They found fertile and rich pasture; the land was very broad, undisturbed and peaceful. Indeed some Hamites had been living there prior to that.

and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.p> <p class="bodytext">They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.

In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead.

During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.p>

Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived among the settlements of the Netophathites.p>

The residents of Jebus said to David, &#8220;You cannot invade this place!&#8221; But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).

&#8220;Go, tell my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8220;You must not build me a house in which to live.

For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt<n id="1" /> to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">David went in, sat before the <sc>Lordsc>, and said: &#8220;Who am I, O <sc>Lordsc> God, and what is my family,<n id="1" /> that you should have brought me to this point?

From all the many sons the <sc>Lordsc> has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.<n id="1" />

Solomon sat on the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him.<n id="1" />

The men whose names are listed came during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah and attacked the Hamites&#8217; settlements,<n id="1" /> as well as the Meunites they discovered there, and they wiped them out to this very day. They dispossessed them,<n id="2" /> for they found pasture for their sheep there.

On the border of Manasseh&#8217;s territory were Beth-Shean<n id="1" /> and its surrounding towns, Taanach and its surrounding towns, Megiddo<n id="2" /> and its surrounding towns, and Dor and its surrounding towns. The descendants of Joseph, Israel&#8217;s son, lived here.p>

When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army<n id="1" /> had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.p>

David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the <sc>Lordsc>, who sits enthroned between the cherubim &#8211; the ark that is called by his name.<n id="1" />p>

The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom&#8217;s house for three months; the <sc>Lordsc> blessed Obed-Edom&#8217;s family and everything that belonged to him.p>

Messengers<n id="1" /> came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, &#8220;Stay in Jericho<n id="2" /> until your beards grow again; then you may come back.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars,<n id="1" /> 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.

He told them,<n id="1" /> &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> your God is with you!<n id="2" /> He has made you secure on every side,<n id="3" /> for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region<n id="4" /> and the region<n id="5" /> is subdued before the <sc>Lordsc> and his people.