Families from Adam to Abraham

1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, ² Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, ³ Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, ⁴ Noah and his sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

⁵ The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. ⁶ The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. ⁷ The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.

⁸ The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. ⁹ The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. ¹⁰ Cush was the father of Nimrod. He began to be a powerful one on the earth. ¹¹ Mizraim was the father of the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh, ¹² Pathrus, Casluh (where the Philistines came from), and Caphtor.

¹³ Canaan was the father of Sidon his first-born, and Heth, ¹⁴ and the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, ¹⁵ Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, ¹⁶ Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.

¹⁷ The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. ¹⁸ Arpachshad was the father of Shelah. And Shelah was the father of Eber. ¹⁹ Two sons were born to Eber. The name of one was Peleg, for the earth was divided in his days. And his brother’s name was Joktan. ²⁰ Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²¹ Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²² Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, ²³ Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

²⁴ Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, ²⁵ Eber, Peleg, Reu, ²⁶ Serug, Nahor, Terah, ²⁷ Abram, that is Abraham. ²⁸ The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.

The Family of Ishmael

²⁹ These are their children. Ishmael’s first-born son was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ³⁰ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, ³¹ Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. ³² Keturah was the woman who acted as Abraham’s wife. She gave birth to Abraham’s sons, Zimram, 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 sons of Keturah.

The Family of Esau

³⁴ Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel. ³⁵ The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah. ³⁶ The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna and Amalek. ³⁷ The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.

The Family of Seir

³⁸ The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. ³⁹ The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam. Lotan’s sister was Timna. ⁴⁰ The sons of Shobal were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi and Onam. The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. ⁴¹ Anah’s son was Dishon. And the sons of Dishon were Hamran, Eshban, Ithran and Cheran. ⁴² The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.

The Kings of Edom

⁴³ These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any kings of Israel ruled. Bela was the son of Beor. The name of his city was Dinhabah. ⁴⁴ When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah became king in his place. ⁴⁵ When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites became king in his place. ⁴⁶ When Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad became king in his place. Hadad won the battle against Midian in the field of Moab. The name of his city was Avith. ⁴⁷ When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah became king in his place. ⁴⁸ When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth by the Euphrates River became king in his place. ⁴⁹ When Shaul died, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor became king in his place. ⁵⁰ When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king in his place. The name of his city was Pai. His wife’s name was Mehetabel the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. ⁵¹ Then Hadad died. Now the leaders of Edom were Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, ⁵² Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁵³ Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁵⁴ Magdiel, and Iram. These were the leaders of Edom.

The Family of Israel

2 The sons of Israel were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Napthali, Gad, and Asher.

The Families from Judah to David

³ The sons of Judah were Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua of Canaan. Judah’s first-born son Er was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death. ⁴ Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar gave birth to Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

⁵ The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ⁶ The sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol and Dara, five in all. ⁷ Carmi’s son was Achar, who brought trouble to Israel by sinning against what was holy. ⁸ The son of Ethan was Azariah.

⁹ The sons born to Hezron were Jerahmeel, Ram and Chelubai. ¹⁰ Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, the leader of the sons of Judah. ¹¹ Nahshon was the father of Salma. Salma was the father of Boaz. ¹² Boaz was the father of Obed. And Obed was the father of Jesse. ¹³ Jesse was the father of Eliab his first-born, then Abinadab his second son, and Shimea his third. ¹⁴ Nethanel was his fourth son, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵ Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh. ¹⁶ Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abshai, Joab and Asahel. ¹⁷ Abigail gave birth to Amasa. And Amasa’s father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

The Family of Hezron

¹⁸ Hezron’s son Caleb had sons by his wives Azubah and Jerioth. Azubah’s sons were Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. ¹⁹ When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath. She gave birth to his son Hur. ²⁰ Hur was the father of Uri. And Uri was the father of Bezalel.

²¹ Later, when Hezron was sixty years old, he married the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. She gave birth to his son Segub. ²² Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. ²³ But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its towns. They took sixty cities in all. All these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead. ²⁴ After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah gave birth to his son Ashhur. Ashhur was the father of Tekoa.

