1 Chronicles 27–29

Chapter 27

¹And these are the children of Israel after their number, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in every matter of the divisions, which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year; in every division were twenty-four thousand. ²Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ³He was of the children of Pherez, the head of all the captains of the hosts for the first month. ⁴And over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite; and in his division was Mikloth ruler; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ⁵The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah (the son of Jehoiada, a principal officer): he was head; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ⁶This Benaiah was a mighty man among the thirty, and above the thirty; and in his division was Ammizabad his son. ⁷The 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. ⁸The fifth for the fifth month was the captain Shamhuth the Jizrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ⁹The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁰The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹¹The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹²The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹³The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁴The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁵The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.

¹⁶And over the tribes of Israel were: for the Reubenites Eliezer the son of Zichri was the prince; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; ¹⁷for the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸for Judah, Elihu of the brethren of David; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; ¹⁹for Zebulun, Jishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; ²⁰for the children of Ephraim, Hosea the son of Azaziah; for the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; ²¹for the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Jiddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; ²²for Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel. ²³And David took not their number from twenty years old and under; for Jehovah had said he would increase Israel as the stars of heaven. ²⁴Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he did not finish; and there fell wrath for it upon Israel; and the number was not put in the account of the chronicles of king David. ²⁵And over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the storehouses in the country, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the towers was Jonathan the son of Uzziah. ²⁶And over them that worked in the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub. ²⁷And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over what was in the vineyards of stores of wine was Zabdi the Shiphmite: ²⁸and over the olive-trees and the sycamore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the cellars of oil was Joash. ²⁹And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. ³⁰And over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the asses was Jehdiah the Meronothite. ³¹And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagarite. All these were comptrollers of the substance which was king David’s. ³²And Jonathan, David’s uncle, was counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons; ³³and Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend; ³⁴and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar; and Joab was captain of the king’s army.

Chapter 28

¹And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the princes of the divisions that ministered to the king, and the captains over thousands, and the captains over hundreds, and the comptrollers of all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the chamberlains, and the mighty men, and all the men of valour, unto Jerusalem. ²And king David stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren and my people! I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and for the footstool of our God, and I have prepared to build. ³But God said to me, Thou shalt not build a house unto my name, for thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood. ⁴And Jehovah the God of Israel chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever; for he has chosen Judah to be the prince; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel; ⁵and of all my sons, (for Jehovah has given me many sons,) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel. ⁶And he said to me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. ⁷And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be firm to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day. ⁸And now in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, —keep and seek for all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess the good land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children after you for ever. ⁹And thou, Solomon my son, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searches all hearts, and discerns all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cut thee off for ever. ¹⁰Consider now, that Jehovah has chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

¹¹And David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of its houses, and of its treasuries, and of its upper chambers, and of its inner chambers, and of the house of the mercy-seat; ¹²and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of Jehovah, and of all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things; ¹³and for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the instruments of service in the house of Jehovah: ¹⁴gold by weight for things of gold, for all utensils of each kind of service; for all utensils of silver, by weight, for all utensils of each kind of service; ¹⁵and the weight of the golden candlesticks, and of their golden lamps, by weight for every candlestick, and for its lamps; and for the silver candlesticks, by weight, for the candlestick and for its lamps, according to the use of every candlestick; ¹⁶and gold by weight for the tables of the loaves to be set in rows, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver; ¹⁷and pure gold for the forks, and the bowls, and the goblets; and for the golden basons by weight for every bason; and for the silver basons by weight for every bason; ¹⁸and for the altar of incense, refined gold by weight; and the pattern of the chariot of the cherubim of gold, which spread out their wings and cover the ark of the covenant of Jehovah. ¹⁹All this said David, in writing, by Jehovah’s hand upon me, instructing as to all the works of the pattern. ²⁰And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it; fear not nor be dismayed: for Jehovah Elohim, my God, will be with thee; he will not leave thee, neither forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah is finished. ²¹And behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites are for all the service of the house of God; and thou hast with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing man, skilful for every sort of service; and the princes and all the people are wholly at thy commandment.

Chapter 29

¹And king David said to all the congregation, Solomon my son, the one whom God has chosen, is young and tender, and the work is great; for this palace is not to be for man, but for Jehovah Elohim. ²And I have prepared according to all my power for the house of my God gold for things of gold, and silver for things of silver, and brass for things of brass, iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and white marble in abundance. ³And moreover, in my affection for the house of my God I have given of my own property of gold and silver, for the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the house of the sanctuary: ⁴three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; ⁵gold for things of gold, and silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work by the hands of artificers. And who is willing to offer to Jehovah this day? ⁶And the chief fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the comptrollers of the king’s business, offered willingly. ⁷And they gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand…