Good News Translation (GNT)

The Descendants of Benjamin

1 Benjamin had five sons. In order of age they were Bela, Ashbel, Aharah,

2 Nohah, and Rapha.

3 The descendants of Bela were Addar, Gera, Abihud,

4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,

5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

6-7 The descendants of Ehud were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. They were heads of families that lived in Geba, but which were forced out and went to live in Manahath. Gera, the father of Uzza and Ahihud, led them in this move.

8-9 Shaharaim divorced two wives, Hushim and Baara. Later, when he lived in the country of Moab, he married Hodesh and had seven sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,

10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. His sons all became heads of families.

11 He also had two sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.

12 Elpaal had three sons: Eber, Misham, and Shemed. It was Shemed who built the cities of Ono and Lod and the surrounding villages.

The Benjaminites in Gath and Aijalon

13 Beriah and Shema were heads of families that settled in the city of Aijalon and drove out the people who lived in the city of Gath.

14 Beriah’s descendants included Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,

15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha.

The Benjaminites in Jerusalem

17 Elpaal’s descendants included Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,

18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab.

19 Shimei’s descendants included Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,

20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,

21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath.

22 Shashak’s descendants included Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,

23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,

25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel.

26 Jeroham’s descendants included Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri.

28 These were the ancestral heads of families and their principal descendants who lived in Jerusalem.

The Benjaminites in Gibeon and Jerusalem

29 Jeielfounded the city of Gibeon and settled there. His wife was named Maacah,

30 and his oldest son, Abdon. His other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner,Nadab,

31 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah,

32 and Mikloth, the father of Shimeah. Their descendants lived in Jerusalem near other families of their clan.

The Family of King Saul

33 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of King Saul. Saul had four sons: Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

34 Jonathan was the father of Meribbaal,who was the father of Micah.

35 Micah had four sons: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.

36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, who was the father of three sons: Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,

37 Moza the father of Binea, Binea of Raphah, Raphah of Eleasah, and Eleasah of Azel.

38 Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.

39 Azel’s brother Eshek had three sons: Ulam, Jeush, and Eliphelet.

40 Ulam’s sons were outstanding soldiers and archers. He had a hundred and fifty sons and grandsons in all. All those named above were members of the tribe of Benjamin.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/8-ee69d4fff711df1f38dd7da3572b1b6c.mp3?version_id=68—

The People Who Returned from Captivity

1 All the people of Israel were listed according to their families, and this information was recorded inThe Book of the Kings of Israel.

The people of Judah had been deported to Babylon as punishment for their sins.

2 The first to return to their property in the cities included Israelite citizens, priests, Levites, and Temple workers.

3 People from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh went to live in Jerusalem.

4-6 There were 690 families of the tribe of Judah who lived in Jerusalem.

The descendants of Judah’s son Perez had as their leader Uthai, the son of Ammihud and grandson of Omri. His other ancestors included Imri and Bani.

The descendants of Judah’s son Shelah had as their leader Asaiah, who was the head of his family.

The descendants of Judah’s son Zerah had Jeuel as their leader.

7-8 The following members of the tribe of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem:

Sallu son of Meshullam, who was the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah

Ibneiah son of Jeroham

Elah, the son of Uzzi and grandson of Michri

Meshullam son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah

9 There were 956 families of this tribe living there. All the men named above were heads of families.

The Priests Who Lived in Jerusalem

10-12 The following priests lived in Jerusalem:

Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin

Azariah son of Hilkiah (the chief official in the Temple), whose ancestors included Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub

Adaiah son of Jeroham, whose ancestors included Pashhur and Malchijah

Maasai son of Adiel, whose ancestors included Jahzerah, Meshullam, Meshillemith, and Immer

13 The priests who were heads of families totaled 1,760. They were experts in all the work carried on in the Temple.

The Levites Who Lived in Jerusalem

14-16 The following Levites lived in Jerusalem:

Shemaiah son of Hasshub, whose ancestors included Azrikam and Hashabiah, of the clan of Merari

Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal

Mattaniah son of Mica, whose ancestors included Zichri and Asaph

Obadiah son of Shemaiah, whose ancestors included Galal and Jeduthun

Berechiah, the son of Asa and grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the territory that belonged to the town of Netophah

The Temple Guards Who Lived in Jerusalem

17 The following Temple guards lived in Jerusalem: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, and Ahiman. Shallum was their leader.

18 Down to that time members of their clans had been stationed at the eastern entrance to the King’s Gate.Formerly they had stood guard at the gates to the camps of the Levites.

19 Shallum, the son of Kore and grandson of Ebiasaph, together with his fellow members of the clan of Korah, was responsible for guarding the entrance to the Tent of the Lord’s presence, just as their ancestors had been when they were in charge of the Lord’s camp.

20 Phinehas son of Eleazar—may the Lord be with him!—had supervised them at one time.

21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was also a guard at the entrance to the Tent of the Lord’s presence.

22 In all, 212 men were chosen as guards for the entrances and gates. They were registered according to the villages where they lived. It was King David and the prophet Samuel who had put their ancestors in these responsible positions.

23 They and their descendants continued to guard the gates to the Temple.

24 There was a gate facing in each direction, north, south, east, and west, and each had a chief guard.

25 These guards were assisted by their relatives, who lived in the villages and who had to take turns at guard duty for seven days at a time.

26 The four chief guards were Levites and had the final responsibility. They were also responsible for the rooms in the Temple and for the supplies kept there.

27 They lived near the Temple, because it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.

The Other Levites

28 Other Levites were responsible for the utensils used in worship. They checked them out and checked them back in every time they were used.

29 Others were in charge of the other sacred equipment, and of the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.

30 But the responsibility for mixing the spices belonged to the priests.

31 A Levite named Mattithiah, oldest son of Shallum, of the clan of Korah, was responsible for preparing the baked offerings.

32 Members of the clan of Kohath were responsible for preparing the sacred breadfor the Temple every Sabbath.

33 Some Levite families were responsible for the Temple music. The heads of these families lived in some of the Temple buildings and were free from other duties, because they were on call day and night.

34 The men named above were heads of Levite families, according to their ancestral lines. They were the leaders who lived in Jerusalem.

The Ancestors and Descendants of King Saul

35 Jeiel founded the city of Gibeon and settled there. His wife was named Maacah.

36 His oldest son was Abdon, and his other sons were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth,

38 the father of Shimeah. Their descendants lived in Jerusalem near other families of their clan.

39 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul had four sons: Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

40 Jonathan was the father of Meribbaal,who was the father of Micah.

41 Micah had four sons: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.

42 Ahaz was the father of Jarah, who was the father of three sons: Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,

43 Moza the father of Binea, Binea of Rephaiah, Rephaiah of Eleasah, and Eleasah of Azel.

44 Azel had six sons: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/9-cd81a2d397712374916c10ebc650480a.mp3?version_id=68—

The Death of King Saul

1 The Philistines fought a battle against the Israelites on Mount Gilboa. Many Israelites were killed there, and the rest of them, including King Saul and his sons, fled.

2 But the Philistines caught up with them and killed three of Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

3 The fighting was heavy around Saul, and he was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded.

4 He said to the young man carrying his weapons, “Draw your sword and kill me, to keep these godless Philistines from gloating over me.” But the young man was too terrified to do it. So Saul took his own sword and threw himself on it.

5 The young man saw that Saul was dead, so he too threw himself on his sword and died.

6 So Saul and his three sons all died together, and none of his descendants ever ruled.

7 When the Israelites who lived in Jezreel Valley heard that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and ran off. Then the Philistines came and occupied them.

8 The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

9 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers with them throughout Philistia to tell the good news to their idols and to their people.

10 They put his weapons in one of their temples and hung his head in the temple of their god Dagon.

11 When the people of Jabesh in Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 the bravest men went and got the bodies of Saul and his sons and took them to Jabesh. They buried them there under an oak and fasted for seven days.

13 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He disobeyed the Lord’s commands; he tried to find guidance by consulting the spirits of the dead

14 instead of consulting the Lord. So the Lord killed him and gave control of the kingdom to David son of Jesse.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/10-475bf0848236969c88a1ac623bf107a6.mp3?version_id=68—

David Becomes King of Israel and Judah

1 All the people of Israel went to David at Hebron and said to him, “We are your own flesh and blood.

2 In the past, even when Saul was still our king, you led the people of Israel in battle, and the Lord your God promised you that you would lead his people and be their ruler.”

3 So all the leaders of Israel came to King David at Hebron. He made a sacred alliance with them, they anointed him, and he became king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

4 King David and all the Israelites went and attacked the city of Jerusalem. It was then known as Jebus, and the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were still living there.

5 The Jebusites told David he would never get inside the city, but David captured their fortress of Zion, and it became known as “David’s City.”

6 David said, “The first man to kill a Jebusite will be commander of the army!” Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, led the attack and became commander.

7 Because David went to live in the fortress, it came to be called “David’s City.”

8 He rebuilt the city, starting at the place where land was filled in on the east side of the hill, and Joab restored the rest of the city.

9 David grew stronger and stronger, because the Lord Almighty was with him.

David’s Famous Soldiers

10 This is the list of David’s famous soldiers. Together with the rest of the people of Israel, they helped him become king, as the Lord had promised, and they kept his kingdom strong.

11 First was Jashobeam of the clan of Hachmon, the leader of “The Three.”He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them all in one battle.

12 Next among the famous “Three” was Eleazar son of Dodo, of the clan of Ahoh.

13 He fought on David’s side against the Philistines at the battle of Pas Dammim. He was in a barley field when the Israelites started to run away,

14 so he and his men took a stand in the middle of the field and fought the Philistines. The Lord gave him a great victory.

15 One day three of the thirty leading soldiers went to a rock where David was staying near Adullam Cave, while a band of Philistines was camping in Rephaim Valley.

16 At that time David was on a fortified hill, and a group of Philistines had occupied Bethlehem.

17 David got homesick and said, “How I wish someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem!”

18 The three famous soldiers forced their way through the Philistine camp, drew some water from the well, and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it; instead he poured it out as an offering to the Lord

19 and said, “I could never drink this! It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives!” So he refused to drink it. These were the brave deeds of the three famous soldiers.

20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the leader of “The Famous Thirty.”He fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them, and became famous among “The Thirty.”

21 He was the most famous of “The Thirty”and became their leader, but he was not as famous as “The Three.”

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel was a famous soldier; he did many brave deeds, including killing two great Moabite warriors. He once went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

23 He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man seven and a half feet tall, who was armed with a gigantic spear. Benaiah attacked him with a club, snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with it.

24 Those were the brave deeds of Benaiah, who was one of “The Thirty.”

25 He was outstanding among “The Thirty,” but not as famous as “The Three.” David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26-47 These are the other outstanding soldiers:

Asahel, Joab’s brother

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem

Shammoth from Harod

Helez from Pelet

Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa

Abiezer from Anathoth

Sibbecai from Hushah

Ilai from Ahoh

Maharai from Netophah

Heled son of Baanah from Netophah

Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin

Benaiah from Pirathon

Hurai from the valleys near Gaash

Abiel from Arbah

Azmaveth from Bahurum

Eliahba from Shaalbon

Hashemfrom Gizon

Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar

Ahiam son of Sachar from Harar

Eliphal son of Ur

Hepher from Mecherah

Ahijah from Pelon

Hezro from Carmel

Naarai son of Ezbai

Joel brother of Nathan

Mibhar son of Hagri

Zelek from Ammon

Naharai, Joab’s armorbearer, from Beeroth

Ira and Gareb from Jattir

Uriah the Hittite

Zabad son of Ahlai

Adina son of Shiza (a leading member of the tribe of Reuben, with his own group of thirty soldiers)

