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David Becomes King(A)
11 Then the people of Israel ·came to [gathered before; joined] David at the town of Hebron and said, “Look, we are your own ·family [L bone and flesh]. 2 In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel ·in battle [L out and brought it in]. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will be the shepherd for my people Israel. You will be their leader.’”
3 So all the elders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them in Hebron ·in the presence of [before] the Lord. Then they ·poured oil on [anointed] David to make him king over Israel. ·The Lord had promised through Samuel that this would happen [This was according to the word of the Lord through Samuel].
David Captures Jerusalem(B)
4 David and all the Israelites went to the city of Jerusalem. ·At that time Jerusalem was called [L …that is,] Jebus, and the people living there were named Jebusites. 5 They said to David, “You can’t ·get inside our city [L enter here].” But David ·did take the city of Jerusalem with its strong walls [L captured the stronghold/fortress of Zion], and it became the City of David.
6 David had said, “The person who ·leads the [or is the first to] ·attack against [kill one of] the Jebusites will become ·the commander over all my army [commander-in-chief].” Joab son of Zeruiah ·led the attack [went up first], so he became ·the commander of the army [chief].
7 Then David made his home in the ·strong, walled city [stronghold; fortress], which is why it ·was named [is called] the City of David. 8 David rebuilt the city, beginning ·where the land was filled in [with the terraces; L the Millo] and going to the ·wall that was around the city [surrounding area/walls]. Joab ·repaired [restored; rebuilt] the other parts of the city. 9 David became ·stronger and stronger [L greater and greater], and the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] was with him.
David’s Mighty Warriors(C)
10 ·This is a list of the leaders [These are the chiefs/heads] over David’s ·warriors [T mighty men] who ·helped make David’s kingdom strong [or strongly supported his kingdom]. All the people of Israel also supported David’s kingdom, ·just as the Lord had promised [L according to the word of the Lord].
11 This is a ·list [record; account; roll] of David’s ·warriors [T mighty men]:
Jashobeam was from the Hacmonite people. He was the head of the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; C David’s most elite soldiers; 11:26–47; 2 Sam. 23:8–39]. He used his spear to fight three hundred men at one time, and he killed them all.
12 Next was Eleazar, one of the Three. Eleazar was Dodai’s son from the Ahohite people. 13 Eleazar was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines came there to fight. There was a field of barley at that place. The Israelites ·ran away [fled] from the Philistines, 14 but they ·stopped [took a stand; held their ground] in the middle of that field and ·fought for [defended] it and killed the Philistines. The Lord ·gave them [rescued/saved them with] a great victory.
15 Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the ·rock [cliff face] by the cave near Adullam. At the same time the Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim.
16 At that time David was in a stronghold, and ·some of the Philistines [a Philistine detachment/garrison] were in Bethlehem. 17 David had a ·strong desire [craving; longing] for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine ·army [camp; lines] and took water from the well near the city gate in Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out ·before [as an offering to] the Lord, 19 saying, “·May God keep me from drinking [God forbid that I drink] this water! ·It would be like drinking [L Should I drink…?] the blood of the men who risked their lives to bring it to me!” So David refused to drink it.
These were the ·brave things [kind of things] that the three warriors did.
20 Abishai brother of Joab was the ·captain [leader; chief] of the Three. Abishai fought three hundred soldiers with his spear and killed them. He ·became as famous as [L had a name as did] the ·Three [or Thirty; or officers; v. 11] 21 and was more honored than the ·Three [or Thirty]. He became their commander even though he was not ·one of [or equal to] them.
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave fighter from Kabzeel who did mighty things. He killed ·two of the best warriors [or the two sons of Ariel] from Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. 23 Benaiah killed an Egyptian who was ·about seven and one-half feet [L five cubits] tall and had a spear ·as large as [L like] a weaver’s ·rod [beam]. Benaiah had a ·club [staff], but he ·grabbed [wrenched] the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 ·These [Such] were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did. He ·was as famous as [L had a name as well as] the Three. 25 He received more honor than the Thirty, but he did not become a member of the Three. David ·made [appointed] him ·leader [captain] of his bodyguards.
