1 Chronicles

1 Paralipomenon in Greek

Name and Location in Canon

Like the books of Samuel and Kings, Chronicles was originally one book. It was probably first divided by the Greek translators, perhaps because of its length. The break between the two books, however, comes at a natural point, with the notice of the death of King David at the end of 1 Chronicles, and the account of the reign of his successor Solomon at the beginning of 2 Chronicles.

The title given to the book by the early rabbis, “the book of the events of the days” (Heb seper dibre hayyamim), suggests that the book is a historical writing, addressing past events in chronological order; the same phrase is used often in Kings (e.g., 1 Kings 14.19) for a different work, one of the sources of the books of Kings. The name of Chronicles in the ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures, the Septuagint, is “Paraleipomena,” meaning “the things left out”; this name suggests that Chronicles records the events left out of earlier biblical history. These understandings of Chronicles are contested by modern scholars. It was the church father Jerome’s description of the book as a “chronicle,” a summary of (divine) history, that has left the book with its current title.

In printed Jewish Bibles, Chronicles is the last book in the third and final division of the canon, the Writings (“Ketubim”), although in some manuscripts it occurs earlier, either as the first of the Writings, or before Ezra‐Nehemiah, that is, in chronological order. In Christian Bibles, Chronicles is one of the Historical Books and follows the books of Kings, which it largely parallels.

Authorship and Date of Composition

Most likely the book’s anonymous author lived in Jerusalem and had great familiarity with the Temple and its assorted traditions. Since the book of Ezra begins where Chronicles ends, with the decree of the Persian king Cyrus the Great that allowed the exiled Jews to return home from wherever they had been dispersed throughout Cyrus’s kingdom and to rebuild the Temple (538 bce), some scholars have suggested that Chronicles, and Ezra‐Nehemiah, had a single author or editor. Most other scholars think that the linguistic, thematic, and historiographic differences between Chronicles and Ezra‐Nehemiah are too great to posit a common author. In this view, which is followed here, the Chronicler’s work, which begins with the first person (Adam) and ends with Cyrus’s summons to the exiled Jews to return home (2 Chr 36.21–23), should be separated from the Ezra‐Nehemiah. Hence, in the following pages, “the Chronicler” designates the author of Chronicles.

The Chronicler wrote after much of the Hebrew Bible had already been written, and he draws extensively upon this rich literary tradition. The dependence of Chronicles upon Genesis is evident in the genealogies (1 Chr 1–9); the dependence upon Samuel is clear in the narration of Saul’s demise and David’s reign (1 Chr 10–29); and the dependence upon Kings is unmistakable in the narration of Solomon and the Judahite kingdom (2 Chr 1–36). Although a few scholars think that the authors of Samuel‐Kings and Chronicles drew from a common source, it makes more sense to hold that the Chronicler selectively drew from an earlier and shorter version of Samuel‐Kings. The Chronicler’s work is also informed by a variety of other biblical texts. Citations from or allusions to the Torah/Pentateuch and the books of Joshua, Judges, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Psalms, and Ruth all appear in Chronicles. Scholars generally agree that the Chronicler also had access to sources that did not become part of the Bible, but their nature and extent are disputed. Given that Chronicles borrows from earlier biblical writings, most prominently an older and shorter version of Samuel‐Kings (with many additions, deletions, and changes), readers may find it helpful to read Chronicles on its own terms as a distinctive literary work, but also to compare its presentation with that of the biblical texts from which it draws.

It is difficult to date Chronicles precisely, beyond noting that it must be postexilic, since it ends with Cyrus’s decree. A range of over three hundred and fifty years, from the late sixth to the mid‐second century bce, has been suggested for its initial composition. A date in the late fourth century seems most plausible, because that would account for the author’s references to other biblical writings, the mention of people who likely lived in the fourth century (1 Chr 3.22–24), and the literary features within the work that anticipate similar features in Jewish Hellenistic writings. Yet, there are no specific references, no absolute synchronisms, and no nonbiblical citations that definitively date the book to a given decade or quarter‐century.

Structure, Contents, and Interpretation

Chronicles has three major sections: the genealogies (1 Chr 1–9), the history of the United Monarchy (1 Chr 10– 2 Chr 9), and the history of the Judahite monarchy (2 Chr 10–36). The first section, which forms the introduction to the work, begins with Adam (1 Chr 1), but focuses upon the identity, interrelationships, and location of Israel’s many tribes (1 Chr 2–9). In traditional societies such genealogies explain and justify the place and function of various individuals, groups, and institutions. In the case of 1 Chr 1–8, the Chronicler stresses the ties between Israel and the land. The very scope and structure of the Chronicler’s genealogical system underscore the indivisibility of Israel. Within this larger structure, Judah, Levi, and Benjamin receive by far the most extensive genealogies, reflecting the Chronicler’s view that these three tribes are critical to preserving Israel’s distinctive legacy. The list of those Jews who returned from exile (1 Chr 9) concludes these chapters by highlighting the continuity between earlier Israel and postexilic Judah (the Persian province of Yehud). In the second section, after briefly addressing and condemning the reign of Saul, focusing only on his demise (1 Chr 10), the Chronicler devotes most of his attention to the highly successful reigns of David (1 Chr 11–29) and Solomon (2 Chr 1–9), which clearly represent a high point of the history. The rest of the book relates the emergence, continuation, and fall of the kingdom of Judah (2 Chr 10–36). Because Chronicles begins with the first person (Adam) and ends with the aftermath of the Babylonian exile (2 Chr 36), it forms a parallel story of Israel’s past—albeit much shorter, more focused, and written later—to the story of Israel’s past found in Genesis through Kings.

It is no accident that the Chronicler places David and Solomon’s achievements at the center of the history of his people. The author thereby underscores the prominence of those Israelite institutions he believed developed, were consolidated, or were transformed during this period—the priesthood, descended from Aaron; the Levites in all their responsibilities as singers, teachers, administrators, and ancillaries to the priests; the Davidic dynasty; and, last but not least, the Temple itself. These institutions remained fundamentally central to his audience. Compared with the golden age of the United Monarchy, the age of the much smaller Judahite kingdom marks a significant contrast.

Following the death of Solomon and the ascension of his son Rehoboam, the ten northern tribes seceded from southern rule (2 Chr 11.1–17). Whereas the author of Kings follows the course of both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms, the Chronicler concentrates on the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, who make up the Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 Chr 11.5–6,12,13–17,23). In Chronicles the course of the Judahite monarchy is characterized by both defeats and successes. The Chronicler consistently documents the achievements of Judah’s best kings—Abijah (2 Chr 13.2–21), Asa (2 Chr 14.1–6; 15.8–15), Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17.1–9; 19.4–11), Hezekiah (2 Chr 29–31), and Josiah (2 Chr 34.1–7)—to institute reforms, reunite the people, and recover lost territories. Major regressions occur in the reigns of Ahaz (2 Chr 28), Manasseh (2 Chr 33.1–11), and the final kings of Judah (2 Chr 36.1–13). In depicting their history, the Chronicler is largely dependent on Kings, but as the episode concerning Manasseh’s repentance and restoration (2 Chr 33.12–19; cf. 2 Kings 21.1–16) demonstrates, he may revise these sources to fit his theology, making both major and minor changes, as well as many corrections, additions, and deletions.

Throughout the work, God sends prophets to warn monarchs, leaders, and people alike about the consequences of their actions, imploring them to repent. Whereas in Kings, prophets are often a fixture of life in the Northern Kingdom (e.g., Elijah and Elisha) and are rarer in the life of the Southern Kingdom (Isaiah being a notable exception), in Chronicles prophets and prophetic figures, such as Shemaiah (2 Chr 12.5–6), Azariah (2 Chr 15.1–7), Hanani (2 Chr 16.7–9), Jehu (2 Chr 19.2–3) and Zechariah (2 Chr 24.20), appear in the reign of virtually every significant southern king. That the Chronicler drew from nonbiblical sources when depicting some of these otherwise unattested prophetic figures is possible, but it seems likely that he freely created others to fit his theological conception of the past. In this way, the Chronicler stresses that Moses’s promise that the Lord would create a prophetic succession, patterned after the prophetic ministry of Moses himself (Deut 18.15–22), was fulfilled in the history of Judah. In his commentary on the defeat and exile of the Southern Kingdom, the Chronicler adds that Judah was exiled only after the Lord sent a steady supply of prophets to stir the people and priestly leaders to reform, but their warnings went unheeded (2 Chr 36.14–16).

Both Kings and Chronicles end by describing the Babylonian invasion and exile in the sixth century bce, but Chronicles also includes Cyrus’s decree allowing the exiles to return to Judah (2 Chr 36.22–23), offering a clearer hope for the future than the conclusion of Kings. In this way Chronicles contains and relativizes the tremendous tragedy of the Babylonian deportations soberly depicted in 2 Kings 24–25. Thus Chronicles, with its positive ending and emphasis on the power of repentance and rebuilding, is more optimistic than the history of Samuel‐Kings, which it has rewritten, supplemented, and corrected. As the beginning of Chronicles introduces the people of Israel and charts their emergence in the land, the ending of the book anticipates their return.

Gary N. Knoppers

¹ Adam, Seth, Enosh; ²Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared; ³Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech; ⁴Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

⁵The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. ⁶The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath,^a and Togarmah. ⁷The descendants of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.^b

⁸The descendants of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. ⁹The descendants of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. ¹⁰Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first to be a mighty one on the earth.

¹¹Egypt became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, ¹²Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, from whom the Philistines come.^c

¹³Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, ¹⁴and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, ¹⁵the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, ¹⁶the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

¹⁷The descendants of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.^{d 18}Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. ¹⁹To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided), and the name of his brother Joktan. ²⁰Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²¹Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²²Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, ²³Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the descendants of Joktan.

²⁴Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah; ²⁵Eber, Peleg, Reu; ²⁶Serug, Nahor, Terah; ²⁷Abram, that is, Abraham.

²⁸The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. ²⁹These are their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ³⁰Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, ³¹Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. ³²The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. ³³The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the descendants of Keturah.

³⁴Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. ³⁵The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. ³⁶The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek. ³⁷The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

³⁸The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. ³⁹The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Lotan’s sister was Timna. ⁴⁰The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. ⁴¹The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. ⁴²The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan.^a The sons of Dishan:^b Uz and Aran.

⁴³These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor, whose city was called Dinhabah. ⁴⁴When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah succeeded him. ⁴⁵When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded him. ⁴⁶When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him; and the name of his city was Avith. ⁴⁷When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him. ⁴⁸When Samlah died, Shaul^c of Rehoboth on the Euphrates succeeded him. ⁴⁹When Shaul^c died, Baal‐hanan son of Achbor succeeded him. ⁵⁰When Baal‐hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai, and his wife’s name Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Me‐zahab. ⁵¹And Hadad died.

The clans^d of Edom were: clans^d Timna, Aliah,^e Jetheth, ⁵²Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁵³Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁵⁴Magdiel, and Iram; these are the clans^d of Edom.

² These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ²Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ³The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three the Canaanite woman Bath‐shua bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death. ⁴His daughter‐inlaw Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

⁵The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. ⁶The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara,^a five in all. ⁷The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the matter of the devoted thing; ⁸and Ethan’s son was Azariah.

⁹The sons of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. ¹⁰Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah. ¹¹Nahshon became the father of Salma, Salma of Boaz, ¹²Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse. ¹³Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, ¹⁴Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; ¹⁶and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. ¹⁷Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

¹⁸Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah, and by Jerioth; these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. ¹⁹When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. ²⁰Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.

²¹Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub; ²²and Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty‐three towns in the land of Gilead. ²³But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth‐jair, Kenath and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, father of Gilead. ²⁴After the death of Hezron, in Caleb‐ephrathah, Abijah wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur, father of Tekoa.

²⁵The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron: Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. ²⁶Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. ²⁷The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel: Maaz, Jamin, and Eker. ²⁸The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. ²⁹The name of Abishur’s wife was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid. ³⁰The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; and Seled died childless. ³¹The son^a of Appaim: Ishi. The son^a of Ishi: Sheshan. The son^a of Sheshan: Ahlai. ³²The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died childless. ³³The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel. ³⁴Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters; but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave, whose name was Jarha. ³⁵So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his slave Jarha; and she bore him Attai. ³⁶Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan of Zabad. ³⁷Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal of Obed. ³⁸Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu of Azariah. ³⁹Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez of Eleasah. ⁴⁰Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai of Shallum. ⁴¹Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah of Elishama.

⁴²The sons of Caleb brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha^b his firstborn, who was father of Ziph. The sons of Mareshah father of Hebron. ⁴³The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. ⁴⁴Shema became father of Raham, father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai. ⁴⁵The son of Shammai: Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth‐zur. ⁴⁶Ephah also, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez. ⁴⁷The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. ⁴⁸Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. ⁴⁹She also bore Shaaph father of Madmannah, Sheva father of Machbenah and father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. ⁵⁰These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons^c of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kiriath‐jearim, ⁵¹Salma father of Bethlehem, and Hareph father of Beth‐gader. ⁵²Shobal father of Kiriath‐jearim had other sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. ⁵³And the families of Kiriath‐jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. ⁵⁴The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth‐bethjoab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. ⁵⁵The families also of the scribes that lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rechab.