Hanan son of Maacah

Joshaphat from Mithan

Uzzia from Ashterah

Shamma and Jeiel, sons of Hotham, from Aroer

Jediael and Joha, sons of Shimri, from Tiz

Eliel from Mahavah

Jeribai and Joshaviah, sons of Elnaam

Ithmah from Moab

Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel from Zobah

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/11-b05da635f2a0be80c10931752a6eae25.mp3?version_id=68—

David’s Early Followers from the Tribe of Benjamin

1 David was living in Ziklag, where he had gone to escape from King Saul. There he was joined by many experienced, reliable soldiers,

2 members of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged. They could shoot arrows and sling stones either right-handed or left-handed.

3-7 They were under the command of Ahiezer and Joash, sons of Shemaah, from Gibeah.

These were the soldiers:

Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth

Beracah and Jehu from Anathoth

Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous soldier and one of the leaders of “The Thirty”

Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johannan, and Jozabad, from Gederah

Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah, from Hariph

Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, of the clan of Korah

Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham, from Gedor

David’s Followers from the Tribe of Gad

8 These are the names of the famous, experienced soldiers from the tribe of Gad who joined David’s troops when he was at the desert fort. They were experts with shields and spears, as fierce looking as lions and as quick as mountain deer.

9-13 They were ranked in the following order: Ezer, Obadiah, Eliab, Mishmannah, Jeremiah, Attai, Eliel, Johanan, Elzabad, Jeremiah, and Machbannai.

14 Some of these men from the tribe of Gad were senior officers in command of a thousand men, and others were junior officers in command of a hundred.

15 In the first month of one year, the time when the Jordan River overflowed its banks, they crossed the river, scattering the people who lived in the valleys both east and west of the river.

Followers from Benjamin and Judah

16 Once a group of men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah went out to the fort where David was.

17 David went to meet them and said, “If you are coming as friends to help me, you are welcome here. Join us! But if you intend to betray me to my enemies, even though I have not tried to hurt you, the God of our ancestors will know it and punish you.”

18 God’s spirit took control of one of them, Amasai, who later became the commander of “The Thirty,” and he called out,

“David son of Jesse, we are yours!

Success to you and those who help you!

God is on your side.”

David welcomed them and made them officers in his army.

Followers from Manasseh

19 Some soldiers from the tribe of Manasseh went over to David’s side when he was marching out with the Philistines to fight King Saul. Actually he did not help the Philistines, for their kings were afraid that he would betray them to his former master Saul, so they sent him back to Ziklag.

20 These are the soldiers from Manasseh who went over to David’s side when he was returning: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. In Manasseh they had all commanded units of a thousand men.

21 They served David as officers over his troops,because they were all outstanding soldiers. Later they were officers in the Israelite army.

22 Almost every day new men joined David’s forces, so that his army was soon enormous.

List of David’s Forces

23-37 When David was at Hebron, many trained soldiers joined his army to help make him king in place of Saul, as the Lord had promised. Their numbers were as follows:

Judah: 6,800 well-equipped men, armed with shields and spears;

Simeon: 7,100 well-trained men;

Levi: 4,600 men;

Followers of Jehoiada, descendant of Aaron: 3,700 men;

Relatives of Zadok, an able young fighter: 22 leading men;

Benjamin (Saul’s own tribe): 3,000 men (most of the people of Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul);

Ephraim: 20,800 men famous in their own clans;

West Manasseh: 18,000 men chosen to go and make David king;

Issachar: 200 leaders, together with the men under their command (these leaders knew what Israel should do and the best time to do it);

Zebulun: 50,000 loyal and reliable men ready to fight, trained to use all kinds of weapons;

Naphtali: 1,000 leaders, together with 37,000 men armed with shields and spears;

Dan: 28,600 trained men;

Asher: 40,000 men ready for battle;

Tribes east of the Jordan—Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh: 120,000 men trained to use all kinds of weapons.

38 All these soldiers, ready for battle, went to Hebron, determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of the people of Israel were united in the same purpose.

