1 Chronicles 2-12

Revised Standard Version

The Sons of Israel and the Descendants of Judah

2 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Is′sachar, Zeb′ulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naph′tali, Gad, and Asher. ³ The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three Bath-shu′a the Canaanitess bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him. ⁴ His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

⁵ The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. ⁶ The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all. ⁷ The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the matter of the devoted thing; ⁸ and Ethan’s son was Azari′ah.

⁹ The sons of Hezron, that were born to him: Jerah′meel, Ram, and Chelu′bai. ¹⁰ Ram was the father of Ammin′adab, and Ammin′adab was the father of Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah. ¹¹ Nahshon was the father of Salma, Salma of Bo′az, ¹² Bo′az of Obed, Obed of Jesse. ¹³ Jesse was the father of Eli′ab his first-born, Abin′adab the second, Shim′e-a the third, ¹⁴ Nethan′el the fourth, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵ Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; ¹⁶ and their sisters were Zeru′iah and Ab′igail. The sons of Zeru′iah: Abi′shai, Jo′ab, and As′ahel, three. ¹⁷ Ab′igail bore Ama′sa, and the father of Ama′sa was Jether the Ish′maelite.

¹⁸ Caleb the son of Hezron had children by his wife Azu′bah, and by Jer′ioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. ¹⁹ When Azu′bah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. ²⁰ Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bez′alel.

²¹ Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub; ²² and Segub was the father of Ja′ir, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. ²³ But Geshur and Aram took from them Hav′voth-ja′ir, Kenath and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, the father of Gilead. ²⁴ After the death of Hezron, Caleb went in to Eph′rathah,^[a] the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore him Ashhur, the father of Teko′a.

²⁵ The sons of Jerah′meel, the first-born of Hezron: Ram, his first-born, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahi′jah. ²⁶ Jerah′meel also had another wife, whose name was At′arah; she was the mother of Onam. ²⁷ The sons of Ram, the first-born of Jerah′meel: Ma′az, Jamin, and Eker. ²⁸ The sons of Onam: Sham′mai and Jada. The sons of Sham′mai: Nadab and Abi′shur. ²⁹ The name of Abi′shur’s wife was Ab′ihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid. ³⁰ The sons of Nadab: Seled and Ap′pa-im; and Seled died childless. ³¹ The sons of Ap′pa-im: Ishi. The sons of Ishi: Sheshan. The sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. ³² The sons of Jada, Sham′mai’s brother: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died childless. ³³ The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerah′meel. ³⁴ Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters; but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave, whose name was Jarha. ³⁵ So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave; and she bore him Attai. ³⁶ Attai was the father of Nathan and Nathan of Zabad. ³⁷ Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal of Obed. ³⁸ Obed was the father of Jehu, and Jehu of Azari′ah. ³⁹ Azari′ah was the father of Helez, and Helez of Ele-a′sah. ⁴⁰ Ele-a′sah was the father of Sismai, and Sismai of Shallum. ⁴¹ Shallum was the father of Jekami′ah, and Jekami′ah of Elish′ama.

⁴² The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerah′meel: Mare′shah^[b] his first-born, who was the father of Ziph. The sons of Mare′shah: Hebron.^{[c] 43} The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tap′puah, Rekem, and Shema. ⁴⁴ Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jor′ke-am; and Rekem was the father of Sham′mai. ⁴⁵ The son of Sham′mai: Ma′on; and Ma′on was the father of Beth-zur. ⁴⁶ Ephah also, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran was the father of Gazez. ⁴⁷ The sons of Jah′dai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Sha′aph. ⁴⁸ Ma′acah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tir′hanah. ⁴⁹ She also bore Sha′aph the father of Madman′nah, Sheva the father of Machbe′nah and the father of Gib′e-a; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. ⁵⁰ These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons^[d] of Hur the first-born of Eph′rathah: Shobal the father of Kir′iath-je′arim, ⁵¹ Salma, the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. ⁵² Shobal the father of Kir′iath-je′arim had other sons: Haro′eh, half of the Menu′hoth. ⁵³ And the families of Kir′iath-je′arim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shu′mathites, and the Mish′raites; from these came the Zo′rathites and the Esh′taolites. ⁵⁴ The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netoph′athites, At′roth-beth-jo′ab, and half of the Man′aha′thites, the Zorites. ⁵⁵ The families also of the scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Ti′rathites, the Shim′e-athites, and the Su′cathites. These are the Ken′ites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Descendants of David and Solomon

3 These are the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron: the first-born Amnon, by Ahin′o-am the Jez′reelitess; the second Daniel, by Ab′igail the Car′melitess, ² the third Ab′salom, whose mother was Ma′acah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth Adoni′jah, whose mother was Haggith; ³ the fifth Shephati′ah, by Abi′tal; the sixth Ith′re-am, by his wife Eglah; ⁴ six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ⁵ These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shim′e-a, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four by Bath-shu′a, the daughter of Am′miel; ⁶ then Ibhar, Elish′ama, Eliph′elet, ⁷ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhi′a, ⁸ Elish′ama, Eli′ada, and Eliph′elet, nine. ⁹ All these were David’s sons, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.

¹⁰ The descendants of Solomon: Rehobo′am, Abi′jah his son, Asa his son, Jehosh′aphat his son, ¹¹ Joram his son, Ahazi′ah his son, Jo′ash his son, ¹² Amazi′ah his son, Azari′ah his son, Jotham his son, ¹³ Ahaz his son, Hezeki′ah his son, Manas′seh his son, ¹⁴ Amon his son, Josi′ah his son. ¹⁵ The sons of Josi′ah: Joha′nan the first-born, the second Jehoi′akim, the third Zedeki′ah, the fourth Shallum. ¹⁶ The descendants of Jehoi′akim: Jeconi′ah his son, Zedeki′ah his son; ¹⁷ and the sons of Jeconi′ah, the captive: She-al′ti-el his son, ¹⁸ Malchi′ram, Peda′iah, Shenaz′zar, Jekami′ah, Hosh′ama, and Nedabi′ah; ¹⁹ and the sons of Peda′iah: Zerub′babel and Shim′e-i; and the sons of Zerub′babel: Meshul′lam and Hanani′ah, and Shelo′mith was their sister; ²⁰ and Hashu′bah, Ohel, Berechi′ah, Hasadi′ah, and Ju′shab-he′sed, five. ²¹ The sons of Hanani′ah: Pelati′ah and Jeshai′ah, his son^[e] Repha′iah, his son^[f] Arnan, his son^[g] Obadi′ah, his son^[h] Shecani′ah. ²² The sons of Shecani′ah: Shemai′ah. And the sons of Shemai′ah: Hattush, Igal, Bari′ah, Ne-ari′ah, and Shaphat, six. ²³ The sons of Ne-ari′ah: Eli-o-e′nai, Hizki′ah, and Azri′kam, three. ²⁴ The sons of Eli-o-e′nai: Hodavi′ah, Eli′ashib, Pela′iah, Akkub, Joha′nan, Delai′ah, and Ana′ni, seven.

Descendants of Judah

4 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. ² Re-a′iah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahu′mai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zo′rathites. ³ These were the sons^[i] of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelpo′ni, ⁴ and Penu′el was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the first-born of Eph′rathah, the father of Bethlehem. ⁵ Ashhur, the father of Teko′a, had two wives, Helah and Na′arah; ⁶ Na′arah bore him Ahuz′zam, Hepher, Te′meni, and Ha-ahash′tari. These were the sons of Na′arah. ⁷ The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. ⁸ Koz was the father of Anub, Zobe′bah, and the families of Ahar′hel the son of Harum. ⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!” And God granted what he asked. ¹¹ Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. ¹² Eshton was the father of Bethra′pha, Pase′ah, and Tehin′nah the father of Irna′hash. These are the men of Recah. ¹³ The sons of Kenaz: Oth′ni-el and Serai′ah; and the sons of Oth′ni-el: Hathath and Meo′nothai.^{[j] 14} Meo′nothai was the father of Ophrah; and Serai′ah was the father of Jo′ab the father of Ge-har′ashim,^[k] so-called because they were craftsmen. ¹⁵ The sons of Caleb the son of Jephun′neh: Iru, Elah, and Na′am; and the sons of Elah: Kenaz. ¹⁶ The sons of Jehal′lelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tir′i-a, and As′arel. ¹⁷ The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bith′i-ah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married;^[l] and she conceived and bore^[m] Miriam, Sham′mai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemo′a. ¹⁸ And his Jewish wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jeku′thiel the father of Zano′ah. ¹⁹ The sons of the wife of Hodi′ah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Kei′lah the Garmite and Eshtemo′a the Ma-ac′athite. ²⁰ The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-ha′nan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zo′heth. ²¹ The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, La′adah the father of Mare′shah, and the families of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbe′a; ²² and Jokim, and the men of Coze′ba, and Jo′ash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to Lehem^[n] (now the records^[o] are ancient). ²³ These were the potters and inhabitants of Neta′im and Gede′rah; they dwelt there with the king for his work.

