Discovery Box1 Chronicles 10:1--29:30
Context10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of 1 Saul and his sons. They 2 struck down Saul’s 3 sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 10:3 The battle was thick 4 around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him. 5 10:4 Saul told his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.” 6 But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. 10:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 10:6 So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household 7 died together. 10:7 When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army 8 had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.
10:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 10:9 They stripped his corpse, and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people. 10:10 They placed his armor in the temple of their gods 9 and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. 10:11 When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 10:12 all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons 10 and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains 11 under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.
10:13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits. 12 10:14 He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord 13 killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
11:1 All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! 14 11:2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. 15 The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’” 11:3 When all the leaders 16 of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement 17 with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed 18 David king over Israel, just as the Lord had announced through Samuel. 19
11:4 David and the whole Israelite army 20 advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). 21 (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.) 22 11:5 The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 11:6 23 David said, “Whoever attacks 24 the Jebusites first will become commanding general!” 25 So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked 26 first and became commander. 27 11:7 David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David. 11:8 He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; 28 Joab restored the rest of the city. 11:9 David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him. 29
11:10 These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word. 30 11:11 This is the list of David’s warriors: 31
Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. 32 He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle. 33
11:12 Next in command 34 was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. 11:13 He was with David in Pas Dammim 35 when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, 11:14 but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it 36 and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory. 37
11:15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. 11:16 David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem. 38 11:17 David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink 39 from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!” 11:18 So the three elite warriors 40 broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord 11:19 and said, “God forbid that I should do this! 41 Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” 42 Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. 43
11:20 Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three 44 elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear 45 and gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 46 11:21 From 47 the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them. 48
11:22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; 49 he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. 11:23 He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet 50 tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked 51 him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 11:24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors. 11:25 He received honor from 52 the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.
11:26 The mighty warriors were:
Asahel the brother of Joab,
Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem, 53
11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, 54
Helez the Pelonite, 55
11:28 Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite,
11:29 Sibbekai 56 the Hushathite,
Ilai 57 the Ahohite,
11:30 Maharai the Netophathite,
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,
11:31 Ithai 58 son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory,
Benaiah the Pirathonite,
11:32 Hurai 59 from the valleys of Gaash,
Abiel 60 the Arbathite,
11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, 61
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
11:34 the sons of Hashem 62 the Gizonite,
Jonathan son of Shageh 63 the Hararite,
11:35 Ahiam son of Sakar 64 the Hararite,
Eliphal son of Ur, 65
11:36 Hepher the Mekerathite,
Ahijah the Pelonite,
Naarai son of Ezbai,
11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, 67
Mibhar son of Hagri,
11:39 Zelek the Ammonite,
Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,
11:40 Ira the Ithrite,
Gareb the Ithrite,
11:41 Uriah the Hittite,
Zabad son of Achli,
11:42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,
11:43 Hanan son of Maacah,
Joshaphat the Mithnite,
11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
11:45 Jediael son of Shimri,
and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
11:46 Eliel the Mahavite,
and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,
and Ithmah the Moabite,
11:47 Eliel,
and Obed,
and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
12:1 These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished 68 from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. 12:2 They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin. 69 ) These were: 70
12:3 Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth;
Berachah,
Jehu the Anathothite,
12:4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader,
(12:5)71 Jeremiah,
Jahaziel,
Johanan,
Jozabad the Gederathite,
12:5 (12:6) Eluzai,
Jerimoth,
Bealiah,
Shemariah,
Shephatiah the Haruphite,
12:6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,
12:7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
12:8 Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills. 72 12:9 Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third, 12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 12:14 These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand. 73 12:15 They crossed the Jordan River 74 in the first month, 75 when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west. 76
12:16 Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. 12:17 David went out to meet them and said, 77 “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. 78 But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, 79 may the God of our ancestors 80 take notice and judge!” 12:18 But a spirit 81 empowered 82 Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: 83
“We are yours, O David!
We support 84 you, O son of Jesse!
May you greatly prosper! 85
May those who help you prosper! 86
Indeed 87 your God helps you!”
So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.
12:19 Some men from Manasseh joined 88 David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”) 89 12:20 When David 90 went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. 12:21 They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army. 12:22 Each day men came to help David until his army became very large. 91
12:23 The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree: 92
12:24 From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears. 93
12:25 From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.
12:26 From Levi there were 4,600. 12:27 Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him, 12:28 along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.
12:29 From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, 94 there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul. 95
12:30 From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families. 96
12:31 From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.
12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do. 97
12:33 From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty. 98
12:34 From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.
12:35 From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.
12:36 From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.
12:37 From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.
12:38 All these men were warriors who were ready to march. 99 They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; 100 all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king. 101 12:39 They spent three days feasting 102 there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. 12:40 Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, 103 for Israel was celebrating. 104
13:1 David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred. 105 13:2 David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, 106 let’s spread the word 107 to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, 108 so they may join us. 13:3 Let’s move the ark of our God back here, 109 for we did not seek his will 110 throughout Saul’s reign.” 111 13:4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, 112 for the proposal seemed right to all the people. 113 13:5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River 114 in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, 115 to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 13:6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim – the ark that is called by his name. 116
13:7 They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, 13:8 while David and all Israel were energetically 117 celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, 118 tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 13:9 When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of 119 the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 13:10 The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, 120 he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. 121 He died right there before God. 122
13:11 David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; 123 so he called that place Perez Uzzah, 124 which remains its name to this very day. 13:12 David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?” 13:13 So David did not move the ark to the City of David; 125 he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 13:14 The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.
14:1 King Hiram of Tyre 126 sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, 127 and carpenters to build a palace for him. 14:2 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated 128 his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
14:3 In Jerusalem 129 David married 130 more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 14:4 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, 131 and Eliphelet.
14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed 132 king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. 133 When David heard about it, he marched out against 134 them. 14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided 135 the Valley of Rephaim. 14:10 David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” 14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, 136 God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim. 137 14:12 The Philistines left 138 their idols 139 there, so David ordered that they be burned.
14:13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 14:14 So David again asked God what he should do. 140 This time 141 God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees. 142 14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. 143 For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army 144 of the Philistines.” 14:16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
14:17 So David became famous 145 in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him. 146
15:1 David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 15:2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. 15:3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem 147 to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 15:4 David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
15:5 From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.
15:6 From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.
15:7 From the descendants of Gershom: 148 Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.
15:8 From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.
15:9 From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.
15:10 From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.
15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 15:12 He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it. 15:13 The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.” 149 15:14 The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15:15 The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.
15:16 David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully. 150 15:17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, 151 Ethan son of Kushaiah; 15:18 along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, 152 Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
15:19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 15:20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style; 153 15:21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, 154 as led by 155 the director; 15:22 Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter; 156 15:23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians 157 of the ark; 15:24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians 158 of the ark.
15:25 So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration. 15:26 When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 15:27 David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; 159 David also wore a linen ephod. 160 15:28 All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments. 15:29 As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him. 161
16:1 They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings 162 before God. 16:2 When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name. 16:3 He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. 16:4 He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel. 16:5 Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals; 16:6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.
16:7 That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:
16:8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
16:9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
16:10 Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
16:11 Seek the Lord and the strength he gives!
Seek his presence 163 continually!
16:12 Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed, 164
16:13 O children 165 of Israel, God’s 166 servant,
you descendants of Jacob, God’s 167 chosen ones!
16:14 He is the Lord our God;
he carries out judgment throughout the earth. 168
16:15 Remember 169 continually his covenantal decree,
the promise he made 170 to a thousand generations –
16:16 the promise 171 he made to Abraham,
the promise he made by oath to Isaac! 172
16:17 He gave it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as a lasting promise, 173
16:18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
16:19 When they were few in number,
just a very few, and foreign residents within it,
16:20 they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another. 174
16:21 He let no one oppress them,
he disciplined kings for their sake,
16:22 saying, 175 “Don’t touch my anointed ones!
Don’t harm my prophets!”
16:23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Announce every day 176 how he delivers!
16:24 Tell the nations about his splendor,
tell 177 all the nations about his miraculous deeds!
16:25 For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise,
he is more awesome than 178 all gods.
16:26 For all the gods of the nations are worthless, 179
but the Lord made the heavens. 180
16:27 Majestic splendor emanates from him, 181
he is the source of strength and joy. 182
16:28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!
16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! 183
Bring an offering and enter his presence!
Worship the Lord in holy attire! 184
16:30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is established, it cannot be moved.
16:31 Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy!
Let the nations say, 185 ‘The Lord reigns!’
16:32 Let the sea and everything in it shout!
Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!
16:33 Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth!
16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
and his loyal love endures. 186
16:35 Say this prayer: 187 “Deliver us, O God who delivers us!
Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!
Then we will give thanks 188 to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.” 189
16:36 May the Lord God of Israel be praised,
in the future and forevermore. 190
Then all the people said, “We agree! 191 Praise the Lord!”
16:37 David 192 left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements, 193 16:38 including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 16:39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served 194 before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center 195 in Gibeon, 16:40 regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe. 196 16:41 Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!) 197 16:42 Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance. 198
16:43 Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family. 199
17:1 When David had settled into his palace, 200 he 201 said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace 202 made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 203 17:2 Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, 204 for God is with you.”
17:3 That night God told Nathan the prophet, 205 17:4 “Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 17:5 For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt 206 to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 207 17:6 Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say 208 to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, 209 ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’
17:7 “So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies 210 says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd 211 to make you a leader of my people Israel. 17:8 I was with you wherever you went and I defeated 212 all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 213 17:9 I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle 214 them there; they will live there and not be disturbed 215 anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 216 17:10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house 217 for you! 17:11 When the time comes for you to die, 218 I will raise up your descendant, 219 one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 17:12 He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 220 17:13 I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 221 17:14 I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’” 222 17:15 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him. 223
17:16 David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, 224 that you should have brought me to this point? 17:17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. 225 You have revealed to me what men long to know, 226 O Lord God. 17:18 What more can David say 227 to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition. 228 17:19 O Lord, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, 229 you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness. 230 17:20 O Lord, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true! 231 17:21 And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation 232 in the earth? Their God 233 went to claim 234 a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds 235 when you drove out 236 nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods. 237 17:22 You made Israel your very own nation for all time. 238 You, O Lord, became their God. 17:23 So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! 239 Do as you promised, 240 17:24 so 241 it may become a reality 242 and you may gain lasting fame, 243 as people say, 244 ‘The Lord who commands armies is the God of Israel.’ 245 David’s dynasty 246 will be established before you, 17:25 for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty 247 for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you. 248 17:26 Now, O Lord, you are the true God; 249 you have made this good promise to your servant. 250 17:27 Now you are willing to bless your servant’s dynasty 251 so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Lord, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.” 252
18:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns 253 away from the Philistines. 254
18:2 He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 255
18:3 David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority 256 to the Euphrates River. 257 18:4 David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, 258 and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s 259 chariot horses. 260 18:5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 18:6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; 261 the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected 262 David wherever he campaigned. 263 18:7 David took the golden shields which Hadadezer’s servants had carried 264 and brought them to Jerusalem. 265 18:8 From Tibhath 266 and Kun, 267 Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” 268 the pillars, and other bronze items.
18:9 When King Tou 269 of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 18:10 he sent his son Hadoram 270 to King David to extend his best wishes 271 and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. 272 He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze. 273 18:11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, 274 along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including 275 Edom, 276 Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
18:12 Abishai son of Zeruiah 277 killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected 278 David wherever he campaigned. 279
18:14 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. 280 18:15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of 281 the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 18:16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha 282 was scribe; 18:17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised 283 the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials. 284
19:1 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. 19:2 David said, “I will express my loyalty 285 to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal 286 to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. 287 When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy, 288 19:3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? 289 No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!” 290 19:4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. 291 He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed 292 and then sent them away. 19:5 Messengers 293 came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho 294 until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”
19:6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, 295 Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents 296 of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. 297 19:7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.
19:8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them. 298 19:9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 19:10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans. 299 19:11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 19:12 Joab 300 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, 301 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, 302 I will come to your rescue. 19:13 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!” 303 19:14 So Joab and his men 304 marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. 19:15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s 305 brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem. 306
19:16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, 307 led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army. 308 19:17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, 309 and marched against them. 310 David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him. 311 19:18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 312 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach 313 the commanding general. 19:19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, 314 Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 20:2 David took the crown from the head of their king 315 and wore it 316 (its weight was a talent 317 of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. 20:3 He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. 318 This was his policy 319 with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
20:4 Later there was a battle 320 with the Philistines in Gezer. 321 At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, 322 one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines 323 were subdued.
20:5 There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, 324 whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom. 325
20:6 In a battle in Gath 326 there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha. 20:7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, 327 David’s brother, killed him.
20:8 These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed 328 by the hand of David and his soldiers. 329
21:1 An adversary 330 opposed 331 Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had. 332 21:2 David told Joab and the leaders of the army, 333 “Go, count the number of warriors 334 from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.” 335 21:3 Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army 336 a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?” 337
21:4 But the king’s edict stood, despite Joab’s objections. 338 So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem. 339 21:5 Joab reported to David the number of warriors. 340 In all Israel there were 1,100,000 341 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers. 342 21:6 Now Joab 343 did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king’s edict disgusted him. 21:7 God was also offended by it, 344 so he attacked Israel.
21:8 David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 21:9 The Lord told Gad, David’s prophet, 345 21:10 “Go, tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’” 346 21:11 Gad went to David and told him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Pick one of these: 21:12 three 347 years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, 348 or three days being struck down by the Lord, during which a plague will invade the land and the Lord’s messenger will destroy throughout Israel’s territory.’ 349 Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.” 21:13 David said to Gad, “I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the Lord, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!” 350 21:14 So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.
21:15 God sent an angel 351 to ravage 352 Jerusalem. As he was doing so, 353 the Lord watched 354 and relented from 355 his judgment. 356 He told the angel who was destroying, “That’s enough! 357 Stop now!” 358
Now the Lord’s angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan 359 the Jebusite. 21:16 David looked up and saw the Lord’s messenger standing between the earth and sky with his sword drawn and in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground. 360 21:17 David said to God, “Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! 361 As for these sheep – what have they done? O Lord my God, attack me and my family, 362 but remove the plague from your people!” 363
21:18 So the Lord’s messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build 364 an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 21:19 So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the Lord. 365 21:20 While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves. 21:21 When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face 366 to the ground. 21:22 David said to Ornan, “Sell me the threshing floor 367 so I can build 368 on it an altar for the Lord – I’ll pay top price 369 – so that the plague may be removed 370 from the people.” 21:23 Ornan told David, “You can have it! 371 My master, the king, may do what he wants. 372 Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you.” 21:24 King David replied to Ornan, “No, I insist on buying it for top price. 373 I will not offer to the Lord what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice 374 that cost me nothing. 375 21:25 So David bought the place from Ornan for 600 pieces of gold. 376 21:26 David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. 377 He called out to the Lord, and the Lord 378 responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar. 21:27 The Lord ordered the messenger 379 to put his sword back into its sheath.
21:28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord responded to him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 21:29 Now the Lord’s tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center 380 in Gibeon. 21:30 But David could not go before it to seek God’s will, for he was afraid of the sword of the Lord’s messenger. 22:1 David then said, “This is the place where the temple of the Lord God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.”
22:2 David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God’s temple. 22:3 David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed, 22:4 and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)
22:5 David said, “My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man, 381 and the temple to be built for the Lord must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations. 382 Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.” So David made extensive preparations before he died.
22:6 He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the Lord God of Israel. 22:7 David said to Solomon: “My son, I really wanted 383 to build a temple to honor 384 the Lord my God. 22:8 But the Lord said to me: 385 ‘You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me, 386 for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me. 22:9 Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. 387 I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. 388 Indeed, Solomon 389 will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 390 22:10 He will build a temple to honor me; 391 he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’ 392
22:11 “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the Lord your God, just as he announced you would. 393 22:12 Only may the Lord give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey 394 the law of the Lord your God. 22:13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the Lord ordered Moses to give to Israel. 395 Be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 396 22:14 Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the Lord’s temple. 397 I have stored up 100,000 talents 398 of gold, 1,000,000 399 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more! 22:15 You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, 400 and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled 22:16 in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron. 401 Get up and begin the work! May the Lord be with you!”
22:17 David ordered all the officials of Israel to support 402 his son Solomon. 22:18 He told them, 403 “The Lord your God is with you! 404 He has made you secure on every side, 405 for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region 406 and the region 407 is subdued before the Lord and his people. 22:19 Now seek the Lord your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being! 408 Get up and build the sanctuary of the Lord God! Then you can bring 409 the ark of the Lord’s covenant and the holy items dedicated to God’s service 410 into the temple that is built to honor the Lord.” 411
23:1 When David was old and approaching the end of his life, 412 he made his son Solomon king over Israel.
23:2 David 413 assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites. 23:3 The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men. 414 23:4 David said, 415 “Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the Lord’s temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges; 23:5 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord with the instruments I supplied for worship.” 416 23:6 David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
23:7 The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.
23:8 The sons of Ladan:
Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and Joel – three in all.
23:9 The sons of Shimei:
Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran – three in all.
These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.
23:10 The sons of Shimei:
Jahath, Zina, 417 Jeush, and Beriah. These were Shimei’s sons – four in all. 418 23:11 Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.
23:12 The sons of Kohath:
Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel – four in all.
23:13 The sons of Amram:
Aaron and Moses.
Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his name. 419 23:14 The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites. 420
23:15 The sons of Moses:
Gershom and Eliezer.
Shebuel 422 the oldest.
23:17 The son of Eliezer was 423 Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
Shelomith the oldest.
23:19 The sons of Hebron:
Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
23:20 The sons of Uzziel:
Micah the oldest, and Isshiah the second.
23:21 The sons of Merari:
Mahli and Mushi.
The sons of Mahli:
Eleazar and Kish.
23:22 Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them. 425
23:23 The sons of Mushi:
Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth – three in all.
23:24 These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord’s temple and were twenty years old and up. 426 23:25 For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem. 427 23:26 So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.” 23:27 According to David’s final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted. 428
23:28 Their job was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Lord’s temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God’s temple. 429 23:29 They also took care of 430 the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring. 431 23:30 They also stood in a designated place 432 every morning and offered thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this in the evening 23:31 and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with regulations. 433 23:32 They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord’s temple. 434
24:1 The divisions of Aaron’s descendants were as follows:
The sons of Aaron:
Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
24:2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
24:3 David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities. 435 24:4 The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight. 436 24:5 They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the holy place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 437 24:6 The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar. 438
24:7 The first lot went to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,
24:8 the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,
24:9 the fifth to Malkijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,
24:11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shecaniah,
24:12 the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,
24:13 the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
24:14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,
24:15 the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
24:16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
24:17 the twenty-first to Jakin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
24:18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
24:19 This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord’s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor 439 Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him. 440
24:20 The rest of the Levites included: 441
Shubael 442 from the sons of Amram,
Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,
24:21 the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,
24:22 Shelomoth from the Izharites,
Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.
Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
Micah;
Shamir from the sons of Micah.
24:25 The brother of Micah:
Isshiah.
Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.
24:26 The sons of Merari:
Mahli and Mushi.
The son of Jaaziah:
Beno. 445
24:27 The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah:
Beno, 446 Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
24:28 From Mahli:
Eleazar, who had no sons.
24:29 From Kish:
Jerahmeel. 447
24:30 The sons of Mushi:
Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the Levites, listed by their families.
24:31 Just like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with the those of the youngest. 448
25:1 David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. 449 The following men were assigned this responsibility: 450
25:2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision. 451
25:3 From the sons of Jeduthun: 452 Gedaliah, Zeri, 453 Jeshaiah, 454 Hashabiah, and Mattithiah – six in all, 455 under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the Lord.
25:4 From the sons of Heman: 456 Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 25:5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king’s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. 457 God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
25:6 All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord’s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. 25:7 They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight. 458
25:8 They cast lots to determine their responsibilities – oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student. 459
25:9 The first lot went to Asaph’s son Joseph and his relatives and sons – twelve in all, 460
the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons – twelve in all,
25:10 the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:11 the fourth to Izri 461 and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:12 the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:13 the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:14 the seventh to Jesharelah 462 and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:15 the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:16 the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:17 the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:18 the eleventh to Azarel 463 and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:19 the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:20 the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:21 the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:22 the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:23 the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:24 the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:25 the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:26 the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:27 the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:28 the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:29 the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:30 the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives – twelve in all,
25:31 the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives – twelve in all.
26:1 The divisions of the gatekeepers:
From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
26:2 Meshelemiah’s sons:
The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel, 26:3 the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai.
26:4 Obed-Edom’s sons:
The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel, 26:5 the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.)
26:6 His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected. 26:7 The sons of Shemaiah:
Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives 464 Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.
26:8 All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.
26:9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected – eighteen in all.
26:10 Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons:
The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status), 26:11 the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All of Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen.
26:12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the Lord’s temple.
26:13 They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for. 465 26:14 The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah. 466 They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him. 26:15 Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. 26:16 Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another. 467 26:17 Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs. 26:18 At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court. 26:19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.
26:20 Their fellow Levites were in charge of the storehouses 468 in God’s temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items. 26:21 The descendants of Ladan, 469 who were descended from Gershon through Ladan and were leaders of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, included Jehieli 470 26:22 and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses in the Lord’s temple.
26:23 As for the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:
26:24 Shebuel 471 son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses. 26:25 His relatives through Eliezer included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith 472 his son. 26:26 Shelomith 473 and his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses containing the consecrated items dedicated by King David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and a hundred, and the army officers. 26:27 They had dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to be used for repairs on the Lord’s temple. 26:28 They were also in charge of everything dedicated by Samuel the prophet, 474 Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah; Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of everything that had been dedicated.
26:29 As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple 475 as officers and judges over Israel.
26:30 As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan; they did the Lord’s work and the king’s service.
26:31 As for the Hebronites: Jeriah was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, they examined the records and discovered 476 there were highly respected men in Jazer in Gilead. 26:32 Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders. 477 King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king. 478
27:1 What follows is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in various matters. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year; each consisted of 24,000 men. 479
27:2 Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. His division consisted of 24,000 men. 27:3 He was a descendant of Perez; he was in charge of all the army officers for the first month.
27:4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division assigned the second month; Mikloth was the next in rank. 480 His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:5 The third army commander, assigned the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was the leader of his division, which consisted of 24,000 men. 27:6 Benaiah was the leader of the thirty warriors and his division; his son was Ammizabad. 481
27:7 The fourth, assigned the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. 482 His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:8 The fifth, assigned the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:9 The sixth, assigned the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:10 The seventh, assigned the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:11 The eighth, assigned the eighth month, was Sibbekai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:12 The ninth, assigned the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:13 The tenth, assigned the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:14 The eleventh, assigned the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:15 The twelfth, assigned the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, a descendant of Othniel. His division consisted of 24,000 men.
27:16 The officers of the Israelite tribes:
Eliezer son of Zikri was the leader of the Reubenites,
Shephatiah son of Maacah led the Simeonites,
27:17 Hashabiah son of Kemuel led the Levites,
Zadok led the descendants of Aaron,
27:18 Elihu, a brother of David, led Judah,
Omri son of Michael led Issachar,
27:19 Ishmaiah son of Obadiah led Zebulun,
Jerimoth son of Azriel led Naphtali,
27:20 Hoshea son of Azaziah led the Ephraimites,
Joel son of Pedaiah led the half-tribe of Manasseh,
27:21 Iddo son of Zechariah led the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead,
Jaasiel son of Abner led Benjamin,
27:22 Azarel son of Jeroham led Dan.
These were the commanders of the Israelite tribes.
27:23 David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky. 27:24 Joab son of Zeruiah started to count the men but did not finish. God was angry with Israel 483 because of this, so the number was not recorded in the scroll 484 called The Annals of King David.
27:25 Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storehouses;
Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers.
27:26 Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land. 485
27:27 Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards;
Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the wine stored in the vineyards. 486
27:28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the lowlands; 487
Joash was in charge of the storehouses of olive oil.
27:29 Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon;
Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.
27:30 Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels;
Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.
27:31 Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the sheep.
All these were the officials in charge of King David’s property.
27:32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe; 488
Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for 489 the king’s sons.
27:33 Ahithophel was the king’s adviser;
Hushai the Arkite was the king’s confidant. 490
27:34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.
Joab was the commanding general of the king’s army.
28:1 David assembled in Jerusalem 491 all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.
28:2 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord’s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God. 492 I have made the preparations for building it. 28:3 But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, 493 for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’ 28:4 The Lord God of Israel chose me out of my father’s entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty. 494 Indeed, 495 he chose Judah as leader, and my father’s family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father’s sons and made me king over all Israel. 496 28:5 From all the many sons the Lord has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel. 497 28:6 He said to me, ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father. 28:7 I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.’ 498 28:8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the Lord’s assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this: 499 Carefully observe 500 all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.
28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, obey 501 the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, 502 for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, 503 but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. 28:10 Realize 504 now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”
28:11 David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch, 505 its buildings, its treasuries, 506 its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room 507 for atonement. 28:12 He gave him 508 the blueprints of all he envisioned 509 for the courts of the Lord’s temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God’s temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.
28:13 He gave him the regulations 510 for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the Lord’s temple, and for all the items used in the service of the Lord’s temple.
28:14 He gave him 511 the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the Lord’s temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service, 512 28:15 for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand, 28:16 for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables, 28:17 for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl, 28:18 and for the refined gold of the incense altar.
He gave him 513 the blueprint for the seat 514 of the gold cherubim that spread their wings 515 and provide shelter for the ark of the Lord’s covenant.
28:19 David said, 516 “All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.” 517
28:20 David said to his son Solomon: “Be strong and brave! Do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! 518 For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord’s temple is finished. 28:21 Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God’s temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service. 519 The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.” 520
29:1 King David said to the entire assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man, 521 and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. 29:2 So I have made every effort 522 to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, 523 as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster. 29:3 Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple. 29:4 This includes 3,000 talents 524 of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, 29:5 for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the Lord today?”
29:6 The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king’s work contributed willingly. 29:7 They donated for the service of God’s temple 5,000 talents 525 and ten thousand darics 526 of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. 29:8 All who possessed precious 527 stones donated them to the treasury of the Lord’s temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite. 29:9 The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the Lord with a willing attitude; 528 King David was also very happy. 529
29:10 David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: 530
“O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! 29:11 O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign 531 over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler 532 of all. 29:12 You are the source of wealth and honor; 533 you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. 534 29:13 Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!
29:14 “But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? 535 Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. 536 29:15 For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; 537 our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security. 538 29:16 O Lord our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you. 29:17 I know, my God, that you examine thoughts 539 and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives 540 I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. 29:18 O Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you. 541 29:19 Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.” 542
29:20 David told the entire assembly: “Praise the Lord your God!” So the entire assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors; they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the Lord and the king.
29:21 The next day they made sacrifices and offered burnt sacrifices to the Lord (1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 lambs), along with their accompanying drink offerings and many other sacrifices for all Israel. 29:22 They held a feast 543 before the Lord that day and celebrated. 544
Then they designated Solomon, David’s son, as king a second time; 545 before the Lord they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest. 29:23 Solomon sat on the Lord’s throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him. 546 29:24 All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 547 29:25 The Lord greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him. 548
29:26 David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 29:27 He reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem 549 thirty-three years. 29:28 He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. 550 His son Solomon succeeded him. 29:29 King David’s accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Samuel the prophet, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the prophet. 551 29:30 Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms. 552
[10:2] 1 tn Heb “stuck close after.”
[10:2] 2 tn Heb “the Philistines.” The translation has substituted the pronoun “they” to avoid redundancy.
[10:2] 3 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:3] 5 tn Heb “and they found him, the ones who shoot with the bow, and he was in pain from the ones shooting.”
