Apr 27 - 1 Chronicles 9-11
1 Chronicles
1All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.2Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants.3Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were:4Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah.5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.6Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690.7Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;8Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Micri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah.9The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families.10Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;11Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God;12Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer.13The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God.14Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, a Merarite;15Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zicri, the son of Asaph;16Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their brothers, Shallum their chief18being stationed at the King's Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites.19Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his fellow gatekeepers from his family (the Korahites) were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.20In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and the LORD was with him.21Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.22Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer.23They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the LORD -the house called the Tent.24The gatekeepers were on the four sides: east, west, north and south.25Their brothers in their villages had to come from time to time and share their duties for seven-day periods.26But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God.27They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning.28Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out.29Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour and wine, and the oil, incense and spices.30But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices.31A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.32Some of their Kohathite brothers were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table.33Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.34All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.35Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah,36and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth.38Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.39Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.40The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah.41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea and Ahaz.42Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.43Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.44Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.
1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.2The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.3The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.4Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.5When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.6So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.7When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, 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 proclaim the news among their idols and their people.10They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.11When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of everything the Philistines had done to Saul,12all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.13Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,14and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
1All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.2In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'"3When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the LORD had promised through Samuel.4David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there5said to David, "You will not get in here." Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.6David had said, "Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief." Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.7David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David.8He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city.9And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD Almighty was with him.10These were the chiefs of David's mighty men-they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised-11this is the list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.12Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men.13He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines.14But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.15Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.16At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.17David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"18So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.19"God forbid that I should do this!" he said. "Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.20Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.21He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.22Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.23And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.24Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.25He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.26The mighty men were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,28Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth,29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,31Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,32Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,34the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,35Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,36Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, 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, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,43Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,45Jediael son of Shimri, his brother Joha the Tizite,46Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,47Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.