The Family of Jerahmeel

²⁵ The sons of Hezron’s first-born Jerahmeel were Ram the first-born, then Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah. ²⁶ Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam. ²⁷ The sons of Jerahmeel’s first-born son Ram were Maaz, Jamin and Eker. ²⁸ The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. And the sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur. ²⁹ The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail. She gave birth to his sons Ahban and Molid. ³⁰ The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim. Seled died without sons. ³¹ Appaim’s son was Ishi. Ishi’s son was Sheshan. And Sheshan’s son was Ahlai. ³² The sons of Shammai’s brother Jada were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without sons. 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 his servant Jarha in marriage. And she gave birth to his son Attai. ³⁶ Attai was the father of Nathan. Nathan was the father of Zabad. ³⁷ Zabad was the father of Ephlal. Ephlal was the father of Obed. ³⁸ Obed was the father of Jehu. Jehu was the father of Azariah. ³⁹ Azariah was the father of Helez. Helez was the father of Eleasah. ⁴⁰ Eleasah was the father of Sismai. Sismai was the father of Shallum. ⁴¹ Shallum was the father of Jekamiah. And Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

The Family of Caleb

⁴² These are the sons of Jerahmeel’s brother Caleb. Mesha was his first-born and the father of Ziph. His son was Mareshah, the father of Hebron. ⁴³ The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. ⁴⁴ Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. ⁴⁵ Shammai’s son was Maon. Maon was the father of Bethzur. ⁴⁶ Ephah was the woman who acted as Caleb’s wife. She gave birth to Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez. ⁴⁷ The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. ⁴⁸ Maacah, who acted as Caleb’s wife, gave birth to Sheber and Tirhanah. ⁴⁹ She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah, and Sheva the father of Machbena and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah. ⁵⁰ These were the children of Caleb.

The sons of Ephrathah’s first-born son Hur were Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, ⁵¹ Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader. ⁵² Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had other sons. These were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites, ⁵³ and the families of Kiriath-jearim. These families 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 and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half of the Manahathites, and the Zorites. ⁵⁵ The families of the writers who lived at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

The Family of David

3 These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron. The first-born was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel. The second was Daniel, the son of Abigail of Carmel. ² The third was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith. ³ The fifth was Shephatiah the son of Abital. And the sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. ⁴ Six sons were born to David in Hebron. He ruled there for seven years and six months. And he ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-three years. ⁵ These are the sons who were born to him in Jerusalem: Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel gave birth to David’s four sons, Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. ⁶ And there were Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, ⁷ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁸ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine sons. ⁹ All these were the sons of David, added to the sons of the women who acted as David’s wives. Tamar was their sister.

The Family of Solomon

¹⁰ Solomon’s son was Rehoboam. Abijah was his son. Asa was his son. Jehoshaphat was his son. ¹¹ Joram was his son. Ahaziah was his son. Joash was his son. ¹² Amaziah was his son. Azariah was his son. Jotham was his son. ¹³ Ahaz was his son. Hezekiah was his son. Manasseh was his son. ¹⁴ Amon was his son. And Josiah was his son. ¹⁵ The sons of Josiah were Johanan the first-born, Jehoiakim the second, Zedekiah the third, and Shallum the fourth. ¹⁶ The sons of Jehoiakim were Jeconiah and Zedekiah.

The Family of Jeconiah

¹⁷ Jeconiah was taken away to prison by the Babylonians. His sons were Shealtiel, ¹⁸ Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. ¹⁹ Pedaiah’s sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. ²⁰ Five other sons of Zerubbabel were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed. ²¹ The sons of Hananiah were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, whose son was Rephaiah. His son was Arnan. His son was Obadiah. And his son was Shecaniah. ²² Shecaniah’s son was Shemaiah, whose sons were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six sons. ²³ The three sons of Neariah were Elioenai, Hizkiah and Azrikam. ²⁴ And the seven sons of Elioenai were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

The Family of Judah

4 The sons of Judah were Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur and Shobal. ² Shobal’s son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. And Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. ³ The sons of Etam were Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. The name of their sister was Hazzelelponi. ⁴ Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. ⁵ Tekoa’s father Ashhur had two wives, Helah and Naarah. ⁶ Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. ⁷ The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar and Ethnan. ⁸ Koz was the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum. ⁹ Jabez was more a man of honor than his brothers. His mother gave him the name Jabez, saying, “Because I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “O, if only You would bring good to me and give me more land! If only Your hand might be with me, that You would keep me from being hurt!” And God gave him what he asked for.