[10:4] 6 tn Heb “so these uncircumcised ones might not come and abuse me.”
[10:6] 7 tn Heb “all his house.” This is probably to be understood as a general summary statement. It could include other males in Saul’s household besides his three sons, cf. 1 Sam 31:6. If it refers only to the male members of his household who would have stood in succession to the throne (cf. NLT, “bringing his dynasty to an end,”) even here there is an exception, since one of Saul’s sons, Eshbaal (or “Ishbosheth” in 2 Sam 2:8) was not killed in the battle and became king over Israel, which he ruled for two years (2 Sam 2:10) until he was assassinated by Rechab and Baanah (2 Sam 4:5-6). The tribe of Judah never acknowledged Ishbosheth as king; instead they followed David (2 Sam 2:10).
[10:7] 8 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the army) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[10:10] 9 tn Or “god.” The Hebrew term may be translated as singular or plural depending on the context.
[10:12] 10 tn Heb “arose and carried away the corpse of Saul and the corpses of his sons.”
[10:12] 11 tn Heb “their bones.”
[10:13] 12 tn Heb “and Saul died because of his unfaithfulness by which he acted unfaithfully against the
[10:14] 13 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[11:1] 14 tn Heb “look, your bone and your flesh [are] we.”
[11:2] 15 tn Heb “you were the one who led out and the one who brought in Israel.”
[11:3] 18 tn Or “They poured olive oil on David to designate him as king.”
[11:3] 19 tn Heb “according to the word of the
[11:4] 20 tn Heb “all Israel.”
[11:4] 21 sn Jebus was an older name for the city of Jerusalem (cf. Josh 15:8; Judg 1:21).
[11:4] 22 tn Heb “and there [were] the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land.”
[11:6] 23 sn Verse 6 inserts into the narrative parenthetical information about Joab’s role in the conquest of the city. Verse 7 then picks up where v. 5 left off.
[11:6] 24 tn Or perhaps “strikes down.”
[11:6] 25 tn Heb “head and officer.”
[11:8] 28 tn Heb “to that which surrounds.” On the referent here as “the surrounding walls,” see HALOT 740 s.v. סָבִיב.
[11:9] 29 tn Heb “and David went, going and becoming great, and the
[11:10] 30 tn Heb “and these were the heads of the warriors who were David’s, who held strongly with him in his kingdom and with all Israel to make him king, according to the word of the
[11:11] 31 tn Heb “and these are the number of the warriors who were David’s.”
[11:11] 32 tc The marginal reading (Qere) has “officers;” the consonantal text (Kethib) has “the Thirty” (see v. 15).
[11:11] 33 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against 300, [who were] slain at one time.”
[11:12] 34 tn Heb “after him.”
[11:13] 35 tc Some read here “Ephes Dammim.” See 1 Sam 17:1.
[11:14] 36 tn Heb “delivered it.”
[11:14] 37 tn Heb “and the
[11:16] 38 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[11:17] 39 tn Heb “Who will give me water to drink?” On the rhetorical use of מִי (mi) here, see BDB 566 s.v. f.
[11:18] 40 tn Heb “the three,” referring to the three elite warriors mentioned in v. 12.
[11:19] 41 tn Heb “Far be it to me from my God from doing this.”
[11:19] 42 tn Heb “with their lives.” The same expression occurs later in this verse.
[11:19] 43 tn Heb “These things the three warriors did.”
[11:20] 44 tc The Syriac reads “thirty” here and at the beginning of v. 21; this reading is followed by some English translations (cf. NAB, NASB, NRSV, NLT).
[11:20] 45 tn Heb “he was wielding his spear against three hundred, [who were] slain.”
[11:20] 46 tn Heb “and to him [reading with the Qere] there was a name among the three.”
[11:21] 48 tn Heb “of the three.”
[11:22] 49 tc Heb “the two of Ariel, Moab.” The precise meaning of אֲרִיאֵל (’ari’el) is uncertain; some read “warrior.” The present translation assumes that the word is a proper name and that בְּנֵי (bÿney, “sons of”) has accidentally dropped from the text by homoioarcton (note the preceding שְׁנֵי, shÿney).
[11:23] 50 tn Heb “five cubits.” Assuming a length of 18 inches for the standard cubit, this individual would be 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall.
[11:23] 51 tn Heb “went down to.”
[11:26] 53 map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.
[11:27] 54 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:25 has the variant spelling of “Shammah.”
[11:27] 55 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:26 has the variant spelling of “Paltite.”
[11:29] 56 tn In 2 Sam 23:27 this individual’s name is given as “Mebunnai.”
[11:29] 57 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant “Zalmon.”
[11:31] 58 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:29 has the variant spelling “Ittai.”
[11:32] 59 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:28 has the variant spelling “Hiddai.”
[11:32] 60 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Abi-Albon.”
[11:33] 61 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:31 has the variant spelling “Barhumite.”
[11:34] 62 tn In 2 Sam 23:32 this individual’s name is given as “Jashen.”
[11:34] 63 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:33 has the variant spelling “Shammah.”
[11:35] 64 tn In 2 Sam 23:33 this individual’s name is given as “Sharar.”
[11:35] 65 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:34 has the variant “Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite.”
[11:37] 66 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:35 has the variant spelling “Hezrai.”
[11:38] 67 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 23:36 has the variant “Igal son of Nathan from Zobah.”
[12:2] 69 tn Heb “ones armed with bow[s], using the right hand and the left hand with stones and with arrows with the bow, from the brothers of Saul from Benjamin.”
[12:2] 70 tn The words “These were” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons, because of the length of the intervening material since the beginning of the verse.
[12:4] 71 sn In the Hebrew text (BHS) a verse division occurs at this point, and for the remainder of the chapter the verse numbers of the Hebrew Bible differ by one from the English Bible. Thus 1 Chr 12:4b ET = 12:5 HT, and 12:5-40 ET = 12:6-41 HT. Beginning with 13:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.
[12:8] 72 tn Heb “warriors, men of battle for war, prepared with shield and spear, and [like] the face of a lion were their faces, and like gazelles on the hills to hurry.”
[12:14] 73 tn Heb “one for a hundred the small, and the great for a thousand.” Another option is to translate the preposition -לְ (lamed) as “against” and to understand this as a hyperbolic reference to their prowess: “the least could stand against a hundred, the greatest against a thousand.”
[12:15] 74 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
[12:15] 75 sn That is, March-April.
[12:15] 76 tn Heb “and they chased all the valleys to the east and to the west.”
[12:17] 77 tn Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”
[12:17] 78 tn Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”
[12:17] 79 tn Heb “with no violence in my hands.”
[12:18] 81 tn Perhaps “the Spirit,” but the text has simply רוּחַ (ruakh) with no article (suggesting an indefinite reference).
[12:18] 83 tn The words “and he said” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[12:18] 85 tn Heb “Peace, peace to you.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is repeated to emphasize degree.
[12:18] 86 tn Heb “and peace to the one who helps you.”
[12:19] 88 tn Heb “fell upon,” here in a good sense.
[12:19] 89 tn Heb “and they did not help them for by counsel they sent him away, the lords of the Philistines, saying, ‘With our heads he will fall to his master Saul.’”
[12:20] 90 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:22] 91 tn Heb “for at the time of day in a day they were coming to David to help him until [there was] a great camp like the camp of God.” The term אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “God”) is probably used idiomatically here to indicate the superlative.
[12:23] 92 tn Heb “these are the numbers of the heads of the forces armed for battle [who] came to David in Hebron to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him according to the mouth of the
[12:24] 93 tn Heb “the sons of Judah, carrying shield and spear, [were] 6,800 armed for battle.”
[12:29] 94 tn Heb “from the sons of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul.”
[12:29] 95 tn Heb “and until then, the majority of them were keeping the charge of the house of Saul.”
[12:30] 96 tn Heb “men of names for the house of their fathers.”
[12:32] 97 tn Heb “from the sons of Issachar, knowers of understanding for times to know what Israel should do, their heads [were] 200, and all their brothers according to their mouth.”
[12:33] 98 tn Heb “from Zebulun, those going out for battle, prepared for war with all weapons of war, 50,000, and to help without a heart and a heart.”
[12:38] 99 tc Heb “all these [were] men of war, helpers of the battle line.” The present translation assumes an emendation of עֹדְרֵי (’odÿrey, “helpers of”) to עֹרְכֵי, (’orÿkhey, “prepared for”).
[12:38] 100 tn Heb “with a complete heart they came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel.”
[12:38] 101 tn Heb “and also all the rest of Israel [was of] one mind to make David king.”
[12:39] 102 tn Heb “eating and drinking.”
[12:40] 103 tn Heb “cattle and sheep.”
[12:40] 104 tn Heb “for there was joy in Israel.”
[13:1] 105 tn Heb “and David consulted with the officers of thousands and hundreds, to every ruler.”
[13:2] 106 tn Heb “If to you [it is] good and from the
[13:2] 107 tn Heb “let us spread and let us send.” The words “the word” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[13:2] 108 tn Heb “in the cities of their pasturelands.”
[13:3] 110 tn Heb “him.” In this case, seeking God’s will is what is implied.
[13:3] 111 tn Heb “in the days of Saul.”
[13:4] 112 tn Heb “all the assembly said to do so.”
[13:4] 113 tn Heb “for right was the word in the eyes of all the people.”
[13:5] 114 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied for clarity.
