Bible in 90 Days

Chapter 10

Death of Saul and His Sons. ^1 (A)Now the Philistines went to war against Israel, and Israel fled before them, and they fell, slain on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons. When the Philistines had struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, sons of Saul, ³ the fury of the battle converged on Saul. Then the archers hit him, and he was severely wounded.

⁴ Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through; otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But the armor-bearer, badly frightened, refused, so Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. ⁵ When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell upon his sword and died. ⁶ Thus Saul, and his three sons, his whole house, died together. ⁷ When all the Israelites in the valley saw that Saul and his sons had fled and that they had died, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived in those cities.

⁸ On the following day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ They stripped him, and took his head and his armor; these they sent throughout the land of the Philistines to bring the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of their gods, but his skull they impaled at the temple of Dagon.

Burial of Saul. ¹¹ When all the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their warriors set out, recovered the corpses of Saul and his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak of Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.^(B)

^13 [a]Thus Saul died because of his treason against the Lord in disobeying his word, and also because he had sought counsel from a ghost,^{(C) 14} rather than from the Lord. Therefore the Lord took his life, and turned his kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.^(D)

Chapter 11

David Is Made King. ^1 (E)Then all Israel gathered around David in Hebron, and they said: “Look! We are your bone and your flesh. ² In days past, when Saul was still the king, it was you who led Israel in all its battles. And now the Lord, your God, has said to you: You shall shepherd my people Israel; you shall be ruler over my people Israel.”^{(F) 3} Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and at Hebron David made a covenant with them in the presence of the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the Lord given through Samuel.^(G)

Jerusalem Captured. ⁴ Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the inhabitants of the land were called Jebusites.^{(H) 5} The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” David nevertheless captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David. ⁶ David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be made chief and captain.” Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first to attack; and so he became chief.^{(I) 7} David took up residence in the fortress, which therefore was called the City of David. ⁸ He built up the city on all sides, from the Millo all the way around, while Joab restored the rest of the city.^{(J) 9} David became ever more powerful, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

David’s Warriors. ^10 (K)These were David’s chief warriors who, together with all Israel, supported him in his reign in order to make him king, according to the Lord’s word concerning Israel.

¹¹ Here is the list of David’s warriors:

Ishbaal, the son of Hachamoni, chief of the Three.^[b] He brandished his spear over three hundred, whom he had slain in a single encounter.

¹² Next to him was Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three warriors.^{(L) 13} He was with David at Pas-dammim, where the Philistines had massed for battle. There was a plot of land full of barley. The people were fleeing before the Philistines,^{(M) 14} but he took his stand in the middle of the plot, kept it safe, and cut down the Philistines. Thus the Lord brought about a great victory.

¹⁵ Three of the Thirty chiefs went down to the rock, to David, who was in the cave of Adullam while the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.^{(N) 16} David was then in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David had a strong craving, and said, “If only someone would give me a drink of water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem!” ¹⁸ Thereupon the Three broke through the encampment of the Philistines, drew water from the cistern by the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out^[c] to the Lord, ¹⁹ saying, “God forbid that I should do such a thing! Could I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” So he refused to drink it. Such deeds as these the Three warriors performed.

^20 (O)Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the chief of the Thirty;^[d] he brandished his spear over three hundred, whom he had slain. He made a name beside the Three,^{(P) 21} but was twice as famous as any of the Thirty, becoming their leader. However, he did not attain to the Three.

²² Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant man of mighty deeds, from Kabzeel, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. Also, he went down and killed the lion in the cistern on a snowy day. ²³ He likewise slew the Egyptian, a huge man five cubits tall. The Egyptian carried a spear that was like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah came against him with a staff; he wrested the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with that spear. ²⁴ Such deeds as these Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, performed, and he made a name beside the Three warriors, ²⁵ but was more famous than any of the Thirty. However, he did not attain to the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.^(Q)