39 They spent three days there with David, feasting on the food and drink which their relatives had prepared for them.

40 From as far away as the northern tribes of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, people came bringing donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen loaded with food—flour, figs, raisins, wine, and olive oil. They also brought cattle and sheep to kill and eat. All this was an expression of the joy that was felt throughout the whole country.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/12-2a4b8f0b431d906963cf6352714ebb19.mp3?version_id=68—

The Covenant Box Is Moved from Kiriath Jearim

1 King David consulted with all the officers in command of units of a thousand men and units of a hundred men.

2 Then he announced to all the people of Israel, “If you give your approval and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messengers to the rest of our people and to the priests and Levites in their towns, and tell them to assemble here with us.

3 Then we will go and get God’s Covenant Box, which was ignored while Saul was king.”

4 The people were pleased with the suggestion and agreed to it.

5 So David assembled the people of Israel from all over the country, from the Egyptian border in the south to Hamath Pass in the north, in order to bring the Covenant Box from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem.

6 David and the people went to the city of Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, in the territory of Judah, to get the Covenant Box of God, which bears the name of the Lord enthroned above the winged creatures.

7 At Abinadab’s house they brought out the Covenant Box and put it on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart,

8 while David and all the people danced with all their might to honor God. They sang and played musical instruments—harps, drums, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 As they came to the threshing place of Chidon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out and took hold of the Covenant Box.

10 At once the Lord became angry with Uzzah and killed him for touching the Box. He died there in God’s presence,

11 and so that place has been called Perez Uzzahever since. David was furious because the Lord had punished Uzzah in anger.

12 Then David was afraid of God and said, “How can I take the Covenant Box with me now?”

13 So David did not take it with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he left it at the house of a man named Obed Edom, a native of the city of Gath.

14 It stayed there three months, and the Lord blessed Obed Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/13-428f42ea12e5f2950fa1efb2df0de5bb.mp3?version_id=68—

David’s Activities in Jerusalem

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent a trade mission to David; he provided him with cedar logs and with stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace.

2 And so David realized that the Lord had established him as king of Israel and was making his kingdom prosperous for the sake of his people.

3 There in Jerusalem, David married more wives and had more sons and daughters.

4 The following children were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada,and Eliphelet.

Victory over the Philistines

8 When the Philistines heard that David had now been made king over the whole country of Israel, their army went out to capture him. So David marched out to meet them.

9 The Philistines arrived at Rephaim Valley and began plundering.

10 David asked God, “Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?”

The Lord answered, “Yes, attack! I will give you the victory!”

11 So David attacked them at Baal Perazim and defeated them. He said, “God has used me to break through the enemy army like a flood.” So that place is called Baal Perazim.

12 When the Philistines fled, they left their idols behind, and David gave orders for them to be burned.

13 Soon the Philistines returned to the valley and started plundering it again.

14 Once more David consulted God, who answered, “Don’t attack them from here, but go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

15 When you hear the sound of marching in the treetops, then attack, because I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.”

16 David did what God had commanded, and so he drove the Philistines back from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

17 David’s fame spread everywhere, and the Lord made every nation afraid of him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/14-61580e8a9d4e325ea97dccca046b34b1.mp3?version_id=68—

Getting Ready to Move the Covenant Box

1 For his own use, David built houses in David’s City.He also prepared a place for God’s Covenant Box and put up a tent for it.

2 Then he said, “Only Levites should carry the Covenant Box, because they are the ones the Lord chose to carry it and to serve him forever.”

3 So David summoned all the people of Israel to Jerusalem in order to bring the Covenant Box to the place he had prepared for it.

4 Next he sent for the descendants of Aaron and for the Levites.

5 From the Levite clan of Kohath came Uriel, in charge of 120 members of his clan;

6 from the clan of Merari came Asaiah, in charge of 220;

7 from the clan of Gershon, Joel, in charge of 130;

8 from the clan of Elizaphan, Shemaiah, in charge of 200;

9 from the clan of Hebron, Eliel, in charge of 80;

10 and from the clan of Uzziel, Amminadab, in charge of 112.

