David’s House and Family^(A)

14 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs,^(B) stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. ² And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted^(C) for the sake of his people Israel.

³ In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons^(D) and daughters. ⁴ These are the names of the children born to him there:^(E) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, Beeliada^[a] and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines^(F)

⁸ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel,^(G) they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley^(H) of Rephaim; ¹⁰ so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

¹¹ So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,^(I) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^{[b] 12} The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn^(J) them in the fire.^(K)

¹³ Once more the Philistines raided the valley;^{(L) 14} so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ¹⁵ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon^(M) to Gezer.^(N)

¹⁷ So David’s fame^(O) spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear^(P) him.

The Fall of Jerusalem^(A)(B)(C)

52 Zedekiah^(D) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.^{(E) 2} He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim^(F) had done. ³ It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah,^(G) and in the end he thrust them from his presence.^(H)

Now Zedekiah rebelled^(I) against the king of Babylon.

⁴ So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth^(J) day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem^(K) with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works^(L) all around it.^{(M) 5} The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

⁶ By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.^{(N) 7} Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled.^(O) They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians^[a] were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,^{[b] 8} but the Babylonian^[c] army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, ⁹ and he was captured.^(P)

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah^(Q) in the land of Hamath,^(R) where he pronounced sentence on him. ¹⁰ There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons^(S) of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. ¹¹ Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.^(T)

¹² On the tenth day of the fifth^(U) month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan^(V) commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ¹³ He set fire^(W) to the temple^(X) of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses^(Y) of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. ¹⁴ The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls^(Z) around Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile^(AA) some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen^[d] and those who had deserted^(AB) to the king of Babylon. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan left behind^(AC) the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹⁷ The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars,^(AD) the movable stands^(AE) and the bronze Sea^(AF) that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.^{(AG) 18} They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls,^(AH) dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.^{(AI) 19} The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers,^(AJ) sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands,^(AK) dishes^(AL) and bowls used for drink offerings^(AM)—all that were made of pure gold or silver.^(AN)

²⁰ The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls^(AO) under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed.^{(AP) 21} Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference^[e]; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.^{(AQ) 22} The bronze capital^(AR) on top of one pillar was five cubits^[f] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates^(AS) of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. ²³ There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates^(AT) above the surrounding network was a hundred.^(AU)

²⁴ The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah^(AV) the chief priest, Zephaniah^(AW) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.^{(AX) 25} Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and seven royal advisers. He also took the secretary^(AY) who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land, sixty of whom were found in the city. ²⁶ Nebuzaradan^(AZ) the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷ There at Riblah,^(BA) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.

So Judah went into captivity, away^(BB) from her land. ²⁸ This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile:^(BC)

Jehoiachin Released^(BF)

³¹ In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin^(BG) king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. ³² He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. ³³ So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.^{(BH) 34} Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance^(BI) as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:^(A) Whoever aspires to be an overseer^(B) desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach,^(C) faithful to his wife,^(D) temperate,^(E) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,^(F) able to teach,^{(G) 3} not given to drunkenness,^(H) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,^(I) not a lover of money.^{(J) 4} He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[a] respect.^{(K) 5} (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)^{(L) 6} He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(M) and fall under the same judgment^(N) as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,^(O) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.^(P)

⁸ In the same way, deacons^[b](Q) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,^(R) and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.^{(S) 10} They must first be tested;^(T) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women^[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers^(U) but temperate^(V) and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife^(W) and must manage his children and his household well.^{(X) 13} Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church^(Y) of the living God,^(Z) the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(AA) from which true godliness^(AB) springs is great:

4 The Spirit^(AF) clearly says that in later times^(AG) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits^(AH) and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.^{(AI) 3} They forbid people to marry^(AJ) and order them to abstain from certain foods,^(AK) which God created^(AL) to be received with thanksgiving^(AM) by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good,^(AN) and nothing is to be rejected^(AO) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(AP) and prayer.

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^[e] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith^(AQ) and of the good teaching that you have followed.^{(AR) 7} Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(AS) rather, train yourself to be godly.^{(AT) 8} For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,^(AU) holding promise for both the present life^(AV) and the life to come.^{(AW) 9} This is a trustworthy saying^(AX) that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,^(AY) who is the Savior of all people,^(AZ) and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things.^{(BA) 12} Don’t let anyone look down on you^(BB) because you are young, but set an example^(BC) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith^(BD) and in purity. ¹³ Until I come,^(BE) devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,^(BF) to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy^(BG) when the body of elders^(BH) laid their hands on you.^(BI)

¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save^(BJ) both yourself and your hearers.