²⁶ Also these warriors: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;^{(R) 27} Shammoth, from En-harod; Helez, from Beth-pelet; ²⁸ Ira, son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa; Abiezer, from Anathoth; ²⁹ Sibbecai, from Husha; Ilai, from Ahoh;^{(S) 30} Maharai, from Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah, from Netophah;^{(T) 31} Ithai, son of Ribai, from Gibeah of Benjamin; Benaiah, from Pirathon;^{(U) 32} Hurai, from Nahale-gaash; Abiel, from Beth-arabah; ³³ Azmaveth, from Bahurim; Eliahba, from Shaalbon; ³⁴ Jashen the Gunite; Jonathan, son of Shagee the Hararite; ³⁵ Ahiam, son of Sachar the Hararite; Elipheleth, son of ³⁶ Ahasbai, from Beth-maacah; Ahijah, from Gilo; ³⁷ Hezro, from Carmel; Naarai, the son of Ezbai; ³⁸ Joel, brother of Nathan, from Rehob, the Gadite; ³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai, from Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab, son of Zeruiah; ⁴⁰ Ira, from Jattir; Gareb, from Jattir; ⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite; Zabad, son of Ahlai, ⁴² and, in addition to the Thirty, Adina, son of Shiza, the Reubenite, chief of the tribe of Reuben; ⁴³ Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite; ⁴⁴ Uzzia, the Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, sons of Hotham, from Aroer; ⁴⁵ Jediael, son of Shimri, and Joha, his brother, the Tizite; ⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam; Ithmah, from Moab; ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobian.

Chapter 12

David’s Early Followers. ¹ The following men came to David in Ziklag while he was still under banishment from Saul, son of Kish; they, too, were among the warriors who helped him in his battles.^{(V) 2} They were archers who could use either the right or the left hand, both in slinging stones and in shooting arrows with the bow. They were some of Saul’s kinsmen, from Benjamin. ³ Ahiezer was their chief, along with Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu, from Anathoth;^{(W) 4} Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a warrior among the Thirty, and over the Thirty; ⁵ Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad from Gederah; ⁶ Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁷ Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites; ⁸ Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor.

⁹ Some of the Gadites also went over to David when he was at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were valiant warriors, experienced soldiers equipped with shield and spear, fearsome as lions, swift as gazelles on the mountains.^{(X) 10} Ezer was their chief, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, ¹¹ Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹² Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, ¹³ Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, ¹⁴ Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. ¹⁵ These Gadites were army commanders, the lesser over hundreds and the greater over thousands. ¹⁶ It was they who crossed over the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing both its banks, and chased away all who were in the valleys to the east and to the west.

¹⁷ Some Benjaminites and Judahites also came to David at the stronghold. ¹⁸ David went out to meet them and addressed them in these words: “If you come peacefully, to help me, I am of a mind to have you join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors see and punish you.”

¹⁹ Then a spirit clothed Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he answered David:

So David received them and placed them among the leaders of his troops.

²⁰ Men from Manasseh also deserted to David when he came with the Philistines to battle against Saul. However, he did not help the Philistines, for their lords took counsel and sent him home, saying, “At the cost of our heads he will desert to his master Saul.” ²¹ As he was returning to Ziklag, therefore, these deserted to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands of Manasseh.^{[e] 22} They helped David by taking charge of his troops, for they were all warriors and became commanders of his army. ²³ And from day to day men kept coming to David’s help until there was a vast encampment, like God’s own encampment.

The Assembly at Hebron. ²⁴ This is the muster of the detachments of armed troops that came to David at Hebron to bring Saul’s kingdom over to him, as the Lord had ordained. ^25 [f]Judahites bearing shields and spears: six thousand eight hundred armed troops. ²⁶ Of the Simeonites, warriors fit for battle: seven thousand one hundred. ²⁷ Of the Levites: four thousand six hundred, ²⁸ along with Jehoiada, leader of the line of Aaron, with another three thousand seven hundred, ²⁹ and Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two princes of his father’s house. ³⁰ Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul: three thousand—until this time, most of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³¹ Of the Ephraimites: twenty thousand eight hundred warriors, men renowned in their ancestral houses. ³² Of the half-tribe of Manasseh: eighteen thousand, designated by name to come and make David king. ³³ Of the Issacharites, their chiefs who were endowed with an understanding of the times and who knew what Israel had to do: two hundred chiefs, together with all their kinsmen under their command. ³⁴ From Zebulun, men fit for military service, set in battle array with every kind of weapon for war: fifty thousand men rallying with a single purpose. ³⁵ From Naphtali: one thousand captains, and with them, armed with shield and lance, thirty-seven thousand men. ³⁶ Of the Danites, set in battle array: twenty-eight thousand six hundred. ³⁷ From Asher, fit for military service and set in battle array: forty thousand. ³⁸ From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, men equipped with every kind of weapon of war: one hundred and twenty thousand.

