1 Chronicles 27-28

New Life Version

The Captains of the Army

27 These were the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. They were the leaders of thousands and of hundreds. These were the captains who worked for the king in anything to do with the armies which came in and went out every month of the year. There were 24,000 men in each army. ² Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was the leader of the first army for the first month. There were 24,000 in his army. ³ He was a son of Perez, and head of all the captains of the army for the first month. ⁴ Dodai the Ahohite was the leader of the army for the second month. Mikloth was the head captain. There were 24,000 in his army. ⁵ The third leader of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the religious leader. There were 24,000 in his army. ⁶ This is the Benaiah who was the strong man of the thirty, and leader of the thirty. Ammizabad his son was captain of his army. ⁷ The fourth leader for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him. There were 24,000 in his army. ⁸ The fifth leader for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 in his army. ⁹ The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹⁰ The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹¹ The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹² The ninth for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjamites. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹³ The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹⁴ The eleventh for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim. There were 24,000 in his army. ¹⁵ The twelfth for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel. There were 24,000 in his army.

Leaders of Family Groups

¹⁶ The leaders of the family groups of Israel were: Eliezer the son of Zichri was the head captain of the Reubenites; Shephatiah the son of Maacah led the Simeonites. ¹⁷ Hashabiah the son of Kemuel led the sons of Levi; Zadok led the sons of Aaron. ¹⁸ Elihu, one of David’s brothers, led the sons of Judah; Omri the son of Michael led the sons of Issachar; ¹⁹ Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah led the sons of Zebulun; Jeremoth the son of Azriel led the sons of Naphtali; ²⁰ Hoshea the son of Azaziah led the sons of Ephraim; Joel the son of Pedaiah led the half-family group of Manasseh; ²¹ Iddo the son of Zechariah led the half-family group of Manasseh in Gilead; Jaasiel the son of Abner led the sons of Benjamin; ²² And Azarel the son of Jeroham led the sons of Dan. These were the leaders of the families of Israel. ²³ But David did not number those younger than twenty years old because the Lord had promised to make Israel many, as the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to number them, but did not finish. Anger came upon Israel because of this. So the number was not put into the book of the chronicles of King David.

²⁵ Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s store-houses. Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the store-houses in the country, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers. ²⁶ Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who worked in the fields, plowing and planting. ²⁷ Shimei the Ramathite was over the grape-fields. Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the fruit of the grape-fields for the wine. ²⁸ Baalhanan the Gederite was over the olive and sycamore trees in the plains. Joash was captain of the stores of oil. ²⁹ Shitrai the Sharonite was over the cattle which were eating in the fields of Sharon. Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the cattle in the valleys. ³⁰ Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys. ³¹ And Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were over all that belonged to King David.

³² Jonathan, the brother of David’s father, used much wisdom talking with people. And he was a writer. Jehiel the son of Hachmoni taught the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel talked about problems with the king. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend. ³⁴ Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abaiathar, talked with the king after Ahithophel. And Joab was the captain of the king’s army.

Solomon to Build the House of God

28 David gathered together all the leaders of Israel. There were leaders of the family groups, and leaders of the armies that served the king. There were captains of thousands, and of hundreds. There were leaders who cared for all the things and animals belonging to the king and his sons. There were the leaders and all the powerful soldiers. ² Then King David stood up and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had wanted to build a house of rest for the special box with the Law of the Lord, a place for God to rest His feet, so I had made plans to build it. ³ But God said to me, ‘You must not build a house for My name, because you are a man of war and blood.’ ⁴ But the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be the king of Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader. And in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among my father’s sons, He was pleased to make me king of all Israel. ⁵ The Lord has given me many sons. And of all my sons, He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the nation of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build My house and My open spaces. For I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his father. ⁷ I will make him king forever, if he is faithful to obey My Words and My Laws, as he is doing now.’ ⁸ So now I say to you in front of all these people of Israel, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to do all the Law of the Lord your God. If you obey you will receive the good land and also leave it to your children after you forever.

⁹ “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord looks into all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you look to Him, He will let you find Him. But if you turn away from Him, He will turn away from you forever. ¹⁰ Listen now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a place of worship. Be strong, and do it.”

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the Lord’s house, its buildings, and its store-houses. He gave him the plan of the rooms on its second floor, its inside rooms, and the room for the mercy-seat. ¹² He gave him the plan of all he had in mind. It showed the open spaces of the Lord’s house, and all the rooms around them. It showed the store-houses of the house of God, and the store-houses of the holy things. ¹³ He gave him the plan for the way the religious leaders and the Levites were to be divided up for all the work of the Lord’s house. He told how all the objects were to be used in worship in the Lord’s house. ¹⁴ David gave the weight of all the gold objects to be used in each part of worship. He gave the weight for all the silver objects to be used in each part of the worship. ¹⁵ The plan gave the weight of gold for the gold lamp-stands and gold lamps. It gave the weight of each lamp-stand and its lamps. It gave the weight of silver for the silver lamp-stands. It gave the weight of each lamp-stand and its lamps, by the use of each lamp-stand. ¹⁶ It gave the weight of gold for each table of holy bread, and of silver for the silver tables. ¹⁷ It gave the weight of the meat-hooks, the pots and the cups of pure gold. It gave the weight for each of the gold and silver pots. ¹⁸ It gave the weight of the fine gold of the altar of special perfume, and of the gold wagon and of the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the special box with the Law of the Lord. ¹⁹ David said, “This is in writing because His hand was upon me. He helped me to know all the plan.”

²⁰ Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong. Have strength of heart, and do it. Do not be afraid or troubled, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not stop helping you. He will not leave you until all the work of the house of the Lord is finished. ²¹ See, the religious leaders and the Levites are divided up to do all the work of the house of God. Every willing man who is able to do a special work will help you in all that is to be done. The leaders and all the people will do what you say.”