The Sons of David^(A)(B)

3 These were the sons of David^(C) born to him in Hebron:

David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, ⁵ and these were the children born to him there:

The Kings of Judah

The Royal Line After the Exile

Other Clans of Judah

4 The descendants of Judah:^(AL)

⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez,^[h] saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Simeon^(AW)

²⁷ Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. ²⁸ They lived in Beersheba,^(AZ) Moladah,^(BA) Hazar Shual, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem,^(BB) Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah,^(BC) Ziklag,^{(BD) 31} Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim.^(BE) These were their towns until the reign of David. ³² Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain,^(BF) Rimmon, Token and Ashan^(BG)—five towns— ³³ and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath.^[l] These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.

³⁸ The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly, ³⁹ and they went to the outskirts of Gedor^(BH) to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. ⁴⁰ They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet.^(BI) Some Hamites had lived there formerly.

⁴¹ The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites^(BJ) who were there and completely destroyed^[m] them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. ⁴² And five hundred of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir.^{(BK) 43} They killed the remaining Amalekites^(BL) who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(A) 2} A tabernacle^(B) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(C) and the table^(D) with its consecrated bread;^(E) this was called the Holy Place.^{(F) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(G) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(H) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(I) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(J) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(K) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(L) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(P) the inner room,^(Q) and that only once a year,^(R) and never without blood,^(S) which he offered for himself^(T) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(U) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(V) by this that the way^(W) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(X) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(Y) were not able to clear the conscience^(Z) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(AA) and drink^(AB) and various ceremonial washings^(AC)—external regulations^(AD) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(AE) of the good things that are now already here,^[a](AF) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(AG) that is not made with human hands,^(AH) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(AI) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(AJ) once for all^(AK) by his own blood,^(AL) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(AM) and the ashes of a heifer^(AN) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(AO) offered himself^(AP) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(AQ) from acts that lead to death,^[c](AR) so that we may serve the living God!^(AS)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(AT) of a new covenant,^(AU) that those who are called^(AV) may receive the promised^(AW) eternal inheritance^(AX)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(AY)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(AZ) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(BA) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(BC) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[e](BD) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(BF)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(BG) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(BH) he entered heaven itself,^(BI) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(BJ) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(BK) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(BL) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(BM) But he has appeared^(BN) once for all^(BO) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(BP) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(BQ) and after that to face judgment,^{(BR) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(BS) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(BT) not to bear sin,^(BU) but to bring salvation^(BV) to those who are waiting for him.^(BW)