¹¹ Shuhah’s brother Chelub was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. ¹² Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha and Paseah. Tehinnah was the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Recah.

¹³ The sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel’s son was Hathath. ¹⁴ Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, who was the father of Ge-harashim. They were good at making things. ¹⁵ Jephunneh’s son Caleb was the father of Iru, Elah and Naam. Elah’s son was Kenaz. ¹⁶ The sons of Jehallel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel. ¹⁷ The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. These are the sons of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithia, whom Mered married. She gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. ¹⁸ Mered’s Jewish wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. ¹⁹ The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. ²⁰ Shimon’s sons were Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan and Tilon. The sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. ²¹ The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked with linen at Bethashbea. ²² Shelah’s other sons were Jokim, the men of Cozeba, Joash, Saraph who ruled in Moab, and Jaashubi-lehem. The writings of these times are old. ²³ These were the people who made pots and lived in Netaim and Gederah. They lived there with the king for his work.

The Family of Simeon

²⁴ The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Saul. ²⁵ Saul’s son was Shallum. His son was Mibsam. And his son was Mishma. ²⁶ Mishma’s sons were Hammuel, Zaccur his son, and Shimei his son. ²⁷ Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many children. Their whole family did not have many children, like the sons of Judah. ²⁸ They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹ Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David ruled. ³² Their towns were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen and Ashan, five towns. ³³ And they had all the small towns that were around these towns as far as Baal. These were the places where they lived. And they wrote down all the names of their families. ³⁴ The heads of their families were Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, ³⁵ Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel. ³⁶ And there were Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, ³⁷ and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah. ³⁸ These were the names of the heads of their families. And many were added to their fathers’ houses. ³⁹ They went to the gate of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to look for fields for their flocks. ⁴⁰ There they found good fields rich with grass. The land was wide and quiet, and there they had peace. For Hamites had lived there before. ⁴¹ These whose names have been written down came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They destroyed their tents and the Meunites who were found there. They destroyed all of them to this day, and lived in their place because there were fields for their flocks. ⁴² Then some of them, 500 sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir. Their leaders were Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. ⁴³ They destroyed the rest of the Amalekites who had run away to be safe. And they have lived there to this day.

The Family of Reuben

5 Reuben was the first-born son of Israel but because he sinned against his father’s marriage bed, his birth-right was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel. Reuben is not written down in the family names by his birth-right. ² Judah became stronger than his brothers, and a prince came from him. But the birth-right belonged to Joseph. ³ The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. ⁴ The sons of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog his son, Shimei his son, ⁵ Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, ⁶ and Beerah his son. Beerah was the one whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away to a strange land. He was a leader of the Reubenites. ⁷ These are his brothers by their families, from the writings of their family names. There was Jeiel the leader, then Zechariah, ⁸ and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. ⁹ He lived as far east as the beginning of the desert this side of the Euphrates River, because their cattle had become too many for the land of Gilead. ¹⁰ In the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites and killed them. So they lived in their tents over all the land east of Gilead.

The Family of Gad

¹¹ The sons of Gad lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah. ¹² Joel was the leader. Then there was Shapham, then Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. ¹³ Their seven brothers of their fathers’ houses were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. ¹⁴ These were the sons 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 head of their fathers’ houses. ¹⁶ They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and in all the fields of Sharon as far as they go. ¹⁷ All of these were added to the family names in the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.

¹⁸ The sons of Reuben, the Gadites and the half-family group of Manasseh were powerful soldiers. They carried the battle-covering and the sword, and shot with the bow. They were able men in battle. There were 44,760 of them who went to war. ¹⁹ They made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. ²⁰ They were given help against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand. They cried out to God in the battle. He gave them what they asked for, because they trusted in Him. ²¹ They took away their animals, 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men. ²² Many were killed, because the war was of God. They lived in their place until they were taken away by Assyria.

The Family of Manasseh East of the Jordan River

²³ The sons of the half-family group of Manasseh lived in the land. There were many of them from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir and Mount Hermon. ²⁴ The heads of their fathers’ houses were Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were powerful soldiers, men whose names were well-known. And they were heads of their fathers’ houses.