Descendants of Simeon

²⁴ The sons of Simeon: Nem′uel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; ²⁵ Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. ²⁶ The sons of Mishma: Ham′mu-el his son, Zac′cur his son, Shim′e-i his son. ²⁷ Shim′e-i had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers had not many children, nor did all their family multiply like the men of Judah. ²⁸ They dwelt in Beer-sheba, Mola′dah, Ha′zar-shu′al, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰ Bethu′el, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹ Beth-mar′caboth, Ha′zar-su′sim, Beth-biri, and Sha-ara′im. These were their cities until David reigned. ³² And their villages were Etam, A′in, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, ³³ along with all their villages which were round about these cities as far as Ba′al. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record.

³⁴ Mesho′bab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amazi′ah, ³⁵ Jo′el, Jehu the son of Joshibi′ah, son of Serai′ah, son of As′i-el, ³⁶ Eli-o-e′nai, Ja-ako′bah, Jeshohai′ah, Asai′ah, Ad′i-el, Jesim′iel, Benai′ah, ³⁷ Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedai′ah, son of Shimri, son of Shemai′ah— ³⁸ these mentioned by name were princes in their families, and their fathers’ houses increased greatly. ³⁹ They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, ⁴⁰ where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful; for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. ⁴¹ These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezeki′ah, king of Judah, and destroyed their tents and the Me-u′nim who were found there, and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. ⁴² And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Se′ir, having as their leaders Pelati′ah, Ne-ari′ah, Repha′iah, and Uz′ziel, the sons of Ishi; ⁴³ and they destroyed the remnant of the Amal′ekites that had escaped, and they have dwelt there to this day.

Descendants of Reuben

5 The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but because he polluted his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright; ² though Judah became strong among his brothers and a prince was from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), ³ the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ⁴ The sons of Jo′el: Shemai′ah his son, Gog his son, Shim′e-i his son, ⁵ Micah his son, Re-a′iah his son, Ba′al his son, ⁶ Be-er′ah his son, whom Til′gath-pilne′ser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chieftain of the Reubenites. ⁷ And his kinsmen by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Je-i′el, and Zechari′ah, ⁸ and Bela the son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Jo′el, who dwelt in Aro′er, as far as Nebo and Ba′al-me′on. ⁹ He also dwelt to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphra′tes, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead. ¹⁰ And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

Descendants of Gad

¹¹ The sons of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Sal′ecah: ¹² Jo′el the chief, Shapham the second, Ja′nai, and Shaphat in Bashan. ¹³ And their kinsmen according to their fathers’ houses: Michael, Meshul′lam, Sheba, Jo′rai, Jacan, Zi′a, and Eber, seven. ¹⁴ These were the sons of Ab′ihail the son of Huri, son of Jaro′ah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshish′ai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz; ¹⁵ Ahi the son of Ab′di-el, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers’ houses; ¹⁶ and they dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasture lands of Sharon to their limits. ¹⁷ All of these were enrolled by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jerobo′am king of Israel.

¹⁸ The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas′seh had valiant men, who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, ready for service. ¹⁹ They made war upon the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab; ²⁰ and when they received help against them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried to God in the battle, and he granted their entreaty because they trusted in him. ²¹ They carried off their livestock: fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand sheep, two thousand asses, and a hundred thousand men alive. ²² For many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their place until the exile.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

²³ The members of the half-tribe of Manas′seh dwelt in the land; they were very numerous from Bashan to Ba′al-her′mon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. ²⁴ These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher,^[p] Ishi, Eli′el, Az′ri-el, Jeremiah, Hodavi′ah, and Jah′di-el, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses. ²⁵ But they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. ²⁶ So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Til′gath-pilne′ser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manas′seh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