³⁹ All these soldiers, drawn up in battle order, came to Hebron with the resolute intention of making David king over all Israel. The rest of Israel was likewise of one mind to make David king. ⁴⁰ They remained with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them. ⁴¹ Moreover, their neighbors from as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—provisions in great quantity of meal, pressed figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep. For there was rejoicing in Israel.

Chapter 13

Transfer of the Ark. ^1 (Y)After David had taken counsel with his commanders of thousands and of hundreds, that is, with every leader, ² he said to the whole assembly of Israel: “If it seems good to you, and is so decreed by the Lord our God, let us send to the rest of our kindred from all the districts of Israel, and also the priests and the Levites from their cities with pasture lands, that they may join us;^{(Z) 3} and let us bring the ark of our God here among us, for in the days of Saul we did not consult it.” ⁴ And the whole assembly agreed to do it, for it seemed right in the eyes of all the people.

⁵ Then David assembled all Israel, from Shihor of Egypt^[g] to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.^{(AA) 6} David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which was known by the name “Lord enthroned upon the cherubim.”^{(AB) 7} They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, ⁸ while David and all Israel danced before God with all their might, with singing, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

⁹ As they reached the threshing floor of Chidon,^[h] Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen were tipping it. ¹⁰ Then the Lord became angry with Uzzah and struck him, because he had laid his hand on the ark; he died there in God’s presence. ¹¹ David was angry because the Lord’s anger had broken out against Uzzah. Therefore that place has been called Perez-uzzah^[i] even to this day.

¹² David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring in the ark of God to me?” ¹³ Therefore he did not take the ark with him into the City of David, but deposited it instead at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. ¹⁴ The ark of God remained in the house of Obed-edom with his family for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that he possessed.^(AC)

Chapter 14

David in Jerusalem. ^1 (AD)Hiram, king of Tyre, sent envoys to David along with cedar wood, and masons and carpenters to build him a house.^{[j](AE) 2} David now knew^[k] that the Lord had truly established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was greatly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. ³ David took other wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁴ These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.^(AF)

The Philistine Wars. ⁸ When the Philistines had heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, they marched out in force looking for him. But when David heard of this, he went out against them. ⁹ Meanwhile the Philistines had come and raided the valley of Rephaim.^{(AG) 10} David inquired of God, “Shall I attack the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my power?” The Lord answered him, “Attack, for I have delivered them into your power.” ¹¹ So they attacked, at Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “By my hand God has broken through my enemies just as water breaks through a dam.” Therefore that place was called Baal-perazim.^{[l] 12} The Philistines abandoned their gods there, and David ordered them to be burnt.^(AH)

¹³ Once again the Philistines raided the valley, ¹⁴ and again David inquired of God. But God answered him: Do not try to pursue them, but go around them and come against them near the balsam trees. ¹⁵ When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go forth to battle, for God has already gone before you to strike the army of the Philistines. ¹⁶ David did as God commanded him, and they routed the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

¹⁷ Thus David’s fame was spread abroad through every land, and the Lord put the fear of him on all the nations.

Chapter 15

Preparations for Moving the Ark. ¹ David built houses for himself in the City of David and prepared a place for the ark of God, pitching a tent for it there. ² At that time he said, “No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.”^{(AI) 3} Then David assembled all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it.^{(AJ) 4} David also convened the sons of Aaron and the Levites: ⁵ of the sons of Kohath, Uriel, their chief, and one hundred and twenty of his brothers; ⁶ of the sons of Merari, Asaiah, their chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brothers; ⁷ of the sons of Gershon, Joel, their chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brothers; ⁸ of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah, their chief, and two hundred of his brothers; ⁹ of the sons of Hebron, Eliel, their chief, and eighty of his brothers; ¹⁰ of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab, their chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brothers.

¹¹ David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,^{(AK) 12} and said to them: “You heads of the levitical houses, sanctify yourselves along with your brothers to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place which I have prepared for it.^{(AL) 13} Because you were not with us the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, for we did not seek him aright.”^{(AM) 14} Accordingly, the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.^(AN)

¹⁶ David commanded the commanders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers and to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.^{(AO) 17} Therefore the Levites appointed Heman, son of Joel, and, among his brothers, Asaph, son of Berechiah; and among the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan, son of Kushaiah;^{(AP) 18} and, together with these, their brothers of the second rank: the gatekeepers Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. ¹⁹ The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, sounded brass cymbals. ²⁰ Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played on harps set to “Alamoth.”^{[m] 21} But Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel led the song on lyres set to “sheminith.” ²² Chenaniah was the chief of the Levites in the singing; he directed the singing, for he was skillful.^{(AQ) 23} Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers before the ark. ²⁴ The priests, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, sounded the trumpets before the ark of God.^(AR) Obed-edom and Jeiel were also gatekeepers before the ark.