²⁵ But they sinned against the God of their fathers. They sold themselves to the gods of the people of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. ²⁶ So the God of Israel moved the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, also known as Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria. And he carried the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-family group of Manasseh away to a strange land. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan. And they are there to this day.

The Family of Levi

6 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. ² The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. ³ The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ⁴ Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua. ⁵ Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi. ⁶ Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. ⁷ Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. ⁸ Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. ⁹ Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan. ¹⁰ Johanan was the father of Azariah. (He was the one who served as the religious leader in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem.) ¹¹ Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub. ¹² Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum. ¹³ Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. ¹⁴ Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. ¹⁵ Jehozadak was taken away when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem away to a strange land by Nebuchadnezzar.

¹⁶ The sons of Levi were Gershom, Kohath and Merari. ¹⁷ The names of the sons of Gershom were Libni and Shimei. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses. ²⁰ Of Gershom there were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son. ²² The sons of Kohath were Amminadab, Korah 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 Saul his son. ²⁵ The sons of Elkanah were Amasai and Ahimoth, ²⁶ Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. ²⁸ The sons of Samuel were Joel the first-born, and Abijah the 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.

Singers in the House of the Lord

³¹ David chose these men to lead the singing in the house of the Lord, after the special box with the Law of the Lord rested there. ³² They led the singing in front of the meeting tent until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. And they took their places for their work at the right times. ³³ These are the men who served, and their sons. From the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, son of Samuel, ³⁴ son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, ³⁵ son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, ³⁶ son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, ³⁷ son of Tahath. Tahath was the son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, ³⁸ son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel. ³⁹ Heman’s brother Asaph stood at his right hand. Asaph was the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, ⁴⁰ son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, ⁴¹ son of Ethni, son of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Adaiah, ⁴² son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, ⁴³ son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. ⁴⁴ On the left hand were their brothers the sons of Merari. There was Ethan the son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, ⁴⁵ son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah. Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah, ⁴⁶ son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, ⁴⁷ son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi. ⁴⁸ Their brothers the Levites were chosen for all the work of the house of God.

The Family of Aaron

⁴⁹ But Aaron and his sons gave the gifts on the altar of burnt gifts and on the altar of special perfume. They did all the work of the most holy place, to pay for the sins of Israel. They did all that Moses the servant of God had told them to do. ⁵⁰ The sons of Aaron were Eleazar, 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.

⁵⁴ These are the places where they lived in their lands. The sons of Aaron of the families of the Kohathites were first to choose where to live. ⁵⁵ They were given Hebron in the land of Judah, and the fields around it. ⁵⁶ But the fields of the city and its towns were given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh. ⁵⁷ The sons of Aaron were given cities where people go to be safe. These cities were Hebron, Libnah with its fields, Jatir, Eshtemoa with its fields, ⁵⁸ Hilen with its fields, Debir with its fields, ⁵⁹ Ashan with its fields, and Beth-shemesh with its fields. ⁶⁰ From the family of Benjamin they were given Geba with its fields, Allemeth with its fields, and Anathoth with its fields. There were thirteen cities in all, by their families.

⁶¹ Ten cities were given, by drawing names, to the rest of the sons of Kohath. These cities were given from the families of the half-family group of Manasseh. ⁶² Thirteen cities were given to the sons of Gershom, by their families. These cities were given from the families of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. ⁶³ Twelve cities were given, by drawing names, to the sons of Merari, by their families. These cities were given from the families of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁶⁴ So the people of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their fields. ⁶⁵ By drawing names, they gave them these cities which are written here, from the families of the sons of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.

⁶⁶ Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their land from the family of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ They were given cities where anyone could go to be safe. These cities were Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim with its fields, Gezer with its fields, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam with its fields, Beth-horon with its fields, ⁶⁹ Aijalon with its fields, and Gath-rimmon with its fields. ⁷⁰ From the half-family group of Manasseh they were given Aner with its fields and Bileam with its fields. They were for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.

