Bible in 90 Days
The Death of Saul and His Sons
10 (A)Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and [a](B)Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers [b]hit him; and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. (C)So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died. 6 (D)Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.
7 Then all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 Now it happened on the next day, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 (E)So they stripped him and took his head and his weapons and sent them all around the land of the Philistines, to proclaim the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they placed his weapons in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
Jabesh-gilead Buries Saul
11 Then all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 (F)so all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
13 (G)Thus Saul died for his unfaithfulness, which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh which he did not keep; and also (H)because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of Yahweh. Therefore He put him to death and (I)turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
David Anointed King over All Israel
11 (J)Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron [c]and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Previously, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and Yahweh your God said to you, ‘(K)You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over My people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David cut a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; then (L)they anointed David king over Israel, (M)according to the word of Yahweh through Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem ((N)that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5 Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6 And David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” (O)Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 Then David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 And he [d]built the city all around, from the [e]Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab [f]repaired the rest of the city. 9 (P)And David became greater and greater, and Yahweh of hosts was with him.
David’s Mighty Men
10 (Q)Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, (R)according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. 11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: (S)Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, (T)the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred [g]slain by him at one time.
12 And after him was Eleazar the son of (U)Dodo, the Ahohite, who was [h]one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at [i]Pasdammim. (V)Now the Philistines had gathered together there to battle, and there was a portion of the field full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the midst of that portion and delivered it, and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh saved them by a great salvation.
15 Then three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam, while (W)the camp of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the fortress, while (X)the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 Then David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, David was not willing to drink it, but poured it out to Yahweh; 19 and he said, “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went [j]at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.
20 Now [k]Abshai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the [l]thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred [m]who were slain by him; and he had a name as well as the [n]thirty. 21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three.
22 (Y)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the [o]two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 He had also struck down an Egyptian, [p]an impressive man, [q]five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was (Z)a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard.
26 Now the mighty men of the military forces were
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 [r]Shammoth the Harorite,
Helez the [s]Pelonite,
28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 [t]Sibbecai the Hushathite,
[u]Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite,
[v]Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 [w]Hurai of the brooks of Gaash,
[x]Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of [y]Hashem the Gizonite,
Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
35 Ahiam the son of [z]Sacar the Hararite,
[aa]Eliphal the son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 Hezro the Carmelite,
[ab]Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan,
Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43 Hanan the son of Maacah
and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael the son of Shimri
and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite
and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,
and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
David’s Mighty Men
12 (AA)Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were equipped with bows, (AB)using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; (AC)they were Saul’s relatives from Benjamin.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite,
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. [ac]Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
5 [ad]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites,
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 From the Gadites, mighty men of valor separated themselves to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men of war who had gone out for military duty, who could [ae]handle large shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and (AD)they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.
9 Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
14 These of the sons of Gad were chiefs of the army; (AE)he who was least was equal to one hundred and the greatest to one thousand. 15 (AF)These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and they made all those in the valleys flee, both to the east and to the west.
16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out before them, and he answered and said to them, “If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violence in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and reprove.” 18 And (AG)the Spirit clothed (AH)Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
And with you, O son of Jesse!
(AI)Peace, peace to you,
And peace to him who helps you;
Indeed, your God helps you!”
Then David received them and made them chiefs of the band.
19 (AJ)Now from Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after counsel sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.” 20 As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21 They helped David against (AK)the marauding band, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were commanders in the army. 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great camp (AL)like the camp of God.
David’s Military Companies in Hebron
23 Now these are the numbers of the [af]companies equipped for military duty, (AM)who came to David at Hebron, (AN)to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, (AO)according to the [ag]command of Yahweh.
24 The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800, equipped for military duty.
25 Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for military duty, 7,100.
26 Of the sons of Levi 4,600.
27 Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were 3,700,
28 also (AP)Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house 22 commanders.
29 Of the sons of Benjamin, (AQ)Saul’s relatives, 3,000; for until now (AR)the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
30 Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men of valor, men [ah]who had a name in their fathers’ households.
31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king.
32 Of the sons of Issachar, (AS)men who knew how to discern the times, to know what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their relatives were at their command.
33 Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went out in the army, who could arrange themselves for battle with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David [ai]with (AT)an undivided heart.
34 Of Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 with large shield and spear.
35 Of the Danites who could arrange themselves for battle, there were 28,600.
36 Of Asher there were 40,000 who went out in the army to arrange themselves for battle.
37 From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for the army for battle.
38 All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle [aj]lines, came to Hebron with (AU)their whole heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, (AV)brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and on oxen, great provisions of flour, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep. There was gladness indeed in Israel.
Uzza Dies from Touching the Ark
13 Then David took counsel with the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from Yahweh our God, let us send everywhere to our relatives who remain in all the lands of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may gather with us; 3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, (AW)for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 (AX)So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to [ak]Lebo-hamath, (AY)to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 (AZ)And David and all Israel went up to (BA)Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, Yahweh, (BB)who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7 And they drove the ark of God on a new cart from (BC)the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were leading the cart. 8 Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, (BD)even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 Then they came to (BE)the threshing floor of Chidon. And Uzza reached out with his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10 And the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzza, and He struck him down (BF)because he reached out with his hand to the ark; (BG)and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because [al]of Yahweh’s breaking out against Uzza; and that place is called [am]Perez-uzza to this day. 12 So David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God back to me?” 13 And David did not move the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside (BH)to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 Thus the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months; and (BI)Yahweh blessed the household of Obed-edom with all that he had.
David Takes More Wives
14 (BJ)Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and craftsmen of walls and craftsmen of wood, to build a house for him. 2 Thus David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was lifted up, for the sake of His people Israel.
3 Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David [an]became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 (BK)These are the names of the children [ao]born to him in Jerusalem:
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David Strikes Down the Philistines
8 Then the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, so all the Philistines went up to seek out David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and (BL)made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 Then David asked of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they came up to [ap]Baal-perazim, and there David struck them down; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place [aq]Baal-perazim. 12 And they forsook their gods there; so David said the word, and they were burned with fire.
13 Then the Philistines (BM)yet again made a raid in the valley. 14 So David again asked of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go directly up after them; circle around from [ar]behind them and come at them in front of the [as]balsam trees. 15 And it will be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the [at]balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 Then David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the camp of the Philistines from [au]Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17 Then the name of David went out into all the lands; and (BN)Yahweh brought the dread of him on all the nations.
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem
15 Then David made houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and (BO)pitched a tent for it. 2 And David said, “(BP)No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for Yahweh chose them to carry the ark of [av]God and to minister to Him forever.” 3 Then (BQ)David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh (BR)to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and (BS)the Levites:
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his [aw]relatives;
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives;
7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives;
8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and 200 of his relatives;
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and 80 of his relatives;
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David called for (BT)Zadok and (BU)Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; (BV)set yourselves apart as holy, both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, (BW)to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 (BX)Because you did not carry it at the first, Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek Him according to the legal judgment.” 14 (BY)So the priests and the Levites set themselves apart as holy to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 15 And the sons of (BZ)the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of Yahweh.
16 Then David said to the chiefs of the Levites (CA)to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise a sound of gladness. 17 So (CB)the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [ax]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with [ay]harps set according to (CC)alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with [az]lyres set according to (CD)the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the [ba]singing; he gave instruction in singing because he had understanding. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (CE)blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 (CF)So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the commanders over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from (CG)the house of Obed-edom with gladness. 26 Now this happened because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And they sacrificed (CH)seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. (CI)David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel was bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the [bb]horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.
29 Now it happened as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that (CJ)Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
A Tent for the Ark
16 And they brought in the ark of God and (CK)placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they brought burnt offerings and peace offerings near before God. 2 Then David completed offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings. And he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. 3 And he apportioned to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread and a portion of meat and a raisin cake.
4 And he made some of the Levites ministers before the ark of Yahweh, even to bring remembrance and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then [bc]Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 Then on that day David (CL)first assigned [bd]Asaph and his [be]relatives to give thanks to Yahweh.
Song of Thanksgiving
8 (CM)Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call upon His name;
(CN)Make known His acts among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Muse on all His wondrous deeds.
10 Boast in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh be glad.
11 (CO)Inquire of Yahweh and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
12 (CP)Remember His wondrous deeds which He has done,
(CQ)His miraculous signs and the judgments uttered by His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is Yahweh our God;
(CR)His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded for a thousand generations,
16 (CS)Which He cut with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac.
