¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers by their chief men had duties corresponding to their kinsmen for avodah in the House of Adonai. ¹³ So they cast lots, small and great alike, by clans for each gate.

¹⁴ The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for Zechariah his son, an insightful counselor, and his lot came out for the north gate. ¹⁵ To Obed-edom the south gate and to his sons the storehouse. ¹⁶ To Shuppim and Hosah the east gate by the Shallecheth gate on the ascending highway.

Guard corresponded to guard. ¹⁷ There were six Levites on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south, and at the storehouse by pairs. ¹⁸ At the colonnade on the west, there were four on the road and two at the colonnade itself. ¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and the sons of Merari.

²⁰ And the Levites: Ahijah was over the treasuries of the House of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things. ²¹ The descendants of Ladan who were sons of Gershon through Ladan and were chiefs of the clans of Ladan the Gershonite were Jehieli, ²² the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother. They were over the treasuries of the House of Adonai.

²³ Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, the Uzzielites:

²⁴ Shebuel son of Gershom son of Moses was officer over the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son and Shelomith his son.

²⁶ This Shelomith and his kinsmen were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things that King David and the chiefs of the clans and the commanders over thousands and hundreds, and other army commanders had dedicated. ²⁷ They dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to maintain the House of Adonai. ²⁸ All that Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, and any other dedicated thing was in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

²⁹ Of the Izharites: Henaniah and his sons were assigned outside duties as officers and judges over Israel.

³⁰ Of the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 capable men, had oversight of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of Adonai and for the king’s service. ³¹ As for the Hebronites: Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made and found in them were valiant men in Jazer of Gilead. ³² His relatives, 2,700 men of valor, were heads of clans whom King David had appointed over the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manasseh in every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.

David’s Officers

27 The number of Bnei-Yisrael—heads of clans, officers of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters of the divisions that came in and went out month by month throughout the year—each division had 24,000.

² Over the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. His division had 24,000. ³ He was a descendant of Perez, the head of all the officers of the army for the first month.

⁴ Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite. Mikloth was the chief officer and his division consisted of 24,000.

⁵ The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the kohen. He was leader of his division, which consisted of 24,000. ⁶ This was Benaiah, who was a mighty man of the 30 and had charge over the 30. Ammizabad his son was over his division.

⁷ The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Asahel brother of Joab. Zebadiah, his son, succeeded him. His division consisted of 24,000.

⁸ The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000.

⁹ The sixth commander, for the sixth month, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹⁰ The seventh commander, for the seventh month, was Heletz the Pelonite, from the children of Ephraim. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹¹ The eighth commander, for the eighth month, was Sibbcai the Hushathite from the Zerahites. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹² The ninth commander, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathotite, of the Benjamites. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹³ The tenth commander, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹⁴ The eleventh commander, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite a descendant of Ephraim. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹⁵ The twelfth commander, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel. His division consisted of 24,000.

¹⁶ Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel:

of the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zichri was the chief officer;

of the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maacah;

¹⁷ of Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel;

of Aaron: Zadok;

¹⁸ of Judah: Elihu, one of David’s brothers;

of Issachar: Omri son of Michael;

¹⁹ of Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah;

of Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;

²⁰ of the children of Ephraim: Hoshea son of Azaziah;

of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;

²¹ of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah;

of Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;

²² of Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham.

These were the officers of the tribes of Israel.

²³ But David did not count those 20 years old and under, because Adonai had said He would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count them, but did not finish. Wrath came upon Israel for this and the number was not entered into the account in the chronicles of King David.

²⁵ Over the king’s storehouses: Azmaveth son of Adiel.

Over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, in the villages and in the citadels: Jonathan son of Uzziah;

²⁶ over the field laborers for tilling the ground: Ezri the son of Chelub;

²⁷ over the vineyards: Shimei the Ramathite;

over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars: Zabdi the Shiphmite;

²⁸ over the olive trees and the sycamore trees in the lowland: Baal-hanan the Gederite;

over the cellars of oil: Joash;

²⁹ over the cattle grazing in Sharon: Shirtai the Sharonite;

over the cattle grazing in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai;

³⁰ over the camels: Obil the Ishmaelite;

over the donkeys: Jehdeiah the Meronothite;

³¹ and over the flocks: Jaziz the Hagrite.

All these were stewards over the property of King David.

³² Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, learned man and scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni tutored the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiatar. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

Trusting in the Promise

¹³ For the promise to Abraham or to his seed—to become heir of the world—was not through law, but through the righteousness based on trust. ¹⁴ For if those who are of the Torah are heirs, trust has become empty and the promise is made ineffective. ¹⁵ For the Torah brings about wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there a violation.

¹⁶ For this reason it depends on trust, so that the promise according to grace might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those of the Torah but also to those of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”^[a]). He is our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence that which does not exist. ¹⁸ In hope beyond hope, he trusted that he would become the father of many nations according to what was spoken—“So shall your descendants be.” ^{[b] 19} And without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body—as good as dead, since he was already a hundred years old—and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God. Rather, he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that what God has promised, He also is able to do. ^{[c] 22} That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[d]

²³ Now not only for his sake was it written that it was credited to him, ²⁴ but for our sake as well. It is credited to us as those who trust in Him who raised Yeshua our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.^[e]

Shalom with God through Messiah

5 Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have shalom with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. ^{[f] 2} Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of God’s glory. ³ And not only that, but we also boast in suffering—knowing that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Ruach ha-Kodesh who was given to us.

There Is No God?

Psalm 14