1. That God would bless us indeed 4:27-33 Josh 19:1-8.

1. That God would bless us indeed 4:27-33 Josh 19:1-8.

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and Ezer, the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem. 5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. 6 And Naarah bore him Ahuzam and Hepher and Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. 7 And the sons of Helah were Zereth and Jezoar and Ethnan. 8 And Coz begot Anub and Zobebah and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

Hozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are ancient records. 23 These were the potters, and those who lived among plants and hedges; they stayed there near the king for his work.

24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah and Shaul; 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26 And the sons of Mishma: Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son. 27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their family increase in number like the children of Judah. 28 And they lived at Beersheba and Moladah and Hazarshual, 29 and at Bilhah and at Ezem and at Tolad, 30 and at Bethuel and at Hormah and at Ziklag, 31 and at Beth-Marcaboth and Hazar-Susim and at Beth-Birei and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.

9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil so that it does not grieve me!” And God granted him what he requested.

11 And Chelub, the brother of Shuah, begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. 12 And Eshton begot Beth-Rapha and Paseah and Tehinnah, the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.

32 And their villages were Etam and Ain, Rimmon and Tochen and Ashan, five towns, 33 and all their villages that were around the same towns as far as Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy. 34 And Meshobab and Jamlech and Joshah, the son of Amaziah, 35 and Joel and Jehu, the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, 36 and Elioenai and Jaakobah and Jeshohaiah and Asaiah and Adiel and Jesimiel and Benaiah, 37 and Ziza, the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.

13 And the sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath. 14 and Meonothai who begot Ophrah; and Seraiah begot Joab, the father of those in the valley of Harashim; and they were craftsmen. 15 And the sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. And the son of Elah: Kenaz. 16 And the sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria and Asareel. 17 And the sons of Ezra were Jether and Mered and Epher and Jalon; and she bore Miriam and Shammai and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his wife Jehudijah bore Jered, the father of Gedor, and Heber, the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel, the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. 19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20 And the sons of Shimon were Amnon and Rinnah, Benhanan and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Benzoheth. 21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er, the father of Lecah, and Laadah, the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who made fine linen, of the house of Ashbea, 22 and Jokim, and the men of

38 These mentioned by their names were leaders in their families; and the house of their fathers increased greatly. 39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to look for pasture for their flocks. 40 And they found rich and good pasture, and the land was spacious and quiet and peaceable; for descendants of Ham had lived there in olden times.

41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and attacked their tents and the habitations that were found there, and utterly destroyed them, as it is to this day, and lived in their places, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 And some of them, some of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah and

political, or military leader (also in vs 12,14, 17,18, and possibly elsewhere). 4:9 “Jabez” – the name means “he makes sorrowful” or “he gives pain.” 4:10 At birth he gave pain to his mother, but in life he gave joy to God. He asked for four things and received them all. The things he asked evidently pleased God and they testify to the fact that he was more honorable than his brothers. We would do well to ask for the four things he asked for:

2. That God would enlarge our territories of influence, our ministries and opportunities

3. That God’s hand would be with us 4. That God would keep us from evil so that it causes no pain 4:12 “Ir-Nahash” – or “the city of Nahash” (the Hebrew word “ir” can mean town or city, but here may be a proper name). 4:13 “Othniel”– Josh 15:17; Jud 1:13; 3:9-11. 4:15 “Caleb”– Num 13:30; 14:30; Josh 14:6-15. 4:24 Gen 46:10; Ex 6:15; Num 26:12,13. 4:27-33 Josh 19:1-8.

1. That God would bless us indeed

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Neariah and Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they struck down the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they live there to this day.

Sharon, on their borders. 17 All these were listed by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to carry shield and sword and to shoot with the bow and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty who went out to the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur and Nephish and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hands, and all who were with them; for they cried out to God in the battle, and he answered them, because they put their trust in him. 21 And they took away their livestock, fifty thousand of their camels, and two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand donkeys, and a hundred thousand men. 22 For many fell slain, because the war was from God. And they lived in their places until the captivity.

Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but, since he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be counted according to the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s), 3 the sons, I say, of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-Pilneser, king of Assyria, took away captive; he was the leader of the Reubenites. 7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was listed, were Jeiel the chief, and Zechariah, 8 and Bela, the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-Meon: 9 and on the east he lived up to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates; because their cattle had increased in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the eastern region of Gilead.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the region. They became numerous from Bashan to Baal-Hermon and Senir and to Mount Hermon. 24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers: Epher and Ishi and Eliel and Azriel and Jeremiah and Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men and heads of the house of their fathers.

25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and prostituted themselves to the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser, king of Assyria, and he took the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh away, and brought them to Halah and Habor and Hara and to the river Gozan, as it is to this day.

11 And the children of Gad lived opposite them, in the land of Bashan up to Salcah. 12 Joel was their chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their brethren of the house of their fathers were Michael and Meshullam and Sheba and Jorai and Jachan and Zia and Heber, seven. 14 These are the children of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz; 15 Ahi, the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of the house of their fathers. 16 And they lived in Gilead in Bashan and in her towns and in all the areas of

The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 2 And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. 3 And the children of Amram:

4:43 “Amalekites” – Ex 17:8-16; 1 Sam 15:7-8; 30:1-18. 5:1 “Reuben” – Gen 35:22; 49:4. “Joseph” – 48:15,16; 49:22-26; 25:31. The rights of the first born included a double portion of the father’s inheritance – Deut 21:16,17. Joseph received a double portion in the land through his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. 5:2 “Judah” – Gen 49:8-10. The descendants of Joseph occupied the most territory in the land, but God’s appointed king, David, came from Judah. 5:3 Gen 46:9; Num 26:5-6. 5:6 “Tilgath-Pilneser” – v 26; 2 Kings 15:19,29. 5:10 18:21; Ps 83:6. The Hagrites were probably descended from Hagar (Genesis

chapter 16). 5:17 2 Kings 14:16,28; 15:5,32. 5:20 They succeeded in this battle not because of arms and skill, but because they cried to God in faith. Compare 2 Chron 6:34-39; 13:13-16; 14:9-15; 18:31; 20:1-30; 32:1-23; Ps 18:3; 20:7,8; 22:4,5; 107:6; Zech 4:6; Eph 6:10,16,18. 5:22 Deut 3:22; 20:4; Josh 23:10,11; 2 Chron 32:8. 5:23 “Manasseh” – Num 32:19; Josh 22:7. 5:25 “Prostituted themselves”– Ex 34:14-15; Isa 1:21; Jer2:20; Ezek16:15,23; 23:3; Hos 1:2; 5:3. 5:26 2 Kings 15:19,29; 17:6-23; 18:11. 6:1 23:6; Gen 46:11; Ex 6:16; Num 26:57. 6:3 “Nadab, Abihu” – Lev 10:1,2.

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Aaron and Moses and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 4 Eleazar begot Phinehas; Phinehas begot Abishua, 5 and Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi, 6 and Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth, 7 Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub, 8 and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz, 9 and Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan, 10 and Johanan begot Azariah (he it is who served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem), 11 and Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub, 12 and Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum, 13 and Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah, 14 and Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak; 15 and Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; 39 and his brother Asaph, who stood at his right hand, Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah, 41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi. 44 And their brethren, the sons of Merari, stood at the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. 48 Their brethren also, the Levites, were appointed to all kinds of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

16 The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath and Merari. 17 And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. 18 And the sons of Kohath were Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers. 20 Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 and the sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were Zophai his son and Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. 28 And the sons of Samuel: the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah. 29 The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.

49 But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to make an atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. 50 And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

54 Now these are their dwelling places, throughout their camps, within their territories, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, according to their allotment. 55 And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and its pasture lands around it. 56 But the fields of the city and its villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 57 And to the sons of Aaron they gave these cities of Judah: Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with its pasture lands, and Jattir and Eshtemoa, with their pasture lands, 58 and Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, 59 and

31 And these are the ones whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark had rest. 32 And they served before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and then they served in their office according to their order. 33 And these are the ones who served with their children: of the sons of the Kohathites, Heman a

“Eleazer” – the first high priest after Aaron. The list up to v 16 gives the names of the high priests until the Babylonian captivity. 6:16-50 Ex 6:16-24. 6:31 “Service of song” – 15:16,27; 25:131; 2 Chron 29:25,26. “Ark” – 2 Sam 6:17. 6:32 “House of the LORD” – 1 Kings chapter 6.

6:33 “Heman” – 25:1. “Samuel” – 1 Sam 1:20. 6:34 “Elkanah” – 1 Sam 1:1. 6:39 25:1; psalms 50,73-83. 6:44 “Ethan” – 15:19. 6:48 “House of God” – 23:32; Num 3:5-8. 6:54-81 Josh 21:1-42. 6:56 Josh 14:13; 15:13. 6:57 “City of refuge” – Num 35:6-28.

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Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasture lands; 60 and from the tribe of Benjamin they gave Geba with its pasture lands, and Alemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.

77 To the rest of the children of Merari were given from the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands; 78 and on the other side of the Jordan near Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, were given to them from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its pasture lands and Jahzah with its pasture lands, 79 Kedemoth also with its pasture lands and Mephaath with its pasture lands; 80 and from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands and Mahanaim with its pasture lands, 81 and Heshbon with its pasture lands and Jazer with its pasture lands.

61 And to the sons of Kohath, who were left of the family of that tribe, cities were given from the half tribe, from the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities. 62 And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families from the tribe of Issachar and from the tribe of Asher and from the tribe of Naphtali and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 63 To the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, from the tribe of Reuben and from the tribe of Gad and from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their pasture lands. 65 And they gave by lot from the tribe of the children of Judah and from the tribe of the children of Simeon and from the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.

Now the sons of Issachar were Tola and Puah, Jashub and Shimrom, four. 2 And the sons of Tola: Uzzi and Rephaiah and Jeriel and Jahmai and Jibsam and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, that is, of Tola. They were strong valiant men in their generations. Their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred. 3 And the sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah: Michael and Obadiah and Joel, Ishiah, five; all of them chief men. 4 And with them, by their generations, acccording to the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, thirty-six thousand men; for they had many wives and sons. 5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were strong valiant men, listed by their genealogies, in all eighty-seven thousand.

66 And the rest of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities for their of their territory from the tribe of Ephraim. 67 And they gave to them, as cities of refuge, Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, with its pasture lands; they also gave Gezer with its pasture lands, 68 and Jokmeam with its pasture lands and Beth-Horon with its pasture lands, 69 and Aijalon with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands. 70 And from the half tribe of Manasseh they gave Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the family of the rest of the sons of Kohath.

6 The sons of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Jediael, three. 7 And the sons of Bela: Ezbon and Uzzi and Uzziel and Jerimoth and Iri, five. They were heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were listed by their genealogies twenty-two thousand and thirty-four. 8 And the sons of Becher: Zemira and Joash and Eliezer and Elioenai and Omri and Jerimoth and Abiah and Anathoth and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher. 9 and their number according to their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand two hundred. 10 And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan and the sons of Bilhan: Jeush and Benjamin and Ehud and Chenaanah and Zethan and Tarshish and Ahishahar. 11 All these, the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand two hundred soldiers,

71 To the sons of Gershom these were given from the family of the half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands; 72 and from the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, 73 and Ramoth with its pasture lands and Anem with its pasture lands; 74 and from the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its pasture lands and Abdon with its pasture lands, 75 and Hukok with its pasture lands and Rehob with its pasture lands; 76 and from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands and Hammon with its pasture lands and Kirjathaim with its pasture lands.

7:1 “Issachar” – Gen 46:13; Num 1:28; 26:23-25. 7:6 1 Chron 8:1-40. Some think that Benjamin here is a copying mistake for Zebulun, because otherwise the genealogy of Zebulun is missing, and because it is difficult to reconcile the genealogy here with that of chapter 8. This could be the genealogy of Zebulun if he also had a son named

Bela, which is not at all impossible, even though Bela is listed elsewhere as the son of Benjamin, but never of Zebulun. See Num 26:26,27,38-41. If the genealogy of Zebulun is missing, it would be the same case as that of Dan which is missing. However that may be, the emphasis in the two books of the Chronicles is not on the northern tribes but on those which comprised the

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prepared to go out for war and battle. 12 Shuppim also and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.

father of Birzavith. 32 And Heber begot Japhlet and Shomer and Hotham and Shua, their sister. 33 And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach and Bimhal and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet. 34 And the sons of Shamer: Ahi and Rohgah, Jehubbah and Aram. 35 And the sons of his brother Helem: Zophah and Imna and Shelesh and Amal. 36 The sons of Zophah: Suah and Harnepher and Shual and Beri and Imrah, 37 Bezer and Hod and Shamma and Shilshah and Ithran and Beera. 38 And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh and Pispah and Ara. 39 And the sons of Ulla: Arah and Haniel and Rezia. 40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father’s house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the leaders. And the number throughout the genealogy of those who were prepared for war and for battle was twenty-six thousand men.

13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel and Guni and Jezer and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.

14 The sons of Manasseh: Ashriel, whom she bore (but his concubine, the Aramitess, bore Machir the father of Gilead. 15 And Machir took as wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maachah), and the name of the second was Zelophehad. And Zelophehad had daughters. 16 And Maachah, the wife of Machir, bore a son and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem. 17 And the son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. 18 And his sister Hammoleketh bore Ishod and Abiezer and Mahalah. 19 And the sons of Shemidah were Ahian and Shechem and Likhi and Aniam.

Now Benjamin begot Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth. 3 And the sons of Bela were Addar and Gera and Abihud 4 and Abishua and Naaman and Ahoah 5 and Gera and Shephuphan and Huram.

20 And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son, 21 and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in that land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock. 22 And their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him. 23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Beriah, because things were going bad with his household. 24 And his daughter was Sherah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, and Uzzen Sherah. 25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son, 26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Non his son, Jehoshuah his son.

6 And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were exiled to Manahath: 7 and Naaman and Ahiah and Gera; he exiled them, and begot Uzza, and Ahihud.

8 And Shaharaim begot children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara, his wives. 9 And he begot of Hodesh his wife, Jobab and Zibia and Mesha and Malcham 10 and Jeuz and Shachia and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers’ households. 11 And by Hushim he begot Abitub and Elpaal.

28 And their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and Naaran on the east, and Gezer on the west, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, as far as Gaza and its towns; 29 and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these the children of Joseph, the son of Israel, lived.

12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber and Misham and Shamed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns; 13 Beriah also and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath; 14 and Ahio, Shashak and Jeremoth 15 and Zebadiah and Arad and Ader 16 and Michael and Ispah and Joha, the sons of Beriah; 17 and Zebadiah and Meshullam and Hezeki and Heber, 18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal, 19 and Jakim and Zichri and Zabdi, 20 and Elienai and Zilthai and Eliel,

30 The sons of Asher: Imnah and Isuah and Ishuai and Beriah and Serah, their sister. 31 And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who is the

southern kingdom of Judah – 8:1. 7:20 Num 26:35-36. 7:23 “Beriah” – this name sounds like the Hebrew word for “misfortune.” 7:24 Josh 16:3,5. 7:30 Gen 46:17; Num 26:44-46. 8:1 7:6-12; Gen 46:21. More space is given to the genealogy of Benjamin, Judah and Levi than all the other tribes put together. The author’s purpose, guided by

the Holy Spirit, was to focus attention on the southern kingdom of Judah. Levi was important because the priesthood and temple service in Jerusalem were in the hands of this tribe. Benjamin was important because Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjamite, and part of the territory of Benjamin was later taken into the southern kingdom of Judah. 8:6 “Ehud” – Jud 3:12-30.

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21 and Adaiah and Beraiah and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi, 22 and Ishpan and Heber and Eliel 23 and Abdon and Zichri and Hanan 24 and Hananiah and Elam and Antothijah 25 and Iphedeiah and Penuel, the sons of Shashak 26 and Shamsherai and Shehariah and Athaliah 27 and Jaresiah and Eliah and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.

Shilonites, Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons; 6 and of the sons of Zerah, Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety; 7 and of the sons of Benjamin, Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah, 8 and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, 9 and their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their ancestors.

28 These were heads of the fathers’ households, by their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.

29 And the father of Gibeon lived at Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maachah; 30 and his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur and Kish and Baal and Nadab 31 and Gedor and Ahio and Zacher. 32 And Mikloth begot Shimeah. And these also lived with their brethren in Jerusalem, opposite them. 33 And Ner begot Kish, and Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan and Malchishua and Abinadab and Eshbaal. 34 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begot Micah. 35 And the sons of Micah were Pithon and Melech and Tarea and Ahaz. 36 And Ahaz begot Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begot Alemeth and Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza, 37 and Moza begot Binea. Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru and Ishmael and Sheariah and Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons and grandsons, a hundred and fifty. All these are descendants of Benjamin.