11 David called in the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the six Levites, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12 He said to the Levites, “You are the leaders of the Levite clans. Purify yourselves and your fellow Levites, so that you can bring the Covenant Box of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it.

13 Because you were not there to carry it the first time, the Lord our God punished us for not worshiping him as we should have done.”

14 Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to move the Covenant Box of the Lord God of Israel.

15 The Levites carried it on poles on their shoulders, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

16 David commanded the leaders of the Levites to assign various Levites to sing and to play joyful music on harps and cymbals.

17-21 From the clans of singers they chose the following men to play the brass cymbals: Heman son of Joel, his relative Asaph son of Berechiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah, of the clan of Merari. To assist them they chose the following Levites to play the high-pitched harps: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah.

To play the low-pitched harps they chose the following Levites: Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Azaziah, and the Temple guards, Obed Edom and Jeiel.

22 Because of his skill in music Chenaniah was chosen to be in charge of the levitical musicians.

23-24 Berechiah and Elkanah, along with Obed Edom and Jehiah, were chosen as guards for the Covenant Box. The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were chosen to blow trumpets in front of the Covenant Box.

Moving the Covenant Box to Jerusalem

25 So King David, the leaders of Israel, and the military commanders went to the house of Obed Edom to get the Covenant Box, and they had a great celebration.

26 They sacrificed seven bulls and seven sheep, to make sure that God would help the Levites who were carrying the Covenant Box.

27 David was wearing a robe made of the finest linen, and so were the musicians, Chenaniah their leader, and the Levites who carried the Box. David also wore a linen ephod.

28 So all the Israelites accompanied the Covenant Box up to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the sound of trumpets, horns, and cymbals, and the music of harps.

29 As the Box was being brought into the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and leaping for joy, and she was disgusted with him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/15-58f1c842e7c4537beef005ec026b0805.mp3?version_id=68—

1 They took the Covenant Box to the tent which David had prepared for it and put it inside. Then they offered sacrifices and fellowship offerings to God.

2 After David had finished offering the sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord

3 and distributed food to them all. He gave each man and woman in Israel a loaf of bread, a piece of roasted meat,and some raisins.

4 David appointed some of the Levites to lead the worship of the Lord, the God of Israel, in front of the Covenant Box, by singing and praising him.

5 Asaph was appointed leader, with Zechariah as his assistant. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel were to play harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

6 and two priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, were to blow trumpets regularly in front of the Covenant Box.

7 It was then that David first gave Asaph and the other Levites the responsibility for singing praises to the Lord.

A Song of Praise

8 Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his greatness;

tell the nations what he has done.

9 Sing praise to the Lord;

tell the wonderful things he has done.

10 Be glad that we belong to him;

let all who worship him rejoice!

11 Go to the Lord for help,

and worship him continually.

12-13 You descendants of Jacob, God’s servant,

descendants of Israel, whom God chose,

remember the miracles that God performed

and the judgments that he gave.

14 The Lord is our God;

his commands are for all the world.

15 Never forget God’s covenant,

which he made to last forever,

16 the covenant he made with Abraham,

the promise he made to Isaac.

17 The Lord made a covenant with Jacob,

one that will last forever.

18 “I will give you the land of Canaan,” he said.

“It will be your own possession.”

19 God’s people were few in number,

strangers in the land of Canaan.

20 They wandered from country to country,

from one kingdom to another.

21 But God let no one oppress them;

to protect them, he warned the kings:

22 “Don’t harm my chosen servants;

do not touch my prophets.”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the world!

Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.

24 Proclaim his glory to the nations,

his mighty deeds to all peoples.

25 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;

he is to be honored more than all the gods.

26 The gods of all other nations are only idols,

but the Lord created the heavens.

27 Glory and majesty surround him,

power and joy fill his Temple.

28 Praise the Lord, all people on earth,

praise his glory and might.

29 Praise the Lord’s glorious name;

bring an offering and come into his Temple.

Bow down before the Holy One when he appears;

30 tremble before him, all the earth!

The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved.

31 Be glad, earth and sky!

Tell the nations that the Lord is king.

32 Roar, sea, and every creature in you;

be glad, fields, and everything in you!

33 The trees in the woods will shout for joy

when the Lord comes to rule the earth.

34 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good;

his love is eternal.

35 Say to him, “Save us, O God our Savior;

gather us together; rescue us from the nations,

so that we may be thankful

and praise your holy name.”

36 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!

Praise him now and forever!

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.

Worship at Jerusalem and Gibeon

37 King David put Asaph and the other Levites in permanent charge of the worship that was held at the place where the Covenant Box was kept. They were to perform their duties there day by day.

38 Obed Edom son of Jeduthun and sixty-eight men of his clan were to assist them. Hosah and Obed Edom were in charge of guarding the gates.

39 Zadok the priest and his fellow priests, however, were in charge of the worship of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon.

40 Every morning and evening they were to burn sacrifices whole on the altar in accordance with what was written in the Law which the Lord gave to Israel.

41 There with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the others who were specifically chosen to sing praises to the Lord for his eternal love.

42 Heman and Jeduthun also had charge of the trumpets and cymbals and the other instruments which were played when the songs of praise were sung. The members of Jeduthun’s clan were in charge of guarding the gates.

43 Then everyone went home, and David went home to spend some time with his family.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/16-d54d053331e7b6a6db3c1b0c31d535eb.mp3?version_id=68—

Nathan’s Message to David

1 King David was now living in his palace. One day he sent for the prophet Nathan and said to him, “Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but the Lord’s Covenant Box is kept in a tent!”

2 Nathan answered, “Do whatever you have in mind, because God is with you.”

3 But that night God said to Nathan,

4 “Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, ‘You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.

5 From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now I have never lived in a temple; I have always lived in tents and moved from place to place.

6 In all my traveling with the people of Israel I never asked any of the leaders that I appointed why they had not built me a temple made of cedar.’

7 “So tell my servant David that I, the Lord Almighty, say to him, ‘I took you from looking after sheep in the fields and made you the ruler of my people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have defeated all your enemies as you advanced. I will make you as famous as the greatest leaders in the world.

9-10 I have chosen a place for my people Israel and have settled them there, where they will live without being oppressed any more. Ever since they entered this land they have been attacked by violent people, but this will not happen again. I promise to defeat all your enemies and to give you descendants.

11 When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.

12 He will be the one to build a temple for me, and I will make sure that his dynasty continues forever.

13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not withdraw my support from him as I did from Saul, whom I removed so that you could be king.

14 I will put him in charge of my people and my kingdom forever. His dynasty will never end.’”

15 Nathan told David everything that God had revealed to him.

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

16 Then King David went into the Tent of the Lord’s presence, sat down, and prayed, “I am not worthy of what you have already done for me, Lord God, nor is my family.

17 Yet now you are doing even more; you have made promises about my descendants in the years to come, and you, Lord God, are already treating me like someone great.

18 What more can I say to you! You know me well, and yet you honor me, your servant.

19 It was your will and purpose to do this for me and to show me my future greatness.

20 Lord, there is none like you; we have always known that you alone are God.

21 There is no other nation on earth like Israel, whom you rescued from slavery to make them your own people. The great and wonderful things you did for them spread your fame throughout the world. You rescued your people from Egypt and drove out other nations as your people advanced.

22 You have made Israel your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, O Lord, fulfill for all time the promise you made about me and my descendants, and do what you said you would.

24 Your fame will be great, and people will forever say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel.’ And you will preserve my dynasty for all time.

25 I have the courage to pray this prayer to you, my God, because you have revealed all this to me, your servant, and have told me that you will make my descendants kings.

26 You, Lord, are God, and you have made this wonderful promise to me.

27 I ask you to bless my descendants so that they will continue to enjoy your favor. You, Lord, have blessed them, and your blessing will rest on them forever.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/363/32k/1CH/17-0a702dfe54596debc786073b1d2354ce.mp3?version_id=68—