The Daily Audio Bible
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12 These leaders of the families who were set apart as gate-keepers were given duties like their brothers to work in the Lord’s house. 13 The families drew names by their fathers’ houses, the small and the large alike, for every gate. 14 Shelemiah’s name was drawn for the east gate. Then they drew the name of his son Zechariah for the north gate. Zechariah used much wisdom talking with people. 15 Obed-edom’s name was drawn for the south gate. And his sons were to watch the store-house. 16 Shuppim and Hosah’s names were drawn for the west gate beside the gate of Shallecheth, on the road that goes up a hill. Each one was given his duty to watch. 17 There were six Levites on the east. There were four each day on the north. There were four each day on the south. There were two at one time at the store-house. 18 There were four at the road. And there were two at the place between the west wall of the Lord’s house and the wall of the open space. 19 These were the way the gate-keepers of the sons of Korah and Merari were divided.
20 Their brothers the Levites watched over the riches of the house of God and the riches of the holy gifts. 21 The sons of Ladan, who were Gershonites through the family group of Ladan were Jehielites. 22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, watched over the riches of the house of the Lord. 23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, son of Moses, was the captain over the riches. 25 His brothers by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son. 26 Shelomoth and his brothers watched over all the riches of the holy gifts. These gifts had been set apart by King David and the heads of the fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army. 27 They set apart things taken in battles to do the work needed on the house of the Lord. 28 Samuel the man of God had set apart gifts. So had Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, and everyone who had set apart anything. All these holy gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were given outside duties for Israel. They were leaders and men who decide who is guilty or not. 30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers were leaders of Israel west of the Jordan. They were 1,700 able men who did all the work of the Lord and the work of the king. 31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was the leader of the Hebronites by their families and fathers’ houses. Very able men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead in the fortieth year of David’s rule. 32 Jerijah and his brothers were 2,700 able men, heads of fathers’ houses. King David chose them to take care of all the duties of God and of the king, among the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-family group of the Manassites.
The Captains of the Army
27 These were the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. They were the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. These were the captains who worked for the king in anything to do with the armies which came in and went out every month of the year. There were 24,000 men in each army. 2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was the leader of the first army for the first month. There were 24,000 in his army. 3 He was a son of Perez, and head of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite was the leader of the army for the second month. Mikloth was the head captain. There were 24,000 in his army. 5 The third leader of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the religious leader. There were 24,000 in his army. 6 This is the Benaiah who was the strong man of the thirty, and leader of the thirty. Ammizabad his son was captain of his army. 7 The fourth leader for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. There were 24,000 in his army. 8 The fifth leader for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 in his army. 9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 in his army. 10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. 11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. 12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. There were 24,000 in his army. 13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. 14 The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. 15 The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel. There were 24,000 in his army.
Leaders of Family Groups
16 The leaders of the family groups of Israel were: Eliezer the son of Zichri was the head captain of the Reubenites; Shephatiah the son of Maacah led the Simeonites. 17 Hashabiah the son of Kemuel led the sons of Levi; Zadok led the sons of Aaron. 18 Elihu, one of David’s brothers, led the sons of Judah; Omri the son of Michael led the sons of Issachar; 19 Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah led the sons of Zebulun; Jeremoth the son of Azriel led the sons of Naphtali; 20 Hoshea the son of Azaziah led the sons of Ephraim; Joel the son of Pedaiah led the half-family group of Manasseh; 21 Iddo the son of Zechariah led the half-family group of Manasseh in Gilead; Jaasiel the son of Abner led the sons of Benjamin; 22 And Azarel the son of Jeroham led the sons of Dan. These were the leaders of the families of Israel. 23 But David did not number those younger than twenty years old because the Lord had promised to make Israel many, as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish. Anger came upon Israel because of this. So the number was not put into the book of the chronicles of King David.
25 Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s store-houses. Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the store-houses in the country, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who worked in the fields, plowing and planting. 27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the grape-fields. Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the fruit of the grape-fields for the wine. 28 Baalhanan the Gederite was over the olive and sycamore trees in the plains. Joash was captain of the stores of oil. 29 Shitrai the Sharonite was over the cattle which were eating in the fields of Sharon. Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the cattle in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys. 31 And Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were over all that belonged to King David.
32 Jonathan, the brother of David’s father, used much wisdom talking with people. And he was a writer. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni taught the king’s sons. 33 Ahithophel talked about problems with the king. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abaiathar, talked with the king after Ahithophel. And Joab was the captain of the king’s army.
13 God promised to give the world to him and to all his family after him. He did not make this promise because Abraham obeyed the Law. He promised to give the world to Abraham because he put his trust in God. This made him right with God. 14 If those who obey the Law are to get the world, then a person putting his trust in God means nothing. God’s promise to Abraham would be worth nothing. 15 God’s anger comes on a man when he does not obey the Law. But if there were no Law, then no one could break it.
16 So God’s promise is given to us because we put our trust in Him. We can be sure of it. It is because of His loving-favor to us. It is for all the family of Abraham. It is for those who obey the Law. It is for those who put their trust in God as Abraham did. In this way, he is the father of all Christians. 17 The Holy Writings say, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This promise is good because of Who God is. He makes the dead live again. He speaks, and something is made out of nothing. 18 Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations. He had no reason to hope for this, but he had been told, “Your children will become many nations.” (A) 19 Abraham was about one hundred years old. His body was about dead, but his faith in God was not weak when he thought of his body. His faith was not weak when he thought of his wife Sarah being past the age of having children. 20 Abraham did not doubt God’s promise. His faith in God was strong, and he gave thanks to God. 21 He was sure God was able to do what He had promised. 22 Abraham put his trust in God and was made right with Him. 23 The words, “He was made right with God,” were not for Abraham only. 24 They were for us also. God will make us right with Himself the same way He did Abraham, if we put our trust in God Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 Jesus died for our sins. He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
5 Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. 2 By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God. 3 We are glad for our troubles also. We know that troubles help us learn not to give up. 4 When we have learned not to give up, it shows we have stood the test. When we have stood the test, it gives us hope. 5 Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.
Sinful Men
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are sinful and their actions are sinful. There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven on the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand and look for God. 3 They have all turned aside. Together they have become bad. There is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will those who sin never learn? They eat up my people like they eat bread. They do not call on the Lord. 5 There they are in much fear. For God is with the people of this day who do what is right and good. 6 You would put to shame the planning of the poor. But the Lord keeps him safe.
7 O, that it would come out of Zion that Israel would be saved! When the Lord returns His people to their land, Jacob will be full of joy and Israel will be glad.
17 He who shows kindness to a poor man gives to the Lord and He will pay him in return for his good act.
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