The First Book of the
Author
First and 2 Chronicles were originally one book (see “Content” below). Since the identity of the author of this work is not stated in either 1 or 2 Chronicles, many have opted to refer to this unknown author simply as “the chronicler.” However, Ezra is the most likely candidate for the authorship of Chronicles. The early Jewish tradition of the Talmud affirms that Ezra wrote 1 and 2 Chronicles. Also, the closing verses of 2 Chronicles (2 Chr. 36:22, 23) are repeated as the opening verses of Ezra (see Ezra 1:1–3). Not only does this add to the case for Ezra’s authorship of 1 Chronicles, it also may be an indication that 1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezra were once a consecutive work. In addition, 1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezra have similar style, vocabulary, and contents. Ezra was a scribe as well as a priest, and played a significant role in the community of exiles who returned to Jerusalem. Though we cannot be certain, it is reasonable to assume that “the chronicler” was Ezra.
Date
Though the precise date for 1 and 2 Chronicles cannot be established, it probably came into its final form sometime toward the end of the fifth century B.C. The last event recorded in the closing verses of 2 Chronicles is the decree of the Persian king Cyrus to allow the Jews to return to Judah. This is dated at 538 B.C. and gives the impression that Chronicles would have been composed shortly after this time. However, the latest person mentioned in 1 and 2 Chronicles is actually Anani of the eighth generation of King Jehoiachin (see 1 Chr. 3:24). Jehoiachin was deported to Babylon in 597 B.C. Depending on how these generations are measured (approximately twenty-five years), Anani’s birth would have been sometime between 425 and 400 B.C. Therefore, the date for 1 and 2 Chronicles is between 425 and 400 B.C.
Background
The Book of 1 Chronicles covers the period from Adam to the death of David around 971 B.C. This is a remarkable scope of time, since it embraces the same period covered in the first ten books of the Old Testament, Genesis through 2 Samuel. Without the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1—9, 1 and 2 Chronicles cover roughly the same time period as 1 and 2 Kings. However, the specific background of 1 and 2 Chronicles is the period after the Exile. During this time, the ancient world was under the control of the powerful Persian Empire. All that remained of the glorious kingdom of David and Solomon was the tiny province of Judah. The Persians had replaced the monarchy with a provincial governor. Though God’s people had been allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, their situation was far removed from the golden days of David and Solomon.
Occasion and Purpose
The return of the exiles from Babylon necessitated the recording of the history of God’s people, especially Judah. First Chronicles was written for the dual purpose of providing encouragement and exhortation to those who had returned to Jerusalem. The remnant that was left needed encouragement to keep their faith alive in the midst of difficulty, and they needed hope for the future. The emphasis of Chronicles on their spiritual heritage of David, Solomon, the temple, and the priesthood was a refreshing reminder that God was faithful and He would not forget His promises to David and to His people. Yet 1 Chronicles also served as a strong exhortation to motivate God’s people to adhere to the Mosaic covenant and ritual, so that the tragedy of the past would not be repeated.
Comparison with Kings
One may question the need for the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, since the material has already been covered in 1 and 2 Kings and other Old Testament books. However, though the books are similar, they are by no means identical. In the same way that there are four accounts of the life of Christ in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, there are two accounts of the history of God’s people. Though 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles are alike in content, they offer two different historical perspectives. While the Books of Kings were written to those in exile, the Books of Chronicles address the postexilic community. They were written for two different purposes. Compare the “Occasion and Purpose” section of this introduction with the same sections in the introductions to 1 and 2 Kings. Also, Kings and Chronicles have different political perspectives. While Kings embraces both kingdoms, Israel and Judah, Chronicles focuses only on Judah. Finally, Kings and Chronicles differ in their theological perspectives. Kings presents a prophetic outlook, while Chronicles operates from a priestly vantage point. However, Chronicles is like Kings in that it is not mere history, but rather theology in the form of a historical narrative. See Introductions to 1 and 2 Kings: Content.
Content
In the original Hebrew Scriptures, 1 and 2 Chronicles formed one book, entitled “Events of the Days.” It was divided and renamed “Things Passed Over” by the translators of the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX). The title “Chronicles” derives from Jerome. It is not a continuation of the history of God’s people, but a duplication of and a supplement to 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
The united work of 1 and 2 Chronicles can be divided into four main sections. First Chronicles gives genealogies (chs. 1—9) and outlines the reign of David (chs. 10—29). Second Chronicles sets forth the reign of Solomon (chs. 1—9) and traces the reigns of the twenty rulers of Judah (chs. 10—36).