10 And of the priests, Jedaiah and Jehoiarib and Jachin 11 and Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God, 12 and Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer, 13 and their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand seven hundred and sixty, very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 And of the Levites, Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari, 15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph, 16 and Obadiah, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah, the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

17 And the gatekeepers were Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their brethren, Shallum being the chief. 18 Before this they served at the eastern gate of the king. They were gatekeepers in the companies of the children of Levi. 19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, gatekeepers of the tabernacle, as their fathers had been over the camp of the LORD, guarding the entrance. 20 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, had the supervision over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. 21 And Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah, was the doorkeeper of the tabernacle of the congregation.

So all Israel was listed by genealogies, and these were written down in the book of The Kings of Israel and Judah (who was taken away to Babylon because of their transgression).

2 Now the first who lived in their possessions in their cities were some Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinim. 3 And in Jerusalem lived some of the children of Judah and the children of Benjamin and the children of Ephraim and Manasseh: 4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah; 5 and of the

8:29 9:35-38. “Father” – here the word may mean political or civic or military leader. 8:33 “Saul” – 9:39-44; 1 Sam 9:1,2; 10:1; 14:49; 31:2. “Eshbaal” – also known as Ish-Bosheth. 8:34 “Jonathan” – 1 Sam 14:1-15; 18:1. “Meribbaal” – another name for Mephibosheth (2 Sam 4:4). 9:1 “Babylon” – 36:15-20; Jer 52:1-27. 9:2 “First who lived in” – after the return from

exile in Babylon – 2:70; Neh 7:73; 11:3,4. 9:3 “Manasseh” – among those who returned from exile were members of the northern tribes as well as some from Judah, Benjamin and Levi. God preserved all Israel. 9:19 “Tabernacle” – here simply means God’s dwelling place (the temple) with His people, and not the literal tabernacle, which was no longer standing. Also in vs 21,23. 9:20 “Phinehas” – Num 25:6-13.

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22 All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. These were listed by their genealogy in their villages. David and Samuel the seer ordained them in their set office. 23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, as guards. 24 The gatekeepers were in four quarters, toward the east, west, north, and south. 25 And their brethren, who were in their villages, were to come in after seven days from time to time to be with them. 26 For these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, were in their set office and were over the rooms and treasuries of the house of God. 27 And they stayed at night around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them, and opening up the house of God every morning was in their care.

Merib-baal. And Merib-baal begot Micah. 41 And the sons of Micah were Pithon and Melech and Tahrea and Ahaz. 42 And Ahaz begot Jarah; and Jarah begot Alemeth and Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza; 43 and Moza begot Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael and Sheariah and Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed closely after Saul and after his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle grew heavy against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armour bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me with it; or else these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But his armour bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armour bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on a sword and died. 6 So Saul died and his three sons; and all his household died together.

28 And some of them had charge of the articles for the service to bring them in and out by count. 29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the articles and all the furniture of the sanctuary, and the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices. 30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment from the spices. 31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the oversight of the things that were made in pans. 32 And others of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the Showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army was fleeing, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8 And it came to pass on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip those who had been killed, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And when they had stripped him, they took his head and his armour and sent them into the surrounding countryside of the Philistines, to take the news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

33 And these were the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who stayed in the rooms and were free from other service; for they were employed in that work day and night. 34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations. They lived at Jerusalem.

35 And in Gibeon the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, lived. His wife’s name was Maachah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur and Kish and Baal and Ner and Nadab, 37 and Gedor and Ahio and Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 And Mikloth begot Shimeam. And they also lived with their brethren at Jerusalem, opposite their brethren. 39 And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan and Malchishua and Abinadab and Eshbaal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was

13 So Saul died for his transgression which he

9:22 “Gatekeepers” – 26:1. “Seer” – 1 Sam 9:9. 9:27 “Watch” – there were valuable articles of gold and silver in the temple (Ezra 1:11), and enemies of Israel in the neighborhood (Neh 4:7-9). More importantly, all persons who had no right to enter the temple had to be kept out so that the temple be not defiled. 9:29 23:29. 9:30 “Spices” – Ex 30:23-25. 9:31,32 “Showbread” – Ex 30:30; Lev 24:5-8. 9:33 “Singers” – 6:31-45; 25:1; Ps 134:1.

9:35-44 8:29-38. “Eshbaal” (v 39) – also known as Ish-Bosheth.

“Marib-baal” (v 40) – also known as Mephibosheth. 10:1-12 1 Sam 31:1-13. 10:13,14 1 Sam 13:13-14; 15:23; 28:7-19. Here the sin of consulting a medium is emphasized. Consulting such persons is condemned in the law of God (Deut 18:9-14), and Saul himself knew it was wrong when he did it (1 Sam 28:3).

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committed against the LORD, against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and also for consulting someone who was a medium, to inquire of her, 14 and did not inquire of the LORD; therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the stronghold, and a garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David felt a longing and said, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, that is by the gate!” 18 And the three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD, 19 and said, “My God forbid this to me, that I should do this thing! Should I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For in peril of their lives they brought this.” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron, saying, “See, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be ruler over my people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the LORD by Samuel.

20 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three; for raising his spear against three hundred, he killed them, and had a name among the three. 21 He was more honoured than two of the three; for he was their captain. However, he did not attain to the first three.

4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were. 5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not get in here!” Nevertheless David took the fortress of Zion, which is the city of David. 6 And David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first will be chief and commander.” So Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went up first up, and became chief. 7 And David lived in the fortress; therefore they called it the city of David. 8 And he built up the city around it, from Millo all around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds, killed two lion-like men of Moab. Also he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day. 23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall; and there was a spear like a weaver’s beam in the Egyptian’s hand; and he went down to him with a staff, and tore the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. 25 See, he was honoured among the thirty, but did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

10 And these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who used their strength with him for his kingdom and with all Israel, to make him king, in accordance with the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11 And this is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he raised his spear against three hundred who were killed by him at one time. 12 And after him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty ones. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim; and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 And they took their stand in the middle of that plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines; and the Lord saved them with a great deliverance.

26 Also the mighty men in the armies were Asahel, the brother of Joab, Elhanan, the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled, the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31 Ithai, the son of Ribai of Gibeah, who belonged to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32 Hurai from the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan, the son of Shage the Hararite, 35 Ahiam, the son of Sacar the Hararite,

15 Now three of the thirty chiefs went down to

11:1-3 2 Sam 5:1-3. See notes there. 11:4-9 2 Sam 5:6-10. See notes there. 11:10-41 2 Sam 23:8-39. See notes there. 11:11 “Jashobeam” – a shortened form of the name Josheb-Basshebeth in 2 Sam 23:8. “Tahkemonite” is the word there,

“Hacmonite” here. There it speaks of eight hundred men being killed, here of only three hundred. It is in the realm of possibility that these two references record two different occasions, and two different persons among David’s mighty men.

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Eliphal, the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai, the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armour bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina, the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan, the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel, the sons of Hothan the Aroerite, 45 Jediael, the son of Shimri, and his brother Joha, the Tizite, 46 Eliel and Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.

captains in the army; one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand. 15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had flooded all of its banks, and put to flight all those living in valleys, both toward the east and toward the west.

16 And some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 And David went out to meet them, and responded and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be knit to you. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies, since my hands have done no wrong, the God of our fathers look on this, and rebuke it.” 18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to those who help you; for your God is helping you.” Then David received them, and made them captains in his raiding band.

Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still kept away from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war. 2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and shooting arrows from a bow. They were Saul’s relatives from Benjamin. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Berachah and Jehu the Antothite 4 and Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah and Jahaziel and Johanan and Josabad the Gederathite 5 Eluzai and Jerimoth and Bealiah and Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite 6 Elkanah and Jesiah and Azareel and Joezer and Jashobeam, the Korhites 7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

19 And some from the tribe of Manasseh defected to David, when he was coming with the Philistines to fight against Saul; but they did not help the Philistines, because the lords of the Philistines, after conferring, sent him away, saying, “He will defect to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.” 20 When he went to Ziklag, from Manasseh these defected to him: Adnah and Jozabad and Jediael and Michael and Jozabad and Elihu and Zilthai, captains of the thousands who were from Manasseh. 21 And they helped David against the band of raiders; for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the army. 22 For at that time, day by day, others came to David to help him, until it became a great army, like the army of God.

8 And from the Gadites some came away to David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men and warriors prepared for the battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains; 9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh. 14 These descendants of Gad were

23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with the word of the LORD: 24 the children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, equipped for war; 25 of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand one hundred; 26 of the children of Levi four thousand six hundred; 27 and Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites,

11:41-47 Uriah is last on the list in 2 Samuel chapter 23. Here several additional names are given. As days passed, the number grew. 12:1 1 Samuel chapter 27. 12:2 This chapter shows the general support for David not merely in Judah, his own tribe, but in the other tribes of Israel. Even some of Saul’s kinsmen deserted to David before Saul’s death. 12:8 “Gadites” – from the tribe of Gad which had settled east of the Jordan river (Num 32:1-5,33).

12:15 “First month” – Nisan, which included parts of which we call March and April. Rain and melting snow from northern mountains then caused the Jordan to flood. See Josh 3:15. 12:16 “Stronghold” – 1 Sam 22:4; 23:29; 24:22. 12:18 “Spirit” – the allegiance of these men to David was the work of God. 12:19 1 Sam 29:2-9. 12:20 1 Samuel chapter 27. 12:23 “Hebron” – 2 Sam 5:1-3. “Word of the LORD” – 1 Sam 16:1,11-13.

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and with him were three thousand seven hundred; 28 and Zadok, a valiant young warrior, and twenty-two captains from his father’s house; 29 and three thousand of the children of Benjamin, the kinsmen of Saul; for until then the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul; 30 and twenty thousand eight hundred of the children of Ephraim, valiant fighters, famous throughout the house of their fathers; 31 and eighteen thousand of the half tribe of Manasseh, who were designated by name to come and make David king; 32 and some of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; 33 fifty thousand of Zebulun, who went forth to battle, expert in war, with all the weapons of war, who could keep rank; they were not of double heart; 34 and a thousand captains of Naphtali, and thirty-seven thousand with them with shield and spear; 35 and twenty-eight thousand six hundred of the Danites, expert in war; 36 and forty thousand of Asher, who went forth to battle, expert in war; 37 and on the other side of the Jordan, a hundred and twenty thousand of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of weapons for the battle.

brethren everywhere, those remaining in the whole land of Israel, and along with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and pasture lands, so that they may gather here with us. 3 And let us bring back the ark of our God to us; for we did not consult God by it in the days of Saul.”

4 And all the congregation said that they would do so, for in the eyes of all the people it was the right thing to do. 5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, which is called by his name. 7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart from the house of Abinadab; and Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart. 8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, and with singing and with harps and with lyres and with tambourines and with cymbals and with trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzza put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzza and he struck him down, because he put his hand on the ark; and there he died before God. 11 And David was displeased, because the LORD’s anger had broken out against Uzza. Therefore that place is called Perez-Uzza to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How shall I bring the ark of God to me?” 13 So David did not bring the ark to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed Edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed Edom, and all that he had.

38 All these warriors who could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron to make David king over all Israel; and also all the rest of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had prepared for them. 40 Moreover, their neighbors, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, and meat, flour, cakes of figs and bunches of raisins and wine and oil and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

13 14

Now Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar timber, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. 2 And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was greatly exalted, because of his people Israel.

And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with each leader. 2 And David said to all the congregation of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send word out to our

12:32 “Understanding of the times” – the ability to understand the times and to know what a people should do is a great gift from God, and one much needed in every generation. 12:38 Verse 2. 12:40 These tribes were in Galilee in the north of the land.

what they did with it is found in 1 Samuel chapter 6. The ark was the place where God met with Moses and gave him commands for Israel (Ex 25:22). Perhaps previous to this, at some periods in their history Israel’s leaders sought God’s will in the presence of the ark, but there is no record of this. 13:5-14 2 Sam 6:1-11. See notes there. 13:5 “Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath” – an expression meaning from one end of the country to the other. Hamath was in the far north of the land. 14:1-16 2 Sam 5:11-25. See notes there.

“Joy” – the troubles Saul brought on the country were over, the people were united behind a strong and godly leader, God was with them, the future was bright. 13:3 The ark had been captured by the Philistines (1 Sam 4:10,11). The story of

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3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. 4 Now these are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, 5 and Ibhar and Elishua and Elpalet 6 and Nogah and Nepheg and Japhia 7 and Elishama and Beeliada and Eliphalet.

place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites; 5 of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief, and a hundred and twenty of his brethren; 6 of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; 7 of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief, and a hundred and thirty of his brethren; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; 9 of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren; 10 of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief, and a hundred and twelve of his brethren.

8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to look for David. And David heard of it, and went out against them. 9 And the Philistines came and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will you deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up; for I will deliver them into your hands.” 11 So they came up to Baal-Perazim, and David struck them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like the breaking out of waters.” So they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 12 And the Philistines left their gods behind there, and David gave an order, and they were burned with fire.

11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah and Joel, Shemaiah and Eliel and Amminadab. 12 And he said to them, “You are the chief of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, so that you can bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it in the beginning, the LORD our God broke out against us, for we did not seek him in the proper way.”

13 And once more the Philistines spread out in the valley. 14 Therefore David again inquired of God; and God said to him, “Do not go up after them. Turn away from them and attack them opposite the mulberry trees. 15 And it is to be like this : when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you must go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”

14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on it, as Moses commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren as singers with musical instruments, lyres and harps and sounding cymbals, to raise the sound of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brethren of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben and Jaaziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab and Benaiah and Maaseiah and Mattithiah and Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed Edom and Jeiel, the doorkeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with bronze cymbals; 20 and Zechariah and Aziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni and Eliab and Maaseiah and Benaiah, with lyres according to Alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah and

16 Therefore David did as God commanded him; and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out to all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him on all nations.

And David made houses for himself in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites should carry the ark of God, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him forever.”

3 And David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its

14:11 “Baal Perazim” – the name means “The Lord who breaks out.” 14:17 Ex 15:14-16; Deut 2:25; Josh 6:27; 2 Chron 14:14; 17:10; 20:29. 15:1-24 These preparations for bringing the ark to Jerusalem are not recorded anywhere else. 15:1 “City of David” – 2 Sam 5:6,7. “Tent” – 16:1; 2 Sam 6:17. This tent was not the tabernacle but a special tent David had made. The tabernacle was in Gibeon (16:39). 15:2 “Levites” – Num 3:5-10; Deut 10:8.

15:5-7 Kohath, Merari, and Gershon were sons of Levi – 6:1. 15:11 1 Sam 22:20-23; 1 Kings 2:26,35; 1 Chron 12:28. 15:12 “Sanctify” – Ex 19:14-15; Lev 11:44; 2 Chron 35:6. 15:13 13:7,10-11. 15:15 Ex 25:14. 15:16 13:8; 25:1. 15:17 6:33,39,44. 15:20-21 Alamoth and Sheminith were probably musical terms. See the titles of

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Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed Edom and Jeiel and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the higher notes of Sheminith. 22 And Kenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of singing; because of his skill he gave instruction in singing. 23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. 24 And Shebaniah and Jehoshaphat and Nethaneel and Amasai and Zechariah and Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

and Jeiel played on lyres and on harps, and Asaph sounded the cymbals, 6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpet regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David first committed this psalm into the hands of Asaph and his brethren, for thanking the LORD:

8 “Give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make known his deeds among the

people. 9 Sing to him; sing psalms to him. Talk of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek

25 So David and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed Edom with joy. 26 And it came about, when God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and so were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Kenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David was also wearing a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the cornet and with trumpets and with cymbals, sounding out with lyres and harps.

the LORD rejoice. 11 Seek the LORD and his strength. Seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, 13 O you seed of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14 He is the LORD our God. His judgments are in all the earth. 15 Always remember his covenant, the word which he commanded to a

29 And it so happened that as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out of a window and saw king David dancing and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.

thousand generations, 16 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac. 17 For he confirmed it to Jacob as a law, to Israel as an everlasting

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. 3 And he distributed to each one of Israel, both man and woman, to each one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of meat, and a raisin cake.

covenant, 18 Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan, the allotment of your inheritance’, 19 When you were but few, very few, and strangers in it; 20 when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another

people. 21 He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, 22 Saying, ‘Do not touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’ 23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Show forth his salvation from day

4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to call to remembrance, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Mattithiah and Eliab and Benaiah and Obed Edom;

to day. psalms 6 and 46. 15:24 “Trumpets” – 16:6; Num 10:1-10. 15:25-29 2 Sam 6:12-16. See notes there. 16:1-3 2 Sam 6:17-19. 16:1 “Offerings” – notes on first three chapters of Leviticus. 16:4 These duties and privileges of the Levites are now the duties and privileges of all believers (1 Tim 2:1; Heb 13:15; etc).

