Chronological

Chapter 26

Divisions of Gatekeepers. ^1 (A)As for the divisions of gatekeepers: Of the Korahites was Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, one of the sons of Abiasaph. ² Meshelemiah’s sons: Zechariah, the firstborn, Jediael, the second son, Zebadiah, the third, Jathniel, the fourth, ³ Elam, the fifth, Jehohanan, the sixth, Eliehoenai, the seventh. ⁴ Obed-edom’s sons: Shemaiah, the firstborn, Jehozabad, a second son, Joah, the third, Sachar, the fourth, Nethanel, the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel, the sixth, Issachar, the seventh, Peullethai, the eighth, for God blessed him. ⁶ To his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their family, for they were warriors. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; also his kinsmen who were men of substance, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ All these were the sons of Obed-edom, who, together with their sons and their kinsmen, were men of substance, fit for the service. Of Obed-edom, sixty-two. ⁹ Of Meshelemiah, eighteen sons and kinsmen, men of substance.

¹⁰ Hosah, a descendant of Merari, had these sons: Shimri, the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),^{(B) 11} Hilkiah, the second son, Tebaliah, the third, Zechariah, the fourth. All the sons and kinsmen of Hosah were thirteen.

¹² To these divisions of the gatekeepers, by their chief men, were assigned watches for them to minister in the house of the Lord, for each group in the same way. ¹³ They cast lots for each gate, small and large families alike. ¹⁴ When the lot was cast for the east side, it fell to Meshelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and the north side fell to his lot.^{(C) 15} To Obed-edom fell the south side, and to his sons the storehouse. ¹⁶ To Hosah fell the west side with the Shallecheth gate at the ascending highway. For each family, watches were established. ¹⁷ On the east, six watched each day, on the north, four each day, on the south, four each day, and at the storehouse they were two and two; ¹⁸ as for the large building^[a] on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the large building. ¹⁹ These were the classes of the gatekeepers, sons of Korah and Merari.

Treasurers. ²⁰ Their brother Levites had oversight of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of votive offerings.^{(D) 21} Among the sons of Ladan the Gershonite, the family heads were sons of Jehiel:^{(E) 22 (F)}the sons of Jehiel, Zetham and his brother Joel, who oversaw the treasures of the house of the Lord. ²³ Of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites, ²⁴ Shubael, son of Gershom, son of Moses, was principal overseer of the treasures. ^25 (G)His associate was of the line of Eliezer, whose son was Rehabiah, whose son was Jeshaiah, whose son was Joram, whose son was Zichri, whose son was Shelomith. ²⁶ This Shelomith and his kinsmen oversaw all the treasures of the votive offerings dedicated by King David, the heads of the families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the commanders of the army;^{(H) 27} what came from wars and from spoils, they dedicated for the support of the house of the Lord. ²⁸ Also, whatever Samuel the seer, Saul, son of Kish, Abner, son of Ner, Joab, son of Zeruiah, and all others had consecrated, was under the charge of Shelomith and his kinsmen.

Magistrates. ²⁹ Among the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were in charge of Israel’s civil affairs^[b] as officials and judges.^{(I) 30} Among the Hebronites, Hashabiah^(J) and his kinsmen, one thousand seven hundred men of substance, had the administration of Israel on the western side of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and the service of the king. ³¹ Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was their chief according to their family records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made, and there were found among them warriors at Jazer of Gilead.^{(K) 32} His kinsmen were also men of substance, two thousand seven hundred heads of families. King David appointed them to the administration of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for everything pertaining to God and to the king.

Chapter 27

Army Commanders.^{[c] 1} This is the list of the Israelite family heads, commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and other officers who served the king in all that pertained to the divisions, of twenty-four thousand men each, that came and went month by month throughout the year.

