The Military Divisions

27 And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.

2 Over the first division for the first month was aJashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand; 3 he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4 Over the division of the second month was 1Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third captain of the army for the third month was bBenaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This was the Benaiah who was cmighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was dAsahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was 2Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was eIra the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was fHelez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was gSibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was hAbiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was iMaharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was jBenaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was 3Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.

Leaders of Tribes

16 Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17 over the Levites, kHashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18 over Judah, lElihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20 over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

23 But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because mthe Lord had said He would multiply Israel like the nstars of the heavens. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for owrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.

Other State Officials

25 And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. 26 Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground. 27 And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28 Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil. 29 And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30 Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31 and Jaziz the pHagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David’s property.

32 Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a 4scribe; and Jehiel the 5son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons. 33 qAhithophel was the king’s counselor, and rHushai the Archite was the king’s companion. 34 After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then sAbiathar. And the general of the king’s army was tJoab.

Solomon Instructed to Build the Temple

28 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all athe leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and bthe captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and cthe stewards over all the substance and 1possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all dthe mighty men of valor.

2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: eI had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for fthe footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. 3 But God said to me, g‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed hblood.’ 4 However the Lord God of Israel ichose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen jJudah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, kthe house of my father, and lamong the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. 5 mAnd of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) nHe has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 6 Now He said to me, ‘It is oyour son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. 7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, pif he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’ 8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.

9 “As for you, my son Solomon, qknow the God of your father, and serve Him rwith a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for sthe Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. tIf you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will ucast you off forever. 10 Consider now, vfor the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”

11 Then David gave his son Solomon wthe plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; 12 and the xplans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, of all the chambers all around, yof the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 13 also for the division of the priests and the zLevites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord. 14 He gave gold by weight for things of gold, for all articles used in every kind of service; also silver for all articles of silver by weight, for all articles used in every kind of service; 15 the weight for the alampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand. 16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of the showbread, for each btable, and silver for the tables of silver; 17 also pure gold for the forks, the basins, the pitchers of pure gold, and the golden bowls—he gave gold by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls, silver by weight for every bowl; 18 and refined gold by weight for the caltar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold dcherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this,” said David, e“the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the 2works of these plans.”

20 And David said to his son Solomon, f“Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God—my God—will be with you. gHe will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 21 Here are hthe divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and ievery willing craftsman will be with you for all manner of workmanship, for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people will be completely at your command.”

Offerings for Building the Temple

29 Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: “My son Solomon, whom alone God has achosen, is byoung and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the 1temple is not for man but for the Lord God. 2 Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, conyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: 4 three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of dOphir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; 5 the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then is ewilling to 2consecrate