Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I have heard your prayer concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.


This is what the Lord says about him: “The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you; Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you.


Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at? At whom have you shouted, and looked so arrogantly? At the Holy One of Israel!


Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, ‘With my many chariots I climbed up the high mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tall cedars, and its best evergreens. I invaded its most remote regions, its thickest woods.


I dug wells and drank water in foreign lands. With the soles of my feet I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.’


Certainly you must have heard! Long ago I worked it out, In ancient times I planned it; and now I am bringing it to pass. The plan is this: Fortified cities will crash into heaps of ruins.


Their residents are powerless, they are terrified and ashamed. They are as short-lived as plants in the field, or green vegetation. They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops when it is scorched by the east wind.


I know where you live, and everything you do.


Because you rage against me, and the uproar you create has reached my ears; I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle between your lips, and I will lead you back the way you came.”


This will be your confirmation that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own from that. But in the third year you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce.


Those who remain in Judah will take root in the ground and bear fruit.


For a remnant will leave Jerusalem; survivors will come out of Mount Zion. The intense devotion of the sovereign Lord to his people will accomplish this.


So this is what the Lord says about the king of Assyria: “He will not enter this city, nor will he shoot an arrow here. He will not attack it with his shield-carrying warriors, nor will he build siege works against it.


He will go back the way he came. He will not enter this city,” says the Lord.


I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.’”


That very night the Lord’s messenger went out and killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses.


So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.


One day, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword. They escaped to the land of Ararat; his son Esarhaddon replaced him as king.


In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Give your household instructions, for you are about to die; you will not get well.’”


He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,


“Please, Lord. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.


Isaiah was still in the middle courtyard when the Lord told him,


“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go up to the Lord’s temple.


I will add fifteen years to your life and rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.”’”


Isaiah ordered, “Get a fig cake.” So they did as he ordered and placed it on the ulcerated sore, and he recovered.


Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What is the confirming sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the Lord’s temple the day after tomorrow?”


Isaiah replied, “This is your sign from the Lord confirming that the Lord will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?”


Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it to go back ten steps.”


Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord, and the Lord made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.


At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill.


Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his whole storehouse, with its silver, gold, spices, and high quality olive oil, as well as his armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.


Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They come from the distant land of Babylon.”


Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.”


Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the word of the Lord,


‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.


‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”


Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s word which you have announced is appropriate.” Then he added, “At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”


The rest of the events of Hezekiah’s reign and all his accomplishments, including how he built a pool and conduit to bring water into the city, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.


Hezekiah passed away and his son Manasseh replaced him as king.


Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah.


He did evil in the sight of the Lord and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the Lord drove out from before the Israelites.


He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them.


He built altars in the Lord’s temple, about which the Lord had said, “Jerusalem will be my home.”


In the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.


He passed his son through the fire and practiced divination and omen reading. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits, and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.


He put an idol of Asherah he had made in the temple, about which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.


I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors, provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law my servant Moses ordered them to obey.”


But they did not obey, and Manasseh misled them so that they sinned more than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed from before the Israelites.


So the Lord announced through his servants the prophets:


“King Manasseh of Judah has committed horrible sins. He has sinned more than the Amorites before him and has encouraged Judah to sin by worshiping his disgusting idols.


So this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘I am about to bring disaster on Jerusalem and Judah. The news will reverberate in the ears of those who hear about it.


I will destroy Jerusalem the same way I did Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem clean, just as one wipes a plate on both sides.


I will abandon this last remaining tribe among my people and hand them over to their enemies; they will be plundered and robbed by all their enemies,


because they have done evil in my sight and have angered me from the time their ancestors left Egypt right up to this very day!’”


Furthermore Manasseh killed so many innocent people, he stained Jerusalem with their blood from end to end, in addition to encouraging Judah to sin by doing evil in the sight of the Lord.


The rest of the events of Manasseh’s reign and all his accomplishments, as well as the sinful acts he committed, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.


Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzzah, and his son Amon replaced him as king.


Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz, from Jotbah.


He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just like his father Manasseh had done.