² Over the first division for the first month was Ishbaal, son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men; ³ a descendant of Perez, he was chief over all the commanders of the army for the first month. ⁴ Over the division of the second month was Eleazar, son of Dodo, from Ahoh, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(L) 5 (M)}The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the chief priest, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁶ This Benaiah was a warrior among the Thirty and over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was over his division. ⁷ Fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab, and after him his son Zebadiah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(N) 8} Fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁹ Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁰ Seventh, for the seventh month, was Hellez, from Beth-pelet, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹¹ Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.^{(O) 12} Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer from Anathoth, of Benjamin, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹³ Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai from Netophah, a descendant of Zerah, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁴ Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the Ephraimites, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men. ¹⁵ Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of the family of Othniel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand men.

Tribal Leaders. ¹⁶ Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites the leader was Eliezer, son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah, son of Maacah; ¹⁷ for Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸ for Judah, Eliab,^(P) one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri, son of Michael; ¹⁹ for Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth, son of Azriel; ²⁰ for the Ephraimites, Hoshea, son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah; ²¹ for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel, son of Abner; ²² for Dan, Azarel, son of Jeroham. These were the commanders of the tribes of Israel.

²³ David did not count those who were twenty years of age or younger, for the Lord had promised to multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens.^{(Q) 24} Joab, son of Zeruiah, began to take the census, but he did not complete it, for because of it wrath fell upon Israel. Therefore the number was not recorded in the book of chronicles of King David.^(R)

Overseers. ²⁵ Over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth,^(S) the son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers was Jonathan, son of Uzziah. ²⁶ Over the farm workers who tilled the soil was Ezri, son of Chelub. ²⁷ Over the vineyards was Shimei from Ramah, and over their produce for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸ Over the olive trees and sycamores of the Shephelah was Baalhanan the Gederite, and over the stores of oil was Joash. ²⁹ Over the cattle that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and over the cattle in the valleys was Shaphat, the son of Adlai; ³⁰ over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; ³¹ and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the overseers of King David’s possessions.

David’s Court. ³² Jonathan, David’s uncle and a man of intelligence, was counselor and scribe; he and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, attended the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel was also the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.^{(T) 34} After Ahithophel^[d] came Jehoiada, the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. The commander of the king’s army was Joab.

Chapter 28

The Assembly at Jerusalem. ¹ David assembled at Jerusalem all the commanders of Israel, the tribal commanders, the commanders of the divisions who were in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, those in command of all the king’s estates and possessions, and his sons, together with the courtiers, the warriors, and every person of substance.^{(U) 2 (V)}King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my kinsmen and my people. It was my purpose to build a house of repose myself for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the footstool for the feet of our God;^[e] and I was preparing to build it. ³ But God said to me, You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man who waged wars and shed blood. ⁴ However, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, then one family of Judah, that of my father; and finally, among all the sons of my father, it pleased him to make me king over all Israel.^{(W) 5} And of all my sons—for the Lord has given me many sons—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the Lord’s kingship over Israel.^{(X) 6} For he said to me: It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him for my son, and I will be a father to him.^{(Y) 7} I will establish his kingdom forever, if he perseveres in carrying out my commandments and ordinances as he does now. ⁸ Therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: keep and carry out all the commandments of the Lord, your God, that you may continue to possess this good land and afterward leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.^(Z)

⁹ “As for you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and a willing soul, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the mind’s thoughts. If you search for him, he will be found; but if you abandon him, he will cast you off forever.^{(AA) 10} See, then! The Lord has chosen you to build a house as his sanctuary. Be strong and set to work.”

Temple Plans Given to Solomon. ¹¹ Then David gave to his son Solomon the design of the portico and of the house itself, with its storerooms, its upper rooms and inner chambers, and the shrine containing the cover of the ark.^{(AB) 12} He provided also the design for all else that he had in mind by way of courts for the house of the Lord, with the surrounding compartments for the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the votive offerings, ¹³ as well as for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the liturgical vessels of the house of the Lord. ¹⁴ He specified the weight of gold to be used in the golden vessels for the various services and the weight of silver to be used in the silver vessels for the various services; ¹⁵ likewise for the golden menorahs and their lamps he specified the weight of gold for each menorah and its lamps, and for the silver menorahs he specified the weight of silver for each menorah and its lamps, depending on the use to which each menorah was to be put.^{(AC) 16} He specified the weight of gold for each table that was to hold the showbread, and the silver for the silver tables; ¹⁷ the pure gold for the forks, basins, and pitchers; the weight of gold for each golden bowl and the weight of silver for each silver bowl; ¹⁸ the refined gold, and its weight, to be used for the altar of incense; and, finally, gold to fashion the chariot:^[f] the cherubim spreading their wings and covering the ark of the covenant of the Lord.^{(AD) 19} All this he wrote down, by the hand of the Lord, to make him understand it—the working out of the whole design.

