And he said, "Far be it from me [that] I would do this before my God. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For {at the risk of their lives} they brought it." And he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

And, Abishai brother of Joab - he, was the chief of three, he, having brandished his spear against three hundred - who were slain, - and so, he, had a name among three.

Of the three in the second rank, was he honourable, therefore became he their captain, - though, unto the first three, did he not attain.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, great in exploits, of Kabzeel: he it was that smote two lions of Moab; and he went down and smote a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

he, also smote an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits, and, in the hand of the Egyptian, was a spear like a weaver's beam, so he went down unto him with a staff, - and wrested the spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, and slew him with his spear.

Among the thirty, lo! honourable, was he, but, unto the first three, did he not attain, - howbeit David set him over his council.

Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth, who was the armor-bearer for Zeruiah's son Joab,

These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle.

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,

Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them), Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah,

Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,

These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over a hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.

These, are they who passed over the Jordan, in the first month, when, it, was full, over all its banks, - and they put to flight all them of the vales, to the east and to the west.

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

From Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.”

for, from day to day, there came unto David, to help him, - until it was a great camp, like a camp of God.

And Jehoiada, was chief ruler for Aaron, - and, with him, three thousand and seven hundred;

And of the children of Issachar, there were two hundred chiefs, men who had expert knowledge of the times and what it was best for Israel to do, and all their brothers were under their orders.

All these warriors, lined up in battle formation, came to Hebron fully determined to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel was also of one mind to make David king.

Moreover also, they who were near of kin unto them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing bread, on asses and on camels and on mules and on oxen, meal-food, cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep - in abundance, - for there was joy Israel.

Than said all the convocation, that it should be done thus, - for right was the thing, in the eyes of all the people.

And David will go up, and all Israel, to Baalah, to the cities of the forests which were to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God Jehovah dwelling in the cherubims, which the name was called.

Then was kindled the anger of Yahweh against Uzza, and he smote him, because he thrust forth his hand unto the ark, - and he died there, before God.

And it was a sadness unto David, that Yahweh had broken in with a breach against Uzza, - and he called that place Perez-uzza, as it is called unto this day.

And David was afraid of God, on that day, saying, - How can I bring unto me, the ark of God?

And the ark of God was in the house of Obed-edom for three months; and the Lord sent a blessing on the house of Obed-edom and on all he had.

So David perceived, that Yahweh, had confirmed him, as king over Israel, - that his kingship was exalted, for the sake of his people Israel.

And while he was living in Jerusalem, David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters.

And the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went out against them.

And David's name was honoured in all lands; and the Lord put the fear of him on all nations.

Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.

because at the first it was not ye, Jehovah our God made a breach upon us, because we sought Him not according to the ordinance.'

And the Levites chose Heman the son of Joel, and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah. And from the sons of Merari their brothers, was Ethan the son of Kushaiah.

And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites for the music, gave instruction in music, for he was skilful.

Thus, it was, David and the elders of Israel, and the rulers of thousands, who were going, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, out of the house of Obed-edom, with joy.

And so it was that, when God helped the Levites, who were bearing the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.

And David was clothed with a robe of byssus, and all the Levites that bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah chief of the music of the singers; and David had upon him a linen ephod.

So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, the sound of the ram’s horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and the playing of harps and lyres.

And so it was that, when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came in as far as the city of David, - and Michal daughter of Saul looked forth through the window, and saw King David, dancing and playing, that she despised him in her heart.

Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals;

Later David left the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD so Asaph and his fellow descendants of Levi could serve the ark there continually each day, doing whatever was required.

And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon,

to offer burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings and to do everything that was written in the law of the Lord, which He had commanded Israel to keep.

Now when David was living in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, See, I am living in a house of cedar-wood, but the ark of the Lord's agreement is under the curtains of a tent.

But so it was that, in that night, the word of God came unto Nathan, saying:

and was with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and have out off all thine enemies, from before thee, - and will make thee a name, like the name of the great ones, who are in the earth;

And it was When thy days were completed to go with thy fathers, and I raised up thy seed after thee, which shall be from thy sons; and I prepared his kingdom.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son; and I will not take away my mercy from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;

And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

And it shall be firm, and thy name shall be magnified even to forever, saying, Jehovah of armies, God of Israel, is God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant was prepared before thee.

Then David overcame Hadadezer, king of Zobah, near Hamath, when he was going to make his power seen by the river Euphrates.

And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and so it was that the Syrians became, David's, servants, bearers of a present, - so Yahweh gave victory to David, whithersoever he went.

and he sent Hadoram his son to king David to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him; for Hadarezer was continually at war with Tou; he sent also all manner of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.

So David reigned over all Israel, - and he was executing justice and righteousness for all his people;

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chronicler;

and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;

and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were the first at the king's hand.

David said, "I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal to me." So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father's death. When David's servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king's sympathy,

When David was told how the men were treated, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were very humiliated and ashamed [to return]. So the king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow [back], and then return.”

When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.

And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;

And Aram will see that they were smitten before Israel, and they will send messengers and bring forth Aram that was from beyond the river: and Shophach the chief of the army of Hadarezer before them.

And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. And David put the battle in array against the Syrians, and they fought with him.

And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became servants to him. So Aram was no longer willing to help the {Ammonites}.

And it came to pass, at the time of the turn of the year, at the time of the going forth of kings, that Joab led forth the force of the army, and laid waste the land of the sons of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah, but, David, was tarrying in Jerusalem, - and Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.

And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

He removed the city's residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, after this, that there was yet again a battle in Gezer, with the Philistines, - then, Sibbecai the Hushathite smote Sippai of the children of the giants, and they were subdued.

And there was again a battle with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair smote Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite; now the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam.

And there was again a battle, at Gath; and there was a man there of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to Rapha.

But the king's word was stronger than Joab's. So Joab went out and went through all Israel and came to Jerusalem.

And Joab delivered the sum of the number of the people, unto David, - and all Israel was found to be a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men, who drew sword, and Judah, four hundred and seventy thousand men, who drew sword.

But Levi and Benjamin he did not count among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.

And God was displeased on account of this thing, and he smote Israel.

And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; and as he was destroying, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough; withdraw now thine hand. And the angel of Jehovah stood by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David said unto God, Was it not, I, who gave word to number the people? Yea, I, it was who sinned and did the great wrong, what then had, these sheep, done? O Yahweh, my God, let thy hand, I beseech thee, be against me, and against the house of my father, but not against, thy people, that they should be plagued!

Then the angel of the Lord gave orders to Gad to say to David that he was to go and put up an altar to the Lord on the grain-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And Ornan turned back and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Jehovah.

David also provisioned abundant supplies of iron for nails to build the doors for gates and to build clamps. Furthermore, he provided so much bronze it wasn't inventoried,

And David said to Solomon, As for me, my son, I was minded to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.

And behold in my affliction I prepared for the house of Jehovah, gold, a hundred thousand talents, and silver, a thousand thousand talents; and for brass and for iron, no weight; for it was for abundance: and woods and stones I prepared, and upon them thou wilt add.

Is not Jehovah your God with you? and he caused rest to you from round about? for he gave into my hand the inhabitants of the land; and the land was subdued before Jehovah, and before his people.

And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.

And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.

Of the Gershonites was Ladan and Shimei.

The sons of Laadan: the head was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.

And Jahath was the head, and Ziza the second; and Jeush and Beriah had not many sons: as father's house, therefore, they were reckoned as one.

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated, that he should be hallowed as most holy, he and his sons for ever, to offer before Jehovah, to do service to him, and to bless in his name for ever.

Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.

The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

The son of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.

Hebron’s sons: Jeriah was first, Amariah second, Jahaziel third, and Jekameam fourth.

Uzziel’s sons: Micah was first, and Isshiah second.

For by the last words of David was this done, the numbering of the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward.

For their place was by the side of the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, over the courts, and over the chambers, and over the purifying of all holy things, and for the work of the service of the house of God;

The holy bread was in their care, and the crushed grain for the meal offering, of unleavened cakes or meal cooked over the fire or in water; they had control of all sorts of weights and measures;

And to wait on every offering of burnt sacrifices unto the LORD, the Sabbaths and first days of the months, and other feastful days by number and custom, was their office ever before the LORD.

And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, inscribed them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the chief fathers of the priests and Levites: one father's house was drawn for Eleazar, and one drawn for Ithamar.

Now the first name to come out was that of Jehoiarib; the second Jedaiah,