³ These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite; ²the third Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth Adonijah, son of Haggith; ³the fifth Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth Ithream, by his wife Eglah; ⁴six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty‐three years in Jerusalem. ⁵These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four by Bath‐shua, daughter of Ammiel; ⁶then Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, ⁷Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁸Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. ⁹All these were David’s sons, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.

¹⁰The descendants of Solomon: Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, ¹¹Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son, ¹²Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, ¹³Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son, ¹⁴Amon his son, Josiah his son. ¹⁵The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. ¹⁶The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; ¹⁷and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son, ¹⁸Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah; ¹⁹The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; ²⁰and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab‐hesed, five. ²¹The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son^a Rephaiah, his son^a Arnan, his son^a Obadiah, his son^a Shecaniah. ²²The son^b of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. ²³The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three. ²⁴The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.

⁴ The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. ²Reaiah son of Shobal became the father of Jahath, and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. ³These were the sons^c of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, ⁴and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. ⁵Ashhur father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah; ⁶Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari.^d These were the sons of Naarah. ⁷The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar,^e and Ethnan. ⁸Koz became the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum. ⁹Jabez was honored more than his brothers; and his mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” ¹⁰Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked. ¹¹Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. ¹²Eshton became the father of Beth‐rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir‐nahash. These are the men of Recah. ¹³The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.^{f 14}Meonothai became the father of Ophrah; and Seraiah became the father of Joab father of Ge‐harashim,^g so‐called because they were artisans. ¹⁵The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son^b of Elah: Kenaz. ¹⁶The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. ¹⁷The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married;^h and she conceived and boreⁱ Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah father of Eshtemoa. ¹⁸And his Judean wife bore Jered father of Gedor, Heber father of Soco, and Jekuthiel father of Zanoah. ¹⁹The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. ²⁰The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben‐zoheth. ²¹The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the guild of linen workers at Beth‐ashbea; ²²and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who married into Moab but returned to Lehem^a (now the records^b are ancient). ²³These were the potters and inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king in his service.

²⁴The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;^{c 25}Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. ²⁶The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son. ²⁷Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their family multiply like the Judeans. ²⁸They lived in Beer‐sheba, Moladah, Hazar‐shual, ²⁹Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹Beth‐marcaboth, Hazar‐susim, Beth‐biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until David became king. ³²And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five towns, ³³along with all their villages that were around these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.

³⁴Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, ³⁵Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraiah son of Asiel, ³⁶Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, ³⁷Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah—³⁸these mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and their clans increased greatly. ³⁹They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, ⁴⁰where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful; for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. ⁴¹These, registered by name, came in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, and attacked their tents and the Meunim who were found there, and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. ⁴²And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, sons of Ishi; ⁴³they destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites that had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

⁵ The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright; ²though Judah became prominent among his brothers and a ruler came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.) ³The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ⁴The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, ⁵Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, ⁶Beerah his son, whom King Tilgathpilneser of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chieftain of the Reubenites. ⁷And his kindred by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, ⁸and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal‐meon. ⁹He also lived to the east as far as the beginning of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead. ¹⁰And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

¹¹The sons of Gad lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: ¹²Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. ¹³And their kindred according to their clans: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber, seven. ¹⁴These 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; ¹⁵Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their clan; ¹⁶and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasture lands of Sharon to their limits. ¹⁷All of these were enrolled by genealogies in the days of King Jotham of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam of Israel.

¹⁸The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half‐tribe of Manasseh had valiant warriors, who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, forty‐four thousand seven hundred sixty, ready for service. ¹⁹They made war on the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab; ²⁰and when they received help against them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried to God in the battle, and he granted their entreaty because they trusted in him. ²¹They captured their livestock: fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep, two thousand donkeys, and one hundred thousand captives. ²²Many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they lived in their territory until the exile.

²³The members of the half‐tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; they were very numerous from Bashan to Baal‐hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. ²⁴These were the heads of their clans: Epher,^a Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their clans. ²⁵But they transgressed against the God of their ancestors, and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. ²⁶So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of King Pul of Assyria, the spirit of King Tilgath‐pilneser of Assyria, and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half‐tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

^6b The sons of Levi: Gershom,^c Kohath, and Merari. ²The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ³The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ⁴Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas of Abishua, ⁵Abishua of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi, ⁶Uzzi of Zerahiah, Zerahiah of Meraioth, ⁷Meraioth of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub, ⁸Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahimaaz, ⁹Ahimaaz of Azariah, Azariah of Johanan, ¹⁰and Johanan of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem). ¹¹Azariah became the father of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub, ¹²Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum, ¹³Shallum of Hilkiah, Hilkiah of Azariah, ¹⁴Azariah of Seraiah, Seraiah of Jehozadak; ¹⁵and Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

^16dThe sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. ¹⁷These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁸The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ¹⁹The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their ancestry. ²⁰Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son. ²²The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, ²⁴Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. ²⁵The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth, ²⁶Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son. ²⁸The sons of Samuel:

The Levitical towns according to 1 Chr 6:54–80. Cities of refuge are highlighted with a star. The tribal boundaries are shown by a dashed line.

Joel^a his firstborn, the second Abijah.^{b 29}The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, ³⁰Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

³¹These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark came to rest there. ³²They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they performed their service in due order. ³³These are the men who served; and their sons were: Of the Kohathites: Heman, the singer, son of Joel, son of Samuel, ³⁴son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, ³⁵son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, ³⁶son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, ³⁷son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, ³⁸son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel; ³⁹and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right, namely, Asaph son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, ⁴⁰son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah, ⁴¹son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, ⁴²son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, ⁴³son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi. ⁴⁴On the left were their kindred the sons of Merari: Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, ⁴⁵son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, ⁴⁶son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, ⁴⁷son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi; ⁴⁸and their kindred the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

⁴⁹But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, doing all the work of the most holy place, to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. ⁵⁰These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, ⁵¹Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, ⁵²Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, ⁵³Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.

⁵⁴These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Kohathites—for the lot fell to them first— ⁵⁵to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture lands, ⁵⁶but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ⁵⁷To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands, ⁵⁸Hilen^a with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, ⁵⁹Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth‐shemesh with its pasture lands. ⁶⁰From the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Alemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their towns throughout their families were thirteen.

⁶¹To the rest of the Kohathites were given by lot out of the family of the tribe, out of the half‐tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten towns. ⁶²To the Gershomites according to their families were allotted thirteen towns out of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan. ⁶³To the Merarites according to their families were allotted twelve towns out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁶⁴So the people of Israel gave the Levites the towns with their pasture lands. ⁶⁵They also gave them by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these towns that are mentioned by name.

⁶⁶And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had towns of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands, ⁶⁸Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth‐horon with its pasture lands, ⁶⁹Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gathrimmon with its pasture lands; ⁷⁰and out of the half‐tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the rest of the families of the Kohathites.

⁷¹To the Gershomites: out of the halftribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands; ⁷²and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath^b with its pasture lands, ⁷³Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands; ⁷⁴out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands, ⁷⁵Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands; ⁷⁶and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands. ⁷⁷To the rest of the Merarites out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands, ⁷⁸and across the Jordan from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the steppe with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands, ⁷⁹Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands; ⁸⁰and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands, ⁸¹Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.

⁷ The sons^c of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. ²The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their ancestral houses, namely of Tola, mighty warriors of their generations, their number in the days of David being twenty‐two thousand six hundred. ³The son^d of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, five, all of them chiefs; ⁴and along with them, by their generations, according to their ancestral houses, were units of the fighting force, thirty‐six thousand, for they had many wives and sons. ⁵Their kindred belonging to all the families of Issachar were in all eightyseven thousand mighty warriors, enrolled by genealogy.

⁶The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three. ⁷The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of ancestral houses, mighty warriors; and their enrollment by genealogies was twenty‐two thousand thirty‐four. ⁸The sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher; ⁹and their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their ancestral houses, mighty warriors, was twenty thousand two hundred. ¹⁰The sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. ¹¹All these were the sons of Jediael according to the heads of their ancestral houses, mighty warriors, seventeen thousand two hundred, ready for service in war. ¹²And Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, Hushim the son^a of Aher.

¹³The descendants of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the descendants of Bilhah.

¹⁴The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead. ¹⁵And Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters. ¹⁶Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. ¹⁷The son^a of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, son of Manasseh. ¹⁸And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. ¹⁹The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

²⁰The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, ²¹Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. Now the people of Gath, who were born in the land, killed them, because they came down to raid their cattle. ²²And their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. ²³Ephraim^b went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and he named him Beriah, because disaster^c had befallen his house. ²⁴His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth‐horon, and Uzzen‐sheerah. ²⁵Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son, ²⁶Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, ²⁷Nun^d his son, Joshua his son. ²⁸Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer and its towns, Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns; ²⁹also along the borders of the Manassites, Beth‐shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the sons of Joseph son of Israel.

³⁰The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. ³¹The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. ³²Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. ³³The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the sons of Japhlet. ³⁴The sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram. ³⁵The sons of Helem^e his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. ³⁶The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, ³⁷Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. ³⁸The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara. ³⁹The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. ⁴⁰All of these were men of Asher, heads of ancestral houses, select mighty warriors, chief of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was twenty‐six thousand men.

⁸ Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, ²Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. ³And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,^{a 4}Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, ⁵Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. ⁶These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath): ⁷Naaman,^b Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam,^c who became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. ⁸And Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away his wives Hushim and Baara. ⁹He had sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, ¹⁰Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of ancestral houses. ¹¹He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. ¹²The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, ¹³and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath); ¹⁴and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth. ¹⁵Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, ¹⁶Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. ¹⁷Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. ¹⁹Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, ²⁰Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, ²¹Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. ²²Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, ²³Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, ²⁴Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, ²⁵Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. ²⁶Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, ²⁷Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. ²⁸These were the heads of ancestral houses, according to their generations, chiefs. These lived in Jerusalem.

²⁹Jeiel^d the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. ³⁰His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal,^e Nadab, ³¹Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, ³²and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. Now these also lived opposite their kindred in Jerusalem, with their kindred. ³³Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul,^f Saul^f of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal; ³⁴and the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Merib‐baal became the father of Micah. ³⁵The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. ³⁶Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; Zimri became the father of Moza. ³⁷Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. ³⁸Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; all these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. ⁴⁰The sons of Ulam were mighty warriors, archers, having many children and grandchildren, one hundred fifty. All these were Benjaminites.

⁹ So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken intoexile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. ²Now the first to live again in their possessions in their towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

³And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: ⁴Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez son of Judah. ⁵And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. ⁶Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their kin, six hundred ninety. ⁷Of the Benjaminites: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah, ⁸Ibneiah son of Jeroham, Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah; ⁹and their kindred according to their generations, nine hundred fifty‐six. All these were heads of families according to their ancestral houses.

¹⁰Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, ¹¹and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God; ¹²and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer; ¹³besides their kindred, heads of their ancestral houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty, qualified for the work of the service of the house of God.

¹⁴Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; ¹⁵and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; ¹⁶and Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

¹⁷The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman; and their kindred Shallum was the chief, ¹⁸stationed previously in the king’s gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites. ¹⁹Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kindred of his ancestral house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, guardians of the thresholds of the tent, as their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, guardians of the entrance. ²⁰And Phinehas son of Eleazar was chief over them in former times; the Lord was with him. ²¹Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ²²All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were two hundred twelve. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and the seer Samuel established them in their office of trust. ²³So they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. ²⁴The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south; ²⁵and their kindred who were in their villages were obliged to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with them; ²⁶for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. ²⁷And they would spend the night near the house of God; for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

²⁸Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. ²⁹Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils, also over the choice flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. ³⁰Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, ³¹and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of making the flat cakes. ³²Also some of their kindred of the Kohathites had charge of the rows of bread, to prepare them for each sabbath.

³³Now these are the singers, the heads of ancestral houses of the Levites, living in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. ³⁴These were heads of ancestral houses of the Levites, according to their generations; these leaders lived in Jerusalem.

³⁵In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah. ³⁶His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth; ³⁸and Mikloth became the father of Shimeam; and these also lived opposite their kindred in Jerusalem, with their kindred. ³⁹Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh‐baal; ⁴⁰and the son of Jonathan was Merib‐baal; and Merib‐baal became the father of Micah. ⁴¹The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz;^{a 42}and Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza. ⁴³Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. ⁴⁴Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

¹⁰ Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. ²The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, sons of Saul. ³The battle pressed hard on Saul; and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. ⁴Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and make sport of me.” But his armor‐bearer was unwilling, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵When his armor‐bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. ⁶Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. ⁷When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army^b had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them.

⁸The next day when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. ¹¹But when all Jabesh‐gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹²all the valiant warriors got up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

¹³So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance, ¹⁴and did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord^a put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

¹¹ Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “See, we are your bone and flesh. ²For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel.” ³So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

⁴David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. ⁵The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, now the city of David. ⁶David had said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. ⁷David resided in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. ⁸He built the city all around, from the Millo in complete circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. ⁹And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.

¹⁰Now these are the chiefs of David’s warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. ¹¹This is an account of David’s mighty warriors: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni,^b was chief of the Three;^c he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

¹²And next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite. ¹³He was with David at Pas‐dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley. Now the people had fled from the Philistines, ¹⁴but he and David took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory.

¹⁵Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, while the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. ¹⁷David said longingly, “O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” ¹⁸Then the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, ¹⁹and said, “My God forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.

