Beginning
The People in Jerusalem
9 The names of all the people of Israel were listed in their ·family histories [genealogical records], and those ·family histories [genealogical records] were put in the ·book [scroll] of the kings of Israel.
The people of Judah were captured and ·forced to go [exiled] to Babylon [2 Kin. 25:1–21; 2 Chr. 36:17–21], because ·they were not faithful to God [of their unfaithfulness/infidelity]. 2 The first people to come back and live in their own lands and towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and ·Temple [L house] servants.
3 People from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem. This is a list of those people.
4 There was Uthai son of Ammihud. (Ammihud was Omri’s son. Omri was Imri’s son. Imri was Bani’s son. Bani was a descendant of Perez, and Perez was Judah’s son.)
5 Of the Shilonite people there were Asaiah and his sons. Asaiah was the ·oldest son [firstborn] in his family.
6 Of the Zerahite people there were Jeuel and other relatives of Zerah. There were six hundred ninety ·of them [or families] in all.
7 From the ·tribe [L sons] of Benjamin there was Sallu son of Meshullam. (Meshullam was Hodaviah’s son, and Hodaviah was Hassenuah’s son.) 8 There was also Ibneiah son of Jeroham and Elah son of Uzzi. (Uzzi was Micri’s son.) And there was Meshullam son of Shephatiah. (Shephatiah was Reuel’s son, and Reuel was Ibnijah’s son.) 9 The ·family history [genealogical record] of Benjamin lists nine hundred fifty-six ·people [or families] living in Jerusalem, and all these were leaders of their ·families [clans].
10 Of the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jakin, and 11 Azariah son of Hilkiah. (Hilkiah was Meshullam’s son. Meshullam was Zadok’s son. Zadok was Meraioth’s son. Meraioth was Ahitub’s son. Ahitub was the officer ·responsible for [in charge of] the ·Temple [L house] of God.) 12 Also there was Adaiah son of Jeroham. (Jeroham was Pashhur’s son, and Pashhur was Malkijah’s son.) And there was Maasai son of Adiel. (Adiel was Jahzerah’s son. Jahzerah was Meshullam’s son. Meshullam was Meshillemith’s son, and Meshillemith was Immer’s son.) 13 There were one thousand seven hundred sixty priests. They were leaders of their ·families [clans], and they were ·responsible [capable] for serving in the ·Temple [L house] of God.
14 Of the Levites there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. (Hasshub was Azrikam’s son, and Azrikam was Hashabiah’s son. Hashabiah was ·from the family [a descendant; L of the sons of] of Merari.) 15 There were also Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica. (Mica was Zicri’s son, and Zicri was Asaph’s son.) 16 There was also Obadiah son of Shemaiah. (Shemaiah was Galal’s son, and Galal was Jeduthun’s son.) And there was Berekiah son of Asa. (Asa was the son of Elkanah, who lived in the ·villages [area] of the Netophathites.)
17 Of the gatekeepers there were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was ·their leader [the chief]. 18 These gatekeepers ·from [for] the ·tribe [camp] of Levi ·still stand [or previously stood] next to the King’s Gate on the east side of the city. 19 Shallum was Kore’s son. Kore was Ebiasaph’s son, and Ebiasaph was Korah’s son. Shallum and his relatives from the ·family [clan] of Korah were gatekeepers and were ·responsible for [in charge of] guarding the ·gates of the Temple [L threshold of the tent/sanctuary/Tabernacle]. Their ancestors had also been ·responsible for [in charge of] guarding the entrance to the ·Temple [camp; dwelling] of the Lord. 20 In the past Phinehas, Eleazar’s son, was ·in charge of the [the leader of the] gatekeepers, and the Lord was with Phinehas. 21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the ·Temple [tent of meeting; Tabernacle].
22 In all, two hundred twelve men were chosen ·to guard the gates [L as gatekeepers at the thresholds], and their names were written in their ·family histories [genalogical records] in their villages. David and Samuel the ·seer [prophet] chose these men because they were ·dependable [trustworthy]. 23 The gatekeepers and their descendants ·had to guard [were in charge of] the gates of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord when it was a tent. 24 There were gatekeepers on all four sides of the ·Temple [L house]: east, west, north, and south. 25 The gatekeepers’ relatives who lived in the villages had to come and help them at times. ·Each time they came they helped the gatekeepers for [or They came in every] seven days. 26 Because they were ·dependable [trustworthy], four gatekeepers were made the leaders of all the gatekeepers. They were Levites, and they were ·responsible for [in charge of] the ·rooms [storerooms] and ·treasures [treasuries] in the ·Temple [L house] of God. 27 They stayed up all night guarding the ·Temple [L house] of God because that was their responsibility, and they opened it every morning.
28 Some of the gatekeepers were ·responsible for [in charge of] the utensils ·used in the Temple services [L of service]. They counted these utensils when people took them out and when they brought them back. 29 Other gatekeepers were chosen to take care of the furniture and utensils in the ·Holy Place [sanctuary]. They also took care of the flour, wine, oil, ·incense [frankincense], and spices, 30 but ·some of [L sons of] the priests took care of ·mixing [blending] the spices. 31 There was a Levite named Mattithiah who was ·dependable and had the job of [entrusted with] baking the ·bread used for the offerings [flat/unleaven bread; Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5–6]. He was the ·first son [firstborn] of Shallum, ·who was from the family of Korah [the Korahite]. 32 Some of ·the gatekeepers [their relatives] from the Kohath ·family [clan] had the job of preparing the ·special bread that was put on the table [T showbread] every Sabbath day.
33 Some of the Levites were ·musicians in the Temple [singers]. The leaders of these ·families [clans] stayed in the ·rooms of the Temple [chambers]. Since they were on duty day and night, they did not do other ·work in the Temple [service].
34 These are the leaders of the Levite ·families [clans]. Their names were listed in their ·family histories [genealogical records], and they lived in Jerusalem.
The Family History of King Saul
35 Jeiel lived in the town of Gibeon. His wife was named Maacah. 36 Jeiel’s ·first son [firstborn] was Abdon. His other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was Shimeam’s father. Jeiel’s family lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
39 Ner was Kish’s father. Kish was Saul’s father. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and ·Esh-Baal [or Ishbosheth; 2 Sam. 2:8].
40 Jonathan’s son was ·Merib-Baal [or Mephibosheth; 2 Sam. 4:4], who was the father of Micah.
41 Micah’s sons were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. 42 Ahaz was Jadah’s[a] father. Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was Moza’s father. 43 Moza was Binea’s father. Rephaiah was Binea’s son. Eleasah was Rephaiah’s son, and Azel was Eleasah’s son.
44 Azel had six sons: Azrikam, ·Bokeru [or the firstborn], Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. They were Azel’s sons.
The Death of King Saul(A)
10 The Philistines ·fought against [attacked] Israel, and the Israelites ran away from them. Many Israelites ·were killed [were slaughtered; L fell dead] on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines ·fought hard against [hotly pursued; closed in on] Saul and his sons, killing his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting was ·heavy [fierce] around Saul, and the archers ·shot him with their arrows [L found him] and wounded him.
4 Then Saul said to ·the officer who carried his armor [his armor bearer], “·Pull out [Draw; Take] your sword and ·stab me [run me through]. If you don’t, these Philistines who are not circumcised will come and ·hurt [abuse] me.” But Saul’s ·officer [armor bearer] refused, because he was ·afraid [terrified]. So Saul took his own sword and ·threw himself [fell] on it. 5 When the officer saw that Saul was dead, he ·threw himself [fell] on his own sword and died. 6 So Saul and three of his sons died; all his ·family [L house] died together.
7 When the Israelites living in the valley saw that their army had ·run away [fled] and that Saul and his sons were dead, they ·left [abandoned] their towns and ·ran away [fled]. Then the Philistines came and ·settled in [occupied] them.
8 The next day when the Philistines came to strip the dead soldiers, they found Saul and his sons ·dead [fallen] on Mount Gilboa. 9 The Philistines stripped Saul’s body and took his head and his armor. Then they sent messengers through ·all their country [the land of the Philistines] to tell the good news to their idols and to their people. 10 The Philistines put Saul’s armor in the ·temple [L house] of their ·idols [L gods] and hung his head in the ·temple [L house] of Dagon.
11 All the people in Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul. 12 So the ·brave [valiant] men of Jabesh went and got the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh [C evidently a major landmark]. Then the people of Jabesh fasted for seven days.
13 Saul died because he was not faithful to the Lord and ·did not obey [L acted unfaithfully against the word of] the Lord. He even went to a medium and asked her for ·advice [counsel] 14 instead of asking the Lord. This is why the Lord put Saul to death and ·gave [turned over] the kingdom to Jesse’s son David.
David Becomes King(B)
11 Then the people of Israel ·came to [gathered before; joined] David at the town of Hebron and said, “Look, we are your own ·family [L bone and flesh]. 2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel ·in battle [L out and brought it in]. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their leader.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them in Hebron ·in the presence of [before] the Lord. Then they ·poured oil on [anointed] David to make him king over Israel. ·The Lord had promised through Samuel that this would happen [This was according to the word of the Lord through Samuel].
