Day 161: Psalms 19 - 26

Chapter 19

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

To the choirmaster - A Psalm of David

1: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2: Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

3: There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

4: Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5: which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6: Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8: the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

9: the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10: More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

11: Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12: Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13: Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Chapter 20

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

To the choirmaster - A Psalm of David

1: May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2: May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!

3: May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4: May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

5: May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6: Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.

7: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

8: They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.

9: O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call.

Chapter 21

The King Rejoices in the Lord’s Strength

To the choirmaster - A Psalm of David.

1: O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

2: You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

3: For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

4: He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.

5: His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.

6: For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

7: For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

8: Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.

9: You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.

10: You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.

11: Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

12: For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

13: Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

Chapter 22

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn - A Psalm of David.

1: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

2: O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

3: Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4: In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

5: To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6: But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7: All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

8: “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

9: Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.

10: On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11: Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

12: Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

13: they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

14: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

15: my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16: For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet

17: I can count all my bones - they stare and gloat over me;

18: they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

19: But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

20: Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

21: Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

22: I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

23: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

24: For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

25: From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26: The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!

27: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

28: For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

29: All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30: Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31: they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Chapter 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David

1: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2: He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3: He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Chapter 24

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David

1: The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof the world and those who dwell therein,

2: for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

3: Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?

4: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.

5: He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6: Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob Selah

7: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors,  that the King of glory may come in.

8: Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!

9: Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors that the King of glory may come in.

10: Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

Chapter 25

Teach Me Your Paths

Of David

1: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2: O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

3: Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

5: Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

6: Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

7: Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

10: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11: For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12: Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13: His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14: The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

15: My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16: Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

17: The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

18: Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

19: Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20: Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21: May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

22: Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Chapter 26

I Will Bless the Lord

Of David

1: Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2: Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

3: For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

4: I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.

5: I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

6: I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,

7: proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

8: O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.

9: Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

10: in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.

11: But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.

12: My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

Day 110: 1 Chronicles 27 - 29

CHAPTER – 27

1 This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the 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 twenty-four thousand: 
2 Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
3 He was a descendant of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. 
4 Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; Mikloth was the chief officer of his division. In his division were twenty-four thousand. 
5 The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada, as chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
6 This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty; his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division. 
7 Asahel brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
8 The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
9 Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
10 Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
11 Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
12 Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
13 Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
14 Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
15 Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 
16 Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah; 
17 for Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 
18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael; 
19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; 
20 for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah; 
21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner; 
22 for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 
23 David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the Lord had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven. 
24 Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but did not finish; yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered into the account of the Annals of King David. 
25 Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers, was Jonathan son of Uzziah. 
26 Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil, was Ezri son of Chelub. 
27 Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite. 
28 Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash. 
29 Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai. 
30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. 
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; Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons. 
33 Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend. 
34 After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army. 

CHAPTER – 28

1 David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of the thousands, the commanders of the hundreds, the stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty warriors, and all the warriors. 
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: "Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had planned to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for building. 
3 But God said to me, "You shall not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.' 
4 Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my ancestral house to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took delight in making me king over all Israel. 
5 And of all my sons, for the Lord has given me many, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. 
6 He said to me, "It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him. 
7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, 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 search 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. 
9 "And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever. 
10 Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong, and act." 
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy 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, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 
13 for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, 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 lampstands 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 in the service, 
16 the weight of gold for each table for the rows of bread, 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 altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 
19 "All this, in writing at the Lord's direction, he made clear to me—the plan of all the works." 
20 David said further to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. 
21 Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every volunteer who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command."

CHAPTER – 29

1 King David said to the whole assembly, "My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple will not be for mortals 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 onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones, and marble in abundance. 
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 three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, 
5 and for all the work to be done by artisans, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?" 
6 Then the leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the officers over the king's work. 
7 They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. 
8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 
9 Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly. 
10 Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly; David said: "Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. 
11 Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 
12 Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 
13 And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name. 
14 "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 
15 For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. 
16 O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 
17 I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 
18 O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 
19 Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple for which I have made provision." 
20 Then David said to the whole assembly, "Bless the Lord your God." And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Lord and the king. 
21 On the next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their libations, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel; 
22 and they ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy. They made David's son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the Lord's prince, and Zadok as priest. 
23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord, succeeding his father David as king; he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 
24 All the leaders and the mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 
25 The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 
26 Thus David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 
27 The period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 
28 He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and his son Solomon succeeded him. 
29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of the seer Samuel, and in the records of the prophet Nathan, and in the records of the seer Gad, 
30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the events that befell him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth.

