The Daily Audio Bible

¹⁸ The descendants of Re’uven, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh included 44,760 brave men who were available for warfare, able to take up shield and sword, shoot with the bow, or make use of other war skills. ¹⁹ These made war with the Hagri’im, Y’tur, Nafish and Nodav. ²⁰ They received help against them, so that the Hagri’im and all who were allied with them suffered defeat at their hands; because they cried out to God while they were fighting, and he did as they requested, because they put their trust in him. ²¹ From their livestock they carried off 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2,000 donkeys; they also took captive 100,000 persons. ²² Many were slaughtered, because the war was of God, and they lived in their territory until the captivity.

²³ The descendants of the half-tribe of M’nasheh lived and increased in the territory from Bashan to Ba‘al-Hermon, S’nir and Mount Hermon. ²⁴ The leaders of their fathers’ houses were: ‘Efer, Yish‘i, Eli’el, ‘Azri’el, Yirmeyah, Hodavyah and Yachdi’el, strong, brave, famous men, leaders of their fathers’ houses. ²⁵ But they broke faith with the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed ahead of them. ²⁶ So the God of Isra’el stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Ashur and the spirit of Tilgat-Piln’eser king of Ashur; and he carried them away as captives — the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh — and brought them to Halach, Havor, Hara and to the Gozan River, where they are to this day.

^27 (6:1) The sons of Levi: Gershon, K’hat and M’rari. ^28 (6:2) The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el. ^29 (6:3) The children of ‘Amram: Aharon, Moshe and Miryam. The sons of Aharon: Nadav, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. ^30 (6:4) El‘azar fathered Pinchas, Pinchas fathered Avishua, ^31 (6:5) Avishua fathered Buki, Buki fathered ‘Uzi, ^32 (6:6) ‘Uzi fathered Z’rachyah, Z’rachyah fathered M’rayot, ^33 (6:7) M’rayot fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv, ^34 (6:8) Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Achima‘atz, ^35 (6:9) Achima‘atz fathered ‘Azaryah, ‘Azaryah fathered Yochanan, ^36 (6:10) and Yochanan fathered ‘Azaryah. He functioned as cohen in the house that Shlomo built in Yerushalayim. ^37 (6:11) ‘Azaryah fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv, ^38 (6:12) Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Shalum, ^39 (6:13) Shalum fathered Hilkiyah, Hilkiyah fathered ‘Azaryah, ^40 (6:14) ‘Azaryah fathered S’rayah, S’rayah fathered Y’hotzadak, ^41 (6:15) and Y’hotzadak went into captivity when Adonai carried Y’hudah and Yerushalayim away at the hands of N’vukhadnetzar.

6 ⁽¹⁶⁾ The sons of Levi: Gershom, K’hat and M’rari. ^2 (17) These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Livni and Shim‘i. ^3 (18) The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el. ^4 (19) The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi.

These are the families of the L’vi’im according to father’s clans: ^5 (20) [The descendants] of Gershom: his son Livni, his son Yachat, his son Zimah, ^6 (21) his son Yo’ach, his son ‘Iddo, his son Zerach, his son Ye’atrai.

^7 (22) The descendants of K’hat: his son ‘Amminadav, his son Korach, his son Asir, ^8 (23) his son Elkanah, his son Evyasaf, his son Asir, ^9 (24) his son Tachat, his son Uri’el, his son ‘Uziyah and his son Sha’ul. ^10 (25) The sons of Elkanah: ‘Amasai and Achimot. ^11 (26) As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: his son Tzofai, his son Nachat, ^12 (27) his son Eli’av, his son Yerocham and his son Elkanah. ^13 (28) The sons of Sh’mu’el: Vashni the firstborn, then Aviyah.

^14 (29) The descendants of M’rari: Machli, his son Livni, his son Shim‘i, his son ‘Uzah, ^15 (30) his son Shim‘a, his son Hagiyah and his son ‘Asayah. ^16 (31) David appointed them to be in charge of the service of song in the house of Adonai after the ark had found a permanent resting place. ^17 (32) They served as singers before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Shlomo had built the house of Adonai in Yerushalayim; and they carried out their tasks in a prescribed order.

^18 (33) Those who carried out these tasks and their descendants were — starting with descendants of the K’hati — Heman the singer, the son of Yo’el the son of Sh’mu’el, ^19 (34) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eli’el, the son of Toach, ^20 (35) the son of Tzuf, the son of Elkanah, the son of Machat, the son of ‘Amasai, ^21 (36) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yo’el, the son of ‘Azaryah, the son of Tz’fanyah, ^22 (37) the son of Tachat, the son of Asir, the son of Evyasaf, the son of Korach, ^23 (38) the son of Yitz’har, the son of K’hat, the son of Levi, the son of Isra’el.

^24 (39) His brother Asaf, who stood on his right, was Asaf the son of Berekhyah, the son of Shim‘a, ^25 (40) the son of Mikha’el, the son of Ba‘aseyah, the son of Malkiyah, ^26 (41) the son of Etni, the son of Zerach the son of ‘Adayah, ^27 (42) the son of Eitan, the son of Zimah, the son of Shim‘i, ^28 (43) the son of Yachat, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

^29 (44) On the left were their kinsmen the descendants of M’rari: Eitan the son of Kishi, the son of ‘Avdi, the son of Malukh, ^30 (45) the son of Hashavyah, the son of Amatzyah, the son of Hilkiyah, ^31 (46) the son of Amtzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, ^32 (47) the son of Machli, the son of Mushi, the son of M’rari, the son of Levi.

^33 (48) Their kinsmen the L’vi’im were put in charge of all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

^34 (49) But Aharon and his sons were the ones who offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the service of the Especially Holy Place and to make atonement for Isra’el, in keeping with all that Moshe the servant of God had ordered to be done. ^35 (50) These are the descendants of Aharon: his son El‘azar, his son Pinchas, his son Avishua, ^36 (51) his son Buki, his son ‘Uzi, his son Z’rachyah, ^37 (52) his son M’rayot, his son Amaryah, his son Achituv, ^38 (53) his son Tzadok and his son Achima‘atz.

^39 (54) These were the settlements of the descendants of Aharon according to the territories assigned them: to the descendants of Aharon, of the clans of the K’hati — for the first lot fell to them — ^40 (55) they gave Hevron in the land of Y’hudah with the open land surrounding it, ^41 (56) but the fields and the dependent villages of the city they gave to Kalev the son of Y’funeh. ^42 (57) To the descendants of Aharon they gave the city of refuge Hevron, also Livnah with its surrounding open land, Yatir, Esht’moa with its surrounding open land, ^43 (58) Hilen with its surrounding open land, D’vir with its surrounding open land, ^44 (59) ‘Ashan with its surrounding open land, Beit-Shemesh with its surrounding open land; ^45 (60) and out of the tribe of Binyamin: Geva with its surrounding open land, ‘Alemet with its surrounding open land and ‘Anatot with its surrounding open land. All the cities for all their clans amounted to thirteen cities.

^46 (61) The rest of the descendants of K’hat were assigned by lot, clan by clan, ten cities from the half-tribe of M’nasheh. ^47 (62) The descendants of Gershom were assigned, clan by clan, thirteen cities from the tribes of Yissakhar, Asher, Naftali and M’nasheh in Bashan. ^48 (63) To the descendants of M’rari were assigned by lot, clan by clan, twelve cities from the tribes of Re’uven, Gad and Z’vulun. ^49 (64) So the people of Isra’el gave the L’vi’im these cities with the surrounding open land. ^50 (65) From the tribes of the descendants of Y’hudah, Shim‘on and Binyamin they assigned these cities mentioned by name.

