1 Chronicles 26; 1 Chronicles 27; 1 Chronicles 28; 1 Chronicles 29

1 Chronicles 26

1 These are the assignments of work for the Levites who served as Temple guards. From the clan of Korah there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Asaph.

2 He had seven sons, listed in order of age: Zechariah, Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel,

3 Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai.

4 There was also Obed Edom, whom God blessed by giving him eight sons, listed in order of age: Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sachar, Nethanel,

5 Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai.

6 Obed Edom's oldest son, Shemaiah, had six sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, Elihu, and Semachiah. They were important men in their clan because of their great ability; the last two were especially talented.

8 Obed Edom's family furnished a total of sixty-two highly qualified men for this work.

9 Meshelemiah's family furnished eighteen qualified men.

10 From the clan of Merari there was Hosah, who had four sons: Shimri (his father made him the leader, even though he was not the oldest son),

11 Hilkiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah. In all there were thirteen members of Hosah's family who were Temple guards.

12 The Temple guards were divided into groups, according to families, and they were assigned duties in the Temple, just as the other Levites were.

13 Each family, regardless of size, drew lots to see which gate it would be responsible for.

14 Shelemiah drew the east gate, and his son Zechariah, a man who always gave good advice, drew the north gate.

15 Obed Edom was allotted the south gate, and his sons were allotted to guard the storerooms.

16 Shuppim and Hosah were allotted the west gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road. Guard duty was divided into assigned periods, one after another.

17 On the east, six guards were on duty each day, on the north, four, and on the south, four. Four guards were stationed at the storerooms daily, two at each storeroom.

18 Near the western pavilion there were four guards by the road and two at the pavilion itself.

19 This is the assignment of guard duty to the clan of Korah and the clan of Merari.

20 Others of their fellow Levites were in charge of the Temple treasury and the storerooms for gifts dedicated to God.

21 Ladan, one of the sons of Gershon, was the ancestor of several family groups, including the family of his son Jehiel.

22 Ladan's two other sons, Zetham and Joel, had charge of the Temple treasury and storerooms.

23 Duties were also assigned to the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

24 Shebuel, of the clan of Moses' son Gershom, was the chief official responsible for the Temple treasury.

25 Through Gershom's brother Eliezer he was related to Shelomith. Eliezer was the father of Rehabiah, who was the father of Jeshaiah, the father of Joram, the father of Zichri, the father of Shelomith.

26 Shelomith and the members of his family were in charge of all the gifts dedicated to God by King David, the heads of families, leaders of clan groups, and army officers.

27 They took some of the loot they captured in battle and dedicated it for use in the Temple.

28 Shelomith and his family were in charge of everything that had been dedicated for use in the Temple, including the gifts brought by the prophet Samuel, by King Saul, by Abner son of Ner, and by Joab son of Zeruiah.

29 Among the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned administrative duties: keeping records and settling disputes for the people of Israel.

30 Among the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and seventeen hundred of his relatives, all outstanding men, were put in charge of the administration of all religious and civil matters in Israel west of the Jordan River.

31 Jeriah was the leader of the descendants of Hebron. In the fortieth year that David was king, an investigation was made of the family line of Hebron's descendants, and outstanding soldiers belonging to this family were found living at Jazer in the territory of Gilead.

32 King David chose twenty-seven hundred outstanding heads of families from Jeriah's relatives and put them in charge of administering all religious and civil matters in Israel east of the Jordan River - the territories of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh.

1 Chronicles 27

1 This is the list of the Israelite heads of families and clan leaders and their officials who administered the work of the kingdom. Each month of the year a different group of twenty-four thousand men was on duty under the commander for that month.