The kingdom of David according to 1 Chronicles.

²⁰Now Abishai,^a the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty.^b With his spear he fought against three hundred and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. ²¹He was the most renowned^c of the Thirty,^b and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three.

²²Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man^d of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of ^e Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. ²³And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²⁴Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name beside the three warriors. ²⁵He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁶The warriors of the armies were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, ²⁷Shammoth of Harod,^f Helez the Pelonite, ²⁸Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, ²⁹Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, ³⁰Maharai of Netophah, Heled son of Baanah of Netophah, ³¹Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah of Pirathon, ³²Hurai of the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, ³³Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba of Shaalbon, ³⁴Hashem^g the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, ³⁵Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, ³⁶Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, ³⁷Hezro of Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai, ³⁸Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, ³⁹Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor‐bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, ⁴⁰Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, ⁴¹Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, ⁴²Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, ⁴³Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, ⁴⁴Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite, ⁴⁵Jediael son of Shimri, and his brother Joha the Tizite, ⁴⁶Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, ⁴⁷Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

¹² The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war. ²They were archers, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right hand or the left; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kindred. ³The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, ⁴Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah,^a Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, ⁵Eluzai,^b Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; ⁶Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; ⁷and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains: ⁹Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, ¹⁰Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, ¹¹Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, ¹²Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, ¹³Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. ¹⁴These Gadites were officers of the army, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. ¹⁵These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

¹⁶Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment.” ¹⁸Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David;

 and with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

 and peace to the one who helps you!

 For your God is the one who helps you.”

Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.

¹⁹Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”) ²⁰As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. ²¹They helped David against the band of raiders,^c for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. ²²Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

²³These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord. ²⁴The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops. ²⁵Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred. ²⁶Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. ²⁷Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. ²⁸Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty‐two commanders from his own ancestral house. ²⁹Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul. ³⁰Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses. ³¹Of the half‐tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. ³²Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command. ³³Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David^a with singleness of purpose. ³⁴Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty‐seven thousand armed with shield and spear. ³⁵Of the Danites, twenty‐eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle. ³⁶Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. ³⁷Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half‐tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war.

³⁸All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. ³⁹They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them. ⁴⁰And also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and. Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

¹³ David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. ²David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us. ³Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul.” ⁴The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people.

⁵So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo‐hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath‐jearim. ⁶And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath‐jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his^b name. ⁷They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio^c were driving the cart. ⁸David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

⁹When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it. ¹⁰The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. ¹¹David was angry because the Lord had burst out against Uzzah; so that place is called Perez‐uzzah^a to this day. ¹²David was afraid of God that day; he said, “How can I bring the ark of God into my care?” ¹³So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed‐edom the Gittite. ¹⁴The ark of God remained with the household of Obed‐edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed‐edom and all that he had.

¹⁴ King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, and masons and carpenters to build a house for him. ²David then perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

³David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁴These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon, ⁵Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet; ⁶Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia; ⁷Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

⁸When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. ⁹Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁰David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” The Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” ¹¹So he went up to Baal‐perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has burst out^b against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal‐perazim.^{c 12}They abandoned their gods there, and at David’s command they were burned.

¹³Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley. ¹⁴When David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come on them opposite the balsam trees. ¹⁵When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” ¹⁶David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. ¹⁷The fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.

¹⁵ David^a built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. ²Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. ³David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. ⁴Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: ⁵of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; ⁶of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; ⁷of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; ⁸of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred; ⁹of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred; ¹⁰of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.

¹¹David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. ¹²He said to them, “You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. ¹³Because you did not carry it the first time,^b the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care.” ¹⁴So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁵And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

¹⁶David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. ¹⁷So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obededom and Jeiel. ¹⁹The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals; ²⁰Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; ²¹but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed‐edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. ²²Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. ²³Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. ²⁴Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed‐edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

²⁵So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed‐edom with rejoicing. ²⁶And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. ²⁷David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. ²⁸So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

²⁹As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart.

¹⁶ They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well‐being before God. ²When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well‐being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord; ³and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,^a and a cake of raisins.

⁴He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁵Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed‐edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, ⁶and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

⁷Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.

⁸O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,

 make known his deeds among the peoples.

⁹Sing to him, sing praises to him,

 tell of all his wonderful works.

¹⁰Glory in his holy name;

 let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

¹¹Seek the Lord and his strength,

 seek his presence continually.

¹²Remember the wonderful works he has done,

 his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

¹³O offspring of his servant Israel,^a

 children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

¹⁴He is the Lord our God;

 his judgments are in all the earth.

¹⁵Remember his covenant forever,

 the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

¹⁶the covenant that he made with Abraham,

 his sworn promise to Isaac,

¹⁷which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

 to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

¹⁸saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan

 as your portion for an inheritance.”

¹⁹When they were few in number,

 of little account, and strangers in the land,^b

²⁰wandering from nation to nation,

 from one kingdom to another people,

²¹he allowed no one to oppress them;

 he rebuked kings on their account,

²²saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;

 do my prophets no harm.”

²³Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

 Tell of his salvation from day to day.

²⁴Declare his glory among the nations,

 his marvelous works among all the peoples.

²⁵For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be revered above all gods.

²⁶For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

 but the Lord made the heavens.

²⁷Honor and majesty are before him;

 strength and joy are in his place.

²⁸Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

 ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

²⁹Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

 bring an offering, and come before him.

Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

 ³⁰tremble before him, all the earth.

 The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

³¹Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,

 and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is king!”

³²Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

 let the field exult, and everything in it.

³³Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy

 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

³⁴O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

 for his steadfast love endures forever.

³⁵Say also:

“Save us, O God of our salvation,

 and gather and rescue us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name,

 and glory in your praise.

³⁶Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

 from everlasting to everlasting.”

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

³⁷David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, ³⁸and also Obed‐edom and his^c sixty‐eight kinsfolk; while Obed‐edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. ³⁹And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, ⁴⁰to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. ⁴¹With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever. ⁴²Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

⁴³Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.

¹⁷ Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, “I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” ²Nathan said to David, “Do all that you have in mind, for God is with you.”

³But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: ⁴Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: You shall not build me a house to live in. ⁵For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle.^{a 6}Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? ⁷Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; ⁸and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ⁹I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall wear them down no more, as they did formerly, ¹⁰from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies.

Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. ¹¹When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹²He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, ¹⁴but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever. ¹⁵In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

¹⁶Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? ¹⁷And even this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank,^a O Lord God! ¹⁸And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. ¹⁹For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things. ²⁰There is no one like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. ²¹Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and terrible things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? ²²And you made your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God.

²³“And now, O Lord, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as you have promised. ²⁴Thus your name will be established and magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God’; and the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. ²⁵For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you. ²⁶And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; ²⁷therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord, have blessed and are blessed^b forever.”

¹⁸ Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; he took Gath and its villages from the Philistines.

²He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.

³David also struck down King Hadadezer of Zobah, toward Hamath,^a as he went to set up a monument at the river Euphrates. ⁴David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred of them. ⁵When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty‐two thousand Arameans. ⁶Then David put garrisons^c in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became subject to David, and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. ⁷David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a vast quantity of bronze; with it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.

⁹When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, ¹⁰he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. He sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze; ¹¹these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹²Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ¹³He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became subject to David. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁴So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and equity to all his people. ¹⁵Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁶Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; ¹⁷Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.

¹⁹ Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him. ²David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him, ³the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” ⁴So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away; ⁵and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

⁶When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and cavalry from Mesopotamia, from Aram‐maacah and from Zobah. ⁷They hired thirty‐two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. ⁸When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the warriors. ⁹The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

¹⁰When Joab saw that the line of battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans; ¹¹the rest of his troops he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. ¹²He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. ¹³Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” ¹⁴So Joab and the troops who were with him advanced toward the Arameans for battle; and they fled before him. ¹⁵When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. ¹⁷When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, came to them, and drew up his forces against them. When David set the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him. ¹⁸The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers, and also killed Shophach the commander of their army. ¹⁹When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.

²⁰ In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army, ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah, and overthrew it. ²David took the crown of Milcom^a from his head; he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David’s head. He also brought out the booty of the city, a very great amount. ³He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work^b with saws and iron picks and axes.^c Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

⁴After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants; and the Philistines were subdued. ⁵Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. ⁶Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great size, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty‐four in number; he also was descended from the giants. ⁷When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him. ⁸These were descended from the giants in Gath; they fell by the hand of David and his servants.

²¹ Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel. ²So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beer‐sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.” ³But Joab said, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundredfold! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” ⁴But the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem. ⁵Joab gave the total count of the people to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and in Judah four hundred seventy thousand who drew the sword. ⁶But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.

⁷But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. ⁸David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.” ⁹The Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, ¹⁰“Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Three things I offer you; choose one of them, so that I may do it to you.’” ¹¹So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Take your choice: ¹²either three years of famine; or three months of devastation by your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to the one who sent me.” ¹³Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands.”

¹⁴So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand persons fell in Israel. ¹⁵And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but when he was about to destroy it, the Lord took note and relented concerning the calamity; he said to the destroying angel, “Enough! Stay your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁶David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. ¹⁷And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the command to count the people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father’s house; but do not let your people be plagued!”

¹⁸Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David that he should go up and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁹So David went up following Gad’s instructions, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. ²⁰Ornan turned and saw the angel; and while his four sons who were with him hid themselves, Ornan continued to thresh wheat. ²¹As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went out from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground. ²²David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—so that the plague may be averted from the people.” ²³Then Ornan said to David, “Take it; and let my lord the king do what seems good to him; see, I present the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. I give it all.” ²⁴But King David said to Ornan, “No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” ²⁵So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site. ²⁶David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and offerings of well‐being. He called upon the Lord, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. ²⁷Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

²⁸At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there. ²⁹For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon; ³⁰but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

²²¹Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”

²David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. ³David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, ⁴and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. ⁵For David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.

⁶Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁷David said to Solomon, “My son, I had planned to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. ⁸But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood in my sight on the earth. ⁹See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon,^a and I will give peace^b and quiet to Israel in his days. ¹⁰He shall build a house for my name. He shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’ ¹¹Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. ¹²Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed. ¹⁴With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add more. ¹⁵You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working ¹⁶gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”

¹⁷David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, ¹⁸“Is not the Lord your God with you? Has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. ¹⁹Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord.”

²³ When David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

²David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. ³The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were counted, and the total was thirty‐eight thousand. ⁴“Twenty‐four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the Lord, six thousand shall be officers and judges, ⁵four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand shall offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise.” ⁶And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon,^a Kohath, and Merari. ⁷The sons of Gershon^b were Ladan and Shimei. ⁸The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three. ⁹The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of families of Ladan. ¹⁰And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei. ¹¹Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were enrolled as a single family.

¹²The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. ¹³The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, so that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the Lord, and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever; ¹⁴but as for Moses the man of God, his sons were to be reckoned among the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief. ¹⁷The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief; Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. ¹⁸The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief. ¹⁹The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth. ²⁰The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.

²¹The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. ²²Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kindred, the sons of Kish, married them. ²³The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.

²⁴These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses, the heads of families as they were enrolled according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. ²⁵For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he resides in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service”— ²⁷for according to the last words of David these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and upward— ²⁸“but their duty shall be to assist the descendants of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God; ²⁹to assist also with the rows of bread, the choice flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. ³⁰And they shall stand every morning, thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, ³¹and whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. ³²Thus they shall keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and shall attend the descendants of Aaron, their kindred, for the service of the house of the Lord.”

²⁴ The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ²But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. ³Along with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. ⁴Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of ancestral houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar. ⁵They organized them by lot, all alike, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. ⁶The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king, and the officers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites; one ancestral house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.

⁷The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, ⁸the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, ⁹the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, ¹⁰the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, ¹¹the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah, ¹²the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, ¹³the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, ¹⁴the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer, ¹⁵the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez, ¹⁶the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel, ¹⁷the twenty‐first to Jachin, the twenty‐second to Gamul, ¹⁸the twenty‐third to Delaiah, the twenty‐fourth to Maaziah. ¹⁹These had as their appointed duty in their service to enter the house of the Lord according to the procedure established for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded him.

²⁰And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah. ²¹Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief. ²²Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath. ²³The sons of Hebron:^a Jeriah the chief,^b Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth. ²⁴The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir. ²⁵The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah. ²⁶The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.^{c 27}The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno,^c Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. ²⁸Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons. ²⁹Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel. ³⁰The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their ancestral houses. ³¹These also cast lots corresponding to their kindred, the descendants of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites, the chief as well as the youngest brother.

²⁵ David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: ²Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. ³Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,^d Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. ⁴Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti‐ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him; for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶They were all under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. ⁷They and their kindred, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of whom were skillful, numbered two hundred eighty‐eight. ⁸And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

⁹The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve; ¹⁰the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹¹the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹²the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹³the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁴the seventh to Jesarelah,^a his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁵the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁶the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁷the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁸the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ¹⁹the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁰to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²¹to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²²to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²³to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁴to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁵to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁶to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁷to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁸to the twenty‐first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ²⁹to the twenty‐second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ³⁰to the twenty‐third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve; ³¹to the twenty‐fourth, to Romamti‐ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.

²⁶ As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. ²Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, ³Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. ⁴Obed‐edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, ⁵Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him. ⁶Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who exercised authority in their ancestral houses, for they were men of great ability. ⁷The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸All these, sons of Obed‐edom with their sons and brothers, were able men qualified for the service; sixty‐two of Obed‐edom. ⁹Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen. ¹⁰Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief), ¹¹Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah totaled thirteen.

¹²These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had duties, just as their kindred did, ministering in the house of the Lord; ¹³and they cast lots by ancestral houses, small and great alike, for their gates. ¹⁴The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and his lot came out for the north. ¹⁵Obed‐edom’s came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the storehouse. ¹⁶For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road. Guard corresponded to guard. ¹⁷On the east there were six Levites each day,^a on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse; ¹⁸and for the colonnade^b on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade.^b19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.

²⁰And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. ²¹The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.^c

²²The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. ²³Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: ²⁴Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries. ²⁵His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. ²⁶This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that King David, and the heads of families, and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. ²⁷From booty won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the Lord. ²⁸Also all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated—all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth^d and his brothers.

²⁹Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to outside duties for Israel, as officers and judges. ³⁰Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of ability, had the oversight of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. ³¹Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites. (In the fortieth year of David’s reign search was made, of whatever genealogy or family, and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.) ³²King David appointed him and his brothers, two thousand seven hundred men of ability, heads of families, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half‐tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

²⁷ This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering twenty‐four thousand:

²Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ³He was a descendant of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. ⁴Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; Mikloth was the chief officer of his division. In his division were twenty‐four thousand. ⁵The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada, as chief; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ⁶This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty; his son Ammizabad was in charge of his d ivision.^{a 7}Asahel brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ⁸The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, the Izrahite; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ⁹Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹⁰Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹¹Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹²Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹³Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹⁴Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty‐four thousand. ¹⁵Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twentyfour thousand.

¹⁶Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah; ¹⁷for Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael; ¹⁹for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; ²⁰for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah; for the half‐tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; ²¹for the half‐tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; ²²for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. ²³David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. ²⁴Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but did not finish; yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered into the account of the Annals of King David.

²⁵Over the king’s treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers, was Jonathan son of Uzziah. ²⁶Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil, was Ezri son of Chelub. ²⁷Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. ²⁸Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal‐hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash. ²⁹Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai. ³⁰Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. ³¹All these were stewards of King David’s property.

³²Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe; Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. ³³Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. ³⁴After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.

²⁸ David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of the thousands, the commanders of the hundreds, the stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty warriors, and all the warriors. ²Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had planned to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for building. ³But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ ⁴Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my ancestral house to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took delight in making me king over all Israel. ⁵And of all my sons, for the Lord has given me many, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. ⁷I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.’ ⁸Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and search out all the commandments of the Lord your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

⁹“And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever. ¹⁰Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong, and act.”

¹¹Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat;^{a 12}and the plan of all that he had in mind: for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; ¹³for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, ¹⁴the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, ¹⁵the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each in the service, ¹⁶the weight of gold for each table for the rows of bread, the silver for the silver tables, ¹⁷and pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; ¹⁸for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

¹⁹“All this, in writing at the Lord’s direction, he made clear to me—the plan of all the works.”

²⁰David said further to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. ²¹Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every volunteer who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

²⁹ King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple^a will not be for mortals but for the Lord God. ²So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones, and marble in abundance. ³Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: ⁴three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, ⁵and for all the work to be done by artisans, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?”

⁶Then the leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. ⁷They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. ⁸Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly.

¹⁰Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly; David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. ¹¹Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. ¹²Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. ¹³And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. ¹⁵For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. ¹⁶O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. ¹⁷I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. ¹⁸O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. ¹⁹Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple^a for which I have made provision.”

²⁰Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Lord and the king. ²¹On the next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their libations, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel; ²²and they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy.

They made David’s son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord’s prince, and Zadok as priest. ²³Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord, succeeding his father David as king; he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. ²⁴All the leaders and the mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

²⁶Thus David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. ²⁷The period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty‐three years in Jerusalem. ²⁸He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and his son Solomon succeeded him. ²⁹Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of the seer Samuel, and in the records of the prophet Nathan, and in the records of the seer Gad, ³⁰with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the events that befell him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth.

1.1–2.2: From the first person to Israel: a universal genealogy. Drawing upon numerous lineages in Genesis, the author traces the development of and interrelationships among a variety of nations, ending with Israel— the focal point of his interest. 1–4: The ten names represent ten generations, beginning with Adam and ending with Noah. The Chronicler’s tally is a marvel of condensation, having been culled from the much longer and more detailed narrative lineage of Adam in Gen 5.1–32. 4: Each of Noah’s three sons can be associated with a relatively large geographic area: Shem (peoples to the east of ancient Israel); Ham (peoples to the south and southwest); Japheth (peoples to the north and west). Although most modern scholars believe that Canaan was ethnically and linguistically Semitic, and thus should be descended from Shem, in the Bible Canaan is descended from Ham, perhaps reflecting Canaan’s long political relationship to Egypt.

1.5–23: Descendants of Noah. These verses are largely drawn from Gen 10.1–29, the “Table of Nations,” which enumerates some seventy descendants of Noah’s sons, symbolizing seventy peoples of the world. This creates both a genealogical tree and map by which all the world’s nations are related to each other through a common ancestor, Noah. See map on p. 23. 5–7: The sons of Japheth represent Anatolia (modern Turkey—e.g., Togarmah, Tubal, Meshech), including Greek settlements (Javan) and islands in the Mediterranean Sea, such as Elishah (Cyprus), Kittim (Caphtor and other isles), and Rodanim (Rhodes). 5: Ham’s children represent peoples and areas in the Egyptian political sphere: Cush to the south of Egypt (Sudan or Ethiopia), Egypt, Put to the west (Libya), and Canaan to the north. 11–16: These lists of Egypt’s and Canaan’s descendants closely follow Gen 10.13–18. 12: Philistines, see Jer 47.4; Am 9.7. 13–15: The sons of Canaan inhabit Sidon (the Phoenician coast) and include the traditional inhabitants of the land of Canaan (Heth [the Hittites] and those in v. 14), and those of coastal (Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites) and inland (Hamathites) Syria. 17: Located in ancient Iran and Mesopotamia (Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad ), Asia Minor (Lud and Meshech), Syria (Aram); others cannot be identified. 17–18: Although in v. 8 Canaan is descended from Ham, Eber, after whom the Hebrews (gentilic “ʿibri”) are named, is a descendant of Shem, indicating Israelite feelings of kinship to the Semitic peoples of the east. 19: The earth was divided, the Hebrew puns on Peleg’s name, which is derived from a verb meaning “to divide, split.” 20: Joktan’s descendants inhabit the Arabian peninsula.

1.24–27: Shem’s genealogy is extracted from Gen 11.10–26. 27: Abram, this begins the second major unit in the Chronicler’s universal genealogy; the first was dominated by the descendants of Noah (1 Chr 1.4b–23). 28: For Isaac and Ishmael, the Chronicler fashions a very brief genealogy from narrative materials in Genesis (16.11; 17.18–19; 25.9); their mothers, Sarah and Hagar, are not mentioned. Ishmael is associated with the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula and northwestern Arabia (Gen 16.10–12; 17.20; 21.13), as are the descendants of Keturah (vv. 32–33). 29–31: Drawn from the Ishmaelite genealogy in Gen 25.12–18. 32–33: In the source text (Gen 25.1–13), Keturah appears as Abraham’s third wife, taken sometime after the death of Sarah (Gen 25.1–3). The Chronicler’s reference to her as a secondary wife (NRSV concubine) may be based on his reading of Gen 25.1–2 in light of Gen 25.5–6; it also clarifies that the primary line of Abraham of interest to the author continues via Isaac. 34–37: The genealogy of Abraham draws upon Gen 25.19–26 and Gen 36.2–14. The Chronicler always refers to Jacob as Israel (see Gen 32.22–32), signaling an unbreakable bond between the patriarch’s many descendants and the eponymous ancestor himself. 34: Esau, as befitting Israel’s closest relative, receives a significant allocation of coverage. 38–42: The sons of Seir, abridged and adapted from Gen 36.20–28. 43–54: The lists of Edomite monarchs (1.43–51a) and Edomite chieftains (1.51b–54) are adapted and slightly abridged from Gen 36.31–39 and Gen 36.40–43, respectively. The Chronicler presents the history of Edom, Israel’s neighbor to the southeast, in capsule form up to the time of the inception of the Israelite monarchy, the beginning of his own narrative history (ch 10). 2.1–2: This list of Israel’s descendants is the natural continuation of the progeny of Abraham (1.28–33) and Isaac (1.34–37) and serves as the introduction to the lineages of Israel’s many sons, which follows in 2.3–9.1. The order of the sons is largely arranged according to mother—Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun); Rachel (Joseph, Benjamin); Bilhah (Dan, Naphtali); and Zilpah (Gad, Asher).

2.3–4.23: The descendants of Judah. The Chronicler first offers a long genealogy of Judah, demonstrating Judah’s centrality; beginning with Judah is especially striking because Reuben is mentioned first in 2.1. 2.4: Daughter‐in‐law, an allusion to the sexual relationship between Judah and Tamar (Gen 38.12–26). Having earlier referred to the Canaanite status of Bath‐shua (v. 3; cf. Gen 38.1–5), the Chronicler presents another unusual feature of Judah’s lineage, which did not disqualify it from preeminence. 6–8: Drawn from two sources: Josh 7.1 (2.6a,7) and 1 Kings 4.31 (2.6b). 7: Achar, called Achan in Josh 7, but cf. Josh 7.24–26. 10: Amminadab, as the father of Nahshon, see Num 2.3. 11: Taken from Ruth 4.20–21. 13–17: The lineages of Jesse’s sons and daughters have been drawn, in part, from 1 Sam 16.1–23; 17.1–51; 2 Sam 2.18. 18–20: The descendants of Caleb are a major interest of the Chronicler, taking up a sizable portion of Judah’s lineages (2.18–20,42–50a,50b–55; 4.1–7). This may be because the Chronicler is correcting a tradition reflected in some earlier sources that suggest that he was a Kenizzite (e.g., Num 32.12), and thus not part of Israel. 21: Machir is sometimes associated with Manasseh, most often as Manasseh’s son (Gen 50.23; Num 32.39–40; Deut 3.14–15; cf. Judg 5.14). The connection with Manasseh is affirmed in 7.14–17. 22–23: The subject shifts back to Hezron, last mentioned in v. 9. 22: Jair is a son of Manasseh in Num 32.41 and Deut 3.14, but he appears here as the grandson of Hezron. 24: Father of Tekoa, Tekoa in earlier books is the name of a Judean city, but in genealogies, ethnic and geographic dimensions of names can overlap. 25–41: Both the genealogy of Jerahmeel (vv. 25–33), the firstborn of Hezron (vv. 9,25) and the genealogy of Sheshan (vv. 34–41) are unique to Chronicles. 42–50: The second of the genealogies for Caleb’s descendants (see vv. 18–20n.). Many of the names listed also occur in the Judahite town list of Josh 15. 50b–55: Largely without parallel, this genealogy reverts to the line of Hur (v. 19). Each of Hur’s three sons is depicted as a founder (father) of a town. The Kenites (Num 24.20–22; Judg 4.11,17–21; 5.24–27; 1 Sam 15.6; 30.29), who ultimately descend from their eponymous ancestor, Cain (Gen 4.1–25), are here included as part of the tribe of Judah.

3.1–24: The descendants of David. 1–9: Some names of David’s sons, and their order, are different in the MT of 2 Samuel. 1–3: These verses are based on 2 Sam 3.2–4. David’s lineage follows naturally 2.9–17, which enumerates the descendants of Ram, including David and the children of David’s two sisters Zeruiah and Abigail. 4: This verse draws upon and reworks 2 Sam 5.5. Consistent with David’s rule over all Israel in chs 11–29, the writer omits the distinction between Israel and Judah found in his source. 5–9: These verses are largely dependent upon 2 Sam 5.13–16. 10–14: A fifteen‐generation genealogy from Solomon to Josiah, noting only the Davidic king in each generation. 15–18: A largely unparalleled genealogy from Josiah to Pedaiah. The second half 3ch 3 gives special attention to Josiah and his various offspring. 18: Shenazzar, some identify him with Sheshbazzar of Ezra 1.8, who led a group of early returnees from exile. 19–24: The list of Davidic descendants from Pedaiah to the sons of Elioenai is unique to the Chronicler and likely reflects aspirations for a renewed Davidic monarchy in the postexilic period. 19: Zerubbabel was a leader of the postexilic Judean community in the late sixth century bce; see, e.g., Ezra 3.2; Hag 1.1. 22: Hattush returned from exile in Babylon (Ezra 8.2).

4.1–23: Descendants of Judah. In contrast to the largely linear genealogy of David (ch 3), this chapter describes several unconnected branches of Judeans. It also narrates several short anecdotes about individual Judeans (e.g., vv. 9–10,23). As in other genealogies, names of individuals here occur as place names elsewhere (see 2.24n.). 1: The sequence Perez … Shobal signifies a line of descent; these persons are not brothers. 4b–7: Return to the genealogy of Caleb; see 2.18–20n. 9–10: There is a wordplay in Hebrew: “yaʿbets” (Jabez), “ʿotseb” (pain), and “ʿotsbi” (harm). 21: In referring to Shelah, the text returns to the original sons of Judah (2.3–4). 22: Married into Moab, the Chronicler again posits some close links between Judah and its neighbors (1 Chr 2.3–5, 34–41; 3.1–2; 4.18). Possible links may be hinted at in Ezra 2.6; 8.4; 10.30. Intermarri age with Moabites in the postexilic period is also attested (Ezra 9.1; Neh 13.23; Ruth), but in contrast to Chronicles, in Ezra and Nehemiah such marriages are banned.

