Bible in 90 Days
Divisions of Levites
24 Now the divisions of the sons of Aaron were these: (A)the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 (B)But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no [a]sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests. 3 And David, with (C)Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their assignments for their service. 4 And more chief men were found from the [b]sons of Eleazar than the [c]sons of Ithamar, so they divided them thus: there were sixteen heads of fathers’ households of the [d]sons of Eleazar and eight of the [e]sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ households. 5 (D)Thus they were divided by lot, the one as the other; for they were leaders for the sanctuary and leaders for God, both from the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel the scribe, from the Levites, wrote them down in the presence of the king, the princes, Zadok the priest, (E)Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites; one father’s household taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came out for Jehoiarib,
the second for Jedaiah,
8 the third for Harim,
the fourth for Seorim,
9 the fifth for Malchijah,
the sixth for Mijamin,
10 the seventh for Hakkoz,
the eighth for (F)Abijah,
11 the ninth for Jeshua,
the tenth for Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh for Eliashib,
the twelfth for Jakim,
13 the thirteenth for Huppah,
the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth for Bilgah,
the sixteenth for Immer,
15 the seventeenth for Hezir,
the eighteenth for Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah,
the twentieth for Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first for Jachin,
the twenty-second for Gamul,
18 the twenty-third for Delaiah,
the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.
19 (G)These were their assignments for their service when they came in to the house of Yahweh according to the legal judgment rendered to them by the hand of Aaron their father, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
20 Now for the rest of the sons of Levi:
of the sons of Amram, [f]Shubael;
of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
21 Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the first.
22 Of the Izharites, [g]Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
23 The sons (H)of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
24 The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari, Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah, Beno.
27 The sons of Merari: by Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 By Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 By Kish: the sons of Kish, Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth.
These were the sons of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.
31 (I)These also cast lots alongside their [h]relatives the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, (J)Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites—the head of fathers’ households alongside those of his younger brother.
Number and Services of Musicians
25 Moreover, David and the commanders of the army separated for the service some of the sons of (K)Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to (L)prophesy with lyres, (M)harps, and cymbals; and the number of [i]those who performed their service was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph:
Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and [j]Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the [k]direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the [l]direction of the king.
3 (N)Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun:
Gedaliah, [m]Zeri, Jeshaiah, [n]Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the [o]direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, [p]Uzziel, [q]Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman (O)the king’s seer to [r]exalt him according to the words of God. So God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. 6 All these were under the [s]direction of their father to sing in the house of Yahweh, (P)with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. (Q)Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the [t]direction of the king. 7 And their number who were trained in singing to Yahweh, with their [u]relatives, all who were skillful, was (R)288.
Responsibilities of the Musicians
8 (S)They cast lots for their responsibilities, each alongside the other, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.
9 Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph,
the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve;
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
11 the fourth to [v]Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
14 the seventh to [w]Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
28 for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
29 for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
30 for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve;
31 for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve.
Divisions of the Gatekeepers
26 For the divisions of the gatekeepers there were of the Korahites, [x]Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of [y]Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons:
Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 (T)Obed-edom had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh and Peullethai the eighth; God had indeed blessed him.
6 Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers, Elihu and Semachiah, were men of valor.
8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and their [z]relatives were valiant men with strength for the service, sixty-two from Obed-edom.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, eighteen men of valor.
10 Also (U)Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons:
Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen.
12 To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, were given responsibilities like their relatives to minister in the house of Yahweh. 13 (V)And they cast lots, the small and the great alike, according to their fathers’ households, for every gate. 14 And the lot to the east fell to [aa]Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a counselor with insight, and his lot came out to the north. 15 For Obed-edom it fell to the south, and to his sons went the house of storerooms. 16 For Shuppim and Hosah it was to the west, by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway. Guard corresponded to guard. 17 On the east there were six Levites, on the north four daily, on the south four daily, and at the storerooms two by two. 18 At the [ab](W)Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar. 19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.
Caring for the Holy Treasure
20 [ac]As for the Levites, Ahijhah was (X)over the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the holy gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.
22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and Joel his brother, were over the treasures of the house of Yahweh. 23 As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was officer over the treasures. 25 And his relatives by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. 26 This Shelomoth and his relatives were over all the treasures of the holy gifts (Y)which King David and the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had set apart as holy. 27 They set apart as holy part of what was won in battles and part of the spoil to repair the house of Yahweh. 28 And all that Samuel the seer had set apart as holy and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had set apart anything as holy, all of this was [ad]in the care of [ae]Shelomoth and his relatives.
Administrators of Outside Work
29 As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons (Z)were assigned to the outside work for Israel, as (AA)officers and judges. 30 As for the Hebronites, (AB)Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 men of valor, were over the administration of Israel across the Jordan to the west, for all the work of Yahweh and the service of the king. 31 As for the Hebronites, (AC)Jerijah the chief [af](these Hebronites were investigated according to their generations and fathers’ households, in the fortieth year of David’s reign, and mighty men of valor were found among them at (AD)Jazer of Gilead) 32 and his relatives, men of valor, were 2,700 in number, heads of fathers’ households. And King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites (AE)concerning [ag]all the affairs of God and of the king.
Commanders of the Divisions
27 Now this is the total count of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who ministered to the king in each matter of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division numbering 24,000:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was (AF)over the first division for the first month; and in his division were 24,000.
3 He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.
4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division were over the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were 24,000.
5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000.
6 This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was over thirty; and over his division was Ammizabad his son.
7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were 24,000.
8 The fifth for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were 24,000.
9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were 24,000.
10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.
11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.
12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites; and in his division were 24,000.
13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000.
14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000.
15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were 24,000.
Chief Officers of the Tribes
16 Now those over the tribes of Israel:
chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri;
for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel;
for Aaron, Zadok;
18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers;
for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah;
for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;
20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah;
for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah;
for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham.
(AG)These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
23 But David did not take up a count of those twenty years of age and under, (AH)because Yahweh had said He would multiply Israel (AI)as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish; and because of (AJ)this, wrath came upon Israel, and [ah]this count was not included in the total count of the chronicles of King David.
Officials over David’s Possessions
25 Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s storehouses.
And Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers.
26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over the [ai]workers of the field who cultivated the soil.
27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards;
and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the [aj]produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.
28 Baal-hanan the Gederite was over the olive and (AK)sycamore trees in the [ak]Shephelah;
and Joash had charge of the stores of oil.
29 Shitrai the Sharonite was over the cattle which were grazing in (AL)Sharon;
and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the cattle in the valleys.
30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels;
and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys.
31 Jaziz the (AM)Hagrite was over the flocks.
All these were officials over the possessions which belonged to King David.
Counselors
32 Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe;
and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
33 (AN)Ahithophel was counselor to the king;
and (AO)Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
34 Jehoiada the son of (AP)Benaiah, and (AQ)Abiathar [al]succeeded Ahithophel;
and Joab was the (AR)commander of the king’s army.
David Assembles His Commanders
28 And (AS)David assembled at Jerusalem all the commanders of Israel, the commanders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that ministered to the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the commanders over all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and (AT)the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people; I (AU)had it within my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and for (AV)the footstool of the feet of our God. So I had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, ‘(AW)You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet, Yahweh, the God of Israel, (AX)chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel (AY)forever. For (AZ)He has chosen Judah to be a ruler; and (BA)in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 (BB)Now of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), (BC)He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel. 6 And He said to me, ‘Your son (BD)Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. 7 And I will establish his kingdom forever (BE)if he will be strong to do My commandments and My judgments, as [am]is done now.’ 8 So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek after all the commandments of Yahweh your God so that you may possess the good land and cause your sons after you to inherit it forever.
9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and (BF)serve Him with [an]a whole heart and a delighted soul; (BG)for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. (BH)If you seek Him, He will be found; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. 10 See now, for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; (BI)be strong and act.”
11 Then David gave to his son Solomon (BJ)the pattern of (BK)the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and (BL)the room for the mercy seat; 12 and the pattern of all that he had in [ao]mind, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the surrounding chambers, for (BM)the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the holy things; 13 also for (BN)the divisions of the priests and (BO)the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh and for all the utensils of service in the house of Yahweh; 14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service; 15 and the weight of gold for the (BP)golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the service of each lampstand; 16 and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables; 17 and the flesh hooks, the bowls, and the jars of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; 18 and for (BQ)the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even (BR)the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
19 “All this,” said David, “has been granted to me as insight in writing by the hand of Yahweh, (BS)all the [ap]details of this pattern.”
20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “(BT)Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. (BU)He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is completed. 21 Now behold, (BV)there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and (BW)every willing man with wisdom will be with you in all the work for all the service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command.”
Offerings for the Temple
29 Then King David said to the entire assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, (BX)is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for (BY)the [aq]temple is not for man, but for Yahweh God. 2 Now (BZ)with all my power I have prepared for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance. 3 Moreover, in my pleasure in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, over and above all that I have already prepared for the holy [ar]house, 4 namely, [as](CA)3,000 talents of gold, of (CB)the gold of Ophir, and [at]7,000 talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the [au]buildings; 5 of gold for the things of gold and of silver for the things of silver, that is, for all the work done by the hand of craftsmen. Who then would offer willingly [av]to ordain himself this day to Yahweh?”
6 Then (CC)the commanders of the fathers’ households, and the commanders of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with (CD)the commanders of the king’s work, offered willingly; 7 and for the service for the house of God they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 [aw](CE)darics of gold, and 10,000 talents of silver, and 18,000 talents of brass, and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 [ax]And whoever possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of Yahweh, [ay]in the care of (CF)Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people were glad because they had offered so willingly, for they made their freewill offering to Yahweh (CG)with a whole heart, and King David also was exceedingly glad.
David Blesses Yahweh
10 So David blessed Yahweh in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 (CH)Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the [az]power and the glory and the [ba]victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 (CI)Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and (CJ)in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 So now, our God, we are thanking You and praising Your glorious name.
14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should [bb]be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15 For (CK)we are sojourners before You, and foreign residents, like all our fathers were; (CL)our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 16 O Yahweh our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17 And I know, O my God, that (CM)You try the heart and (CN)delight in uprightness. I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these things. So now with gladness I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. 18 O Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the [bc]intentions of the heart of Your people, and prepare their heart to You; 19 and (CO)give to my son Solomon a whole heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and (CP)to build the [bd]temple, for which I have made preparation.”
20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God.” And (CQ)all the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and (CR)bowed low and prostrated themselves to Yahweh and to the king.
Sacrifices to Yahweh
21 And on the next day (CS)they [be]made sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 So they ate and drank that day before Yahweh with great gladness.
David’s Officials and Sons Pledge Allegiance
And they made Solomon the son of David king (CT)a second time, and they (CU)anointed him as ruler for Yahweh and Zadok as priest. 23 Then (CV)Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father; and he succeeded, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David [bf]pledged allegiance to King Solomon. 25 (CW)And Yahweh highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and (CX)granted to him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel.
26 Now (CY)David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 (CZ)And the [bg]time which he reigned over Israel was forty years; in Hebron he reigned seven years and [bh]in Jerusalem thirty-three years.
Death of David
28 Then he died in (DA)a good old age, (DB)full of days, riches and glory; and his son Solomon became king in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, behold, they are written in the chronicles of (DC)Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of (DD)Nathan the prophet and in the chronicles of (DE)Gad the seer, 30 with all his reign, his might, and the circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the lands.
Solomon Goes Before Yahweh
1 Now (DF)Solomon the son of David strengthened himself over his kingdom, and [bi]Yahweh his God was with him and highly (DG)exalted him.
2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, (DH)to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ households. 3 Then Solomon and all the assembly with him went to (DI)the high place which was at Gibeon, (DJ)for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness. 4 However, David had brought up (DK)the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim [bj]to (DL)the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. 5 Now (DM)the bronze altar, which Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, [bk]was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh, and Solomon and the assembly sought it out. 6 And Solomon went up there before Yahweh to the bronze altar which was at the tent of meeting, and (DN)offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
7 (DO)In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I should give to you.”
God Gives Wisdom to Solomon
8 Then Solomon said to God, “You have shown great lovingkindness to my father David, and (DP)have made me king in his place. 9 Now, O Yahweh God, (DQ)let Your [bl]promise to my father David [bm]endure, for You have made me king over (DR)a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 (DS)Give me now wisdom and knowledge, (DT)that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can do justice for this great people of Yours?” 11 (DU)And God said to Solomon, “Because [bn]you had this in your heart, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or glory, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may do justice for My people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge have been given to you. And (DV)I will give you riches and wealth and glory, [bo]such as none of the kings who were before you had nor those who will [bp]come after you.” 13 (DW)So Solomon went [bq]from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon’s Chariots and Horsemen
14 (DX)And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen. (DY)And he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in (DZ)the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 (EA)The king also made (EB)silver and gold as plentiful as stones in Jerusalem, and he made cedars as plentiful as sycamore trees that are in the [br]Shephelah. 16 Solomon’s import of (EC)horses was from Egypt and from Kue; the king’s merchants procured them from Kue for a price. 17 And they [bs]imported a chariot from Egypt for [bt]600 shekels of silver and a horse for [bu]150; and [bv]by the same means they [bw]exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.
Yahweh’s House Will Be Great
2 [bx](ED)Then Solomon [by]decided to build a house for the name of Yahweh and a [bz]royal palace for himself. 2 [ca]So (EE)Solomon numbered 70,000 men to carry loads and 80,000 men to hew stone in the mountains and 3,600 to direct them.
3 (EF)Then Solomon sent word to [cb]Huram the king of Tyre, saying, “(EG)As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedars to build him a house to live in, so do for me. 4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, setting it apart to Him as holy, (EH)to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out (EI)the showbread continually, and to offer (EJ)burnt offerings morning and evening, (EK)on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of Yahweh our God, this being required forever in Israel. 5 Now the house which I am about to build will be great, for (EL)greater is our God than all the gods. 6 But (EM)who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to [cc]burn incense before Him? 7 So now, (EN)send me a wise man to work in gold, silver, brass, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the wise men [cd](EO)whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father prepared. 8 (EP)Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and behold, (EQ)my servants will work with your servants, 9 to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful. 10 And behold, (ER)I will give to your servants, the woodsmen who cut the timber, [ce]20,000 kors of crushed wheat and 20,000 kors of barley, and [cf]20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of oil.”
Covenant with Huram King of Tyre
11 Then Huram king of Tyre said in a letter [cg]sent to Solomon: “(ES)Because Yahweh loves His people, He has given you to be king over them.” 12 Then Huram said, “Blessed be (ET)Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, knowledgeable in insight and understanding, (EU)who will build a house for Yahweh and a [ch]royal palace for himself.
13 “So now, I am sending Huram-abi, a wise man, who is knowledgeable in understanding, 14 (EV)the son of a [ci]Danite woman and [cj]a Tyrian father, who knows how to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, linen, and crimson fabrics, and who knows how to make all kinds of engravings and to devise any design which may be given to him, to work with your wise men and with the wise men of my lord David your father. 15 So now, let my lord send to his servants wheat and barley, oil and wine, of (EW)which he has spoken. 16 (EX)And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you on rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may carry it up to Jerusalem.”
17 Then Solomon numbered all the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, (EY)following the [ck]census which his father David had [cl]taken; and 153,600 were found. 18 (EZ)And he made 70,000 of them to carry loads and 80,000 as hewers of stone in the mountains and 3,600 directors to make the people work.
Solomon Builds Yahweh’s House
3 (FA)Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared (FB)on the threshing floor of [cm]Ornan the Jebusite. 2 Then he began to build on the second day in the second month [cn]of the fourth year of his reign. 3 Now these are the [co]foundations which (FC)Solomon laid for building the house of God. The length in cubits, according to the old standard was [cp]sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. 4 And the porch which was in front of the house (FD)was as long as the width of the house, [cq]20 cubits, and the height 120; and inside he overlaid it with pure gold. 5 Now he overlaid (FE)the [cr]main room with cypress wood and overlaid it with fine gold, and [cs]ornamented it with palm trees and chains. 6 Further, he overlaid the house with precious stones for beauty; and the gold was gold from [ct]Parvaim. 7 (FF)He also covered the house with gold—the beams, the thresholds and its walls and its doors; and he (FG)carved cherubim on the walls.
8 And he made (FH)the [cu]room of the Holy of Holies: its length across the width of the house was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; and he covered it with fine gold, amounting to [cv]600 talents. 9 Now the weight of the nails was [cw]fifty shekels of gold. He also covered (FI)the upper rooms with gold.
10 (FJ)Then in the room of the Holy of Holies he made two cherubim of fashioned work and overlaid them with gold. 11 Now the wingspan of the cherubim was twenty cubits; the wing of one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub. 12 And the wing of the other cherub, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house; and its other wing of five cubits was attached to the wing of the [cx]first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits, and they stood on their feet [cy]facing the main room. 14 (FK)And he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and he ornamented cherubim on it.
15 (FL)He also made two pillars for the front of the house, [cz]thirty-five cubits [da]high, and the capital on the top of each was five cubits. 16 And he made chains in the inner sanctuary and put them on the top of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 (FM)Thus he set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right and one on the left, and named the one on the right Jachin and the one on the left Boaz.
The Furnishings of the House of Yahweh
4 Then (FN)he made a bronze altar, [db]twenty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width and ten cubits in height. 2 (FO)And he made the sea of cast metal ten cubits from brim to brim, circular in form, and its height was five cubits, and [dc]thirty cubits in [dd]its circumference. 3 Now figures like oxen were under it and encircling it, ten cubits, entirely encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast [de]in one piece. 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing the north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; and the sea was set on top of them, and all their rear parts turned inward. 5 And it was a [df]handbreadth thick, and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, as a lily blossom; it (FP)could hold 3,000 baths. 6 (FQ)He also made ten lavers and set five on the right side and five on the left, in which to wash things, that is, in which they would rinse things for the burnt offering; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
7 Then (FR)he made the ten golden lampstands [dg]in the way prescribed for them and he put them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. 8 He also made (FS)ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred golden bowls. 9 Then he made (FT)the court of the priests and (FU)the great court and doors for the court, and overlaid their doors with bronze. 10 (FV)And he put the sea on the right [dh]side of the house toward the southeast.
11 (FW)And Huram made the pots and the shovels and the bowls. So Huram completed doing the work which he did for King Solomon in the house of God: 12 the two pillars and the two bowls and the two capitals on top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on top of the pillars, 13 and (FX)the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, two rows of pomegranates for each network to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the pillars. 14 (FY)He also made the stands and he made the lavers on the stands, 15 and the one sea with the twelve oxen under it. 16 And the pots and the shovels and the flesh hooks and all its utensils, (FZ)Huram-abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon for the house of Yahweh. 17 On the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 (GA)Thus Solomon made all these utensils in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze could not be found out.
19 Solomon also made all the furniture which was in the house of God: even the golden altar and (GB)the tables with the bread of the Presence on them, 20 and the lampstands with their lamps of pure gold, (GC)to burn in front of the inner sanctuary [di]in the way prescribed; 21 and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs of gold, of purest gold; 22 and the snuffers and the bowls and the spoons and the firepans, of pure gold; and the entrance of the house, its inner doors for the Holy of Holies and the doors of the house, that is, of the nave, of gold.
The Ark Brought into the House of Yahweh
5 (GD)Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh was finished. And Solomon brought in the [dj](GE)things set apart as holy by his father David, even the silver and the gold and all the utensils, and he put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
2 (GF)Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel to Jerusalem, (GG)to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the city of David, which is Zion. 3 (GH)And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at (GI)the feast, that is in the seventh month. 4 Then all the elders of Israel came, and (GJ)the Levites carried the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark and the tent of meeting and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel who congregated with him before the ark, were sacrificing [dk]so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim. 8 And the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles from above. 9 But the poles were so long that (GK)the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen outside; and [dl]they are there to this day. 10 (GL)There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, where Yahweh cut a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
The Glory of Yahweh Fills His House
11 Now it happened that when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard (GM)to divisions), 12 and all the Levitical singers, (GN)Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, clothed in fine linen, (GO)with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them 120 priests (GP)blowing trumpets 13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to give thanks to Yahweh, and when they lifted up their voice (GQ)accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised Yahweh saying, “(GR)He indeed is good for His lovingkindness endures forever,” then the house, the house of Yahweh, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for (GS)the glory of Yahweh filled the house of God.
Solomon Blesses the People
6 (GT)Then Solomon said,
“Yahweh has said that He would dwell in the cloud of dense gloom.
2 Now I have built You a lofty house,
And a place for Your dwelling forever.”
3 Then the king turned his face around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 4 And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it by His hands, saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought My people from the land of Egypt, I did not choose a city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man for a ruler over My people Israel; 6 but (GU)I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I (GV)have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 7 (GW)And it was [dm]in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 8 But Yahweh said to my father David, ‘Because it was [dn]in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was [do]in your heart. 9 Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will (GX)come forth from your loins, he shall build the house for My name.’ 10 And Yahweh has established His word which He spoke; and I have been established in place of my father David and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh [dp]promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark (GY)in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which He cut with the sons of Israel.”
Solomon’s Prayer for Israel
12 Then he stood before the altar of Yahweh before all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 (GZ)Now Solomon had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had put it in the midst of the court; and he stood on it, (HA)knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. 14 And he said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, (HB)there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, (HC)keeping covenant and lovingkindness to Your slaves who walk before You with all their heart; 15 (HD)who have kept with Your [dq]servant David, my father, that which You have [dr]promised him; indeed You have promised with Your mouth and have fulfilled it by Your hand, as it is this day. 16 So now, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father, that which You have promised him, saying, ‘(HE)You shall not have a man cut off from before Me who is to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons keep their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’ 17 So now, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, let Your word truly [ds]endure which You have spoken to Your servant David.
18 “But (HF)will God truly dwell with mankind on the earth? Behold, (HG)heaven and the [dt]highest heaven cannot contain You; how much less this house which I have built. 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of Your slave and to his supplication, O Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your slave prays before You; 20 that Your (HH)eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward (HI)the place of which You have said that You would place Your name there, to listen to the prayer which Your slave shall pray toward this place. 21 And listen to the supplications of Your slave and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; listen from Your dwelling place, from heaven; (HJ)listen and forgive.
22 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath, and he comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this house, 23 then listen from heaven and act and judge Your slaves, [du](HK)punishing the wicked by [dv]bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by [dw]bringing him reward according to his righteousness.
24 “And if Your people Israel are [dx]defeated before an enemy because (HL)they have sinned against You, and they turn to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, 25 then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You have given to them and to their fathers.
26 “When the (HM)heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict them; 27 then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of Your slaves and of Your people Israel; indeed, (HN)teach them the good way in which they should walk. And give rain on Your land, which You have given to Your people for an inheritance.
28 “If there is (HO)famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is scorching wind or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their [dy]cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, who know his own affliction and his own pain, and spread his hands toward this house, 30 then listen from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, (HP)for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, 31 that they may [dz]fear You, to walk in Your ways all the days they live upon the face of the land which You have given to our fathers.
32 “Also concerning (HQ)the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, if he comes from a far country for Your great name’s sake and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm, so if they come and pray toward this house, 33 then listen from heaven, from Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name even to [ea]fear You, as do Your people Israel, and to know that Your name is (HR)called upon this house which I have built.
34 “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way You shall send them, and they pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and the house which I have built for Your name, 35 then listen from heaven to their prayer and their supplication, and do justice.
36 “When they sin against You ((HS)for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and give them over to an enemy, so that [eb]they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37 and if they (HT)cause these things to return to their heart in the land where they have been taken captive, and [ec]return and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have committed iniquity and have acted wickedly’; 38 (HU)and if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward their land which You have given to their fathers and the city which You have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Your name, 39 then listen from heaven, from Your dwelling place, to their prayer and supplications, and do justice for them and forgive Your people who have sinned against You.
40 “Now, O my God, I pray, (HV)let Your eyes be open and (HW)Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
41 “(HX)So now, arise, O Yahweh God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength; let Your priests, O Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation and let Your holy ones be glad in what is good.
42 “O Yahweh God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; (HY)remember Your lovingkindness to Your servant David.”
The Glory of Yahweh Fills His House
7 (HZ)Now when Solomon had [ed]finished praying, (IA)fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. 2 (IB)And the priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh because the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh. 3 And all the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of Yahweh upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to Yahweh, saying, “(IC)For He is good, for His lovingkindness endures forever.”
Offerings for the House of Yahweh
4 (ID)Now the king and all the people were offering sacrifices before Yahweh. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests stood at their posts, and (IE)the Levites also, with the instruments of music to Yahweh, which King David had made for giving thanks to Yahweh—“for His lovingkindness endures forever”—whenever [ee]he gave praise by their hand, while (IF)the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing.
7 (IG)Then Solomon set apart as holy the middle of the court that was before the house of Yahweh, because there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat.
8 So (IH)Solomon celebrated the feast at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from [ef]Lebo-hamath to the (II)brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they celebrated (IJ)a solemn assembly; for the dedication of the altar they celebrated seven days and the feast seven days. 10 And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their tents, with gladness and goodness of heart because of the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David and to Solomon and to Israel His people.
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