17 (CT)Then He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “(CU)To you I will give the land of Canaan,
As the portion of your inheritance,”
19 (CV)When you were only a few men in number,
Of little account, and sojourners in it,
20 And they wandered about from nation to nation,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to oppress them,
And (CW)He reproved kings for their sakes,
22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And (CX)against My prophets do no evil.”
23 (CY)Sing to Yahweh, all the earth;
Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Recount His glory among the nations,
His wondrous deeds among all the peoples.
25 For (CZ)great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised;
And He is [bf](DA)more [bg]fearsome than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are [bh](DB)idols,
(DC)But Yahweh made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to Yahweh, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;
Lift up [bi]an offering, and come before Him;
(DD)Worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is established, it will not be shaken.
31 (DE)Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “(DF)Yahweh reigns.”
32 (DG)Let the sea [bj]roar, as well as its fullness;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Yahweh;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
34 (DH)Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
35 (DI)Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from among the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name
And revel in Your praise.”
36 (DJ)Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people (DK)said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh.
Ministering Before the Ark
37 So he left behind Asaph and his [bk]relatives there (DL)before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark continually, (DM)as every day’s work required; 38 and (DN)Obed-edom with [bl]his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and (DO)Hosah as gatekeepers. 39 Now he left behind (DP)Zadok the priest and his [bm]relatives the priests (DQ)before the [bn]tabernacle of Yahweh in the high place, which was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, (DR)even according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which He commanded Israel. 41 And with them were (DS)Heman and Jeduthun, and (DT)the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to (DU)give thanks to Yahweh, because His lovingkindness endures forever. 42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for (DV)the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.
43 (DW)Then all the people went each to his house, and David returned to bless his household.
The Ark of God Inhabits a Tent
17 (DX)Now it happened when David inhabited his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I inhabit a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is under tent curtains.” 2 So Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 Now it happened in the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and say to David My servant, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “(DY)You shall not build Me a house to inhabit; 5 for I have not inhabited a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, (DZ)but I have been from tent to tent and from one [bo]dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have gone about with all Israel, did I speak a word (EA)with even one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
David’s House Will Be Established Forever
7 So now, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 8 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 9 And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the [bp]unrighteous will not waste them anymore as formerly, 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies.
And I tell you that Yahweh will build a house for you. 11 And it will be that when your days are fulfilled to go to be with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 (EB)I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; and I will not remove My lovingkindness from him, (EC)as I removed it from him who was before you. 14 But I will cause him to stand in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”’” 15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
David Magnifies Yahweh’s Name
16 Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh and said, “(ED)Who am I, O Yahweh God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far? 17 And this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of the house of Your slave concerning the distant future, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O Yahweh God. 18 Again what more can David say to You concerning the glory bestowed on Your slave? You know Your slave. 19 O Yahweh, (EE)for the sake of Your slave, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things. 20 O Yahweh, there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what one nation in the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make You a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed out of Egypt? 22 (EF)Yet You gave Your people Israel to be Your own people forever, and You, O Yahweh, have become their God.
23 “So now, O Yahweh, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your slave and concerning his house [bq]endure forever, and do as You have spoken, 24 that Your name [br]endure and be magnified forever, by saying, ‘Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel; and the house of David Your [bs]servant is established before You.’ 25 For You, O my God, have revealed in the hearing of Your slave that You will build for him a house; therefore Your slave has found courage to pray before You. 26 So now, O Yahweh, You are God, and You have [bt]promised this good thing to Your slave. 27 So now, You have been pleased to bless the house of Your slave, that it may be forever before You. For You, O Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
David Strikes Down Nations
18 Now (EG)it happened afterwards, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also struck Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.
3 Then David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to set up his [bu]power at the Euphrates River. 4 And David captured from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for 100 chariots.
5 Then the Arameans of [bv]Damascus came to help Hadadezer king (EH)of Zobah. And David struck down 22,000 men of the Arameans. 6 Then David placed garrisons among the Arameans of [bw]Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went. 7 And David took the small shields of gold which were [bx]carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from [by]Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which (EI)Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.
9 Then [bz]Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck down all the military force of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 so he sent [ca]Hadoram his son to King David to [cb]greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11 King David also set these apart as holy to Yahweh with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah [cc]smote 18,000 of Edom in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went.
14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he was doing justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 (EJ)Now Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was scribe; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.