⁷¹ Cities were given to the sons of Gershom from the half-family group of Manasseh. These cities were Golan in Bashan with its fields and Ashtaroth with its fields. ⁷² From the family of Issachar they were given Kedesh with its fields, Daberath with its fields, ⁷³ Ramoth with its fields, and Anem with its fields. ⁷⁴ From the family of Asher they were given Mashal with its fields, Abdon with its fields, ⁷⁵ Hukok with its fields, and Rehob with its fields. ⁷⁶ From the family of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee with its fields, Hammon with its fields, and Kiriathaim with its fields.

⁷⁷ The rest of the Levites, the sons of Merari were given cities from the family of Zebulun. These cities were Rimmono with its fields and Tabor with its fields. ⁷⁸ On the other side of the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, they were given cities from the family of Reuben. These cities were Bezer in the desert with its fields, Jahzah with its fields, ⁷⁹ Kedemoth with its fields, and Mephaath with its fields. ⁸⁰ From the family of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead with its fields, Mahanaim with its fields, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its fields, and Jazer with its fields.

The Family of Issachar

7 The four sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron. ² The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam and Samuel, heads of their fathers’ houses. Tola’s sons were powerful soldiers among the people of their day. There were 22,600 of these men in the days of David. ³ The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel and Isshiah. All five of them were leaders. ⁴ With them by their families and by their fathers’ houses were 36,000 men ready to fight. For they had many wives and sons. ⁵ Their brothers among all the families of Issachar were powerful soldiers. There were 87,000 of them, whose names were written down by their families.

The Families of Benjamin and Naphtali

⁶ The three sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher and Jediael. ⁷ The five sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth and Iri. They were heads of their fathers’ houses and powerful soldiers. There were 22,034 of them, whose names were written down by their families. ⁸ The sons of Becher were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher. ⁹ Their names were written down by their families. They were heads of their fathers’ houses, 20,200 powerful soldiers. ¹⁰ The son of Jediael was Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish and Ahishahar. ¹¹ All these were sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers’ houses. They were 17,200 powerful soldiers, who were ready to go out with the army to battle. ¹² Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir. Hushim was the son of Aher.

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

The Family of Manasseh West of the Jordan River

¹⁴ Manasseh’s sons were Asriel and Machir the father of Gilead. Their mother was the Aramaean woman who acted as Manasseh’s wife. ¹⁵ Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad. And Zelophehad had daughters. ¹⁶ Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and gave him the name Peresh. His brother’s name was Sheresh. And his sons were Ulam and Rakem. ¹⁷ The son of Ulam was Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. ¹⁸ His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah. ¹⁹ The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi and Aniam.

The Family of Ephraim

²⁰ Ephraim’s sons were Shuthelah and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, ²¹ Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath who were born in the land killed Ezer and Elead, because they came down to take their cattle. ²² Their father Ephraim was filled with sorrow for many days. And his brothers came to comfort him. ²³ Then he went in to his wife and she was able to have a child and gave birth to a son. Ephraim gave him the name Beriah, because trouble had come upon his house. ²⁴ Beriah’s daughter was Sheerah. She built both parts of Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah. ²⁵ Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, ²⁶ Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, ²⁷ Nun his son, and Joshua his son.

²⁸ Their cities and their lands were Bethel with its towns, Naaran to the east, Gezer to the west with its towns, and Shechem with its towns as far as Ayyah with its towns. ²⁹ Beside the land of the sons of Manasseh, they lived in Beth-shean with its towns, Taanach with its towns, Megiddo with its towns, and Dor with its towns. In these cities lived the sons of Joseph the son of Israel.

The Family of Asher

³⁰ The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. ³¹ The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. ³² Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. ³³ The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal and Ashvath. These were the sons of Japhlet. ³⁴ The sons of Shemer were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah and Aram. ³⁵ 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, Ithran, and Beera. ³⁸ The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispa and Ara. ³⁹ The sons of Ulla were Arah, Hanniel and Rizia. ⁴⁰ All these were the sons of Asher and heads of the fathers’ houses. They were chosen men and powerful soldiers, leaders of the king’s sons. There were 26,000 of them, whose names were written down by their families for fighting in war.

