Jabez prayed to the Elohim of Israel, “Please bless me and give me more territory. May your power be with me and free me from evil so that I will not be in pain.” Elohim gave him what he prayed for.

and received help while fighting them. Hagar’s descendants and the nations with them were handed over to Reuben’s descendants. They had called out to Elohim during the battle, and he answered their prayers because they trusted him.

Many were killed in battle because this was Elohim’s war. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh lived in the Hagrites’ land until the Assyrians captured them.

The Assyrians Capture Gad, Reuben, and Half of the Tribe of Manasseh

But Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were unfaithful to the Elohim of their ancestors. They chased after the gods of the people of the land as if they were prostitutes. Elohim had destroyed these people as the Israelites arrived.

Then the Elohim of Israel led King Pul of Assyria (King Tiglath Pilneser of Assyria) to take Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River. They are still there today.

Their relatives, the Levites, were assigned all the other duties in the tent, the house of Elohim.

Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense. They did all the work in the most holy place and removed Israel’s sins to make Israel acceptable to God. They did exactly what Elohim’s servant Moses had commanded.

and Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah, grandson of Meshullam, and great-grandson of Zadok. Zadok’s father was Meraioth, the son of Ahitub (the official in charge of Elohim’s temple).

Their relatives who were heads of their families totaled 1,760 soldiers. They served in Elohim’s temple and settled in Jerusalem.

The four chief Levite gatekeepers were in charge of the rooms and treasures in Elohim’s temple because of their faithfulness.

They would spend the night stationed around Elohim’s temple because they had to guard it and open it every morning.

“Even in the past when Saul ruled, you were the one who led Israel on its campaigns to war. Yahweh your Elohim has said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, the leader of my people Israel.’”

and said, “It’s unthinkable that I would do this, Elohim. Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? They had to risk their lives to get this water.” So he refused to drink it. These are the things which the three fighting men did.

David went to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come to help me as friends would, then you may join me. But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I haven’t committed a crime, may the Elohim of our ancestors see this and judge you.”

Then the Ruach gave Amasai, the leader of the thirty, the strength to say, “We are yours, David. We are with you, son of Jesse. Success, success to you! Success to those who help you, because your Elohim is helping you.” So David welcomed them and made them officers over his troops.

From day to day, men came to help David until he had an army as large as Elohim’s army.

Then he told the whole assembly of Israel, “If you approve and if Yahweh our Elohim has consented, we will send an invitation to the rest of our relatives in every region of Israel and to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands so that they may join us.

Then we’ll bring back our Elohim’s ark, which we ignored while Saul was king.”

So David gathered all Israel from the Shihor River near Egypt to the border of Hamath in order to bring Elohim’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

David and all Israel went to Baalah in Kiriath Jearim, which is in Judah, to bring Elohim’s ark to Jerusalem. (Yahweh is enthroned over the angels on the ark where his name is used.)

David and his men put Elohim’s ark on a new cart from Abinadab’s home. Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart.

David and all Israel were celebrating in Elohim’s presence with all their might, with songs, with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

Yahweh became angry with Uzzah and killed him for reaching for the ark. He died in Elohim’s presence.

David was afraid of Elohim that day. “How can I bring Elohim’s ark to my city?” he asked.

Elohim’s ark stayed at the home of Obed Edom with his family for three months, and Yahweh blessed Obed Edom’s family and everything he owned.