The Ark Comes to Jerusalem. ^25 (AS)Thus David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joy from the house of Obed-edom. ²⁶ While God helped the Levites to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.^{(AT) 27} David was vested in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of song; David was also wearing a linen ephod.^{(AU) 28} Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, to the sound of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, and the music of harps and lyres. ²⁹ But as the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked down from her window, and when she saw King David leaping and dancing, she despised him in her heart.^(AV)

Chapter 16

^1 (AW)They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it.^(AX) Then they sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings to God. ² When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and communion offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, ³ and distributed to every Israelite, to every man and every woman, a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a raisin cake.

David’s Directives for the Levites. ⁴ He then appointed certain Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel.^{(AY) 5} Asaph was their chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. These were to play on harps and lyres, while Asaph was to sound the cymbals, ⁶ and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to be the regular trumpeters before the ark of the covenant of God.

⁷ On that same day, David appointed Asaph and his brothers to sing for the first time these praises of the Lord:

³⁷ Then David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly according to the daily ritual; ³⁸ he also left there Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his brothers, including Obed-edom, son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers.^(BC)

³⁹ But the priest Zadok and his priestly brothers he left before the tabernacle of the Lord on the high place at Gibeon,^{(BD) 40} to make burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar for burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, and to do all that is written in the law of the Lord which he commanded Israel.^{(BE) 41} With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the others who were chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “whose love endures forever,”^{(BF) 42} with trumpets and cymbals for accompaniment, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun kept the gate.^(BG)

⁴³ Then all the people departed, each to their own homes, and David returned to bless his household.^(BH)

Chapter 17

The Oracle of Nathan. ^1 (BI)After David had taken up residence in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, “See, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tentcloth.”^{(BJ) 2} Nathan replied to David, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for God is with you.”

³ But that same night the word of God came to Nathan: ⁴ Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord: It is not you who are to build the house for me to dwell in.^{(BK) 5} For I have never dwelt in a house, from the day I brought Israel up, even to this day, but I have been lodging in tent or tabernacle. ⁶ As long as I have wandered about with all Israel, did I ever say a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? ⁷ Now then, speak thus to my servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel.^{(BL) 8} I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. I will make your name like that of the greatest on the earth. ⁹ I will assign a place for my people Israel and I will plant them in it to dwell there; they will never again be disturbed, nor shall the wicked ever again oppress them, as they did at the beginning, ¹⁰ and during all the time when I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house: ¹¹ when your days have been completed and you must join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you who will be one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.^{(BM) 12} He it is who shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.^{(BN) 13} I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me, and I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from the one who was before you;^{(BO) 14} but I will maintain him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be firmly established forever.

¹⁵ In accordance with all these words and this whole vision Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Thanksgiving. ¹⁶ Then King David came in and sat in the Lord’s presence, and said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house, that you should have brought me so far? ¹⁷ And yet, even this is too little in your sight, O God! For you have made a promise regarding your servant’s house reaching into the future, and you have looked on me as henceforth the most notable of men, Lord God.^{(BP) 18} What more can David say to you? You have known^[o] your servant. ¹⁹ Lord, for your servant’s sake and in keeping with your purpose, you have done this great thing. ²⁰ Lord, there is no one like you, no God but you, just as we have always heard.^(BQ)

²¹ “Is there, like your people Israel, whom you redeemed from Egypt, another nation on earth whom a god went to redeem as his people? You won for yourself a name for great and awesome deeds by driving out the nations before your people.^{(BR) 22} You made your people Israel your own forever, and you, Lord, became their God. ²³ Now, Lord, may the promise that you have spoken concerning your servant and his house remain firm forever. Bring about what you have promised, ²⁴ that your name, Lord of hosts, God of Israel, may be great and abide forever, while the house of your servant is established in your presence.

²⁵ “Because you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house, your servant dares to pray before you.^{(BS) 26} Since you, Lord, are truly God and have made this generous promise to your servant, ²⁷ do, then, bless the house of your servant, that it may be in your presence forever—since it is you, Lord, who blessed it, it is blessed forever.”^(BT)

Chapter 18

David’s Victories. ^1 (BU)After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and he took Gath and its towns away from the Philistines. ² He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s subjects, paying tribute.