2 The following were the commanders for each month: First month: Jashobeam son of Zabdiel (he was a member of the clan of Perez, a part of the tribe of Judah) Second month: Dodai, a descendant of Ahohi (Mikloth was his second in command) Third month: Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest; he was the leader of "The Thirty" (his son Ammizabad succeeded him as commander of this group) Fourth month: Asahel, brother of Joab (his son Zebadiah succeeded him) Fifth month: Shamhuth, a descendant of Izhar Sixth month: Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa Seventh month: Helez, an Ephraimite from Pelon Eighth month: Sibbecai from Hushah (he was a member of the clan of Zerah, a part of the tribe of Judah) Ninth month: Abiezer from Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin Tenth month: Maharai from Netophah (he was a member of the clan of Zerah) Eleventh month: Benaiah from Pirathon in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim Twelfth month: Heldai from Netophah (he was a descendant of Othniel)

16 This is the list of the administrators of the tribes of Israel:

23 King David did not take a census of the people who were under the age of twenty, because of the Lord's promise to make the people of Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.

24 Joab, whose mother was Zeruiah, began to take a census, but he did not complete it. God punished Israel because of this census, so the final figures were never recorded in King David's official records.

25 This is the list of those who administered the royal property: Royal storerooms: Azmaveth son of Adiel Local storerooms: Jonathan son of Uzziah Farm labor: Ezri son of Chelub Vineyards: Shimei from Ramah Wine cellars: Zabdi from Shepham Olive and sycamore trees (in the western foothills): Baal Hanan from Geder Olive oil storage: Joash Cattle in the Plain of Sharon: Shitrai from Sharon Cattle in the valleys: Shaphat son of Adlai Camels: Obil, an Ishmaelite Donkeys: Jehdeiah from Meronoth Sheep and goats: Jaziz, a Hagrite

32 Jonathan, King David's uncle, was a skillful adviser and a scholar. He and Jehiel son of Hachmoni were in charge of the education of the king's sons.

33 Ahithophel was adviser to the king, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend and counselor.

34 After Ahithophel died, Abiathar and Jehoiada son of Benaiah became advisers. Joab was commander of the royal army.

1 Chronicles 28

1 King David commanded all the officials of Israel to assemble in Jerusalem. So all the officials of the tribes, the officials who administered the work of the kingdom, the leaders of the clans, the supervisors of the property and livestock that belonged to the king and his sons - indeed all the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important men - gathered in Jerusalem.

2 David stood before them and addressed them: "My friends, listen to me. I wanted to build a permanent home for the Covenant Box, the footstool of the Lord our God. I have made preparations for building a temple to honor him,

3 but he has forbidden me to do it, because I am a soldier and have shed too much blood.

4 The Lord, the God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to provide leadership, and out of Judah he chose my father's family. From all that family it was his pleasure to take me and make me king over all Israel.

5 He gave me many sons, and out of them all he chose Solomon to rule over Israel, the Lord's kingdom.

6 "The Lord said to me, "Your son Solomon is the one who will build my Temple. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.

7 I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws and commands as he does now.'

8 "So now, my people, in the presence of our God and of this assembly of all Israel, the Lord's people, I charge you to obey carefully everything that the Lord our God has commanded us, so that you may continue to possess this good land and so that you may hand it on to succeeding generations forever."

9 And to Solomon he said, "My son, I charge you to acknowledge your father's God and to serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind. He knows all our thoughts and desires. If you go to him, he will accept you; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever.

10 You must realize that the Lord has chosen you to build his holy Temple. Now do it - and do it with determination."

11 David gave Solomon the plans for all the Temple buildings, for the storerooms and all the other rooms, and for the Most Holy Place, where sins are forgiven.

12 He also gave him the plans for all he had in mind for the courtyards and the rooms around them, and for the storerooms for the Temple equipment and the gifts dedicated to the Lord.

13 David also gave him the plans for organizing the priests and Levites to perform their duties, to do the work of the Temple, and to take care of all the Temple utensils.

14 He gave instructions as to how much silver and gold was to be used for making the utensils,

15 for each lamp and lampstand,

16 for the silver tables, and for each gold table on which were placed the loaves of bread offered to God.

17 He also gave instructions as to how much pure gold was to be used in making forks, bowls, and jars, how much silver and gold in making dishes,

18 and how much pure gold in making the altar on which incense was burned and in making the chariot for the winged creatures that spread their wings over the Lord's Covenant Box.