The Book of 1 Chronicles has two main divisions. The first section is nine chapters of genealogies. The genealogies begin with Adam and proceed all the way through the Exile to those who returned to Jerusalem. This section is often passed over as unimportant. However, like the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the genealogies form a foundation for the account that will follow. First Chronicles is weighted with genealogies to underscore the need for racial and religious purity. The genealogies are selectively compiled to highlight the line of David and the tribe of Levi.
The second part of 1 Chronicles (chs. 10—29) records the events and accomplishments in the life of King David. Chapter 10 serves as a prologue to summarize the reign and death of King Saul. In chapters 11 and 12 David becomes king and secures Jerusalem. The rest of the account of David focuses on the three significant aspects of his reign, namely the bringing of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (chs. 13—17), his military exploits (chs. 18—20), and the preparations for the building of the temple (chs. 21—27). The closing two chapters of 1 Chronicles record David’s last days.
Personal Application
While 1 and 2 Kings draw out the fact of human responsibility, showing that sin leads to defeat, 1 Chronicles accentuates the sovereign deliverance of God. The twin themes of encouragement and exhortation still ring true today. God has been faithful throughout all of history to deliver those who cry out to Him. Chronicles skillfully tells the story of how God was true to His word and kept the promises He had made to His people. This is a great source of encouragement for believers of all ages. God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God who is worthy to be trusted. He is still a God of hope, and His purposes will prevail in the lives of His people. However, 1 Chronicles also exhorts us to learn from the failure of God’s people in the past, in order that we might not make the same mistakes (1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 4:11).
Christ Revealed
Christ is foreshadowed in 1 Chronicles in much the same way as He is in 1 Kings (see Introduction to 1 Kings: Christ Revealed). However, in 1 Chronicles, many have seen an allusion to Christ in reference to the temple. First Chronicles 21 (also 2 Sam. 24) explains that as a consequence for sin, a death plague had broken out against Israel. David buys a piece of property from Ornan on which to make a sacrifice that stops the plague. This site on Mount Moriah was the very place where Solomon would build the temple (2 Chr. 3:1). It is possible that this was the very mountain where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). In the New Testament, three times Paul refers to believers as the “temple of God” (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19; Eph. 2:19–22). It is Christ who has purchased the ground for this spiritual temple. It was His sacrifice that delivered us from death (Rom. 5:12–18; 7:24, 25; 1 John 3:14).
The Holy Spirit at Work
There are two clear references to the Holy Spirit in 1 Chronicles. The first is in 12:18, where “the Spirit” came upon or clothed Amasai and enabled him to give an inspired utterance. See Introductions to 1 and 2 Kings: The Holy Spirit at Work. They describe the Holy Spirit’s inspiring others to prophesy during the kingdom period. The second reference to the Holy Spirit in 1 Chronicles is in 28:12, which explains that it was through the ministry of “the Spirit” that the plans of the temple were revealed to David.
Outline of 1 Chronicles
I. The roots of God’s people 1:1—9:44
A. The heritage of the sons of Jacob 1:1—2:2
B. The heritage of David’s line in Judah 2:3—3:24
C. The heritage of the Twelve Tribes 4:1—8:40
D. The heritage of the remnant 9:1–34
E. The heritage of King Saul in Benjamin 9:35–44
II. The reign of King David 10:1—29:30
A. David’s affirmation as king 10:1—12:40
B. David’s acquisition of the ark 13:1—17:27
C. David’s military advances 18:1—20:8
The Family of Adam—Seth to Abraham
4 aNoah,1 Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5 aThe sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, 1Diphath, and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan were Elishah, 1Tarshishah, Kittim, and 2Rodanim.
8 aThe sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, 1Sabta, 2Raama, and Sabtecha. The sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan.
10 Cush abegot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
11 Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
12 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the aCaphtorim).
13 aCanaan begot Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth;
14 the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite;
15 the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;
16 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
17 The sons of aShem were Elam, Asshur, bArphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and 1Meshech.
18 Arphaxad begot Shelah, and Shelah begot Eber.
19 To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was 1Peleg, for in his days the 2earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
20 aJoktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
22 1Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24 aShem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25 aEber, Peleg, Reu,
27 and aAbram, who is Abraham.
28 aThe sons of Abraham were bIsaac and cIshmael.
The Family of Ishmael
29 These are their genealogies: The afirstborn of Ishmael was Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 1Hadad, Tema,
31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
The Family of Keturah
32 Now athe sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.
33 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
The Family of Isaac
34 And aAbraham begot Isaac. bThe sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.
35 The sons of aEsau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah.
36 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, 1Zephi, Gatam, and Kenaz; and by aTimna, Amalek.
