1 Chronicles 27:23-28:10

New International Version

²³ David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less,^(A) because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars^(B) in the sky. ²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,^(C) and the number was not entered in the book^[a] of the annals of King David.

The King’s Overseers

²⁵ Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses.

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.

²⁶ Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.

²⁷ Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.

²⁸ Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig^(D) trees in the western foothills.

Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.

²⁹ Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.^(E)

Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

³⁰ Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

³¹ Jaziz the Hagrite^(F) was in charge of the flocks.

All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.

³² Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king’s sons.

³³ Ahithophel^(G) was the king’s counselor.

Hushai^(H) the Arkite was the king’s confidant. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.^(I)

Joab^(J) was the commander of the royal army.

David’s Plans for the Temple

28 David summoned^(K) all the officials^(L) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

² King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart^(M) to build a house as a place of rest^(N) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool^(O) of our God, and I made plans to build it.^{(P) 3} But God said to me,^(Q) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,^(R) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’^(S)

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(T) from my whole family^(U) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(V) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^{(W) 5} Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many^(X)—he has chosen my son Solomon^(Y) to sit on the throne^(Z) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build^(AA) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,^(AB) and I will be his father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,^(AC) as is being done at this time.’

⁸ “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel^(AD) and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands^(AE) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.^(AF)

⁹ “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(AG) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(AH) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(AI) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(AJ) him, he will reject^(AK) you forever. ¹⁰ Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”