[13:5] 115 tn Or “the entrance to Hamath.”
[13:6] 116 tn Heb “the ark of God the
[13:8] 117 tn Heb “with all strength.”
[13:8] 118 tn Heb “with songs and with zithers [meaning uncertain] and with harps.” Due to the collocation with “harps,” some type of stringed instrument is probably in view.
[13:10] 120 tn Heb “and the anger of the
[13:10] 121 tn Heb “because he stretched out his hand over the ark.”
[13:10] 122 sn The modern reader might think God seemed to overreact here, but Israel needed a vivid object lesson of God’s holiness. By loading the ark on a cart, David had violated the instructions in God’s law (Exod 25:12-14; Num 4:5-6, 15). Uzzah’s action, however innocent it may seem, betrayed a certain lack of reverence for God’s presence. God had to remind his people that his holiness could not under any circumstances be violated.
[13:11] 123 tn Heb “because the
[13:11] 124 sn The name Perez Uzzah means in Hebrew “the outburst [against] Uzzah.”
[13:13] 125 sn The phrase the City of David refers here to the fortress of Zion in Jerusalem, not to Bethlehem. See 2 Sam 5:7.
[14:1] 126 map For location see Map1 A2; Map2 G2; Map4 A1; JP3 F3; JP4 F3.
[14:1] 127 tn Heb “craftsman of a wall,” that is, masons skilled at building stone walls.
[14:2] 128 tn Heb “was lifted upwards.”
[14:3] 129 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[14:7] 131 tn In 1 Chr 3:8 and 2 Sam 5:16 this name appears as “Eliada.” The form here represents a variant spelling of the name.
[14:8] 132 tn Or “designated”; NCV “had been made king”; CEV “had become king.”
[14:8] 133 tn Heb “to seek David.”
[14:8] 134 tn Heb “went out before.”
[14:11] 136 tn Heb “by my hand.”
[14:11] 137 sn The name Baal Perazim means “Lord of outbursts” in Hebrew.
[14:12] 138 tn Heb “abandoned.”
[14:14] 140 tn Heb “and David again asked God.”
[14:14] 141 tn The words “this time” are not in the Hebrew text.
[14:14] 142 tn The Hebrew word translated “trees” is defined by HALOT 129 s.v. בָּכָא as “shrubs.” Some translate “balsam trees” (see BDB 113 s.v. בָּכָא), cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT.
[14:15] 143 tn Heb “go out in battle.”
[14:17] 145 tn Heb “the name of David went out.”
[14:17] 146 tn Heb “and the
[15:3] 147 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[15:7] 148 sn Gershom is a variant spelling of the name Gershon.
[15:13] 149 tn Heb “because for what was at first [i.e., formerly] you [were] not, the
[15:16] 150 tn Heb “causing to be heard to lift up with a voice of joy.”
[15:17] 151 tn The Hebrew text adds, “their brothers.”
[15:18] 152 tc The Hebrew text adds בֶּן (ben, “son”) here; the word is omitted in three Hebrew
[15:20] 153 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word עֲלָמוֹת (’alamot) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 835-36 s.v. עַלְמָה.
[15:21] 154 tn The meaning of the Hebrew word שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See HALOT 1562 s.v. שְׁמִינֹי.
[15:21] 155 tn Heb “for” or “according to.”
[15:22] 156 tn Heb “and Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, with lifting up, supervising with lifting up, for he was well-informed.” The precise nuance of מַשָּׂא (masa’, “lifting up”) is unclear. Some understand it as a reference to supervising the singing and music (e.g., NIV: “Kenaniah…was in charge of the singing”; NEB: “Kenaniah…was precentor in charge of the music”).
[15:23] 157 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
[15:24] 158 tn Heb “gatekeepers.”
[15:27] 159 tn Heb “the leader, the lifting up, the musicians.” See also the note on the word “matter” in v. 22.
[15:27] 160 sn An ephod was a priestly garment worn over the robe.
[15:29] 161 tn The Hebrew text adds “in her heart.”
[16:1] 162 tn Or “tokens of peace”; NIV “fellowship offerings.”
[16:12] 164 tn Heb “and the judgments of his mouth.”
[16:13] 166 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:13] 167 tn Heb “his”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:14] 168 tn Heb “in all the earth [are] his judgments.”
[16:15] 169 tn The Hebrew text has a masculine plural imperative, addressed to the people. Some LXX
[16:15] 170 tn Heb “[the] word he commanded.” The text refers here to God’s unconditional covenantal promise to Abraham and the patriarchs, as vv. 16-18 make clear.
[16:16] 172 tn Heb “his oath to Isaac.”
[16:17] 173 tn Or “eternal covenant.”
[16:20] 174 tn Heb “and from a kingdom to another nation.”
[16:22] 175 tn The word “saying” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[16:23] 176 tn Heb “from day to day.”
[16:24] 177 tn The verb “tell” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
[16:25] 178 tn Or “feared above.”
[16:26] 179 tn The Hebrew word אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless”) sounds like אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, “gods”). The sound play draws attention to the statement. Many modern English translations render this term as “idols” here.
[16:26] 180 tn Or “the sky” (also in v. 31). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
[16:27] 181 tn Heb “majesty and splendor [are] before him.”
[16:27] 182 tn Heb “strength and joy [are] in his place.”
[16:29] 183 tn Heb “the splendor of [i.e., due] his name.”
[16:29] 184 tn Or “in holy splendor.”
[16:31] 185 tn Heb “let them say among the nations.”
[16:34] 186 tn Or “is eternal.”
[16:35] 187 tn The words “this prayer” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[16:35] 188 tn Heb “to give thanks.” The infinitive construct indicates result after the imperative.
[16:35] 189 tn Heb “to boast in your praise.”
[16:36] 190 tn Heb “from everlasting to everlasting.”
[16:36] 191 tn This is the Hebrew term אָמֵן (’amen, “surely”), traditionally transliterated “amen.”
[16:37] 192 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[16:37] 193 tn Heb “according to the matter of the day in its day.”
[16:39] 194 tn The word “served” is supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[16:39] 195 tn Or “high place.”
[16:40] 196 tn Heb “which he commanded Israel.”
[16:41] 197 tn Perhaps this refers to the refrain of their songs of praise (see Ps 136). In this case one could translate, “to give thanks to the
[16:42] 198 tn Heb “and with them, Heman and Jeduthun, trumpets and cymbals for sounding, and the instrument of song of God, and the sons of Jeduthun [were] at the gate.”
[16:43] 199 tn Heb “to bless his house.” Elsewhere when “house” is the object of “bless,” it refers to a household or family. See, for example, 1 Chr 13:14; 17:27. However, since בֵּית (bet, “house”) refers to a literal house or home earlier in the verse and to David’s palace in 17:1, one might translate here, “David went to pronounce a blessing on [i.e., dedicate] his house [i.e., palace].”
[17:1] 201 tn Heb “David.” The pronoun “he” has been used in the translation here to avoid redundancy in keeping with contemporary English style.
[17:1] 203 tn Heb “tent curtains.”
[17:2] 204 tn Heb “all which is in your heart.”
[17:3] 205 tn Heb “the word of God was [i.e., came] to Nathan the prophet.”
[17:5] 206 tn The words “from Egypt” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[17:5] 207 tc Heb “and I was from tent to tent and from tabernacle.” The words אֶל־מִשְּׁכָּן (’el-mishÿkan, “to tabernacle”) should probably be added at the end of the sentence to complete this prepositional phrase and produce symmetry with the preceding prepositional phrase. The words probably fell from the text by homoioteleuton.
[17:6] 208 tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question (“Did I say?”) meaning “I did not say.”
[17:6] 209 tn Heb “to one of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people.”
[17:7] 210 tn Traditionally, “
[17:7] 211 tn Heb “and from after sheep.”
[17:8] 213 tn Heb “and I will make for you a name like the name of the great men who are in the earth.”
[17:9] 216 tn Heb “and sons of violence will no longer consume them as in the beginning.”
[17:10] 217 tn Here the word “house” is used in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. The
[17:11] 218 tn Heb “and it will be when your days are full to go with your ancestors.”
[17:11] 219 tn Heb “your seed.”
[17:12] 220 tn Heb “and I will establish his throne permanently.”
[17:13] 221 sn The one who ruled before you is a reference to Saul, from whom the kingdom was taken and given to David.
[17:14] 222 tn Heb “and his throne will be established permanently.”
[17:15] 223 tn Heb “according to all these words and according to all this revelation, so Nathan said to David.”
[17:17] 225 tn Heb “and this was small in your eyes, O God, so you spoke concerning the house of your servant for a distance.”
[17:17] 226 tn The translation “You have revealed to me what men long to know” is very tentative; the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. The text appears to read literally, “and you see me like the searching of man, that which is upward,” which is nonsensical. The translation above assumes the following: (1) The Qal verb translated “you see me” is repointed as a Hiphil, “you showed me,” (2) תּוֹר (tor) is understood in the sense of “searching, exploring,” and (3) הַמַּעֲלָה (hamma’alah) is taken in a temporal sense of “that which lies beyond.” Thus one could translate, “you have shown me what men search for, what lies beyond.”
[17:18] 227 tn The word “say” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[17:18] 228 tn Heb “for honoring your servant, and you, your servant, know.”
[17:19] 230 tn Heb “to make known all the great deeds.”
[17:20] 231 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “in all which we heard with our ears,” but בְּכֹל (bÿkhol, “in all”) should probably be emended to כְּכֹל (kÿkhol, “according to all”).