He followed in the footsteps of his father and worshiped and bowed down to the disgusting idols which his father had worshiped.


He abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors and did not follow the Lord’s instructions.


Amon’s servants conspired against him and killed the king in his palace.


The people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.


The rest of Amon’s accomplishments are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.


He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzzah, and his son Josiah replaced him as king.


Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath.


He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David’s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.


In the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the Lord’s temple with these orders:


“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the Lord’s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door.


Have them hand it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn should pay the temple workers to repair it,


including craftsmen, builders, and masons, and should buy wood and chiseled stone for the repair work.


Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest.”


Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan and he read it.


Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants melted down the silver in the temple and handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple.”


Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king.


When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.


The king ordered Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant,


“Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and the people – for all Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this scroll by doing all that it instructs us to do.”


So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shullam son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business,


and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me:


“This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which the king of Judah has read.


This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’”


Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard:


‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord.


‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place.’”’” Then they reported back to the king.


The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.


The king went up to the Lord’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, all the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. All the people were there, from the youngest to the oldest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the Lord’s temple.


The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. All the people agreed to keep the covenant.


The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the high-ranking priests, and the guards to bring out of the Lord’s temple all the items that were used in the worship of Baal, Asherah, and all the stars of the sky. The king burned them outside of Jerusalem in the terraces of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.


He eliminated the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to offer sacrifices on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the area right around Jerusalem. (They offered sacrifices to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations, and all the stars in the sky.)


He removed the Asherah pole from the Lord’s temple and took it outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, where he burned it. He smashed it to dust and then threw the dust in the public graveyard.


He tore down the quarters of the male cultic prostitutes in the Lord’s temple, where women were weaving shrines for Asherah.


He brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and ruined the high places where the priests had offered sacrifices, from Geba to Beer Sheba. He tore down the high place of the goat idols situated at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the city official, on the left side of the city gate.


(Now the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they did eat unleavened cakes among their fellow priests.)


The king ruined Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that no one could pass his son or his daughter through the fire to Molech.


He removed from the entrance to the Lord’s temple the statues of horses that the kings of Judah had placed there in honor of the sun god. (They were kept near the room of Nathan Melech the eunuch, which was situated among the courtyards.) He burned up the chariots devoted to the sun god.


The king tore down the altars the kings of Judah had set up on the roof of Ahaz’s upper room, as well as the altars Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple. He crushed them up and threw the dust in the Kidron Valley.


The king ruined the high places east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount of Destruction, that King Solomon of Israel had built for the detestable Sidonian goddess Astarte, the detestable Moabite god Chemosh, and the horrible Ammonite god Milcom.


He smashed the sacred pillars to bits, cut down the Asherah pole, and filled those shrines with human bones.


He also tore down the altar in Bethel at the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin. He burned all the combustible items at that high place and crushed them to dust; including the Asherah pole.


When Josiah turned around, he saw the tombs there on the hill. So he ordered the bones from the tombs to be brought; he burned them on the altar and defiled it. This fulfilled the Lord’s announcement made by the prophet while Jeroboam stood by the altar during a festival. King Josiah turned and saw the grave of the prophet who had foretold this.


He asked, “What is this grave marker I see?” The men from the city replied, “It’s the grave of the prophet who came from Judah and foretold these very things you have done to the altar of Bethel.”


The king said, “Leave it alone! No one must touch his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed, as well as the bones of the Israelite prophet buried beside him.


Josiah also removed all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria. The kings of Israel had made them and angered the Lord. He did to them what he had done to the high place in Bethel.


He sacrificed all the priests of the high places on the altars located there, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.


The king ordered all the people, “Observe the Passover of the Lord your God, as prescribed in this scroll of the covenant.”


He issued this edict because a Passover like this had not been observed since the days of the judges; it was neglected for the entire period of the kings of Israel and Judah.


But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, such a Passover of the Lord was observed in Jerusalem.


Josiah also got rid of the ritual pits used to conjure up spirits, the magicians, personal idols, disgusting images, and all the detestable idols that had appeared in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way he carried out the terms of the law recorded on the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the Lord’s temple.