The Family of King Saul

8 Benjamin was the father of Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, ² Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. ³ Bela’s sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud, ⁴ Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, ⁵ Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. ⁶ The sons of Ehud were the heads of fathers’ houses of the people of Geba. They were taken away to Manahath. ⁷ Their names were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. ⁸ Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. ⁹ By his wife Hodesh he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, ¹⁰ Jeuz, Sachia and Mirmah. These were his sons. They were heads of fathers’ houses. ¹¹ By his wife Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal. ¹² The sons of Elpaal were Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns. ¹³ Elpaal was the father of Beriah and Shema also. They were heads of fathers’ houses of the people of Aijalon, who drove away the people of Gath. ¹⁴ Elpaal’s other sons were Ahio, Shashak and Jeremoth. ¹⁵ Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, ¹⁶ Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah. ¹⁷ Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸ Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. ¹⁹ Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, ²¹ Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. ²² Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, ²³ Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, ²⁴ Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 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 families. They were leaders who lived in Jerusalem.

²⁹ Gibeon’s father Jeiel lived in Gibeon. The name of Jeiel’s wife was Maacah. ³⁰ His sons were Abdon his first-born, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, ³¹ Gedor, Ahio and Zecher, ³² and Mikloth the father of Shimeah. They lived with their brothers in Jerusalem beside their other brothers. ³³ Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. ³⁴ The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal was the father of Micah. ³⁵ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea and Ahaz. ³⁶ Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. ³⁷ Moza was the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. ³⁸ The names of Azel’s six sons were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹ The sons of his brother Eshek were Ulam his first-born, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. ⁴⁰ The sons of Ulam were powerful soldiers. They fought with the bow. And they had 150 sons and grandsons. All these were the sons of Benjamin.

9 So the names of all Israel were written down by families. See, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away to Babylon because they were not faithful.

Those Who Returned to Their Land

² The first ones to live again in their land and in their cities were Israel, the religious leaders, the Levites and the servants of the Lord’s house. ³ Some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem. ⁴ They were Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah. ⁵ From the Shilonites were Asaiah the first-born and his sons. ⁶ From the sons of Zerah were Jeuel and their brothers, 690 of them. ⁷ From the sons of Benjamin were Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah. ⁸ And there were Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah. ⁹ And there were their brothers by their families, 956 of them. All these were heads of fathers’ houses by their fathers’ houses.

The Religious Leaders for Jerusalem

¹⁰ From the religious leaders were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin. ¹¹ And there was Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub. He was the head leader of the house of God. ¹² And there was Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah. There was Maasai the son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer. ¹³ And there were 1,760 of their brothers, who were heads of their fathers’ houses. They were very able men for the work of the house of God.

The Levites in Jerusalem

¹⁴ From the Levites were Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari. ¹⁵ There were Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph. ¹⁶ There was Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. And there was Berechiah the son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the towns of the Netophathites.

The Gate-Keepers in Jerusalem

¹⁷ The gate-keepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers. (Shallum was the leader ¹⁸ who was at the king’s gate on the east side.) These were the gate-keepers for the family group of the Levites. ¹⁹ Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his brothers of his father’s house, were the Korahites. They led the work, and they watched the doors of the meeting tent. Their fathers had taken care of the tents of the Lord, and had watched the doors. ²⁰ Phinehas the son of Eleazar had ruled over them before. And the Lord was with him. ²¹ Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah watched the gate of the meeting tent. ²² There were 212 of those who were chosen to watch the gates. Their names were written down by families in their towns. David and Samuel the man of God chose them for places of trust. ²³ So they and their sons were gate-keepers of the Lord’s house, the holy tent. ²⁴ The gate-keepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north and south. ²⁵ Those of their family in other towns were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them. ²⁶ For the four head men who were gate-keepers were Levites and were in a place of trust. They watched over the rooms and the riches in the house of God. ²⁷ They stayed during the night around the house of God. For their duty was to watch. And they were to open the house every morning.

The Other Levites

²⁸ Some of them took care of the things used for worship. They numbered them when they were brought in and taken out. ²⁹ Some of them were chosen to take care of the objects of the holy place, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the special perfume, and the spices. ³⁰ And some of the sons of the religious leaders did the work of mixing the spices. ³¹ Mattithiah was one of the Levites, the first-born of Shallum the Korahite. He took care of the making of bread. ³² And some of their brothers of the Kohathites took care of the making of the holy bread every Day of Rest.

³³ These are the singers. They were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lived in the rooms of the Lord’s house. They were free from other kinds of worship, for they were on duty day and night. ³⁴ These were heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites by their families. They were leaders who lived in Jerusalem.

