Military Divisions

27 This is the number of the people of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

2 eJashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were 24,000. 3 He was a fdescendant of Perez and was chief of all the commanders. He served for the first month. 4 gDodai the Ahohite1 was in charge of the division of the second month; in his division were 24,000. 5 The third commander, for the third month, was hBenaiah, the son of Jehoiada the chief priest; in his division were 24,000. 6 This is the Benaiah iwho was a mighty man of the thirty and in command of the thirty; Ammizabad his son was in charge of his division.2 7 jAsahel the brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were 24,000. 8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was kShamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were 24,000. 9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was lIra, the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were 24,000. 10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was mHelez the Pelonite, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was nSibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was oAbiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were 24,000. 13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was pMaharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were 24,000. 14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was qBenaiah of Pirathon, of the sons of Ephraim; in his division were 24,000. 15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was rHeldai the Netophathite, of sOthniel; in his division were 24,000.

Leaders of Tribes

16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, tHashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, uZadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the vleaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the wLord had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but xdid not finish. Yet ywrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.

25 Over the king’s treasuries was zAzmaveth the son of Adiel; and over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah; 26 and over those who did the work of the field for tilling the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub; 27 and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite; and over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 28 Over the olive and asycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; and over the stores of oil was Joash. 29 Over the herds that pastured in bSharon was Shitrai the Sharonite; over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai. 30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the cHagrite. 31 All these were stewards of King David’s property.

32 Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. 33 dAhithophel was the eking’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. 34 Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of fBenaiah, and gAbiathar. Joab was hcommander of the king’s army.

David’s Charge to Israel

28 iDavid assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the jofficials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the kcommanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the lstewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mmighty men and all the seasoned warriors. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. nI had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the ofootstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. 3 But God said to me, p‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ 4 Yet the Lord God of Israel qchose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel rforever. sFor he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s thouse, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of uall my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he vhas chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘It is wSolomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom rforever xif he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ 8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.

David’s Charge to Solomon

9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a ywhole heart and with a willing mind, zfor the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. aIf you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; bbe strong and do it.”

11 Then David gave Solomon his son the cplan of the dvestibule of the temple,1 and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the emercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, fthe treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 13 for the gdivisions of the priests and of the hLevites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, 14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 15 the weight of the golden ilampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, 16 the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, 17 and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 18 for the jaltar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the kcherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, lall the work to be done according to the plan.”

20 Then David said to Solomon his son, m“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 21 And behold the ndivisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be oevery willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.”

Offerings for the Temple

29 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is pyoung and inexperienced, and the work is great, for qthe palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. 2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of ronyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 s3,000 talents1 of gold, of the gold of tOphir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house,2 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself3 today to the Lord?”

6 Then uthe leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and vthe officers over the king’s work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 wdarics4 of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of xJehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a ywhole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

David Prays in the Assembly

10 Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all