No king before or after repented before the Lord as he did, with his whole heart, soul, and being in accordance with the whole law of Moses.


Yet the Lord’s great anger against Judah did not subside; he was still infuriated by all the things Manasseh had done.


The Lord announced, “I will also spurn Judah, just as I spurned Israel. I will reject this city that I chose – both Jerusalem and the temple, about which I said, “I will live there.”


The rest of the events of Josiah’s reign and all his accomplishments are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.


During Josiah’s reign Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt marched toward the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to fight him, but Necho killed him at Megiddo when he saw him.


His servants transported his dead body from Megiddo in a chariot and brought it to Jerusalem, where they buried him in his tomb. The people of the land took Josiah’s son Jehoahaz, poured olive oil on his head, and made him king in his father’s place.


Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah.


He did evil in the sight of the Lord as his ancestors had done.


Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him in Riblah in the land of Hamath and prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem. He imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


Pharaoh Necho made Josiah’s son Eliakim king in Josiah’s place, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz to Egypt, where he died.


Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh the required amount of silver and gold, but to meet Pharaoh’s demands Jehoiakim had to tax the land. He collected an assessed amount from each man among the people of the land in order to pay Pharaoh Necho.


Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah, from Rumah.


During Jehoiakim’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked. Jehoiakim was his subject for three years, but then he rebelled against him.


The Lord sent against him Babylonian, Syrian, Moabite, and Ammonite raiding bands; he sent them to destroy Judah, as he had warned he would do through his servants the prophets.


Just as the Lord had announced, he rejected Judah because of all the sins which Manasseh had committed.


Because he killed innocent people and stained Jerusalem with their blood, the Lord was unwilling to forgive them.


The rest of the events of Jehoiakim’s reign and all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.


He passed away and his son Jehoiachin replaced him as king.


The king of Egypt did not march out from his land again, for the king of Babylon conquered all the territory that the king of Egypt had formerly controlled between the Brook of Egypt and the Euphrates River.


Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem.


At that time the generals of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched to Jerusalem and besieged the city.


King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his generals were besieging it.


King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his servants, his officials, and his eunuchs surrendered to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took Jehoiachin prisoner.


Nebuchadnezzar took from there all the riches in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of the royal palace. He removed all the gold items which King Solomon of Israel had made for the Lord’s temple, just as the Lord had warned.


He deported all the residents of Jerusalem, including all the officials and all the soldiers (10,000 people in all). This included all the craftsmen and those who worked with metal. No one was left except for the poorest among the people of the land.


He deported Jehoiachin from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with the king’s mother and wives, his eunuchs, and the high-ranking officials of the land.


The king of Babylon deported to Babylon all the soldiers (there were 7,000), as well as 1,000 craftsmen and metal workers. This included all the best warriors.


The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in Jehoiachin’s place. He renamed him Zedekiah.


Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah.


He did evil in the sight of the Lord, as Jehoiakim had done.


What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the Lord’s anger; he finally threw them out of his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.


So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign.


The city remained under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.


By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food.


The enemy broke through the city walls, and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night. They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king’s garden. (The Babylonians were all around the city.) Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.


But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with him in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him.


They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where he passed sentence on him.


Zedekiah’s sons were executed while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon then had Zedekiah’s eyes put out, bound him in bronze chains, and carried him off to Babylon.


On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem.


He burned down the Lord’s temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.


The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.


Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, deported the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.


But he left behind some of the poor of the land and gave them fields and vineyards.


The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the Lord’s temple, as well as the movable stands and the big bronze basin called the “The Sea.” They took the bronze to Babylon.


They also took the pots, shovels, trimming shears, pans, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests.


The captain of the royal guard took the golden and silver censers and basins.


The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the Lord’s temple – including the two pillars, the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” the twelve bronze bulls under “The Sea,” and the movable stands – was too heavy to be weighed.


Each of the pillars was about twenty-seven feet high. The bronze top of one pillar was about four and a half feet high and had bronze latticework and pomegranate shaped ornaments all around it. The second pillar with its latticework was like it.


The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah, the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.