Ps 7:17; 50:14,15; etc. 16:5 “Asaph” – Psalms 50,73-83. 16:7 Many of the psalms were intended for worship services and were sung accompanied by music. This whole psalm appears in the book of Psalms, with slight variations, but divided into three parts – Ps 105:1-15; 96:113; 106:1,47,48. See notes on those psalms. 16:8-22 Ps 105:1-15. 16:23-33 Ps 96:1-13.

“To thank” – notes at Lev 7:12,13;

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24 Declare his glory among the peoples, his marvellous works among all nations. 25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. Also he is to be feared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his

before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required. 38 And Obed Edom with their brethren, sixty-eight; also Obed Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah to be gatekeepers; 39 and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel; 41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy continues on forever; 42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound them, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers. 43 And each one of all the people departed to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

place. 28 Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the beauty of

holiness. 30 Tremble before him, all the earth; for the world will be stable,

so that it is not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let people say among the nations,

Now it came about, as David was sitting in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remains under curtains.”

‘The LORD reigns.’ 32 Let the sea roar, and its fulness. Let the fields rejoice, and all that

2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

is in them. 33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he comes to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy continues on forever. 35 And say, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the nations,

3 And the same night it came about that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: You shall not build a house for me to dwell in, 5 because I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought Israel up from Egypt to this day but have gone from tent to tent, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I travelled with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built a cedar house for me?’

so that we may give thanks to your

holy name, and glory in your praise.’ 36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever.”

7 “Now therefore this is what you shall say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; 8 and I was with you wherever you travelled, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have

And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.

37 So he left Asaph and his brethren there

16:34-36 Ps 106:1,47,48. 16:37 Verse 4; 2 Chron 8:14. Worship was not confined to a special day. It was part of every day life. 16:39 It seems that there were two sanctuaries at this time, one in Jerusalem with the ark (v 1), and the other at Gibeon with the tabernacle (21:29). The tabernacle remained at Gibeon until Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem.

16:40 Ex 29:38-42; Num 28:3-4. 16:41 “His mercy. . .forever” – a favorite theme of the poets and musicians in Israel – v 34; 2 Chron 5:13; 7:3,6; 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Ps 106:1; 107:1; 118:29; 136:1-26; 138:8. 16:42 Verse 7; 25:7; 2 Chron 7:6; 29:27. 17:1-27 2 Sam 7:1-29. 17:4 28:2-3. 17:6 “Judges” – or “leaders” (the Hebrew

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made a name for you like the name of the great men who are in the earth. 9 Also I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, and they will live in their place and will not be moved any more; nor will the children of wickedness destroy them any more, as at the beginning, 10 and since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.

established in your presence. 25 For you, O my God, have told your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant has found in his heart to pray in your presence. 26 And now, LORD, you are God, and have promised this goodness to your servant. 27 Now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may be before you forever. For you have blessed, O LORD, and it will be blessed forever.”

11 “And it shall come about, when your days are ended and you must go to be with your ancestors, that I will raise up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father and he will be my son, and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it away from the one who was before you, 14 but I will set him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established for ever.’”

Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hands of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab; and the Moabites became David’s subjects, and brought tribute. 3 And David defeated Hadarezer, king of Zobah at Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates 4 And David took a thousand chariots from him, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for a hundred chariots.

15 So Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words, and in accordance with this whole vision.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer, king of Zobah, David killed twentytwo thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s subjects, and brought tribute. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Likewise David brought a great amount of bronze from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, with which Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze articles.

16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me to this point? 17 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O God, for you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree, O LORD God. 18 What more can David say to you for honouring your servant? For you know your servant. 19 O LORD, you have done all this great thing for your servant’s sake, and in accordance with your own heart, in making known all these great things. 20 O LORD, there is no one like you, nor is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 21 And what one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make for yourself a great and awesome name, by driving out nations from before your people, whom you have redeemed out of Egypt? 22 For you have made your people Israel your own people forever, and you, LORD, have become their God.

9 Now when Tou, king of Hamath, heard how David had defeated all the army of Hadarezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to king David, to ask about his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and defeated him (for Hadarezer had made war against Tou), and sent with him all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

11 And king David dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations: from Edom and from Moab and from the children of Ammon and from the Philistines and from Amalek.

23 “Therefore now, LORD, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do as you have said. 24 Let it be established, so that your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is the God for Israel.’ And let the house of your servant David be

12 Moreover Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. Thus the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and word means both). 17:12-14 Mark 1:11; Luke 1:32,33; Heb 1:5.

18:1-17 2 Sam 8:1-18. 18:8 “Bronze”–2 Chron 4:2-5,18. 18:12 Abishai served under David in this

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executed judgment and justice among all his people. 15 And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the army; and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was the recorder; 16 and Zadok, the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was the scribe; 17 and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Kerethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

against him in front and in the rear, he selected men from all the choice soldiers of Israel, and set them in array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he entrusted into the hands of his brother Abishai, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be courageous, and let us conduct ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God. And let the LORD do what is good in his sight.”

Now it happened after this that Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, died, and his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came to the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near in front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him. 15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before his brother Abishai, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 And when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River; and Shophach, the commander of the army of Hadarezer, marched before them.

3 But the leaders of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is honouring your father, by sending comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to explore and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at the hips, and sent them away.

17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan, and came on them and drew up the battle lines against them. So when David drew up the battle lines against the Syrians, they fought with him. 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of the Syrians who fought in chariots, and forty thousand foot soldiers, and killed Shophach, the commander of the army.

5 Then someone went and told David how the men had been treated. And he sent men to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.”

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves from Mesopotamia and from Syria Maachah and from Zobah. 7 So they hired thirtytwo thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people. They came and camped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects; nor would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

And it came about at the end of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the strength of the army, and laid waste the country of the children of Ammon and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab attacked Rabbah and destroyed it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head, and found it weighed a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David’s head. And Joab also brought

8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and the whole army of the mighty men. 9 And the children of Ammon came out and drew up battle lines before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set

battle – 2 Sam 8:13. 19:1-19 2 Sam 10:1-19. See notes there. One foolish act can (and in this case did) result in much bloodshed. 19:6 Chariots and charioteers came from those places. Foot soldiers came from Beth Rehob and Tob (2 Sam 10:6). All the places mentioned were in the same region north of Israel.

kilograms. 19:16 “The River” – Euphrates. 20:1 2 Sam 11:1. The writer of Chronicles was not led by the Spirit of God to record what happened while David remained in Jerusalem (2 Sam 11:2 - 12:25). It would seem that in God’s eyes one account of that sad event was enough. 20:2,3 2 Sam 12:30,31. “A talent” – about 34 kilograms.

“Thousand talents” – about 34,000

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out a very large amount of plunder from the city. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it, and made them cut with saws and labour with iron implements and with axes. David did this with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring their number to me, so that I may know it.”

3 And Joab answered, “May the LORD make his people a hundred times more numerous than they are ! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

4 And after this it came about that war began at Gezer with the Philistines. At that time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was of the children of a giant; and they were subdued. 5 And again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan, the son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.

4 However, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. And all of Israel who could draw sword were one million one hundred thousand men; and of Judah all who could draw sword were four hundred and seventy thousand.

6 And once more there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was the son of a giant. 7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea, killed him.

6 But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king’s command had been abhorrent to Joab. 7 And God was displeased with this matter; therefore he struck Israel.

