The Daily Audio Bible

¹² These were the leaders of the ·groups [divisions; orders] of gatekeepers, and they served in the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord, as did their ·relatives [brothers]. ¹³ By throwing lots, each ·family [clan] chose a gate to guard. ·Young [Small] and ·old [great] threw lots.

¹⁴ ·Meshelemiah [or Shelemiah; v. 2] was chosen by lot to guard the East Gate. Then lots were ·thrown [cast] for Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah. He was a ·wise counselor [prudent advisor] and was chosen for the North Gate. ¹⁵ Obed-Edom was ·chosen for [allotted] the South Gate, and Obed-Edom’s sons were ·chosen to guard [allotted] the storehouse. ¹⁶ Shuppim and Hosah were chosen for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the ·upper [ascending] road [^Cto the Temple].

·Guards stood side by side with guards [or Guard duty was evenly divided; ^LA guard alongside a guard]. ¹⁷ Six Levites stood guard every day at the East Gate; four stood guard every day at the North Gate; four stood guard every day at the South Gate; and two at a time guarded the storehouse. ¹⁸ There were two guards at the ·western court [colonnade; Parbar; ^Cthe gateway leading up to the Temple] and four guards on the road.

¹⁹ These were the ·groups [divisions; orders] of the gatekeepers from the ·families [clans; ^Lsons] of Korah and Merari.

Other Leaders

²⁰ ·Other [Their fellow/brother] Levites were ·responsible for guarding [in charge of] the treasuries of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of God and for the ·places where the holy items were kept [treasuries of dedicated/consecrated gifts].

²¹ ·Ladan [or Libni] was Gershon’s son and the ancestor of several ·family groups [clans]. ·Jehiel [or Jehieli; 23:8] was a ·leader [chief] of one of the ·family groups [clans]. ²² His sons were Zetham and Joel his brother, and they were ·responsible for [in charge of] the treasuries of the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord.

²³ Other leaders were chosen from the ·family groups [clans] of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ²⁴ Shubael,^[a] the descendant of Gershom, who was Moses’ son, was the ·leader [chief] ·responsible for [in charge of] the treasuries. ²⁵ These were Shubael’s relatives from Eliezer: Eliezer’s son Rehabiah, Rehabiah’s son Jeshaiah, Jeshaiah’s son Joram, Joram’s son Zicri, and Zicri’s son Shelomith. ²⁶ Shelomith and his relatives were ·responsible for [in charge of] ·everything that had been collected for the Temple [the treasuries of dedicated/consecrated gifts collected] by King David, by the heads of ·families [clans], by the commanders of a thousand men and of a hundred men, and by other army ·commanders [officers]. ²⁷ They also ·gave [dedicated] some of the ·things they had [plunder; spoil] taken in wars to be used in repairing the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord. ²⁸ Shelomith and his relatives took care of all the ·holy items [dedicated/consecrated gifts]. Some had been given by Samuel the ·seer [prophet], Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah.

²⁹ Kenaniah was from the Izhar ·family [clan]. He and his sons worked outside the ·Temple [^Lhouse] as officers and judges in Israel.

³⁰ Hashabiah was from the Hebron ·family [clan]. He and his relatives were ·responsible for [in charge of] the Lord’s work and ·the king’s business [served the king] in Israel west of the Jordan River. There were seventeen hundred ·skilled [capable; respected] men in Hashabiah’s group. ³¹ The ·history [genealogy] of the Hebron ·family [clan] shows that Jeriah was their ·leader [chief]. In David’s fortieth year ·as king [of reign], the ·records [genealogies] were searched, and some ·capable [skilled; respected] men of the Hebron ·family [clan] were found living at Jazer in Gilead. ³² Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives who were ·capable [skilled; respected] men and leaders of families. King David ·gave them the responsibility of directing [put them in charge of] the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and ·East [^Lthe half-tribe of] Manasseh in God’s work and the king’s ·business [service].

Army Divisions

27 This is the list of the Israelites who served the king in the army. Each division was on duty one month each year. There were leaders of ·families [clans], commanders of a thousand men, commanders of a hundred men, and other officers. Each division had twenty-four thousand men.

² Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division for the first month. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division. ³ Jashobeam, one of the descendants of Perez, was ·leader [chief; commander] of all the army officers for the first month.

⁴ Dodai, from the Ahohites, was in charge of the division for the second month. Mikloth was a ·leader [chief; commander] in the division. There were twenty-four thousand men in Dodai’s division.

⁵ The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division. ⁶ He was the Benaiah who was one of the Thirty [11:11]. Benaiah was a ·brave [mighty] warrior who led those men. Benaiah’s son Ammizabad was in charge of Benaiah’s division.

⁷ The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Asahel, the brother of Joab. Later, Asahel’s son Zebadiah ·took his place as commander [succeeded him]. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

⁸ The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, from Izrah’s ·family [clan]. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

⁹ The sixth commander, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh from the town of Tekoa. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹⁰ The seventh commander, for the seventh month, was Helez. He was from the Pelonites and a descendant of Ephraim. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹¹ The eighth commander, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai. He was from Hushah and was from Zerah’s ·family [clan]. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹² The ninth commander, for the ninth month, was Abiezer. He was from Anathoth in Benjamin. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹³ The tenth commander, for the tenth month, was Maharai. He was from Netophah and was from Zerah’s ·family [clan]. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹⁴ The eleventh commander, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah. He was from Pirathon in Ephraim. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

¹⁵ The twelfth commander, for the twelfth month, was Heldai. He was from Netophah and was from Othniel’s ·family [clan]. There were twenty-four thousand men in his division.

Leaders of the Tribes

¹⁶ These were ·the leaders [in charge] of the tribes of Israel. Eliezer son of Zicri was over the tribe of Reuben. Shephatiah son of Maacah was over the tribe of Simeon. ¹⁷ Hashabiah son of Kemuel was over the tribe of Levi. Zadok was over the people of Aaron. ¹⁸ Elihu, one of David’s brothers, was over the tribe of Judah. Omri son of Michael was over the tribe of Issachar. ¹⁹ Ishmaiah son of Obadiah was over the tribe of Zebulun. Jerimoth son of Azriel was over the tribe of Naphtali. ²⁰ Hoshea son of Azaziah was over the tribe of Ephraim. Joel son of Pedaiah was over ·West [^Lthe half-tribe of] Manasseh. ²¹ Iddo son of Zechariah was over ·East Manasseh [^Lthe half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead]. Jaasiel son of Abner was over the tribe of Benjamin. ²² Azarel son of Jeroham was over the tribe of Dan.

These were the ·leaders [chiefs; commanders] of the tribes of Israel.

²³ The Lord had promised to make the Israelites as ·many [numerous] as the stars ·in the sky [of heaven; Gen. 22:17; 26:4; Ex. 32:13]. So David did not count those younger than twenty years old. ²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began ·to count [the census of] the people, but he did not finish. ·God became angry with [^LWrath came upon] Israel for counting the people, so the number of the people was not put in the ·history book about [chronicles/annals of] King David.

The King’s Directors

²⁵ Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal ·storehouses [treasuries].

Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the ·storehouses [treasuries] in the country, towns, villages, and ·towers [fortresses].

²⁶ Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who ·farmed [tilled] the land.

²⁷ Shimei, from the town of Ramah, was in charge of the vineyards.

Zabdi, from Shapham, was in charge of storing the wine that came from the vineyards.

²⁸ Baal-Hanan, from Geder, was in charge of the olive trees and sycamore trees in the ·western hills [^LShephelah].

Joash was in charge of storing the olive oil.

²⁹ Shitrai, from Sharon, was in charge of the herds that ·fed [grazed] in the Plain of Sharon.

Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the ·herds [cattle] in the valleys.

³⁰ Obil, an Ishmaelite, was in charge of the camels.

Jehdeiah, from Meronoth, was in charge of the donkeys.

³¹ Jaziz, from the Hagrites, was in charge of the flocks.

All these men were the ·officers who took care [officials/overseers in charge] of King David’s property.