From the city he took a eunuch who was in charge of the soldiers, five of the king’s advisers who were discovered in the city, an official army secretary who drafted citizens for military service, and sixty citizens from the people of the land who were discovered in the city.


Nebuzaradan, captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.


The king of Babylon ordered them to be executed at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So Judah was deported from its land.


Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over the people whom he allowed to remain in the land of Judah.


All of the officers of the Judahite army and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to govern. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite.


Gedaliah took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. He said, “You don’t need to be afraid to submit to the Babylonian officials. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.”


But in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten of his men and murdered Gedaliah, as well as the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah.


Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, as well as the army officers, left for Egypt, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians might do.


In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, King Evil-Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison.


He spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prestigious position than the other kings who were with him in Babylon.


Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and ate daily in the king’s presence for the rest of his life.


He was given daily provisions by the king for the rest of his life until the day he died.


Adam, Seth, Enosh,


Kenan, Mahalalel, Jered,


Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,


Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.


The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.


The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.


The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.


The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.


The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.


Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth.


Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,


Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines descended ), and the Caphtorites.


Canaan was the father of Sidon – his firstborn – and Heth,


as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,


Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,


Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.


The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.


Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.


Two sons were born to Eber: the first was named Peleg, for during his lifetime the earth was divided; his brother’s name was Joktan.


Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,


Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,


Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,


Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.


Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,


Eber, Peleg, Reu,


Serug, Nahor, Terah,


Abram (that is, Abraham).


The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.


These were their descendants: Ishmael’s firstborn son was Nebaioth; the others were Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,


Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,


Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.


The sons to whom Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, gave birth: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.


The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.


Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.


The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.


The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, and (by Timna) Amalek.


The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.


The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.


The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.)


The sons of Shobal: Alyan, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.


The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.


The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.


These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor; the name of his city was Dinhabah.


When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him.


When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him.


When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad succeeded him. He struck down the Midianites in the plains of Moab; the name of his city was Avith.


When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.


When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him.


When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him.


When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai. His wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-Zahab.


Hadad died. The tribal chiefs of Edom were: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,


Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,


Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,


Magdiel, Iram. These were the tribal chiefs of Edom.


These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar and Zebulun;


Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin; Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.


The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah’s firstborn, displeased the Lord, so the Lord killed him.


Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.


The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.


The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol, Dara – five in all.


The son of Carmi: Achan, who brought the disaster on Israel when he stole what was devoted to God.


The son of Ethan: Azariah.


The sons born to Hezron: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.


Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, the tribal chief of Judah.


Nahshon was the father of Salma, and Salma was the father of Boaz.


Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse.


Jesse was the father of Eliab, his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,


Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth,


Ozem sixth, David seventh.


Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abshai, Joab, and Asahel.


Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.


Caleb son of Hezron fathered sons by his wife Azubah (also known as Jerioth). Her sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.


When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.


Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.


Later Hezron had sexual relations with the daughter of Makir, the father of Gilead. (He had married her when he was sixty years old.) She bore him Segub.


Segub was the father of Jair, who owned twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.


(Geshur and Aram captured the towns of Jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding towns.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.


After Hezron’s death, Caleb had sexual relations with Ephrath, his father Hezron’s widow, and she bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.


The sons of Jerahmeel, Hezron’s firstborn, were Ram, the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.


Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah; she was Onam’s mother.


The sons of Ram, Jerahmeel’s firstborn, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.


The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.


Abishur’s wife was Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.


The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. (Seled died without having sons.)


The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.


The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother: Jether and Jonathan. (Jether died without having sons.)


The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.


Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had an Egyptian servant named Jarha.


Sheshan gave his daughter to his servant Jarha as a wife; she bore him Attai.


Attai was the father of Nathan, and Nathan was the father of Zabad.


Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal was the father of Obed.


Obed was the father of Jehu, and Jehu was the father of Azariah.


Azariah was the father of Helez, and Helez was the father of Eleasah.


Eleasah was the father of Sismai, and Sismai was the father of Shallum.


Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.


The sons of Caleb, Jerahmeel’s brother: His firstborn Mesha, the father of Ziph, and his second son Mareshah, the father of Hebron.


The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.


Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai.


Shammai’s son was Maon, who was the father of Beth-Zur.


Caleb’s concubine Ephah bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.


The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.


Caleb’s concubine Maacah bore Sheber and Tirhanah.


She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah and Sheva the father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Achsah.


These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrath: Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim,


Salma, the father of Bethlehem, Hareph, the father of Beth-Gader.


The sons of Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim, were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites,


the clans of Kiriath Jearim – the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. (The Zorathites and Eshtaolites descended from these groups.)


The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth-Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,


and the clans of the scribes who lived in Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who descended from Hammath, the father of Beth-Rechab.


These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel;


the third was Absalom whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;


the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; the sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah.


These six were born to David in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months. He ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem.


These were the sons born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon – the mother of these four was Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel.


The other nine were Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,


Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,


Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.


These were all the sons of David, not counting the sons of his concubines. Tamar was their sister.


Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, followed by Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,


Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,


Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,


Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,


Amon his son, Josiah his son.


The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn; Jehoiakim was born second; Zedekiah third; and Shallum fourth.


The sons of Jehoiakim: his son Jehoiachin and his son Zedekiah.


The sons of Jehoiachin the exile: Shealtiel his son,


Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.


The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.


The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.


The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.


The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat – six in all.


The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam – three in all.


The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani – seven in all.


The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.


Reaiah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.


These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister was Hazzelelponi.


Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.


Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.


Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.


The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan,


and Koz, who was the father of Anub, Hazzobebah, and the clans of Aharhel the son of Harum.


Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, for she said, “I experienced pain when I gave birth to him.”


Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would greatly bless me and expand my territory! May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain!” God answered his prayer.


Kelub, the brother of Shuhah, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.


Eshton was the father of Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.


The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.


Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those who live in Ge Harashim, who were craftsmen.


The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.


The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.


The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered’s wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa.


(His Judahite wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the sons of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered married.


The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.


The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben Zoheth.


The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, the clans of the linen workers at Beth-Ashbea,


Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, both of whom ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.)


They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah; they lived there and worked for the king.


The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul,


his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.


The descendants of Mishma: His son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei.


Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many sons, so their whole clan was not as numerous as the sons of Judah.


They lived in Beer Sheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual,


Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,


Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,


Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.


Their settlements also included Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan – five towns.


They also lived in all the settlements that surrounded these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements; they kept genealogical records.


Their clan leaders were: Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,


Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah (son of Seraiah, son of Asiel),


Eleoenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,


Ziza son of Shipi (son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah).


These who are named above were the leaders of their clans. Their extended families increased greatly in numbers.


They went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east of the valley, looking for pasture for their sheep.


They found fertile and rich pasture; the land was very broad, undisturbed and peaceful. Indeed some Hamites had been living there prior to that.


The men whose names are listed came during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah and attacked the Hamites’ settlements, as well as the Meunites they discovered there, and they wiped them out to this very day. They dispossessed them, for they found pasture for their sheep there.


Five hundred men of Simeon, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to the hill country of Seir


and defeated the rest of the Amalekite refugees; they live there to this very day.


The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn – (Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.


Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)


The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.


The descendants of Joel: His son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei,


his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal,


and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was the tribal leader of Reuben.


His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records: The leader Jeiel, Zechariah,


and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.


In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead.


During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.


The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.


They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second in command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.


Their relatives, listed according to their families, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber – seven in all.


These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.


Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family.


They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders.


All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.


The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war.


They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.


They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him.


They seized the Hagrites’ animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people.


Because God fought for them, they killed many of the enemy. They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.


The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.


These were the leaders of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation, and leaders of their families.


But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them.


So the God of Israel stirred up King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.


The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.


The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.


The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.


Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua.


Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi.


Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.


Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.


Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.


Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan.


Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.


Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.


Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum.


Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.


Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.


Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.


The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.


These are the names of the sons Gershom: Libni and Shimei.


The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites by their families.


To Gershom: His son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah,


his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.


The sons of Kohath: His son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir,


his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir,


his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.


The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,


his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath,


his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.


The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second oldest.