Descendants of Levi

6 ^[q] The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar′i. ² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz′ziel. ³ The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abi′hu, Elea′zar, and Ith′amar. ⁴ Elea′zar was the father of Phin′ehas, Phin′ehas of Abishu′a, ⁵ Abishu′a of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi, ⁶ Uzzi of Zerahi′ah, Zerahi′ah of Merai′oth, ⁷ Merai′oth of Amari′ah, Amari′ah of Ahi′tub, ⁸ Ahi′tub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahim′a-az, ⁹ Ahim′a-az of Azari′ah, Azari′ah of Joha′nan, ¹⁰ and Joha′nan of Azari′ah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). ¹¹ Azari′ah was the father of Amari′ah, Amari′ah of Ahi′tub, ¹² Ahi′tub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, ¹³ Shallum of Hilki′ah, Hilki′ah of Azari′ah, ¹⁴ Azari′ah of Serai′ah, Serai′ah of Jehoz′adak; ¹⁵ and Jehoz′adak went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnez′zar.

^16 [r] The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merar′i. ¹⁷ And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shim′e-i. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uz′ziel. ¹⁹ The sons of Merar′i: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. ²⁰ Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Jo′ah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Je-ath′erai his son. ²² The sons of Kohath: Ammin′adab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³ Elka′nah his son, Ebi′asaph his son, Assir his son, ²⁴ Tahath his son, U′riel his son, Uzzi′ah his son, and Shaul his son. ²⁵ The sons of Elka′nah: Ama′sai and Ahi′moth, ²⁶ Elka′nah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eli′ab his son, Jero′ham his son, Elka′nah his son. ²⁸ The sons of Samuel: Jo′el^[s] his first-born, the second Abi′jah.^{[t] 29} The sons of Merar′i: Mahli, Libni his son, Shim′e-i his son, Uzzah his son, ³⁰ Shim′e-a his son, Haggi′ah his son, and Asai′ah his son.

Musicians Appointed by David

³¹ These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. ³² They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they performed their service in due order. ³³ These are the men who served and their sons. Of the sons of the Ko′hathites: Heman the singer the son of Jo′el, son of Samuel, ³⁴ son of Elka′nah, son of Jero′ham, son of Eli′el, son of To′ah, ³⁵ son of Zuph, son of Elka′nah, son of Mahath, son of Ama′sai, ³⁶ son of Elka′nah, son of Jo′el, son of Azari′ah, son of Zephani′ah, ³⁷ son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebi′asaph, son of Korah, ³⁸ son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; ³⁹ and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechi′ah, son of Shim′e-a, ⁴⁰ son of Michael, son of Ba-ase′iah, son of Malchi′jah, ⁴¹ son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adai′ah, ⁴² son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shim′e-i, ⁴³ son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. ⁴⁴ On the left hand were their brethren the sons of Merar′i: Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, ⁴⁵ son of Hashabi′ah, son of Amazi′ah, son of Hilki′ah, ⁴⁶ son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, ⁴⁷ son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merar′i, son of Levi; ⁴⁸ and their brethren the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

⁴⁹ But Aaron and his sons made offerings upon the altar of burnt offering and upon the altar of incense for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. ⁵⁰ These are the sons of Aaron: Elea′zar his son, Phin′ehas his son, Abishu′a his son, ⁵¹ Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahi′ah his son, ⁵² Merai′oth his son, Amari′ah his son, Ahi′tub his son, ⁵³ Zadok his son, Ahim′a-az his son.

Settlements of the Levites

⁵⁴ These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Ko′hathites, for theirs was the lot, ⁵⁵ to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture lands, ⁵⁶ but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephun′neh. ⁵⁷ To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemo′a with its pasture lands, ⁵⁸ Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, ⁵⁹ Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth-she′mesh with its pasture lands; ⁶⁰ and from the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Al′emeth with its pasture lands, and An′athoth with its pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen.

⁶¹ To the rest of the Ko′hathites were given by lot out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manas′seh, ten cities. ⁶² To the Gershomites according to their families were allotted thirteen cities out of the tribes of Is′sachar, Asher, Naph′tali, and Manas′seh in Bashan. ⁶³ To the Merar′ites according to their families were allotted twelve cities out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zeb′ulun. ⁶⁴ So the people of Israel gave the Levites the cities with their pasture lands. ⁶⁵ They also gave them by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these cities which are mentioned by name.

⁶⁶ And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their territory out of the tribe of E′phraim. ⁶⁷ They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of E′phraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, ⁶⁸ Jok′me-am with its pasture lands, Beth-hor′on with its pasture lands, ⁶⁹ Ai′jalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rim′mon with its pasture lands, ⁷⁰ and out of the half-tribe of Manas′seh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bil′e-am with its pasture lands, for the rest of the families of the Ko′hathites.