The Thirty Chief Soldiers
26 These were also mighty warriors:
Asahel brother of Joab;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;
27 ·Shammoth [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:25] the Harorite;
Helez the ·Pelonite [or Paltite; 2 Sam. 23:26];
28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer the Anathothite;
29 ·Sibbecai [or Mebunnai; 2 Sam. 23:27] the Hushathite;
·Ilai [or Zalmon; 2 Sam. 23:28] the Ahohite;
30 Maharai the Netophathite;
Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite;
31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin;
Benaiah the Pirathonite;
32 ·Hurai [or Hiddai; 2 Sam. 23:30] from the ·ravines [valleys; or brooks] of Gaash;
·Abiel [or Abi-Albon; 2 Sam. 23:31] the Arbathite;
33 Azmaveth the ·Baharumite [or Barhumite; 2 Sam. 23:31];
Eliahba the Shaalbonite;
34 the sons of ·Hashem [or Jashen; cf. 2 Sam. 23:32] the Gizonite;
Jonathan son of ·Shagee [or Shammah; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
35 Ahiam son of ·Sacar [or Sharar; 2 Sam. 23:33] the Hararite;
·Eliphal son of Ur [or Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite; 2 Sam. 23:34];
36 Hepher the Mekerathite;
Ahijah the Pelonite;
37 ·Hezro [or Hezrai; 2 Sam. 23:35] the Carmelite;
Naarai son of Ezbai;
38 Joel brother of ·Nathan [or Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, 2 Sam. 23:36];
Mibhar son of Hagri;
39 Zelek the Ammonite;
Naharai the Berothite, the ·officer who carried the armor [armor bearer] for Joab son of Zeruiah;
40 Ira the Ithrite;
Gareb the Ithrite;
41 Uriah the Hittite;
Zabad son of Ahlai;
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was the ·leader [chief] of the Reubenites, and his thirty soldiers;
43 Hanan son of Maacah;
Joshaphat the Mithnite;
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite;
Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite;
45 Jediael son of Shimri;
Joha, Jediael’s brother, the Tizite;
46 Eliel the Mahavite;
Jeribai and Joshaviah, Elnaam’s sons;
Ithmah the Moabite;
47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaites.
Warriors Join David
12 These were the men who came to David at Ziklag when David was ·hiding [banished; kept away] from Saul son of Kish. They were among the ·warriors [champions] who helped David in battle. 2 They ·came [were armed/equipped] with bows for weapons and could use either their right or left hands to shoot arrows or to sling rocks. They were Saul’s relatives from the tribe of Benjamin. 3 Ahiezer was their ·leader [chief], and there was Joash. (Ahiezer and Joash were sons of Shemaah, who was from the town of Gibeah.) There were also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth. There were Beracah and Jehu from the town of Anathoth. 4 And there was Ishmaiah from the town of Gibeon; he was one of the Thirty. In fact, he was the leader of the Thirty. There were Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah. 5 There were Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, and Shemariah. There was Shephatiah from Haruph. 6 There were Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam from the ·family group of Korah [L Korahites]. 7 And there were Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham, from the town of Gedor.
8 Part of the people of Gad joined David at his stronghold in the ·desert [wilderness]. They were ·brave warriors [L mighty men of valor] trained for war and ·skilled [expert] with shields and spears. They ·were as fierce as [L had faces of] lions and as ·fast [swift; or nimble] as gazelles over the hills.
9 Ezer was the leader of Gad’s army, and Obadiah was second in command. Eliab was third, 10 Mishmannah was fourth, Jeremiah was fifth, 11 Attai was sixth, Eliel was seventh, 12 Johanan was eighth, Elzabad was ninth, 13 Jeremiah was tenth, and Macbannai was eleventh in command.
14 They were the ·commanders [leaders; captains] of the army from Gad. The least of these leaders ·was in charge of [or was a match for; could take on; L was equal to] a hundred soldiers, and the greatest ·was in charge of [or was a match for; could take on; L was equal to] a thousand. 15 They crossed the Jordan River and ·chased away [drove out; put to flight] the people living in the ·valleys [lowlands], to the east and to the west. This happened in the first month of the year when the Jordan ·floods the valley [was overflowing its banks].