37 The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
The Family of Seir
38 aThe sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
39 And the sons of Lotan were Hori and 1Homam; Lotan’s sister was Timna.
40 The sons of Shobal were 1Alian, Manahath, Ebal, 2Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon were Ajah and Anah.
41 The son of Anah was aDishon. The sons of Dishon were 1Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
42 The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and 1Jaakan. The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.
The Kings of Edom
43 Now these were the akings who reigned in the land of Edom before a king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
44 And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
45 When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
46 And when Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who 1attacked Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.
47 When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
48 aAnd when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place.
49 When Saul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
50 And when Baal-Hanan died, 1Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was 2Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51 Hadad died also. And the chiefs of Edom were Chief Timnah, Chief 1Aliah, Chief Jetheth,
52 Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,
53 Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,
54 Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
The Family of Israel
1 These were the asons of 1Israel: bReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
From Judah to David
3 The sons of aJudah were Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by the daughter of bShua, the Canaanitess. cEr, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so He killed him.
4 And aTamar, his daughter-in-law, bbore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
5 The sons of aPerez were Hezron and Hamul.
6 The sons of Zerah were 1Zimri, aEthan, Heman, Calcol, and 2Dara—five of them in all.
7 The son of aCarmi was 1Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the baccursed2 thing.
8 The son of Ethan was Azariah.
9 Also the sons of Hezron who were born to him were Jerahmeel, 1Ram, and 2Chelubai.
10 Ram abegot Amminadab, and Amminadab begot Nahshon, bleader of the children of Judah;
11 Nahshon begot 1Salma, and Salma begot Boaz;
12 Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse;
13 aJesse begot Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, 1Shimea the third,
14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
15 Ozem the sixth, and David the aseventh.
16 Now their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. aAnd the sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel—three.
17 Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was 1Jether the Ishmaelite.
The Family of Hezron
18 Caleb the son of Hezron had children by Azubah, his wife, and by Jerioth. Now these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
19 When Azubah died, Caleb 1took aEphrath2 as his wife, who bore him Hur.
20 And Hur begot Uri, and Uri begot aBezalel.
21 Now afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of aMachir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
22 Segub begot aJair,1 who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
23 a(Geshur and Syria took from them the towns of Jair, with Kenath and its towns—sixty towns.) All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Hezron’s wife Abijah bore him aAshhur the father of Tekoa.
The Family of Jerahmeel
25 The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram, the firstborn, and Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
26 Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.
27 The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28 The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur.
29 And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
30 The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim; Seled died without children.
31 The son of Appaim was Ishi, the son of Ishi was Sheshan, and aSheshan’s son was Ahlai.
32 The sons of Jada, the brother of Shammai, were Jether and Jonathan; Jether died without children.
33 The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
34 Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. And Sheshan had an Egyptian servant whose name was Jarha.
35 Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife, and she bore him Attai.
36 Attai begot Nathan, and Nathan begot aZabad;
37 Zabad begot Ephlal, and Ephlal begot aObed;
38 Obed begot Jehu, and Jehu begot Azariah;
39 Azariah begot Helez, and Helez begot Eleasah;
40 Eleasah begot Sismai, and Sismai begot Shallum;
41 Shallum begot Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begot Elishama.
The Family of Caleb
42 The descendants of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha, his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
43 The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
44 Shema begot Raham the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begot Shammai.
45 And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
46 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begot Gazez.
47 And the sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
48 Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
49 She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea. And the daughter of Caleb was aAchsah.1
50 These were the descendants of Caleb: The sons of aHur, the firstborn of 1Ephrathah, were Shobal the father of bKirjath Jearim,
51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
52 And Shobal the father of Kirjath Jearim had descendants: 1Haroeh, and half of the 2families of Manuhoth.
53 The families of Kirjath Jearim were the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
54 The sons of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, 1Atroth Beth Joab, half of the Manahethites, and the Zorites.
55 And the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites. These were the aKenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of bRechab.
The Family of David
1 Now these were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was aAmnon, by bAhinoam the cJezreelitess; the second, 1Daniel, by dAbigail the Carmelitess;
2 the third, aAbsalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; the fourth, bAdonijah the son of Haggith;
3 the fifth, Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth, Ithream, by his wife aEglah.
4 These six were born to him in Hebron. aThere he reigned seven years and six months, and bin Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years.
5 aAnd these were born to him in Jerusalem: 1Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and bSolomon—four by 2Bathshua the daughter of 3Ammiel.
6 Also there were Ibhar, 1Elishama, 2Eliphelet,
8 Elishama, 1Eliada, and Eliphelet—anine in all.
9 These were all the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines, and aTamar their sister.
The Family of Solomon
10 Solomon’s son was aRehoboam; 1Abijah was his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
11 1Joram his son, 2Ahaziah his son, 3Joash his son,
12 Amaziah his son, 1Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
14 Amon his son, and Josiah his son.
15 The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, the second 1Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth 2Shallum.
16 The sons of aJehoiakim were 1Jeconiah his son and 2Zedekiah his son.
The Family of Jeconiah
17 And the sons of 1Jeconiah 2were Assir, Shealtiel ahis son,
18 and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
19 The sons of Pedaiah were Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, Hananiah, Shelomith their sister,
20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed—five in all.
21 The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, and the sons of Shechaniah.
22 The son of Shechaniah was Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah were aHattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat—six in all.
23 The sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hezekiah, and Azrikam—three in all.
24 The sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani—seven in all.
The Family of Judah
1 The sons of Judah were aPerez, Hezron, 1Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
2 And 1Reaiah the son of Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.
3 These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi;
4 and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of aHur, the firstborn of Ephrathah the father of Bethlehem.
5 And aAshhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7 The sons of Helah were Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan;
8 and Koz begot Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9 Now Jabez was amore honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name 1Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my 1territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he *requested.
11 Chelub the brother of aShuhah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
12 And Eshton begot Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of 1Ir-Nahash. These were the men of Rechah.
13 The sons of Kenaz were aOthniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel were 1Hathath,
14 and Meonothai who begot Ophrah. Seraiah begot Joab the father of aGe Harashim,1 for they were craftsmen.
15 The sons of aCaleb the son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah was 1Kenaz.
16 The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
17 The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. And 1Mered’s wife bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
18 (1His wife Jehudijah bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Sochoh, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) And these were the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.
19 The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the aMaachathite.
20 And the sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.
21 The sons of aShelah bthe son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the linen workers of the house of Ashbea;
22 also Jokim, the men of Chozeba, and Joash; Saraph, who ruled in Moab, and Jashubi-Lehem. Now the 1records are ancient.
23 These were the potters and those who dwell at 1Netaim and 2Gederah; there they dwelt with the king for his work.
The Family of Simeon
24 The asons of Simeon were 1Nemuel, Jamin, 2Jarib, 3Zerah, and Shaul,
25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son.
26 And the sons of Mishma were Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, and Shimei his son.
27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, anor did any of their families multiply as much as the children of Judah.
28 They dwelt at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual,
31 Beth Marcaboth, 1Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
32 And their villages were 1Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five cities—
33 and all the villages that were around these cities as far as 1Baal. These were their dwelling places, and they maintained their genealogy:
34 Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah;
35 Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel;
36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah;
37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah—
38 these mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and their father’s house increased greatly.
39 So they went to the entrance of Gedor, as far as the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40 And they found rich, good pasture, and the land was broad, quiet, and peaceful; for some Hamites formerly lived there.
41 These recorded by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and they aattacked1 their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and butterly destroyed them, as it is to this day. So they dwelt in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks there.
42 Now some of them, five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, having as their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
43 And they 1defeated athe rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. They have dwelt there to this day.
The Family of Reuben
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—ahe was indeed the firstborn, but because he bdefiled his father’s bed, chis birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright;
2 yet aJudah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a bruler, although 1the birthright was Joseph’s—
3 the sons of aReuben the firstborn of Israel were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
4 The sons of Joel were Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
6 and Beerah his son, whom 1Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria acarried into captivity. He was leader of the Reubenites.
7 And his brethren by their families, awhen the genealogy of their generations was registered: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in aAroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.
9 Eastward they settled as far as the 1entrance of the wilderness this side of the River Euphrates, because their cattle had 2multiplied ain the land of Gilead.
10 Now in the days of Saul they made war awith the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout the entire area east of Gilead.
The Family of Gad
11 And the achildren of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of bBashan as far as cSalcah:
12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the next, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan,
13 and their brethren of their father’s house: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.
14 These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father’s house.
16 And the Gadites dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its villages, and in all the 1common-lands of aSharon within their borders.
17 All these were registered by genealogies in the days of aJotham king of Judah, and in the days of bJeroboam king of Israel.
18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war.
19 They made war with the Hagrites, aJetur, Naphish, and Nodab.
20 And athey were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they bcried out to God in the battle. He 1heeded their prayer, because they cput their trust in Him.
21 Then they took away their livestock—fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys—also one hundred thousand of their men;
22 for many fell dead, because the war awas God’s. And they dwelt in their place until bthe captivity.
