Sermon Central
1 Chronicles 1:1-29:20
View Full ChapterHistorical Records From Adam to Abraham To Noah’s Sons 1Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.
6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath
9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
10Cush was the father
12Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
13Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn,
16Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
The Semites
17The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. The sons of Aram:
18Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber.
19Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg,
23Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
25Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26Serug, Nahor, Terah
27and Abram (that is, Abraham).
Descendants of Hagar 29These were their descendants: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
31Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
Descendants of Keturah 32The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.
Esau’s Sons 35The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
36The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zepho,
37The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
39The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
40The sons of Shobal: Alvan,
46When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.
47When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.
48When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river
49When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.
51Hadad also died. The chiefs of Edom were: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
Judah To Hezron’s Sons 3The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD ’s sight; so the LORD put him to death.
4Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.
5The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
6The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol and Darda
From Ram Son of Hezron
10Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah.
11Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
12Boaz the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse. 14the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai,
17Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Caleb Son of Hezron 18Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah (and by Jerioth). These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon.
20Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri the father of Bezalel.
28The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.
29Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.
30The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.
32The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother: Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.
33The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.
34Sheshan had no sons—only daughters. He had an Egyptian servant named Jarha.
41Shallum the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah the father of Elishama.
43The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema.
45The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
47The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.
51Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
52The descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim were: Haroeh, half the Manahathites,
54The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,
5and these were the children born to him there: Shammua,
9All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister.
The Kings of Judah 10Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
11Jehoram
14Amon his son, Josiah his son.
15The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, Jehoiakim the second son, Zedekiah the third, Shallum the fourth.
16The successors of Jehoiakim: Jehoiachin
The Royal Line After the Exile 17The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son,
23The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam—three in all.
2Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.
3These were the sons
5Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.
12Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash.
13The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.
15The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.
16The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.
17The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
19The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maakathite.
20The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
21The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lekah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea, 22Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from ancient times.)
25Shallum was Shaul’s son, Mibsam his son and Mishma his son. 27Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. 29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 31Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. 32Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan—five towns— 34Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,
37and Ziza son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah. 39and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks.
Reuben 1The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)—
3the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
7Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,
9To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead.
Gad 11The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salekah:
12Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan.
16The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.
17All these were entered in the genealogical records during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel. 18The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. 19They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.
22and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile. 24These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. 25But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.
Levi
1
3The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
5Abishua the father of Bukki, Bukki the father of Uzzi,
6Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth,
7Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub,
8Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Ahimaaz,
9Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan,
10Johanan the father of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem),
12Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum,
16The sons of Levi: Gershon,
17These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei.
18The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
23Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,
25The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,
28The sons of Samuel: Joel
29The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son.
The Temple Musicians 31These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there.
32They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
33Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
36the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
41the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
43the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;
47the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
49But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
51Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
54These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them): 55They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands.
62The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan.
63The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. 64So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands.
65From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns.
66Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim.
67In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer,
70And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans.
72from the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath,
73Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands;
74from the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon,
75Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands;
76and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands.
77The Merarites (the rest of the Levites) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah,
78from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho they received Bezer in the wilderness, Jahzah,
79Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands;
80and from the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,
Issachar 1The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron—four in all.
2The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel—heads of their families. During the reign of David, the descendants of Tola listed as fighting men in their genealogy numbered 22,600.
3The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Ishiah. All five of them were chiefs.
5The relatives who were fighting men belonging to all the clans of Issachar, as listed in their genealogy, were 87,000 in all.
12The Shuppites and Huppites were the descendants of Ir, and the Hushites
Manasseh 14The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.
15Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister’s name was Maakah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.
16Makir’s wife Maakah gave birth to a son and named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
18His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.
19The sons of Shemida were: Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.
Ephraim 20The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, 22Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.
26Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
29Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.
33The sons of Japhlet: Pasak, Bimhal and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s sons.
36The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
37Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran
38The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah and Ara.
39The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel and Rizia. 40All these were descendants of Asher—heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000.
The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite 1Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third,
3The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud,
12The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages),
13and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
25Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
27Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.
29Jeiel
33Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.
35The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz.
39The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.
1All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
The People in Jerusalem 2Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.
3Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:
5Of the Shelanites
6Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690.
7Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
9The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.
10Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;
11Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;
12Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.
14Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite; 15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mika, the son of Zikri, the son of Asaph;
16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief 18being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. 20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.
21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD —the house called the tent of meeting. 24The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south. 25Their fellow Levites in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods. 28Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.
32Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.
33Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.
34All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
The Genealogy of Saul
35Jeiel the father
43Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son. 44Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
Saul Takes His Life 1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.
3The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him. 5When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.
7When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.
10They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon. 13Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD ; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14and did not inquire of the LORD . So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
6David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander in chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.
7David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David.
8He built up the city around it, from the terraces
11this is the list of David’s mighty warriors: Jashobeam,
14But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory. 17David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD . 20Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 22Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 24Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.
27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
29Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,
35Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,
36Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,
39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,
42Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him, 47Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Warriors Join David
1These were the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish (they were among the warriors who helped him in battle;
4and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty warrior among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,
7and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains.
9Ezer was the chief, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,
10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 14These Gadites were army commanders; the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand. 16Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold.
17David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.” 19Some of the tribe of Manasseh defected to David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (He and his men did not help the Philistines because, after consultation, their rulers sent him away. They said, “It will cost us our heads if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 20When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh.
22Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.
Others Join David at Hebron 23These are the numbers of the men armed for battle who came to David at Hebron to turn Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the LORD had said:
24from Judah, carrying shield and spear—6,800 armed for battle;
25from Simeon, warriors ready for battle—7,100;
30from Ephraim, brave warriors, famous in their own clans—20,800;
33from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000;
34from Naphtali—1,000 officers, together with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears;
35from Dan, ready for battle—28,600;
36from Asher, experienced soldiers prepared for battle—40,000; 39The men spent three days there with David, eating and drinking, for their families had supplied provisions for them. 40Also, their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen. There were plentiful supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, olive oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
Bringing Back the Ark
1David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
3Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of
10The LORD ’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. 14The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he had.
David’s House and Family 1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.
2And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. 3In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
David Defeats the Philistines
8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them.
11So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.
16So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 1After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever.” 3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
4He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
6from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
8from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9from the descendants of Hebron, Eliel the leader and 80 relatives; 12He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
18and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,
28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. 29As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
Ministering Before the Ark
1They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to extol,
9Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
10Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
12Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15He remembers
16the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”
20they
26For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his
30Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
32Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
35Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”
36Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD .”
38He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. 39David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon 40to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel. 41With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, “for his love endures forever.” 43Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
God’s Promise to David 1After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
3But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 5I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another.
6Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders
10and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. “ ‘I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: 11When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
15Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
David’s Prayer 16Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
17And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. 18“What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant,
19LORD . For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.
22You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.
24so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The LORD Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you. 25“You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 27Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”
David’s Victories 1In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.
4David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
6He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
8From Tebah
10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze. 12Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
David’s Officials
14David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek
2David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?”
4So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
5When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
6When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents
7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle. 8On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 11He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 14Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him.
16After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them. 17When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him.
18But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.
19When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.
2David took the crown from the head of their king
War With the Philistines 4In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated.
5In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 6In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
7When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. 8These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
2So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
3But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” 4The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem.
5Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
7This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel. 9The LORD said to Gad, David’s seer,
10“Go and tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’ ”
13David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
17David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd,
19So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD .
25So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels
26David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27Then the LORD spoke to the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 29The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD .
Preparations for the Temple 2So David gave orders to assemble the foreigners residing in Israel, and from among them he appointed stonecutters to prepare dressed stone for building the house of God.
5David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” So David made extensive preparations before his death.
7David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God.
8But this word of the LORD came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
9But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,
The Levites 1When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
6David separated the Levites into divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
9The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan.
10And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza,
11Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; so they were counted as one family with one assignment.
17The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.
20The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Ishiah the second.
Merarites 21The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
23The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth—three in all. 25For David had said, “Since the LORD, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, 26the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.”
27According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more. 28The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the temple of the LORD : to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the house of God. 29They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the special flour for the grain offerings, the thin loaves made without yeast, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. 32And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the tent of meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their relatives the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the LORD .
The Divisions of Priests 1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. 4A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants.
5They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.
9the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
10the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
13the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
16the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
19This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
21As for Rehabiah, from his sons: Ishiah was the first.
23The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first,
25The brother of Micah: Ishiah; from the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.
26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27The sons of Merari: from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur and Ibri.
28From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29From Kish: the son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, according to their families. 31They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelek, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.
The Musicians 1David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
3As for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,
5(All these were sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)
6All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 7Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD —they numbered 288.
The Gatekeepers 1The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. 6Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. 12These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering in the temple of the LORD, just as their relatives had. 15The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom, and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons.
16The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guard was alongside of guard: 17There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse.
18As for the court
19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.
The Treasurers and Other Officials
20Their fellow Levites were
23From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: 24Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. 26Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. 32Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
Army Divisions 1This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men. 2In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division.
3He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.
4In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.
7The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.
8The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
9The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
15The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.
17over Levi: Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron: Zadok;
19over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;
20over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah; over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;
21over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;
22over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less, because the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.
24Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God’s wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering, and the number was not entered in the book
28Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills. Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.
29Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.
30Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
32Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king’s sons.
33Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant.
David’s Plans for the Temple 1David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men. 2King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it.
7I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’
8“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. 11Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 15the weight of gold for the gold lampstands and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;
18and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow the ark of the covenant of the LORD .
19“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD ’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” 20David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. 21The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
Gifts for Building the Temple 1Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great, because this palatial structure is not for man but for the LORD God. 3Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple:
5for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today?”
6Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
7They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents
9The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD . David the king also rejoiced greatly.
David’s Prayer 10David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
11Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
12Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 15We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.