4.24–43: The descendants of Simeon. Here too, the Chronicler punctuates his genealogical prologue with anecdotes about geography, migrations, and wars (vv. 27–33,38–43). The genealogy of Simeon immediately follows that of its neighbor, Judah. 24–27: The lineage of Simeon is traced through his son Shaul. The names listed in v. 24 (Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul) are derived from Gen 46.10; Ex 6.15; and esp. Num 26.12–14. The rest of the genealogy (vv. 26–27) is unique to the Chronicler. 28–33: Taken, with some changes, from Josh 19.2–8. 33–43: A list of Simeonite leaders (v. 38) is followed by a description of the expansion of the tribe demographically and geographically. The ruthlessness displayed by the Simeonites recalls the intemperate behavior of their eponymous ancestor (Gen 34.25–29; 49.5–7). 41: Hezekiah, see 2 Chr 29–32.

5.1–10: The descendants of Reuben. Reuben was firstborn (Gen 29.31–30.21; 35.23–26; 46.8–9; Ex 1.2; 6.14; Num 26.5; Ezek 48.31–35), but he does not appear first in the Chronicler’s genealogies, having been displaced by Judah. 1: Joseph, firstborn of Rachel, rather than Reuben, firstborn of Leah, attained the birthright because Reuben had sexual relations with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah (Gen 35.22; 49.4). 2: A ruler came from him, the writer alludes to David’s kingship, which eventually encompassed all twelve tribes (28.4; 1 Sam 13.14; 25.30; Mic 5.2). 3: The Chronicler derives this list from Num 26.5–6. Carmi is one of the Reubenite clans with possible ties to Judah (Gen 46.9; Ex 6.14; Num 26.6; Josh 7.1,18,24,26; 1 Chr 2.7; 4.1). 6: In contrast to Kings, which largely loses its concentration upon individual tribes in its coverage of the dual monarchies, the Chronicler maintains a continuous interest in the fate of individual tribes, because each group within Israel is an integral part of a greater whole. Tilgath‐pilneser, the Chronicler’s spelling (5.26; 2 Chr 28.20) of Tiglath‐pileser (III), King of Assyria (745–727 bce); cf. 2 Kings 15.29. 9: In this case, Gilead refers to the territory east of the Jordan, which is south of the Jabbok and north of the Arnon. There is some overlap with Gad’s territorial holdings in Josh 13. 10: The days of Saul, who was the first king of Israel, according to biblical tradition, in the late eleventh century bce.

5.11–17: The descendants of Gad. Like the Reubenites, the Gadites were located east of the Jordan River. 16: pasture land, better the belt of land or open space outside a town or a sanctuary. Sharon refers here not to the (coastal) Sharon plain, the common designation of Sharon in the Bible, but to the town of Sharon in Transjordan, also mentioned in the Moabite Mesha inscription (line 13). 17: King Jotham of Judah (759–743 bce) and King Jeroboam (II) of Israel (788–747 bce).

5.18–22: The wars of the Transjordan tribes. In some traditions (Num 32.1–42; Deut 3.12–16; 29.6–7; Josh 13.8–31) and once elsewhere in Chronicles (1 Chr 12.38), Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh are treated as a single entity. They join forces, share a common muster, partake in the spoils gained by fighting a collective enemy, and experience a common fate (vv. 22,25–26). The number forty‐four thousand seven hundred sixty (v. 18) is notable for its specificity, not for its magnitude. Assigning huge, normally well‐rounded, numbers to armies is one means by which the Chronicler creates a heroic legacy for what to him is Israel’s classical past.

5.23–24: The descendants of Half‐Manasseh. This part of the tribe of Manasseh was located east of the Jordan River, to the north of Gad.

5.25–26: The exile of the Transjordanian tribes. The campaigns of 733–732 bce by Tilgath‐pilneser III (also known as Pul), were primarily directed against King Rezin of Damascus, but also resulted in the capture of nearby Gilead and Galilee (2 Kings 15.29). The list of sites in v. 26 is borrowed, however, from 2 Kings 17.6 (parallel 2 Kings 18.11), which details the destinations of the later northern Israelite deportees in the Assyrian exile of 722 bce.

6.1–81: The descendants of Levi take center stage in the genealogies of Chronicles. For the Chronicler, the Levites are second in importance only to the Judeans, so their genealogy is especially long and detailed. As with other tribes, attention is paid to issues of identity and location: who the Levites are (vv. 1–53) and where they live (vv. 54–81). 1–15: A priestly line is traced from Levi in the ancestral period (cf. Gen 46.11; Ex 6.16–25; Num 3.17–20) all the way to Jehozadak (v. 15), who was taken to Babylon in the exile of 586 bce (2 Kings 25.18–21; 1 Chr 5.41). 8: Scholars debate the origin of David’s main priest Zadok, with some suggesting that he was originally Canaanite; this genealogy in Chronicles is the first source to explicitly connect him to the line of Aaron and Levi. Twelve generations of priests precede Zadok and twelve generations of priests succeed him, hence the era of Zadok, which coincides with the construction of the Temple, marks the halfway point between the ancestral era and the exile. 10: Azariah, cf. 1 Kings 4.2. 14: Seraiah, see 2 Kings 25.18. 16–48: Lineages for three major groups within the Levites—the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites (vv. 16–30)—preface lineages of levitical singers from the same three groups (vv. 31–48). Levitical choirs are an intrinsic component of the Chronicler’s system of worship, appearing some thirty times in his history. The genealogies thus are not simply antiquarian, but justify the institutions of postexilic Judah. 22: Korah, one of the descendants of Kohath (v. 16), is the eponymous ancestor of a guild of levitical musicians, the Korahites, who figure prominently in several Psalm superscriptions (Ps 42–49, 84–85, 87–88). 28: Samuel, cf. 1 Sam 1.1; 8.2. 31–32: Referring back to the three levitical clans, the writer summarizes the duties of the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites adopted during the United Monarchy of David and Solomon, the time in which the Temple was built. Three specific descendants—Asaph from Gershon (vv. 39–43), Heman from Kohath (vv. 33–38), and Ethan from Merari (vv. 44–47)—took on official roles in the state religion. 33: Heman, “Asaph” (v. 39), and “Ethan” (v. 42) represent three classes or guilds of singers. Because David’s reign is definitive for the levitical singers, the patronyms Asaph, Heman, and Ethan serve as organizing principles for them (2 Chr 5.12; 29.14; 35.15). The same figures appear in Psalm superscriptions: Asaph (Pss 50; 73–83), Heman (Ps 88), Ethan (Ps 89)—and are thus associated with the hymnody of ancient Israel. 44: Ethan represents the Merarites (6.18,29; 15.17), but in many other instances Jeduthun serves this role (16.41; 25.1,3,6; 2 Chr 5.12; 29.14; 35.15). 49–53: The Aaronic priests officiate within the sanctuary and make offerings (23.30–32; Ex 38–42; 30.1–10; Lev 8.1–9.24; 18.8–20; Ezek 44.13). 49: The most holy place (lit., “holy of holies”) is the exclusive responsibility of the priests (Ex 26.33–34; Num 18.1–5; Ezek 44.15–16; 2 Chr 5.11; 29.7). Other members of the tribe of Levi may serve as Temple staff, but the priests alone officiate at the inner sanctuary. To make atonement for Israel refers to the Day of Atonement ritual of Lev 16. This festival, mentioned only in Priestly sources in the Torah/Pentateuch, probably became especially significant during the time of the Chronicler. 54–81: The list of levitical towns is drawn from a shorter text than the current version of Josh 21.3–42, 55–60: The location of Aaronide settlements is limited to the traditional domains of three tribes: Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. On pasture lands, see 5.16n. 57: The creation of cities of refuge or asylum was demanded in Deuteronomic (Deut 4.41–43; 19.1–13) and Priestly law (Num 35.6–15,25–28,32). Most, if not all, of the towns designated for asylum (Josh 20.7–8) doubled as levitical settlements.

7.1–5: The descendants of Issachar. Issachar’s progeny are traced through his eldest son Tola (Gen 46.13; Num 26.23–25; Judg 5.15). As in some other genealogies (4.42–43; 5.7–10,18–22; 7.9–12,40), large numbers, growth, and military prowess are stressed.

7.6–12: The descendants of Benjamin. A genealogy of Zebulun may be missing here (Gen 46.17–27; Num 26.23–50), as another genealogy of Benjamin is found in 8.1–40. 12: Some commentators emend sons of Ir to “sons of Dan” on the supposition that this verse contains a fragment of the apparently missing genealogy of Dan (Gen 46.13; Num 26.42; Judg 5.17).

7.13: The descendants of Naphtali. As in Gen 46.23–25, Bilhah is the mother of Naphtali (where she is also the mother of Dan).

7.14–19: The descendants of Manasseh (cf. Num 26.29–34). For the progeny of Manasseh east of the Jordan, see 5.23–24. 15: On the daughters of Zelophehad, see Num 27.1–11; 36.1–12; Josh 17.3.

7.20–29: The descendants of Ephraim. Because earlier tradition (Gen 48.8–22; Deut 33.17) posits a close relationship between the two sons of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim, the Chronicler treats them sequentially and considers their settlements (vv. 28–29; cf. Josh 16–18) together. 21–24: In depicting Ephraim, his wife, and his sons living in the land, this short tale conflicts with Genesis (chs 41–50; cf. Ex 12.40) in which Ephraim is born in Egypt and never enters the land. Here too (1 Chr 2.21–22, 24, 42–43; 4.41; 5.11, 23; 6.54), the Chronicler emphasizes Israel’s long‐term connection to the land. 27: Joshua, the hero of the book of Joshua; see Josh 1.1; 24.29–30.

7.30–40: The descendants of Asher. The genealogy may be compared with Gen 46.17 and Num 26.44–47, but much of its information is unparalleled elsewhere in the Bible.

8.1–9.1: The descendants of Benjamin. Another genealogy, fuller than that in 7.6–12. Along with Judah and Levi, Benjamin receives substantial attention from the Chronicler. The great coverage these three tribes receive reflects both the author’s interests and circumstances in postexilic Judah, into which major sections of Benjamin were incorporated. The author’s great interest in Benjamin is also reflected in the lists (1 Chr 12.2–7) and narrative portions of the Chronicler’s work (2 Chr 11.1,3,12,23), which argue that Benjaminites were early supporters of David and that Benjamin was always an integral part of the kingdom of Judah. 8.33–40: The genealogy of Saul (see 10.1–14n.) is followed for eleven generations (cf. 9.39–44). 33–34: Esh‐baal and Merib‐baal are probably earlier forms of “Ishbosheth” (2 Sam 2.8) and “Mephibosheth” (2 Sam 4.4). 9.1: The reference to genealogical registrations concludes the Chronicler’s introductions to Israel’s twelve tribes, begun in 2.1–2. In the Chronicler’s theology, the exile marks an important dividing line between monarchic Israel and Judah in the Persian period, when he was writing. Unfaithfulness is a Priestly term, and its use here, as the cause for exile, reflects the significance of Priestly tradition to this author. The same term is also used in 1 Chr 10.13 (the death of Saul) and 2 Chr 36.14 (the exile of Judah).

9.2–34: The genealogies of Jerusalem families in postexilic Judah. This first section of this passage (vv. 2–18) is partially paralleled in Neh 11.3–19. By mentioning these families, officials, and their interrelationships, the author establishes links between the Israel of old (outlined in chs 2–8) and the Jerusalem community of his own time. 3: The detail of people of Ephraim and Manasseh living in Jerusalem is not found in Nehemiah, and reflects the Chronicler’s interest in all of Israel. 10–11: The list of priests should be read in light of the preexilic succession of priests found in 6.1–15. 17–34: The list of levitical gatekeepers and singers, as well as the description of their duties, is unparalleled in the list of Neh 11. The passage illustrates the Chronicler’s interest in continuity by insisting that the arrangements David (and here Samuel, v. 22) made on their behalf (chs 15–17; 26) were followed when the Jewish exiles returned from Babylon. The gatekeepers perform multiple functions: not only guard duty, but also administration and even baking. 20: Phinehas, cf. Num 25.11–13. 32: Rows of bread, cf. Lev 24.5–9. 35–44: A transition, repeating the genealogy of Saul from 8.29–38 to introduce the first king of the United Monarchy (10.1–14).