³ David then defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, toward Hamath, who was on his way to set up his victory stele at the river Euphrates. ⁴ David captured from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred for his chariots.^{(BV) 5} The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, but David also defeated twenty-two thousand of their men in Aram. ⁶ Then David set up garrisons in the Damascus region of Aram, and the Arameans became David’s subjects, paying tribute. Thus the Lord made David victorious in all his campaigns.

⁷ David took the golden shields that were carried by Hadadezer’s attendants and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David likewise took away from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, large quantities of bronze; Solomon later used it to make the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.^(BW)

⁹ When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he sent his son Hadoram to wish King David well and to congratulate him on having waged a victorious war against Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. He also brought gold, silver and bronze articles of every sort.^{(BX) 11} These also King David consecrated to the Lord along with all the silver and gold that he had taken from the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹² Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, also defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^{(BY) 13} He set up garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. Thus the Lord brought David victory in all his undertakings.

David’s Officials. ^14 (BZ)David was king over all Israel; he dispensed justice and right to all his people. ¹⁵ Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army; Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was chancellor;^{(CA) 16} Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests;^[p] Shavsha was scribe;^{(CB) 17} Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief assistants to the king.^[q](CC)

Chapter 19

Campaigns Against Ammon. ^1 (CD)Afterward Nahash, king of the Ammonites, died and his son succeeded him as king. ² David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash, for his father showed kindness to me.” Therefore he sent envoys to console him over his father. But when David’s servants had entered the land of the Ammonites to console Hanun, ³ the Ammonite princes said to Hanun, “Do you think David is doing this—sending you these consolers—to honor your father? Have not his servants rather come to you to explore the land, spying it out for its overthrow?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s servants and had them shaved and their garments cut off halfway at the hips. Then he sent them away. ⁵ David was told about the men, and he sent word for them to be intercepted, for the men had been greatly disgraced. “Remain at Jericho,” the king told them, “until your beards have grown again; then come back here.”

⁶ When the Ammonites realized that they had put themselves in bad odor with David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. ⁷ They hired thirty-two thousand chariots along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and came out for war.

⁸ When David heard of this, he sent Joab and his whole army of warriors against them. ⁹ The Ammonites marched out and lined up for battle at the entrance of the city, while the kings who had come to their help remained apart in the open field. ¹⁰ When Joab saw that there was a battle line both in front of and behind him, he chose some of the best fighters among the Israelites and lined them up against the Arameans; ¹¹ the rest of the army, which he placed under the command of his brother Abishai, then lined up to oppose the Ammonites. ¹² And he said: “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, you must come and save me; and if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I will save you. ¹³ Hold firm and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in his sight.” ¹⁴ Joab therefore advanced with his men to engage the Arameans in battle; but they fled before him. ¹⁵ And when the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before his brother Abishai, and entered their city. Joab then came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ Seeing themselves vanquished by Israel, the Arameans sent messengers to bring out the Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, at their head. ¹⁷ When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, and met them. With the army of David drawn up to fight the Arameans, they gave battle. ¹⁸ But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their chariot fighters and forty thousand of their foot soldiers; he also put to death Shophach, the commander of the army. ¹⁹ When the vassals of Hadadezer saw themselves vanquished by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After this, the Arameans refused to come to the aid of the Ammonites.

Chapter 20

¹ At the turn of the year,^[r] the time when kings go to war, Joab led the army out in force, laid waste the land of the Ammonites, and went on to besiege Rabbah; David himself remained in Jerusalem. When Joab had attacked Rabbah and destroyed it, ² David took the crown of Milcom from the idol’s head. It was found to weigh a talent of gold, with precious stones on it; this crown David wore on his own head. He also brought out a great amount of spoil from the city. ³ He deported the people of the city and set them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. David dealt thus with all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and his whole army returned to Jerusalem.^(CE)

Victories over the Philistines. ^4 (CF)Afterward there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time, Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.^(CG)

⁵ There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan, the son of Jair, slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath^[s] of Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver’s beam.^(CH)

⁶ There was another battle, at Gath, and there was a giant, who had six fingers to each hand and six toes to each foot; twenty-four in all. He too was descended from the Rephaim. ⁷ He defied Israel, and Jonathan, the son of Shimea, David’s brother, slew him. ⁸ These were the descendants of the Rephaim of Gath who died at the hands of David and his servants.

