Bible in 90 Days
10 Then the Philistines fought against Israel. And the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell down dead, on Mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines pursued after Saul, and after his sons. And the Philistines struck Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3 And the battle was severe against Saul. And the archers hit him. And he was wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw out your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mock me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore, Saul took the sword and fell upon it.
5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon the sword and died.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his House. They died together.
7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw how they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled away. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And the next day, when the Philistines came to plunder those who had been killed, they found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.
9 And after they had stripped him, they took his head and his armor and sent them into the land of the Philistines, all around, to proclaim it to their idols, and to the people.
10 And they laid up his armor in the house of their god and set up his head in the house of Dagon.
11 When all they of Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 they arose (all the valiant men) and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under an oak in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.
13 So Saul died for his transgressions that he committed against the LORD, against the Word of the LORD, which he did not keep, and because he sought and asked counsel of a medium,
14 and did not ask of the LORD. Therefore, He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.
11 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David, to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bones and your flesh.
2 “And in time past, even when Saul was king, you led Israel out and in. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall feed My people Israel. And you shall be captain over My people Israel.’”
3 So, all the elders of Israel came to the king, to Hebron. And David made a covenant with them in Hebron, before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the Word of the LORD, by the hand of Samuel.
4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (which is Jebus), where the Jebusites were the inhabitants of the land.
5 And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the tower of Zion, which is the City of David.
6 And David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be the chief and captain.” So Joab, the son of Zeruiah, went up first and was captain.
7 And David dwelt in the tower. Therefore, they called it the City of David.
8 And he built the city on every side, from Millo all around. And Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9 And David prospered and grew; for the LORD of Hosts was with him.
10 Also, these are the chiefs of the valiant men who were with David and joined their force with him in his kingdom with all Israel, to make him king over Israel, according to the Word of the LORD.
11 And this is the number of the valiant men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of Hachmoni, the chief among thirty. He lifted up his spear against three hundred, whom he killed at one time.
12 And after him was Eleazar, the son of [c]Dodo the Ahohite, who was one of the three valiant men.
13 He was with David at Pasdammim. And the Philistines were gathered together to battle there. And there was a parcel of ground full of barley. And the people fled before the Philistines.
14 And they stood in the midst of the field and saved it and killed the Philistines. So, the LORD gave a great victory.
15 And three of the thirty captains went to a rock, to David, into the cave of Adullam. And the army of the Philistines camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16 And when David was in the stronghold, the Philistines garrison was at Bethlehem.
17 And David longed, and said, “Oh, that one would give me drink from the water of the well of Bethlehem that is at the gate.”
18 Then these three broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it, but poured it out as an oblation to the LORD,
19 and said, “Do not let my God allow me to do this. Should I drink the blood of these men’s lives? For they have jeopardized their lives to bring it.” Therefore, he would not drink it. These things these three mighty men did.
20 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them and had the name among the three.
21 Among the three he was more honorable than the other two; and he was their captain. But he did not seek a place among the three.
22 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada (the son of a valiant man), who had done many acts, and was of Kabzeel, killed two strong men of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit, in time of snow.
23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature (five cubits tall). And a spear like a weaver’s beam was in the Egyptian’s hand. And he went down to him with a staff, and plucked 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 he had the name among the three worthies.
25 Behold, he was honorable among thirty. But he did not seek a place among the three. And David made him one of his counselors.
26 These were also valiant men of war: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
29 Sibbechai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah (of the children of Benjamin), Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32 Hurai of the rivers of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shageh the Harite,
35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37 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, the armor bearer of Joab, the son of Zeruiah,
40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42 Adina (the son of Shiza the Reubenite), a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him.
43 Hanan the son of Maachah, and 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, and Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47 Eliel and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
12 Also, these are those who came to David, to Ziklag, while he was still under restraint because of Saul, the son of Kish. And they were among the valiant and helpers of the battle.
2 They were weaponed with bows and could use the right and the left hand with stones and with arrows and with bows and were Saul’s brethren, of Benjamin.