10.1–14: The demise of Saul (cf. 1 Sam 31.1–13). Of the many incidents in Saul’s career, the Chronicler presents only the last—the story of Saul’s death, assuming that the reader is generally familiar with the earlier part of the story from 1 Samuel. 13–14: The evaluation of Saul’s reign—the Chronicler’s own addition—plays on both the Heb roots “mʿl” (“to be unfaithful, disobedient”; see 9.1n.) and “drsh” (“to seek out, consult”), which are key terms in Chronicles. Saul dies because of his infidelity, even consulting a necromancer (1 Sam 28.3,7–25). Consultation with mediums to obtain contact with the dead is forbidden in legal texts (Lev 19.31; 20.6,27; Deut 18.11) and condemned in at least one prophetic text (Isa 8.18–19). This addition typifies the work of the Chronicler, who often searches his sources to find a clear theological cause for national disaster. 4–5: Uncircumcised, unlike most of their contemporaries in the Near East, the Philistines did not practice male circumcision. Fell on his sword, suicide is infrequent, but not condemned, in the Bible; see 2 Sam 17.23; 1 Kings 16.18; and, in the New Testament, Mt 27.5. 6: All his house died, an exaggeration, ignoring the continuing genealogy of Saul (cf. 8.33–40; 9.39–44). 10: Dagon, a Canaanite god of grain, adopted by the Philistines as one of their principal deities. 11–12: Jabesh‐gilead, in 1 Sam 11, Saul is acclaimed king after his rescue of this city east of the Jordan from Ammonite oppression. 14: Did not seek guidance from the Lord; in contrast see 1 Sam 28.6. Turned the kingdom over: As elsewhere in Chronicles, the choice of kings belongs to God (e.g., 28.2–5; 29.10–12).

11.1–47: The impressive beginnings of David’s reign. David does not seek out the kingship; the Israelites gathered together to make him king (v. 1). Pan‐Israelite assemblies are regular occurrences in Chronicles (13.2; 2 Chr 15.9; 20.4; 23.2; 24.5; 25.5; 32.4v 6). In this case, the consequences are clear: David immediately becomes king over all of Israel’s tribes. In 2 Samuel David first becomes king over two tribes and only after considerable struggle becomes king over the northern tribes as well (2 Sam 2–5), but this information, which casts doubt on the greatness of David, is omitted by the Chronicler. 4–9: David, leading all Israel (v. 4; cf. 2 Sam 5.6), captures Jerusalem as his first public act upon being made king. Such reorganizing of chronology typifies the Chronicler. By situating the capture of Jerusalem (abridged from 2 Sam 5.6–10) at this point in the narrative, the author underscores the primacy of Jerusalem. 6: Joab became the head of the army (see 18.15); his role in the capture of Jerusalem is not reported in 2 Sam 5 (cf. v. 8, another mention of Joab not in 2 Sam). 8: David’s building projects consisted essentially of a palace and fortifications in Jerusalem. The Chronicler attributes more building activity to David than do the authors of 2 Samuel (2 Sam 5.9,11; 7.2; 1 Chr 17.1; 2 Chr 2.2). Millo, probably “fill” for artificial terraces. 10–47: The list of the chiefs of David’s warriors largely follows an appendix to 2 Samuel (23.8–39). It is moved here, early in David’s reign, to illustrate the consolidation of David’s kingship, namely that Israel’s call to David to serve as king is followed by a visible demonstration of military support from various commanders, together with all Israel (v. 10). Little is otherwise known about these heroes. 18: He poured it out to the Lord as a libation (1 Sam 7.6; Jer 44.16–18); such water libations became especially important in the later Second Temple period, especially in connection with the festival of booths (Sukkot). 41a: Uriah, the only reference in Chronicles to the man known in 2 Sam 11–12 as the husband of Bathsheba before David. 41b–47: These verses are unparalleled in 2 Sam 23.8–39.

12.1–40: David’s national prestige and power grow. Warriors from Benjamin (vv. 1–8), Gad (vv. 9–16), Benjamin and Judah (vv. 17–19), and Manasseh (vv. 20–23) rally to David, consolidating his rule. This is set during an early stage of David’s career (v. 1), suggesting that the Benjaminites defected to David while Saul was still alive (cf. 2 Sam 2.12–32). This material has few parallels in 2 Samuel, and scholars debate whether it is based on sources or is an imaginative composition of the Chronicler. 1: Ziklag, see 1 Sam 27.6; 30. 2: Cf. Judg 20.16. 8: Like … lions, cf. Deut 33.20. 15: The first month, in the spring. 18: The spirit came upon, lit., “a spirit clothed”; this type of ad hoc prophecy typifies Chronicles (2 Chr 15.1; 20.14; 24.20; cf. Judg 6.34). The acclamation of Amasai, peace, peace to you, contrasts with the anti‐David sentiment sometimes found in 2 Samuel (e.g., 2 Sam 20.1). Because of the divine support for David, those who support David may also be blessed. The language is reminiscent of the blessing bestowed on Abram (Gen 12.3) except that there is no curse. 19–20: The battle against Saul, mentioned in ch 10. The Chronicler here summarizes 1 Sam 29.1–30.1. 22: An army (lit., “camp”) of God, either expressing the superlative (i.e., “a very great army”), or referring to the heavenly armies (e.g., see Deut 33.2; Josh 5.14). 23: In Hebron, see 11.1. 23–39a: The beginning of v. 23, these are the numbers, introduces a long stylized list (vv. 25–38) of David’s armed forces. The tribal muster, totaling thirteen, is the most complete tally of the Israelite tribes in the Bible. The active allegiance shown by Israelite military officials to David accords with divine will and results in a smooth transfer of power (10.14; 11.3,10). The heroic portrayal of intertribal solidarity (v. 38) contrasts with the tribal disorganization and civil strife found in Judges. 28: Zadok, a young warrior, probably to be identified as the priest who served with Abiathar at the court of David (6.8,53; 15.11; 2 Sam 8.17) and who subsequently enjoyed Solomon’s exclusive patronage following Solomon’s purge of Abiathar (1 Kings 2.35; cf. 29.22). 39–40: Elaborate feasts, like the one celebrated by David and representatives from the various Israelite tribes, punctuate high points in Israelite and Judean history (15.25–16.3; 29.20–22; 2 Chr 7.8–10; 20.27–28; 29.30–36; 30.21–27) and also play a crucial role in Esther, also from the Persian period. This nationwide celebration concludes the initial phase of David’s reign. 40: Cakes, clumps of dried figs.

13.1–14: David and the ark, Part 1. Having been firmly and unanimously established as king, David leads all Israel in the attempt to retrieve a national symbol of Israel’s religion and bring it to the new capital. 2: The Chronicler’s Levites live at various sites within Israel’s tribal territories (6.54–81). Because this priestly tribe is an essential component of Israel, and Israel’s most sacred symbol must be transferred properly to Jerusalem, the Chronicler adds to his source (2 Sam 6.2–11) participation of the priests and Levites, along with an emphasis on all Israel. 3: No reference is made to the capture of the ark by the Philistines (cf. 1 Sam 4.11–7.1); here its neglect is implicitly another example of Saul’s unfaithfulness (see 10.13–14). 5: From the Shihor of Egypt (probably the easternmost branch of the Nile) to Lebo‐hamath (in Syria), the idealized northern and southern limits of Israel (cf. 2 Chr 7.8). 6: The ark, a portable box, was a unifying religious symbol in the premonarchic period (Josh 3.1–17; 4.1–18; 1 Sam 4.1–7.1). According to Ex 25.10–21; 37.1–9, its construction was ordained by God and implemented by Moses. Enthroned on the cherubim, see 1 Sam 4.4n. 11: Burst out, see textual note b. 13: The city of David refers to Mount Zion, the section of Jerusalem fortified by David and renamed in his honor (11.7). Chronicles mentions two different individuals with the name Obed‐edom, both of whom were Levites: one a gatekeeper (15.18,24) and the other a musician (15.21; 16.5; 26.4–8). 14: The blessing on Obed‐edom’s house hints that the setback suffered by David is only temporary.

14.1–7: David’s success in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Sam 5.11–16). According to 1 Kings 5.15–26 (cf. 2 Chr 2.2–15), Hiram (called Huram in Chronicles, probably due to scribal error) had very good relations with David. The link between blessings for David and blessings for Israel anticipates Nathan’s dynastic oracle (17.1–17). 3: Accumulating wives and progeny is consistently a positive sign of divine blessing in Chronicles (25.5; 26.4–5; 2 Chr 11.18–23; 13.21; 14.3–7). For David’s sons, see 3.1–9.

14.8–17: Philistine attacks (cf. 2 Sam 5.17–25). If the mishandling of the ark (13.9–11) represented an internal challenge to the establishment of Jerusalem’s worship, the Philistine aggressions were an external threat to the viability of David’s rule. The two narratives detailing David’s exploits against the Philistines are replete with “holy‐war” phraseology, reflecting the notion that the Lord fights on behalf of his people and secures victory for them (Ex 14.4,18; Josh 11.2,24; Judg 3.28; 4.7,17; 18.10; 20.28; 1 Sam 14.12,23; 23.4). 12: In 2 Sam 5.21, David carries these images home. In having the images consigned to fire, the Chronicler has David act in accordance with Deuteronomic law (Deut 7.25; 12.3). 16: From Gibeon to Gezer, about 18 mi (28 km), a limited area. 17: Added to his source, the Chronicler notes that David’s international respect derives from divine blessing (2 Chr 9.5–8,23; 17.10; 26.8,15; 32.23).

15.1–16.3: David and the ark, Part 2. Having been successful in war and blessed by God, David turns his attention again to the matter of the ark. In the ancient Near East successful kings were expected to honor the deities who led them by supporting and endowing places of worship. Much of chs 15–16, which supplements material from 2 Sam 6 with original material concerning the Levites, elaborates on this very point. 15.1: The houses David builds for himself most likely refer to domiciles in addition to the palace built by Huram of Tyre (14.1). David’s construction activity establishes a positive pattern for other kings to follow (2 Chr 11.5–12; 14.6; 26.2; 32.27–30). 2: David’s command that no one but the Levites carry the ark responds to Uzzah’s unfortunate death (13.10) through the lens of the Priestly material (Num 4.4–15; 7.9), the implication being that the proper personnel had not been involved in the first attempt to bring the ark into the City of David (v. 13). The following verses detail what personnel and actions David deems necessary to install the ark successfully. 3: The reference to a place for the ark of God implies a sacred precinct or sanctuary (Deut 12.5,11; 14.23–25; 15.20; Josh 9.27; 1 Chr 21.22,25; 2 Chr 3.1). 11: The two priests Zadok and Abiathar appear together during the first part of the reign of David (15.29,35; 18.16; 19.11; 20.25). Each of these priests headed or represented major priestly houses. See further 6.8n. 13: The Chronicler plays on Hebrew roots “prts,” “to break out” (13.3,11; 14.11; 15.13) and “drsh,” “to seek.” The earlier attempt to redress neglect of the ark—“for we did not seek (drsh) it in the days of Saul” (13.3)—was brought to a swift end by the divine outbreak (burst out, Heb “prts”; 13.10–11) against Uzzah. As later events made clear (distinctively in Chronicles), the problem was not Israel’s communal decision “to seek” the ark, but the manner in which the people involved handled the arrangements. In the new attempt David insists on the intimate involvement of the priests and Levites to rectify the deficiency. 15: On their shoulders with the poles, the Chronicler asserts that the law of Moses was followed (Num 7.9). 16: Musical instruments figure prominently in the Chronicler’s ritual liturgies (16.42; 2 Chr 5.13; 7.6; 23.13; 34.12). In some texts the instruments are associated with David himself (2 Chr 29.24,26–27; Neh 12.36; cf. Am 6.5). Though David could not build the Temple (ch 17; 2 Sam 7), the Chronicler emphasizes here and elsewhere that David initiated the project, in this case by establishing the guilds of levitical Temple musicians. 18: Many of these musicians are mentioned again in vv. 20–21 and 16.5–6. 20–21: Alamoth and Sheminith are obscure musical terms found in Psalms (6.1; 12.1; 46.1). 19: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, see 6.33n. 25–28: The Chronicler rewrites 2 Sam 6.12–15 to underscore the broad support for David’s campaign to complete the transfer of the ark. The elaborate apparel worn by the Levites in Chronicles contrasts markedly with that depicted in Samuel (see Ex 28.6–14,39–43; Sir 45.8). 27: Robe of fine linen: Against the scantily clad David of 2 Sam 6.20, the fully clothed David of Chronicles wears a priestly vestment, as befitting one leading a ritual procession (Ex 28.6–14, 39–43; Sir 45:8).

15.29–16.3: Michal and all Israel. A significant abridgment of 2 Sam 6.16–23, omitting the details of how Michal mocked David. 16.3: Cake, a clump of dried raisins.

16.4–43: Staffing the national sanctuaries. With the ark successfully elevated to the place David prepared for it, David designates certain Levites and priests to officiate there. He also staffs the tabernacle at the high place in Gibeon (vv. 39–42). 7–36: The praises David instructs the Levites to sing are a medley of extracts, with some variations, from the Psalms: vv. 8–22, cf. Ps 105.1–15; vv. 23–33, cf. Ps 96; vv. 34–36, cf. Ps 106.1,47–48. By the period of the Chronicler, several forms of the book of Psalms probably already existed as liturgical collections, and possibly was already attributed to David. The combination of excerpts drawn from established psalms effectively creates a new composition, differing from any one of the psalms that served as the hymn’s sources. 37–43: David provides for both the ark in Jerusalem and the tabernacle at Gibeon. The Chronicler does not deem the Gibeon shrine to be inherently illicit because only after the construction of the long‐awaited Temple will worship outside Jerusalem be prohibited (2 Chr 1.3–6; 5.5). The sacrifices performed at Gibeon by Zadok and his priests accorded with all that is written in the law of the Lord (v. 40). Like the newly dedicated ministry of praise associated with the ark in Jerusalem, the Gibeon precinct has its own singers and musicians, authorized to praise God (v. 42). Two guilds of singers, represented by Heman and Jeduthun, serve at Gibeon, while the third guild of singers, represented by Asaph (v. 37) serves in Jerusalem. 43: Taken from 2 Sam 6.19–20, a continuation of v. 3.

17.1–15: The promises to David (cf. 2 Sam 7.1–16). Under a tent, see Ex 26.1–2,7; Num 4.21–28. 2: Nathan here is offering his personal opinion, which is corrected by God in the revelation that follows. David’s lack of suitability for this project is explained only later, in 22.7–10. 5: After the Exodus, Israel’s system of worship was mobile. The roving nature of God’s presence with Israel was consistent with the mobility of Israel itself. 8–9: The Chronicler, like the Deuteronomist (1 Kings 5.17–18), associates national stability and peace with the establishment of a permanent sanctuary in the land. In this manner, Nathan’s oracle points forward to the reign of Solomon, which according to biblical texts was an unprecedented age of peace, prosperity, and international prestige (1 Kings 4.20; 5.4; 8.66; 1 Chr 22.9,18; 2 Chr 1.7–18; 8.1–9,31). 10: In speaking of the Lord building a house for David, the text develops a wordplay on the different connotations of Heb “bayit” (“house/palace,” “temple,” “dynasty”). 13: I will be a father to him, a formula of adoption (2 Sam 7.14; Ps 2.7–8; Isa 9.6; cf. Ps 89.26). I will not take my steadfast love (Heb “ḥesed,”) from him, the oracle stresses divine loyalty to such an extent that the guarantee of succession is not predicated upon the loyalty of the sons. In fact, the second part of 2 Sam 7.14, which stresses that the individual Davidic king may be punished for wrongdoing, is lacking here, further highlighting the Chronicler’s positive vision of Davidic kingship. 14: In my kingdom forever, God manifests his kingship through the kingdom of David and his heirs (17.14; 28.5; 29.11; 2 Chr 13.8; cf. 2 Sam 7.16).

17.16–27: David’s prayer (cf. 2 Sam 7.17–29). 21: God’s incomparability and unique status are linked to Israel’s unique status. 23–24: David’s only petitions focus on the promises directed toward his dynasty (cf. vv. 8b–14).

18.1–20.8: The kingdom expanded. A new phase in David’s reign begins, one dominated by foreign military campaigns. David’s success in war is evident in all directions: to the west against the Philistines (18.1; 20.4–8), to the southeast against Edom (18.12–13), to the east against Moab (18.2) and Ammon (19.1–19; 20.1–3), and to the northeast against a variety of Aramean states (18.3–8; 19.6–19). (See map on p. 593.) In this way, David uses the fulfillment of one of Nathan’s promises—the subjugation of all his enemies—to lay the foundations for the fulfillment of another—the construction of a temple by David’s son. The juxtaposition suggests that David’s hands were bloodied by war, so he could not build the Temple, as made clear in 22.7–10. 18.1–13 (cf. 2 Sam 8.1–14). 5: The Arameans of Damascus, the defeat of one state by an invading power could upset the balance of power in the entire region, especially affecting neighboring states of the defeated kingdom. 7–11: It was customary for pious kings in the ancient world to dedicate war spoils to the temples of the deities who granted them victory. In this instance, David’s plunder, which according to 2 Sam 8.7 was merely brought to Jerusalem, is incorporated into the Temple built by Solomon (1 Kings 7.13–47; 2 Chr 3.15–4.22; Josephus, Ant. 7.106). 8: Tibhath and Cun occur only here in the Bible; their exact locations are uncertain. 9: Tou, Toi in 2 Sam 8.9. 12: In 2 Sam 8.13 this victory is attributed to David himself. 14–17 (cf. 2 Sam 8.15–18): The list of officials reflects the growth of the bureaucracy as the kingdom expanded. 16: Ahimelech probably became one of David’s priests as the replacement for his father Abiathar (15.11). 17: David honors priestly custom in which only descendants of Aaron could become priests (1 Chr 6.3–15, 49–53) by employing his sons as high‐ranking officials in his cabinet instead of as priests (2 Sam 8.18); two other kings make use of princes in managing state affairs (2 Chr 11.22–23; 21.3).

19.1–19: War against Ammon and Aram (cf. 2 Sam 10.1–19). 1: The death of a king could usher in a period of instability and uncertainty for his people. Because international arrangements were made between the leaders of nations, and not between the nations themselves, the death of a leader could signal the end of such agreements. 3: To spy out the land, to Hanun’s counselors, David’s string of victories against the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Arameans establish an imperialistic pattern that they could ignore only at their own peril. 5: The quarantine furnishes David’s aides with the requisite time to recover and regain their dignity. 6: A talent weighed ca. 75 lb (34 kg).7: Medeba, ca. 20 mi (30 km) south‐southwest of the Ammonite capital of Rabbah, is not mentioned in 2 Sam 10. 16: The Euphrates, lit., “the river.” In biblical narratives, “the river” usually designates the Euphrates (e.g., Gen 2.14; 15.18; Deut 1.7; 2 Kings 23.29; 24.7; 1 Chr 5.9), but the Jordan and the Yarmuk are also possibilities. 19: The new balance of power in the region, tilted in Israel’s favor, leaves the Ammonites isolated from their former allies. The victories of Joab and David succeed in disrupting the traditional military ties between the Ammonites and the Arameans. 20.1–3: Verse 1 is taken from 2 Sam 11.1, while vv. 2–3 are taken from 2 Sam 12.26a,30–31. In Samuel the reference to David’s staying in Jerusalem provides the background to the troubling story of David’s affair with Bathsheba. But in Chronicles, the same notice is incidental, providing an explanation of David’s whereabouts. The Chronicler omits completely the stories of David’s liaison with Bathsheba and its aftermath (2 Sam 11.2–12.25), which casts David in a negative light, though he retains the frame of that story. 2: Milcom was the national deity of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11.5,7,33; 2 Kings 23.13). Talent, see 19.6n. 4–8 (cf. 2 Sam 21.1–22): The final exploits of David and his soldiers. The stories in 2 Sam 13–20 about the rape of Tamar, Absalom’s rebellion, the execution of Saul’s descendants, and the disaffection of the northern tribes, which also cast David in a negative light, do not appear in Chronicles. 5: The text may harmonize two different claims found in Samuel: In 1 Sam 17.50 David kills the Philistine giant, identified earlier as Goliath of Gath (1 Sam 17.4), but in 2 Sam 21.19 Elhanan kills Goliath the Gittite. By having Elhanan kill the brother of Goliath the Gittite, and not Goliath himself, the Chronicler partially accommodates both claims.

21.1–22.1: David the repentant sinner (The Chronicler recasts and supplements 2 Sam 24). How David responds to adversity of his own making becomes paradigmatic for errant kings to follow (2 Chr 12.1–8; 33.1–13) The guilt of David is pronounced in Chronicles (vv. 1–7), in which Joab warns David that it is sinful to count Israel in a casual fashion (cf. Ex 31.11–16); but so are his repentance and his efforts to intercede on behalf of Israel (vv. 8–17). David is thus forewarned before he is punished, reflecting a major tendency of the Chronicler. 21.1: Satan (Heb “satan”) should be translated as “an adversary” rather than “Satan” (cf. 2 Sam 24.1; see 1 Kings 5.4; Job 1.6n.; Zech 3.1n.). Significantly, it replaces “the anger of the Lord” of 2 Sam 24.1. Having just experienced a string of impressive military victories against the Ammonites, Syrians, and Philistines (chs 18–20), David uncritically falls prey to the designs of one of his opponents. 2: From Beer‐sheba to Dan, the southern and northern limits of Israel. 5: The total is lower in 2 Sam 24.9, but the number for Judah is higher there. In both texts the figures are highly improbable. 8: Take away, better “transfer,” as in 2 Sam 12.13. In both cases, the sin of David is transferred elsewhere. 15: Ornan, called Araunah in 2 Sam 24. Jebusite, an inhabitant of Jerusalem before David’s conquest. 17: Along with the authors of Deut 7.9–10; 24.16; Jer 31.28–30; Ezek 18; 33.12–20, David argues for limiting the scope of divinely administered punishment of humans to the guilty parties themselves. 25: Six hundred shekels, ca. 15 lb (7 kg); in 2 Sam 24.24 it is “fifty shekels.” 26: The addition of a divine confirmation by fire of David’s sacrifices (cf. Lev 9.24; 1 Kings 18.36–39), legitimates David’s altar as an enduring fixture in Israelite worship. 22.1: David ratifies the divine action (21.26–27) by declaring the site to be the home of the future Temple. Here and elsewhere (2 Chr 3.1), the Chronicler shows unusual interest in offering explanations why the Temple was built on its current site. At the time the Chronicler wrote, a rival Samarian temple to the God of Israel stood upon the ancient site of Mount Gerizim. See Deut 11.29–30; 27.4, 11–13.

22.2–19: David prepares for the construction of the Temple. David wants the future Temple to be “famous and glorified throughout all lands”; palace‐temple complexes communicated the power of a god and his king to the god(s), populace, vassals, and foreign emissaries. But Solomon is “young and inexperienced,” so David undertakes the preparations himself. Of David’s many sons (see 3.1–9; 14.3–7), Solomon was one of the youngest. 2: Aliens, the Chronicler consistently insists that no Israelites were employed as laborers to build the Jerusalem Temple (2 Chr 2.17–18n.). 7–16: This learned passage, which quotes from the dynastic promise (ch 17; cf. 2 Sam 7) and other texts, explains David’s inability to build the Temple, suggesting that only Solomon (Heb “shelomoh”), understood as a man of peace (“shalom”), may build it, an issue not addressed by the books of Samuel and Kings. David, however, both here and in the following chapters, does much preparation for the project. 8: Much blood, probably referring to David’s various wars, or perhaps to the plague (1 Chr 21.11–14). 12: Law of the Lord, consistent with the emphasis on the Torah in Chronicles, David informs his divinely designated successor that his success is predicated on Torah observance. 14: One hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, the point is not realism but extravagance; a talent weighed ca. 75 lb (34 kg). David’s gifts are deliberately excessive. 17–19: Following the norms of Deut 12.8–14, only when peace is established may the Temple be built. 18: Inhabitants of the land, i.e., the Canaanites (Num 32.22,29; Josh 2.24; 18.1; 23.3–5,9–13; 24.11,18).

23.1–32: Establishing a national administration. David attains a venerable stage in his life (v. 1), “full of days,” much like Abraham (Gen 25.8), Isaac (Gen 35.29), and Job (42.17) before him. He begins preparing for his death and the reign of his son by convening his administrative leadership. This transition is smooth, in contrast to 2 Sam 15–1 Kings 2, much of which the Chronicler omits. The Chronicler will eventually return to the issue of Solomon’s accession, but his first priority is to detail David’s appointment of and instructions to “the leaders of Israel, the priests, and the Levites” (v. 2), who will help Solomon to succeed in his various tasks, especially completing the Temple. The summit of select leaders forms the background of David’s major administrative initiatives, outlined in the narratives and the lists of 23.3–27.34. In Chronicles the unity of purpose exhibited by the father‐son combination of David and Solomon proves critical to establishing the United Monarchy as a highlight of Israelite history. 5: The divisions and responsibilities of the gatekeepers are outlined in ch 26. 6: The tripartite segmentation of the Levites in vv. 6–23 follows the earlier Priestly sources (Ex 6.16–19; Num 3.17–39; cf. 1 Chr 6.1,16–47). 7–23: The planning for the Temple, and the centralized worship that it represents, leads to the establishment of a system of divisions or courses among the Levites and priests. Each division was to work its appointed turn in rotation until a round was completed and a new round was begun. Although attributed to David’s initiative, this development, unattested in preexilic texts, is known only in the Second Temple period (see also Lk 1.5). Thus, here the Chronicler is legitimating worship as he knew it (or ideally wished to know it) by attributing the system of courses to David. 13: The mandate for the sons of Aaron to make offerings before the Lord is detailed in a number of contexts (Ex 29.38–42; 30.1–10; Lev 8.1–9.24; 18.8–20). 18: Although included in the earlier genealogy (6.37), the line of Korah is not mentioned here; this is probably connected with the tradition of Korah’s rebellion narrated in Num 16. 25–32: The levitical job descriptions of earlier biblical texts (Num 1.53; 3.7–8; 8.15, 21–23; 16:9; 18:4, 6, 21) are revised in light of the move toward one permanent, stationary sanctuary. 28: The Heb means “stand at the side of,” rather than to assist the descendants of Aaron. In Chronicles the Levites and the priests have different but complementary responsibilities (see also Neh 12.45). 29: Rows of bread, cf. Lev 25.4–9; 2 Chr 13.11. 30–31: The Levites are to praise the Lord whenever burnt offerings are offered by the priests (16.4,7–38; 23.5). This contrasts with some descriptions of tabernacle worship in the Torah/Pentateuch, which depict a sanctuary of silence.

