The Daily Audio Bible
19 Some of the Manassites also joined David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. But he[a] didn’t help them, because after considering the matter, the Philistine rulers sent him away. “He’ll rejoin his master Saul,” they said, “and it will cost us our heads.” 20 When he went to Ziklag some joined him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the raiding bands because they were all warriors and officers in the army. 22 Reinforcements came to David daily until there was an army as mighty as God’s army.
23 These are the numbers of the commanders of those armed for battle who came to David in Hebron to make sure he took over Saul’s kingdom, according to the Lord’s word:
24 from Judah, carrying shield and spear, 6,800 troops armed for battle;
25 from Simeon, mighty warriors, 7,100;
26 from Levi, 4,600;
27 also Jehoiada, leader of Aaron’s line, and with him 3,700;
28 and Zadok, a young man, a mighty warrior, and 22 officers from his household;
29 from Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, 3,000, most of whom had been loyal to Saul’s household;
30 from Ephraim, 20,800, mighty warriors, famous in their households;
31 from half the tribe of Manasseh, 18,000, designated by name to come and make David king;
32 from Issachar, those who understood the times and what Israel should do, 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
33 from Zebulun, 50,000 experienced troops, armed for battle with all the weapons of war, to help with undivided loyalty;
34 from Naphtali, 1,000 officers, as well as 37,000 armed with shield and spear;
35 from Dan, 28,600 armed for battle;
36 from Asher, 40,000 experienced troops armed for battle;
37 from the other side of the Jordan, the Reubenites, Gadites, and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 armed with all the weapons of war.
38 All these men of war, armed[b] for battle, came to Hebron determined to make David king over all Israel, and all the rest of Israel were fully agreed to make David king. 39 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, while their relatives provided food for them. 40 Even their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali were bringing food by donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There was an abundance of flour, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because Israel was joyful.
David’s first attempt to move the chest
13 After consulting with the captains of the units of a thousand and a hundred, in fact with every leader, 2 David said to the entire Israelite assembly: “If you approve, and if the Lord our God agrees, let’s spread the word to the rest of our relatives in all the regions of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands. Let’s ask them to join us 3 so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn’t look for it in Saul’s days.” 4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.
5 So David assembled all Israel, from the border[c] of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring up God’s chest from Kiriath-jearim. 6 Then David and all Israel went up toward Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the chest of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures, where he is called by name.[d] 7 They moved God’s chest on a new cart from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, 8 while David and all Israel celebrated in God’s presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled. 10 But the Lord became angry with Uzzah and struck him because he had placed his hand on the chest. He died right there before God. 11 David was angry that the Lord lashed out at Uzzah; and so that place is still called Perez-uzzah today. 12 David was frightened by God that day. “How will I ever bring God’s chest home to me?” he asked. 13 So David didn’t take the chest away with him to David’s City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 God’s chest stayed with Obed-edom’s household for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that he had.
David’s kingship established in Jerusalem
14 Tyre’s King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace. 2 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel. 3 David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. 4 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David defeats the Philistines
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all marched up to find him. David heard this and went out to confront them. 9 The Philistines had invaded and were plundering the Rephaim Valley. 10 David asked God for advice: “Should I attack the Philistines, and will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord answered, “Attack them, and I’ll definitely hand them over to you.”
11 So they marched up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. “By my strength,” David exclaimed, “God has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out.” That’s why the place is called Baal-perazim.[e] 12 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David ordered them burned.
13 When the Philistines plundered the valley a second time, 14 David again asked God’s advice, but God answered, “Don’t attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 16 David followed God’s orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. 17 David’s fame spread throughout all lands, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.
Greeting
1 From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. 2-3 God promised this good news about his Son ahead of time through his prophets in the holy scriptures. His Son was descended from David. 4 He was publicly identified as God’s Son with power through his resurrection from the dead, which was based on the Spirit of holiness. This Son is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we have received God’s grace and our appointment to be apostles. This was to bring all Gentiles to faithful obedience for his name’s sake. 6 You who are called by Jesus Christ are also included among these Gentiles.
7 To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Paul’s plans to visit
8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world. 9 I serve God in my spirit by preaching the good news about God’s Son, and God is my witness that I continually mention you 10 in all my prayers. I’m always asking that somehow, by God’s will, I might succeed in visiting you at last. 11 I really want to see you to pass along some spiritual gift to you so that you can be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we can mutually encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine.
13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I planned to visit you many times, although I have been prevented from coming until now. I want to harvest some fruit among you, just as I have done among the other Gentiles. 14 I have a responsibility both to Greeks and to those who don’t speak Greek, both to the wise and to the foolish.
God’s righteousness is revealed
15 That’s why I’m ready to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 I’m not ashamed of the gospel: it is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness[a] for faith,[b] as it is written, The righteous person will live by faith.[c]
13 Have mercy on me, Lord!
Just look how I suffer
because of those who hate me.
But you are the one who brings me back
from the very gates of death
14 so I can declare all your praises,
so I can rejoice in your salvation
in the gates of Daughter Zion.
15 The nations have fallen
into the hole they themselves made!
Their feet are caught
in the very net they themselves hid!
16 The Lord is famous for the justice he has done;
it’s his own doing that the wicked are trapped. Higgayon.[a] Selah
17 Let the wicked go straight to the grave,[b]
the same for every nation that forgets God.
18 Because the poor won’t be forgotten forever,
the hope of those who suffer won’t be lost for all time.
19 Get up, Lord! Don’t let people prevail!
Let the nations be judged before you.
20 Strike them with fear, Lord.
Let the nations know they are only human. Selah
4 Riches increase one’s friends,
but the poor lose their friends.
5 A false witness won’t go unpunished,
and a liar won’t escape.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible