Study Desk

Army Divisions

This is the list of the Israelites—heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24,000 men.

In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam^(a) son of Zabdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division.

He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.

In charge of the division for the second month was Dodai^(b) the Ahohite; Mikloth was the leader of his division. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The third army commander, for the third month, was Benaiah^(c) son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief and there were 24,000 men in his division.

This was the Benaiah who was a mighty warrior among the Thirty and was over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division.

The fourth, for the fourth month, was Asahel^(d) the brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah was his successor. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The fifth, for the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth^(e) the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira^(f) the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez^(g) the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbekai^(h) the Hushathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer⁽ⁱ⁾ the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai^(j) the Netophathite, a Zerahite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah^(k) the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai^(l) the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel.^(m) There were 24,000 men in his division.

The leaders of the tribes of Israel: over the Reubenites: Eliezer son of Zikri; over the Simeonites: Shephatiah son of Maakah;

over Levi: Hashabiah⁽ⁿ⁾ son of Kemuel; over Aaron: Zadok;^(o)

over Judah: Elihu, a brother of David; over Issachar: Omri son of Michael;

over Zebulun: Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; over Naphtali: Jerimoth son of Azriel;

over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son of Azaziah; over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of Pedaiah;

over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead: Iddo son of Zechariah; over Benjamin: Jaasiel son of Abner;

over Dan: Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

David did not take the number of the men twenty years old or less,^(p) because the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars^(q) in the sky.

Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men but did not finish. God's wrath came on Israel on account of this numbering,^(r) and the number was not entered in the book^[a] of the annals of King David.

Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the royal storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the outlying districts, in the towns, the villages and the watchtowers.

Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the workers who farmed the land.

Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine vats.

Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig^(s) trees in the western foothills. Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil.

Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon.^(t) Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys.

Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.

Jaziz the Hagrite^(u) was in charge of the flocks. All these were the officials in charge of King David's property.

Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni took care of the king's sons.

Ahithophel^(v) was the king's counselor. Hushai^(w) the Arkite was the king's confidant.

Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.^(x) Joab^(y) was the commander of the royal army.

David's Plans for the Temple

David summoned^(a) all the officials^(b) of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem: the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions in the service of the king, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors and all the brave fighting men.

King David rose to his feet and said: "Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart^(c) to build a house as a place of rest^(d) for the ark of the covenant of the Lord , for the footstool^(e) of our God, and I made plans to build it.^(f)

But God said to me,^(g) ‘You are not to build a house for my Name,^(h) because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'⁽ⁱ⁾

"Yet the Lord , the God of Israel, chose me^(j) from my whole family^(k) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(l) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^(m)

Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many⁽ⁿ⁾—he has chosen my son Solomon^(o) to sit on the throne^(p) of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build^(q) my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son,^(r) and I will be his father.

I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws,^(s) as is being done at this time.'

"So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel^(t) and of the assembly of the Lord , and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands^(u) of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.^(v)

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion^(w) and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart^(x) and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him,^(y) he will be found by you; but if you forsake^(z) him, he will reject^(aa) you forever.

Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

Then David gave his son Solomon the plans^(ab) for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.

He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit^(ac) had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.^(ad)

He gave him instructions for the divisions^(ae) of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord , as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.

He designated the weight of gold for all the gold articles to be used in various kinds of service, and the weight of silver for all the silver articles to be used in various kinds of service:

the weight of gold for the gold lampstands^(af) and their lamps, with the weight for each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for each silver lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand;

the weight of gold for each table^(ag) for consecrated bread; the weight of silver for the silver tables;

the weight of pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls^(ah) and pitchers; the weight of gold for each gold dish; the weight of silver for each silver dish;

and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense.^(ai) He also gave him the plan for the chariot,^(aj) that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and overshadow^(ak) the ark of the covenant of the Lord .

"All this," David said, "I have in writing as a result of the Lord 's hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details^(al) of the plan.^(am)"

David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous,^(an) and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake^(ao) you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.^(ap)

The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled^(aq) in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command."