3 The chiefs were Ahiezer and Joash, the sons of Shemaah, a Gibeathite, and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, Berachah and Jehu the Anathothite,
4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a valiant man among thirty (and above the thirty), and Jeremiah and Jahaziel and Johanan and Jozabad the Gederathite,
5 Eluzai and Jerimoth and Bealiah and Shemariah and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6 Elkanah and Jisshiah and Azarel and Joezer, Jashobeam of Korah
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8 And some of the Gadites separated themselves to David, into the stronghold of the wilderness, valiant men of war, men of arms for battle who could handle spear and shield. And their faces were like the faces of lions, and similar in swiftness to the deer in the mountains:
9 Ezer the chief, 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, Machbanai the eleventh.
14 These were the sons of Gad, captains of the army. One of the least of them could resist a hundred, and the greatest a thousand.
15 These are those who went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and put to flight all those of the valley toward the east and the west.
16 And some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold, to David.
17 And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me, to help me, my heart shall be knit with yours. But if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, there being no wickedness in my hands, the God of our fathers will behold it and rebuke it.”
18 And the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was the chief of thirty. And he said, “We are yours, David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace! Peace to you and peace to your helpers. For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them captains of the garrison.
19 And some from Manasseh fell to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle. But they did not help them. For the princes of the Philistines, under advisement, sent him away, saying, “He will fall to his master Saul for our heads.”
20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh: Adnah and Jozabad and Jediael and Michael and Jozabad and Elihu and Zillethai, heads of the thousands who were of Manasseh.
21 And they helped David against that band; for they were all valiant men and were captains in the army.
22 For at that time, day by day, they came to David to help him, until it was a great army, like the host of God.
23 And these are the numbers of the captains who were armed to battle and came to David (to Hebron) to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the Word of the LORD.
24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed to the war,
25 of the children of Simeon, valiant men of war, seven thousand one hundred.
26 of the children of Levi, four thousand six hundred.
27 And Jehoiada was the chief of those from Aaron. And with him were three thousand seven hundred.
28 And of Zadok (a very valiant young man) and of his father’s household, came twenty-two captains.
29 And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul,came three thousand. For a great part of them until that time had kept the ward of the House of Saul.
30 And of the children of Ephraim came twenty thousand, and eight hundred valiant men and famous men in the household of their fathers.
31 And of the half tribe of Manasseh came eighteen thousand, who were appointed by name to come and make David king.
32 And of the children of Issachar—who were men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do—the heads of them were two hundred. And all their brethren were at their command.
33 Of Zebulun came fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war and in all instruments of war, who could keep the battle in formation. They were not of a double heart.
34 And of Naphtali came a thousand captains, and with them those with shield and spear (thirty-seven thousand).
35 And of Dan came twenty-eight thousand six hundred experts in battle.
36 And of Asher came forty thousand who went out to the battle and were trained in the wars.
37 And of the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites and of the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all instruments of war to fight with, one hundred twenty thousand.
38 All these men of war, who could lead an army, came to Hebron with upright heart to make David king over all Israel. And all the rest of Israel was of one accord to make David king.
39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking. For their brethren had prepared for them.
40 Moreover, those who were near to them, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread upon donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen: abundant meat, flour, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen and sheep. For there was joy in Israel.
13 And David counseled with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and with all the governors.
2 And David said to all the Congregation of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and that it proceeds from the LORD our God, we will send to and fro to our brethren who are left in all the land of Israel (for with them are the priests and the Levites, in the cities and their suburbs), so that they may assemble themselves to us!
3 “And we will bring back the Ark of our God! For we did not seek it in the days of Saul!”
4 And all the Congregation answered, “Let us do so!” For the thing seemed good in the eyes of all the people.
5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kirjath Jearim.
6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah in Kirjath Jearim (which was in Judah), to bring up the Ark of God the LORD from there, which dwells between the Cherubim, where his Name is called on.
7 And they carried the Ark of God in a new cart, out of the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio guided the cart.
8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, both with songs and with harps and with viols and with timbrels and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the Ark (for the oxen shook it).
10 But the wrath of the LORD was kindled against Uzza and He struck him, because he laid his hand upon the Ark. So, he died there before God.
11 And David was angry because of the LORD’s outburst against Uzza. And he called the name of that place “Perez Uzza” to this day.
12 And David feared God that day, saying, “How shall I bring in the Ark of God to myself?”
13 Therefore, David did not bring the Ark to him into the City of David, but caused it to turn into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
14 So the Ark of God remained in the house of Obed-Edom, in his house for three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
14 Then Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters to build himself a house.
2 Therefore, David knew that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, and that his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of His people Israel.