⁷¹ To the Gershomites were given out of the half-tribe of Manas′seh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ash′taroth with its pasture lands; ⁷² and out of the tribe of Is′sachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, Dab′erath with its pasture lands, ⁷³ Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; ⁷⁴ out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, ⁷⁵ Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; ⁷⁶ and out of the tribe of Naph′tali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Ham′mon with its pasture lands, and Kiriatha′im with its pasture lands. ⁷⁷ To the rest of the Merar′ites were allotted out of the tribe of Zeb′ulun: Rim′mono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands, ⁷⁸ and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the steppe with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, ⁷⁹ Ked′emoth with its pasture lands, and Meph′a-ath with its pasture lands; ⁸⁰ and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahana′im with its pasture lands, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

Descendants of Issachar

7 The sons^[u] of Is′sachar: Tola, Pu′ah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. ² The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Repha′iah, Je′ri-el, Jah′mai, Ibsam, and Shemu′el, heads of their fathers’ houses, namely of Tola, mighty warriors of their generations, their number in the days of David being twenty-two thousand six hundred. ³ The sons of Uzzi: Izrahi′ah. And the sons of Izrahi′ah: Michael, Obadi′ah, Jo′el, and Isshi′ah, five, all of them chief men; ⁴ and along with them, by their generations, according to their fathers’ houses, were units of the army for war, thirty-six thousand, for they had many wives and sons. ⁵ Their kinsmen belonging to all the families of Is′sachar were in all eighty-seven thousand mighty warriors, enrolled by genealogy.

Descendants of Benjamin

⁶ The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jedi′a-el, three. ⁷ The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uz′ziel, Jer′imoth, and Iri, five, heads of fathers’ houses, mighty warriors; and their enrollment by genealogies was twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. ⁸ The sons of Becher: Zemi′rah, Jo′ash, Elie′zer, Eli-o-e′nai, Omri, Jer′emoth, Abi′jah, An′athoth, and Al′emeth. All these were the sons of Becher; ⁹ and their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors, was twenty thousand two hundred. ¹⁰ The sons of Jedi′a-el: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Je′ush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chena′anah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahish′ahar. ¹¹ All these were the sons of Jedi′a-el according to the heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty warriors, seventeen thousand and two hundred, ready for service in war. ¹² And Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, Hushim the sons of Aher.

Descendants of Naphtali

¹³ The sons of Naph′tali: Jah′zi-el, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the offspring of Bilhah.

Descendants of Manasseh

¹⁴ The sons of Manas′seh: As′ri-el, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead. ¹⁵ And Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was Ma′acah. And the name of the second was Zelo′phehad; and Zelo′phehad had daughters. ¹⁶ And Ma′acah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. ¹⁷ The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, son of Manas′seh. ¹⁸ And his sister Hammo′lecheth bore Ishhod, Abi-e′zer, and Mahlah. ¹⁹ The sons of Shemi′da were Ahi′an, Shechem, Likhi, and Ani′am.

Descendants of Ephraim

²⁰ The sons of E′phraim: Shuthe′lah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Ele-a′dah his son, Tahath his son, ²¹ Zabad his son, Shuthe′lah his son, and Ezer and E′le-ad, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land slew, because they came down to raid their cattle. ²² And E′phraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. ²³ And E′phraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beri′ah, because evil had befallen his house. ²⁴ His daughter was She′erah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-hor′on, and Uz′zen-she′erah. ²⁵ Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, ²⁶ Ladan his son, Ammi′hud his son, Elish′ama his son, ²⁷ Nun his son, Joshua his son. ²⁸ Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Na′aran, and westward Gezer and its towns, Shechem and its towns, and Ayyah and its towns; ²⁹ also along the borders of the Manas′sites, Beth-she′an and its towns, Ta′anach and its towns, Megid′do and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the sons of Joseph the son of Israel.

