The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle.

Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.

Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance,

In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

It was they who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks, and they put to flight everyone living in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;

and from east of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, armed with every type of weapon—120,000.

David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.

He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the Lord, which he had given Israel.

Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’

and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. “‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you:

three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.

You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as those skilled in every kind of work

He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people.

the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”

The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the Lord: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God.

They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening