Old/New Testament
22 David said, “The ·Temple [L house] of the Lord God and the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] will be here.”
David Makes Plans for the Temple
2 So David ordered all ·foreigners [sojourners; resident aliens] living in Israel to gather together. From that group David ·chose [appointed; assigned] stonecutters to cut stones to be used in building the ·Temple [L house] of God. 3 David supplied a large amount of iron to be used for making nails and ·hinges [clamps; braces; fittings] for the gate doors. He also supplied more bronze than could be weighed, 4 and he supplied more cedar logs than could be counted. ·Much of the [Great quantities of] cedar had been brought to David by the people from Sidon and Tyre.
5 David said, “We should build a ·great [exceedingly magnificent] ·Temple [L house] for the Lord, which will be famous everywhere for its ·greatness and beauty [splendor; gloriousness]. But my son Solomon is young and ·inexperienced [L tender], so I will make preparations for it.” So David got many of the materials ready before he died.
6 Then David called for his son Solomon and ·told [commanded; charged] him to build the ·Temple [L house] for the Lord, the God of Israel. 7 David said to him, “My son, I ·wanted [intended; planned; L had my heart set] to build a ·temple [L house] ·for worshiping [L to the name of] the Lord my God. 8 But the Lord spoke his word to me, ‘David, you have ·killed many people [shed much blood]. You have fought ·many [great] wars. You cannot build a ·temple [L house] ·for worship to me [to my name], because you have ·killed many people [shed so much blood on the earth in my sight; C he completed the conquest of Canaan]. 9 But, you will have a son, a man of ·peace [L rest]. I will give him rest from all his enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [C a name derived from shalom, “peace”], and I will give Israel peace and quiet ·while he is king [L in his days]. 10 Solomon will build a ·temple [L house] for ·worship to me [my name]. He will be my son, and I will be his father [2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7]. I will ·make his kingdom strong; someone from his family will rule [establish/secure his throne over] Israel forever.’”
11 David said, “Now, my son, may the Lord be with you and give you success. May you build a ·temple [L house] for the Lord your God, as he ·said [announced; promised] you would. 12 When he makes you the king of Israel, may the Lord give you ·wisdom [discretion] and understanding so you will be able to ·obey [keep; observe] the ·teachings [law; instructions] of the Lord your God. 13 Be careful to obey the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and laws the Lord ·gave [commanded] Moses for Israel. If you obey them, you will ·have success [prosper]. Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or ·discouraged [dismayed].
14 “Solomon, I have ·worked hard getting many of the materials [taken great pains to provide] for building the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. I have supplied ·about seven and one-half million pounds [L one hundred thousand talents] of gold, ·about seventy-five million pounds [L one million talents] of silver, so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, and wood and stone. You may add to them. 15 You have many workmen—stonecutters, ·bricklayers [stonemasons], carpenters, and ·people skilled [craftsmen; artisans] in every kind of work. 16 They are skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. You have more craftsmen than can be counted. ·Now begin the [Set to] work, and may the Lord be with you.”
17 Then David ·ordered [commanded] all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. 18 David said to them, “The Lord your God is with you. He has given you ·rest from our enemies [peace on every side; Deut. 12:2]. He has handed over to me the people living around us. The Lord and his people ·are in control of [have subdued] this land. 19 Now ·give yourselves completely to obeying [devote your heart/mind and soul to seeking] the Lord your God. Build the ·holy place [sanctuary] of the Lord God; build the ·Temple [L house] ·for worship to the Lord [to honor the Lord’s name]. Then bring the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord and the holy ·items [vessels; articles] that belong to God into the ·Temple [L house].”
The Levites
23 After David ·had lived long [L was full of years] and was old, he made his son Solomon the new king of Israel. 2 David gathered all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and Levites. 3 He counted the Levites who were thirty years old and older, and they totaled thirty-eight thousand. 4 David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand Levites will ·direct [oversee; supervise] the work of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, six thousand Levites will be ·officers [officials] and judges, 5 four thousand Levites will be gatekeepers, and four thousand Levites will praise the Lord with musical instruments I made for ·giving praise [worship].”
6 David separated the Levites into three groups that were led by Levi’s three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The People of Gershon
7 From the people of Gershon [6:1], there were Ladan and Shimei.
8 Ladan had three sons. His first son was Jehiel, and his other sons were Zetham and Joel.
9 Shimei’s sons were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These three sons were leaders of Ladan’s ·families [clans]. 10 Shimei had four sons: Jahath, Ziza,[a] Jeush, and Beriah. 11 Jahath was the ·first son [eldest; chief; family leader], and Ziza was the second son. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many children, so they were counted as if they were one family, with one ·assignment [responsibility].
The People of Kohath
12 Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
13 Amram’s sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were ·chosen to be special [set apart] forever. They were chosen to ·prepare [dedicate; sanctify] the holy things, to ·offer sacrifices [burn incense] before the Lord, and to ·serve [minister to] him. They were to ·give [pronounce] blessings in his name forever.
14 Moses was the man of God, and his sons were counted as part of the tribe of Levi. 15 Moses’ sons were Gershom [Judg. 18:30] and Eliezer. 16 Gershom’s ·first [oldest; chief] son was Shubael. 17 Eliezer’s ·first [oldest; chief] son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons.
18 Izhar’s ·first [oldest; chief] son was Shelomith.
19 Hebron’s ·first [oldest; chief] son was Jeriah, his second was Amariah, his third was Jahaziel, and his fourth was Jekameam.
20 Uzziel’s ·first [oldest; chief] son was Micah and his second was Isshiah.
The People of Merari
21 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli’s sons were Eleazar and Kish. 22 Eleazar died without sons; he had only daughters. Eleazar’s daughters married their cousins, the sons of Kish. 23 Mushi’s three sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
The Levites’ Work
24 These were Levi’s descendants listed by ·their families [clans]. They were the leaders of families. Each person who was twenty years old or older was ·listed [counted]. They served in the Lord’s ·Temple [L house].
25 David had said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given ·rest [peace] to his people. He ·has come to live [dwells] in Jerusalem forever. 26 So the Levites don’t need to carry the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] or any of the ·things [articles; objects] used in its services anymore.” 27 David’s ·last [final] instructions were to count the Levites who were twenty years old and older.
28 The Levites had the ·job [duty; office] of ·helping [assisting] Aaron’s descendants in the service of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They cared for the ·Temple [L house] ·courtyard [courts] and side rooms, and they ·made all the holy things pure [ceremonially purified all holy/sacred things]. Their job was to serve in the ·Temple [L house] of God. 29 They were ·responsible for [in charge of] putting the ·holy bread [T showbread] on the table, for the choice flour in the grain offerings, for the ·bread made without yeast [unleaven bread/wafers], for the ·baking and mixing [or the round cakes], and for the measuring of quantity or size. 30 The Levites also stood every morning and gave thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this every evening. 31 The Levites offered all the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord on the ·special days of rest [sabbaths], at the New Moon festivals [Num. 10:10; 29:6; 1 Sam. 20:5; 2 Kin. 4:23; Ezra 3:5; Ps. 81:3; Is. 1:13; Amos 8:5], and at all appointed feasts. They served before the Lord ·every day [continually]. They were to follow the rules for how many Levites should serve each time. 32 So the Levites ·took care [were in charge] of the ·Meeting Tent [Tabernacle] and the ·Holy Place [sanctuary]. And they helped their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, with the services at the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord.
The Groups of the Priests
24 These were the ·groups [divisions; orders] of Aaron’s sons: Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did [Lev. 10:1–2], and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. 3 David, with the help of Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, ·a descendant of Ithamar, separated their [C Aaron’s] ·family groups [descendants] into two different groups according to their ·various duties [assigned responsibilities/offices]. 4 There were more ·leaders [chiefs] from Eleazar’s ·family [descendants] than from Ithamar’s—sixteen ·leaders [heads of their clans] from Eleazar’s ·family [descendants] and eight ·leaders [heads of their clans] from Ithamar’s ·family [descendants]. 5 Men were ·chosen [divided; allocated; organized] ·impartially [or similarly] from Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s ·families [descendants] by throwing lots. Some men ·from each family were chosen to be in charge [were officials] of the ·Holy Place [sanctuary], and some were ·chosen to serve as priests [officials of God].
6 Shemaiah son of Nethanel, ·from the tribe [son] of Levi, was the ·secretary [recorder; scribe]. He recorded the names of those descendants in ·front [the presence] of King David, the ·officers [officials; leaders], Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the ·families [clans] of the priests and Levites. The work was divided by lots among the ·families [clans] of Eleazar and Ithamar. 7 The first ·one chosen was [lot fell to] Jehoiarib. The second was Jedaiah. 8 The third was Harim. The fourth was Seorim. 9 The fifth was Malkijah. The sixth was Mijamin. 10 The seventh was Hakkoz. The eighth was Abijah. 11 The ninth was Jeshua. The tenth was Shecaniah. 12 The eleventh was Eliashib. The twelfth was Jakim. 13 The thirteenth was Huppah. The fourteenth was Jeshebeab. 14 The fifteenth was Bilgah. The sixteenth was Immer. 15 The seventeenth was Hezir. The eighteenth was Happizzez. 16 The nineteenth was Pethahiah. The twentieth was Jehezkel. 17 The twenty-first was Jakin. The twenty-second was Gamul. 18 The twenty-third was Delaiah. The twenty-fourth was Maaziah.
19 These were ·the groups chosen to serve [or their appointed duties; L the order of their serving] in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They obeyed the ·rules [procedures; regulations] given them by Aaron, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Other Levites
20 These are the names of the rest of Levi’s descendants:
Shubael was a descendant of Amram, and Jehdeiah was a descendant of Shubael.
21 Isshiah was the ·first [firstborn; chief] son of Rehabiah.
22 From the Izhar ·family group [clan], there was Shelomoth, and Jahath was a descendant of Shelomoth.
23 Hebron’s ·first son was [descendants included] Jeriah, Amariah was his second, Jahaziel was his third, and Jekameam was his fourth.
24 Uzziel’s ·son was [descendants included] Micah. Micah’s son was Shamir. 25 Micah’s brother was Isshiah, and Isshiah’s ·son was [descendants included] Zechariah.
26 Merari’s descendants were Mahli and Mushi. Merari’s son was Jaaziah. 27 Jaaziah ·son [descendant] of Merari had ·sons [descendants] named Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 Mahli’s ·son [descendant] was Eleazar, but Eleazar did not have any sons.
29 Kish’s ·son [descendant] was Jerahmeel.
30 Mushi’s ·sons were [descendants included] Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These are the Levites, listed by their ·families [clans]. 31 They ·were chosen for special jobs by throwing [cast] lots in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of the ·families [clans] of the priests, and the Levites. They did this just as their relatives, Aaron’s descendants, had done. The families of the oldest brother and the youngest brother were treated the same.
28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up [C on the cross] the Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14], you will know that ·I am he [L I am; C see 8:24]. You will know that these things I do are not ·by my own authority [on my own] but that I say only what the Father has taught me. 29 The One who sent me is with me. I always do what is pleasing to him, so he has not left me alone.” 30 While Jesus was saying these things, many people believed in him.
Freedom from Sin
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you ·continue to obey my teaching [L remain/abide in my word], you are truly my ·followers [disciples]. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will ·make [set] you free.”
33 They answered, “We are Abraham’s ·children [descendants; L seed; Gen. 12:1–3], and we have never been anyone’s slaves. So why do you say we will be free?”
34 Jesus answered them, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], everyone who ·lives in sin [commits/practices sin] is a slave to sin. 35 A slave does not ·stay with a family [live in the household] forever, but a son ·belongs to the family [lives in the household] forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be ·truly free [T free indeed]. 37 I know you are Abraham’s ·children [descendants; L seed], but you ·want [are trying; seek] to kill me because ·you don’t accept my teaching [L my word has no place in you; C thus showing they were Abraham’s children only physically, not spiritually; Jer. 9:25–26; Rom. 9:7; Gal. 4:21–31]. 38 I am telling you ·what my Father has shown me [L what I have seen in the Father’s presence], but you do what ·your father [or the Father] has told you.”
39 They answered, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were really Abraham’s children, you would do[a] the things Abraham did. 40 I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. 41 So you are doing the things your own father did.”
But [or Therefore] they said to him, “We are not ·like children who never knew who their father was [illegitimate children; L born from/of fornication]. God is our Father; he is the only Father we have.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. [L For] I did not come ·by my own authority [on my own]; God sent me. 43 You don’t understand [L Why don’t you understand…?] what I say, because you cannot ·accept my teaching [L hear my word/message]. 44 You ·belong to [are from] your father the devil, and you want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning [Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12] and ·was against the truth [does not uphold the truth], because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, ·he shows what he is really like [he reveals his own nature; or he speaks his own language; L he speaks from his own], because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 ·Can any of you [L Who among you can…?] ·prove that I am guilty [convict me] of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The person who belongs to God ·accepts what God says [L hears/obeys the words of God]. But you don’t ·accept what God says [hear; obey], because you don’t belong to God.”
Jesus Is Greater than Abraham
48 ·They [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] answered, “We say you are a Samaritan [C a people disliked by the Jews; 4:4, 9] and ·have a demon in you [are demon-possessed]. Are we not right?”
49 Jesus answered, “I ·have no demon in me [am not demon-possessed]. I give honor to my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I am not trying to get ·honor [glory] for myself. There is One who wants this ·honor [glory] for me, and he is the judge. 51 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], whoever ·obeys my teaching will never die [L keeps my word will never see death].”
52 [L Therefore] ·They [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] said to Jesus, “Now we know that you ·have a demon in you [are demon-possessed]! Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, ‘Whoever ·obeys my teaching will never die [L keeps my word will never taste death].’ 53 Do you think you are greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died, too. ·Who do you think you are [or Who are you claiming/pretending to be]?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I give ·honor [glory] to myself, that ·honor [glory] is worth nothing. The One who gives me ·honor [glory] is my Father, and you say he is your God. 55 You don’t really know him, but I know him. If I said I did not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I ·obey what he says [L keep his word]. 56 Your father Abraham ·was very happy [rejoiced] that he would see my day [C the day of the Messiah’s arrival]. He saw that day and was glad.”
57 [L Therefore] ·They [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] said to him, “You have never seen Abraham! You are not even fifty years old [C Abraham had been dead for almost 2,000 years].”
58 Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], before Abraham was even born, ·I am!” [C A claim to deity; see comments at 8:24; 10:28.] 59 When Jesus said this, the people picked up stones to throw at him [C believing he had committed blasphemy worthy of death]. But Jesus hid himself, and then he left the Temple.
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