Study Desk

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep [me] from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that [were] with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated by them; because they put their trust in him.

For there fell down many slain, because the war [was] of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.

And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, to this day.

Their brethren also the Levites [were] appointed to all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt-offering, and on the altar of incense, [and were appointed] for all the work of the [place] most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;

And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and sixty; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in [their] set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

And they lodged about the house of God, because the charge [was] upon them, and the opening of it every morning [pertained] to them.

And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou [wast] he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.

And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with [the jeopardy of] their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, If ye have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you: but if [ye have come] to betray me to my enemies, seeing [there is] no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look [on it], and rebuke [it].

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who was] chief of the captains, [and he said], Thine [are we], David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace [be] to thee, and peace [be] to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

For at [that] time day by day there came to David to help him, until [it was] a great host, like the host of God.

And David said to all the congregation of Israel, If [it seemeth] good to you, and [that it is] of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brethren every where, [that are] left in all the land of Israel, and with them [also] to the priests and Levites [who are] in their cities [and] suburbs, that they may assemble to us:

And let us bring again to us the ark of our God: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.

So David assembled all Israel, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.

And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kirjath-jearim, which [belonged] to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth [between] the cherubim, whose name is called [on it].