24.1–19: David’s priestly appointments. David organizes the priests into twenty‐four divisions, which cast lots for places. The priestly consolidation into twenty‐four courses is echoed in later rabbinic sources (t. Taʿanit 4.2; y. Taʿanit 4.2, 67d). 3: The sons of Eleazar, and … Ithamar represent the two major priestly families (15.11; 18.16–17; 25.1; cf. 2 Sam 8.16–18). 20–31: This list of Levites overlaps with that of 23.7–23. 31: The Levites rotate by courses just as the priests do.

25.1–31: The singers. Speaking of the singers as being “set apart” (v. 1) establishes a parallelism between David’s choice and investiture of the singers, the Levites, and the priests (cf. 23.13; Num 8.14; 16.9,21; Deut 10.8; Ezra 10.8,16). On the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, see 6.33,44n. The allusion to music and song as a kind of prophecy (vv. 1–3; 2 Kings 3.15) is striking and may be connected to the later tradition, attested in a Psalms scroll at Qumran (11QPsa) of David as a prophet who composed the psalms through divine inspiration. 1: The officers of the army, as part of David’s governmental apparatus, have a say in the establishment of courses for the singers. 8: As with the priests (24.5) and other Levites (24.31), a lottery is held to determine the twenty‐four divisions for the singers.

26.1–19: The gatekeepers. Part of David’s administrative organization involves the gatekeepers, whom the Chronicler counts as Levites (cf. Ezra 2.42,70; Neh 11.19). Sanctuary guards were active in David’s earlier reign when David transported the ark (15.18,23–24; 16.38,42; 23.5). Along with performing guard duty, the gatekeepers open the Temple in the morning; administer the use of the vessels, including the holy utensils; take charge of the flour, wine, spices, and oil (9.17–32); and perform administrative service on behalf of the king (2 Chr 31.14; 34.13). 13: Because a lottery was held to identify which family was to serve at which gate, the number of members within a particular family did not affect the process of selection, which was divinely determined. 16: Shuppim, perhaps a scribal error, repeating the previous word. Gate of Shallecheth, the name occurs only here, and may also be a scribal error.

26.20–32: Treasurers, regional officials, and judges. Israel’s leadership makes the task of Solomon easier by endowing the Temple and organizing its finances. The Levites also take on broad responsibilities, such as “oversight of Israel west of the Jordan” as officers and judges (vv. 29–30; cf. 23.3–5; 2 Chr 17.2; 19.5). 31: Fortieth year, i.e., David’s last; see 29.27. 32: The Persian‐period distinction between matters pertaining to the king and matters pertaining to God, found only in Chronicles (26.30,32; 2 Chr 19.11) and Ezra (7.26), reflects how minority communities coped with centuries of foreign rule.

27.1–24: Military leaders. The orderly organization of the military, no less than the organization of the priests and the Levites, is part of David’s legacy in Chronicles. The system established—twelve monthly relays of 24,000, each headed by a divisional leader (vv. 2–16)—reflects his standard administrative procedure (23.6–23; 24.1–19; 25.8–31; 26.1–12). 1: List, Heb “mispar” may also be translated as “census” both here and in vv. 23–24 (cf. 23.3). 2–15: Many of the names in this list are also found in 11.11–47; 2 Sam 23.8–39. 16–22: By having each of the tribes include its own “chief officer” as a participant in the national government, the Chronicler integrates traditional tribal custom into a centralized monarchic system. Contrast 1 Kings 4.1–19, which does not appear in Chronicles. See 5.6n. 23: The enumeration of twelve military divisions (288,000) leads the writer to explain why no general census of Israel is included (cf. Num 1.3,45). By counting Israelite males who were less than twenty years of age, David would be casting aspersions on the validity of one of God’s solemn promises to Abraham (Gen 22.17). 24: See ch 21.

27.25–32: Other administrators. The Davidic state is multifaceted. The king owns agricultural estates (v. 27), operates storehouses in both urban and rural areas for agricultural produce (vv. 27–28), and has an investment in, if not some control over, trade (v. 30). The king employs a variety of high officials who supervise his estates, fieldworkers, and storage facilities. The king also has advisers and officers (vv. 32–34) at his disposal. Some aspects of this complicated system may be anachronistic, but they are consistent with ancient Near Eastern royal practice, especially in the Persian period during which the emperor owned royal estates throughout the various regions of his empire. 30: The camels and donkeys (or she‐asses) are related directly not to agriculture, but to trade. Because the major trade routes of the ancient Near East passed through the region, trade was an important sector of the Israelite economy. 33: On Ahithophel and Hushai, see 2 Sam 15.12,23–37.

28.1–10: All Israel ratifies accession. Having concluded his administrative organization, David assembles a large national convocation to prepare the way for Solomon’s rule. 1: Assemblies are common in the Chronicler’s history (13.5; 15.3; 2 Chr 5.2–3; 11.1; 20.26). In this case, David convokes all of his nation’s dignitaries to Jerusalem to witness his charge to Solomon and to enlist their support for Solomon. 2: On the ark as God’s footstool, cf. Pss 99.5; 132.7. 3: See 22.6–8. 4: Chose me, in Chronicles the Levites (15.2; 2 Chr 29.11), the tribe of Judah, and more specifically David and Solomon are all elect of God. Emphasis on Solomon’s divine election contrasts sharply with 1 Kings 1–2. 6–7: Cf. 17.11–14; 22.9–10. 7: The perdurability of Davidic kingship is contingent on Solomon’s obedience (cf. 17.11; 1 Kings 3.14; 8.61; 9.4), which the duty to build the Temple exemplifies (v. 10). 8: The addressee is Israel. Much like the authors of Deuteronomy (4.23–28; 28.58–64; 30.18), the Chronicler conditions Israel’s possession of the land upon its obedience to God.

28.11–21: A plan for the Temple. Much as Moses received plans for the tabernacle (Ex 25.9), David has a divinely composed written plan for the Temple (v. 19), which he presents to Solomon. 20: The transition from David to Solomon is patterned after Moses and Joshua; note especially Be strong and of good courage (Deut 31.7; 31.23; Josh 1.6–18).

29.1–9: Endowments for the Temple. To explain his own copious preparations, David contrasts young Solomon’s youthful vulnerability with the tremendous task that lies ahead (cf. 22.5). David’s generosity sets the stage for Israel’s leadership to show similar benevolence (vv. 6–9). There are parallels with Israel’s gifts to the tabernacle (Ex 25.1–7; 35.4–9,20–29). 4: Talent, see 19.6n. Ophir, probably in southern Arabia, was famous for its gold; see Isa 13.12. On the quantities, see 22.14n. 7: The daric was a Persian coin, generally thought to be 0.3 oz (8.4 gr), minted sometime after 515 bce (cf. Ezra 8.27).

29.10–19: David’s farewell prayer. The Chronicler follows a paradigm in which final addresses are made by great leaders—Jacob (Gen 49.1–28), Moses (Deut 32.1–44,45–47; 33.1–29), Joshua (23.1–16; 24.1–28), Samuel (1 Sam 12.1–25), and David (2 Sam 23.1–7; 1 Kings 2.1–10). David’s acclamation of the Lord’s sovereignty (vv. 10–13) resonates with sentiments expressed earlier in the Psalm anthology (16.24–26) and with the prayer that he offered following Nathan’s dynastic oracle (17.16–27). From David’s point of view, all that he and the people donate to God ultimately stems from God himself (v. 14). Thus, following earlier biblical norms, these gifts serve as acknowledgments of God’s sovereignty. 15: Aliens and transients, cf. Lev 25.23.

29.20–30: David’s death and the transition to Solomon. David’s final blessing of Israel is coupled with the anointing of Solomon as his chosen successor. In contrast to Samuel and Kings, the transition is smooth and without incident. 21: Sacrifices in abundance characterize great piety; see 2 Chr 5.6; 7.5; 35.7–9. 22: Another all‐Israelite feast (see 12.39n.). A second time, whereas David earlier designated Solomon king over Israel (23.1), all of Israel’s leaders now publicly endorse Solomon’s enthronement. 24: Even all the sons of King David acclaim Solomon, a clear polemic against the account in Samuel‐Kings (2 Sam 15.1–16.14; 1 Kings 1.9–10,25–26; 2.15). 25: In royal majesty Solomon’s reign is unparalleled, even more impressive than that of David (2 Chr 9.29–31n.). 27: David’s reign is dated to ca. 1005–965 bce. 28: David’s security and longevity are marks of divine blessing (2 Chr 24.15a; Deut 4.40; 5.16; Isa 52.10; 65.17–19). Full of days, see 23.1n. 29: In the Chronicler’s time, Judeans thought of the prophets not only as great figures from Israel’s past but also authors of historical writings about that past. It is unclear if the sources mentioned in v. 29 and elsewhere are nonbiblical sources, refer to other sections of the Bible, or never existed. Some scholars believe that they are cited here as a way of justifying the Chronicler’s history, which differs in significant ways from Kings. That David’s reign is the subject of these three otherwise unknown accounts written by prophets during his reign is one more indication of the Chronicler’s desire to enhance David’s legacy.

^a Gen 10.3 Ripath; See Gk Vg

^b Gen 10.4 Dodanim; See Syr Vg

^c Heb Casluhim, from which the Philistines come, Caphtorim; See Am 9.7, Jer 47.4

^d Mash in Gen 10.23

^a Or and Akan; See Gen 36.27

^b See 1.38: Heb Dishon

^c Or Saul

^d Or chiefs

^e Or Alvah; See Gen 36.40

^a Or Darda; Compare Syr Tg some Gk Mss; See 1 Kings 4.31

^a Heb sons

^b Gk reads Mareshah

^c Gk Vg: Heb son

^a Gk Compare Syr Vg: Heb sons of

^b Heb sons

^c Gk Compare Vg: Heb the father

^d Or Ahashtari

^e Another reading is Zohar

^f Gk Vg: Heb lacks and Meonothai

^g That is Valley of artisans

^h The clause: These are . . . married is transposed from verse 18

ⁱ Heb lacks and bore

^a Vg Compare Gk: Heb and Jashubi‐lahem

^b Or matters

^c Or Saul

^a Gk Vg: Heb and Epher

^b Ch 5.27 in Heb

^c Heb Gershon, variant of Gershom; See 6.16

^d Ch 6.1 in Heb

^a Gk Syr Compare verse 33 and 1 Sam 8.2: Heb lacks Joel

^b Heb reads Vashni, and Abijah for the second Abijah, taking the second as a proper name

^a Other readings Hilez, Holon; See Josh 21.15

^b Or Dobrath

^c Syr Compare Vg: Heb And to the sons

^d Heb sons

^a Heb sons

^b Heb He

^c Heb beraah

^d Here spelled Non; see Ex 33.11

^e Or Hotham; see 7.32

^a Or father of Ehud; see 8.6

^b Heb and Naaman

^c Or he carried them into exile

^d Compare 9.35: Heb lacks Jeiel

^e Gk Ms adds Ner; Compare 8.33 and 9.36

^f Or Shaul

^a Compare 8.35: Heb lacks and Ahaz

^b Heb they

^a Heb he

^b Or a Hachmonite

^c Compare 2 Sam 23.8: Heb Thirty or captains

^a Gk Vg Tg Compare 2 Sam 23.18: Heb Abshai

^b Syr: Heb Three

^c Compare 2 Sam 23.19: Heb more renowned among the two

^d Syr: Heb the son of a valiant man

^e See 2 Sam 23.20: Heb lacks sons of

^f Compare 2 Sam 23.25: Heb the Harorite

^g Compare Gk and 2 Sam 23.32: Heb the sons of Hashem

^a Heb verse 5

^b Heb verse 6

^c Or as officers of his troops

^a Gk: Heb lacks David

^b Heb lacks his

^c Or and his brother

^a That is Bursting Out Against Uzzah

^b Heb paraz

^c That is Lord of Bursting Out

^a Heb He

^b Meaning of Heb uncertain

^a Compare Gk Syr Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain

^a Another reading is Abraham (compare Ps 105.6)

^b Heb in it

^c Gk Syr Vg: Heb their

^a Gk 2 Sam 7.6: Heb but I have been from tent to tent and from tabernacle

^a Meaning of Heb uncertain

^b Or and it is blessed

^c Gk Vg 2 Sam 8.6 Compare Syr: Heb lacks garrisons

^a Gk Vg See 1 Kings 11.5, 33: MT of their king

^b Compare 2 Sam 12.31: Heb and he sawed

^c Compare 2 Sam 12.31: Heb saws

^a Heb Shelomoh

^b Heb shalom

^a Or Gershom; See 1 Chr 6.1, note, and 23.15

^b Vg Compare Gk Syr: Heb to the Gershonite

^a See 23.19: Heb lacks Hebron

^b See 23.19: Heb lacks the chief

^c Or his son: Meaning of Heb uncertain

^d One Ms: Gk: MT lacks Shimei

^a Or Asarelah; see 25.2

^a Gk: Heb lacks each day

^b Heb parbar: meaning uncertain

^c The Hebrew text of verse 21 is confused

^d Gk Compare 26.28: Heb Shelomith

^a Gk Vg: Heb Ammizabad was his division

^a Or the cover

^a Heb fortress

^a Heb fortress