16 ·Other people from the tribes [L Some of the sons] of Benjamin and Judah also came to David at his stronghold. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to help me, ·I welcome you. Join me. […I am your friend; or we will make an alliance; L my heart will be united with you]. But if you have come to ·turn me over to my enemies [betray me to my adversaries], even though I have ·done nothing wrong [L no violence in my hands], the God of our ·ancestors [L fathers] will see this and ·punish you [L judge/decide].”
18 Then the Spirit ·entered [came upon; L clothed] Amasai, the ·leader [chief] of the Thirty, and he said:
“We ·belong to you [are yours], David.
We are with you, son of Jesse.
·Success, success [Peace and prosperity] to you.
·Success [Peace] to those who help you,
because your God helps you.”
So David ·welcomed [received] these men and made them ·leaders [captains] of his ·army [fighters; raiders].
Paul on the Island of Malta
28 When we ·were safe on land [reached safety], we learned that the island was called Malta [C 58 miles southwest of Sicily]. 2 The ·people who lived there [native people; L barbarians; C a term referring to non-Greek speakers] were very ·good [kind] to us. Because it was raining and very cold, they made a fire and welcomed all of us. 3 Paul gathered a pile of ·sticks [brushwood] and was putting them on the fire when a ·poisonous snake [viper] came out because of the heat and ·bit [L fastened itself to] him on the hand. 4 The ·people living on the island [native people; 28:2] saw the ·snake [L creature; animal] hanging from Paul’s hand and said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He ·did not die in [L escaped from] the sea, but Justice [L Dikē; C pronounced di-káy); the goddess of justice] ·does not want [has not allowed] him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the ·snake [L creature; animal] off into the fire and ·was not hurt [suffered no harm]. 6 ·The people [L They] thought that Paul would swell up or fall down dead. They waited and watched him for a long time, but nothing ·bad [L unusual] happened to him. So they changed their minds and said, “He is a god!”
7 There ·were some fields [or was an estate] around there owned by Publius, ·an important man [or the chief official; governor] on the island. He ·welcomed [received] us into his home and ·was very good to us [provided generous hospitality; treated us as honored guests] for three days. 8 Publius’ father was sick in bed with a fever and dysentery [C a serious illness that includes cramping and severe diarrhea]. Paul went to him, prayed, and ·put [or laid] his hands on the man and healed him. 9 After this, ·all the other [L the rest of the] sick people on the island came to Paul, and he healed them, too.
Paul Goes to Rome
After three months we got on a ship from Alexandria [27:6] that had stayed on the island during the winter. On the front of the ship was the sign of the ·twin gods [C Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus; protectors of sailors]. 12 We ·stopped [put in] at Syracuse [C a major city on the island of Sicily] for three days. 13 From there we ·sailed to [L set sail and arrived at] Rhegium [C a port city on the Italian mainland across from Sicily]. The next day a wind began to blow from the south, and ·a day later [L on the second day] we came to Puteoli [C a bit further north on the southwestern coast of Italy]. 14 We found some ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] there who ·asked [invited] us to stay with them for ·a week [L seven days]. ·Finally [L And so in this way], we came to Rome. 15 The ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in Rome heard that we were there and came out as far as the ·Market [L Forum] of Appius [C about 40 miles from Rome] and the Three Inns [C eight miles toward Rome from the Market of Appius] to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and ·was encouraged [took courage].
Paul in Rome
16 When we arrived at Rome, Paul was allowed to live alone, with the soldier who guarded him.
17 Three days later ·Paul [L he] sent for the leaders of the ·Jewish community [L Jews] there. When they came together, he said, “[L Men,] Brothers, I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers]. But I was ·arrested [made a prisoner] in Jerusalem and given ·to [L into the hands of] the Romans. 18 After they ·asked me many questions [examined me; tried my case], they wanted to let me go free because they could find no reason why I should be ·killed [given the death penalty]. 19 But the Jews there ·argued against that [objected], so I had to ·ask to come to Rome to have my trial before [L appeal to] Caesar. But I have no ·charge [accusation] to bring against my own ·people [nation]. 20 That is why I wanted to see you and talk with you. I am bound with this chain because ·I believe in [L of] the hope of Israel.”