³² Jonathan was David’s uncle, and he ·advised [counseled] David. Jonathan was a ·wise man [man of understanding/insight] and a ·teacher of the law [scribe]. Jehiel son of Hacmoni ·took care of [taught; tutored] the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel ·advised [counseled] the king. Hushai, from the Arkite people, was the king’s ·friend [confidant]. ³⁴ Jehoiada and Abiathar later took Ahithophel’s place in ·advising [counseling] the king. Jehoiada was Benaiah’s son. Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

God Keeps His Promise

¹³ [^LFor] The promise Abraham and his ·descendants [seed] received that they would inherit the ·whole world [^Lworld] ·did not come through [was not based on his obedience to] the law, but through ·being right with God by his faith [the righteousness that comes by faith]. ¹⁴ [^LFor] If people ·could receive what God promised [^Lare heirs] by following the law, then faith is worthless. And ·God’s promise to Abraham [^Lthe promise] is ·worthless [nullified; canceled], ¹⁵ because the law can only bring God’s ·anger [wrath]. But if there is no law, there is ·nothing to disobey [no transgression/violation; ^Cthe law points out sin (5:13), but it cannot save from sin].

¹⁶ So people receive God’s promise by having faith. This happens so the promise can be ·a free gift [by grace]. Then all of Abraham’s ·children [descendants; offspring; ^Lseed] can ·have [be guaranteed; be certain to have] that promise. It is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham, who is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written in the Scriptures: “I ·am making [^Lhave made] you a father of many nations [Gen. 17:5].” This is true ·before [in the presence of] God, the God Abraham believed, the God who gives life to the dead and who ·creates something out of nothing [^Lcalls things that did not exist into existence].

¹⁸ ·Though there was no hope that Abraham would have children [or When all seemed hopeless; ^LAgainst hope…], Abraham believed God and continued hoping, and so he became the father of many nations [Gen. 17:5]. As God told him, “·Your descendants also will be too many to count [^LSo shall your seed/offspring be; Gen. 15:5].” ¹⁹ Abraham was almost a hundred years old, ·much past the age for having children [^Lhis own body (as good as) dead], and ·Sarah could not have children [^LSarah’s womb was dead]. Abraham ·thought about all [considered; or acknowledged] this, but his faith in God did not become weak. ²⁰ He never ·doubted or stopped believing [or wavered through unbelief] that God would keep his promise. He grew stronger in his faith and gave ·praise [glory] to God. ²¹ Abraham ·felt sure [was fully convinced] that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² So, “·God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God [^Lit was credited/counted to him for righteousness; Gen. 15:6].” ²³ Those words (“·God accepted Abraham’s faith [^Lit was credited/counted to him]”) were written not only for Abraham ²⁴ but also for us. ·God will accept us also [^L…to whom it will be credited/counted] because we believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ Jesus was ·given to die [handed/delivered over; 8:32] ·for [because of] our ·sins [violations; transgressions], and he was raised from the dead ·to make us right with God [for our justification; or to confirm our justification].

Right with God

5 [^LTherefore,] Since we have been ·made right with God [declared righteous; justified] by our faith, we have^[a] peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² ·who through our faith^[b] has brought us into that blessing of [^Lthrough whom we have access by faith to] God’s grace ·that we now enjoy [^Lin which we stand/live]. And we ·are happy [rejoice; boast] because of the hope we have ·of sharing [or of experiencing; ^Lof] God’s glory. ³ [^LNot only this, but] We also ·have joy [rejoice; boast] ·with our troubles [through suffering/trials/persecution], because we know that ·these troubles [suffering; trials; persecution] produce ·patience [endurance]. ⁴ And ·patience [endurance] produces [tested and proven] character, and [tested and proven] character produces hope. ⁵ And this hope will never ·disappoint us [let us down; or put us to shame; dishonor us; ^Chonor and shame were among the most important values in first century culture], because God has ·poured out his love to fill our hearts [or flooded our hearts with his love]. He gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.

The Unbelieving Fool

For the director of music. Of David.