The Family of Manasseh (East)
23 So the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. Their numbers increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to aSenir, or Mount Hermon.
24 These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their fathers’ houses.
25 And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and aplayed the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
26 So the God of Israel *stirred up the spirit of aPul king of Assyria, that is, bTiglath-Pileser1 king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to cHalah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.
The Family of Levi
1 The sons of Levi were aGershon,1 Kohath, and Merari.
2 The sons of Kohath were Amram, aIzhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
3 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were aNadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4 Eleazar begot Phinehas, and Phinehas begot Abishua;
5 Abishua begot Bukki, and Bukki begot Uzzi;
6 Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth;
7 Meraioth begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;
8 aAhitub begot bZadok, and Zadok begot Ahimaaz;
9 Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan;
10 Johanan begot Azariah (it was he awho ministered as priest in the btemple1 that Solomon built in Jerusalem);
11 aAzariah begot bAmariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;
12 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot 1Shallum;
13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;
14 Azariah begot aSeraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.
15 Jehozadak went into captivity awhen the LORD carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
16 The sons of Levi were aGershon,1 Kohath, and Merari.
17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei.
18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers:
20 Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, aZimmah his son,
21 1Joah his son, 2Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and 3Jeatherai his son.
22 The sons of Kohath were 1Amminadab his son, aKorah his son, Assir his son,
23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,
24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
25 The sons of Elkanah were aAmasai and Ahimoth.
26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were 1Zophai his son, 2Nahath his son,
27 1Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son.
28 The sons of Samuel were 1Joel the firstborn, and Abijah 2the second.
29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.
Musicians in the House of the LORD
31 Now these are athe men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the bark came to rest.
32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.
33 And these are the ones who 1ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the aKohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of 1Eliel, the son of 2Toah,
35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of aEbiasaph, the son of Korah,
38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
39 And his brother aAsaph, who stood at his right hand, was Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,
40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
41 the son of aEthni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi.
44 Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand, were 1Ethan the son of 2Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,
47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
48 And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed to every akind of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
The Family of Aaron
49 aBut Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices bon the altar of burnt offering and con the altar of incense, for all the work of the Most Holy Place, and to *make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
50 Now these are the asons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.
Dwelling Places of the Levites
54 aNow these are their dwelling places throughout their settlements in their territory, for they were given by lot to the sons of Aaron, of the family of the Kohathites:
55 aThey gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, with its surrounding 1common-lands.
56 aBut the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
57 And ato the sons of Aaron they gave one of the cities of refuge, Hebron; also Libnah with its common-lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its common-lands,
58 1Hilen with its common-lands, Debir with its common-lands,
59 1Ashan with its common-lands, and Beth Shemesh with its common-lands.
60 And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common-lands, 1Alemeth with its common-lands, and Anathoth with its common-lands. All their cities among their families were thirteen.
61 aTo the rest of the family of the tribe of the Kohathites they gave bby lot ten cities from half the tribe of Manasseh.
62 And to the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, they gave thirteen cities from the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
63 To the sons of Merari, throughout their families, they gave atwelve cities from the tribe of Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun.
64 So the children of Israel gave these cities with their 1common-lands to the Levites.
65 And they gave by lot from the tribe of the children of Judah, from the tribe of the children of Simeon, and from the tribe of the children of Benjamin these cities which are called by their names.
66 Now asome of the families of the sons of Kohath were given cities as their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.
67 aAnd they gave them one of the cities of refuge, Shechem with its common-lands, in the mountains of Ephraim, also Gezer with its common-lands,
68 aJokmeam with its common-lands, Beth Horon with its common-lands,
69 Aijalon with its common-lands, and Gath Rimmon with its common-lands.
70 And from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Aner with its common-lands and Bileam with its common-lands, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
71 From the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh the sons of Gershon were given Golan in Bashan with its common-lands and 1Ashtaroth with its common-lands.
72 And from the tribe of Issachar: 1Kedesh with its common-lands, Daberath with its common-lands,
73 Ramoth with its common-lands, and Anem with its common-lands.
74 And from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its common-lands, Abdon with its common-lands,
75 Hukok with its common-lands, and Rehob with its common-lands.
76 And from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its common-lands, Hammon with its common-lands, and Kirjathaim with its common-lands.
77 From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the children of Merari were given 1Rimmon with its common-lands and Tabor with its common-lands.