²⁰ Then David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and steadfast, and go to work; do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have completed all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.^{(AE) 21} The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God; they will be with you in all the work with all those who are eager to show their skill in every kind of craftsmanship. Also the commanders and all the people will do everything that you command.”^(AF)

Chapter 29

Offerings for the Temple. ¹ King David then said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced; the work, however, is great, for this palace is not meant for human beings, but for the Lord God.^{(AG) 2} For this reason I have stored up for the house of my God, as far as I was able, gold for what will be made of gold, silver for what will be made of silver, bronze for what will be made of bronze, iron for what will be made of iron, wood for what will be made of wood, onyx stones and settings for them, carnelian and mosaic stones, every other kind of precious stone, and great quantities of marble.^{(AH) 3} But now, because of the delight I take in the house of my God, in addition to all that I stored up for the holy house, I give to the house of my God my personal fortune in gold and silver: ⁴ three thousand talents of Ophir gold, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the rooms,^{(AI) 5} for the various utensils to be made of gold and silver, and for every work that is to be done by artisans. Now, who else will contribute generously and consecrate themselves this day to the Lord?”^(AJ)

⁶ Then the heads of the families, the tribal commanders of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and those who had command of the king’s affairs came forward willingly^{(AK) 7} and contributed for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.^{(AL) 8} Those who had precious stones gave them into the keeping of Jehiel the Gershonite for the treasury of the house of the Lord.^{(AM) 9} The people rejoiced over these free-will offerings, for they had been contributed to the Lord wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.^(AN)

David’s Prayer. ¹⁰ Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of the whole assembly. David said:

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the means to contribute so freely? For everything is from you, and what we give is what we have from you. ¹⁵ For before you we are strangers and travelers, like all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without a future.^{(AP) 16} Lord our God, all this wealth that we have brought together to build you a house for your holy name comes from you and is entirely yours. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you put hearts to the test and that you take pleasure in integrity. With a whole heart I have willingly given all these things, and now with joy I have seen your people here present also giving to you generously. ¹⁸ Lord, God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,^(AQ) keep such thoughts in the hearts and minds of your people forever, and direct their hearts toward you. ¹⁹ Give to my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to keep your commandments, precepts, and statutes, that he may carry out all these plans and build the palace for which I have made preparation.”

²⁰ Then David told the whole assembly, “Now bless the Lord your God!” And the whole assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors, bowing down in homage before the Lord and before the king. ²¹ On the following day they brought sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, together with their libations and many other sacrifices for all Israel; ²² and on that day they ate and drank in the Lord’s presence with great rejoicing.

Solomon Anointed. Then for a second time^[g] they proclaimed David’s son Solomon king, and they anointed him for the Lord as ruler, and Zadok as priest. ²³ Thereafter Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king succeeding his father David; he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.^{(AR) 24} All the commanders and warriors, and also all the other sons of King David, swore allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ And the Lord exalted Solomon greatly in the eyes of all Israel, giving him a glorious reign such as had not been enjoyed by any king over Israel before him.^(AS)

David’s Death. ²⁶ Thus David, the son of Jesse, had reigned over all Israel. ²⁷ He was king over Israel for forty years: he was king seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.^{(AT) 28} He died at a ripe old age, rich in years and wealth and glory, and his son Solomon succeeded him as king.^(AU)

²⁹ Now the deeds of King David, first and last, are recorded in the history of Samuel the seer, the history of Nathan the prophet, and the history of Gad the seer,^{(AV) 30} together with the particulars of his reign and valor, and of the events that affected him and all Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth.

Psalm 127^[a]

The Need of God’s Blessing

¹ A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

I

II