8 These were born to a giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this thing. But now, I beg you, put away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

And Satan stood up against Israel, and stirred David up to number Israel. 2 And

9 And the LORD spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 “Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says

means to defeat Satan at every step (Eph 6:10-18; Jam 4:7). His end is clear (Rev 20:10). Since he is God’s and man’s enemy why doesn’t God immediately destroy him? God has not told us the full answer to this question but His Word the Bible is not without clues to the answer. God uses him for the testing and proving of His people, and in judgment on those who chose the path of sin and unbelief. But it is enough for us now to know that we can defeat the devil through our Lord Jesus Christ, and that God’s permitting Satan now to work in the world is in accordance with His perfect wisdom, justice and righteousness. And we should not fret because God does not tell us everything – He tells us all we need to know (Deut 29:29). 21:2 27:23,24. 21:4 Joab’s work on the census took nearly 10 months (2 Sam 24:8). 21:5 These figures differ from 2 Sam 24:9. The census was incomplete (27:23,24), and Joab may have given two different estimates on two separate occasions to David. Of course, we can’t be sure of this. 21:6 Verse 3; 2 Sam 24:3. 21:7 “Struck” – God had already been angry with Israel because of other sin (2 Sam 24:1). This taking of a census gave God further cause for anger against them. The sequence of events was this: anger, permitting a temptation, David’s fall and sin, more anger, punishment. Notes on God’s anger at Num 25:3; Ps 90:7-11; Rom 1:18. 21:9 “Seer” – 1 Sam 9:9.

20:4-8 2 Sam 21:15-22. 21:1-27 2 Sam 24:1-25. See notes there. 21:1 “Satan” – compare this verse with 2 Sam 24:1. God was angry with Israel and permitted Satan to tempt David. The name Satan comes from the Hebrew and means “opponent”, “adversary”, or, as some think, “accuser.” He is the great enemy of both God and man. His origin is obscure, but it is clear that he was at first a holy and powerful angel who later sinned and became devilish. God never made anything evil, or any being wicked. Some commentators teach that Satan’s fall is described in Isa 14:12-15 and Ezek 28:12-17, and it is very likely so. See notes there.

The Bible calls Satan by other names as well – the devil (Matt 4:1), Beelzebub, the prince or ruler of demons (Matt 12:24), the evil one (John 17:15), the ruler of this world (John 12:31), the god of this age or world (2 Cor 4:4), the ruler of the power of the air (Eph 2:2), the dragon and the old serpent (Rev 12:9).

He is out to destroy anyone he can and afflicts and torments men (Job 1:12-19; 2:6,7; Luke 13:16; 1 Pet 5:8). He wants others to worship him (Matt 4:9). He tempts men to sin (1 Thess 3:5). He is full of plots to hinder the work of God (2 Cor 2:11). He is exceedingly deceptive (2 Cor 11:14; Rev 12:9). He can do nothing among men unless they obey him, or unless God, for some wise purpose, permits him to act – he (this is true also of all evil spirits or demons) is under the sovereign control of God.

God has given believers in Christ the

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the LORD, I offer you three things. Choose one of them for me to do to you.’”

and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. 21 And as David was coming to Ornan, Ornan looked up and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed down to David with his face to the ground.

11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Take your choice: 12 Either three years of famine, or three months to be destroyed before your foes while the sword of your enemies reaches you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, that is, the plague, in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout the whole territory of Israel.’ Now therefore consider what answer I should take back to him who sent me.”

22 Then David said to Ornan, “Let me have the place of this threshing floor, so I may build an altar in it for the LORD. You are to let me have it at the full price, so that the plague may be held back from the people.”

23 And Ornan said to David, “Take it for your self, and may my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. See, I will also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I give it all.”

13 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; let me now fall into the hands of the LORD; for his mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

14 So the LORD sent a plague on Israel; and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. 15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was destroying, the LORD looked and was grieved about the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough. Hold back your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

24 And king David said to Ornan, “No, but I will certainly buy it at the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer burnt offerings without cost.”

25 So David gave six hundred shekels of gold by weight to Ornan for the place. 26 And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.

16 And David raised his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, clothed in sackcloth, prostrated themselves.

27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword back into its scabbard. 28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, at that time were in the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

17 And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? Indeed I am the one who sinned and did evil; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I beg you, O LORD my God, be on me and on my father’s house, but not on your people, that they should be plagued.”

18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to tell David that David should go up and erect an altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up in accordance with the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD.

Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

20 And Ornan turned back and saw the angel;

2 And David gave a command to assemble the

21:15 “Ornan” – a variant of Araunah. 21:16 “The angel of the LORD” – this verse gives a very vivid picture not found in 2 Samuel chapter 24. Note on the angel of LORD at Gen 16:7. 21:18 “Commanded” – observe that the angel did not speak directly to the guilty David but used Gad the prophet as his spokesman. 21:20 “Saw the angel” – angels can make, and sometimes have made, themselves visible to men. 21:25 “Six hundred shekels” – about seven kilograms. 21:26 “Offerings” – Leviticus chapters 1 and 3. “Fire” – Lev 9:24; Jud 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38,39. The fire revealed to David that

God had accepted his repentance, altar, and offerings. 21:27 David’s repentance and offerings turned away God’s wrath from the people. Compare Num 16:42-48. 21:29 16:39. 22:1-19 David had already conceived the idea of building a temple to God in Jerusalem. He was told that he was not the man for that work but that one of his sons would do it (2 Sam 7:1-17). But David did all he could to make preparations for the building of the temple (v 5). This chapter records these preparations. A site was chosen (v 1), workmen were appointed (vs 2,15,16), materials were provided (vs 3,4,14), encouragement was given (vs 11-13), and helpers were

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foreigners who were in the land of Israel, and he appointed stone cutters to cut stones to build the house of God. 3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the fittings, and more bronze than could be weighed, 4 also cedar trees in abundance. For the Sidonians and Tyrians brought much cedar wood to David.

you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed.

14 “Now, look, taking much trouble for the house of the LORD, I have prepared a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, because of its abundance. I have also made ready timber and stone; and you may add to it.

5 And David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all countries. Therefore I will now make preparations for it.” So David prepared abundantly before his death.

15 “Moreover, there are many workmen with you, cutters and workers in stone and timber, and all kinds of skillful men for every kind of work, 16 in gold, silver and brass and iron, without number. Arise therefore, and work, and may the LORD be with you.”

6 Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon, “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God, 8 but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house for my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 Look, a son will be born to you, who will be a quiet man; and I will give him rest from all his enemies on all sides; for his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He will build a house for my name; and he will be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you can bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and God’s holy articles, into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”

11 “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he has said about you. 12 Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, so that

So when David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. 2 And he assembled all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. 3 Now the Levites were counted from the age of thirty years and

appointed and encouraged (vs 17-19). David was not the sort of man to refuse to have anything to do with the building project because he had been rejected as the builder. He did not let any temptation to pride or resentment keep him from helping in any way he could. In this he is a much needed example to us all. 22:5 “Young” – 1 Kings 3:7. “Glory” – 2 Chron 2:5. Compare Eph 2:20-22; 1 Pet 2:4-9. 22:7 2 Sam 7:2-3. 22:8 28:2,3; 1 Kings 5:3. 22:9 2 Sam 12:24-25; 1 Kings 4:20-25. 22:10 2 Sam 7:13-14. 22:12 1 Kings 3:9-12; 2 Chron 1:10. Perhaps a desire for wisdom was produced in Solomon’s heart by these words of his father. 22:13 “Dismayed” – compare Josh 1:6-9. Attempting a great work of God is no easy matter and there may well be fear and discouragement in even the greatest of men. 22:14 “Taking much trouble” – David considered that this was a great work for God (v 5), and he gave it his best efforts, even when he was busy ruling the kingdom, etc. He

did not let other matters distract him from this work. May all God’s workmen learn from his example. Compare 1 Cor 3:10-15.

“A hundred thousand talents”– one talent equals 34 kilograms. The amounts of gold and silver here mentioned seem so large that some scholars assume there must be a copying mistake, but there is no evidence of any kind for this. And 2 Chron 1:12-15 speaks of Solomon’s immense wealth. 22:17 28:1-16. 22:18 23:25; 2 Sam 7:1; 23:25. 22:19 “Seek”– David well knew that the work would not proceed as it should and could unless God was at the center of their desires and efforts. On seeking God see 2 Chron 15:2; Ps 27:8; 34:10; 69:32; Jer 29:13. 23:1 28:5; 1 Kings 1:33-40. 23:2 28:1. 23:3 Compare Num 4:1-4. David was concerned for more than mere materials and builders for the temple. He wanted prepared men for the work of the temple after it was built. He was a man of much foresight and careful planning.