Chapter 21

David’s Census; the Plague. ^1 (CI)A satan^[t] rose up against Israel, and he incited David to take a census of Israel.^{(CJ) 2} David therefore said to Joab and to the other generals of the army, “Go, number the Israelites from Beer-sheba to Dan, and report back to me that I may know their number.” ³ But Joab replied: “May the Lord increase his people a hundredfold! My lord king, are not all of them my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord seek to do this thing? Why should he bring guilt upon Israel?” ⁴ However, the king’s command prevailed over Joab, who departed and traversed all of Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem. ⁵ Joab reported the census figures to David: of men capable of wielding a sword, there were in all Israel one million one hundred thousand, and in Judah four hundred and seventy thousand. ⁶ Levi and Benjamin, however, he did not include in the census, for the king’s command was repugnant to Joab.^{(CK) 7} This command was evil in the sight of God, and he struck Israel. ⁸ Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in doing this thing. Take away your servant’s guilt, for I have acted very foolishly.”

⁹ Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, in these words:^{(CL) 10} Go, tell David: Thus says the Lord: I am laying out three options; choose one of them, and I will inflict it on you. ¹¹ Accordingly, Gad went to David and said to him: “Thus says the Lord: Decide now— ¹² will it be three years of famine; or three months of fleeing your enemies, with the sword of your foes ever at your back; or three days of the Lord’s own sword, a plague in the land, with the Lord’s destroying angel in every part of Israel? Now consider: What answer am I to give him who sent me?” ¹³ Then David said to Gad: “I am in serious trouble. But let me fall into the hand of the Lord, whose mercy is very great, rather than into hands of men.”

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand Israelites died. ¹⁵ God also sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as the angel was on the point of destroying it, the Lord saw and changed his mind about the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, “Enough now! Stay your hand!”^(CM)

Ornan’s Threshing Floor. The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁶ When David raised his eyes, he saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, drawn sword in hand stretched out against Jerusalem.^(CN) David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell face down, ¹⁷ and David prayed to God: “Was it not I who ordered the census of the people? I am the one who sinned, I did this wicked thing. But these sheep, what have they done? O Lord, my God, strike me and my father’s family, but do not afflict your people with this plague!”

¹⁸ Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David to go up and set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.^{(CO) 19} David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the Lord. ²⁰ Ornan turned around and saw the king; his four sons who were with him hid themselves, but Ornan kept on threshing wheat. ²¹ But as David came toward Ornan, he looked up and saw that it was David, and left the threshing floor and bowed down before David, his face to the ground. ²² David said to Ornan: “Sell me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the Lord. Sell it to me at its full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” ²³ But Ornan said to David: “Take it as your own, and let my lord the king do what is good in his sight. See, I also give you the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I give it all to you.” ²⁴ But King David replied to Ornan: “No! I will buy it from you properly, at its full price. I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor bring burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” ²⁵ So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold^[u] for the place.

Altar for Burnt Offerings. ²⁶ David then built an altar there to the Lord, and sacrificed burnt offerings and communion offerings. He called upon the Lord, who answered him by sending down fire from heaven upon the altar for burnt offerings.^{(CP) 27} Then the Lord gave orders to the angel to return his sword to its sheath.

²⁸ Once David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he continued to offer sacrifices there. ²⁹ The tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar for burnt offerings were at that time on the high place at Gibeon.^{(CQ) 30} But David could not go into his presence to inquire of God, for he was fearful of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

Chapter 22

¹ Thus David said, “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar for burnt offerings for Israel.”^{(CR) 2 [v]}David then ordered that the resident aliens in the land of Israel should be brought together, and he appointed them stonecutters to hew out stone blocks for building the house of God.^{(CS) 3} David also laid up large stores of iron to make nails for the doors of the gates, and clamps, together with so much bronze that it could not be weighed,^{(CT) 4} and cedar trees without number. The Sidonians and Tyrians brought great stores of cedar logs to David.^{(CU) 5} David said: “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced; but the house that is to be built for the Lord must be made so magnificent that it will be renowned and glorious in all lands. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” Thus before his death David laid up materials in abundance.^(CV)

Charge to Solomon. ⁶ Then he summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ^7 (CW)David said to Solomon: “My son, it was my purpose to build a house myself for the name of the Lord, my God. ⁸ But this word of the Lord came to me: You have shed much blood, and you have waged great wars. You may not build a house for my name, because you have shed too much blood upon the earth in my sight. ⁹ However, a son will be born to you. He will be a peaceful man, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. For Solomon shall be his name, and in his time I will bestow peace^[w] and tranquility on Israel.^{(CX) 10} It is he who shall build a house for my name; he shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him,^(CY) and I will establish the throne of his kingship over Israel forever.

