Beginning
9 So all Israel was enrolled by their genealogies, and these were written in the Book of the Kings of Israel, until Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
The Descent of Those Who Returned From Captivity
2 Now the first group of inhabitants who settled in their property in their cities consisted of Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.
The Israelites
3 People from Judah, people from Benjamin, people from Ephraim, and people from Manasseh lived in Jerusalem.
4 They included Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani[a] from the sons of Perez, the son of Judah.
5 From the Shilonites:[b] Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6 From the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, 690.
7 From the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8 also Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, 9 and their brothers, according to their genealogies, 956 men. All these men were heads of families, listed according to their fathers’ houses.
The Priests
10 From the priests:
Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jakin, 11 and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the supervisor of God’s house;
12 Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Ma’asai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13 and their brothers, heads of their fathers’ houses, 1,760 very capable men for the work of the service in God’s house.
The Levites
14 From the Levites:
Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari;
15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph;
16 Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berekiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
The Gatekeepers
17 The gatekeepers included Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was in charge), 18 who previously served in the King’s Gate on the east side of the Temple. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the descendants of Levi. 19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, together with his brothers from his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, guardians of the entrance to the Tent. Their fathers had been over the Lord’s camp as guardians of the entrance.
20 Phinehas son of Eleazar had been ruler over them in the past, and the Lord had been with him.
21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the doorways numbered 212.
Those whom David and Samuel the seer appointed to their office of trust were listed by genealogy, according to their villages. 23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the Lord’s house, when the house was still a tent. 24 The gatekeepers were positioned on the four sides: east, west, north, and south. 25 Their brothers who were in their villages were to take turns coming in to be with them for a seven-day shift. 26 So four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust and were in charge of the rooms and the treasuries in God’s house. 27 They were stationed around God’s house through the night, because that duty was assigned to them, and their duty was to open it every morning. 28 Some of them were in charge of the vessels for the service. They counted them before and after each service. 29 Some of them also were in charge of the furnishings and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as well as the fine flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices.
30 Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixture of the spices. 31 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flatbread for offerings. 32 Some of their brothers from the sons of the Kohathites were responsible for preparing the bread that was set out and arranged every Sabbath.
The Musicians
33 These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms at the temple and were free from other service, because they were busy with their work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, head men. These lived at Jerusalem.
The Family Line of Saul
35 Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Ma’akah, lived in Gibeon with 36 his firstborn son Abdon, and with Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem.
39 Ner became the father of Kish.
Kish became the father of Saul.
Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malkishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.[c]
40 The son of Jonathan was Meribbaal.[d] Meribbaal became the father of Micah.
41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melek, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42 Ahaz became the father of Jarah.[e]
Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri.
Zimri became the father of Moza.
43 Moza became the father of Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44 Azel had six sons, whose names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
The Death of Saul
10 The Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and fell mortally wounded at Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were closing in on Saul and his sons. They struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua, the sons of Saul. 3 The attack directed at Saul was fierce. The archers targeted him and hit him, and he was in great pain from his wounds.
4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through so that these uncircumcised fellows do not come and abuse me.”
His armor bearer would not do it because he was too afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, his entire house, died together.
7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 On the next day when the Philistines came to strip those who had been killed in the battle, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped Saul, carried off his head and his armor, and sent them throughout Philistia to spread the good news to their idols and people. 10 They put Saul’s armor and weapons in the temple of their gods and impaled his skull in the temple of Dagon.
11 The entire city of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything that the Philistines had done to Saul. 12 So all the courageous, strong men set out and carried away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons. They brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under the terebinth[f] tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted for seven days.
13 Saul died as a result of the unfaithfulness which he had commited against the Lord by not keeping the Lord’s command and by seeking a medium to direct his actions. 14 He did not seek guidance from the Lord. That is why the Lord brought about his death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
David Becomes King
11 All Israel gathered to David at Hebron to say, “Look! We are your flesh and blood.[g] 2 Previously when Saul was king, you led Israel out to battle and back again. Besides, the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and be leader over my people Israel.’”
3 All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. David made a covenant with them there in the presence of the Lord. They anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord from Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites were living in that part of the land. 5 Those living in Jebus said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which became the City of David. 6 David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become the head and commander.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first and became the head. 7 David lived in the stronghold. That is why it is called the City of David. 8 He built up the city all around the stronghold, from the Millo[h] to the surrounding walls. Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9 David became greater and greater because the Lord of Armies was with him.
David’s Elite Warriors
10 These are the leaders of David’s elite warriors, who built up support for his kingdom throughout all Israel, in order to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
11 This is the record of David’s elite warriors.
The Three
Jashobeam son of Hakmoni,[i] head of the Thirty,[j] wielded his spear against three hundred, who were killed at one time.
12 After him came Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was in the group of three elite warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas Dammim, where there was a plot of land full of barley, when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. The people had been fleeing from the Philistines, 14 but they took their stand in the middle of that plot of land. They defended it and killed the Philistines. The Lord rescued them with a great victory.[k]
15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rock by the Cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camping in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 While David was in the stronghold, the garrison of Philistines was in Bethlehem. 17 David expressed this desire: “Who will give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem inside the gate?” 18 The Three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well[l] of Bethlehem inside the gate. They took it and brought it to David. However, David was not willing to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. 19 He said, “I should be cursed by God if I did that. Shall I drink the blood of these men? They risked their lives to bring it to me.” He was not willing to drink it. The three elite warriors carried out these actions.
Other Heroes
20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Three. He wielded his spear against three hundred and killed them. His reputation equaled that of the Three.[m] 21 He was considered twice as great as the Group of Three. He became their commander. But he did not belong to the Group of Three.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a courageous man from Kabze’el, did great things. He struck down two Lions of God[n] from Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern[o] on a snowy day. 23 He also killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian was holding a spear like a weaver’s beam. Benaiah went down to him with a staff, snatched the spear from the hand of the Egyptian, and killed him with his own spear. 24 Benaiah son of Jehoiada accomplished these feats. His reputation equaled that of the Three. 25 Among the Thirty he was considered great, but he did not belong to the Three. David placed him over his bodyguards.
26 These were the elite warriors of the armies:[p]
Asahel, the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite,[q]
Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoan,
Abiezer from Anathoth,
29 Sibbekai[r] the Hushathite,
Ilai[s] the Ahohite,
30 Mahrai the Netophahite,
Heled son of Ba’anah the Netophahite,
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai[t] from the ravines of Ga’ash,
Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Sha’albonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,[u]
Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur,[v]
36 Hepher the Mekerathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite,
Na’arai son of Ezbai,
38 Joel, the brother of Nathan,[w]
Mibhar son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad son of Ahlai,
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites,
who had thirty men with him,
43 Hanan son of Ma’akah
and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael son of Shimri,
and his brother Joha the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite
and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elna’am,
and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel and Obed and Ja’asiel the Mezobaite.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.