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over; and their number in the census, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. 4 Of these twentyfour thousand were to supervise the work of the house of the LORD, and six thousand were officials and judges, 5 and four thousand were doorkeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with “the instruments which I made,” said David, “to praise with.”

fathers’ households, as they were counted by the number of names in their census, who did the work of the service for the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and above. 25 For David said, “The LORD God of Israel has given rest to his people, so that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever, 26 and also to the Levites. They will no longer carry the tabernacle, or any of its articles for its service.”

6 And David divided them into sections according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

27 For according to the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and over; 28 because their responsibility was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courtyards and in the rooms, and in purifying all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; 29 for the Showbread, and for the fine flour for the grain offering, and for the cakes made without yeast, and for what is baked in a pan, and for what is fried, and for all measurements of quantity and size; 30 and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and also at evening; 31 and to offer all the burnt sacrifices to the LORD on the Sabbaths, in the new moons and on the appointed festivals, in the proper number, in accordance with the ordinance commanded them, regularly, before the LORD; 32 and to keep charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and to have charge of the Holy Place, and to have charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.

7 Of the Gershonites were Laadan and Shimei. 8 The sons of Laadan: the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham and Joel, three. 9 The sons of Shimei: Shelomith and Haziel and Haran, three. These were the chiefs of the fathers’ households of Laadan. 10 And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina and Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. 11 And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons; therefore they were reckoned as one household of their fathers.

12 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. 13 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was permanently set apart, he and his sons, to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever. 14 Now as for Moses, the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.

15 The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer. 16 Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief. 17 And the sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had no other sons, but there were very many sons of Rehabiah. 18 Of the sons of Izhar, Shelomith was the chief. 19 Of the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. 20 Of the sons of Uzziel was Micah the first, and Jesiah the second.

Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3 And David, with Zadok, of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their duties in their service. 4 And there were more chief men found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar; and thus they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar were sixteen chief men of the households of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the households of their fathers.

21 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. 22 And Eleazar died, and had no sons, only daughters; and their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, took them. 23 The sons of Mushi: Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth, three.

24 These were the sons of Levi in accordance with the house of their fathers, the chief of the

23:30 “Morning”, “evening” – Ex 29:38-41; Num 28:3-8. Praises were to be offered at the times of the daily sacrifices.

23:4 Judges 26:29; Deut 17:8-13. 23:6-23 6:1-48. 23:24 At first only those 30 years and over were counted (v 30). This was changed to 20 years and over (v 27), possibly because there were not enough men 30 and above for all the various works of the temple, or because David thought it a good thing to introduce young men to the work. 23:28-32 9:28-34. The Levites were assistants to the priests and under their authority.

“To thank” – note at Lev 7:12,13. 23:31 “Appointed festivals” – see Leviticus chapter 23. 23:32 Num 1:53; 3:6-9,38. 24:1 Ex 6:33. 24:2 “Died” – Lev 10:1-2; Num 3:4. 24:3 “Zadok” – Zadok was high priest, along with Ahimelech (2 Sam 8:17). Ahimelech was Abiathar’s son (v 6).

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5 Thus they were divided by lot, both of these families ; for the officials of the sanctuary, and officials of the house of God, were from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar.

had no sons.

29 Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel. 30 And the sons of Mushi, Mahli and Eder and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites in accordance with the households of their fathers. 31 These also cast lots just as their brethren, the sons of Aaron, did, in the presence of David the king and Zadok and Ahimelech and the heads of the families of the fathers of the priests and Levites, the heads of the fathers’ households just as their younger brothers.

6 And Shemaiah, the son of Nethaneel, the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote their names before the king and the leaders and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the heads of the families of the fathers of the priests and Levites, one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

7 Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, 8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, 9 the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, 10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, 11 the ninth for Jeshuah, the tenth for Shecaniah, 12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, 13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, 14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, 15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Aphses, 16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezekel, 17 the twenty-first for Jachim, the twenty-second for Gamul, 18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.

Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun for the service, to prophesy with harps, with lyres, and with cymbals. And the number of those who performed this service was this:

2 Of the sons of Asaph, Zaccur and Joseph and Nethaniah and Asarelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king; 3 of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun, Gedaliah and Zeri and Jeshaiah Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six; they were under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD; 4 of Heman, the sons of Heman, Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.

19 This was the appointed order for them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, in accordance with their rule handed on by Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 And these were the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. 21 Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah. 22 Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. 23 And the sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. 24 Of the sons of Uzziel, Michah; of the sons of Michah, Shamir. 25 The brother of Michah was Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. 26 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi; the son of Jaaziah, Beno. 27 The sons of Merari by Jaaziah, Beno and Shoham and Zaccur and Ibri. 28 Of Mahli came Eleazar, who

5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their father for singing in the house of the LORD with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. 7 So their number, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight. 8 And they cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the scholar.

9 Now the first lot came out for Asaph to

24:5 “By lot” – v 31; 25:8; 26:13; Josh 13:6; 14:2. Evidently they trusted God to reveal His will by this method. See Prov 16:33. 24:19 These 24 divisions served one after the other, probably for two weeks at a time. Zechariah the father of John the Baptist was in the eighth division (Luke 1:5,8,9), being descended from Abijah. 24:23 “Jeriah the first” – or “the sons of Jeriah.” 24:31 “Lot” – v 5. “Younger” – note that responsibilities were not allotted on the basis of seniority, but in accord with God’s choice, regardless of age. 25:1 All three of these men had the gift of

prophecy. They are called seers which meant prophets (v 5; 2 Chron 29:30; 35:15; 1 Sam 9:9). “To prophesy with” – compare 2 Kings 3:15. 25:3 “To praise” – 16:41-42. 25:6 15:16,19. 25:7 “Songs of the LORD” – music and singing were regarded as important elements in God’s worship. They can be at any time if they are for the Lord, and not for self-promotion and self-glorification. 25:8 “Learners” – 26:13. Those who had the greatest talent and the most learning and experience were not allowed to

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Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, who with his brothers and sons were twelve; 10 the third to Zaccur; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 11 the fourth to Izri; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 12 the fifth to Nethaniah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 13 the sixth to Bukkiah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 14 the seventh to Jesharelah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 15 the eighth to Jeshaiah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 16 the ninth to Mattaniah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 17 the tenth to Shimei; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 18 the eleventh to Azareel; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 19 the twelfth to Hashabiah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 20 the thirteenth to Shubael; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 22 the fifteenth to Jeremoth; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 23 the sixteenth to Hananiah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 25 the eighteenth to Hanani; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 26 the nineteenth to Mallothi; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 27 the twentieth to Eliathah; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 28 the twenty-first to Hothir; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 29 the twenty-second to Giddalti; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 30 the twentythird to Mahazioth; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve; 31 the twenty-fourth to Romamtiezer; he, his sons and his brothers, were twelve.

brothers were strong men, Elihu and Semachiah. 8 All these of the sons of Obed Edom. They and their sons and their brothers, able men with strength for the service, were sixty-two of Obed Edom.

9 And Meshelemiah had eighteen sons and brothers, strong men.

10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), 11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.

12 Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties like their relatives to minister in the house of the LORD. 13 And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for each gate.

14 And the lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counsellor; and his lot came out for the north gate; 15 to Obed Edom for the south gate; and to his sons the lot fell for the storehouse. 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the west gate, with the Shallecheth gate, on the highway which ascends there, watch corresponded to watch.

17 Six Levites were on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south, and two by two at the storehouse. 18 At Parbar on the west, four were at the highway, and two at Parbar.

19 These are the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah, and among the sons of Merari.

20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.

Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Korah, of the sons of Asaph.

21 As concerning the sons of Laadan, the sons of Laadan the Gershonite, chief fathers of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, 22 and the sons of Jehieli: Zetham and his brother Joel, who were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh. 4 And the sons of Obed Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth, 5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God had blessed him.

23 As for the Amramites and the Izharites the Hebronites and the Uzzielites:

24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was in charge of the treasures. 25 And his brethren by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had

6 Also sons were born to his son Shemaiah, who ruled throughout the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valour. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni and Rephael and Obed, Elzabad, whose

monopolize this service. 26:1 “Gatekeepers”–9:17-27; 16:37,38; Ps 84:10. 26:4 “Obed-Edom” – 13:13; 2 Sam 6:10. 26:13 24:5,31; 25:8.

