
PEOPLES AND CITIES AND 
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH 
THE "SONS OF ISRAEL"{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}Adam, Seth, 
Enosh, {I}2_{/}Kenan, 
Mahalel, Jared, 
{I}3_{/}Enoch, 
Methuselah, Lamech, 
{I}4_{/}Noah, Shem, Ham 
and Japheth.
{I}5_{/}Sons of Japheth: 
Gomer, Magog, the Medes, 
Javan, Tubal, Meshech, 
Tiras. {I}6_{/}Sons of 
Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, 
Togarmah. {I}7_{/}Sons of 
Javan: Elisha, Tarshish, 
the Kittim, the Daanites.
{I}8_{/}Sons of Ham: 
Cush, Misraim, Put, 
Canaan.
{I}9_{/}Sons of Cush: 
Seba, Havilah, Sabta, 
Raama, Sabteca, Sons of 
Raamah: Sheba, Dedan. 
{I}10_{/}Cush became 
father of Nimrod, the 
first potentate on earth.
{I}11_{/}Misraim became 
of the people of Lud, of 
Anam, of Lehab, of Naptu, 
{I}12_{/}of Pathros, 
Casluh and Caphtor, from 
which the Philistines 
came. {I}13_{/}Canaan 
became father of Sidon, 
his firstborn, then Heth, 
{I}14_{/}and the 
Jebusites, the Amorites, 
Girgashites, 
{I}15_{/}Hivites, 
Sinites, 
{I}16_{/}Arvadites, 
Zemarites, Hamathites.
{I}17_{/}Sons of Shem, 
Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, 
Lud, Aram. Sons of Aram: 
Uz, Hul, Gether and 
Meshech. 
{I}18_{/}Arpachshad 
became father of Shelah, 
and Shelah became father 
of Eber. {I}19_{/}To Eber 
were born two sons; the 
first was called Peleg, 
because it was in his 
time the earth was 
divided, and his brother 
was called Joktan.
{I}20_{/}Joktan became 
father of Almodad, 
Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, 
Jerah, {I}21_{/}Hadoram, 
Uzal, Diklah, 
{I}22_{/}Ebal, Abimael, 
Sheba, {I}23_{/}Ophir, 
Havilah, Jobab; all these 
are sons of Joktan.
{I}24_{/}Shem, 
Arpachshad, Shelah, 
{I}25_{/}Eber, Peleg, 
Reu, {I}26_{/}Serug, 
Nahor, Terah, 
{I}27_{/}Abram, that is 
Abraham.
DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM{/}

{I}28_{/}Sons of Abraham: 
Isaac and Ishmael. 
{I}29_{/}Sons of Ishmael: 
Nebaioth (his first born) 
then Kedar, Adbeel, 
Mibsam, {I}30_{/}Mishma, 
Dumah, Massa, Hadad, 
Tema, {I}31_{/}Jetur, 
Naphish and Kedemah.
{I}32_{/}Sons of Keturah, 
Abraham's concubine: 
Zimran, Jokshan, 
{I}33_{/}Medan, Midian, 
Ishbak, and Shuah. Sons 
of Joksham: Sheba and 
Dedan. Sons of Midian 
were Ephah, Epher, 
Hanoch, Abida, Eldaah.
{I}34_{/}Abraham was the 
father of Isaac who had 
two sons: Esau and 
Israel. {I}35_{/}The 
descendants of Esau were 
Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, 
Jalam and Korah. 
{I}36_{/}The descendants 
of Eliphaz were Teman, 
Omar, Zephi, Gatam, 
Kenaz, Timna and Amalek. 
{I}37_{/}The descendants 
of Reuel were Zerah, 
Shammah, and Mizzah. 
{I}38_{/}The sons of Seir 
were: Lotan, Shobal, 
Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, 
Ezer, and Dishan. 
{I}39_{/}The clans 
descended from Lotan were 
Hori and Homam. Lotan's 
sister was named Timna. 
{I}40_{/}The clans 
descended from Shobal 
were Alian, Manahath, 
Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. 
The descendants of Zibeon 
were Aiah and Anah. 
{I}41_{/}Anah had a son 
named Dishon, who was the 
ancestor of the clans of 
Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, 
and Cheran. {I}42_{/}Ezer 
was the ancestor of the 
clans of Bilhan, Zaavan, 
and Jaakan.
{I}43_{/}Here are the 
kings who ruled in the 
land of Edom before an 
Israelite king ruled: 
Bela son of Bero; his 
city was called Dinhabah. 
{I}44_{/}When Bela died, 
Jobab son of Zerah from 
Bozrah became king. 
{I}45_{/}When Jobab died, 
Husham of the land of the 
Temanites became king. 
{I}46_{/}When Husham 
died, Hadad son of Bedad 
became king; he defeated 
the Midianites in the 
country of Moab, and his 
city was called Avith. 
{I}47_{/}When Hadad died, 
Samlah of Masrekah became 
king. {I}48_{/}Samlah 
died and Saul of 
Rehoboth-han-nahar became 
king. {I}49_{/}When Saul 
died, Baal-hanan son of 
Achbor became king. 
{I}50_{/}When Baal-hanan 
died, Hadad became king. 
His city was called Pai; 
his wife's name was 
Mehetabel daughter of 
Matred, from Mezahab.
{I}51_{/}After Hadad 
died, these were the 
chiefs of Edom: Chief of 
Timna, Chief of Aliah, 
Chief Jetheth, 
{I}52_{/}Chief 
Oholibamah, Chief of 
Elah, Chief Pinon, 
{I}53_{/}Chief Kenaz, 
Chief Teman, Chief 
Mibzar, Chief Magdiel, 
and Chief Iram.
THE SONS OF JACOB AND THE 
DESCENDANTS OF JUDAH{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
sons of Israel: Reuben, 
Simeon, Levi and Judah; 
Issachar and Zebulun; 
{I}2_{/}Dan, Joseph and 
Benjamin, Nephtali; Gad 
and Asher.
{I}3_{/}Judah had five 
sons in all. The first 
three were born to him by 
Bath-shua the Canaanite 
woman. They were Er, Onan 
and Shelah. Er, Judah's 
firstborn, was so evil 
that Yahweh put him to 
death. {I}4_{/}By his 
daughter-in-law Tamar, 
Judah had two more sons, 
Perez and Zerah. 
{I}5_{/}Perez had two 
sons, Hezron and Hamul. 
{I}6_{/}His brother Zerah 
had five sons: Zimri, 
Hetan, Heman, Calcol and 
Dara. {I}7_{/}One of 
them, Achar, son of Carmi 
- brought trouble upon 
the people of Israel by 
keeping loot that had 
been devoted to God. 
{I}8{/}Ethan had one son, 
Azariah.
{I}9_{/}Hezron became the 
father of Jerahmeel, Ram, 
and Caleb. {I}10_{/}Ram 
was the father of 
Amminadab; Amminadab of 
Nahshan. 
{I}11_{/}Nahshan, who was 
a prince of the tribe of 
Judah, was the father of 
Salmon; Salmon of Boaz; 
{I}12_{/}Boaz of Obed; 
Obed of Jesse. 
{I}13_{/}Jesse had seven 
sons: Eliab, the 
firstborn, Abinadab, 
Shammah, 
{I}14_{/}Nethanel, 
Raddai, {I}15_{/}Ozem and 
David, the youngest. 
Jesse had two daughters: 
Zerwiah and Abigail. 
{I}16_{/}Zerwiah had 
three sons: Abishai, Joab 
and Asahel. 
{I}17_{/}Abigail married 
Jether the Ishmaelite. 
They had a son named 
Amasa.
{I}18_{/}Caleb, son of 
Hezron, married Azubah 
and had a daughter named 
Jerioth. Jerioth had 
three sons: Jesher, 
Shobab and Ardon. 
{I}19_{/}Azubah died, and 
Caleb married Ephrath, 
and they had a son named 
Hur. {I}20_{/}Hur became 
father of Uri and 
grandfather of Bezalel.
{I}21_{/}When Hezron was 
sixty years old he 
married Machir's 
daughter, the sister of 
Gilead. They had a son 
named Segub, who had a 
son named Jair. 
{I}22_{/}Jair ruled 
twenty-three towns in the 
land of Gilead. 
{I}23_{/}But the kingdoms 
of Geshur and Aram took 
from them the villages of 
Jair, that is Kenath and 
its towns, sixty towns in 
all. All this had 
belonged to the 
descendants of Machir, 
father of Gilead. 
{I}24_{/}After Hezron's 
death, his son Caleb 
married Ephrathah, his 
father's widow. They had 
a son named Ashur, the 
father of Tekoa.
{I}25_{/}Jerahmeel, 
Hezron's eldest son, had 
five sons: Ram, his 
firstborn, Bunah, Oren, 
Ozem and Ahijah. 
{I}26_{/}Jerahmeel had 
another wife called 
Atarah; she was the 
mother of Onam.
{I}27_{/}Ram had three 
sons: Maaz, Jamin and 
Eker.
{I}28_{/}Onam was the 
father of Shammai and 
Jada; Shammai, of Nadab 
and Abishur. 
{I}29_{/}Abishur's wife 
was called Abihail; she 
bore him Ahban and Molid. 
{I}30_{/}Nadab had two 
sons, Seled and Appaim, 
but Seled died leaving no 
son. {I}31_{/}Appaim was 
the father of Ishi, who 
was the father of 
Sheshan; Sheshan was the 
father of Ahlai. 
{I}32_{/}Jada, Shammai's 
brother, had two sons: 
Jether and Jonathan. 
Jether died leaving no 
sons. {I}33_{/}Jonathan 
had two sons: Peleth and 
Zaza.
These were all 
descendants of Jerahmeel.
{I}34_{/}Sheshan had no 
sons, only daughters. 
{I}35_{/}He had an 
Egyptian slave named 
Jarha to whom he gave his 
daughter in marriage. 
{I}36_{/}They had a son 
named Attai. The 
ancestral line from Attai 
to Elishama is as 
follows: Attai, Nathan, 
{I}37_{/}Zabad, Ephlal, 
Obed, {I}38_{/}Jehu, 
Azariah, {I}39_{/}Helez, 
Eleasah, {I}40_{/}Sismai, 
Shallum, 
{I}41_{/}Jekamiah, and 
Elishama.
{I}42_{/}The firstborn 
son of Caleb, Jerahmeel's 
brother, was named Mesha. 
Mesha was the father of 
Ziph, who was the father 
of Meresha. 
{I}43_{/}Meresha was 
father of Hebron who had 
four sons: Korah, 
Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 
{I}44_{/}Shema became 
father of Raham and 
grandfather of Jorkeam. 
Rekem became father of 
Shammai {I}45_{/}and 
grandfather of Maon. Maon 
became father of Bethzur.
{I}46_{/}Caleb had a 
concubine named Ephah who 
gave birth to Haran, Moza 
and Gazez. Haran also had 
a son named Gazez. 
{I}47_{/}Jahdai had six 
sons: Regem, Jotham, 
Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and 
Shaaph. {I}48_{/}Caleb 
had another concubine, 
Maacah, who gave birth to 
Sheber and Tirhanah. 
{I}49_{/}Later she had 
two more sons: Shaaph, 
who founded the town of 
Madmannah, and Sheva, who 
founded the towns of 
Machbenah and Gibea. The 
daughter of Caleb was 
Achsah.
{I}50_{/}The following 
were also descendants of 
Caleb. Hur was the 
firstborn son of Ephrath. 
Hur's son Shobal was 
father of Kiriath-jearim; 
{I}51_{/}Salma, father of 
Bethlehem, and Haroeh, 
father of Beth-gader. 
{I}52_{/}Shobal, the 
father of Kiriath-jearim 
was the father of the 
people of Haroah, that is 
half of the Manahathites, 
{I}53_{/}and also the 
clans living in Kiriath-
jearim: the Ithrites, 
Puthites, Shumathites and 
Mishraites. The people of 
the cities of Zorah and 
Eshtaol belonged to these 
clans.
{I}54_{/}Sons of Salma: 
Bethlehem, Netophath, 
Atroth Beth-Joab, and the 
Zorites, who were one of 
the clans in Manaheth. 
The Soferites lived in 
the town of Jabez: the 
Tirathites, Shimeathites, 
and Sucathites. They were 
Cainites, descendants of 
Jamat, the Rechabites' 
ancestor.
THE DESCENDANTS OF 
DAVID{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
sons of David who were 
born to him while he was 
in Hebron: the firstborn 
Amnon, whose mother was 
Ahinoam from Jezreel; 
second, Daniel, whose 
mother was Abigail from 
Carmel; {I}2_{/}third, 
Absalom, whose mother was 
Maacah, daughter of King 
Talmai of Geshur; fourth, 
Adonijah, whose mother 
was Haggith; 
{I}3_{/}fifth, 
Shephatiah, whose mother 
was Abital; sixth, 
Ithream, whose mother was 
Eglah. {I}4_{/}All six 
were born to him in 
Hebron, where he ruled 
for seven years and six 
months.
He ruled as king for 
thirty-three years in 
Jerusalem. {I}5_{/}Many 
sons were born to him in 
Jerusalem. By his wife 
Bathsheba, daughter of 
Ammiel, he had four sons: 
Shimea, Shobab, Nathan 
and Solomon. Nine other 
sons were: {I}6_{/}Ibhar, 
Elishama, Eliphelet, 
{I}7_{/}Nogah, Nepheg, 
Japhia, {I}8_{/}Elishama, 
Eliada, and Eliphelet.
{I}9_{/}All these were 