78 And on the other side of the Jordan, across from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the wilderness with its common-lands, Jahzah with its common-lands,
79 Kedemoth with its common-lands, and Mephaath with its common-lands.
80 And from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its common-lands, Mahanaim with its common-lands,
81 Heshbon with its common-lands, and Jazer with its common-lands.
The Family of Issachar
1 The sons of Issachar were aTola, 1Puah, 2Jashub, and Shimron—four in all.
2 The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house. The sons of Tola were mighty men of valor in their generations; atheir number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
3 The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah. All five of them were chief men.
4 And with them, by their generations, according to their fathers’ houses, were thirty-six thousand troops ready for war; for they had many wives and sons.
5 Now their brethren among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, listed by their genealogies, eighty-seven thousand in all.
The Family of Benjamin
6 The sons of aBenjamin were Bela, Becher, and Jediael—three in all.
7 The sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri—five in all. They were heads of their fathers’ houses, and they were listed by their genealogies, twenty-two thousand and thirty-four mighty men of valor.
8 The sons of Becher were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these are the sons of Becher.
9 And they were recorded by genealogy according to their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, twenty thousand two hundred mighty men of valor.
10 The son of Jediael was Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All these sons of Jediael were heads of their fathers’ houses; there were seventeen thousand two hundred mighty men of valor fit to go out for war and battle.
12 1Shuppim and 2Huppim were the sons of 3Ir, and Hushim was the son of 4Aher.
The Family of Naphtali
13 The asons of Naphtali were 1Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and 2Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
The Family of Manasseh (West)
14 The adescendants of Manasseh: his Syrian concubine bore him bMachir the father of Gilead, the father of Asriel.
15 Machir took as his wife the sister of 1Huppim and 2Shuppim, whose name was Maachah. The name of Gilead’s 3grandson was aZelophehad, but Zelophehad begot only daughters.
16 (Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 The son of Ulam was aBedan.) These were the descendants of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod, 1Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19 And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
The Family of Ephraim
20 aThe sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son, Tahath his son,
21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath who were born in that land killed them because they came down to take away their cattle.
22 Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name 1Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.
24 Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper aBeth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah;
25 and Rephah was his son, as well as Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son,
26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, aElishama his son,
27 1Nun his son, and aJoshua his son.
28 Now their apossessions* and dwelling places were Bethel and its towns: to the east 1Naaran, to the west Gezer and its towns, and Shechem and its towns, as far as 2Ayyah and its towns;
29 and by the borders of the children of aManasseh were Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, bMegiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph, the son of Israel.
The Family of Asher
30 aThe sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.
31 The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of 1Birzaith.
32 And Heber begot Japhlet, 1Shomer, 2Hotham, and their sister Shua.
33 The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the children of Japhlet.
34 The sons of aShemer were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 And the sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36 The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, 1Jithran, and Beera.
38 The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
39 The sons of Ulla were Arah, Haniel, and Rizia.
40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their fathers’ houses, choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders. And they were recorded by genealogies among the army fit for battle; their number was twenty-six thousand.
The Family Tree of King Saul of Benjamin
1 Now Benjamin begot aBela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, 1Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3 The sons of Bela were 1Addar, Gera, Abihud,
5 Gera, 1Shephuphan, and Huram.
6 These are the sons of Ehud, who were the heads of the fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of aGeba, and who forced them to move to bManahath:
7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera who forced them to move. He begot Uzza and Ahihud.
8 Also Shaharaim had children in the country of Moab, after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives.
9 By Hodesh his wife he begot Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
10 Jeuz, Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of their fathers’ houses.
11 And by Hushim he begot Abitub and Elpaal.
12 The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns;
13 and Beriah and aShema, who were heads of their fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.
16 Michael, Ispah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
18 Ishmerai, Jizliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of 1Shimei.
24 Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah,
25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.
28 These were heads of the fathers’ houses by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
29 Now 1the father of Gibeon, whose awife’s name was Maacah, dwelt at Gibeon.
30 And his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
31 Gedor, Ahio, 1Zecher,
32 and Mikloth, who begot 1Shimeah. They also dwelt 2alongside their 3relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren.
33 aNer1 begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, 2Abinadab, and 3Esh-Baal.
34 The son of Jonathan was 1Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot aMicah.
35 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, 1Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 And Ahaz begot 1Jehoaddah; Jehoaddah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza.
37 Moza begot Binea, 1Raphah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
38 Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40 The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor—archers. They had many sons and grandsons, one hundred and fifty in all. These were all sons of Benjamin.
1 So aall Israel was 1recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
2 aAnd the first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and bthe Nethinim.
Dwellers in Jerusalem
3 Now in aJerusalem the children of Judah dwelt, and some of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the descendants of Perez, the son of Judah.
5 Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6 Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren—six hundred and ninety.