¹¹ “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has said you shall. ¹² But may the Lord give you prudence and discernment when he gives you command over Israel, so that you keep the law of the Lord, your God. ¹³ Only then shall you succeed, if you are careful to observe the statutes and ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and steadfast; do not fear or be dismayed.^{(CZ) 14} See, with great effort I have laid up for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold,^[x] a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron in such great quantities that they cannot be weighed. I have also laid up wood and stones, to which you must add.^{(DA) 15} Moreover, you have available workers, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and experts in every craft, ¹⁶ without number, skilled with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Set to work, therefore, and the Lord be with you!”

Charge to the Officials. ¹⁷ David also commanded all of the officials of Israel to help his son Solomon: ¹⁸ “Is not the Lord your God with you? Has he not given you rest on every side? Indeed, he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my power, and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people.^{(DB) 19} Therefore, devote your hearts and souls to seeking the Lord your God. Proceed to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and God’s sacred vessels may be brought into the house built for the name of the Lord.”^(DC)

Chapter 23

The Levitical Divisions. ¹ When David had grown old and was near the end of his days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.^{(DD) 2} He then gathered together all the officials of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites.

³ The Levites thirty years old and above were counted, and their total number was found to be thirty-eight thousand.^{(DE) 4} Of these, twenty-four thousand were to direct the service of the house of the Lord, six thousand were to be officials and judges, ⁵ four thousand were to be gatekeepers,^(DF) and four thousand were to praise the Lord with the instruments which [David] had devised for praise. ⁶ David apportioned them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.^(DG)

⁷ To the Gershonites belonged Ladan and Shimei. ⁸ The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, then Zetham and Joel; three in all.^{(DH) 9} The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran; three. These were the heads of the families of Ladan. ¹⁰ The sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zizah, Jeush, and Beriah; these were the sons of Shimei, four in all. ¹¹ Jahath was the chief and Zizah was second to him; but Jeush and Beriah had few sons, and therefore they were classed as a single family, exercising a single office.

¹² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; four in all.^{(DI) 13} The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to be consecrated as most holy, he and his sons forever, to offer sacrifice before the Lord, to minister to him, and to bless in his name forever.^{(DJ) 14} As for Moses, however, the man of God, his sons were counted as part of the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵ The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer.^{(DK) 16} The sons of Gershom: Shubael the chief.^{(DL) 17} The sons of Eliezer were Rehabiah the chief—Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. ¹⁸ The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. ¹⁹ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, the chief, Amariah, the second, Jahaziel, the third, and Jekameam, the fourth.^{(DM) 20} The sons of Uzziel: Micah, the chief, and Isshiah, the second.^(DN)

²¹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.^{(DO) 22} Eleazar died leaving no sons, only daughters; the sons of Kish, their kinsmen, married them.^{(DP) 23} The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth; three in all.^(DQ)

²⁴ These were the sons of Levi according to their ancestral houses, the family heads as they were enrolled one by one according to their names. They performed the work of the service of the house of the Lord beginning at twenty years of age.^(DR)

²⁵ David said: “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and has taken up his dwelling in Jerusalem forever.^{(DS) 26} Henceforth the Levites need not carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service.”^{(DT) 27} For by David’s last words the Levites were enlisted from the time they were twenty years old. ²⁸ Their duty is to assist the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the Lord, having charge of the courts, the chambers, and the preservation of everything holy: they take part in the service of the house of God. ²⁹ They also have charge of the showbread, of the fine flour for the grain offering, of the wafers of unleavened bread, and of the baking and mixing, and of all measures of quantity and size.^{(DU) 30} They are to be present every morning to offer thanks and to praise the Lord, and likewise in the evening;^{(DV) 31} and at every sacrifice of burnt offerings to the Lord on sabbaths, new moons, and feast days, in such numbers as are prescribed, they must always be present before the Lord^{(DW) 32} and observe what is prescribed for them concerning the tent of meeting, the sanctuary, and the sons of Aaron, their kinsmen, in the service of the house of the Lord.^(DX)