Descendants of Asher

³⁰ The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beri′ah, and their sister Serah. ³¹ The sons of Beri′ah: Heber and Mal′chi-el, who was the father of Bir′zaith. ³² Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shu′a. ³³ The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the sons of Japhlet. ³⁴ The sons of Shemer his brother: Rohgah, Jehub′bah, and Aram. ³⁵ The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. ³⁶ The sons of Zophah: Su′ah, Har′nepher, Shu′al, Beri, Imrah. ³⁷ Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Be-e′ra. ³⁸ The sons of Jether: Jephun′neh, Pispa, and Ara. ³⁹ The sons of Ulla: Arah, Han′niel, and Rizi′a. ⁴⁰ All of these were men of Asher, heads of fathers’ houses, approved, mighty warriors, chief of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was twenty-six thousand men.

Descendants of Benjamin

8 Benjamin was the father of Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, Ahar′ah the third, ² Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. ³ And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abi′hud, ⁴ Abishu′a, Na′aman, Aho′ah, ⁵ Gera, Shephu′phan, and Huram. ⁶ These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Man′ahath): ⁷ Na′aman,^[v] Ahi′jah, and Gera, that is, Heglam,^[w] who was the father of Uzza and Ahi′hud. ⁸ And Shahara′im had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Ba′ara his wives. ⁹ He had sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zib′i-a, Mesha, Malcam, ¹⁰ Je′uz, Sachi′a, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ houses. ¹¹ He also had sons by Hushim: Abi′tub and Elpa′al. ¹² The sons of Elpa′al: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, ¹³ and Beri′ah and Shema (they were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Ai′jalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath); ¹⁴ and Ahi′o, Shashak, and Jer′emoth. ¹⁵ Zebadi′ah, Arad, Eder, ¹⁶ Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beri′ah. ¹⁷ Zebadi′ah, Meshul′lam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸ Ish′merai, Izli′ah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpa′al. ¹⁹ Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Eli-e′nai, Zil′lethai, Eli′el, ²¹ Adai′ah, Bera′iah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shim′e-i. ²² Ishpan, Eber, Eli′el, ²³ Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, ²⁴ Hanani′ah, Elam, Anthothi′jah, ²⁵ Iphde′iah, and Penu′el were the sons of Shashak. ²⁶ Sham′sherai, Shehari′ah, Athali′ah, ²⁷ Ja-areshi′ah, Eli′jah, and Zichri were the sons of Jero′ham. ²⁸ These were the heads of fathers’ houses, according to their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.

²⁹ Je-i′el^[x] the father of Gibeon dwelt in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Ma′acah. ³⁰ His first-born son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Ba′al, Nadab, ³¹ Gedor, Ahi′o, Zecher, ³² and Mikloth (he was the father of Shim′e-ah). Now these also dwelt opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. ³³ Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Mal′chishu′a, Abin′adab, and Esh-ba′al; ³⁴ and the son of Jonathan was Mer′ib-ba′al; and Mer′ib-ba′al was the father of Micah. ³⁵ The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tare′a, and Ahaz. ³⁶ Ahaz was the father of Jeho′addah; and Jeho′addah was the father of Al′emeth, Az′maveth, and Zimri; Zimri was the father of Moza. ³⁷ Moza was the father of Bin′e-a; Raphah was his son, Ele-a′sah his son, Azel his son. ³⁸ Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azri′kam, Bo′cheru, Ish′mael, She-ari′ah, Obadi′ah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹ The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Je′ush the second, and Eliph′elet the third. ⁴⁰ The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty. All these were Benjaminites.

Inhabitants of Jerusalem after the Exile

9 So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. ² Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. ³ And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, E′phraim, and Manas′seh dwelt in Jerusalem: ⁴ Uthai the son of Ammi′hud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah. ⁵ And of the Shi′lonites: Asai′ah the first-born, and his sons. ⁶ Of the sons of Zerah: Jeu′el and their kinsmen, six hundred and ninety. ⁷ Of the Benjaminites: Sallu the son of Meshul′lam, son of Hodavi′ah, son of Hassenu′ah, ⁸ Ibne′iah the son of Jero′ham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshul′lam the son of Shephati′ah, son of Reu′el, son of Ibni′jah; ⁹ and their kinsmen according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these were heads of fathers’ houses according to their fathers’ houses.