[17:21] 232 tn Heb “a nation, one.”
[17:21] 233 tn Heb “whose God,” or “because God.” In the Hebrew text this clause is subordinated to what precedes. The clauses are separated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[17:21] 234 tn Heb “redeem” or “deliver.”
[17:21] 235 tn Heb “to make for yourself a name [with] great and awesome [deeds].”
[17:21] 236 tn Heb “to drive out.”
[17:21] 237 tn Heb “from Egypt, nations.” The parallel text in 2 Sam 7:23 reads “from Egypt, nations and its gods.”
[17:22] 238 tn Heb “and you made your people Israel your own for a people permanently.”
[17:23] 239 tn Heb “and now, O
[17:23] 240 tn Heb “as you have spoken.”
[17:24] 241 tn Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive indicates purpose/result: “so it might become a reality.”
[17:24] 242 tn Heb “so it might be established.”
[17:24] 243 tn Heb “and your name might be great permanently.” Following the imperative in v. 23b, the prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive indicates purpose/result (parallel to the previous purpose/result clause): “[so]…you might gain lasting fame.”
[17:24] 244 tn Heb “saying.” The words “as people” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[17:24] 245 tc Heb “the
[17:24] 246 tn Heb “the house of David.”
[17:25] 248 tn Heb “That is why your servant found to pray before you.” Perhaps the phrase אֶת לִבּוֹ (’et libbo, “his heart”) should be supplied as the object of the verb “found.”
[17:26] 249 tn Heb “the God.” The article indicates uniqueness here.
[17:26] 250 tn Heb “and you have spoken to your servant this good thing.”
[17:27] 252 tn Heb “for you, O
[18:1] 253 tn 2 Sam 8:1 identifies this region as “Metheg Ammah.”
[18:1] 254 tn Heb “from the hand of the Philistines.” Here “hand” is figurative language for “control.”
[18:2] 255 tn Heb “and the Moabites were servants of David, carriers of tribute.”
[18:3] 257 tn Heb “when he went to set up his hand at the Euphrates River.” The Hebrew word יָד (yad, “hand”) is usually understood to mean “control” or “dominion” here. However, since יָד does occasionally refer to a monument, perhaps one could translate, “to set up his monument at the Euphrates River” (i.e., as a visible marker of the limits of his dominion). For another example of the Hiphil of נָצַב (natsav) used with יָד (“monument”), see 1 Sam 15:12.
[18:4] 259 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Hadadezer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[18:4] 260 tn Heb “and David cut the hamstrings of all the chariot horses, and he left from them one hundred chariot horses.”
[18:6] 261 tc Heb “and David placed in Aram of Damascus.” The object נְצִיבִים (nÿtsivim, “garrisons”) appears to have been accidentally omitted from the text. See v. 13, as well as the parallel passage in 2 Sam 8:6, which includes it.
[18:6] 263 tn Or “wherever he went.”
[18:7] 264 tn Heb “which were upon the servants of Hadadezer.”
[18:7] 265 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[18:8] 266 tn The MT reads “Tibhath” here, a variant name for Tebah (cf. 2 Sam 8:8). Some English translations substitute the other version of the name here (e.g., NIV, NLT), while others follow the reading of the Hebrew text at this point (e.g., NAB, NASB, NRSV).
[18:8] 267 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:8 has the variant name “Berothai.”
[18:8] 268 tn Heb “the sea of bronze,” or “[the] sea, the bronze one.” See the note at 1 Kgs 7:23.
[18:9] 269 tn The name is spelled “Toi” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:9.
[18:10] 270 tn The name is spelled “Joram” in the parallel text in 2 Sam 8:10.
[18:10] 271 tn Heb “to ask concerning him for peace.”
[18:10] 272 tn Heb “and to bless him because he fought with Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was a man of battles with Tou.”
[18:10] 273 tn Heb “[along with] all items of gold and silver and bronze.”
[18:11] 274 tn Heb “also them King David made holy to the
[18:11] 276 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:12 of the MT reads “Aram.” However, a few Hebrew
[18:12] 277 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:13 attributes this victory to David.
[18:13] 278 tn Or “delivered.”
[18:13] 279 tn Or “wherever he went.”
[18:14] 280 tn Heb “and he was doing what is just and fair for all his people.”
[18:16] 282 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:17 has the variant spelling “Seraiah.”
[18:17] 283 tn Heb “[was] over.”
[18:17] 284 tn Heb “and the sons of David [were] the heads at the hand of David.” The parallel text of 2 Sam 8:18 identifies them as “priests” (see sn there on the word “priests”).
[19:2] 285 tn Heb “do loyalty.”
[19:2] 286 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
[19:2] 287 tn Heb “to console him concerning his father.”
[19:2] 288 tn Heb “and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.”
[19:3] 289 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
[19:3] 290 tc Heb “Is it not to explore and to overturn and to spy out the land (that) his servants have come to you?” The Hebrew term לַהֲפֹךְ (lahafakh, “to overturn”) seems misplaced in the sequence. Some emend the form to לַחְפֹּר (lakhpor, “to spy out”). The sequence of three infinitives may be a conflation of alternative readings.
[19:4] 291 tn Heb “shaved them.” See v. 5.
[19:4] 292 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto the buttocks.”
[19:5] 293 tn Heb “they.” The logical referent, though not specified in the Hebrew text, has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[19:5] 294 map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.
[19:6] 295 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
[19:6] 296 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the Ammonites hired chariots and charioteers for about 33.7 tons (30,600 kg) of silver.
[19:6] 297 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:6 has “Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah.”
[19:8] 298 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
[19:10] 299 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:10 has “the Ammonites” in place of “the Arameans” here.
[19:12] 300 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:12] 301 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
[19:12] 302 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
[19:13] 303 tn Heb “and the
[19:14] 304 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
[19:15] 305 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:15] 306 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[19:16] 307 tn Heb “the River,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[19:16] 308 tn Heb “and Aram saw that they were struck down before Israel and they sent messengers and brought out Aram which is beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [was] before them.”
[19:17] 309 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
[19:17] 310 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:17 “he came to Helam.”
[19:17] 311 tn Heb “and David was deployed to meet Aram [for] battle and they fought with him.”
[19:18] 312 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has “seven hundred.”
[19:18] 313 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has the variant spelling “Shobach.”
[20:1] 314 tn Heb “and it was at the time of the turning of the year, at the time of the going out of kings.”
[20:2] 315 tc The translation follows the MT, which reads “of their king”; the LXX and Vulgate read “of Milcom” (cf. 1 Kgs 11:5). Milcom, also known as Molech, was the god of the Ammonites.
[20:2] 316 tn Heb “and it was on the head of David.”
[20:2] 317 sn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6.
[20:3] 318 tc The Hebrew text reads “saws,” but since saws were just mentioned, it is preferable to emend מְגֵרוֹת (mÿgerot, “saws”) to מַגְזְרוֹת (magzÿrot, “axes”).
[20:3] 319 tn Heb “and so he would do.”
[20:4] 320 tn Heb “battle stood.”
[20:4] 321 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 identifies this site as “Gob.”
[20:4] 322 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:18 has the variant spelling “Saph.”
[20:4] 323 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Philistines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[20:5] 324 tc The Hebrew text reads, “Elchanan son of Jair killed Lachmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite.” But it is likely that the accusative marker in front of לַחְמִי (lakhmiy, “Lachmi”) is a corruption of בֵּית (bet), and that אֶת־לַחְמִי (’et-lakhmiy) should be emended to בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי (bet hallakhmiy, “the Bethlehemite”). See 2 Sam 21:19.
[20:5] 325 tc See tc note on the parallel passage in 2 Sam 21:19.
[20:6] 326 tn Heb “and there was another battle, in Gath.”
[20:7] 327 tn The parallel text in 2 Sam 21:21 has the variant spelling “Shimeah.”
[20:8] 328 tn Heb “they fell.”
[20:8] 329 tn Heb “his servants.”
[21:1] 330 tn Or “Satan.” The Hebrew word שָׂטָן (satan) can refer to an adversary in general or Satan in particular. There is no article accompanying the term here, which suggests it should be understood generally (cf. NAB “a satan”).
[21:1] 331 tn Heb “stood against.”
[21:1] 332 tn Heb “and incited David to count Israel.” As v. 5 indicates, David was not interested in a general census, but in determining how much military strength he had.
[21:2] 334 tn Heb “Go, count Israel.” See the note on “had” in v. 1.
[21:2] 335 tn Heb “their number.”
[21:3] 337 tn Heb “Why should it become guilt for Israel?” David’s decision betrays an underlying trust in his own strength rather than in divine provision. See also 1 Chr 27:23-24.
[21:4] 338 tn Heb “and the word of the king was stronger than Joab.”
[21:4] 339 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[21:5] 340 tn Heb “and Joab gave to David the number of the numbering of the army [or “people”].”
[21:5] 341 tn Heb “a thousand thousands and one hundred thousand.”
[21:5] 342 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:9 has variant figures: “In Israel there were eight hundred thousand sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were five hundred thousands soldiers.”
[21:6] 343 tn Heb “he”; the proper name (“Joab”) has been substituted for the pronoun here for stylistic reasons; the proper name occurs at the end of the verse in the Hebrew text, where it has been replaced by the pronoun (“him”) in the translation.
[21:7] 344 tn Heb “There was displeasure in the eyes of God concerning this thing.”