Day 108: 1 Chronicles 18 - 22

CHAPTER – 18

1 Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; he took Gath and its villages from the Philistines. 
2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute. 
3 David also struck down King Hadadezer of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to set up a monument at the river Euphrates. 
4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred of them. 
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Arameans. 
6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became subject to David, and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 
7 David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 
8 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a vast quantity of bronze; with it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze. 
9 When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 
10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. He sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze; 
11 these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. 
12 Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 
13 He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became subject to David. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 
14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and equity to all his people. 
15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 
16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 
17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king. 

CHAPTER – 19

1 Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him. 
2 David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him, 
3 the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, "Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?" 
4 So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away; 
5 and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return." 
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and cavalry from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah. 
7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle. 
8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the warriors. 
9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country. 
10 When Joab saw that the line of battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans; 
11 the rest of his troops he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. 
12 He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you. 
13 Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him." 
14 So Joab and the troops who were with him advanced toward the Arameans for battle; and they fled before him. 
15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. 
16 But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 
17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, came to them, and drew up his forces against them. When David set the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him. 
18 The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers, and also killed Shophach the commander of their army. 
19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.

CHAPTER – 20

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army, ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah, and overthrew it. 
2 David took the crown of Milcom from his head; he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. He also brought out the booty of the city, a very great amount. 
3 He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work with saws and iron picks and axes. Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. 
4 After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants; and the Philistines were subdued. 
5 Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 
6 Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great size, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also was descended from the giants. 
7 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. 
8 These were descended from the giants in Gath; they fell by the hand of David and his servants. 

CHAPTER – 21

1 Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel. 
2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, "Go, number Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, so that I may know their number." 
3 But Joab said, "May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundredfold! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?" 
4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem. 
5 Joab gave the total count of the people to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and in Judah four hundred seventy thousand who drew the sword. 
6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab. 
7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 
8 David said to God, "I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly." 
9 The Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 
10 "Go and say to David, "Thus says the Lord: Three things I offer you; choose one of them, so that I may do it to you.' " 
11 So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, "Take your choice: 
12 either three years of famine; or three months of devastation by your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to the one who sent me." 
13 Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands." 
14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand persons fell in Israel. 
15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but when he was about to destroy it, the Lord took note and relented concerning the calamity; he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Stay your hand." The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 
16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 
17 And David said to God, "Was it not I who gave the command to count the people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house; but do not let your people be plagued!" 
18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to tell David that he should go up and erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 
19 So David went up following Gad's instructions, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 
20 Ornan turned and saw the angel; and while his four sons who were with him hid themselves, Ornan continued to thresh wheat. 
21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went out from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground. 
22 David said to Ornan, "Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—so that the plague may be averted from the people." 
23 Then Ornan said to David, "Take it; and let my lord the king do what seems good to him; see, I present the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. I give it all." 
24 But King David said to Ornan, "No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 
25 So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site. 
26 David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. He called upon the Lord, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 
27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 
28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there. 
29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon; 
30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

CHAPTER – 22

1 Then David said, "Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel." 
2 David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 
3 David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 
4 and cedar logs without number—for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 
5 For David said, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. 
6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. 
7 David said to Solomon, "My son, I had planned to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. 
8 But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood in my sight on the earth. 
9 See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 
10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.' 
11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 
12 Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. 
13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed. 
14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add more. 
15 You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working 
16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you." 
17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 
18 "Is not the Lord your God with you? Has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord and his people. 
19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the Lord God so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord." 

Day 107: 1 Chronicles 15 - 17

 CHAPTER – 15

1 David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 
2 Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. 
3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 
4 Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: 
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; 
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; 
7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; 
8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred; 
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred; 
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred. 
11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 
12 He said to them, "You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 
13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care." 
14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 
15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. 
16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. 
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 
18 and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals; 
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 
21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 
22Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. 
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 
24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 
25 So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 
26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 
27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. 
28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. 
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart. 

CHAPTER – 16

1 They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God. 
2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord; 
3 and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. 
4 He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 
5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 
6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God. 
7 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred. 
8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. 
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. 
10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 
11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. 
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, 
13 O offspring of his servant Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 
14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 
15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, 
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 
18 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." 
19 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, 
20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, 
21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, 
22 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day. 
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. 
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods. 
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 
27 Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the Lord in holy splendor; 
30 tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. 
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The Lord is king!" 
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. 
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 
35 Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and rescue us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise. 
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said "Amen!" and praised the Lord. 
37 David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, 
38 and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. 
39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, 
40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. 
41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever. 
42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate. 
43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household. 

CHAPTER – 17

1 Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, "I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent." 
2 Nathan said to David, "Do all that you have in mind, for God is with you." 
3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: 
4 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: You shall not build me a house to live in. 
5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle. 
6 Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? 
7 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; 
8 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 
9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall wear them down no more, as they did formerly, 
10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. 
11 When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 
12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 
13 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 
14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever. 
15 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. 
16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 
17 And even this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank, O Lord God! 
18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. 
19 For your servant's sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things. 
20 There is no one like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 
21 Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and terrible things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? 
22 And you made your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God. 
23 "And now, O Lord, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as you have promised. 
24 Thus your name will be established and magnified forever in the saying, "The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God'; and the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. 
25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you. 
26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; 
27 therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord, have blessed and are blessed forever."

Day 106: 1 Chronicles 10 - 14

CHAPTER – 10

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 
2 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, sons of Saul. 
3 The battle pressed hard on Saul; and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. 
4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and make sport of me." But his armor-bearer was unwilling, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 
5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died. 
6 Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. 
7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them. 
8 The next day when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 
9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 
10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 
11 But when all Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, 
12 all the valiant warriors got up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 
13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance, 
14 and did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

CHAPTER – 11

1 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, "See, we are your bone and flesh. 
2 For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The Lord your God said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel." 
3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel. 
4 David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 
5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You will not come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, now the city of David. 
6 David had said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander." And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 
7 David resided in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 
8 He built the city all around, from the Millo in complete circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 
9 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him. 
10 Now these are the chiefs of David's warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 
11 This is an account of David's mighty warriors: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time. 
12 And next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite. 
13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley. Now the people had fled from the Philistines, 
14 but he and David took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory. 
15 Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, while the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 
16 David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 
17 David said longingly, "O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!" 
18 Then the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he poured it out to the Lord, 
19and said, "My God forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things. 
20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty. With his spear he fought against three hundred and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. 
21 He was the most renowned of the Thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three. 
22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 
23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear. 
24 Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name beside the three warriors. 
25 He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. 
26 The warriors of the armies were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 
27 Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite, 
28 Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 
29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 
30 Maharai of Netophah, Heled son of Baanah of Netophah, 
31 Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah of Pirathon, 
32 Hurai of the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 
33 Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba of Shaalbon, 
34Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, 
35Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, 
36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 
37 Hezro of Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai, 
38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, 
39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 
40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 
41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, 
42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 
43 Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 
45 Jediael son of Shimri, and his brother Joha the Tizite, 
46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 
47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

CHAPTER – 12

1 The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war. 
2 They were archers, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right hand or the left; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kindred. 
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 
4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 
5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 
6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 
7 and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 
8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains: 
9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 
10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 
11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 
12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 
13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 
14 These Gadites were officers of the army, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand. 
15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west. 
16 Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David. 
17 David went out to meet them and said to them, "If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment." 
18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, "We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you." Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops. 
19 Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, "He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.") 
20 As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh. 
21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army. 
22Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. 
23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord. 
24 The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops. 
25 Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred. 
26 Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. 
27 Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 
28 Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house. 
29Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul. 
30 Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses. 
31Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 
32 Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command. 
33 Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. 
34 Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty-seven thousand armed with shield and spear. 
35 Of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle. 
36 Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. 
37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war. 
38 All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 
39They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them. 
40 And also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel. 

CHAPTER – 13

1 David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. 
2 David said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us. 
3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul." 
4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people. 
5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 
6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his name. 
7 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. 
8 David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. 
9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it. 
10The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 
11 David was angry because the Lord had burst out against Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. 
12 David was afraid of God that day; he said, "How can I bring the ark of God into my care?" 
13 So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 
14 The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

CHAPTER – 14

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, and masons and carpenters to build a house for him. 
2 David then perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. 
3 David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 
4 These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon, 
5Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet; 
6 Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia; 
7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. 
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. 
9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 
10 David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" The Lord said to him, "Go up, and I will give them into your hand." 
11 So he went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, "God has burst out against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim. 
12 They abandoned their gods there, and at David's command they were burned. 
13 Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley. 
14 When David again inquired of God, God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; go around and come on them opposite the balsam trees. 
15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." 
16 David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 
17 The fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.