The Ammonites Dishonor David’s Men
19 (EK)Now it happened afterwards, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2 So David said, “I will show lovingkindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed lovingkindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him. 3 But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5 Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, “[cd]Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”
6 Then the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent [ce]1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and (EL)from Zobah. 7 So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before (EM)Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 8 Then David heard of it, and he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 9 And the sons of Ammon came out and arranged themselves for battle at the entrance of the city. But the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
David Defeats Ammon and Aram
10 Then Joab saw that the [cf]battle was set against him in front and in the rear. So he chose from all the choice men of Israel and [cg]they arranged themselves to meet the Arameans. 11 But the remainder of the people he put in the hand of [ch]Abshai his brother; and they arranged themselves to meet the sons of Ammon. 12 And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall save me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will save you. 13 Be strong, and let us show strength for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what is good in His sight.” 14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Arameans for the battle, and they fled before him. 15 Now the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled. So they themselves also fled before Abshai his brother and came into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 Then the Arameans saw that they had been [ci]defeated by Israel. So they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the [cj]River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [ck]led them. 17 And it was told to David, so he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and arranged for battle against them. So David arranged them in battle to meet the Arameans. And they fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army. 19 Then the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were [cl]defeated by Israel. So they made peace with David and served him. And the Arameans were not willing to save the sons of Ammon anymore.
War with Philistine Giants
20 (EN)Now it happened [cm]in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the force of the military and brought the land of the sons of Ammon to ruin, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And (EO)Joab struck Rabbah and [cn]tore it down. 2 (EP)Then David took the crown of [co]their king from his head; and he found it to weigh a [cp]talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city in a very great amount. 3 He also brought out the people who were in it (EQ)and [cq]made them work with saws and with sharp iron instruments and with axes. And thus David used to do to all the cities of the sons of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
4 (ER)Now it happened afterwards, that war [cr]broke out at [cs]Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, one among those born of the [ct]giants, and they were subdued. 5 And there was war with the Philistines again, and Elhanan the son of (ES)Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the (ET)shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 6 Then there was war at Gath again, and there was a man of great stature who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and he also had been born to the giants. 7 And he [cu]reproached Israel, so Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down. 8 These were born to the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
David Sins by Numbering Israel
21 (EU)Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “(EV)Go, count Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their total count.” 3 But Joab said, “(EW)May Yahweh add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” 4 Nevertheless, the king’s word stood strong against Joab. So, Joab went out and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the total count of the [cv]census of the people to David. And (EX)all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. 6 (EY)But he did not [cw]number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s [cx]command was abominable to Joab.
7 And this thing was displeasing in the sight of God, so He struck Israel. 8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. (EZ)But now, please take away the iniquity of Your slave, for I have acted very foolishly.”
9 And Yahweh spoke to (FA)Gad, David’s (FB)seer, saying, 10 “Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “I [cy]am offering you three things; choose for yourself one of them, and I will do that to you.”’” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Take for yourself 12 (FC)either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your adversaries, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ So now, see what word I should return to Him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of Yahweh, (FD)for His compassions are exceedingly abundant. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”
14 (FE)So Yahweh [cz]sent a pestilence against Israel; and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, Yahweh saw and [da](FF)relented concerning the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough! Now relax your hand.” And the angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of [db]Ornan the Jebusite. 16 Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, (FG)covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Is it not I who [dc]commanded to number the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done a great evil; (FH)but these sheep, what have they done? O Yahweh my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”
David Erects an Altar
18 (FI)Then the angel of Yahweh said to Gad to say to David, that David should go up and erect an altar to Yahweh on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of Yahweh. 20 Now Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. And Ornan was threshing wheat. 21 Then David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and bowed his [dd]face to the ground [de]before David. 22 Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the [df]site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to Yahweh; for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be checked from being upon the people.” 23 And Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do what is good in his sight. See, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for the grain offering; I will give everything.” 24 However, King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not lift up what is yours to Yahweh, or offer a burnt offering [dg]which costs me nothing.” 25 So (FJ)David gave Ornan [dh]600 shekels of gold by weight for the [di]site. 26 Then David built there an altar to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to Yahweh and (FK)He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then Yahweh spoke to the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.
28 At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 (FL)Now the tabernacle of Yahweh, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were in the high place at Gibeon at that time. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was terrified by the sword of the angel of Yahweh.