[21:10] 346 tn Heb “Three I am extending to you; choose for yourself one of them and I will do it to you.”
[21:12] 347 tc The parallel text in the MT of 2 Sam 24:13 has “seven,” but LXX has “three” there.
[21:12] 348 tc Heb “or three months being swept away from before your enemies and the sword of your enemies overtaking.” The Hebrew term נִסְפֶּה (nisppeh, Niphal participle from סָפָה, safah) should probably be emended to נֻסְכָה (nusÿkhah, Qal infinitive from נוּס [nus] with second masculine singular suffix). See 2 Sam 24:13.
[21:12] 349 tn Heb “or three days of the sword of the
[21:13] 350 tn Heb “There is great distress to me; let me fall into the hand of the
[21:15] 351 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:15 reports that God sent a plague, while 24:16-17 attributes this to the instrumentality of an angel.
[21:15] 353 tn Heb “while he was destroying.”
[21:15] 355 tn Or “was grieved because of.”
[21:15] 356 tn Heb “concerning the calamity.”
[21:15] 357 tn For this nuance of the Hebrew word רַב (rav), see BDB 913 s.v. 1.f.
[21:15] 358 tn Heb “Now, drop your hand.”
[21:15] 359 tn In the parallel text in 2 Sam 24:16 this individual is called אֲרַוְנָא (’aravna’, “Aravna”), traditionally “Araunah.” The form of the name found here also occurs in vv. 18-28.
[21:16] 360 tn Heb “and David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.”
[21:17] 361 tn “and doing evil I did evil.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite form of the verb for emphasis.
[21:17] 362 tn Heb “let your hand be on me and on the house of my father.”
[21:17] 363 tn Heb “but on your people not for a plague.”
[21:18] 364 tn Heb “that he should go up to raise up.”
[21:19] 365 tn Heb “and David went up by the word of Gad which he spoke in the name of the
[21:21] 366 tn Heb “nostrils.”
[21:22] 367 tn Heb “the place of the threshing floor.”
[21:22] 368 tn Following the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive here indicates the immediate purpose/result: “so I can build.”
[21:22] 369 tn Heb “For full silver sell to me.”
[21:22] 370 tn Following the imperative and first person prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) conjunctive, this third person prefixed verbal form with vav conjunctive introduces the ultimate purpose/result: “so the plague may be removed.” Another option is subordinate this form to the preceding imperative, but the latter may be taken as a parenthetical expansion of the initial request.
[21:23] 371 tn Heb “take for yourself.”
[21:23] 372 tn Heb “what is good in his eyes.”
[21:24] 373 tn Heb “No, for buying I will buy for full silver.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
[21:24] 374 tc The parallel text in 2 Sam 24:24 has the plural “burnt sacrifices.”
[21:24] 375 tn Or “without [paying] compensation.”
[21:25] 376 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 24:24 says David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for “fifty pieces of silver.” This would have been about 20 ounces (568 grams) of silver by weight.
[21:26] 377 tn Or “tokens of peace.”
[21:26] 378 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the
[21:27] 379 tn Heb “spoke to the messenger.”
[21:29] 380 tn Or “high place.”
[22:5] 381 tn Heb “a young man and tender.”
[22:5] 382 tn Heb “and the house to build to make exceedingly great for a name and for splendor for all the lands.”
[22:7] 383 tn Heb “I was with my heart.”
[22:7] 384 tn Heb “for the name of.”
[22:8] 385 tn Heb “and the word of the
[22:8] 386 tn Heb “for my name.”
[22:9] 387 tn Heb “man of rest.”
[22:9] 388 tn Heb “his enemies all around.”
[22:9] 389 sn The name Solomon (שְׁלֹמֹה, shÿlomoh) sounds like (and may be derived from) the Hebrew word for “peace” (שָׁלוֹם, shalom).
[22:9] 390 tn Heb “in his days.”
[22:10] 391 tn Heb “for my name.”
[22:10] 392 tn Heb “and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel permanently.”
[22:11] 393 tn Heb “as he spoke concerning you.”
[22:13] 395 tn Heb “which the
[22:13] 396 tn Or perhaps, “and don’t get discouraged.”
[22:14] 397 tn Heb “and look, in my affliction [or perhaps, “poverty”] I have supplied for the house of the
[22:14] 398 tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6.
[22:14] 399 tn Heb “a thousand thousands.”
[22:15] 400 tn Heb “craftsmen of stone and wood.”
[22:16] 401 tn Heb “and every kind of skilled one in all work, concerning gold, concerning silver, and concerning bronze, and concerning iron, there is no numbering.”
[22:18] 403 tn The words “he told them” are added in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[22:18] 404 tn In the Hebrew text the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is not the
[22:18] 405 tn Heb “and he gives rest to you all around.”
[22:19] 408 tn Heb “now give your heart and your being to seek the
[22:19] 409 tn Heb “to bring.”
[22:19] 410 tn Heb “items of holiness of God.”
[22:19] 411 tn Heb “for the name of the
[23:1] 412 tn Heb “and full of years.”
[23:2] 413 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[23:3] 414 tn Heb “and their number by their heads, by men, was 38,000.”
[23:4] 415 tn The words “David said” are supplied here in the translation for clarification. The appearance of the first person verb “I supplied” in v. 5 indicates that David is speaking here.
[23:5] 416 tn Heb “made to [or “for”] praise.”
[23:10] 417 tc The MT reads “Zina” here and “Zizah” in v. 11. One Hebrew
[23:10] 418 sn Verses 8-10 are confusing. Two different lists of Shimei’s sons appear. In between these lists is the statement “these were the leaders of the family of Ladan,” suggesting that the list just before this includes the sons of Ladan, not Shimei. But verse 8 already lists Ladan’s sons. Apparently the text as it stands is a conflation of differing traditions.
[23:13] 419 tn Heb “and Aaron was set apart to consecrate it, the most holy things, he and his sons, permanently, to sacrifice before the
[23:14] 420 tn Heb “and Moses the man of God, his sons were called to the tribe of Levi.”
[23:16] 421 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this. The attached phrase “the oldest” might indicate that Shebuel was not Gershom’s only son, but note v. 17.
[23:16] 422 tc The LXX reads Σουβαηλ (Soubahl) here, a reading followed by NAB, NIV, NCV, CEV (“Shubael”); cf. 24:20.
[23:17] 423 tn The Hebrew text has “the sons of Eliezer were,” but only one name appears after this in the verse, and we are specifically told that Eliezer had no other sons.
[23:18] 424 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this. The attached phrase “the oldest” might indicate that Shelomith was not Izhar’s only son, but note v. 17.
[23:22] 425 tn Heb “the sons of Kish, their brothers [i.e., relatives/cousins] lifted them up.” For other uses of נָאָשׂ (na’as, “lift up”) in the sense of “marry,” see BDB 671 s.v. Qal.3.d.
[23:24] 426 tn Heb “these were the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers, heads of the fathers, according to their numberings, by number of names, according to their heads, doer[s] of the work for the service of the house of the
[23:25] 427 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[23:27] 428 tn Heb “for by the final words of David, they were the number of the sons of Levi, from a son of twenty years and upward.”
[23:28] 429 tn Heb “For their assignment was at the hand of the sons of Aaron for the work of the house of the
[23:29] 430 tn Heb “with respect to.”
[23:29] 431 tn The Hebrew terms מְשׂוּרָה (mÿsurah) and מִדָּה (middah) refer to different types of measurements.
[23:30] 432 tn Heb “and to stand.”
[23:31] 433 tn Heb “by number according to the manner upon them, regularly before the
[23:32] 434 tn Heb “and they kept the charge of the tent of meeting and the charge of the holy place and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brothers, for the service of the house of the
[24:3] 435 tn Heb “for their assignment in their service.”
[24:4] 436 tn Heb “And the sons of Eleazar were found to be more, with respect to the heads of men, than the sons of Ithamar, and they divided them. To the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen heads, according to the house of the fathers; and to the sons of Ithamar there were eight, according to the house of their fathers.”
[24:5] 437 tn Heb “and they divided them by lots, these with these, for the officials of the holy place and the officials of God were from the sons of Eleazar and among the sons of Ithamar.”
[24:6] 438 tn Heb “one house of a father was drawn by lot for Eleazar, and one [this assumes an emendation of אָחֻז (’akhuz) to אֶחָד (’ekhad, “one”)] was drawn by lot for Ithamar.”
[24:19] 440 tn Heb “these were their responsibilities for their service to enter the house of the
[24:20] 441 tn Heb “Belonging to the rest of the sons of Levi.”
[24:20] 442 tn This appears to be a variant of the name Shebuel (cf. 1 Chr 23:16 and 26:24).
[24:23] 443 tc Most Hebrew
[24:24] 444 tn The Hebrew text has the plural “sons,” but only one name appears after this.
[24:26] 445 tn Heb “the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.” Apparently בְנוֹ (vÿno), which could be translated “his son,” is a proper name here. The text, however, may be corrupt at this point; a list of Jaaziah’s sons may have been accidentally omitted. See v. 27.
[24:27] 446 tn Or “from Jaaziah his son.” See the note on “Beno” in v. 26.
[24:29] 447 tc The Hebrew text has, “Belonging to [i.e., from] Kish, the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.” There appears to be a conflation of headings.
[24:31] 448 tn Heb “the fathers [i.e., families] of the head [i.e., oldest] just like his youngest brother.”