sons of David, besides 
other sons by the 
concubines. Tamar was 
their sister.
{I}10_{/}These are the 
descendants of King 
Solomon from father to 
son: Rehoboam, Abijah, 
Asa, Jehoshaphat, 
{I}11_{/}Joram, Ahaziah, 
Joash, {I}12_{/}Amaziah, 
Azariah, Jotham, 
{I}13_{/}Ahaz, Hezekiah, 
Manasseh, {I}14_{/}Amon, 
and Josiah. 
{I}15_{/}Josiah had four 
sons: Johanan, the 
firstborn, Jehoiakim 
second, Zedekiah third, 
and Shallum fourth. 
{I}16_{/}The sons of 
Jehoiakim were: Jeconiah 
and Zedekiah.
{I}17_{/}These are the 
descendants of King 
Jeconiah, who was taken 
captive by the 
Babylonians. Jeconiah had 
seven sons: Shealtiel, 
{I}18_{/}Malchiram, 
Pedaiah, Shenazzar, 
Jekamiah, Hoshama, and 
Nedabiah. 
{I}19_{/}Pedaiah had two 
sons: Zerubbabel and 
Shimei. Zerubbabel had 
two sons, Meshullam and 
Hananiah, and one 
daughter, Shelomith. 
{I}20_{/}Meshullam had 
five sons: Hashubah, 
Ohel, Berechiah, 
Hasadiah, and Jushab-
hesed. 
{I}21_{/}Hananiah's two 
sons were Pelatish and 
Jeshiah. Jeshiah was the 
father of Rephaiah, who 
was the father of Arnan, 
who was the father of 
Obadiah and grandfather 
of Shecaniah. 
{I}22_{/}Shecaniah's son 
was Shemaiah and his five 
grandsons were: Hattush, 
Igal, Bariah, Nedariah, 
and Shaphat. 
{I}23_{/}Neariah's three 
sons were: Elioenai, 
Hizkiah and Azrikam. 
{I}24_{/}Elioenai's seven 
sons were: Hodaviah, 
Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, 
Johanan, Delaiah, and 
Anani.
HEADS OF FAMILIES OF THE 
TWELVE TRIBES{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Some of the 
descendants of Judah are: 
Perez, Hezron, Carmi, 
Hur, and Shobal. 
{I}2_{/}Shobal was the 
father of Reaiah, who was 
the father of Jahath, the 
father of Ahumai and 
Lahad: these people lived 
in Zorah.
{I}3_{/}These were the 
descendants of Hareph, 
the father of Elam: 
Jezreel, Ishma, and 
Idbash, whose sister was 
called Hazzelelponi. 
{I}4_{/}Penuel became 
father of Gedor, and Ezer 
the father of Hushah. 
These are the descendants 
of Hur, the firstborn of 
Ephrathah, father of 
Bethlehem.
{I}5_{/}Ashhur, father of 
Tekoa, had two wives: 
Helah and Naarah. 
{I}6_{/}Naarah bore him 
four sons: Ahuzaam, 
Hepher, the Temeni and 
the Haahashtari. 
{I}7_{/}Ashur had three 
sons by Helah: Zereth, 
Zohar, Ethnan. 
{I}8_{/}Koz became father 
of Anub and Zobebah, and 
the clans of Aharhel son 
of Harum. {I}9_{/}Jabez 
was the known of them. 
His mother had given him 
the name Jabez, to recall 
that "In pain she had 
given birth to him." 
{I}10_{/}Jabez called on 
the God of Israel, "If 
you truly bless me, you 
will give me much land. 
Be with me, and keep me 
from anything that might 
harm or cause me pain." 
God gave him what he had 
prayed for.
{I}11_{/}Chelub, the 
brother of Shuhah, became 
the father of Mehir, who 
was the father of Eshton. 
{I}12_{/}Eshton, had 
three sons, Bethrapha, 
Paseah and Tehinnah. 
Tehinnah was the father 
of Imahas. The 
descendants of these men 
lived in Recah.
{I}13_{/}Kenaz had two 
sons, Othniel and 
Seraiah. Othniel also had 
two sons: Hathath and 
Meonothai, {I}14_{/}who 
became the father of 
Ophrah. Seraiah became 
the father of Joab, the 
founder of Craftsmen's 
Valley, where skilled 
workers lived.
{I}15_{/}Caleb, son of 
Jephunneh had three sons: 
Iru, Elah and Naam. Son 
of Elah: Kenaz.
{I}16_{/}The sons of 
Jehallelel were: Ziph, 
Ziphah, Tiria, and 
Asarel.
{I}17_{/}Ezrah had four 
sons: Jether, Mered, 
Epher, and Jalon. Mered's 
wife Bithiah, a daughter 
of the King of Egypt, 
gave birth to a daughter, 
Miriam, and two sons, 
Shammai and Ishbah. 
Ishbah was the father of 
Eshtemoa. {I}18_{/}Mered 
also had a wife from the 
tribe of Judah who gave 
birth to three sons: 
Jered, the father of 
Gedor; Heber, father of 
Soco; and Jekuthiel, 
father of Zanoah.
{I}19_{/}Hodiah married 
the sister of Naham. 
Their descendants formed 
the clan of Garm, which 
lived in the town of 
Keilah, and the clan of 
Maacath, which lived in 
the town of Eshtemoa.
{I}20_{/}The sons of 
Shimon were: Amnon, 
Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and 
Tilon. 
The sons of Ishi were: 
Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.
{I}21_{/}The descendants 
of Shelah son of Judah 
were: Er, father of 
Lecah; Laadah, father of 
Mareshah; and the clans 
of linen weavers of Beth-
ashbea; {I}22_{/}Jokim 
and the people who lived 
in Cozeba; Joash and 
Saraph who went to Moab 
to take wives before 
returning to Bethlehem 
(these are events of long 
ago.) {I}23_{/}They were 
potters and lived in the 
towns of Netaim and 
Gederah; they stayed with 
the king there, employed 
in his workshop.
{I}24_{/}Simeon had five 
sons; Nemuel, Jamin, 
Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. 
{I}25_{/}Shaul's son was 
Shallum, his grandson was 
Mibsam, and his great-
grandson was Mishma. 
{I}26_{/}The sons of 
Mishma were: Hammuel, 
Zakur, Simi. 
{I}27_{/}Simi had sixteen 
sons and daughters, but 
his brothers did not have 
many children, and none 
of their families 
increased as the families 
of Judah did.
{I}28_{/}They lived in 
Beersheba, Moladah and 
Hazarshual, 
{I}29_{/}Bilhah, Ezem and 
Tolad, {I}30_{/}Bethuel, 
Hormah and Ziklag. 
{I}31_{/}Beth-marcaboth, 
Hazarsusim, Bethbiri, 
Shaaraim. These were 
their towns until the 
reign of David. 
{I}32_{/}Their outlying 
villages were: Etam, Ain, 
Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, 
five towns, {I}33_{/}with 
all their surrounding 
villages as far as 
Baalath. Here they had 
their settlements and 
sorted themselves into 
their various groups.
{I}34_{/}Meshobab, 
Jamlech, Joshah son of 
Amaziah, {I}35_{/}Joel, 
Jehu son of Joshibiah, 
son of Seraiah, son of 
Asiel, {I}36_{/}Elioenei, 
Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, 
Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, 
Benaiah, {I}37_{/}Ziza, 
Ben-shiphi, Benallon, 
Ben-jedaiah, Ben-shimri, 
Ben-shemaiah. 
{I}38_{/}These men came 
with their clans and 
families; they grew in 
number and spread. 
{I}39_{/}As they searched 
for pasture for their 
flocks they traveled from 
the Gerar pass to the 
eastern end of the 
valley, {I}40_{/}where 
they found good, fat 
pasture; the land was 
broad, untroubled, 
peaceful.
Hamites had been living 
there before them. 
{I}41_{/}But in the time 
of Hezekiah king of Judah 
this group of Simeon's 
tribe arrived there, 
overran their tents and 
the dwellings they found 
there. They wiped them 
out through an anathema 
still in force today and 
settled in their place, 
since there was pasturage 
for their flocks. 
{I}42_{/}Some of them, 
belonging to the sons of 
Simeon, reached Mount 
Seir: five hundred men 
led by Pelathiah, 
Neariah, Rephaiah, and 
Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 
{I}43_{/}They defeated 
the surviving fugitives 
of Amalek and still live 
there today.
{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}Descendants of 
Reuben, firstborn of 
Israel. He was indeed the 
firstborn but, when he 
had relations with his 
father's concubine, his 
birthright was given to 
the sons of Joseph son of 
Israel. The group of 
Joseph, however did not 
keep this firstborn right 
{I}2_{/}because Judah 
proved more powerful than 
his brothers (and from 
him proceeds the Ruler), 
but the firstborn right 
belongs to the tribes of 
Joseph.
{I}3_{/}Sons of Reuben, 
firstborn of Israel; 
Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, 
Carmi.
{I}4_{/}Sons of Joel: 
Shemaiah his son, Gog his 
son, Shimei his son, 
{I}5_{/}Micah his son, 
Reaiah his son, Baal his 
son, {I}6_{/}Beerah his 
son, whom Tiglath-pileser 
king of Assyria carried 
off into exile. He was a 
prince of the Reubenites.
{I}7_{/}His kinsmen, by 
clans, grouped according 
to their kinship: Jeiel, 
the chief, Zechariah, 
{I}8_{/}Bela son of Azaz, 
son of Shema, son of 
Joel.
These lived in Aroer as 
far as Nebo and Baal-
Mehon. {I}9_{/}These 
extended to the east 
toward the River 
Euphrates, reaching the 
desert, because their 
flocks had multiplied in 
the land of Galaad.
{I}10_{/}In the days of 
Saul they waged war 
against the Agarites who 
were defeated, and they 
occupied their homes east 
of Galaad.
{I}11_{/}The sons of Gad 
lived opposite them, in 
the land of Bashan, as 
far as Salcah. 
{I}12_{/}First, Joel, and 
then Shaphan, Yani and 
Basat in Basan.
{I}13_{/}The other 
families of the tribe 
were those of Michael, 
Mesullam, Sheba, Joral, 
Jacan, Zia, and Eber.
{I}14_{/}These are the 
descendants of Abihail, 
whose ancestors were 
traced back as follows: 
Abihail, Huri, Jaroah, 
Gilead, Michael, 
Jeshishai, Jahdo, Buz. 
{I}15_{/}Ahi son of 
Abdiel, and grandson of 
Guni, was head of these 
clans.
{I}16_{/}They had settled 
in the territory of 
Gilead and Bashan, in the 
towns there and all over 
the pasture lands of 
Sharon. {I}17_{/}(All 
were listed in the family 
records in the days of 
king Jotham of Judah and 
King Jeroboam of Israel).
{I}18_{/}The people of 
Reuben, Gad, and half 
tribe of Manasseh, were 
44,760 valiant men, well-
trained in the use of 
shields, swords, and 
bows. {I}19_{/}They waged 
war against the Hagrite 
tribes of Jetur, Naphish, 
and Nodab, and as they 
put their trust in God 
and called on him for 
help, {I}20_{/}they were 
victorious over the 
Hagrites and all their 
allies. {I}21_{/}They 
took with them from the 
Hagrites' livestock, 
50,000 camels, 25,000 
sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. 
{I}22_{/}They took 
100,000 prisoners of war, 
but many of the enemy had 
been killed for it was 
God's war. And they 
settled in what had been 
Hagrite territory until 
the exile.
{I}23_{/}The half tribe 
of Manasseh settled in 
the land between Bashan 
and Baal-hermon, Senir 
and Mount Hermon, and 
they were very numerous. 
{I}24_{/}These are the 
heads of their clans: 
Epher, Ishi, Eliel, 
Azriel, Jeremiah, 
Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. 
These were famous 
warriors and leaders of 
their clans.
{I}25_{/}But they were 
unfaithful to the God of 
their ancestors and 
worshiped the gods of the 
peoples whom God had 
driven out of the land. 
{I}26_{/}So the God of 
Israel brought against 
them the anger of Pul, 
king of Assyria, and of 
Tiglath-pileser, king of 
Assyria, who deported the 
tribes of Reuben, Gad and 
the half tribe of 
Manasseh. They were taken 
off to Halah near Habor 
and the river Gozan. They 
are still there today.
THE ANCESTRAL LINE OF THE 
HIGH PRIESTS{/}