Preparation to Build Yahweh’s House
22 Then David said, “(FM)This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
2 So David said to gather (FN)the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, and (FO)he [dj]appointed [dk]stonecutters to hew out stones to build the house of God. 3 And David (FP)prepared large quantities of iron [dl]to make the nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps, and more (FQ)bronze than could be weighed; 4 and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for (FR)the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 5 And David said, “My son (FS)Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh shall be highly exalted, for a name and beauty throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.
Solomon to Build Yahweh’s House
6 Then (FT)he called for his son Solomon, and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, “(FU)My son, [dm]I had it within my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God. 8 But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ‘(FV)You have shed much blood and have [dn]waged great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed so much blood on the earth before Me. 9 Behold, a son will be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and (FW)I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side; for (FX)his name shall be [do]Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 (FY)He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be a son to Me and I will be a father to him; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 11 Now, my son, (FZ)Yahweh be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of Yahweh your God just as He has spoken concerning you. 12 (GA)Only Yahweh give you insight and understanding, and give you command over Israel, so that you may (GB)keep the law of Yahweh your God. 13 (GC)Then you will succeed, if you are careful to do the statutes and the judgments which Yahweh commanded Moses concerning Israel. (GD)Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed. 14 Now behold, [dp]with great pains I have prepared for the house of Yahweh (GE)100,000 [dq]talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and (GF)bronze and iron beyond weight, for [dr]they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover, there are many of those who do the work with you, hewers of stone and craftsmen of stone and wood, and all men who are [ds]wise in every kind of work. 16 Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no number. Arise and work, and may (GG)Yahweh be with you.”
17 (GH)David also commanded all the officials of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is not Yahweh your God with you? And (GI)has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before Yahweh and before His people. 19 Now (GJ)give your heart and your soul to seek Yahweh your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, (GK)so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built (GL)for the name of Yahweh.”
Solomon Made King over Israel
23 (GM)Now David became old and full of days, (GN)and he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 And he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Levites.
The Work of the Levites
3 (GO)And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and (GP)their number by [dt]census of men was 38,000. 4 Of these, 24,000 were (GQ)to direct the work of the house of Yahweh; and 6,000 were (GR)officers and judges, 5 and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and (GS)4,000 were praising Yahweh with the instruments which [du]David made for giving praise. 6 And David divided them into divisions (GT)according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The Sons of Gershon
7 Of the Gershonites were [dv]Ladan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first and Zetham and Joel, three.
9 The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth and Haziel and Haran, three.
These were the heads of the fathers’ households of Ladan.
10 The sons of Shimei were Jahath, [dw]Zina, Jeush, and Beriah.
These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 Jahath was the first and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they became a father’s household, one [dx]unit.
The Sons of Kohath
12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
13 (GU)The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And (GV)Aaron was separated in order to sanctify him as most holy, he and his sons forever, (GW)to offer offerings up in smoke before Yahweh, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever.
14 But as for (GX)Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.
16 The [dy]son of Gershom was [dz]Shebuel the chief.
17 The [ea]son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
18 The [eb]son of Izhar was [ec]Shelomith the chief.
19 The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second.
The Sons of Merari
21 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.
22 And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so their brothers, the sons of Kish, took them up as wives.
23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
The Service of the Levites
24 (GY)These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ households, even the heads of the fathers’ households of those of them who were [ed]counted, in the number of names by their [ee]census, doing the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, (GZ)from twenty years old and upward. 25 For David said, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, (HA)has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever. 26 Also, (HB)the Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings for its service.” 27 For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered from twenty years old and upward. 28 For their station is to be on hand for the sons of Aaron with the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts and in the chambers and in the cleansing of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God, 29 (HC)and with the showbread, and (HD)the fine flour for a grain offering, and unleavened wafers, or (HE)what is made on the griddle, or (HF)what is well stirred, and (HG)all measures of volume and size. 30 And they are to stand every morning to thank and to praise Yahweh, and likewise at evening, 31 and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, (HH)on the sabbaths, the new moons and (HI)the appointed times in the number set by the judgments concerning them, continually before Yahweh. 32 Thus (HJ)they shall keep responsibility of the tent of meeting, and responsibility of the holy place, and (HK)responsibility of the sons of Aaron their [ef]relatives, for the service of the house of Yahweh.
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