David Captures Jerusalem(C)
4 David and all the Israelites went to the city of Jerusalem. ·At that time Jerusalem was called [L …that is,] Jebus, and the people living there were named Jebusites. 5 They said to David, “You can’t ·get inside our city [L enter here].” But David ·did take the city of Jerusalem with its strong walls [L captured the stronghold/fortress of Zion], and it became the City of David.
6 David had said, “The person who ·leads the [or is the first to] ·attack against [kill one of] the Jebusites will become ·the commander over all my army [commander-in-chief].” Joab son of Zeruiah ·led the attack [went up first], so he became ·the commander of the army [chief].
7 Then David made his home in the ·strong, walled city [stronghold; fortress], which is why it ·was named [is called] the City of David. 8 David rebuilt the city, beginning ·where the land was filled in [with the terraces; L the Millo] and going to the ·wall that was around the city [surrounding area/walls]. Joab ·repaired [restored; rebuilt] the other parts of the city. 9 David became ·stronger and stronger [L greater and greater], and the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] was with him.
David’s Mighty Warriors(D)
10 ·This is a list of the leaders [These are the chiefs/heads] over David’s ·warriors [T mighty men] who ·helped make David’s kingdom strong [or strongly supported his kingdom]. All the people of Israel also supported David’s kingdom, ·just as the Lord had promised [L according to the word of the Lord].
11 This is a ·list [record; account; roll] of David’s ·warriors [T mighty men]:
Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people. He was the head of the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; C David’s most elite soldiers; 11:26–47; 2 Sam. 23:8–39]. He used his spear to fight three hundred men at one time, and he killed them all.
12 Next was Eleazar, one of the Three. Eleazar was Dodai’s son from the Ahohite people. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines came there to fight. There was a field of barley at that place. The Israelites ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 14 but they ·stopped [took a stand; held their ground] in the middle of that field and ·fought for [defended] it and killed the Philistines. The Lord ·gave them [rescued/saved them with] a great victory.
15 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the ·rock [cliff face] by the cave near Adullam. At the same time the Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16 At that time David was in a stronghold, and ·some of the Philistines [a Philistine detachment/garrison] were in Bethlehem. 17 David had a ·strong desire [craving; longing] for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine ·army [camp; lines] and took water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ·before [as an offering to] the Lord, 19 saying, “·May God keep me from drinking [God forbid that I drink] this water! ·It would be like drinking [L Should I drink…?] the blood of the men who risked their lives to bring it to me!” So David refused to drink it.
These were the ·brave things [kind of things] that the three warriors did.
20 Abishai brother of Joab was the ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [L had a name as did] the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; v. 11] 21 and was more honored than the ·Three [or Thirty]. He became their commander even though he was not ·one of [or equal to] them.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed ·two of the best warriors [or the two sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 Benaiah killed an Egyptian who was ·about seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] tall and had a spear ·as large as [L like] a weaver’s ·rod [beam]. Benaiah had a ·club [staff], but he ·grabbed [wrenched] the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 ·These [Such] were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name as well as] the Three. 25 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David ·made [appointed] him ·leader [captain] of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
26 These were also mighty warriors:
Asahel brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
27 ·Shammoth [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:25] the Harorite;
Helez the ·Pelonite [or Paltite; 2 Sam. 23:26];
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer the Anathothite;
29 ·Sibbecai [or Mebunnai; 2 Sam. 23:27] the Hushathite;
·Ilai [or Zalmon; 2 Sam. 23:28] the Ahohite;
30 Maharai the Netophathite;
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
Benaiah the Pirathonite;
32 ·Hurai [or Hiddai; 2 Sam. 23:30] from the ·ravines [valleys; or brooks] of Gaash;
·Abiel [or Abi-Albon; 2 Sam. 23:31] the Arbathite;
33 Azmaveth the ·Baharumite [or Barhumite; 2 Sam. 23:31];
Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34 the sons of ·Hashem [or Jashen; cf. 2 Sam. 23:32] the Gizonite;
Jonathan son of ·Shagee [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
35 Ahiam son of ·Sacar [or Sharar; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
·Eliphal son of Ur [or Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; 2 Sam. 23:34];
36 Hepher the Mekerathite;
Ahijah the Pelonite;
37 ·Hezro [or Hezrai; 2 Sam. 23:35] the Carmelite;
Naarai son of Ezbai;
38 Joel brother of ·Nathan [or Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, 2 Sam. 23:36];
Mibhar son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Berothite, the ·officer who carried the armor [armor bearer] for 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, who was the ·leader [chief] of the Reubenites, and his thirty soldiers;
43 Hanan son of Maacah;
Joshaphat the Mithnite;
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite;
Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite;
45 Jediael son of Shimri;
Joha, Jediael’s brother, the Tizite;
46 Eliel the Mahavite;
Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;
Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaites.
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