The descendants of Merari: Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah,


his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.


These are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s sanctuary, after the ark was placed there.


They performed music before the sanctuary of the meeting tent until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. They carried out their tasks according to regulations.


These are the ones who served along with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman the musician, son of Joel, son of Samuel,


son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah,


son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai,


son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah,


son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah,


son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.


Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph, son of Berechiah, son of Shimea,


son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malkijah,


son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah,


son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei,


son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.


Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch,


son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah,


son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer,


son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.


The rest of their fellow Levites were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God’s sanctuary.


But Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense as they had been assigned to do in the most holy sanctuary. They made atonement for Israel, just as God’s servant Moses had ordered.


These were the descendants of Aaron: His son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua,


his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah,


his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub,


his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.


These were the areas where Aaron’s descendants lived: The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:


They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands.


(But the city’s land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.)


The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,


Hilez and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands,


Ashan and its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all.


The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.


The clans of Gershom’s descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh (in Bashan).


The clans of Merari’s descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.


So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.


They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.


The clans of Kohath’s descendants also received territory within the tribe of Ephraim.


They were allotted as cities of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands,


Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands,


Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath’s descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.


The following belonged to Gershom’s descendants: Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands,


Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its pasturelands, Abdon and its pasturelands,


Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands.


The following belonged to the rest of Merari’s descendants: Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan River east of Jericho: Bezer in the desert and its pasturelands, Jahzah and its pasturelands,


Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.


Within the territory of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, Mahanaim and its pasturelands,


Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands.


The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron – four in all.


The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Samuel. They were leaders of their families. In the time of David there were 22,600 warriors listed in Tola’s genealogical records.


The son of Uzzi: Izrachiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five were leaders.


According to the genealogical records of their families, they had 36,000 warriors available for battle, for they had numerous wives and sons.


Altogether the genealogical records of the clans of Issachar listed 87,000 warriors.


The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, and Jediael – three in all.


The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. The five of them were leaders of their families. There were 22,034 warriors listed in their genealogical records.


The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alameth. All these were the sons of Beker.


There were 20,200 family leaders and warriors listed in their genealogical records.


The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.


All these were the sons of Jediael. Listed in their genealogical records were 17,200 family leaders and warriors who were capable of marching out to battle.


The Shuppites and Huppites were descendants of Ir; the Hushites were descendants of Aher.


The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum – sons of Bilhah.


The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, who was born to Manasseh’s Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.


Now Makir married a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. (His sister’s name was Maacah.) Zelophehad was Manasseh’s second son; he had only daughters.


Maacah, Makir’s wife, gave birth to a son, whom she named Peresh. His brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.


The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh.


His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.


The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.


The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath,


his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah (Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath, who were natives of the land, when they went down to steal their cattle.


Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days and his brothers came to console him.


He had sexual relations with his wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because tragedy had come to his family.


His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, as well as Uzzen Sheerah),


his son Rephah, his son Resheph, his son Telah, his son Tahan,


his son Ladan, his son Ammihud, his son Elishama,


his son Nun, and his son Joshua.


Their property and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding towns, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its surrounding towns to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding towns as far as Ayyah and its surrounding towns.


On the border of Manasseh’s territory were Beth-Shean and its surrounding towns, Taanach and its surrounding towns, Megiddo and its surrounding towns, and Dor and its surrounding towns. The descendants of Joseph, Israel’s son, lived here.


The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.


The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.


Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister.


The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet’s sons.


The sons of his brother Shemer: Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.


The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.


The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,


Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.


The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.


The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.


All these were the descendants of Asher. They were the leaders of their families, the most capable men, who were warriors and served as head chiefs. There were 26,000 warriors listed in their genealogical records as capable of doing battle.


Benjamin was the father of Bela, his firstborn; Ashbel was born second, Aharah third,


Nohah fourth, and Rapha fifth.


Bela’s sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud,


Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,


Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.


These were the descendants of Ehud who were leaders of the families living in Geba who were forced to move to Manahath:


Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who moved them. Gera was the father of Uzzah and Ahihud.


Shaharaim fathered sons in Moab after he divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.


By his wife Hodesh he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,


Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons; they were family leaders.


By Hushim he fathered Abitub and Elpaal.


The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod, as well as its surrounding towns),


Beriah, and Shema. They were leaders of the families living in Aijalon and chased out the inhabitants of Gath.


Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,


Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,


Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.


Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,


Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.


Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi,


Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,


Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.


Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,


Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,


Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,


Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.


Shamsherai, Shechariah, Athaliah,


Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.


These were the family leaders listed in the genealogical records; they lived in Jerusalem.


The father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon; his wife’s name was Maacah.


His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,


Gedor, Ahio, Zeker, and Mikloth.


Mikloth was the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.


Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.


The son of Jonathan: Meribbaal. Meribbaal was the father of Micah.


The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.


Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,


and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Raphah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.


Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.


The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third.


The sons of Ulam were warriors who were adept archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.


Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.


The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.


Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem.


The settlers included: Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah.


From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.


From the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel. Their relatives numbered 690.


From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;


Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.


Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families.


From the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;


Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub the leader in God’s temple;


Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.


Their relatives, who were leaders of their families, numbered 1,760. They were capable men who were assigned to carry out the various tasks of service in God’s temple.


From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari;


Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah son of Mika, son of Zikri, son of Asaph;


Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived among the settlements of the Netophathites.


The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader;


he serves to this day at the King’s Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.


Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord’s dwelling place.


Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the Lord was with him.


Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard at the entrance to the meeting tent.


All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet had appointed them to their positions.


They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the Lord’s sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle).


The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides – east, west, north, and south.


Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods.


The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God’s sanctuary.


They would spend the night in their posts all around God’s sanctuary, for they were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key every morning.


Some of them were in charge of the articles used by those who served; they counted them when they brought them in and when they brought them out.


Some of them were in charge of the equipment and articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.


(But some of the priests mixed the spices.)


Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for offerings.


Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each Sabbath.


The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks.


These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.


Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife was Maacah.


His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,


Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.


Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.


Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.


The son of Jonathan: Meribbaal, who was the father of Micah.


The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.


Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,


and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.


Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.


Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.


The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.


The battle was thick around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him.


Saul told his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.


When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.


So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household died together.


When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.


The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa.


They stripped his corpse, and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people.


They placed his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.


When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul,


all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.


So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord and did not obey the Lord’s instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits.


He did not seek the Lord’s guidance, so the Lord killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.


All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood!


In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel’s commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.’”


When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They anointed David king over Israel, just as the Lord had announced through Samuel.


David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.)


The residents of Jebus said to David, “You cannot invade this place!” But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).


David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!” So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander.


David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David.


He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city.


David’s power steadily grew, for the Lord who commands armies was with him.


These were the leaders of David’s warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord’s word.


This is the list of David’s warriors: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle.


Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors.


He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines,


but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.


Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.


David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.


David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!”


So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord


and said, “God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.


Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors.


From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.


Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day.


He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.


Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors.


He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.


The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,


Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,


Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,


Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,


Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,


Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Benaiah the Pirathonite,


Hurai from the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,


Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,


the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,


Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,


Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,


Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,


Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,


Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,


Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,


Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Achli,


Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,


Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,


Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,


Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,


Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,


Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.


These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle.


They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin. ) These were:


Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, Jehu the Anathothite,


Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader, Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,


Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,


Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,


and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.


Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.


Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,


Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,


Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,


Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,


Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.


These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.


They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.


Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold.


David went out to meet them and said, “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge!”


But a spirit empowered Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We support you, O son of Jesse! May you greatly prosper! May those who help you prosper! Indeed your God helps you!” So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.


Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: “It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.”)


When David went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh.


They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army.


Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.


The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul’s place, in accordance with the Lord’s decree:


From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.


From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.


From Levi there were 4,600.


Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron’s descendants, brought 3,700 men with him,


along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.


From Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.


From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.


From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.


From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.


From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.


From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.


From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.


From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.


From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.


All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.


They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions.


Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating.


David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.


David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, let’s spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us.


Let’s move the ark of our God back here, for we did not seek his will throughout Saul’s reign.”


The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people.