^51 (66) Some of the clans of the descendants of K’hat were given cities in territory from the tribe of Efrayim. ^52 (67) They gave them the city of refuge Sh’khem in the hills of Efrayim with the surrounding open land, also Gezer with the surrounding open land, ^53 (68) Yokme‘am with the surrounding open land, Beit-Horon with the surrounding open land, ^54 (69) Ayalon with the surrounding open land, and Gat-Rimmon with the surrounding open land; ^55 (70) and out of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: ‘Aner with the surrounding open land and Bil‘am with the surrounding open land, for the rest of the clans of the descendants of K’hat.

^56 (71) The descendants of Gershom were given, from the clans of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: Golan in Bashan with the surrounding open land and ‘Ashtarot with the surrounding open land; ^57 (72) and from the tribe of Yissakhar: Kedesh with the surrounding open land, Davrat with the surrounding open land, ^58 (73) Ramot with the surrounding open land and ‘Anem with the surrounding open land; ^59 (74) and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with the surrounding open land, ‘Avdon with the surrounding open land, ^60 (75) Hukok with the surrounding open land and Rechov with the surrounding open land; ^61 (76) and from the tribe of Naftali: Kedesh in the Galil with the surrounding open land, Hamon with the surrounding open land and Kiryatayim with the surrounding open land.

^62 (77) To the rest [of the L’vi’im], the descendants of M’rari, were given, from the tribe of Z’vulun: Rimmono with the surrounding open land and Tavor with the surrounding open land; ^63 (78) and beyond the Yarden at Yericho, on the east side of the Yarden, they were given, from the tribe of Re’uven: Betzer in the desert with the surrounding open land, Yahatz with the surrounding open land, ^64 (79) K’demot with the surrounding open land and Mefa‘at with the surrounding open land; ^65 (80) and from the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil‘ad with the surrounding open land, Machanayim with the surrounding open land, ^66 (81) Heshbon with the surrounding open land and Ya‘zer with the surrounding open land.

26 Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “You have permission to speak on your own behalf.” Then Sha’ul motioned with his hand and began his defense:

² “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that it is before you today that I am defending myself against all the charges made against me by Jews, ³ because you are so well informed about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “So then! All Jews know how I lived my life from my youth on, both in my own country and in Yerushalayim. ⁵ They have known me for a long time; and if they are willing, they can testify that I have followed the strictest party in our religion — that is, I have lived as a Parush. ⁶ How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers! ⁷ It is the fulfillment of this very promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they resolutely carry on their acts of worship night and day; yet it is in connection with this hope, your Majesty, that I am being accused by Jews! ⁸ Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

⁹ “I used to think it was my duty to do all I could to combat the name of Yeshua from Natzeret; ¹⁰ and in Yerushalayim I did so. After receiving authority from the head cohanim, I myself threw many of God’s people in prison; when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ Often I went from one synagogue to another, punishing them and trying to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury against them, I even went so far as to persecute them in cities outside the country.

¹² “On one such occasion, I was traveling to Dammesek with the full authority and power of the head cohanim. ¹³ I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’ ¹⁵ I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’ and the Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me! ¹⁶ But get up, and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you to serve and bear witness to what you have already seen of me, and to what you will see when I appear to you in the future. ¹⁷ I will deliver you from the People and from the Goyim. I am sending you ¹⁸ to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.’

¹⁹ “So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven! ²⁰ On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y’hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance. ²¹ It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. ²² However, I have had God’s help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen — ²³ that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim.”

²⁴ But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, “Sha’ul, you’re out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!”

²⁵ But Sha’ul said, “No, I am not ‘crazy,’ Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity. ²⁶ For the king understands these matters, so to him I express myself freely, because I am sure that none of these things have been hidden from him. After all, they didn’t happen in some back alley. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe!”

²⁸ Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “In this short time, you’re trying to convince me to become Messianic?” ²⁹ Sha’ul replied, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me except for these chains!”

³⁰ Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others sitting with them. ³¹ After they had left, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or prison.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “If he hadn’t appealed to the Emperor, he could have been released.”