26:14 “Shelemiah” – a variant of Meshelemiah. 26:20 “Dedicated things” – v 26,28; 28:12. Compare Josh 6:17-19. Great wealth was kept in the temple. 26:26 2 Sam 8:11.

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dedicated. 27 They dedicated these things from the plunder won in battles, to maintain the house of the LORD. 28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated (and whoever had dedicated anything ), it was under the hand of Shelomith and of his brethren.

Asahel, the brother of Joab, and after him his son Zebadiah; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

29 Of the Izharites, Kenaniah and his sons were for outside responsibilities over Israel, as officials and judges.

10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, a thousand seven hundred strong men, were officials among the Israelites on this, the west, side of the Jordan in all the LORD’s appointed duties, and in the service of the king. 31 Among the Hebronites Jerijah was the chief, according to the genealogies of his fathers households among the Hebronites. In the fortieth year of the reign of David these records were sought out, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer in Gilead. 32 And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred strong men, chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every duty relating to God and the affairs of the king.

11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Now the number of the children of Israel who were the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officials, and those who served the king in any duty of the military divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year: Each division had twenty-four thousand.

16 Furthermore, these were over the tribes of Israel: the chief officer of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of the Aaronites, Zadok; 18 of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the officers over the tribes of Israel.

2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam, the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was of the children of Perez and was the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.

4 And over the division for the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and Mikloth was the chief of his division; in his division also there were twenty-four thousand.

5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This is the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and over the thirty; and in his division was his son Ammizabad.

23 But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the heavens. 24 Joab, the son of Zeruiah, began to count them, but he did not finish, because God’s wrath fell on Israel for it; nor was the number put in the

7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was

26:29 Judges 23:4. 27:1-15 All these commanders were chosen from David’s greatest warriors – 11:10-31. 27:16-22 For some reason or other the tribes of Gad and Asher are omitted, the family of Aaron is listed with the tribes, and both halves of the one tribe of Manasseh

had officers appointed to them. 27:21 “Abner” – 1 Sam 14:50,51; 17:55-58; 26:5-16. 27:23 “Under” – 21:5 gives the number of those over 20 years of age.

“Stars” – Gen 15:5. 27:24 “Finish” – 21:6.

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account of the chronicles of king David.

footstool of our God, and had made things ready for the building. 3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war, and have shed blood.’

25 And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth, the son of Adiel; and Jehonathan, the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles; 26 and Ezri, the son of Kelub, was over those who were the farm workers tilling the ground; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite; 28 and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the low-lying plains was Baal Hanan the Gederite; and Joash was over the stores of oil; 29 and Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that pastured in Sharon; and Shaphat, the son of Adlai, was over the herds that were in the valleys; 30 And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite; 31 and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the officers over king David’s property.

4 “However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah to be the leader, and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 And he said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 Moreover, I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast in doing my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.’

8 “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.

32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel, the son of Hachmoni, was with the king’s sons; 33 And Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion; 34 and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and Joab was the general of the king’s army.

9 “And you, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong, and do it.”

And David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by division, and the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the property and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers and with the mighty men and with all the valiant men.

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the portico of the temple, and of its buildings and of its treasuries and of its upper rooms and of its inner rooms and of the place of the mercy seat, 12 and the plan of all that he had through the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the rooms around it, of the treasuries of the

2 Then David the king rose to his feet, and said, “Hear me, my brethren, and my people. As for me, I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the

27:25-31 These men had charge of the properties and income of the royal court. 27:32 “Jonathan” – a different Jonathan, of course, from Saul’s son and David’s friend. 27:33 2 Sam 15:12,32,37. 27:34 “Joab” – 11:6. 28:1 22:17. This chapter makes it clear that before the attempt of Adonijah to seize power (1 Kings 1:5-11), all the leaders of Israel knew that David had chosen Solomon to be king in his place. 28:2 “In my heart” – 17:1,2; 2 Sam 7:2. “Footstool” – Ps 99:5; 132:7; Isa 60:13. 28:3 22:8; 2 Sam 7:5,13. 28:4 17:23,27; 2 Sam 7:11-13. “Judah” – 5:2; Gen 49:10. 28:5 “Solomon”–22:9-10.

28:6,7 2 Sam 7:12-14. 28:8 Compare Josh 1:6-9. The land could be kept in possession only in the same way it was originally taken – by following God’s commands and obeying His word. 28:9 “Heart” – 29:17; 1 Sam 16:7; Heb 4:13. “Seek him” – note at 22:19. “Forsake. . .forever” – this goes beyond what God Himself had said in 2 Sam 7:14,15. 28:10 “Sanctuary” – note at Ex 25:8. 28:12 “Spirit” – v 19. God gave the plans for the temple just as He had for the tabernacle (Ex 25:9,40). It is not surprising then, that the same elements seen in the tabernacle appear again in the temple – most holy place, holy place, ark, altar of incense, table for bread, lampstands, brazen altar, etc.

1 CHRONICLES 28:13 520

house of God and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the articles of service in the house of the LORD. 14 He designated the gold by weight for the things to be made of gold, for all the articles for all kinds of service; and the silver by weight for all the articles of silver; for all articles for every kind of service; 15 the weight for the gold candlesticks and for their gold lamps, by weight for each candlestick and for their lamps; and for the silver candlesticks, by weight, both for the candlesticks and also for its lamps, according to the use of every candlestick. 16 And he designated the gold by weight for the tables of Showbread, for each table; and likewise the silver for the silver tables; 17 also pure gold for the forks and the bowls and the cups; and for the golden basins he designated gold by weight for each basin; and likewise silver by weight for each silver basin; 18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the plan of the chariot of the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

officials and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

Furthermore, David the king said to all the congregation, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. 2 Now for the house of my God, with all my strength, I have made ready the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the bronze for things of bronze, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, inlaid stones, and stones of various colours, and all kinds of precious stones, and marble in abundance. 3 Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I give the treasure I have of gold and silver for the house of my God, over and above all that I have made ready for the holy house, 4 namely, three thousand talents of gold, the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of its buildings; 5 the gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of artisans. And who now is willing to consecrate his service today to the LORD?”

19 “All this,” David said, “the LORD caused me to understand in writing by his hand on me, all the details of this plan.”

6 Then the chief of the fathers and leaders of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officials over the king’s work, offered willingly, 7 and gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, and ten thousand talents of silver, and eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 And those with whom precious stones were found gave them into the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced, because of their willing offering,

20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the LORD God, my God, will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 21 And, see, the divisions of the priests and the Levites; they are there for all the service of the house of God. With you also, for all kinds of workmanship, will be every skillful man who is willing, for any kind of service. Also the

28:13 23:6; 24:1-3. 28:19 David, inspired by God’s Spirit (v 12) wrote down exactly what God wanted the plans and specifications of the temple to be. Solomon followed them completely (1 Kings 6:38). If Solomon had always followed all the instructions David gave him (v 9), it would have been well. But 1 Kings 11:4 reveals that he did not. 28:20 22:13. Compare Josh 1:5-7. 28:21 “Skillful” – compare Ex 35:25-35; 36:1,2. Whenever there is a special work of God to be done, God will raise up men and give them the various skills needed to do it. Compare Rom 12:5-8; 1 Cor 12:4-6; Eph 4:7-13. 29:1 “Young” – 22:5; 1 Kings 3:7. Solomon was probably about 21 years of age.

content to provide plunder captured in battles and other possessions belonging to the nation’s treasuries; he wanted to give from his personal possessions. See also 21:24,25; 2 Sam 24:24. Alas, that so many now in Christian circles not only are reluctant to give to God’s work, they enrich themselves by filling their pockets from what others have given. Note and references on giving at 2 Cor 9:15. 29:4-7 “Talents” – one talent was about 34 kilograms. 29:5 “Consecrate his service” – David knew that if they first gave themselves to God they would also give to the work of God. Compare 2 Cor 8:1-5. 29:7 “Ten thousand darics” – about 84 kilograms. 29:9 “Willingly” – they followed David’s example. The result was joy to them and an abundance for God’s work. Compare

“God” – 22:5; 2 Chron 2:5. 29:2 22:3-5,14. 29:3 “The treasure I have” – David was not

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