19 King David said, "All this is contained in the plan written according to the instructions which the Lord himself gave me to carry out."

20 King David said to his son Solomon, "Be confident and determined. Start the work and don't let anything stop you. The Lord God, whom I serve, will be with you. He will not abandon you, but he will stay with you until you finish the work to be done on his Temple.

21 The priests and the Levites have been assigned duties to perform in the Temple. Workers with every kind of skill are eager to help you, and all the people and their leaders are at your command."

1 Chronicles 29

1 King David announced to the whole assembly: "My son Solomon is the one whom God has chosen, but he is still young and lacks experience. The work to be done is tremendous, because this is not a palace for people but a temple for the Lord God.

2 I have made every effort to prepare materials for the Temple - gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, precious stones and gems, stones for mosaics, and quantities of marble.

3 Over and above all this that I have provided, I have given silver and gold from my personal property because of my love for God's Temple.

4 I have given 115 tons of the finest gold and 265 tons of pure silver for decorating the walls of the Temple

5 and for all the objects which the skilled workers are to make. Now who else is willing to give a generous offering to the Lord?"

6 Then the heads of the clans, the officials of the tribes, the commanders of the army, and the administrators of the royal property volunteered to give

7 the following for the work on the Temple: 190 tons of gold, 380 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 3,750 tons of iron.

8 Those who had precious stones gave them to the Temple treasury, which was administered by Jehiel of the Levite clan of Gershon.

9 The people had given willingly to the Lord, and they were happy that so much had been given. King David also was extremely happy.

10 There in front of the whole assembly King David praised the Lord. He said, "Lord God of our ancestor Jacob, may you be praised forever and ever!

11 You are great and powerful, glorious, splendid, and majestic. Everything in heaven and earth is yours, and you are king, supreme ruler over all.

12 All riches and wealth come from you; you rule everything by your strength and power; and you are able to make anyone great and strong.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and we praise your glorious name.

14 "Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything, because everything is a gift from you, and we have only given back what is yours already.

15 You know, O Lord, that we pass through life like exiles and strangers, as our ancestors did. Our days are like a passing shadow, and we cannot escape death.

16 O Lord, our God, we have brought together all this wealth to build a temple to honor your holy name, but it all came from you and all belongs to you.

17 I know that you test everyone's heart and are pleased with people of integrity. In honesty and sincerity I have willingly given all this to you, and I have seen how your people who are gathered here have been happy to bring offerings to you.

18 Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, keep such devotion forever strong in your people's hearts and keep them always faithful to you.

19 Give my son Solomon a wholehearted desire to obey everything that you command and to build the Temple for which I have made these preparations."

20 Then David commanded the people, "Praise the Lord your God!" And the whole assembly praised the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed low and gave honor to the Lord and also to the king.

21 The following day they killed animals as sacrifices, dedicating them to the Lord, and then gave them to the people to eat. In addition, they sacrificed a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, which they burned whole on the altar. They also brought the offerings of wine.

22 So that day they were very happy as they ate and drank in the presence of the Lord. For a second time they proclaimed Solomon king. In the name of the Lord they anointed him as their ruler and Zadok as priest.

23 So Solomon succeeded his father David on the throne which the Lord had established. He was a successful king, and the whole nation of Israel obeyed him.

24 All the officials and soldiers, and even all of David's other sons, promised to be loyal to Solomon as king.

25 The Lord made the whole nation stand in awe of Solomon, and he made him more glorious than any other king that had ruled Israel.

26 David son of Jesse ruled over all Israel

27 for forty years. He ruled in Hebron for seven years and in Jerusalem for thirty-three.

28 He died at a ripe old age, wealthy and respected, and his son Solomon succeeded him as king.

29 The history of King David from beginning to end is recorded in the records of the three prophets, Samuel, Nathan, and Gad.

30 The records tell how he ruled, how powerful he was, and all the things that happened to him, to Israel, and to the surrounding kingdoms.