{I}27_{/}Sons of Levi: 
Gershom, Kohath and 
Merari. {I}28_{/}Sons of 
Kohat: Amram, Izhar, 
Hebron, and Uzziel. 
{I}29_{/}Sons of Amram: 
Aaron, Moses and Mary. 
Sons of Aaron: Nadab and 
Abihu, Eleazar and 
Ithamar.
{I}30_{/}The descendants 
of Eleazar from one 
generation to the next 
are as follows: Phinehas, 
Abishua, Bukki, Uzzi, 
{I}31_{/}Zerahiah, 
Meraioth, 
{I}32_{/}Amariah, Ahitub, 
{I}33_{/}Zadok, Ahimaaz, 
{I}34_{/}Azariah, 
Johanan, {I}35_{/}Azariah 
(the one who served as 
priest in the Temple that 
Solomon built in 
Jerusalem), 
{I}36_{/}Amariah, Ahitub, 
{I}37_{/}Zadok, Shallum, 
{I}38_{/}Hilkiah, 
Azariah, 
{I}39_{/}Seraiah, 
Jehozadak. 
{I}40_{/}Jehozadak was 
deported when Yahweh, 
through King 
Nebuchadnezzar, sent into 
exile the people of Judah 
and Jerusalem.
THE FAMILIES OF LEVI{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}Levi had three 
sons: Gershom, Kohath and 
Merari.
{I}2_{/}These are the 
names of the sons of 
Gershom: Libni and 
Shimei.
{I}3_{/}Sons of Kohath: 
Amran, Izhar, Hebron, and 
Uzziel. {I}4_{/}Sons of 
Merari: Mahli and Mushi. 
These are the families of 
Levi according to their 
ancestors.
{I}5_{/}Descendants of 
Gershon from one 
generation to the next: 
Libni, Jahath, Zimmah, 
{I}6_{/}Joah, Iddo, 
Zerah, Jeatheral.
{I}7_{/}Descendants of 
Kohath from one 
generation to the next: 
Amminadab, Korah, Assir, 
{I}8_{/}Elkanah, 
Ebiasaph, Assir, 
{I}9_{/}Tahath, Uriel, 
Uzziah, Shaul. 
{I}10_{/}Elkanah had two 
sons, Amasai and Ahimoth. 
{I}11_{/}Elkanah, son of 
Ahimoth, Zophai, Nahath, 
{I}12_{/}Eliab, Jeroham, 
Elkanah. {I}13_{/}The 
sons of Elkanah were: 
Samuel his firstborn, and 
Abijah. Samuel had two 
sons: Joel, the 
firstborn, and Abijah, 
the younger.
{I}14_{/}Descendants of 
Merari from one 
generation to the next: 
Mahli, Libni, 
{I}15_{/}Shimei, Uzzah, 
Shimea, Haggiah, Asaiah.
{I}16_{/}These are the 
men David named to lead 
the singing in the Temple 
of Yahweh when the ark 
had come to rest there. 
{I}17_{/}They were 
responsible for the 
singing before the Holy 
Tent of the Tent of 
Meeting until Solomon had 
built the Temple of 
Yahweh in Jerusalem. They 
did their duties in 
accordance with the 
rules.
{I}18_{/}These are the 
men who accomplished this 
ministry, and their sons: 
Of the clan of Kohath: 
Herman, the leader of the 
first choir, was the son 
of Joel. His ancestral 
line went back to Jacob 
as follows: Herman, Joel, 
Samuel, {I}19_{/}Elkanah, 
Jeroham, Eliel, Toah, 
Zuph, {I}20_{/}Elkanah, 
Mahath, Amasai, 
{I}21_{/}Elkanah, Joel, 
Azariah, Zephaniah, 
{I}22_{/}Tahath, Assir, 
Ebiasaph, Korah, 
{I}23_{/}Izhar, Kohath, 
Levi, Jacob.
{I}24_{/}His brother 
Asaph was leader of the 
second choir. His 
ancestral line went back 
to Levi as follows: 
Asaph, Berechiah, Shimea, 
{I}25_{/}Michael, 
Baaseiah, Malchijah, 
{I}26_{/}Ethni, Zerah, 
Adaiah, {I}27_{/}Ethan, 
Zimmah, Shimei, 
{I}28_{/}Jahath, Gershon, 
Levi.
{I}29_{/}Ethan of the 
clan of Merari was the 
leader of the third 
choir, at the left side. 
His ancestral line went 
back to Levi as follows: 
Ethan, Kishi, Abdi, 
Malluch, 
{I}30_{/}Hashabiah, 
Amaziah, Hilkiah, 
{I}31_{/}Amzi, Bani, 
Shemer, {I}32_{/}Mahli, 
Mushi, Medrari, Levi.
{I}33_{/}Their brother 
Levites were in charge of 
the Holy Tent of the 
Temple of Yahweh. 
{I}34_{/}Aaron and his 
descendants burned the 
offerings on the altar 
for burnt offering and on 
the altar of incense. 
They were responsible for 
all the worship in the 
Most Holy Place and for 
the atonement for 
Israel's sins, according 
to the instructions of 
Moses, the servant of 
God.
{I}35_{/}This is the line 
of Aaron's descendants: 
Eleazar, Phinehas, 
Abishua, {I}36_{/}Bukki, 
Uzzi, Zerahiah, 
{I}37_{/}Meraioth, 
Amariah, Ahitub, 
{I}38_{/}Zadok, Ahimaaz.
{I}39_{/}These are the 
places they lived in, 
according to the 
boundaries of their 
settlements.
{I}40_{/}To the sons of 
Aaron of the Kohath clan 
(to whom the first share 
of land was assigned) 
they gave Hebron in the 
land of Judah and the 
pasture lands nearby. 
{I}41_{/}The fields and 
villages of this town, 
however, had been given 
to Caleb, son of 
Jephunneh. {I}42_{/}The 
following towns were 
given to the descendants 
of Aaron: Hebron, a city 
of refuge, Jattir, 
Libnah, Eshtemoa, 
{I}43_{/}Hilen, Debir, 
{I}44_{/}Ashan, and Beth-
Shemesh, with pasture 
lands near them. 
{I}45_{/}In the territory 
of Benjamin they were 
given the following towns 
with their pasture lands: 
Geba, Alemeth, and 
Anathoth. A total of 
thirteen towns were given 
them for all their 
families to live in.
{I}46_{/}To the rest of 
the clan of Kohath, 
family by family, ten 
towns were given from the 
territory of the half 
tribe of Manasseh. 
{I}47_{/}The clan of 
Gershom, family by 
family, were given 
thirteen towns from the 
territories of Issachar, 
Asher, Naphtali and from 
the tribe of Manasseh in 
Bashan. {I}48_{/}The clan 
of Merari, family by 
family, were given twelve 
towns from the 
territories of Reuben, 
Gad, and Zebulun. 
{I}49_{/}The people of 
Israel gave these towns 
with their pasture lands 
to the Levites.
{I}50_{/}They received 
from the territories of 
Judah, Simeon and 
Benjamin the towns to 
which they gave names.
{I}51_{/}The clans of 
Kohath obtained towns by 
lot from the tribe of 
Ephraim. {I}52_{/}They 
were given the following 
towns with their pasture 
lands: Shechem, the city 
of refuge in the hill 
country of Ephraim, 
Gezer, {I}53_{/}Jokmeam, 
Beth-Horon, 
{I}54_{/}Aijalon, and 
Gath Rimmon. {I}55_{/}In 
the territory of the half 
tribe of Manasseh, they 
were given the towns of 
Aner and Beileam with 
their pasture lands.
{I}56_{/}The clan of 
Gershon, family by 
family, were given the 
following towns with 
their pasture lands. In 
the territory of the half 
tribe of Manasseh: Golan 
in Bashan, and Ashtaroth. 
{I}57_{/}In the territory 
of Issachar: Kedesh, 
Daberath, 
{I}58_{/}Ramoth, and 
Anem. {I}59_{/}In the 
territory of Asher: 
Mashal, Abdon, 
{I}60_{/}Hukok, and 
Rehob. {I}61_{/}In the 
territory of Naphtali: 
Kedesh in Galilee, 
Hammon, and Kiriathaim.
{I}62_{/}To the rest of 
the clan of Merari were 
given the following towns 
with their pasture lands. 
In the territory of 
Zebulun: Rimmono and 
Tabor. {I}63_{/}In the 
territory of Reuben, 
beyond the Jordan River 
near Jericho: Bezer on 
the high, flat land, 
Jahzah, 
{I}64_{/}Kedemoth, and 
Mephaath. {I}65_{/}In the 
territory of Gad: Ramoth 
in Gilead, Mahanaim, 
{I}66_{/}Heshbon, and 
Jazer.
CLANS AND FAMILIES OF THE 
NORTHERN TRIBES{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}Issachar had four 
sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub, 
and Shimron.
{I}2_{/}Tola had six 
sons: Uzzi, Rephaiah, 
Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, 
and Shemuel. They were 
heads of families of the 
clan of Tola and famous 
warriors. In the time of 
David, the descendants 
numbered 22,600. Uzzi had 
one son, Izrahiah. 
{I}3_{/}Izrahiah had four 
sons: Michael, Obadiah, 
Joel, and Isshiah. All 
five of these were chiefs 
{I}4_{/}and they were 
obliged to enlist their 
troops: 36,000 men, for 
they had many wives and 
children. {I}5_{/}The 
family records of all the 
clans of Issachar listed 
a total of 87,000 men 
able to give military 
service.
{I}6_{/}Benjamin had 
three sons: Bela, Becher, 
and Jediael.
{I}7_{/}Bela had five 
sons: Ezbon, Uzzi, 
Uzziel, Jeri-moth and 
Iri. They were heads of 
families in the clan and 
famous warriors. Their 
family records listed 
22,034 men able to give 
military service. 
{I}8_{/}Becher had nine 
sons: Zemirah, Joash, 
Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, 
Jeremoth, Abijah, 
Anathoth, and Alemeth. 
{I}9_{/}Their family 
records listed 17,200 men 
able to give military 
service. Shuppin and 
Huppin also belonged to 
this tribe. 
{I}10_{/}Jediael had one 
son, Bilhan who had seven 
sons: Jeush, Benjamin, 
Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, 
Tarshish, and Ahishahar. 
{I}11_{/}They were heads 
of families in the clan 
and famous warriors. 
{I}12_{/}Shuppin and 
Huppin also belong to 
this tribe.
{I}13_{/}Naphtali had 
four sons: Jahziel, Guni, 
Jezer, and Shallum. They 
were descendants of 
Bilhan.
{I}14_{/}Manasseh had 
Asriel by his Aramean 
concubine. She gave birth 
also to Machir, father of 
Gilead. {I}15_{/}Gilead 
was the father of Iefer 
and Eeleg. The son of 
Iefer was Zelophehad. 
Zelophehad had only 
daughters.
{I}16_{/}Maacah, wife of 
Machir, gave birth to two 
sons, whom they named 
Peresh and Sheresh. 
Peresh had two sons: Ulam 
and Rakem. {I}17_{/}Ulam 
had a son named Bedan. 
These were the 
descendants of Gilead, 
the son of Machir and 
grandson of Manasseh. 
{I}18_{/}Gilead's sister 
Molecheth had three sons: 
Ishhod, Abiezer, and 
Mahlah. {I}19_{/}Shemida 
had four sons: Ahian, 
Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.
{I}20_{/}These are the 
descendants of Ephraim 
from one generation to 
the next: Shuthelah, 
Bered, Tahath, Eleadah, 
Tahath, Zabad, Shuthelah. 
Ephraim's two other sons, 
Ezer and Elead, 
{I}21_{/}were killed when 
they tried to steal the 
cattle belonging to the 
people of Gath. 
{I}22_{/}Ephraim, their 
father, mourned for them 
for a long time and his 
brothers came to comfort 
him. {I}23_{/}Then 
Ephraim went to his wife, 
and she conceived and 
gave birth to a son whom 
she called Beriah, 
because of the trouble 
that had come to their 
family. {I}24_{/}Beriah's 
daughter, Sheerah, built 
Lower and Upper Beth-
horon and Uzzen-sheerah.
Ephraim also had a son 
named Rephah. The 
descendants of 
{I}25_{/}Rephah were as 
follows: Resheph, Telah, 
Tahan, {I}26_{/}Ladan, 
Ammihud, Elishama, 
{I}27_{/}Nun, Joshua. 
{I}28_{/}They had lands 
and settlements in Bethel 
and its towns, in Naasan 
to the east in Gezep and 
its towns to the west, 
Shechem and its towns, as 
far as Ayyah and its 
towns. 
{I}29_{/}Bethshean, 
Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, 
each with its towns, were 
controlled by the 
descendants of Manasseh. 
In all these places lived 
the descendants of 
Joseph, son of Jacob.
{I}30_{/}Asher had four 
sons: Imnah, Ishvah, 
Ishvi, and Beriah; and 
one daughter, Serah. 
{I}31_{/}Sons of Beriah: 
Heber and Malchiel. 
Malchiel was the father 
of Birzaith. 
{I}32_{/}Heber had three 
sons: Japhlet, Shomer and 
Hotham; and one daughter 
Shura. {I}33_{/}Japhlet 
had three sons: Pasah, 
Bimhal and Ashvath. 
{I}34_{/}Shomar, his 
brother, also had three 
sons: Rohgah, Hubbah and 
Aram. {I}35_{/}His 
brother Hotham had four 
sons: Zophah, Imna, 
Shelesh, and Amal. 
{I}36_{/}The sons of 
Zophal were: Suah, 
Harnepher, Shual, Beri 
and Imrah, 
{I}37_{/}Bezer, Hod, 
Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran 
and Beerah. {I}38_{/}The 
sons of Ulla were 
descendants of Asher. 
They were heads of 
families, and famous 
warriors; Asher's 
descendants included 
26,000 men able to give 
military service.
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Benjamin became 
father of Bela, his 
firstborn, Ashbel second, 
Ahiram third, 
{I}2_{/}Nohah fourth, 
Rapha fifth. {I}3_{/}Bela 
had sons: Addar, Gera, 
Abihud, {I}4_{/}Abishua, 
Naaman and Ahoah, 
{I}5_{/}Gera, Shephuphan 
and Huram.
{I}6_{/}These are the 
sons of Ehud. They were 
heads of families of the 
inhabitants of Geba and 
led them into exile at 
Manahath: {I}7_{/}Naaman, 
Ahijah and Gera. It was 
he who led them into 
exile; he became the 
father of Uzza and 
Ahihud.
{I}8_{/}He became father 
of Shaharaim in the 
plains of Moab after he 
had dismissed his wives, 
Hushim and Baara. 
{I}9_{/}By his new wife 
he had sons: Jobab, 
Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 
{I}10_{/}Jeuz, Sachia, 
Mirmah. These were his 
sons, heads of families.
{I}11_{/}By Hushim he had 
sons: Abitub and Elpaal. 
{I}12_{/}Sons of Elpaal: 
Eber, Misham and Shemed: 
it was he who built Ono 
and Lud with its outlying 
towns.
{I}13_{/}Beriah and 
Shema. They were heads of 
families of the 
inhabitants of Aijaloz. 
{I}14_{/}Shashak was his 
brother.
Jeremoth, 
{I}15_{/}Zebadiah, Arad, 
Eder, {I}16_{/}Michael, 
Ishpah, Joha were sons of 
Beriah. 
{I}17_{/}Zebadiah, 
Meshullam, Hizki, Haber, 
{I}18_{/}Ishmerai, 
Izliah, Jobab were sons 
of Elpaal. 
{I}19_{/}Jakim, Zichri, 
Zabdi, {I}20_{/}Elioenai, 
Zillethai, Eliel, 
{I}21_{/}Adaiah, Beraiah, 
Shimran were sons of 
Shimei.
{I}22_{/}Ishpan, Eber, 
Eliel, {I}23_{/}Abdon, 
Zichri, Hanan, 
{I}24_{/}Hananiah, Elam, 
Anthothijah, 
{I}25_{/}Iphdeiah, Penuel 
were sons of Shashak. 
{I}26_{/}Shamsherai, 
Shehariah, Athaliah, 
{I}27_{/}Jaareshaiah, 
Elijah, Zichri were sons 
of Jeroham. 
{I}28_{/}These were the 
heads of families, 
grouped according to 
their kinship. They lived 
in Jerusalem.
{I}29_{/}At Gibeon lived 
Abi-gibeon, whose wife 
was Macaah. {I}30_{/}His 
firstborn son was Abdon, 
then Zur, Kish, Baal, 
Ner, Nadab, 
{I}31_{/}Gedor, Ahio, 
Zecher {I}32_{/}and 
Mikloth who became father 
of Shimeah. These also, 
near their kinsmen, lived 
with their kinsmen in 
Jerusalem.
{I}33_{/}Ner was father 
of Kish, Kish father of 
Saul, Saul father of 
Jonathan, Malchi-shua, 
Abinadab and Eshbaal. 
{I}34_{/}Son of Jonathan: 
Meribbaal. Meribbaal 
became father of Micah. 
{I}35_{/}Sons of Micah: 
Pithon, Melech, Tarea, 
Ahaz. {I}36_{/}Ahaz 
became father of 
Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah 
father of Alemeth, 
Azmaveth and Zimri. Zimri 
became father of Moza, 
{I}37_{/}Moza father of 
Binea. Raphah his son, 
Eleasah his son, Azel his 
son. {I}38_{/}Azel had 
six sons, whose names 
were these: Azrikam, 
Bocheru, his firstborn, 
then Ishmael, Sheariah, 
Obadiah, Hanan. All these 
were sons of Azel. 
{I}39_{/}Sons of Eshek 
his brother: Ulam, his 
firstborn, Jeush second, 
Eliphelet third. 
{I}40_{/}Ulam had sons, 
stout fighting men and 
bowmen. They had numerous 
sons and grandsons, a 
hundred and fifty of 
them.
All these were sons of 
Benjamin.
INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM 
AFTER THE EXILE{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}All the 
Israelites were 
classified in related 
groups, but they were 
listed in the Book of the 
Kings of Israel. As for 
those of Judah, they were 
deported to Babylon for 
their faithlessness. 
{I}2_{/}The first who 
came back to their towns 
and their estates were 
Israelites, priests, 
Levites and helpers. 
{I}3_{/}So in Jerusalem 
lived Judaeans, 
Benjaminites, Ephraimites 
and Manassites.
{I}4_{/}Uthai son of 
Ammihud, son of Omri, son 
of Imri, son of Bani, one 
of the sons of Perez son 
of Judah. {I}5_{/}Of the 
Shilonites: Asaiah, the 
firstborn, and his sons. 
{I}6_{/}Of the sons of 
Zerah: Jeuel. Also their 
kinsmen: six hundred and 
ninety.
{I}7_{/}Of the tribe of 
Benjamin: Sallu son of 
Meshullam, son of 
Hodaviah, son of 
Hassenuah; 
{I}8_{/}Ibneiah son of 
Jeroham; Elah son of 
Uzzi, son of Michri; 
Mesullam son of 
Shephatiah, son of Reuel, 
son of Ibnijah. 
{I}9_{/}They had nine 
hundred and fifty-six 
kinsmen, grouped 
according to their 
kinship. All these men 
were heads of families.
{I}10_{/}Of the priests: 
Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, 
Jachin, {I}11_{/}Azariah 
son of Hilkiah, son of 
Meshullam, son of Zadok, 
son of Meraioth, son of 
Ahitub, ruler of the 
house of God. 
{I}12_{/}Adaiah son of 
Jeroham, son of Pashhur, 
son of Malchijah, Maasai 
son of Adiel, son of 
Jahzerah, son of 
Meshullam, son of 
Meshillemith, son of 
Immer. {I}13_{/}They had 
kinsmen, heads of 
families, one thousand 
seven hundred and sixty 
men who undertook the 
duties of the Temple of 
God.
{I}14_{/}Of the Levites: 
Shemaiah son of Hasshub, 
son of Azrikam, son of 
Hashabiah of the sons of 
Merari, 
{I}15_{/}Bakbakkar, 
Heresh, Galal, Mattaniah 
son of Mica, son of 
Zichri, son of Asaph, 
{I}16_{/}Obadiah son of 
Shemaiah, son of Galal, 
son of Jeduthun, and 
Berechiah son of Asa, son 
of Elkanah who lived in 
the villages of the 
Netophathites.
{I}17_{/}The keepers of 
the gate: Shallum, Akkub, 
Talmon, Ahiman and their 
kinsmen. Shallum, was 
their head, {I}18_{/}and 
they still keep station 
at the royal gate, to the 
east. These were the 
gatekeepers of the camp 
of the Levites. 
{I}19_{/}Shallum son of 
Kore, son of Ebiasaph, 
son of Korah, with his 
brother Korahites, of the 
same family, were 
responsible for the 
liturgical service; they 
were "keepers of the 
threshold for the Tent," 
for their fathers had 
guarded the entrance of 
the camp of Yahweh. 
{I}20_{/}At one time, 
Phinehas son of Eleazar 
had ruled them and they 
served before Yahweh. 
{I}21_{/}Zechariah son of 
Meshelemiah was keeper of 
the gate at the entrance 
to the Tent of Meeting. 
{I}22_{/}All the keepers 
of the gate at the 
thresholds were picked 
men; there were two 
hundred and twelve of 
them and they were 
registered in their 
various villages. These 
were appointed by David 
and Samuel the seer 
because of their loyalty. 
{I}23_{/}They and their 
sons had the guardianship 
of the gates of the House 
of Yahweh, the house of 
the Tent. {I}24_{/}On the 
four sides stood the 
keepers of the gate, 
east, west, north, and 
south. {I}25_{/}Their 
kinsmen in their villages 
would come to join them 
for a week from time to 
time, {I}26_{/}since the 
four head gatekeepers 
themselves lived there 
permanently. Some of them 
were responsible for the 
chambers and treasuries 
of the house of God. 
{I}27_{/}They spent the 
night in the precincts of 
the house of God, their 
duties being to guard it 
and they had the keys 
with them to open the 
rooms at the morning.
{I}28_{/}Some of them 
were responsible for the 
furnishings of worship; 
they counted them 
whenever they put them 
away and took them out. 
{I}29_{/}Others were in 
charge of the furniture 
and all the sacred 
furnishings, the fine 
flour, the wine, the oil, 
the incense, the spices, 
{I}30_{/}but only the 
priests prepared the 
mixture for the spices.
{I}31_{/}One of the 
Levites, Mattithiah the 
firstborn of Shallum the 
Korahite, was responsible 
for the offerings that 
were to be baked on the 
pan. {I}32_{/}Some of 
their kinsmen the 
Kohathites were 
responsible for the 
loaves to be set out in 
rows sabbath by sabbath.
{I}33_{/}These are the 
cantors, heads of the 
levitical families. When 
free from service they 
lived in the Temple 
chambers, because they 
were on duty day and 
night.

