Study Desk

Now this is the number of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers' households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:

Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel ^(F1)(C1)was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.

Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was in charge of thirty; and over his division was his son Ammizabad.

The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;

for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;

for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;

for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel;

for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;

for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;

for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. ^(C1)These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

But David did not ^(F1)count those twenty years of age and under, ^(C1)because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel ^(C2)as the stars of heaven.

Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of ^(C1)this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Now Azmaveth the son of Adiel was responsible for the king's storehouses. And Jonathan the son of Uzziah was responsible for the storehouses in the country, the cities, the villages, and the towers.

Ezri the son of Chelub was responsible for the ^(F1)agricultural workers who tilled the soil.

Shimei the Ramathite was responsible for the vineyards; and Zabdi the Shiphmite was responsible for the ^(F1)produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.

Baal-hanan the Gederite was responsible for the olive and ^(C1)sycamore trees in the ^(F1)Shephelah; and Joash was responsible for the stores of oil.

Shitrai the Sharonite was responsible for the cattle which were grazing in ^(C1)Sharon; and Shaphat the son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys.

Obil the Ishmaelite was responsible for the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was responsible for the donkeys.

Jaziz the ^(C1)Hagrite was responsible for the flocks. All these were ^(F1)overseers of the property which belonged to King David.

Also Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni ^(F1)tutored the king's sons.

^(C1)Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and ^(C2)Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.

Jehoiada the son of ^(C1)Benaiah, and ^(C2)Abiathar ^(F1)succeeded Ahithophel; and Joab was the ^(C3)commander of the king's army.

Now ^(C1)David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, with the officials and ^(C2)the mighty men, all the valiant warriors.

Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and my people; ^(F1)I ^(C1)had intended to build a ^(F2)permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for ^(C2)the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it.

"But God said to me, '^(C1)You shall not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.'

"Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, ^(C1)chose me from all the household of my father to be king over Israel ^(C2)forever. For ^(C3)He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and ^(C4)in the house of Judah, my father's house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.

"^(C1)Of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), ^(C2)He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.

"He said to me, 'Your son ^(C1)Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courtyards; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a Father to him.

'I will establish his kingdom forever ^(C1)if he resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances, as ^(F1)is done now.'

"So now, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the ^(F1)presence of our God, keep and seek after all the commandments of the LORD your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.

"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and ^(C1)serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing ^(F1)mind; ^(C2)for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. ^(C3)If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

"Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; ^(C1)be courageous and act."

Then David gave to his son Solomon ^(C1)the plan of ^(C2)the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and ^(C3)the room for the ^(F1)atoning cover;

and the plan of all that he had in ^(F1)mind, for the courtyards of the house of the LORD, and for all the surrounding rooms, for ^(C1)the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things;

also for ^(C1)the divisions of the priests and ^(C2)the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD and for all the utensils of service in the house of the LORD;

for the golden utensils, by weight of gold for all utensils for every service; for all the silver utensils, by weight of silver for all utensils for every service;

and the weight of gold for the ^(C1)golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand;

and the gold by weight for the tables of the showbread, for each table; and silver for the silver tables;

and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl;

and for ^(C1)the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot, and ^(C2)the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

"All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, ^(C1)all the ^(F1)details of this pattern."

Then David said to his son Solomon, "^(C1)Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. ^(C2)He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

"Now behold, ^(C1)there are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God, and ^(C2)every willing man of any skill will be with you in all the work for all kinds of service. The officials also and all the people will be entirely at your command."