3 Also, David took more wives at Jerusalem. And David begat more sons and daughters.
4 And these are the names of the children whom he had at Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab, Nathan and Solomon
5 and Ibhar and Elishua and Elpelet
6 and Nogah and Nepheg and Japhia
7 and Elishama and Beeliada and Eliphelet.
8 But when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David. And when David heard, he went out against them.
9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the Valley of Rephaim.
10 Then David asked counsel at God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will you deliver them into my hand?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up. For I will deliver them into your hand.”
11 So they came up to Baal Perazim; and David struck them there. And David said, “God has divided my enemies with my hand, as waters are divided.” Therefore, they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
12 And they had left their gods there. And David said, “Let them be burnt with fire.”
13 Again, the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley.
14 And when David again asked counsel at God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. But turn away from them, so that you may come upon them opposite the mulberry trees.
15 “And when you hear the noise of one going in the tops of the mulberry trees, then go out to battle. For God has gone forth before you, to strike the army of the Philistines.”
16 So David did as God had Commanded him. And they struck the army of the Philistines, from Gibeon to Gezer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands. And the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
15 And David made himself houses in the City of David, and prepared a place for the Ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.
2 Then David said, “No one ought to carry the Ark of God except the Levites. For the LORD has chosen them to bear the Ark of the LORD, and to minister to Him forever.”
3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem to bring up the Ark of the LORD to its place which he had ordained for it.
4 And David assembled the sons of Aaron and the Levites.
5 Of the sons of Kohath were Uriel, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred twenty).
6 Of the sons of Merari were Asaiah, the chief, and his brethren (two hundred twenty).
7 Of the sons of Gershom were Joel, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred thirty).
8 Of the sons of Elizaphan were Shemaiah, the chief, and his brethren (two hundred).
9 Of the sons of Hebron were Eliel, the chief, and his brethren (eighty).
10 Of the sons of Uzziel were Amminadab, the chief, and his brethren (one hundred twelve).
11 And David called Zadok and Abiathar, the Priests. And of the Levites were Uriel, Asaiah and Joel, Shemaiah and Eliel and Amminadab.
12 And he said to them, “You are the chief fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, and your brethren, and bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it.
13 “For because you were not there at first, the LORD our God made an outburst among us. For we did not seek Him in proper order.”
14 So, the Priests and the Levites sanctified themselves, to bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15 And the sons of the Levites bore the Ark of God upon their shoulders with the bars, as Moses had commanded, according to the Word of the LORD.
16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites, so that they would appoint some of their brethren to sing with instruments of music, with viols and harps, and cymbals, so that they might make a sound and lift up their voice with joy.
17 So, the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel. And from his brethren came Asaph, the son of Berechiah. And from the sons of Merari (their brethren) came Ethan, the son of Kushaiah.
18 And with them came their brethren in the second degree: Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni, Eliab and Benaiah and Maaseiah and Mattithiah and Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed-Edom and Jeiel (the gatekeepers).
19 So Heman, Asaph and Ethan were singers to make a sound with cymbals of bronze,
20 and Zechariah and Aziel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Unni and Eliab and Maaseiah and Benaiah were to make a sound with viols on Alamoth,
21 and Mattithiah and Elipheleh and Mikneiah and Obed-Edom and Jeiel and Azaziah were to make a sound with harps upon Sheminith Jenazzeah.
22 But Chenaniah, the chief of the Levites, was in charge of the music and gave instruction in the sound; for he was skillful.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the Ark.
24 And Shebaniah and Joshaphat and Nethanel and Amasai and Zechariah and Benaiah and Eliezer (the priests) blew with trumpets before the Ark of God. And Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the Ark.
25 So, David and the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
26 And because God helped the Levites who bore the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
27 And David had on a linen garment, as did all the Levites who bore the Ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah who had the chief charge of the singers. And David had on a linen ephod.
28 Thus, all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant with shouting and sound of cornet and with trumpets and with cymbals, making a sound with viols and with harps.
29 And when the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out at a window and saw King David dancing and playing. And she despised him in her heart.
16 So, they brought in the Ark of God and set it in the midst of the Tabernacle that David had erected for it. And they offered Burnt Offerings and Peace Offerings before God.
2 And when David had finished offering the Burnt Offering and the Peace Offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of the LORD.
3 And he dealt to every one of Israel — both man and woman — to each one a cake of bread and a piece of flesh and a bottle of wine.
4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the Ark of the LORD and to remember and thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
5 Asaph, the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel and Shemiramoth and Jehiel and Mattithiah and Eliab and Benaiah and Obed-Edom, also Jeiel, (with instruments: viols and harps) and Asaph (to make a sound with cymbals),
6 Benaiah and Jahaziel (priests), with trumpets continually before the Ark of the Covenant of God.
7 Then, at that time, David appointed Asaph and his brethren to give the first thanks to the LORD:
8 “Praise the LORD! Call upon His Name! Declare His works among the people!
9 “Sing to Him! Sing praise to Him! Talk of all His Wonderful works!
10 “Rejoice in His Holy Name! Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
11 “Seek the LORD and His strength. Seek His Face continually.
12 “Remember His marvelous works that He has done, His wonders, and the Judgments of His Mouth.
13 “O seed of Israel, His servant! O the children of Jacob, His chosen!
14 “He is the LORD our God! His Judgments are throughout all the Earth.
15 “Remember His Covenant forever, and the Word which He Commanded to a thousand generations,
16 “which He made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac,
17 “and has confirmed to Jacob for a Law, to Israel for an everlasting Covenant,
18 “saying, ‘To you will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance.’
19 “When you were few in number (yea, a very few) and strangers in it,
20 “and walked around from nation to nation, and from kingdom to another people,
21 “He allowed no man to do them wrong, but rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,
22 ‘Do not touch My anointed and do My Prophets no harm.’
23 “Sing to the LORD all the Earth! Declare His salvation from day to day!
24 “Declare His Glory among the nations and His wonderful works among all people!
25 “For the LORD is great and much to be praised! And He is to be feared above all gods.
26 “For all the gods of the people are idols; but the LORD made the heavens.
27 “Praise and Glory are before Him! Power and beauty are in His place!
28 “Give to the LORD, you families of the people. Give glory to the LORD, and power!
29 “Give to the LORD the glory of His Name! Bring an Offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the glorious Sanctuary!
30 “Tremble before Him, all the Earth! Surely the world shall be firm, and not move.
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 that is in it! Let the field be joyful and all that is in it!
33 “Then let the trees of the forest rejoice at the presence of the LORD; for He comes to judge the Earth!
34 “Praise the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!”
35 “And say, ‘Save us, O God, our salvation! And gather us and deliver us from the heathen, so that we may praise Your Holy Name and glory in Your praise!’
36 “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel forever and ever! And let all people say, ‘So be it!’ and praise the LORD.”
37 Then he left them before the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant (Asaph and his brethren) to minister continually that which was to be done every day before the Ark.
38 And Obed-Edom and his brethren (sixty-eight) and Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were gatekeepers.
39 And Zadok the Priest and his brethren, the priests, were before the Tabernacle of the LORD, in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 to offer Burnt Offerings to the LORD, upon the Burnt Offering Altar continually, in the morning and in the evening, according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He Commanded Israel.
41 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were appointed by names to praise the LORD, because His mercy endures forever.
42 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun, to make a sound with the cornets and with the cymbals, with excellent instruments of music. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate.
43 And all the people departed, every man to his house. And David returned to bless his house.
17 Now afterward, when David dwelt in his house, he said to Nathan the Prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar trees. But the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant remains under curtains.”
2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.”
3 And the same night, the Word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4 “Go and tell David, My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.
5 “For I have dwelt in no house since the day that I brought out the children of Israel until this day. But I have been from tent to tent, and from habitation to habitation.
6 “Therefore, I have walked with all Israel. Have I spoken one word to any of the judges of Israel (whom I Commanded to feed My people) saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar trees?’”’
7 “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of Hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, so that you would be a prince over My people Israel.
8 “And I have been with you wherever you have walked and have destroyed all your enemies out of your sight and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the Earth.
9 “Also, I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant it, so that they may dwell in their place and no longer move. Nor shall the wicked people trouble them anymore, as at the beginning
10 “and since the time that I Commanded judges over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Therefore, I say to you that the LORD will build you a House.
11 “And when your days shall be fulfilled, to go with your fathers, then I will raise up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons, and will establish his kingdom.
12 “He shall build Me a House. And I will establish his throne forever.
13 “I will be his father and he shall be my son and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
14 “But I 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 Nathan spoke to David.
16 And David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my House, that You have brought me this far?
17 “Yet You, esteeming this a small thing, O God, have also spoken concerning the house of your servant for a great while, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.
18 “What more can David desire of You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.
19 “O LORD, for Your servant’s sake You have done all this great thing, according to Your Heart, to declare all magnificence.
20 “LORD, there is none like You! Nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears!
21 “Moreover what one nation on the Earth is like Your people Israel, whose God went to redeem them to be His people, and to make Yourself a Name, and to do great and fearful things by casting out Nations from before Your people, whom You have delivered out of Egypt?
22 “For You have ordained Your people Israel to be Your own people forever. And You, LORD, have become their God.
23 “Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, be confirmed forever. And do as You have said,
24 “and let Your Name be stable and magnified forever, so that it may be said, ‘The LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, is the God of Israel,’ and let the House of David, Your servant, be established before You.
25 “For You, O my God, have revealed to the ear of Your servant that You will build him a House. Therefore, Your servant has been bold to pray before You.
26 “Therefore now, LORD — for You are God, and have spoken this goodness to Your servant —
27 “now, therefore, it has pleased You to bless the House of Your servant, so that it may be before You forever. For You, O LORD, have blessed it. And it shall be blessed forever.”
18 And after this, David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he struck Moab. And the Moabites became David’s servants and brought gifts.
3 And David struck Hadadezer, king of Zobah, out to Hamath, as he went to establish his border by the river Perath.
4 And David took a thousand chariots from him, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and destroyed all the chariots, but he reserved one hundred of the chariots.
5 Then, the Aramites of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah. But David killed twenty-two thousand of the Aramites.
6 And David put a garrison in Aram of Damascus. And the Aramites became David’s servants and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold from the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And David brought a large amount of bronze from Tibhath and from Chun (cities of Hadadezer), with which Solomon made the Bronze Sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.
9 Then Tou, king of Hamath, heard how David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah.
10 Therefore, he sent Hadoram, his son, to king David, to greet him and to rejoice with him, bringing him all vessels of gold and silver and bronze, because he had fought against Hadadezer and beaten him (for Tou had warred with Hadadezer).
11 And King David dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he brought from all the nations, from Edom and from Moab and from the children of Ammon and from the Philistines and from Amalek.
12 And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, struck eighteen thousand the of Edomites in the Salt Valley.
13 And he put a garrison in Edom. And all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
14 So, David reigned over all Israel and executed judgment and justice to all his people.
15 And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the army. And Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was recorder.
16 And Zadok, the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar, were the Priests. And Shavsha was the Scribe.
17 And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And the sons of David were chief around the king.
19 Also after this, Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, died. And his son reigned in his place.
2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him for his father. So, the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon, to Hanun, to comfort him.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Did you think that David honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search, to seek and to spy out the land?”
4 Therefore, Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut their garments in half to the buttocks and sent them away.
5 And some went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them (for the men were very ashamed). And the king said, “Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown. Then return.”
6 When the children of Ammon saw that they stank in the sight of David, they sent Hanun and the children of Ammon a thousand talents of silver, to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves out of Aram Naharaim, and out of Aram Maacah, and out of Zobah.
7 And they hired thirty-two thousand chariots for themselves and the king of Maacah and his people, who had come and camped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to the battle.
8 And when David heard it, he sent Joab and the whole army of the valiant men.
9 And the children of Ammon came out and set themselves in battle formation at the gate of the city. And the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him, in front and behind, he chose from all the choice of Israel and set himself in formation to meet the Aramites.
11 And he delivered the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai, his brother. And they put themselves in formation against the children of Ammon.
12 And he said, “If Aram is too strong for me, then you shall help me. And if the children of Ammon prevail against you, then I will help you.
13 “Be strong! And let us show ourselves valiant for our people, and for the cities of our God! And let the LORD do that which is good in His own sight.”
14 So Joab and the people who were with him came near the Aramites, to do battle. And they fled before him.
15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Aramites fled, they also fled before Abishai, his brother, and entered into the city. So, Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 And when the Aramites saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and caused the Aramites who were beyond the river to come forth. And Shophach, the captain of the army of Hadadezer, went before them.
17 And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel and went over Jordan and came to them and put himself in formation against them. And when David had put himself in battle formation to meet the Aramites, they fought with him.
18 But the Aramites fled before Israel. And David destroyed seven thousand chariots and forty thousand footmen of the Aramites and killed Shophach, the captain of the army.
19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they fell before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him. And the Aramites would no longer help the children of Ammon.
20 And after the year had expired, in the time that kings go out to battle, Joab carried out the strength of the army and destroyed the country of the children of Ammon and came and besieged Rabbah (though David remained in Jerusalem). And Joab struck Rabbah and destroyed it.
2 Then David took the crown of their king from off his head and found it to be the weight of a talent of gold, with precious stones in it. And it was set on David’s head. And he brought away a large amount of plunder from the city.
3 And he carried away the people who were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. David did so with all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people came back to Jerusalem.
4 And also after this, there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the children of Haraphah, and they were subdued.
5 And there was yet another battle with the Philistines. And Elhanan, the son of Jair, killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver’s beam.
6 And yet again, there was a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature. And he had six fingers and toes (twenty-four in all), and was also the son of Haraphah.
7 And when he reviled Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shimea, David’s brother killed him.
8 These were born to Haraphah at Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hands of his servants.
21 And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to count Israel.
2 Therefore, David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, “Go. Count Israel from Beersheba to Dan and bring it to me, so that I may know the number of them.”
3 And Joab answered, “May the LORD increase His people a hundred times as many as they are, O my lord the king! But, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of offense to Israel?”
4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. And Joab departed and went through all Israel and returned to Jerusalem.
5 And Joab gave the number and sum of the people to David. And all Israel numbered one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword. And Judah numbered four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.
6 But he did not count the Levites and Benjamin among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
7 And God was displeased with this thing. Therefore, He struck Israel.
8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing. But now, I pray, remove the iniquity of Your servant. For I have acted very foolishly.”
9 And the LORD spoke to Gad, David’s Seer, saying,
10 “Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three things. Choose one of them, so that I may do it for you.”’”
11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Take for yourself
12 ‘either three years of famine or three months to be destroyed before your adversaries with the sword of your enemies taking you, or else the sword of the LORD and pestilence for three days in the land, so that the Angel of the LORD may destroy throughout all the territories of Israel.’ Now, therefore, consider what word I shall bring back to Him who sent me.”
13 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me now fall into the hand of the LORD. For His mercies are exceedingly great. And let me not fall into the hand of man.”
14 So, the LORD sent a pestilence in Israel. And seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
15 And God sent the Angel into Jerusalem, to destroy it. And as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and relented of the misery, and said to the Angel that destroyed, “It is enough now. Let your hand cease.” Then the Angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
16 And David lifted up his eyes and saw the Angel of the LORD stand between the Earth and the sky, with his sword drawn in his hand and stretched out toward Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
17 And David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Is it not also I who has sinned and has committed evil” But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, I pray, let Your Hand be on me and on my father’s House, and not on Your people, to their destruction.”
18 Then the Angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an Altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
19 So David went up according to the saying of Gad which he had spoken in the Name of the LORD.
20 And Ornan turned around and saw the Angel. And his four sons who were with him hid themselves. And Ornan threshed wheat.
21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out of the threshing floor and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the space of your threshing floor, so that I may build an Altar in it to the LORD. Give it to me for sufficient money, so that the plague may be removed from the people.”
23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself. And let my lord the king do that which seems good to him. Lo, I give you oxen for Burnt Offerings and threshing instruments for wood and wheat for Meat Offering. I give it all.”
24 And King David said to Ornan, “Not so. But I will buy it for sufficient money. For I will not take that which is yours for the LORD, nor offer Burnt Offerings without cost.”
25 So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for that place.
26 And David built an Altar to the LORD there and offered Burnt Offerings, and Peace Offerings and called upon the LORD. And He answered him by fire from Heaven, upon the Altar of Burnt Offering.
27 And after the LORD had spoken to the Angel, he put away his sword, back into its sheath.
28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had heard him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
29 But the Tabernacle of the LORD which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the Altar of Burnt Offering, were in the high place at Gibeon at that time.
30 And David could not go before it to ask counsel at God. For he was afraid of the sword of the Angel of the LORD.
22 And David said, “This is the House of the LORD God. And this is the Altar for the Burnt Offering of Israel.”
2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers who were in the land of Israel. And he set masons to cut and polish stones to build the House of God.
3 David also prepared a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors and of the gates, and for the joinings, and abundance of bronze surpassing weight,
4 and cedar trees without number. For the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought a large amount of cedar wood to David.