{I}34_{/}These were the 
heads of the families of 
the Levites, grouped 
according to their 
families. These heads 
lived in Jerusalem.
THE ANCESTORS OF SAUL. 
HIS DEATH{/}

{I}35_{/}In the city of 
Gibeon lived Abigibeon 
and Jeiel, whose wife was 
called Maacah. 
{I}36_{/}His firstborn 
was Abdon, then Zur, 
Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 
{I}37_{/}Gedor, Ahio, 
Zechariah. 
{I}38_{/}Mikloth became 
father of Shimeam. Their 
descendants lived in 
Jerusalem near other 
families of their clans.
{I}39_{/}Ner became 
father of Kish, Kish 
father of Saul, Saul 
father of Jonathan, 
Malchi-shua, Abinadab and 
Eshbaal. 
{I}40_{/}Jonathan's son 
Merribbaal, became father 
of Micah. {I}41_{/}Micah 
had four sons: Pithon, 
Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz. 
{I}42_{/}Ahaz became 
father of Jarah, Jarah 
father of Alemeth, 
Azmaveth and Zimri; Zimri 
became father of Moza, 
{I}43_{/}Moza father of 
Binea, whose son was 
{I}44_{/}Rephaiah, whose 
son was Eleasah, whose 
son was Azel. Azel had 
six sons; their names 
were these: Azrikam, his 
firstborn, then Ishmael, 
Bocheru, Sheariah, 
Obadiah, Hanan. These 
were the sons of Azel.
{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}The Philistines 
attacked Israel, and the 
Israelites fled or were 
killed on Mount Gilboa. 
{I}2_{/}The Philistines 
caught up with Saul and 
killed Jonathan, Abinadab 
and Malchi-shua, the sons 
of Saul. {I}3_{/}The 
fighting grew heavy about 
Saul; he was hit by enemy 
arrows and badly wounded. 
{I}4_{/}Then Saul said to 
the young man carrying 
his weapon, "Draw your 
sword and kill me. I do 
not want these godless 
Philistines to come and 
gloat over me." But the 
young man was afraid and 
would not do it. So Saul 
took his own sword and 
threw himself on it. 
{I}5_{/}Then the young 
man threw himself on his 
sword too and died. 
{I}6_{/}And so Saul died, 
he and his three sons and 
all his own together.
{I}7_{/}All the 
Israelites who were in 
the valley heard that the 
army had fled and that 
Saul and his sons were 
dead. So they abandoned 
their towns and ran away. 
The Philistines then came 
in and occupied them.
{I}8_{/}When the 
Philistines came on the 
following day to strip 
the dead, they found Saul 
and his sons lying on 
Mount Gilboa. 
{I}9_{/}They stripped him 
and, taking his head and 
his armor, had them 
carried around the land 
of the Philistines to 
proclaim the good news to 
their idols and their 
people. {I}10_{/}They 
placed his armor in the 
temple of their god, but 
his head they hung in the 
temple of Dagon.
{I}11_{/}When all the 
people of Gilead heard 
all that the Philistines 
had done to Saul, 
{I}12_{/}the valiant men 
went and took the bodies 
of Saul and his sons away 
and brought them to 
Jabesh. They buried their 
bones under the oak tree 
in Jabesh, and they 
fasted for seven days.
{I}13_{/}Saul died 
because he had been 
unfaithful to Yahweh: he 
had disobeyed the 
commands of Yahweh; he 
had even consulted the 
spirits of the dead. 
{I}14_{/}As he had not 
consulted Yahweh, Yahweh 
put him to death and gave 
control of the kingdom to 
David son of Jesse.
DAVID IS ANOINTED KING{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}All the people of 
Israel went to David at 
Hebron "Look, we are your 
own flesh and blood. 
{I}2_{/}Even when Saul 
was our king, you led 
Israel in battle; and 
Yahweh your God said to 
you, 'You are the man who 
shall be shepherd of my 
people Israel and shall 
be ruler over them.'" 
{I}3_{/}So all the elders 
of Israel came to the 
king at Hebron, and David 
made a covenant with them 
at Hebron in the presence 
of Yahweh, and he became 
king of Israel, just as 
Yahweh had promised 
through Samuel.
{I}4_{/}David with all 
the Israelites attacked 
Jerusalem (that is to 
say, Jebus); there lived 
the Jebusites. 
{I}5_{/}They said to 
David, "You will not get 
in here." But David 
captured the fortress of 
Zion, and it became the 
City of David. 
{I}6_{/}David said, "The 
first man to attack the 
Jebusites shall become 
leader and commander of 
the army." Joab son of 
Zeruiah attacked first 
and became commander. 
{I}7_{/}David went to 
live in the fortress, and 
because of this it was 
called the City of David. 
{I}8_{/}He then built a 
wall around the city, and 
the Millo as well as the 
surrounding wall, while 
Joab restored the rest of 
the city. {I}9_{/}David 
grew greater and greater, 
and Yahweh Sabaoth was 
with him.
DAVID'S CHAMPIONS{/}

{I}10_{/}These are the 
famous warriors of David, 
those who during his rule 
struggled with him and 
with all Israel, to make 
him king as Yahweh had 
promised. {I}11_{/}This 
is the list of David's 
warriors: Jashobeam the 
Hachmonite, leader of the 
Thirty; one day he 
wielded his battle-ax 
against three hundred 
whom he killed at one 
time.
{I}12_{/}After him there 
was Eleazar son of Dodo, 
the Ahohite, one of the 
three champions. 
{I}13_{/}He was with 
David at Pasdammim where 
the Philistines had 
gathered to attack. There 
was a field full of 
barley there. When the 
Israelites started to run 
away, {I}14_{/}Eleazar 
took a stand in the 
middle of the field, 
defended it and fought 
the Philistines. So 
Yahweh brought about a 
great victory.
{I}15_{/}The Thirty 
leading soldiers went 
down to David at the rock 
near the Cave of Adullam 
while a company of 
Philistines was encamped 
in the Valley of the 
Rephaim. {I}16_{/}David 
was then on a fortified 
hill, and a group of 
Philistines had occupied 
Bethlehem. {I}17_{/}David 
sighed, "Oh, if someone 
would fetch me a drink of 
water from the well by 
the gate of Bethlehem!" 
{I}18_{/}At this The 
Three, forcing their way 
through the Philistine 
camp, drew water from the 
well by the gate of 
Bethlehem and, bringing 
it away, presented it to 
David. But David would 
drink none of it and 
poured it out as an 
offering to Yahweh. 
{I}19_{/}"God keep me," 
he said, "from doing 
this! Am I to drink the 
blood of these men? For 
at the risk of their 
lives they brought it." 
And so he would not drink 
it. Such were the deeds 
of The Three.
{I}20_{/}Abishai, the 
brother of Joab, was 
leader of The Thirty. He 
fought with his spear 
against three hundred 
whom he killed, winning 
himself a name among The 
Thirty. {I}21_{/}He was 
the most famous of The 
Thirty and became their 
captain, but he was not 
as famous as The Three.
{I}22_{/}Benaiah son of 
Jehoiada, a hero from 
Kabzeel, did many brave 
deeds; he killed the two 
Ariels of Moab. One snowy 
day, he went down and 
killed the lion in a pit. 
{I}23_{/}He also killed 
an Egyptian, a huge man 
seven and a half feet 
tall. The Egyptian had a 
gigantic spear in his 
hand, but Benaiah 
attacked him with a club, 
snatched the spear from 
the Egyptian's hand and 
killed the man with it. 
{I}24_{/}Such were the 
deeds of Benaiah son of 
Jehoiada, winning him a 
name among the thirty 
leading soldiers. 
{I}25_{/}He was famous 
among The Thirty, but he 
was not as famous as The 
Three. David put him in 
command of his bodyguard.
{I}26_{/}The other 
valiant warriors were: 
Asahel the brother of 
Joab. Elhanan son of 
Dodo, from Bethlehem. 
{I}27_{/}Shammoth from 
Harod, Helez the 
Pelonite. {I}28_{/}Ira 
son of Ikkesh, from 
Tekoa. Abiezer from 
Anathoth. 
{I}29_{/}Sibbecai from 
Hushah. Ilai from Ahoh. 
{I}30_{/}Maharai from 
Netophah. Heled son of 
Baanah, from Netophah. 
{I}31_{/}Ithai son of 
Ribai, from Gibeah of 
Benjamin. Benaiah from 
Pirathon. {I}32_{/}Hurai 
from the valleys near 
Gaash. Abiel from 
Bethhaarabah. 
{I}33_{/}Azmaveth from 
Baharum. Eliahba from 
Shaalbon. 
{I}34_{/}Benehashem from 
Gizon. Jonathan son of 
Shagee, from Harar. 
{I}35_{/}Ahiam son of 
Sachar, from Harar. 
Eliphelet son of Ur. 
{I}36_{/}Hepher from 
Mecherah. Ahijah the 
Pelonite. {I}37_{/}Hezro 
from Carmel. Naarai son 
of Ezbai. {I}38_{/}Joel 
the brother of Nathan. 
Mibhar son of Hagri. 
{I}39_{/}Zelek the 
Ammonite. Naharai from 
Beeroth, armorbearer to 
Joab son of Zeruiah. 
{I}40_{/}Ira from Jattir. 
Gareb from Jattir. 
{I}41_{/}Uriah the 
Hittite. Zabad son of 
Ahlai. 
{I}42_{/}Adina son of 
Shiza (a leading member 
of the tribe of Reuben, 
with his own group of 
thirty soldiers). 
{I}43_{/}Hanan son of 
Maacah. Joshaphat the 
Mithnite. {I}44_{/}Uzzia 
from Ashteroth. Shama and 
Jeiel, sons of Hotham the 
Aroerite. 
{I}45_{/}Jediaelson of 
Shimri, and Joha his 
brother, the Tizite. 
{I}46_{/}Eliel the 
Mahavite. Jeribai and 
Joshaviah, sons of 
Elnaam. Ithmah the 
Moabite. {I}47_{/}Eliel, 
Obed, and Jaasiel from 
Zoba.
DAVID'S EARLY 
FOLLOWERS{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}The following men 
came to David in Ziklag 
where he had gone to 
escape from King Saul. 
They were valiant and 
reliable warriors, 
members of the tribe of 
Benjamin, to which Saul 
belonged. {I}2_{/}They 
were archers who could 
use either the right or 
the left hand, both in 
slinging stones and in 
shooting arrows with the 
bow. {I}3_{/}They were 
Ahiezer the leader, and 
Joash, sons of Hashemar 
from Gibeah, Jeziel and 
Pelet, sons of Azmaveth, 
Berach and Jehu from 
Anathoth, {I}4_{/}Ismaiah 
from Gibeon, a famous 
soldier and one of the 
leaders of The Thirty; 
{I}5_{/}Jeremiah, 
Jahaziel, Johanan and 
Jozabad from Gederoth, 
{I}6_{/}Eluzai, Jerimoth, 
Bealiah, Shemariah, 
Shephatiah from Hariph, 
{I}7_{/}Elkanah, Eshiah, 
Azarel, Joezer, 
Jashobeam, Korahites, 
{I}8_{/}Joelah, Zebadiah, 
sons of Jeroham from 
Gedor.
{I}9_{/}Some Gadites also 
joined David's troops 
when he was at the desert 
fort. They were valiant 
fighting men and experts 
with shield and spear. 
They were as fierce-
looking as lions and as 
quick as mountain deer. 
{I}10_{/}Ezer was the 
leader, Obadiah second, 
Eliab third, 
{I}11_{/}Mishmannah 
fourth, Jeremiah fifth. 
{I}12_{/}Attai sixth, 
Eliel seventh, 
{I}13_{/}Johanan eighth, 
Elzabad ninth, 
{I}14_{/}Jeremiah tenth, 
Machbannai eleventh. 
{I}15_{/}These sons of 
God were troop 
commanders, each one in 
command of a unit, the 
junior officers placed 
over a hundred, and 
senior officers over a 
thousand. {I}16_{/}These 
are the men who crossed 
the Jordan in the first 
month, when it overflowed 
its course, and scattered 
all the people who lived 
on its banks, both east 
and west.
{I}17_{/}Those men from 
the tribes of Benjamin 
and Judah came to David 
at the fort. 
{I}18_{/}David went to 
meet them and said, "If 
you come to me as 
friends, to give me help, 
then I am ready to join 
you. But if it is to 
betray me to my enemies, 
when I have done no 
wrong, then may the God 
of our ancestors see and 
punish you."
{I}19_{/}Then God's 
spirit took control of 
one of them, Amasai, 
leader of The Thirty, and 
he called out: "Yours we 
are, David! We are with 
you, son of Jesse! Peace 
to you, peace to him that 
helps you, for God is on 
your side."
David welcomed them and 
made them officers in his 
army.
{I}20_{/}Some people from 
the tribe of Manasseh 
went over to David's side 
as he was setting out 
with the Philistines to 
fight Saul. But David did 
not help the Philistines, 
because their chiefs, 
after consultation, sent 
him back to Ziklag. They 
were afraid he would 
betray them to his former 
master Saul. {I}21_{/}He 
was on his way to Ziklag 
when these Manassites 
joined him: Adnah, 
Jozabad, Jediael, 
Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, 
Zillethai, commanders of 
thousands in Manasseh. 
{I}22_{/}They were 
reinforcements for David 
and his troops, since 
they were all outstanding 
soldiers and became 
officers in the army. 
{I}23_{/}Indeed new men 
joined David's forces 
almost every day, so that 
his camp grew into an 
enormous camp.
THE WARRIORS WHO ASSURED 
DAVID'S KINGSHIP{/}