So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.


David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim – the ark that is called by his name.


They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,


while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.


When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen stumbled.


The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.


David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day.


David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?”


So David did not move the ark to the City of David; he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.


The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.


King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.


David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.


In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters.


These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,


Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,


Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,


Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.


When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. When David heard about it, he marched out against them.


Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.


David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!”


So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim.


The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned.


The Philistines again raided the valley.


So David again asked God what he should do. This time God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees.


When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”


David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.


So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.


David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.


Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.


David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it.


David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:


From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.


From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.


From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.


From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.


From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.


From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.


David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.


He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it.


The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.”


The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.


The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.


David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.


So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah;


along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.


The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;


Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style;


Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director;


Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter;


Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark;


Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.


So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration.


When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.


David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod.


All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments.


As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.


They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.


When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the Lord’s name.


He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.


He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the Lord, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the Lord God of Israel.


Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals;


and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.


That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the Lord:


Give thanks to the Lord! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations!


Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds!


Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!


Seek the Lord and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually!


Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,


O children of Israel, God’s servant, you descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen ones!


He is the Lord our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth.


Remember continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations –


the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!


He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise,


saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”


When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it,


they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another.


He let no one oppress them, he disciplined kings for their sake,


saying, “Don’t touch my anointed ones! Don’t harm my prophets!”


Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Announce every day how he delivers!


Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds!


For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods.


For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the Lord made the heavens.


Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy.


Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations, ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength!


Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the Lord in holy attire!


Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved.


Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, ‘The Lord reigns!’


Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!


Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth!


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.


Say this prayer: “Deliver us, O God who delivers us! Gather us! Rescue us from the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”


May the Lord God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, “We agree! Praise the Lord!”


David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day’s requirements,


including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers.


Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the Lord’s tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon,


regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the Lord which he charged Israel to observe.


Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!)


Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance.


Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family.


When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.”


Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”


That night God told Nathan the prophet,


“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live.


For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places.


Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’


“So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord who commands armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.


I was with you wherever you went and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.


I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning


and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. “‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house for you!


When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom.


He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent.


I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you.


I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’”


Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.


David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point?


And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. You have revealed to me what men long to know, O Lord God.


What more can David say to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition.


O Lord, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness.


O Lord, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true!


And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation in the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds when you drove out nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods.


You made Israel your very own nation for all time. You, O Lord, became their God.


So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! Do as you promised,


so it may become a reality and you may gain lasting fame, as people say, ‘The Lord who commands armies is the God of Israel.’ David’s dynasty will be established before you,


for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you.


Now, O Lord, you are the true God; you have made this good promise to your servant.


Now you are willing to bless your servant’s dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O Lord, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.”


Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns away from the Philistines.


He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.


David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority to the Euphrates River.


David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer’s chariot horses.


The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.


David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.


David took the golden shields which Hadadezer’s servants had carried and brought them to Jerusalem.


From Tibhath and Kun, Hadadezer’s cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called “The Sea,” the pillars, and other bronze items.


When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,


he sent his son Hadoram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze.


King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.


Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.


He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.


David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.


Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary;


Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;


Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials.


Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him.


David said, “I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy,


the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!”


So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away.


Messengers came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”


When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.


They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.


When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.


The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.


When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.


He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.


Joab said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue.


Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”


So Joab and his men marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him.


When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.


When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army.


When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and marched against them. David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him.


The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach the commanding general.


When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.


In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.


David took the crown from the head of their king and wore it (its weight was a talent of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city.


He removed the city’s residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.


Later there was a battle with the Philistines in Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.


There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom.


In a battle in Gath there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot – twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha.


When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.


These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by the hand of David and his soldiers.


An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had.


David told Joab and the leaders of the army, “Go, count the number of warriors from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.”


Joab replied, “May the Lord make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?”


But the king’s edict stood, despite Joab’s objections. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem.


Joab reported to David the number of warriors. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers.


Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king’s edict disgusted him.


God was also offended by it, so he attacked Israel.


David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”


The Lord told Gad, David’s prophet,


“Go, tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’”