The Family of King Saul

³⁵ Gibeon’s father Jeiel lived in Gibeon. The name of Jeiel’s wife was Maacah. ³⁶ His sons were Abdon the first-born, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷ Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. ³⁸ Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They lived with their brothers in Jerusalem beside their other brothers. ³⁹ Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. ⁴⁰ The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal was the father of Micah. ⁴¹ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz. ⁴² Ahaz was the father of Jarah. Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. ⁴³ Moza was the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. ⁴⁴ Azel had six sons whose names were Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

The Death of King Saul and His Sons

10 Now the many Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel ran away from the Philistines, and were killed on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines went after Saul and his sons. And they killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons. ³ The battle was hard for Saul. Those who fought with the bow found him, and hurt him with an arrow. ⁴ Then Saul said to the one who carried his battle-clothes, “Take your sword and kill me with it. Or these men who have not gone through our religious act will come and make fun of me.” But the one who carried his battle-clothes would not do it. For he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. ⁵ When the one who carried his battle-clothes saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died also. ⁶ So Saul died with his three sons. All those of his house died together.

⁷ All the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had run away and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in their cities. ⁸ When the Philistines came the next day to take what had belonged to the dead, they found Saul and his sons dead on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ So they took his clothes, his head, and his battle-clothes. And they sent men around the land of the Philistines to take the good news to their false gods and to the people. ¹⁰ They put Saul’s battle-clothes in the house of their gods. And they put his head in the house of Dagon. ¹¹ All the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul. ¹² So all the powerful soldiers went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under the oak tree there. Then they went without food for seven days.

¹³ So Saul died for his sin against the Lord, because he did not keep the Word of the Lord. He had asked a woman who spoke with spirits what he should do. ¹⁴ He did not ask the Lord. So the Lord killed him, and gave the nation to David the son of Jesse.

David Becomes King of Israel and Judah

11 Then all Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “See, we are your bone and your flesh. ² In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd of My people Israel. And you will be king over My people Israel.’” ³ So all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. And David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. Then they poured oil on David to be the king of Israel, just as the Lord had said through Samuel. ⁴ David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). And the Jebusites, the people of the land, were there. ⁵ The people of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” But David took the strong-place of Zion (that is, the city of David). ⁶ Now David had said, “Whoever kills a Jebusite first will be captain and leader.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became captain. ⁷ Then David lived in the strong-place. So it was called the city of David. ⁸ He built the city all around, from the Millo and then around. And Joab built the rest of the city up again. ⁹ David became greater and greater, for the Lord of All was with him.

David’s Strong Men

¹⁰ These are the leaders of David’s strong men. They gave him much help in his nation, together with all Israel, to make him king. It was just as the Lord had said would happen with Israel. ¹¹ These are the names of David’s strong men. There was Jashobeam the son of Hachmonite, the head of the thirty. He killed 300 men with his spear at one time. ¹² Then there was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. He was one of the three powerful soldiers. ¹³ He was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines were gathered there to battle, where there was a piece of ground full of grain. And the people ran away from the Philistines. ¹⁴ But he and his men stood on the piece of ground and fought for it, and killed the Philistines. The Lord saved them by His great power.

¹⁵ Three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock and into the cave of Adullam where David was staying. The Philistine army was staying in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶ David was in a strong-place, while the Philistine soldiers had their place in Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David had a strong desire. He said, “O, if only someone would give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁸ So the three men broke through the Philistine army. They took water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord, ¹⁹ and said, “Far be it from me that I should do this before my God. Should I drink the blood of these men? For they put their lives in danger to bring it.” So he would not drink it. These things are what the three powerful soldiers did.

²⁰ As for Abishai the brother of Joab, he was the head of the thirty. He fought and killed 300 men with his spear. And his name became well-known like the three. ²¹ He was the best known of the thirty. But he was not as important as the three.

²² Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a powerful soldier from Kabzeel, did great things. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He went down and killed a lion inside a deep hole on a day when there was snow. ²³ And he killed an Egyptian who was very tall, five cubits tall. The Egyptian held a spear as big as the cross-piece of a cloth-maker. But Benaiah went down to him with a heavy stick and took the spear from the Egyptian’s hand. Then he killed him with his own spear. ²⁴ These are the things Benaiah the son of Johoiada did. His name was well-known like the three powerful soldiers. ²⁵ He was respected among the thirty. But he was not as important as the three. David chose him to be the head of his house soldiers.