[25:1] 449 tn Heb “David and the officers of the army set apart for service the sons of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the ones prophesying by harps, by lyres, and by cymbals.”
[25:1] 450 tn Heb “and their number was, the men of work for their service.”
[25:2] 451 tn Heb “the sons of Asaph [were] upon the hand of Asaph, the one prophesying upon the hands of the king.”
[25:3] 452 tn Heb “belonging to Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun.”
[25:3] 453 tn This name appears as “Izri” in v. 10.
[25:3] 454 tc One Hebrew
[25:3] 455 tc The list includes only five names. Apparently the name “Shimei” (see v. 17), which appears in one medieval Hebrew
[25:4] 456 tn Heb “belonging to Heman, the sons of Heman.”
[25:5] 457 tn Heb “by the words of God to exalt a horn.” An animal’s horn is sometimes used metaphorically as a symbol of strength and honor. See BDB 901-2 s.v. קֶרֶנ.
[25:7] 458 tn Heb “and their number with their brothers, trained in music to the
[25:8] 459 tn Heb “and they cast lots [for] service, just as like small, like great, teacher with student.”
[25:9] 460 tc Heb “The first lot went to Asaph, to Joseph.” Apparently the recurring formula, “and his sons and his relatives, twelve” has been accidentally omitted from the Hebrew text at this point (see vv. 10-31; the formula is slightly different in v. 9b). If the number “twelve” is not supplied here, the total comes to only 276, not the 288 required by v. 7.
[25:11] 461 tn “Izri” is a variant of the name “Zeri” (cf. 25:3).
[25:14] 462 tn “Jesharelah” is a variant of the name “Asarelah” (cf. 25:2).
[25:18] 463 tn “Azarel” is a variant of the name “Uzziel” (cf. 25:4).
[26:13] 465 tn Heb “for a gate and a gate,” i.e., for each gate.
[26:14] 466 tn “Shelemiah” is a variant of the name “Meshelemiah” (cf. 26:2).
[26:16] 467 tn Heb “a guard alongside a guard.”
[26:20] 468 tn Or “treasuries.”
[26:21] 469 tn “Ladan” is a variant of the name “Libni” (cf. 6:17).
[26:21] 470 tn “Jehieli” is a variant of the name “Jehiel” (cf. 23:8).
[26:24] 471 tn A number of English versions follow the LXX and Vulgate and read “Shubael” here (e.g., NAB, NIV, NCV, CEV).
[26:25] 472 tc The marginal reading (Qere) is “Shelomith,” while the consonantal text (Kethib) has “Shelomoth.”
[26:26] 473 tc The MT reads “Shelomoth”; the name is spelled “Shelomith” in the marginal reading (Qere) of v. 25.
[26:29] 475 tn The words “the temple” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
[26:31] 476 tn Heb “and they were searched and there were found in them.”
[26:32] 477 tn Heb “and his brothers, sons of respect, [were] 2,700, heads of fathers.”
[26:32] 478 tn Heb “with respect to every matter of God and matter of the king.”
[27:1] 479 tn Heb “and the sons of Israel according to their number, heads of the fathers and the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds and their officers who served the king with respect to every matter of the divisions, [that which] comes and goes out month by month according to all the months of the year, one division [was] twenty-four thousand.”
[27:4] 480 tn Heb “the leader.”
[27:6] 481 tn Heb “That [was the] Benaiah [who was] a warrior of the thirty and over the thirty, and his division, Ammizabad his son.”
[27:7] 482 tn Heb “[was] after him.”
[27:24] 483 tn Heb “anger was on Israel.”
[27:24] 484 tc The Hebrew text has “in the number,” but מִסְפַּר (mispar) is probably dittographic – note that the same word appears immediately before this. The form should be emended to בְּסֵפֶר (bÿsefar, “in the scroll”).
[27:26] 485 tn Heb “with respect to the work of the land.” The phrase refers to agricultural labor; see HALOT 776-77 s.v. עֲבֹדָה.
[27:27] 486 tn Heb “and over [that] which is in the vineyards, with respect to the storehouses of the wine, [was] Zabdi the Shiphmite.”
[27:28] 487 tn Or “foothills”; Heb “the Shephelah.”
[27:32] 488 tn Heb “was an adviser, a man of insight, and a scribe.”
[27:32] 489 tn Heb “[was] with” (so KJV, ASV); NASB “tutored”; NRSV “attended”; NLT “was responsible to teach.’
[28:1] 491 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[28:2] 492 tn Heb “I, with my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the
[28:3] 493 tn Heb “for my name.”
[28:4] 494 tn Heb “out of all the house of my father to become king over all Israel permanently.”
[28:4] 496 tn Heb “and among the sons of my father he desired to make me king over all Israel.”
[28:5] 497 tn Heb “from all my sons, for many sons the
[28:7] 498 tn Heb “if he is strong to do my commands and my regulations like this day.”
[28:8] 499 tn The words “I say this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:8] 500 tn Heb “Watch! Seek!”
[28:9] 502 tn Heb “with a complete heart and a willing being.”
[28:9] 503 tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”
[28:11] 505 tn Heb “for the porch.” The word “temple” was supplied in the translation for clarity.
[28:11] 506 tn Or “storerooms.”
[28:12] 508 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:12] 509 tn Heb “the pattern of all which was in the spirit with him.”
[28:13] 510 tn The words “he gave him the regulations” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:14] 511 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:14] 512 tn Heb “for the gold, by the weight, for the gold, for all the items of service and service, for all the items of silver by weight for all the items of service and service.”
[28:18] 513 tn The words “he gave him” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
[28:18] 514 tc The Hebrew text reads מֶרְכָּבָה (merkavah, “chariot”), but the final he (ה) is probably dittographic – note the prefixed he (ה) on the immediately following word. It is preferable to read מֶרְכָּב (merkav, “seat”).
[28:18] 515 tc The Hebrew text does not have “their wings,” but the word כְּנָפַיִם (kÿnafayim, “wings”) has probably been accidentally omitted by homoioteleuton. Note that the immediately preceding לְפֹרְשִׂים (lÿforsim) also ends in mem (ם).
[28:19] 516 tn The words “David said” are supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[28:19] 517 tn Heb “the whole in writing from the hand of the
[28:20] 518 tn Or perhaps, “don’t be discouraged.”
[28:21] 519 tn Heb “and with you in all work, for every willing [one] in skill for all service.”
[28:21] 520 tn Heb “and the officials and all the people to all your words.”
[29:1] 521 tn Heb “a young man and tender.”
[29:2] 522 tn Heb “and according to all my strength.”
[29:2] 523 tn Heb “the gold for the gold, and the silver for the silver, and the bronze for the bronze, and the iron for the iron, and the wood for the wood.”
[29:4] 524 tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. Using the “light” standard talent of 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg) as the standard for calculation, David had supplied 101 tons (91,800 kg) of gold and 235.5 tons (214,200 kg) of silver.
[29:7] 525 tn See the note on the word “talents” in 19:6. Using the “light” standard talent of 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg) as the standard for calculation, the people donated 168.3 tons (153,000 kg) of gold, 336.5 tons (306,000 kg) of silver, 605.7 tons (550,800 kg) of bronze, and 3,365 tons (3,060,000 kg) of iron.
[29:7] 526 tn On the “daric” as a unit of measure, see BDB 204 s.v. דַּרְכְּמוֹן. Some have regarded the daric as a minted coin, perhaps even referring to the Greek drachma, but this is less likely.
[29:8] 527 tn The word “precious” is supplied in the translation for clarification.
[29:9] 528 tn Heb “with a complete heart.”
[29:9] 529 tn Heb “was rejoiced with great joy.”
[29:10] 530 tn Heb “assembly, and David said.” The words “and David said” are redundant according to contemporary English style and have not been included in the translation.
[29:11] 531 tn The words “and sovereign” are added in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[29:12] 533 tn Heb “wealth and honor [are] from before you.”
[29:12] 534 tn Heb “and in your hand [is] strength and might and in your hand to magnify and to give strength to all.”
[29:14] 535 tn Heb “that we should retain strength to contribute like this.”
[29:14] 536 tn Heb “and from you we have given to you.”
[29:15] 537 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 18, 20).
[29:15] 538 tn Or perhaps “hope.”
[29:17] 540 tn Heb “with integrity of heart.”
[29:18] 541 tn Heb “keep this permanently with respect to the motive of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and make firm their heart to you.”
[29:19] 542 tn Heb “and to Solomon my son give a complete heart to keep your commands, your rules and your regulations, and to do everything, and to build the palace [for] which I have prepared.”
[29:22] 543 tn Heb “they ate and drank.”
[29:22] 544 tn Heb “with great joy.”
[29:22] 545 sn See 1 Chr 23:1, where David had previously designated Solomon as king over Israel.
[29:23] 546 tn Heb “listened to him.”
[29:24] 547 tn Heb “placed a hand under Solomon the king.”
[29:25] 548 tn Heb “and gave to him glory of kingship which there was not concerning every king before him over Israel.”
[29:27] 549 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[29:28] 550 tn Heb “satisfied with days, wealth, and honor.”
[29:29] 551 tn Heb “and the events of David the king, the former and the latter, look they are written in the annals of Samuel the seer, and in the annals of Nathan the prophet, and in the annals of Gad the seer.”
[29:30] 552 tn Heb “with all his reign and his might, and the times which passed over him and over Israel and over all the kingdoms of the lands.”