{I}24_{/}These are the 
figures from the list of 
experienced warriors who 
joined David at Hebron to 
transfer Saul's kingship 
to him in accordance with 
the command of Yahweh:
{I}25_{/}Sons of Judah 
carrying shield and 
spear: 6,800 men equipped 
for battle. {I}26_{/}Of 
the sons of Simeon; 7,100 
well-trained men. 
{I}27_{/}Of the sons of 
Levi: 4,600 {I}28_{/}in 
addition to Jehoiada, in 
command of the Aaronites, 
with 3,700 men; 
{I}29_{/}Zadok, a young 
and able fighter and 
{I}22{/} commanders of 
his family.
{I}30_{/}Of the sons of 
Benjamin: 3,000 kinsmen 
of Saul, most of them 
hitherto in the service 
of the House of Saul. 
{I}31_{/}Of the sons of 
Ephraim: 20,800 men 
famous in their families. 
{I}32_{/}Of the half 
tribe of Manasseh: 18,000 
men assigned by name to 
go and proclaim David 
king. {I}33_{/}Of the 
sons of Issachar, expert 
in knowing the times when 
Israel should take 
action, and the way to do 
it: 200 leaders and all 
their kinsmen under their 
command.
{I}34_{/}Of Zebulun: 
50,000 men fit for 
service, ready to fight 
with weapons of every 
kind. {I}35_{/}Of 
Naphtali: 1,000 
commanders, and with them 
37,000 men armed with 
shield and spear. 
{I}36_{/}Of the Danites: 
28,600 men ready for 
battle. {I}37_{/}Of 
Asher: 40,000 men fit for 
service, ready for 
battle. {I}38_{/}From 
Transjordania: 120,000 
men of Reuben, Gad and 
the half tribe of 
Manasseh, with weapons of 
every kind.
{I}39_{/}All these 
warriors, ready for 
battle, came to Hebron 
willingly to proclaim 
David king over all 
Israel; and the rest of 
Israel, too, were all of 
one mind in making David 
king. {I}40_{/}For three 
days they stayed there, 
eating and drinking with 
David, for their kinsmen 
had sent food for them. 
{I}41_{/}Moreover from as 
far as Issachar and 
Zebulun and Naphtali 
their neighbors brought 
provisions, by donkey and 
camel, mule and ox - 
flour cakes, fig cakes, 
bunches of raisins, wine, 
oil, quantities of oxen 
and sheep; for there was 
joy in Israel.
THE ARK IS BROUGHT TO 
JERUSALEM{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}David consulted 
with the commanders of 
thousands, of hundreds, 
and with all the leaders. 
{I}2_{/}To the whole 
assembly of Israel David 
said, "If you agree and 
if Yahweh our God wills 
it so, we will send 
messengers to the rest of 
our brothers throughout 
the territories of 
Israel, and also to the 
priests and Levites in 
their towns and nearby 
lands, and tell them to 
gather here with us. 
{I}3_{/}We will then go 
and get the ark of our 
God, for in the time of 
Saul we neglected it."
{I}4_{/}They agreed to 
this, for in the eyes of 
all the people it was the 
right thing to do. 
{I}5_{/}So David gathered 
all the people together 
from the Shihor of Egypt 
to the Pass of Hamath to 
bring the ark of God from 
Kiriath-jearim. 
{I}6_{/}Then David and 
all Israel went up to 
Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim 
in Judah, to bring up the 
ark of God which bears 
the name of Yahweh who is 
seated on the Cherub. 
{I}7_{/}At Abinadab's 
house they placed the ark 
of God on a new cart. 
Uzziah and Ahio were 
leading the cart. 
{I}8_{/}David and all 
Israel danced before God 
with all their might, 
singing to the 
accompaniment of lyres, 
harps, tambourines, 
cymbals, and trumpets. 
{I}9_{/}When they came to 
the threshing floor of 
the Javelin, the oxen 
stumbled, and Uzzah 
stretched out his hand 
and took hold of the ark. 
{I}10_{/}Then the anger 
of Yahweh blazed out 
against Uzzah, and he 
killed him because he had 
laid his hand on the ark, 
and he died there in the 
presence of God. 
{I}11_{/}David was 
disturbed that Yahweh had 
punished Uzzah in anger, 
and so that place has 
been called Perez-uzzah 
ever since.
{I}12_{/}David went in 
fear of God that day and 
said, "How can I bring 
the ark of God to my 
home?" {I}13_{/}So David 
did not take the ark home 
to the City of David, but 
took it to the house of a 
man named Obed-edom of 
Gath. {I}14_{/}The ark of 
God remained with the 
family of Obed-edom, in 
his house, for three 
months, and Yahweh 
blessed the family of 
Obed-edom and everything 
that belonged to him.
{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}Hiram, king of 
Tyre, sent messengers to 
David with cedar wood and 
stonemasons and 
carpenters to build him a 
palace. {I}2_{/}David 
then knew that Yahweh had 
established him as king 
over Israel, and that for 
the sake of his people 
Israel his kingdom was 
being made prosperous.
{I}3_{/}At Jerusalem 
David took more wives and 
fathered more sons and 
daughters. {I}4_{/}These 
are the names of the 
children born to him in 
Jerusalem: Shammua, 
Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 
{I}5_{/}Ibhar, Elishua, 
Elpelet, {I}6_{/}Nogab, 
Nepheg, Japhia, 
{I}7_{/}Elishama, 
Beeliada, Eliphelet.
{I}8_{/}When the 
Philistines heard that 
David had been anointed 
king of all Israel, they 
all marched up to capture 
him. On hearing this, 
David went out to meet 
them. {I}9_{/}When the 
Philistines arrived, they 
began plundering the 
Valley of the Rephaim. 
{I}10_{/}David consulted 
Yahweh, "Shall I attack 
the Philistines? Will you 
turn them over to me?" 
Yahweh answered him, 
"Attack! I will turn them 
over to you." 
{I}11_{/}The Philistines 
went up to Baal-perazim 
and there David defeated 
them. David said, "God 
has broken through them 
just as water breaks 
through a dam." For this 
reason that place was 
called Baal Perazim. 
{I}12_{/}They had left 
their gods behind them 
there, and David ordered 
them to be burned.
{I}13_{/}Again the 
Philistines started 
plundering in the valley. 
{I}14_{/}David again 
consulted God, and God 
answered, "Do not attack 
them from the front; go 
around and get ready to 
attack them from the 
other side, near the 
balsam trees. 
{I}15_{/}When you hear 
the sound of marching in 
the tops of the balsam 
trees, launch your 
attack, for God is going 
out ahead of you to 
defeat the army of the 
Philistines." 
{I}16_{/}David did as God 
had ordered, and they 
defeated the Philistine 
army from Gibeon as far 
as Gezer.
{I}17_{/}David became 
famous everywhere, and 
Yahweh made every nation 
afraid of him.
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}David put up 
buildings for himself in 
the City of David and 
prepared a place for the 
ark of God, and he put up 
a tent for it. 
{I}2_{/}Then he said, 
"Only the Levites shall 
move the ark of God, 
since Yahweh has chosen 
them to carry the ark and 
to serve him always."
{I}3_{/}Then David 
gathered all Israel 
together in Jerusalem to 
bring the ark of God up 
to the place he had 
prepared for it. 
{I}4_{/}David called 
together the sons of 
Aaron and the sons of 
Levi: {I}5_{/}of the sons 
of Kohath, Uriel the 
chief and his hundred and 
twenty kinsmen; 
{I}6_{/}of the sons of 
Merari, Asaiah and his 
two hundred and twenty 
kinsmen; {I}7_{/}of the 
sons of Gershom, Joel and 
his hundred and thirty 
kinsmen; {I}8_{/}of the 
sons of Elizaphah, 
Shemaiah and his two 
hundred kinsmen; 
{I}9_{/}of the sons of 
Hebron, Eliel and eighty 
kinsmen; {I}10_{/}of the 
sons of Uzziel, Amminadab 
and his hundred and 
twelve kinsmen.
{I}11_{/}David called in 
the priests Zadok and 
Abiathar, and the Levites 
Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, 
Shemaiah, Eliel and 
Amminadab. {I}12_{/}He 
told them, "You are the 
heads of families of the 
Levites. Purify 
yourselves, you and your 
brothers, and bring the 
ark of Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, up to the place I 
have prepared for it. 
{I}13_{/}The first time 
you were not there to 
carry it and Yahweh our 
God punished us for not 
consulting him as we 
should have done."
{I}14_{/}So the priests 
and the Levites purified 
themselves to bring up 
the ark of Yahweh, the 
God of Israel, 
{I}15_{/}and the Levites 
carried the ark of God 
with the poles on their 
shoulders, as Moses had 
ordered according to the 
command of Yahweh.
{I}16_{/}David then told 
the leaders of the 
Levites to assign duties 
for some Levites to sing 
and play a joyful tune 
with their various 
musical instruments: 
harps and lyres and 
cymbals. {I}17_{/}The 
Levites then appointed 
Heman son of Joel, Asaph 
son of Berechiah, one of 
his brothers, Ethan son 
of Kushaiah, one of their 
Merarite kinsmen; 
{I}18_{/}and with them, 
next in rank, their 
kinsmen as keepers of the 
gate: Zechariah son of 
Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, 
Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, 
Benaiah, Maaseiah, 
Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, 
Mikneiah, Obed-edom, 
Jeiel. {I}19_{/}Heman, 
Asaph and Ethan the 
cantors, were to clash 
the cymbals of bronze; 
{I}20_{/}Zechariah, 
Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, 
Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, 
Maaseiah and Benaiah were 
to play the keyed harp. 
{I}21_{/}Mattithiah, 
Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, 
Obed-edom, Jeiel and 
Azaziah, giving the beat, 
were to play the octave 
lyre. {I}22_{/}Chenaniah 
was chosen to be in 
charge of the 
transportation, because 
he was very skillful at 
doing these things. 
{I}23_{/}Berechiah and 
Elkanah were to be 
gatekeepers to the ark. 
{I}24_{/}The priests 
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, 
Nethanel, Amasal, 
Zechariah, Benaiah and 
Eliezer were to sound the 
trumpet before the ark of 
God. Obed-edom and Jehiah 
were to be gatekeepers to 
the ark.
{I}25_{/}So David, with 
the leaders of Israel and 
the commanders of 
thousands, went to bring 
up the ark of the 
covenant of Yahweh from 
Obed-edom's house with 
great rejoicing. 
{I}26_{/}And while God 
was securing the Levites 
who carried the ark of 
the covenant of Yahweh, 
they sacrificed seven 
bulls and seven sheep. 
{I}27_{/}David was 
wearing a robe of fine 
linen, like all the 
Levites who carried the 
ark, as well as the 
cantors and Chenaniah, 
the officer in charge of 
its transportation. David 
also wore the linen. 
{I}28_{/}Thus all Israel 
brought up the ark of the 
covenant of Yahweh with 
shouts of joy to the 
sound of the horn, 
trumpets, and cymbals, 
making music with harp 
and lyre. {I}29_{/}Now as 
the ark of the covenant 
of Yahweh entered the 
City of David, Michal the 
daughter of Saul was 
watching from the window 
and saw King David 
dancing and leaping with 
joy and she despised him.
{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}They brought the 
ark of God in and put it 
inside the tent that 
David had prepared for 
it; and they offered 
burnt offerings and peace 
offerings to God. 
{I}2_{/}And when David 
had finished offering the 
sacrifices, he blessed 
the people in the name of 
Yahweh. {I}3_{/}He then 
distributed to all the 
Israelites, men and 
women, a loaf of bread 
each, a piece of roasted 
meat, and a raisin cake.
DAVID ORGANIZES THE 
LEVITICAL CULT{/}

{I}4_{/}David appointed 
some of the Levites to 
minister before the ark 
of Yahweh, to 
commemorate, thank and 
praise Yahweh, the God of 
Israel: {I}5_{/}first 
Asaph, second Zechariah, 
then Uzziel, Shemiramoth, 
Jehiel, Mattithiah, 
Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-
edom, Jeiel. These were 
to play the harp and the 
lyre, while Asaph was to 
clash the cymbals. 
{I}6_{/}The priests 
Benaiah and Jahaziel were 
to keep sounding the 
trumpet before the ark of 
the covenant of Yahweh. 
{I}7_{/}That day, David 
entrusted this song of 
praise to Asaph and his 
brethren:
{I}8_{/}Give thanks to 
Yahweh, call upon his 
name, proclaim his deeds 
to the peoples.
{I}9_{/}Sing to him, sing 
his praise; tell of all 
his marvels.
{I}10_{/}Glory in his 
holy name, let the hearts 
that seek Yahweh rejoice!
{I}11_{/}Seek Yahweh and 
his strength, seek his 
face untiringly;
{I}12_{/}Recall the 
wondrous deeds he has 
done, his miracles, the 
judgments from his mouth.
{I}13_{/}Descendants of 
Israel his servant, sons 
of Jacob his chosen one,
{I}14_{/}he is Yahweh our 
God; he rules over all 
the earth. {I}15_{/}He 
remembers his covenant 
forever, his promises for 
many generations,
{I}16_{/}the covenant he 
made with Abraham, his 
promise to Isaac,
{I}17_{/}That he gave as 
law to Jacob, an 
everlasting covenant for 
Israel.
{I}18_{/}For he said, "I 
give you a land Canaan, 
your own possession,"
{I}19_{/}when they were 
easily counted, few in 
number, strangers to the 
country.
{I}20_{/}They wandered 
from nation to nation, 
from one kingdom to 
another.
{I}21_{/}But he let no 
one oppress them, and 
punished kings for their 
sake:
{I}22_{/}"Do not touch my 
anointed ones, do not 
harm my prophets."
{I}23_{/}Sing to Yahweh, 
all the earth. Proclaim 
his salvation day after 
day.
{I}24_{/}Tell his glory 
among the nations and his 
wonders to every people.
{I}25_{/}Yahweh is great, 
and highly to be praised, 
more fearsome than all 
gods.
{I}26_{/}Nothingness are 
all the gods of the 
nations, Yahweh himself 
made the heavens;
{I}27_{/}splendor and 
majesty go before him, 
praise and joy are in his 
sanctuary.
{I}28_{/}Give to Yahweh, 
families of the peoples, 
give to Yahweh glory and 
praise. {I}29_{/}Give to 
Yahweh the glory due his 
name. Bring out offerings 
and bow before him, 
worship Yahweh in his 
sacred ornaments.
{I}30_{/}Be quiet before 
him, all the earth! Firm 
has he made the world, 
not to be moved.
{I}31_{/}Let the heavens 
be glad, and the earth 
rejoice! Say among the 
nations, "Yahweh is 
King!"
{I}32_{/}Let the sea 
thunder and all that it 
holds, let the fields 
exult and all that is in 
them,
{I}33_{/}let all the 
trees cry out for joy, 
and rejoice before 
Yahweh, for he comes to 
rule the earth.
{I}34_{/}Give thanks to 
Yahweh, for he is good, 
his love endures forever.
{I}35_{/}Say, "Save us, O 
God, our Savior, gather 
us and deliver us from 
among the nations, that 
we may give thanks to 
your holy name and glory 
in praising you."
{I}36_{/}Blessed be 
Yahweh the God of Israel 
from all eternity and 
forever! And let all the 
people say, "Amen! 
Alleluia!"
{I}37_{/}David left 
there, before the ark of 
the Covenant of Yahweh, 
Asaph and his brother 
Levites with the 
permanent charge of the 
worship that was held 
before the ark as each 
day's ritual required. 
{I}38_{/}He left also 
Obed-edom, with his 
sixty-eight kinsmen. 
Obed-edom son of 
Jeduthun, and Hosah were 
to be keepers of the 
gate.
{I}39_{/}He left Zadok 
the priest and the 
priests, his kinsmen, 
before the Holy Tent of 
Yahweh at the High place 
in Gibeon {I}40_{/}to 
offer burnt offerings to 
Yahweh regularly, morning 
and evening, on the altar 
for burnt offerings and 
to carry out all that is 
written in the Law of 
Yahweh laid down for 
Israel. {I}41_{/}With 
them were Heman and 
Jeduthun and the rest of 
those who were chosen and 
assigned by name to give 
praise to God, "For his 
love is everlasting." 
{I}42_{/}With them were 
Heman and Jeduthun who 
were to sound the 
trumpets, cymbals and 
musical instruments 
accompanying the hymns to 
God. The sons of Jeduthun 
were given charge of the 
gate.
{I}43_{/}Then all went 
away, each to his own 
house, and David returned 
to bless his household.
THE PROPHECY OF NATHAN{/}

{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}Once David was 
living in his palace, he 
said to the prophet 
Nathan, "Here am I living 
in a house of cedar, 
while the ark of Yahweh's 
covenant dwells beneath a 
tent cloth." 
{I}2_{/}Nathan said to 
David, "Do all that is in 
your mind, for God is 
with you."
{I}3_{/}But that very 
night Yahweh said to 
Nathan, {I}4_{/}"Go and 
tell my servant David, 
'Yahweh says this: You 
yourself are not to build 
a temple for me to live 
in. {I}5_{/}I have never 
lived in a temple from 
the day I brought Israel 
out until today, but went 
from tent to tent, from 
one shelter to another. 
{I}6_{/}In all my 
journeying with the whole 
of Israel, did I say to 
any one of the rulers of 
Israel whom I had 
appointed as shepherds of 
my people: Why do you not 
build me a temple of 
cedar wood?
{I}7_{/}This you must say 
to my servant David: This 
is the word of Yahweh 
Sabaoth: I took you from 
following the sheep, to 
be leader of my people 
Israel. {I}8_{/}I have 
been with you wherever 
you have gone, and I have 
defeated all your enemies 
as you advanced. I will 
make your name as great 
as the name of the 
greatest on earth. 
{I}9_{/}I will provide a 
place for my people 
Israel; I will plant them 
there and they shall live 
in that place and never 
be disturbed again; nor 
shall the wicked ever 
again oppress them, as 
they did {I}10_{/}in the 
days when I appointed 
judges over my people 
Israel. For now I will 
subdue all their enemies. 
Moreover I tell you that 
I will build you a house. 
{I}11_{/}And when your 
days are ended and you 
must die and be buried 
with your ancestors, I 
will raise up your 
offspring after you, one 
of your own sons, and I 
will make his kingdom 
strong. {I}12_{/}He will 
build a temple for me and 
I will make his throne 
firm forever. {I}13_{/}I 
will be a father to him 
and he a son to me. I 
will not withdraw my 
support from him, as I 
withdrew it from Saul. 
{I}14_{/}I will put him 
in charge of my people 
and his kingdom shall be 
established forever."
{I}15_{/}Nathan told 
David accordingly all 
these words and this 
vision.
DAVID'S PRAYER{/}

{I}16_{/}King David then 
went in and, seated 
before Yahweh, said: "I 
am not worthy of what you 
have already done for me, 
Yahweh God, nor is my 
family. {I}17_{/}Yet in 
your eyes, O God, this is 
still not enough. For you 
have made a promise for 
my descendants reaching 
into the distant future 
and you have looked on me 
as a great man. 
{I}18_{/}What more can I 
say to you? For you know 
your servant David. 
{I}19_{/}You yourself 
have done this because 
you have looked kindly on 
your servant and you 
wanted to show your own 
greatness.
{I}20_{/}O Yahweh, there 
is none like you, no God 
except you alone, that we 
have ever heard of. 
{I}21_{/}Is there another 
people on the earth like 
your people Israel, whom 
you rescued from slavery 
in Egypt to make them 
your own people, giving 
yourself a name for great 
and terrible things by 
driving nations out 
before your people whom 
you rescued from Egypt?
{I}22_{/}You made your 
people Israel your own 
people forever; and you, 
Yahweh, have become their 
God. {I}23_{/}Now, 
Yahweh, let the promise 
you have made to me and 
to my descendants be 
always kept. {I}24_{/}May 
this promise hold good 
and your name be exalted 
forever; may they say, 
'Yahweh Sabaoth, the God 
of Israel, is God for 
Israel.' And let my 
descendants be 
established before you 
forever.
{I}25_{/}O my God, you 
have just made known to 
me that you will build me 
a house; because of this 
I have to offer this 
prayer in your presence. 
{I}26_{/}Yes, Yahweh, you 
are God indeed, and you 
have made this kind 
promise to me. 
{I}27_{/}Be pleased, 
then, to bless my house 
so that they may remain 
forever in your favor. 
You, Yahweh, are the one 
who blesses, and your 
blessing will rest on 
them forever."
THE WARS OF DAVID{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}After this, David 
defeated the Philistines 
and subdued them, taking 
Gath and its outlying 
villages. {I}2_{/}He also 
defeated the Moabites; 
the Moabites became 
subject to David, paying 
him taxes.
{I}3_{/}At Hamath David 
defeated Hadadezer, king 
of Zobah, who was trying 
to gain control of the 
territory by the river 
Euphrates. {I}4_{/}David 
captured one thousand 
chariots, seven thousand 
horsemen and twenty 
thousand foot soldiers 
from him; David hamstrung 
all the chariot teams, 
keeping only a hundred of 
them. {I}5_{/}The 
Arameans of Damascus came 
to the help of Hadadezer, 
king of Zobah, but David 
killed twenty-two 
thousand men of the 
Arameans. {I}6_{/}Then 
David established 
governors in Aram of 
Damascus, and the 
Arameans became subject 
to David, paying him 
taxes. Wherever David 
went, Yahweh gave him 
victory.
{I}7_{/}David took the 
golden shields of the 
guards of Hadadezer and 
brought them to 
Jerusalem. {I}8_{/}From 
Tibhath and from Cun, 
towns belonging to 
Hadadezer, David took a 
great quantity of bronze; 
with this Solomon would 
make the bronze Sea and 
the bronze pillars and 
furnishings.
{I}9_{/}When Tou, king of 
Hamath, heard that David 
had defeated the entire 
army of Hadadezer, king 
of Zobah, {I}10_{/}he 
sent his son Hadoram to 
King David to greet him 
and to congratulate him 
on fighting and defeating 
Hadadezer, since 
Hadadezer was the enemy 
of Tou. Hadoram brought 
articles of every kind in 
gold, silver and bronze, 
{I}11_{/}which King David 
also consecrated to 
Yahweh together with the 
silver and gold he had 
taken from all the 
nations: Edom, Moab, 
Ammonites, Philistines, 
Amalek.
{I}12_{/}After that David 
defeated the Edomites in 
the Valley of Salt, 
eighteen thousand of 
them. {I}13_{/}He imposed 
governors on Edom, and 
all the Edomites became 
subject to David. 
Wherever David went, 
Yahweh gave him victory.
{I}14_{/}David ruled over 
all Israel, administering 
law and justice to all 
his people. {I}15_{/}Joab 
son of Zeruiah was in 
command of the army; 
Jehoshapat son of Ahilud 
was recorder; 
{I}16_{/}Zadok son of 
Ahitub and Abiathar son 
of Ahimelech were 
priests; Shavsha was 
secretary; 
{I}17_{/}Benaiah son of 
Jehoiada was in command 
of the Cheretites and 
Pelethites; David's sons 
were the chief assistants 
of the King.
{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}Afterwards 
Nahash, king of the 
Ammonites, died and his 
son Hanun became king. 
{I}2_{/}David thought, "I 
will show kindness to 
Hanun, son of Nahash, 
since his father was kind 
to me." And David sent 
messengers with his 
condolences on his 
father's death. But when 
David's servants reached 
Hanun in the land of the 
Ammonites to present 
these condolences, 
{I}3_{/}the Ammonite 
leaders said to Hanun, 
"Do you think David means 
to honor your father when 
he sends you messengers 
of sympathy? On the 
contrary he has sent them 
here as spies to explore 
the land, so that he can 
conquer it." 
{I}4_{/}Hanun had David's 
servants seized, shaved 
their beards, cut their 
clothes half-way up to 
the hips and sent them 
away. {I}5_{/}As soon as 
David was told what had 
happened to these men, he 
sent someone to meet 
them, for the men were 
too ashamed to return 
home. And he said, "Stay 
in Jericho, until your 
beards have grown again, 
and come back then."
{I}6_{/}The Ammonites saw 
that they had made David 
their enemy and so Hanun 
and the Ammonites sent a 
thousand talents of 
silver to hire chariots 
and charioteers from the 
Aramaeans of Upper 
Mesopotamia, of Maacah 
and of Zobah. 
{I}7_{/}They hired 
thirty-two thousand 
chariots; also the king 
of Maacah with his army. 
These came and encamped 
before Medeba, while the 
Ammonites came out from 
all their cities and got 
ready to fight. 
{I}8_{/}When David heard 
this, he sent Joab with 
the whole army and the 
warriors. {I}9_{/}The 
Ammonites marched out and 
took up their positions 
at the entrance to the 
town, but the kings who 
had come remained in the 
open country. 
{I}10_{/}Joab, seeing 
that he had to fight on 
two fronts, to his front 
and to his rear, chose 
the best fighters of the 
Israelites and drew them 
up in line facing the 
Aramaeans. {I}11_{/}He 
placed the rest of the 
troops under the command 
of his brother Abishai, 
to face the Ammonites. He 
said to him, {I}12_{/}"If 
the Aramaeans prove too 
strong for me, you shall 
come to my help; if the 
Ammonites prove too 
strong for you, I will 
come to yours. 
{I}13_{/}Take courage and 
fight hard for the sake 
of our people and the 
towns of our God. And may 
Yahweh do as he thinks 
right."
{I}14_{/}Joab and the 
force with him advanced 
to attack the 
Aramaeans,who fled before 
him. {I}15_{/}When the 
Ammonites saw that the 
Aramaeans were running 
away, they too fled 
before Abishai, Joab's 
brother, and withdrew 
into their town. Then 
Joab came back to 
Jerusalem.
{I}16_{/}Seeing that they 
had been defeated by 
Israel, the Aramaeans 
sent messengers and 
mobilized the Aramaeans 
from beyond the river, 
with Shophach, commander 
of Hadadezer's army, at 
their head. {I}17_{/}News 
of this was brought to 
David, who gathered the 
Israelite troops, crossed 
the Jordan, and met them. 
David drew up his line of 
battle facing the 
Aramaeans, and the 
fighting began. 
{I}18_{/}But the 
Aramaeans fled before 
Israel, and David killed 
seven thousand of their 
chariot teams and forty 
thousand foot soldiers. 
He also killed Shophach, 
their general. 
{I}19_{/}When the kings 
who were subject to 
Hadadezer saw that they 
had been defeated by 
Israel, they made peace 
with David and became 
subject to him. After 
this the Aramaeans 
refused to give help to 
the Ammonites.
{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}At the turn of 
the year, the time when 
kings go to war, Joab set 
out with the army to 
invade the land of the 
Ammonites and went to lay 
siege to Rabbah. David, 
however, remained in 
Jerusalem. Joab attacked 
Rabbah and destroyed it. 
{I}2_{/}David took the 
gold crown from the head 
of the Ammonite idol 
Milcom; they found that 
it weighed about seventy 
five pounds. In it was 
set a precious stone 
which made an ornament 
for David's head. He 
carried off a great 
quantity of loot from the 
town. {I}3_{/}He brought 
away its population and 
set them to work with 
saws, iron picks and 
axes. David treated all 
the Ammonite towns in the 
same way. Then David and 
the whole army returned 
to Jerusalem. 
{I}4_{/}After this, war 
broke out again with the 
Philistines at Gezer. 
This was when Sibbecai of 
Hushah killed Sippai, a 
descendant of the 
Rephaim. The Philistines 
were defeated. 
{I}5_{/}War with the 
Philistines broke out 
again, and Elhanan son of 
Jair killed Lahmi, the 
brother of Goliath of 
Gath, the shaft of whose 
spear was as thick as a 
weaver's beam. 
{I}6_{/}There was another 
battle at Gath, where 
there was a giant with 
six fingers on each hand 
and six toes on each 
foot, twenty-four in all. 
He too was a descendant 
of Raphaim. {I}7_{/}He 
defied Israel and 
Jonathan, son of David's 
brother Shimea, killed 
him.
{I}8_{/}These men were 
descended from Raphaim of 
Gath and they were killed 
by David and his guards.
THE CENSUS{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}Satan wanted to 
bring trouble on the 
people of Israel and so 
he made David take a 
census of the Israelites. 
{I}2_{/}David said to 
Joab and to the senior 
army officers, "Go, and 
take a census of Israel, 
from Beersheba to Dan, 
then come back that I may 
know their number." 
{I}3_{/}Joab said, "May 
Yahweh multiply the 
people a hundred times! 
My lord king, are they 
not all your servants? 
Why do you want to do 
this? Will you bring 
guilt upon Israel?"
{I}4_{/}But the king 
enforced his order on 
Joab, and Joab went away, 
traveling through the 
whole country of Israel 
before he returned to 
Jerusalem. {I}5_{/}Joab 
gave David the figures 
for the census of the 
people: the whole of 
Israel numbered one 
million, one hundred 
thousand men capable of 
drawing sword, and Judah 
four hundred and seventy 
thousand capable of 
drawing sword. 
{I}6_{/}But Joab 
disapproved of the king's 
command, and, because of 
this he had not taken any 
census of Levi or of 
Benjamin.
{I}7_{/}God looked with 
displeasure on what had 
been done and so he began 
to punish Israel. 
{I}8_{/}Then David said 
to God, "I have sinned 
greatly by doing this. 
But now I beg you to 
forgive me for this 
fault. I have been very 
foolish." {I}9_{/}Then 
Yahweh spoke to Gad, 
David's prophet, 
{I}10_{/}"Go and say to 
David, 'Yahweh says this: 
I offer you three things; 
choose one of them for me 
to do to you." 
{I}11_{/}So Gad went to 
David and said, "Yahweh 
says this, 'Take your 
choice: {I}12_{/}three 
years of famine, three 
months running away from 
the armies of your 
enemies, or three days of 
Yahweh's own sword, an 
epidemic in your land, 
with Yahweh's destroying 
angel bringing death 
throughout Israel.' Now 
decide how I am to answer 
him who sends me." 
{I}13_{/}David said to 
Gad, "This is a hard 
choice, but let me rather 
fall into the power of 
Yahweh, since his mercy 
is very great; and not 
into the power of men."
{I}14_{/}So Yahweh sent 
an epidemic on Israel, 
and seventy thousand men 
of the Israelites died. 
{I}15_{/}God sent the 
angel to Jerusalem to 
destroy it, but as he was 
about to destroy it, 
Yahweh looked and changed 
his mind; and he said to 
the destroying angel, 
"Enough! Now withdraw 
your hand." The angel of 
Yahweh was standing 
beside the threshing 
floor of Ornan the 
Jebusite. {I}16_{/}David 
saw the angel of Yahweh 
standing between the 
heavens and earth with a 
naked sword in his hand, 
ready to destroy 
Jerusalem. Then David and 
the elders, clothed in 
sackcloth, fell on their 
faces. {I}17_{/}And David 
prayed to God, "Was it 
not I who sinned, by 
ordering this wicked 
census? But these, this 
flock, what have they 
done? Yahweh my God, let 
your hand lie heavy on me 
and on my family; but let 
your people escape the 
plague."
{I}18_{/}The angel of 
Yahweh then said to Gad, 
"David must go up and 
build an altar to Yahweh 
on the threshing floor of 
Ornan the Jebusite." 
{I}19_{/}So David obeyed 
the command which Gad had 
spoken in the name of 
Yahweh. {I}20_{/}Now 
Ornan, as he turned, had 
seen the angel and had 
hidden, with his four 
sons.
Ornan was threshing wheat 
{I}21_{/}when David came 
to him. When Ornan looked 
up and saw David coming, 
he left the threshing 
floor and with his face 
to the ground did homage 
to David. {I}22_{/}Then 
David said to Ornan, 
"Sell me your threshing 
floor, to build an altar 
to Yahweh. Let me have it 
at its full price, that 
the plague may be turned 
away from the people." 
{I}23_{/}"Take it," Ornan 
said to David, "and let 
my lord the king do as he 
thinks right. Look, I 
will give you the oxen 
for burnt offerings, the 
threshing sled for the 
wood and the wheat for 
the grain offering; I 
give them all."
{I}24_{/}But King David 
said to Ornan, "No, I 
must buy it from you at 
the full price; I will 
not take for Yahweh what 
is yours, or offer burnt 
offerings that cost me 
nothing." {I}25_{/}So 
David gave Ornan six 
hundred gold coins for 
the threshing place.
{I}26_{/}David built an 
altar there to Yahweh and 
offered burnt offerings 
and peace offerings. He 
called on Yahweh, and 
Yahweh answered him with 
fire from heaven on the 
altar for burnt offerings 
{I}27_{/}and ordered the 
angel to put his sword 
away. {I}28_{/}Then David 
saw that Yahweh had 
answered him on the 
threshing floor of Ornan 
the Jebusite, so he kept 
on offering sacrifices 
there. {I}29_{/}The Holy 
Tent of Yahweh that Moses 
had made in the 
wilderness and the altar 
for burnt offerings were 
at that time at the High 
place at Gibeon, 
{I}30_{/}but David had 
not been able to go there 
before God to consult 
him, so fearful was he of 
the sword of the angel of 
Yahweh.
{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}Then David said, 
"Here is where the Temple 
of Yahweh God will be; 
and this is where the 
people of Israel are to 
offer burnt offerings."
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 
BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE{/}

{I}2_{/}David gave orders 
to gather all the 
strangers living in the 
land of Israel and he set 
stonecutters to prepare 
stone blocks for building 
the Temple of God. 
{I}3_{/}David furthermore 
stored up great 
quantities of iron to 
make nails for the wooden 
gates and for clamps, and 
more bronze than could be 
weighed; {I}4_{/}logs of 
cedar too, beyond number, 
the Sidonians and Tyrians 
having brought cedar logs 
to David in great 
quantities.
{I}5_{/}Then David said, 
"My son Solomon is young 
and inexperienced, and 
the Temple to be built 
for Yahweh must be of 
great splendor, and 
famous for its 
magnificence in every 
country. I will make 
preparations for him." 
And so, before he died, 
David laid away large 
amounts of the materials 
needed. {I}6_{/}He then 
sent for his son Solomon 
and instructed him to 
build a Temple for 
Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, {I}7_{/}"My son, 
my heart was set on 
building a temple for the 
name of Yahweh my God. 
{I}8_{/}But Yahweh told 
me, 'You have shed much 
blood and fought great 
battles; it is not for 
you to build a temple for 
my name, since you have 
shed so much blood on the 
earth in my presence. 
{I}9_{/}But now a son is 
born to you. He shall be 
a man of peace, and I 
will give him peace from 
all the enemies that 
surround him; for Solomon 
is his name, and in his 
days I will give Israel 
peace and quiet. 
{I}10_{/}He shall build a 
temple for my name; he 
shall be a son to me and 
I a father to him. His 
dynasty will rule Israel 
forever. {I}11_{/}Now, my 
son, may Yahweh be with 
you and give you success 
in building a temple for 
Yahweh your God, as he 
has said concerning you. 
{I}12_{/}Yet may he give 
you insight and wisdom so 
that you may govern 
Israel according to his 
Law. {I}13_{/}Success 
will be yours if you 
carefully observe the 
statutes and the 
ordinances that Yahweh 
has prescribed to Moses 
for Israel. Be strong and 
stand fast, be fearless, 
be confident. 
{I}14_{/}Poor as I am, I 
have set aside for the 
Temple of Yahweh four 
thousand tons of gold, 
and nearly forty thousand 
tons of silver and more 
bronze and iron than can 
be weighed; I have stored 
up wood and stone too, to 
which you must add more. 
{I}15_{/}You will have 
many workmen, 
stonecutters, masons, 
carpenters, skilled 
artisans of every kind, 
{I}16_{/}while your 
supply of gold and 
silver, bronze and iron, 
will be unlimited. Set to 
work, then, and may 
Yahweh be with you!"
{I}17_{/}David then 
commanded all the 
Israelite leaders to help 
his son Solomon, 
{I}18_{/}"Is not Yahweh 
your God with you? He has 
given you peace on all 
sides, since he has let 
me conquer all the people 
who lived in this land, 
and the land has been 
subdued for Yahweh and 
for his people. 
{I}19_{/}So now devote 
heart and soul to the 
search for Yahweh your 
God. Begin to build the 
sanctuary of Yahweh your 
God, so that the ark of 
the covenant of Yahweh 
and the holy things of 
God may be brought to the 
Temple that is built for 
the name of Yahweh."
THE WORK OF THE 
LEVITES{/}