²⁶ The strong men of the armies were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁷ Shammoth the Harorite, and Helez the Pelonite. ²⁸ And there were Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, ²⁹ Sibbecai the Hushathite, and Ilai the Ahohite. ³⁰ There were Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, ³¹ Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin, and Benaiah the Pirathonite. ³² There were Hurai of the rivers of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³ Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, ³⁴ the sons of Hashem the Gizonite. There were Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, ³⁵ Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, ³⁶ Hepher the Mecherathite, and Ahijah the Pelonite. ³⁷ There were Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, ³⁸ Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite. Naharai was the one who carried the battle-clothes of Joab the son of Zeruiah. ⁴⁰ There were Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, ⁴² and Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite. Adina was a leader of the Reubenites, and had thirty men with him. ⁴³ Then there were Hanan the son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, and Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite. ⁴⁵ There were Jediael the son of Shimri, his brother Joha the Tizite, ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam. And there were Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s Army Gets Larger

12 These are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while David was still hidden because of Saul the son of Kish. They were among the strong men who helped him in war. ² They fought with the bow. They could also throw stones or shoot arrows with both the right and left hand. They were Saul’s brothers from Benjamin. ³ The leader was Ahiezer, then Joash. Both of them were sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite. And there were Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, Beracah, Jehu the Anathothite, ⁴ and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite. He was a strong man among the thirty, and a leader over them. There were Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite, ⁵ Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite. ⁶ There were Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites. ⁷ And there were Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸ Powerful soldiers came from the Gadites to David in the strong-place in the desert. They had been taught how to fight in war, and could use the battle-covering and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions. And they were as fast as the deer on the mountains. ⁹ Ezer was the first. Obadiah was the second. Eliab was the third. ¹⁰ Mishmannah was the fourth. Jeremiah was the fifth. ¹¹ Attai was the sixth. Eliel was the seventh. ¹² Johanan was the eighth. Elzabad was the ninth. ¹³ Jeremiah was the tenth. Machbannai was the eleventh. ¹⁴ These Gadites were captains of the army. He who was least led 100. And he who was greatest led 1,000. ¹⁵ These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when the water was flowing over its sides. They drove away 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 his strong-place. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them. He said to them, “If you come in peace to help me, my heart will be joined to you. But if you have come to hand me over to those who hate me, may the God of our fathers see it and speak strong words to you. For I have done nothing wrong.” ¹⁸ Then the Spirit came upon Amasai the captain of the thirty. Amasai said, “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to those who help you! For your God helps you!” Then David received them and made them captains of his soldiers.

¹⁹ Some men from Manasseh came over to David’s side when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help him. For after talking it over, the Philistine leaders sent him away, saying, “He might go over to Saul’s side with our heads.” ²⁰ The men who came over to David’s side from Manasseh as he went to Ziklag were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai. They were captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. ²¹ They helped David against the army of soldiers who came to fight him. For they were all powerful soldiers, and captains in the army. ²² Each day men came to David to help him. They came until there was a great army, like the army of God.

²³ These are the numbers of the armies who came to David at Hebron. They came to turn the nation of Saul to him, as the Word of the Lord had said. ²⁴ There were 6,800 sons of Judah who carried a battle-covering and spear, ready for war. ²⁵ There were 7,100 powerful soldiers from the sons of Simeon. ²⁶ There were 4,600 sons of Levi. ²⁷ Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron. There were 3,700 men with him. ²⁸ And there was Zadok, a young, powerful soldier, and twenty-two captains from his own father’s house. ²⁹ There were 3,000 sons of Benjamin, Saul’s brothers. For until now most of them had stayed faithful to the house of Saul. ³⁰ There were 20,800 powerful soldiers from the sons of Ephraim. They were important men in their fathers’ houses. ³¹ There were 18,000 men of the half-family group of Manasseh. They were chosen by name to come and make David king. ³² There were 200 captains of the sons of Issachar. They understood the times and had much understanding of what Israel should do. And all their brothers obeyed them.