7 Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
8 Ibneiah the son of Jeroham; Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9 and their brethren, according to their generations—nine hundred and fifty-six. All these men were heads of a father’s house in their fathers’ houses.
The Priests at Jerusalem
10 aOf the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin;
11 1Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the aofficer over the house of God;
12 Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13 and their brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses—one thousand seven hundred and sixty. They were 1very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
The Levites at Jerusalem
14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of aZichri, the son of Asaph;
16 aObadiah the son of bShemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
The Levite Gatekeepers
17 And the gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was the chief.
18 Until then they had been gatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi at the King’s Gate on the east.
19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, from his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, 1gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to the camp of the LORD.
20 And aPhinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him.
21 aZechariah the son of Meshelemiah was 1keeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
22 All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. aThey were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel bthe *seer had appointed them to their trusted office.
23 So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment.
24 The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south.
25 And their brethren in their villages had to come with them from time to time afor seven days.
26 For in this trusted office were four chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.
27 And they lodged all around the house of God because 1they had the aresponsibility, and they were in charge of opening it every morning.
Other Levite Responsibilities
28 Now some of them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count.
29 Some of them were appointed over the furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over the afine flour and the wine and the oil and the incense and the spices.
30 And some of the sons of the priests made athe ointment of the spices.
31 Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted office aover the things that were baked in the pans.
32 And some of their brethren of the sons of the Kohathites awere in charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath.
33 These are athe singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.
34 These heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites were heads throughout their generations. They dwelt at Jerusalem.
The Family of King Saul
35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was aMaacah, dwelt at Gibeon.
36 His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37 Gedor, Ahio, 1Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38 And Mikloth begot 1Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren.
39 aNer begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.
40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah.
41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, 1Tahrea, aand2 Ahaz.
42 And Ahaz begot 1Jarah; Jarah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza;
43 Moza begot Binea, 1Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44 And Azel had six sons whose names were these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.
Tragic End of Saul and His Sons
1 Now athe Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, 1Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.
6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.
7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to 1strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among the people.
10 aThen they put his armor in the 1temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.
11 And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 all the avaliant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to bJabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had 1committed against the LORD, abecause he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because bhe consulted a medium for guidance.
14 But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and aturned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
David Made King over All Israel
1 Then aall Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh.
2 “Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD your aGod said to you, ‘You shall bshepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ”
3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And athey anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD 1by bSamuel.
The City of David
4 And David and all Israel awent to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, bwhere the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
5 But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
6 Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be 1chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.
7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it 1the City of David.
8 And he built the city around it, from 1the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab 2repaired the rest of the city.
9 So David awent on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with bhim.
The Mighty Men of David
10 Now athese were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to bthe word of the LORD concerning Israel.
11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: aJashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, bchief of 1the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.
12 After him was Eleazar the son of aDodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
13 He was with David at 1Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines.
14 But they 1stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.
15 Now three of the thirty chief men awent down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped bin the Valley of 1Rephaim.
16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”
18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.
19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.
20 aAbishai the brother of Joab was chief of another 1three. He had lifted up his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.
21 aOf the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to the first three.
22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who 1had done many deeds. aHe had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.
23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great height, 1five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand there was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.
25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David appointed him over his guard.
26 Also the mighty warriors were aAsahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 1Shammoth the Harorite, aHelez the 2Pelonite,
28 aIra the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, bAbiezer the Anathothite,
29 1Sibbechai the Hushathite, 2Ilai the Ahohite,
30 aMaharai the Netophathite, 1Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 1Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, of the sons of Benjamin, aBenaiah the Pirathonite,
32 1Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, 2Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the 1Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of 1Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Hararite,
35 Ahiam the son of 1Sacar the Hararite, 2Eliphal the son of 3Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 1Hezro the Carmelite, 2Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the 1Berothite (the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),
40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41 aUriah the Hittite, 1Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him,
43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,
The Growth of David’s Army
1 Now athese were the men who came to David at bZiklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war,
2 armed with bows, using both the right hand and athe left in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow. They were of Benjamin, Saul’s brethren.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of 1Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite;
4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite;
5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite;
6 Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 Some Gadites 1joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were aas swift as gazelles on the mountains:
9 Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13 Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbanai the eleventh.
14 These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a athousand.
15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its abanks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold.
17 And David went out 1to meet them, and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no 2wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment.”
18 Then the Spirit 1came upon aAmasai, chief of the captains, and he said:
“We are yours, O David;
We are on your side, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.
19 And some from Manasseh defected to David awhen he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying, b“He may defect to his master Saul and endanger our heads.”
20 When he went to Ziklag, those of Manasseh who defected to him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of the thousands who were from Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against athe bands of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army.
