These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.

He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise,

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day.

David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

But God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor me, for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.’

Remember continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations –

He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth.

but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.

In a battle in Gath 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.

along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.

He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent.

So the Lord sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.

When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it,

Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe; Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for the king’s sons.

David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

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; David also wore a linen ephod.

Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”

He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him.