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹³ The sixth was Bukkiah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁴ The seventh was Jesarelah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁵ The eighth was Jeshaiah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁶ The ninth was Mattaniah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁷ The tenth was Shimei, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁸ The eleventh was Uzziel, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ¹⁹ The twelfth fell to Hashabiah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁰ The thirteenth was Shubael, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²¹ The fourteenth was Mattithiah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²² The fifteenth fell to Jeremoth, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²³ The sixteenth fell to Hananiah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁴ The seventeenth fell to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁵ The eighteenth fell to Hanani, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁶ The nineteenth fell to Mallothi, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁷ The twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁸ The twenty-first fell to Hothir, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ²⁹ The twenty-second fell to Giddalti, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ³⁰ The twenty-third fell to Mahazioth, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve. ³¹ The twenty-fourth fell to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his kinsmen: twelve.

Chapter 26

Divisions of Gatekeepers. ^1 (E)As for the divisions of gatekeepers: Of the Korahites was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, one of the sons of Abiasaph. ² Meshelemiah’s sons: Zechariah, the firstborn, Jediael, the second son, Zebadiah, the third, Jathniel, the fourth, ³ Elam, the fifth, Jehohanan, the sixth, Eliehoenai, the seventh. ⁴ Obed-edom’s sons: Shemaiah, the firstborn, Jehozabad, a second son, Joah, the third, Sachar, the fourth, Nethanel, the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel, the sixth, Issachar, the seventh, Peullethai, the eighth, for God blessed him. ⁶ To his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their family, for they were warriors. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; also his kinsmen who were men of substance, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ All these were the sons of Obed-edom, who, together with their sons and their kinsmen, were men of substance, fit for the service. Of Obed-edom, sixty-two. ⁹ Of Meshelemiah, eighteen sons and kinsmen, men of substance.

¹⁰ Hosah, a descendant of Merari, had these sons: Shimri, the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),^{(F) 11} Hilkiah, the second son, Tebaliah, the third, Zechariah, the fourth. All the sons and kinsmen of Hosah were thirteen.

¹² To these divisions of the gatekeepers, by their chief men, were assigned watches for them to minister in the house of the Lord, for each group in the same way. ¹³ They cast lots for each gate, small and large families alike. ¹⁴ When the lot was cast for the east side, it fell to Meshelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and the north side fell to his lot.^{(G) 15} To Obed-edom fell the south side, and to his sons the storehouse. ¹⁶ To Hosah fell the west side with the Shallecheth gate at the ascending highway. For each family, watches were established. ¹⁷ On the east, six watched each day, on the north, four each day, on the south, four each day, and at the storehouse they were two and two; ¹⁸ as for the large building^[b] on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the large building. ¹⁹ These were the classes of the gatekeepers, sons of Korah and Merari.

Treasurers. ²⁰ Their brother Levites had oversight of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of votive offerings.^{(H) 21} Among the sons of Ladan the Gershonite, the family heads were sons of Jehiel:^{(I) 22 (J)}the sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, who oversaw the treasures of the house of the Lord. ²³ Of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites, ²⁴ Shubael, son of Gershom, son of Moses, was principal overseer of the treasures. ^25 (K)His associate was of the line of Eliezer, whose son was Rehabiah, whose son was Jeshaiah, whose son was Joram, whose son was Zichri, whose son was Shelomith. ²⁶ This Shelomith and his kinsmen oversaw all the treasures of the votive offerings dedicated by King David, the heads of the families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the commanders of the army;^{(L) 27} what came from wars and from spoils, they dedicated for the support of the house of the Lord. ²⁸ Also, whatever Samuel the seer, Saul, son of Kish, Abner, son of Ner, Joab, son of Zeruiah, and all others had consecrated, was under the charge of Shelomith and his kinsmen.

Magistrates. ²⁹ Among the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were in charge of Israel’s civil affairs^[c] as officials and judges.^{(M) 30} Among the Hebronites, Hashabiah^(N) and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred men of substance, had the administration of Israel on the western side of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and the service of the king. ³¹ Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was their chief according to their family records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made, and there were found among them warriors at Jazer of Gilead.^{(O) 32} His kinsmen were also men of substance, two thousand seven hundred heads of families. King David appointed them to the administration of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for everything pertaining to God and to the king.

Chapter 27

Army Commanders.^{[d] 1} This is the list of the Israelite family heads, commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and other officers who served the king in all that pertained to the divisions, of twenty-four thousand men each, that came and went month by month throughout the year.

² Over the first division for the first month was Ishbaal, son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men; ³ a descendant of Perez, he was chief over all the commanders of the army for the first month. ⁴ Over the division of the second month was Eleazar, son of Dodo, from Ahoh, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(P) 5 (Q)}The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁶ This Benaiah was a warrior among the Thirty and over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was over his division. ⁷ Fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab, and after him his son Zebadiah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(R) 8} Fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁹ Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁰ Seventh, for the seventh month, was Hellez, from Beth-pelet, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹¹ Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(S) 12} Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer from Anathoth, of Benjamin, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹³ Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai from Netophah, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁴ Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁵ Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of the family of Othniel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.

Tribal Leaders. ¹⁶ Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites the leader was Eliezer, son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah, son of Maacah; ¹⁷ for Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸ for Judah, Eliab,^(T) one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri, son of Michael; ¹⁹ for Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth, son of Azriel; ²⁰ for the Ephraimites, Hoshea, son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah; ²¹ for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel, son of Abner; ²² for Dan, Azarel, son of Jeroham. These were the commanders of the tribes of Israel.

²³ David did not count those who were twenty years of age or younger, for the Lord had promised to multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.^{(U) 24} Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to take the census, but he did not complete it, for because of it wrath fell upon Israel. Therefore the number was not recorded in the book of chronicles of King David.^(V)

Overseers. ²⁵ Over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth,^(W) the son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers was Jonathan, son of Uzziah. ²⁶ Over the farm workers who tilled the soil was Ezri, son of Chelub. ²⁷ Over the vineyards was Shimei from Ramah, and over their produce for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸ Over the olive trees and sycamores of the Shephelah was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the stores of oil was Joash. ²⁹ Over the cattle that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the cattle in the valleys was Shaphat, the son of Adlai; ³⁰ over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; ³¹ and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the overseers of King David’s possessions.

David’s Court. ³² Jonathan, David’s uncle and a man of intelligence, was counselor and scribe; he and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, attended the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel was also the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.^{(X) 34} After Ahithophel^[e] came Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. The commander of the king’s army was Joab.

Chapter 9

The Man Born Blind. ^1 [a]As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth.^{(A) 2 [b]}His disciples asked him,^(B) “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.^{(C) 4} We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.^{(D) 5} While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”^{(E) 6} When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes,^{(F) 7} and said to him, “Go wash^[c] in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see.^(G)

⁸ His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” ¹⁰ So they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” ¹² And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.”

¹³ They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now Jesus had made clay^[d] and opened his eyes on a sabbath.^{(H) 15} So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” ¹⁶ So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” [But] others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them.^{(I) 17} So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”^(J)

¹⁸ Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. ¹⁹ They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” ²⁰ His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. ²¹ We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” ^22 [e](K)His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. ²³ For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.”^(L)