5 And David said, “Solomon, my son, is young and tender. And we must build a House for the LORD, magnificent, excellent and of great fame and dignity throughout all countries. I will now prepare for it.” So, David prepared very much before his death.
6 Then he called Solomon, his son, and charged him to build a House for the LORD God of Israel.
7 And David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a House to the Name of the LORD my God,
8 “but the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood, and have made great battles. You shall not build a House to My Name. For you have shed much blood upon the Earth in My sight.
9 ‘Behold, a son is born to you who shall be a man of rest. For I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. Therefore, his name is Solomon. And I will send peace and quietness upon Israel in his days.
10 ‘He shall build a House for My Name. And he shall be My son. And I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom upon Israel forever.’
11 “Now, therefore, my son, the LORD shall be with you. And you shall prosper. And you shall build a House to the LORD your God, as He has spoken of you.
12 “May the LORD alone give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, to keep the Law of the LORD your God.
13 “Then you shall prosper, if you take heed to observe the Statutes and the Judgments which the LORD Commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage! Neither fear nor be afraid!
14 “For behold, according to my poverty have I prepared a hundred thousand talents of gold for the House of the LORD, and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron of surpassing weight. For there was abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may provide more to it.
15 “Moreover, you have enough workmen with you, stonecutters and workmen of timber and all men expert in every work.
16 Of gold, silver, bronze and iron there is no limit. Up and get to work! And the LORD will be with you!”
17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon, his son, saying,
18 “Is not the LORD your God with you, giving you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand. And the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people.
19 “Now, set your hearts and your souls to seek the LORD your God! And arise and build the Sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and the Holy Vessels of God into the House built for the Name of the LORD!”
23 So, when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon, his son, king over Israel.
2 And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
3 And the Levites were counted, from the age of thirty years and above. And their total number was thirty-eight thousand men.
4 Of these, twenty-four thousand were set to advance the work of the House of the LORD. And six thousand were overseers and judges.
5 And four thousand were gatekeepers. And four thousand praised the LORD with instruments (“…which I made for praise!” said David).
6 So David separated the sons of Levi — Gershon, Kohath, and Merari — into divisions.
7 Of the Gershonites were Laadan and Shimei.
8 The sons of Laadan were the chief (Jehiel) and Zetham and Joel (three).
9 The Sons of Shimei were Shelomith and Haziel and Haran (three). These were the chief fathers of Laadan.
10 Also the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
11 And Jahath was the chief and Zizah was the second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons. Therefore, they were in the families of their father, counted but as one.
12 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel (four).
13 The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated to sanctify the Most Holy Place, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister to Him, and to bless in His Name forever.
14 Also Moses, the man of God, and his children were named with the tribe of Levi.
15 The sons of Moses were Gershon and Eliezer.
16 Of the sons of Gershon was Shebuel the chief.
17 And the son of Eliezer was Rehabiah the chief. For Eliezer had no other sons. But there were very many sons of Rehabiah.
18 The son of Izhar was Shelomith the chief.
19 The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
20 The sons of Uzziel were Michah the first, and Jesshiah the second.
21 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish.
22 And Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters. And their brethren, the sons of Kish, took them.
23 The sons of Mushi were Mahli and Eder and Jeremoth (three).
24 These were the sons of Levi, according to the House of their fathers, the chief fathers according to their offices, according to the number of names, all who did the work for the service of the House of the LORD from the age of twenty years and above.
25 For David said, “The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, so that they may dwell in Jerusalem forever.
26 “And also the Levites shall no longer bear the Tabernacle and all the Vessels for its service.”
27 Therefore, according to the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years and above.
28 And their office was under the hand of the sons of Aaron, for the service of the House of the LORD in the courts and chambers and in the purifying of all Holy things and in the work of the service of the House of God,
29 both for the showbread and for the fine flour, for the Meat Offering and for the unleavened cakes and for the fried things and for that which was roasted and for all measures and size.
30 And they were to stand every morning to give thanks and praise to the LORD, and likewise at evening,
31 and to offer all Burnt Offerings to the LORD on the Sabbaths — in the months, at the appointed times, according to the number and according to their custom — continually before the LORD.
32 And they were to keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and the charge of the Holy Place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron, their brethren, in the service of the House of the LORD.
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