Priestly Families

¹⁰ Of the priests: Jedai′ah, Jehoi′arib, Jachin, ¹¹ and Azari′ah the son of Hilki′ah, son of Meshul′lam, son of Zadok, son of Merai′oth, son of Ahi′tub, the chief officer of the house of God; ¹² and Adai′ah the son of Jero′ham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi′jah, and Ma′asai the son of Ad′i-el, son of Jah′zerah, son of Meshul′lam, son of Meshil′lemith, son of Immer; ¹³ besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hundred and sixty, very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

Levitical Families

¹⁴ Of the Levites: Shemai′ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri′kam, son of Hashabi′ah, of the sons of Merar′i; ¹⁵ and Bakbak′kar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattani′ah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; ¹⁶ and Obadi′ah the son of Shemai′ah, son of Galal, son of Jedu′thun, and Berechi′ah the son of Asa, son of Elka′nah, who dwelt in the villages of the Netoph′athites.

¹⁷ The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahi′man, and their kinsmen (Shallum being the chief), ¹⁸ stationed hitherto in the king’s gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites. ¹⁹ Shallum the son of Ko′re, son of Ebi′asaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers’ house, the Ko′rahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance. ²⁰ And Phin′ehas the son of Elea′zar was the ruler over them in time past; the Lord was with him. ²¹ Zechari′ah the son of Meshelemi′ah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ²² All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were two hundred and twelve. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust. ²³ So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. ²⁴ The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south; ²⁵ and their kinsmen who were in their villages were obliged to come in every seven days, from time to time, to be with these; ²⁶ for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. ²⁷ And they lodged round about the house of God; for upon them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

²⁸ Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. ²⁹ Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. ³⁰ Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, ³¹ and Mattithi′ah, one of the Levites, the first-born of Shallum the Ko′rahite, was in charge of making the flat cakes. ³² Also some of their kinsmen of the Ko′hathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.

³³ Now these are the singers, the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, dwelling in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. ³⁴ These were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders, who lived in Jerusalem.

The Family of King Saul

³⁵ In Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Je-i′el, and the name of his wife was Ma′acah, ³⁶ and his first-born son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Ba′al, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷ Gedor, Ahi′o, Zechari′ah, and Mikloth; ³⁸ and Mikloth was the father of Shim′e-am; and these also dwelt opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. ³⁹ Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Mal′chishu′a, Abin′adab, and Eshba′al; ⁴⁰ and the son of Jonathan was Mer′ib-ba′al; and Mer′ib-ba′al was the father of Micah. ⁴¹ The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tah′re-a, and Ahaz;^{[y] 42} and Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah of Al′emeth, Az′maveth, and Zimri; and Zimri was the father of Moza. ⁴³ Moza was the father of Bin′e-a; and Repha′iah was his son, Ele-a′sah his son, Azel his son. ⁴⁴ Azel had six sons and these are their names: Azri′kam, Bo′cheru, Ish′mael, She-ari′ah, Obadi′ah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

Death of Saul and His Sons

10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilbo′a. ² And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan and Abin′adab and Mal′chishu′a, the sons of Saul. ³ The battle pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him; and he was wounded by the archers. ⁴ Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it. ⁵ And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword, and died. ⁶ Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. ⁷ And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army^[z] had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

⁸ On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilbo′a. ⁹ And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ And they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. ¹¹ But when all Ja′besh-gil′ead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

¹³ So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance, ¹⁴ and did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord slew him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

David Anointed King of All Israel

11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron, and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. ² In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you that led out and brought in Israel; and the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

Jerusalem Captured

⁴ And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jeb′usites were, the inhabitants of the land. ⁵ The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. ⁶ David said, “Whoever shall smite the Jeb′usites first shall be chief and commander.” And Jo′ab the son of Zeru′iah went up first, so he became chief. ⁷ And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. ⁸ And he built the city round about from the Millo in complete circuit; and Jo′ab repaired the rest of the city. ⁹ And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men and Their Exploits

¹⁰ Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. ¹¹ This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jasho′be-am, a Hach′monite, was chief of the three;^[aa] he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he slew at one time.

¹² And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea′zar the son of Dodo, the Aho′hite. ¹³ He was with David at Pas-dam′mim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. ¹⁴ But he^[ab] took his^[ac] stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Reph′aim. ¹⁶ David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ And David said longingly, “O that some one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” ¹⁸ Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took and brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, ¹⁹ and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

²⁰ Now Abi′shai, the brother of Jo′ab, was chief of the thirty.^[ad] And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and slew them, and won a name beside the three. ²¹ He was the most renowned^[ae] of the thirty,^[af] and became their commander; but he did not attain to the three.

²² And Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada was a valiant man^[ag] of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels^[ah] of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. ²³ And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam; but Benai′ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. ²⁴ These things did Benai′ah the son of Jehoi′ada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. ²⁵ He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

²⁶ The mighty men of the armies were As′ahel the brother of Jo′ab, Elha′nan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth of Harod,^[ai] Helez the Pel′onite, ²⁸ Ira the son of Ikkesh of Teko′a, Abi-e′zer of An′athoth, ²⁹ Sib′becai the Hu′shathite, I′lai the Aho′hite, ³⁰ Ma′harai of Netoph′ah, Heled the son of Ba′anah of Netoph′ah, ³¹ Ithai the son of Ribai of Gib′eah of the Benjaminites, Benai′ah of Pir′athon, ³² Hurai of the brooks of Ga′ash, Abi′el the Ar′bathite, ³³ Az′maveth of Baha′rum, Eli′ahba of Sha-al′bon, ³⁴ Hashem^[aj] the Gi′zonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Har′arite, ³⁵ Ahi′am the son of Sachar the Har′arite, Eli′phal the son of Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Meche′rathite, Ahi′jah the Pel′onite, ³⁷ Hezro of Carmel, Na′arai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Jo′el the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Na′harai of Be-er′oth, the armor-bearer of Jo′ab the son of Zeru′iah, ⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uri′ah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² Ad′ina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, ⁴³ Hanan the son of Ma′acah, and Josh′aphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzi′a the Ash′terathite, Shama and Je-i′el the sons of Hotham the Aro′erite, ⁴⁵ Jedi′a-el the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eli′el the Ma′havite, and Jer′ibai, and Joshavi′ah, the sons of El′na-am, and Ithmah the Mo′abite, ⁴⁷ Eli′el, and Obed, and Ja-asi′el the Mezo′ba-ite.

David’s Followers in the Wilderness

12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. ² They were bowmen, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen. ³ The chief was Ahi-e′zer, then Jo′ash, both sons of Shema′ah of Gib′e-ah; also Je′zi-el and Pelet the sons of Az′maveth; Ber′acah, Jehu of An′athoth, ⁴ Ishma′iah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,^[ak] Jaha′ziel, Joha′nan, Jo′zabad of Gede′rah, ⁵ Elu′zai,^[al] Jer′imoth, Beali′ah, Shemari′ah, Shephati′ah the Har′uphite; ⁶ Elka′nah, Isshi′ah, Az′arel, Jo-e′zer, and Jasho′be-am, the Ko′rahites; ⁷ And Joe′lah and Zebadi′ah, the sons of Jero′ham of Gedor.

⁸ From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: ⁹ Ezer the chief, Obadi′ah second, Eli′ab third, ¹⁰ Mishman′nah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹¹ Attai sixth, Eli′el seventh, ¹² Joha′nan eighth, Elza′bad ninth, ¹³ Jeremiah tenth, Mach′bannai eleventh. ¹⁴ These Gadites were officers of the army, the lesser over a hundred and the greater over a thousand. ¹⁵ These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

¹⁶ And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be knit to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” ¹⁸ Then the Spirit came upon Ama′sai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.

¹⁹ Some of the men of Manas′seh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) ²⁰ As he went to Ziklag these men of Manas′seh deserted to him: Adnah, Jo′zabad, Jedi′a-el, Michael, Jo′zabad, Eli′hu, and Zil′lethai, chiefs of thousands in Manas′seh. ²¹ They helped David against the band of raiders;^[am] for they were all mighty men of valor, and were commanders in the army. ²² For from day to day men kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

David’s Army at Hebron

²³ These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops, who came to David in Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord. ²⁴ The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred armed troops. ²⁵ Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, seven thousand one hundred. ²⁶ Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. ²⁷ The prince Jehoi′ada, of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. ²⁸ Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house. ²⁹ Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had hitherto kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³⁰ Of the E′phraimites twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. ³¹ Of the half-tribe of Manas′seh eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. ³² Of Is′sachar men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. ³³ Of Zeb′ulun fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David^[an] with singleness of purpose. ³⁴ Of Naph′tali a thousand commanders with whom were thirty-seven thousand men armed with shield and spear. ³⁵ Of the Danites twenty-eight thousand six hundred men equipped for battle. ³⁶ Of Asher forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. ³⁷ Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manas′seh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand men armed with all the weapons of war.

³⁸ All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. ³⁹ And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had made preparation for them. ⁴⁰ And also their neighbors, from as far as Is′sachar and Zeb′ulun and Naph′tali, came bringing food on asses and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.