21 They ·answered [said to] Paul, “We have received no letters from Judea about you. None of our Jewish brothers who have come from there brought news or told us anything bad about you. 22 But we ·want to hear [consider it worth hearing] your ideas, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this ·religious group [sect].”
23 Paul and the people ·chose [arranged; appointed] a day for a meeting and on that day ·many more of the Jews [L a great number] met with Paul at the place he was staying. He spoke to them ·all day long [L from morning until evening]. Using the law of Moses and the prophets’ writings [C the whole Old Testament], he explained [L by testifying/bearing witness about] the kingdom of God, and he tried to persuade them to believe these things about Jesus. 24 Some ·believed [L were persuaded by] what Paul said, but others ·did [were] not. 25 So they ·argued [disagreed with each other] and began leaving after Paul said one more thing to them: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ·ancestors [fathers] through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
26 ‘Go to this people and say:
You will ·listen and listen [or certainly listen], but you will not understand.
You will ·look and look [or certainly look], but you will not ·learn [perceive],
27 because [L the heart of] these people have become ·stubborn [dull].
They ·don’t hear with their ears [or hardly hear with their ears; are hard of hearing],
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise, they might see with their eyes
and hear with their ears.
They might really understand in their ·minds [hearts]
and come back to me and ·be healed [L I would heal them; Is. 6:9–10].’
28 “[L Therefore,] I want you to know that God has also sent his salvation to ·all nations [the Gentiles], and they will listen!” |29 ·After [or When] ·Paul [L he] said this, the Jews left. They were arguing very much with each other.|[a]
30 Paul stayed two full years ·in his own rented house [or at his own expense] and welcomed all people who came to visit him. 31 He ·boldly [confidently] ·preached about [proclaimed] the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, ·and no one stopped him [freely; without hindrance].
Thanksgiving for Victory
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.
9 I will ·praise [or give thanks to] you, Lord, with all my heart.
I will ·tell [recount] all ·the miracles you have done [your wonderful deeds].
2 I will be happy and rejoice because of you;
God Most High, I will sing praises to your name.
3 My enemies turn back;
they ·are overwhelmed [L stumble] and ·die [perish] ·because of [or before] you.
4 You have ·heard [upheld; maintained] my ·complaint [just cause; or right and my cause];
you sat on your throne and judged ·by what was right [righteously].
5 You ·spoke strongly against the [rebuked; reproved] foreign nations and destroyed the wicked;
you ·wiped out [blotted out; erased] their names forever and ever.
6 The enemy is ·gone [done; a ruin] forever.
You ·destroyed [uprooted] their cities;
·no one even remembers them [L their memory perishes].
7 But the Lord ·rules [is enthroned; L sits] forever.
He ·sits on his throne to judge [L has established his throne for justice/judgment],
8 and he will judge the world ·in fairness [with righteousness];
he will decide what is fair for the ·nations [peoples; 96:10; 98:9].
9 The Lord ·defends [L is a refuge for] those who ·suffer [are oppressed/exploited];
·he defends them [L a refuge] in times of ·trouble [distress].
10 Those who know ·the Lord [L your name] trust ·him [L you],
because ·he [L you] will not ·leave [abandon; forsake] those who ·come to him [L seek you; Deut. 31:6, 8; Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5].
11 Sing praises to the Lord who ·is king on Mount [L dwells on] Zion [C the location of the Temple].
Tell ·the nations [L among the peoples] what he has done.
12 ·He remembers who the murderers are [or The one who avenges blood remembers them; C God];
he will not forget the cries of those who suffer.
19 It is better to be poor and ·honest [L walking in innocence]
than to be foolish and ·tell lies [L have crooked lips].
2 ·Enthusiasm [Desire; Zeal; Passion] without knowledge is not good.
·If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake [L Rushing feet make mistakes].
3 People’s own foolishness ·ruins their lives [L frustrates their path],
but in their ·minds [L hearts] they ·blame [rage at] the Lord.
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