22 For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, alike the army of God.
David’s Army at Hebron
23 Now these were the numbers of the 1divisions that were equipped for war, and acame to David at bHebron to cturn over the kingdom of Saul to him, daccording to the word of the LORD:
24 of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred 1armed for war;
25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred;
26 of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred;
27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred;
28 aZadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two captains;
29 of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until then athe greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul);
30 of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, 1famous men throughout their father’s house;
31 of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king;
32 of the sons of Issachar awho had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, astouthearted men who could keep ranks;
34 of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear;
35 of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-eight thousand six hundred;
36 of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, forty thousand;
37 of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand armed for battle with every kind of weapon of war.
38 All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of aone mind to make David king.
39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, for there was joy in Israel.
The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim
1 Then David consulted with the acaptains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are aleft in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us;
3 “and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, afor we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”
4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 So aDavid gathered all Israel together, from bShihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God cfrom Kirjath Jearim.
6 And David and all Israel went up to aBaalah,1 to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, bwho dwells between the *cherubim, where His name is proclaimed.
7 So they 1carried the ark of God aon a new cart bfrom the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
8 Then aDavid and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with 1singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 And when they came to 1Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen 2stumbled.
10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him abecause he put his hand to the ark; and he bdied there before God.
11 And David became angry because of the LORD’s *outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called 1Perez Uzza to this day.
12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”
13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
14 aThe ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed bthe house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
David Established at Jerusalem
1 Now aHiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.
2 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was ahighly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.
3 Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.
4 And athese are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: 1Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
7 Elishama, 1Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
The Philistines Defeated
8 Now when the Philistines heard that aDavid had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them.
9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid aon the Valley of 1Rephaim.
10 And David ainquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”
11 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place 1Baal Perazim.
12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13 aThen the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley.
14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, aand come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
15 “And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from 1Gibeon as far as Gezer.
17 Then athe fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD bbrought the fear of him upon all nations.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, aand pitched a tent for it.
2 Then David said, “No one may carry the aark of God but the Levites, for bthe LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”
3 And David agathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it.
4 Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites:
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his 1brethren;
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren;
7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren;
8 of the sons of aElizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren;
9 of the sons of aHebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren;
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.
11 And David called for aZadok and bAbiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; 1sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.
13 “For abecause you did not do it the first time, bthe LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him 1about the proper order.”
14 So the priests and the Levites 1sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as aMoses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.
16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.
17 So the Levites appointed aHeman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, bAsaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, cEthan the son of Kushaiah;
18 and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, 1Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers;
19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze;
20 Zechariah, 1Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to aAlamoth;
21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the aSheminith;
22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was *instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark;
24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, awere to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and bObed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So aDavid, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams.
27 David was clothed with a robe of fine alinen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen *ephod.
28 aThus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with *shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.
29 And it happened, aas the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her *heart.
The Ark Placed in the Tabernacle
1 So athey brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, ahe blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
3 Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to acommemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel:
5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then aJeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals;
6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests *regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.
David’s Song of Thanksgiving
7 On that day aDavid bfirst delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD:
8 aOh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
11 Seek the LORD and His *strength;
Seek His face evermore!
12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the *judgments of His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
His ajudgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 The acovenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
17 And aconfirmed it to bJacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
19 When you were afew in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
20 When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He arebuked kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, a“Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
23 aSing* to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
25 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods aof the peoples are 1idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
27 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
28 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, *worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The *world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”
32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is it.
33 Then the atrees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,
For He is bcoming to judge the earth.
34 aOh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
35 aAnd say, *“Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
36 aBlessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And all bthe people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
Regular Worship Maintained
37 So he left aAsaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work brequired;
38 and aObed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers;
39 and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, abefore the tabernacle of the LORD bat the 1high place that was at Gibeon,
40 to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly amorning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD which He commanded Israel;
41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, abecause His mercy endures forever;
42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.
43 aThen all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
God’s Covenant with David
1 Now ait came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains.”
2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall anot build Me a house to dwell in.
5 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
6 “Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
7 “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “I took you afrom the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be 1ruler over My people Israel.
8 “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have 1made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
9 “Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will aplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,
10 “since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a 1house.
11 “And it shall be, when your days are afulfilled, when you must 1go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your bseed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 a“He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 a“I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, bas I took it from him who was before you.
14 “And aI will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
15 According to all these words and according to all this *vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
16 aThen King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: “Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
17 “And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
18 “What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.
19 “O LORD, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.
20 “O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21 a“And who is like Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people—to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt?
22 “For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God.