{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}When David was 
very old, he made his son 
Solomon king over Israel. 
{I}2_{/}He then gathered 
all the Israelite leaders 
together, with the 
priests and Levites.
{I}3_{/}A census was 
taken of those Levites 
thirty years old or 
older. The total was 
thirty-eight thousand; 
{I}4_{/}twenty-four 
thousand of these were 
responsible for the 
services of the house of 
Yahweh; six thousand were 
scribes and judges; 
{I}5_{/}four thousand 
were keepers of the gate; 
four thousand praised 
Yahweh on the instruments 
David had made for that 
purpose.
{I}6_{/}Then David 
divided the Levites into 
three groups, according 
to their clans: Gershon, 
Kohath and Merari.
{I}7_{/}For the 
Gershonites: Ladan and 
Shimei. {I}8_{/}Sons of 
Ladan: Jehiel first, 
Zetham, Joel; three in 
all. {I}9_{/}Sons of 
Shimei: Shelomoth, 
Haziel, Haran; three in 
all. These are the heads 
of families of Ladan. 
{I}10_{/}Sons of Shimei: 
Jahath, Zirah, Jeush, 
Beriah; these were the 
sons of Shimei; four in 
all. {I}11_{/}Jahath was 
the eldest, Zirah the 
second, then Jeush and 
Beriah, who had not many 
children and were counted 
as one family.
{I}12_{/}Sons of Kohath: 
Amram, Izhar, Hebron, 
Uzziel; four in all. 
{I}13_{/}Sons of Amram: 
Aaron and Moses. Aaron 
and his descendants were 
set apart to be in charge 
of the sacred objects 
forever, to burn incense 
in the presence of 
Yahweh, to serve him and 
to bless the people in 
his name forever. 
{I}14_{/}As for Moses, 
the man of God, his sons 
were included among the 
Levites. {I}15_{/}Sons of 
Moses: Gershom and 
Eliezer. {I}16_{/}Sons of 
Gershom: Shebuel, the 
first: {I}17_{/}Eliezer 
had sons: Rehabiah, the 
first. Eliezer had no 
other sons, but the sons 
of Rehabiah were very 
numerous. 
{I}18_{/}Sons of Izhar: 
Shelomith, the first. 
{I}19_{/}Sons of Hebron: 
Jeriah first, Amariah 
second, Jahaziel third, 
Jekameam fourth. 
{I}20_{/}Sons of Uzziel: 
Micah first, Isshiah 
second.
{I}21_{/}Sons of Merari: 
Mahli and Mushi. Sons of 
Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 
{I}22_{/}Eleazar died 
leaving no sons but only 
daughters; their cousins, 
the sons of Kish, married 
these. {I}23_{/}Sons of 
Mushi: Mahli, Eder, 
Jeremoth; three in all.
{I}24_{/}These were the 
sons of Levi by their 
families, the heads of 
families, and those 
registered by name, 
individually; whoever was 
twenty years old or older 
had his duty in the 
service of the Temple of 
Yahweh. {I}25_{/}For 
David had said, "Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, has 
given peace to his 
people, and he dwells in 
Jerusalem forever. 
{I}26_{/}The Levites are 
no longer required to 
carry the Holy Tent or 
anything used in its 
service."
{I}27_{/}According to the 
last words of David, the 
Levites who had been 
registered were of twenty 
years and older. 
{I}28_{/}Their duty is to 
assist the sons of Aaron 
with the service of the 
Temple of Yahweh, in the 
courts and chambers, to 
purify everything that is 
sacred; their duty is to 
serve the Temple of God. 
{I}29_{/}They are also 
responsible for the 
loaves set out in rows, 
and for the flour for the 
grain offering, the 
wafers of unleavened 
bread, the cakes baked on 
the griddle or mixed, and 
they are to weigh and 
measure the Temple 
offerings. {I}30_{/}They 
have to be present every 
morning to give glory and 
praise to Yahweh, and 
also in the evening, 
{I}31_{/}and at every 
burnt offering to Yahweh 
on the sabbath, New Moon 
or solemn feast, in such 
numbers as are 
prescribed. They must 
always be present before 
Yahweh. {I}32_{/}In 
serving the Temple of 
Yahweh they observe the 
ritual of the Tent of 
Meeting, the ritual of 
the sanctuary and the 
ritual of their brethren, 
the sons of Aaron.
THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE 
PRIESTS{/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
groups to which the 
descendants of Aaron 
belong. Sons of Aaron: 
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, 
Ithamar. {I}2_{/}Nadab 
and Abihu died in their 
father's lifetime leaving 
no children, so Eleazar 
and Ithamar became 
priests. {I}3_{/}David 
divided them into groups 
with the help of Zadok, 
one of Eleazar's sons, 
and Ahimelech, one of the 
sons of Ithamar, and made 
a register of them 
according to their 
duties. {I}4_{/}The sons 
of Eleazar were found to 
have more leading men 
than the sons of Ithamar; 
accordingly, from the 
heads of families of the 
sons of Eleazar they made 
sixteen groups, and from 
those of the sons of 
Ithamar, eight. 
{I}5_{/}They divided 
them, both parties, by 
lot: there were Temple 
officials and spiritual 
leaders among the sons of 
Eleazar, as well as among 
the sons of Ithamar. 
{I}6_{/}One of the 
Levites, the scribe 
Shemaiah son of Nethanel, 
recorded them in the 
presence of the king, his 
officers, Zadok the 
priest, Ahimelech son of 
Abiathar and the heads of 
the priestly and 
levitical families. They 
took turns in drawing 
lots for each family of 
the sons of Eleazar and 
for the sons of Ithamar. 
{I}7_{/}The first lot 
fell to Jehoiarib, to 
Jedaiah the second, 
{I}8_{/}Harim the third, 
Seorim the fourth, 
{I}9_{/}Malchijah the 
fifth, Mijamin the sixth, 
{I}10_{/}Hakkoz the 
seventh, Abijah the 
eighth, {I}11_{/}Jeshua 
the ninth, Shecaniah the 
tenth, {I}12_{/}Eliashib 
the eleventh, Jakim the 
twelfth, {I}13_{/}Huppah 
the thirteenth, Ishbaal 
the fourteenth, 
{I}14_{/}Bilgah the 
fifteenth, Immer the 
sixteenth, {I}15_{/}Hezir 
the seventeenth, 
Happizzez the eighteenth, 
{I}16_{/}Pethahiah the 
nineteenth, Jehezkel the 
twentieth, 
{I}17_{/}Jachin the 
twenty-first, Gamul the 
twenty-second, 
{I}18_{/}Delaiah the 
twenty-third, Maaziah the 
twenty-fourth.
{I}19_{/}These men were 
registered according to 
their various duties, to 
enter the Temple of 
Yahweh according to the 
regulations that Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, had 
given through Haran, 
their ancestor.
{I}20_{/}As regards the 
rest of the sons of Levi:
Sons of Amram: Shubael. 
Sons of Shubael: 
Jehdeiah. {I}21_{/}For 
Rehabiah, for the sons of 
Rehabiah: the eldest, 
Isshiah. 
{I}22_{/}Izharites: 
Shelomoth: Jahath. 
{I}23_{/}Sons of Hebron: 
Jeriah the first, Amariah 
the second, Jahaziel the 
third, Jekameam the 
fourth. {I}24_{/}Sons of 
Uzziel: Micah; sons of 
Micah: Shamir; 
{I}25_{/}the brother of 
Micah: Isshiah; sons of 
Micah: Isshiah, 
Zechariah. {I}26_{/}Sons 
of Merari: Mahli and 
Mushi. Sons of Jaaziah: 
his son; {I}27_{/}sons of 
Merari: for Jaaziah his 
son: Shoham, Zaccur, 
Ibri: {I}28_{/}for Mahli: 
Eleazar who had no sons; 
{I}29_{/}for Kish: the 
sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. 
{I}30_{/}Sons of Mushi: 
Mahli, Eder, Jerimoth.
{I}31_{/}These were the 
sons of Levi by their 
families. The head of 
each family and one of 
his younger brothers drew 
lots for their 
assignments, just as 
their relatives, the 
priests descended from 
Aaron, had done. King 
David, Zadok, Ahimelech, 
and the heads of families 
of the priests and of the 
Levites were witnesses.
THE CANTORS{/}

{1}25{/}

{I}1_{/}For the liturgy, 
David and the senior army 
officers set apart the 
sons of Asaph, of Heman 
and of Jeduthun, who 
prophesied playing lyre 
and harp and cymbal, and 
a list was made of those 
with these duties to 
perform.
{I}2_{/}Sons of Asaph: 
Zaccur, Joseph, 
Nethaniah, Asharelah; the 
sons of Asaph were under 
the direction of Asaph 
who prophesied whenever 
the king commanded.
{I}3_{/}For Jeduthun: 
sons of Jeduthun: 
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, 
Hashabiah, Mattithiah; 
there were six of them 
under the direction of 
their father Jeduthun 
who, to the sound of the 
lyre, sang praise and 
thanks to the Lord.
{I}4_{/}For Heman: sons 
of Heman: Bukkiah, 
Mattaniah, Uzziel, 
Shebuel, Jerimoth, 
Hananiah, Hanani, 
Eliathah, Giddalti, 
Romantiezer, 
Joshbekashah, Mallothi, 
Hothir, Mahazioth. 
{I}5_{/}All these were 
sons of Heman, the king's 
seer; these sounded the 
trumpet when Yahweh's 
word came. God gave Heman 
fourteen sons and three 
daughters; {I}6_{/}all of 
them sang in the Temple 
of Yahweh under their 
father's direction to the 
sound of cymbal, harp and 
lyre, for the liturgy in 
the house of Yahweh at 
the king's direction.
{I}7_{/}All of these, 
whether of Asaph, 
Jeduthun or Heman, who 
were trained in singing 
to Yahweh, all of them 
skilled men, were 
altogether two hundred 
and eighty-eight. 
{I}8_{/}They drew lots to 
determine the assignment 
of duties of each of them 
whether they were young 
or old, experts or 
beginners. {I}9_{/}The 
first lot fell to the 
Asaphite, Joseph. The 
second was Gedaliah, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}10_{/}The 
third was Zaccur, he and 
his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}11_{/}The 
fourth was Izri, he and 
his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}12_{/}The 
fifth was Nethaniah, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}13_{/}The 
sixth was Bukkiah, he and 
his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}14_{/}The 
seventh was Jesharelah, 
he and his sons and 
brothers were twelve. 
{I}15_{/}The eighth was 
Jeshaiah, he and his sons 
and brothers were twelve. 
{I}16_{/}The ninth was 
Mattaniah, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}17_{/}The 
tenth was Shimei, he and 
his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}18_{/}The 
eleventh was Azarel, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}19_{/}The 
twelfth was Hashabiah, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}20_{/}The 
thirteenth was Shubael, 
he and his sons and 
brothers were twelve. 
{I}21_{/}The fourteenth 
was Jeremoth, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}22_{/}The 
fifteenth was Mattithiah, 
he and his sons and 
brothers were twelve. 
{I}23_{/}The sixteenth 
was Hananiah, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}24_{/}The 
seventeenth was 
Joshbekashah, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}25_{/}The 
eighteenth was Hanani, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}26_{/}The 
nineteenth was Mallothi, 
he and his sons and 
brothers were twelve. 
{I}27_{/}The twentieth 
was Eliathah, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}28_{/}The 
twenty-first was Hothir, 
he and his sons and 
brothers were twelve. 
{I}29_{/}The twenty-
second was Giddalti, he 
and his sons and brothers 
were twelve. {I}30_{/}The 
twenty-third was 
Mahazioth, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve. {I}31_{/}The 
twenty-fourth was 
Romamtiezer, he and his 
sons and brothers were 
twelve.
THE KEEPERS OF THE 
GATE{/}

{1}26{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
assignments of work for 
the Levites who served as 
Temple guards. For the 
Korahites: Meshelemiah 
son of Kore, one of the 
sons of Ebiasahp. 
{I}2_{/}Meshelemiah had 
sons: Zechariah the 
firstborn, Jediael the 
second, Zebadiah the 
third, Jathniel the 
fourth, {I}3_{/}Elam the 
fifth, Jehohanan the 
sixth, Eliehoenai the 
seventh.
{I}4_{/}Obed-edom had 
sons: Shemaiah the 
firstborn, Jehozabad the 
second, Joah the third, 
Sacar the fourth, 
Nethanel the fifth, 
{I}5_{/}Ammiel the sixth, 
Issachar the seventh, 
Peullethai the eighth; 
God had indeed blessed 
him. {I}6_{/}Shemaiah had 
sons who were important 
men in their clan because 
of their great ability. 
{I}7_{/}Sons of Shemaiah: 
Othni, Rephael, Obed, 
Elzabad and his brothers, 
Elihu and Semachia, brave 
men. {I}8_{/}All these 
were sons of Obed-edom. 
These and their sons and 
brothers were highly 
qualified for this work. 
For Obed-edom, sixty-two.
{I}9_{/}Meshelemiah had 
sons and brothers: 
eighteen brave men.
{I}10_{/}Hosah, son of 
Merari, had sons: Shimri 
was the first, for 
although he was not the 
firstborn his father had 
made him the chief. 
{I}11_{/}Hilkiah was the 
second, Tebaliah the 
third, Zechariah the 
fourth. Altogether 
thirteen members of 
Hosah's family were 
Temple guards.
{I}12_{/}The Temple 
guards were divided into 
groups, according to 
their families, and they 
were assigned duties in 
the Temple, just as the 
other Levites were. 
{I}13_{/}They drew lots, 
junior and senior family 
alike, to see which gate 
it would be responsible 
for. {I}14_{/}For the 
east side the lot fell to 
Shelemiah, whose son 
Zechariah was a shrewd 
counselor; when they drew 
lots, the lot for the 
north side fell to the 
latter. {I}15_{/}To Obed-
edom went the south, and 
to his sons the 
storehouse. {I}16_{/}To 
Shuppim and Hosah went 
the west with the Gate of 
the Felled Treetrunk on 
the upper road. Watches 
were established for each 
family. {I}17_{/}On the 
east, six daily; on the 
north, four daily; on the 
south, four daily; at the 
storehouse, two each 
side; {I}18_{/}for the 
Parbar. {I}19_{/}These 
were the orders of the 
gatekeepers among the 
Korahites and Merarites.
{I}20_{/}Others of their 
fellow Levites were in 
charge of the Temple 
Treasury and the 
storerooms for gifts 
dedicated to God.
{I}21_{/}The sons of 
Ladan, sons of Gershon, 
through Ladan had the 
Jehielites for heads of 
the families of Ladan the 
Gershonite. {I}22_{/}The 
Jehielites, Zetham and 
Joel his brother, were 
responsible for the 
treasuries of the Temple 
of Yahweh. 
{I}23_{/}As regard the 
Amramites, Izharites, 
Hebronites, and 
Uzzielites;
{I}24_{/}Shebuel son of 
Gershom, son of Moses, 
was the officer 
responsible for the 
treasuries. {I}25_{/}His 
kinsmen through Eliezer: 
Rehabiah his son, 
Jeshaiah his son, Joram 
his son, Zichri his son, 
Shelomoth his son. 
{I}26_{/}This Shelomoth 
and his kinsmen were in 
charge of all the gifts 
dedicated to Yahweh by 
King David and by the 
heads of families as 
officers of thousands, of 
hundreds, or as other 
senior officers. 
{I}27_{/}There was a part 
of the loot they captured 
in battle and dedicated 
for use in the Temple 
{I}28_{/}and also the 
things that Samuel and 
the seer Saul son of 
Kish, Abner son of Ner, 
and Joab son of Zeruiah 
had dedicated. All that 
had been dedicated was 
under the responsibility 
of Shelomoth and his 
kinsmen.
{I}29_{/}For the 
Izharites: Chananiah and 
his sons were in charge 
of Israel's civil affairs 
as officials and judges.
{I}30_{/}For the 
Hebronites: Hashabiah and 
his kinsmen, one thousand 
seven hundred fighting 
men, were appointed as 
overseers of all Israel 
west of Jordan, for all 
the service of Yahweh and 
the service of the king. 
{I}31_{/}For the 
Hebronites: Jerijah the 
chief. In the fortieth 
year of David's reign, 
the family line of the 
Hebronite families was 
investigated and fighting 
men were found belonging 
to them at Jazer in 
Gilead. {I}32_{/}King 
David appointed two 
thousand seven hundred 
fighting men, kinsmen to 
Jerijah and heads of 
families, as overseers of 
the Reubenites, the 
Gadites and the half 
tribe of Manasseh for all 
the service of Yahweh and 
the sacrifices of the 
king.
MILITARY AND CIVIL 
ORGANIZATION{/}

{1}27{/}

{I}1_{/}Census of the 
sons of Israel; The heads 
of families, the 
commanders of thousands 
and hundreds, and other 
officers who served the 
king in all that referred 
to the divisions of 
twenty-four thousand men 
each, that were on duty 
for a month, each month 
of the year. {I}2_{/}For 
the first month 
Jashobeam, son of 
Zabdiel, {I}3_{/}son of 
Perez, and chief of all 
the officers of the 
division had charge of a 
division of twenty-four 
thousand men. {I}4_{/}For 
the second month Dodai, 
the Ahohite had charge of 
a division of twenty-four 
thousand men. {I}5_{/}For 
the third month Benaiah 
son of Jehoiada, the 
chief priest, had charge 
of a division of twenty-
four thousand men. 
{I}6_{/}Benaiah who was 
champion of The Thirty, 
was overseer for The 
Thirty and for his 
division. Ammizabad was 
his son. {I}7_{/}For the 
fourth month was Asahel, 
the brother of Joab; his 
son Zebadiah succeeded 
him. He had charge of a 
division of twenty-four 
thousand men. {I}8_{/}For 
the fifth month, Shamhuth 
the Izrahite had charge 
of a division of twenty-
four thousand men. 
{I}9_{/}For the sixth 
month, Ira son of Ikkesh 
of Tekoa had charge of a 
division of twenty-four 
thousand men. 
{I}10_{/}For the seventh 
month, Helez the 
Pelonite, an Ephraimite, 
had charge of a division 
of twenty-four thousand 
men. {I}11_{/}For the 
eighth month, Sibbecai of 
Hushah, a Zerahite, had 
charge of a division of 
twenty-four thousand men. 
{I}12_{/}For the ninth 
month, Abiezer of 
Anathoth, a Benjaminite, 
had charge of a division 
of twenty-four thousand 
men. {I}13_{/}For the 
tenth month, Maharai of 
Netophah, a Zerahite, had 
charge of a division of 
twenty-four thousand men. 
{I}14_{/}For the eleventh 
month, Benaiah of 
Pirathon, an Ephraimite, 
had charge of a division 
of twenty-four thousand 
men. {I}15_{/}For the 
twelfth month, Heldai 
from Netophah, of 
Othniel, had charge of a 
division of twenty-four 
thousand men. 
{I}16_{/}Overseers for 
the tribes of Israel: 
Eliezer son of Zichri was 
chief officer for the 
Reubenites, Shephatiah, 
son of Maacha for the 
Simeonites, 
{I}17_{/}Hashabiah, son 
of Kemuel for the 
Levites, Zadok for the 
Aaronites, 
{I}18_{/}Elihu, one of 
David's brothers, for the 
Judaeans, Omri son of 
Michael for the 
Issacharites, 
{I}19_{/}Ishmaiah, son of 
Obadiah for the 
Zebulunites, Jeremoth, 
son of Azriel for the 
Naphtalite, 
{I}20_{/}Hoshea, son of 
Azaziah for the 
Ephraimites, Joel, son of 
Pedaiah for the half 
tribe of Manasseh, 
{I}21_{/}Iddo, son of 
Zechariah for the half 
tribe of Manasseh in Gad, 
Jaasiel, son of Abner for 
the Benjaminites, 
{I}22_{/}Azarel, son of 
Jeroham for the Danites. 
These were the officials 
for the tribes of Israel.
{I}23_{/}David took no 
census of those who were 
twenty years old and 
under, since Yahweh had 
promised to make Israel 
as numerous as the stars 
of heaven. {I}24_{/}Joab, 
son of Zeruiah began a 
census, but he did not 
finish it for God 
punished Israel because 
of this census. The final 
figures were never 
recorded in the official 
records of King David.
{I}25_{/}This is the list 
of those who administered 
the king's property. 
Overseers for the king's 
storerooms: Azmaveth son 
of Adiel. Commissioner 
for the stores in 
provincial towns, 
villages, castles: 
Jonathan son of Uzziah. 
{I}26_{/}For the 
agricultural workers 
employed on the land: 
Ezri son of Chelub. 
{I}27_{/}For the 
vineyards: Shimei of 
Ramah. For those in the 
vineyards who looked 
after the wine cellars: 
Zabdi of Shepham. 
{I}28_{/}For the olives 
and sycamores in the 
lowlands: Baal-hanan of 
Geder. For the stores of 
oil: Joash. {I}29_{/}For 
cattle in pasture at 
Sharon: Shitrai of 
Sharon. For cattle in the 
valleys: Shaphat son of 
Adlai. {I}30_{/}For 
camels: Obil, the 
Ishmaelite. For donkeys: 
Jehdeiah of Meranoth. 
{I}31_{/}For flocks: 
Jaziz, the Hagrite. All 
these were overseers for 
King David's property.
{I}32_{/}Jonathan, 
David's uncle, was a 
skillful adviser and a 
scholar. 
{I}33_{/}Ahithophel was 
the king's counselor. 
Hushai the Archite was 
Friend of the King. 
{I}34_{/}Jehoiada, son of 
Benaiah, and Abiathar 
succeeded Ahithophel. 
Joab was commander of the 
king's armies.
DAVID'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
THE TEMPLE{/}

{1}28{/}

{I}1_{/}David held a 
meeting in Jerusalem of 
all the officials of 
Israel, the overseers for 
the tribes, and the 
officials in the royal 
service, the commanders 
of thousands, the 
commanders of hundreds, 
the overseers for all the 
property and livestock of 
the king and his sons, 
together with the palace 
officials, leading 
soldiers, and important 
men. {I}2_{/}Then King 
David got up and said:
"My brothers and my 
people, listen to me. I 
had set my heart on 
building a settled home 
for the ark of the 
covenant of Yahweh, as a 
footstool for our God. I 
have made preparations 
for building, {I}3_{/}but 
God has said to me, 'You 
are not to build a temple 
for my name, for you have 
been a man of war and 
have shed blood.'
{I}4_{/}Yahweh, the God 
of Israel, chose me and 
my descendants to rule 
Israel forever. He chose 
Judah for leader, my 
family within the tribe 
of Judah, and of my 
father's sons, myself. He 
was pleased to make me 
king of all Israel. 
{I}5_{/}Of all my sons - 
he has chosen my son 
Solomon to sit on the 
throne of Yahweh over 
Israel. {I}6_{/}He said 
to me, 'Solomon your son 
is the man to build my 
Temple and my courts, for 
I have chosen him to be a 
son to me and I will be a 
father to him. {I}7_{/}I 
will make his kingdom 
last forever if he 
continues to obey 
carefully all my laws and 
commands as he does now.'
{I}8_{/}So now in the 
sight of all Israel and 
of the assembly of 
Yahweh, and in the 
hearing of our God, I 
tell you to observe and 
meditate on all the 
commandments of Yahweh 
your God, so that you may 
possess this prosperous 
land and leave it to your 
children after you as an 
inheritance forever.
{I}9_{/}And you, Solomon 
my son, know the God of 
your father, serve him 
with an undivided heart 
and a willing mind; for 
Yahweh knows all our 
thoughts and desires. If 
you seek him, he will let 
you find him; but if you 
turn away from him, he 
will abandon you forever. 
{I}10_{/}Realize at this 
moment that Yahweh has 
chosen you to build a 
house for him as 
sanctuary. Be strong and 
set to work."
{I}11_{/}David gave his 
son Solomon the plans for 
the vestibule, the 
buildings, the 
treasuries, the upper 
rooms, the inner 
apartments and the room 
where the mercy Seat 
would be. {I}12_{/}He 
also gave him a 
description of all he had 
in mind for the courts of 
Yahweh's House, all the 
surrounding apartments, 
the treasuries of 
Yahweh's House and the 
treasuries of votive 
offerings; {I}13_{/}also 
of the orders of priests 
and Levites, the 
liturgical duties in 
Yahweh's House. 
{I}14_{/}He instructed 
him about how much silver 
and gold was to be used 
for making the utensils, 
{I}15_{/}the bullion for 
the golden lampstands and 
their lamps, the gold 
bullion for the silver 
lampstand, for the 
lampstand and its lamps 
according to the 
requirements for each 
lampstand, {I}16_{/}gold 
bullion for the tables on 
which the rows of bread 
were set, for each of 
these tables, the silver 
for the silver tables, 
{I}17_{/}the forks, the 
sprinkling bowls, basins 
of pure gold, the gold 
bullion for the bowls, 
for each of the bowls, 
{I}18_{/}the bullion of 
refined gold for the 
altar of incense. He gave 
him the plans for the 
chariot, for the golden 
cherubim with wings 
outspread covering the 
ark of the covenant of 
Yahweh - {I}19_{/}all 
this in accordance with 
the plan drawn according 
to the instructions which 
Yahweh himself gave him 
to carry out.
{I}20_{/}Then David said 
to his son Solomon, "Be 
strong, stand firm; be 
fearless, be determined 
and set to work, because 
Yahweh God, my God, is 
with you. He will not 
fail you or abandon you 
before you have finished 
all the work to be done 
for the House of Yahweh. 
{I}21_{/}Here are the 
orders of priests and 
Levites for all the 
duties of the House of 
God; every willing man of 
any aptitude will help 
you in all this work; the 
officials and all the 
people are entirely at 
your command."
{1}29{/}

{I}1_{/}Then King David 
said to the whole 
assembly, "Solomon my 
son, whom Yahweh has 
chosen, is still young 
and the work is great; 
this palace is not for 
men but for Yahweh God. 
{I}2_{/}With all my 
means, I have provided 
for the house of my God, 
adding gold to gold, 
silver to silver, bronze 
to bronze, iron to iron, 
wood to wood, onyx, 
inlaid stones, colored 
and striped stones, 
precious stones of every 
kind, masses of 
alabaster. {I}3_{/}What 
is more, the gold and 
silver that I have in my 
own treasury I give out 
of love for the house of 
God, above what I have 
provided already for the 
Holy House - {I}4_{/}115 
tons of the finest gold, 
gold of Ophir, 265 tons 
of pure silver for 
plating the walls of the 
buildings. 
{I}5_{/}Whatever gold you 
have, whatever silver, or 
workmanship of the 
craftsman's hand, will 
each of you offer it to 
Yahweh today?"
{I}6_{/}Then the heads of 
families, the officials 
for the tribes of Israel, 
the commanders of 
thousands and of 
hundreds, and those who 
managed the king's 
affairs, {I}7_{/}gave for 
the service of the house 
of God 190 tons of gold, 
380 tons of silver, 675 
tons of bronze, and 3,750 
tons of iron. 
{I}8_{/}Those who had 
precious stones brought 
them to Jehiel, the 
Gershonite for the 
treasury of Yahweh's 
House. {I}9_{/}The people 
rejoiced at what had been 
given so readily, since 
their gifts to Yahweh had 
been made wholeheartedly. 
King David too was filled 
with joy. {I}10_{/}In 
sight of the whole 
assembly David blessed 
Yahweh and said:
"May you be blessed, 
Yahweh God of Israel our 
ancestor, forever and 
ever! {I}11_{/}Yours, 
Yahweh, is the greatness, 
the power, splendor, 
length of days, glory, 
for all that is in the 
heavens and on the earth 
is yours. Yours is the 
sovereignty forever, O 
Yahweh; you are supreme 
ruler over all. 
{I}12_{/}Riches and honor 
go before you, you are 
ruler of all, in your 
hand lie strength and 
power; You are the one 
who gives greatness and 
strength to all.
{I}13_{/}At this time, 
our God, we give you 
thanks, we praise the 
splendor of your name. 
{I}14_{/}For who am I and 
what is my people to have 
received all that we give 
you back now? All comes 
from you; what we have 
received from your own 
hand we have given to 
you. {I}15_{/}For we are 
strangers before you, 
settlers only, as all our 
ancestors were; our days 
on earth pass like a 
shadow, and there is no 
hope beyond.
{I}16_{/}Yahweh, our God, 
all this wealth that we 
have brought together to 
build a house for your 
holy Name, comes from 
your hand, all is yours. 
{I}17_{/}O my God, I know 
that you examine the 
heart and delight in 
honesty, and in honesty 
of heart I have willingly 
given all this; and now 
with joy I have seen your 
people here offer their 
gifts willingly. 
{I}18_{/}O Yahweh, God of 
our fathers, Abraham, 
Isaac, and Israel, keep 
such thoughts in the 
hearts and minds of your 
people forever, and 
direct their hearts 
toward you. {I}19_{/}Give 
Solomon my son a heart 
determined to keep your 
commandments, your 
decrees, your statutes; 
may he practice them all, 
and build this palace I 
have prepared for you."
{I}20_{/}Then David said 
to the whole assembly, 
"Bless now Yahweh your 
God!" And the whole 
assembly blessed Yahweh, 
the God of their 
ancestors, and went on 
their knees to give honor 
to Yahweh and to the 
king. {I}21_{/}The 
following day, the 
Israelites offered 
sacrifices and burnt 
offerings to Yahweh: a 
thousand bulls, a 
thousand rams, a thousand 
lambs with their wine 
offerings, as well as 
many sacrifices for the 
whole of Israel. 
{I}22_{/}They ate and 
drank that day in 
Yahweh's presence with 
great joy. Then they made 
Solomon, son of David, 
their second king and 
anointed him to rule over 
them in the name of 
Yahweh, and anointed 
Zadok as priest. 
{I}23_{/}Solomon sat on 
the throne of Yahweh, in 
place of David his 
father. He prospered, and 
all Israel obeyed him. 
{I}24_{/}All the 
officials, all the 
champions, and even all 
the sons of King David, 
swore fidelity to King 
Solomon. {I}25_{/}Yahweh 
exalted Solomon greatly 
in the eyes of all 
Israel, and gave him a 
glorious reign such as 
had not been enjoyed by 
any king over Israel 
before him.
{I}26_{/}David son of 
Jesse had reigned over 
the whole of Israel. 
{I}27_{/}His reign over 
Israel had lasted forty 
years; he had reigned in 
Hebron for seven years, 
and in Jerusalem for 
thirty-three. {I}28_{/}He 
died at a good old age, 
with his fill of days, of 
riches, of honor. Then 
his son Solomon succeeded 
him. {I}29_{/}The history 
of King David, from first 
to last, can be found in 
the records of Samuel, 
the prophet, the records 
of Nathan the prophet, 
and the records of Gad, 
the prophet. 
{I}30_{/}These records 
tell how he ruled, how 
powerful he was, and all 
the things that happened 
to him, to Israel, and to 
the surrounding kingdoms.

