the Pathrusim, the Casluhim (from whom the Philistines descended), and the Caphtorim.

After Bela died, Zerah's son Jobab from Bozrah succeeded him.

After Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him.

After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.

After Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River succeeded him.

But Geshur and Aram took 60 towns from Gilead, including Havvoth-jair and Kenath, along with their villages. All these were descendants of Machir, who fathered Gilead.

The families of Kiriath-jearim included the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites. The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites came from them.

The families of the scribes who lived at Jabez included the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, who fathered the house of Rechab.

Later on, Jabez called on the God of Israel, asking him, ""whether you would bless me again and again, enlarge my territory, keep your power with me, keep me from evil, and keep me from harm!" And God granted what he had requested.

They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 war captives from their possessions.

The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, spread out from Bashan to Baal-hermon, including Senir and Mount Hermon.

These are the men who served, including their descendants: From the descendants of Kohath, there was Heman the singer, who had been fathered by Joel, who had been fathered by Samuel,

From the tribe of Benjamin were allotted Geba with its surrounding suburbs, Alemeth with its surrounding suburbs, and Anathoth with its surrounding suburbs. All their towns allotted to their families totaled thirteen.

To the descendants of Gershom according to their families were allotted 13 towns in Bashan from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh.

The descendants of Merari were allotted 12 towns according to their families from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

allocating these towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

A few of the families of Kohath's descendants had towns of their territory allotted from the tribe of Ephraim.

and (from of the half-tribe of Manasseh), Aner with its surrounding suburbs, and Bileam with its surrounding suburbs for the rest of the Kohathite families.

From the half-tribe of Manasseh the descendants of Gershom were allotted Golan in Bashan with its surrounding suburbs and Ashtaroth with its surrounding suburbs.

From the tribe of Issachar were allotted Kedesh with its surrounding suburbs, Daberath with its surrounding suburbs,

From of the tribe of Asher were allotted Mashal with its surrounding suburbs, Abdon with its surrounding suburbs,

From the tribe of Naphtali were allotted Kedesh in Galilee with its surrounding suburbs, Hammon with its surrounding suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its surrounding suburbs.

From the tribe of Zebulun the rest of the descendants of Merari were allotted Rimmono with its surrounding suburbs, and Tabor with its surrounding suburbs,

across the Jordan from Jericho, that is, on the east side of the Jordan, from the tribe of Reuben were allotted Bezer in the steppe with its surrounding suburbs, Jahzah with its surrounding suburbs,

From the tribe of Gad were allotted Ramoth in Gilead with its surrounding suburbs, Mahanaim with its surrounding suburbs,

In addition, Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and the Hushites were descended from Aher.

and Mikloth, who fathered Shimeah. Now these also lived with their relatives across town in Jerusalem from their other relatives.

Ammihud's son Uthai, who was the grandson of Omri, who was the great-grandson of Imri, who was fathered by Bani from the descendants of Judah's son Perez.

From the descendants of Shilon there was Asaiah the firstborn, along with his descendants.

From the descendants of Zerah there was Jeuel, along with 690 of their relatives.

From the descendants of Benjamin there was Meshullam's son Sallu, who was also the grandson of Hodaviah and great-grandson of Hassenuah,

From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,

From the descendants of Levi there was Hasshub's son Shemaiah, who was the grandson of Azrikam, who was fathered by Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari;

These singers, leaders of ancestral households of the descendants of Levi, were living in the chambers of the Temple. Freed from other service responsibilities, they were on duty day and night.

Mikloth fathered Shimeam. They lived across town from their relatives in Jerusalem.

So Saul died for his transgressions; that is, he acted unfaithfully to the LORD by transgressing the message from the LORD (which he did not keep), by consulting a medium for advice,

and by not seeking counsel from the LORD, who therefore put him to death and turned the kingdom over to Jesse's son David.

He built up the walls surrounding the city in a complete circle from the terrace ramparts, and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

These are the leaders of the elite warriors who were strong supporters of David in his kingdom, along with all of Israel, in keeping with the message from the LORD concerning Israel.

He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were there to engage them in battle. There was a field planted with barley, and the army had run away from the Philistines,

David expressed a longing, "Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that's by the city gate!"

So the Three Warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, poured it out in the LORD's presence, and

Joab's brother Abishai was the lieutenant in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three.

Jehoiada's son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named Ariel from Moab and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day.

He also killed a soldier from Egypt of enormous height five cubits tall. The Egyptian carried a spear comparable in size to a weaver's beam, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

The elite forces included Asahel (Joab's brother), Dodo's son Elhanan from Bethlehem,

Shammoth from Haror, Helez the Pelonite,

Ikkesh's son Ira from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth,

Maharai from Netophah, Baanah's son Heled from Netophah,

Ribai's son Ithai from Gibeah, controlled by the descendants of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon,

Hurai from the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon,

Hezro from Carmel, Ezbai's son Naarai,

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

Their leaders were Shemaah's sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmaveth's sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth,

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

and Jeroham's sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.

Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks and as agile as a gazelle on a mountain slope.

Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.

Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.

Then he addressed the entire community of Israel, "If it seems good to you and something from the Lord our God, let's spread word to all of our relatives who remain throughout the entire land of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi in the cities and pasture lands, so they can gather together with us.

So David assembled all of Israel from the Shihor River of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the LORD, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name.

They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart, bringing it from Abinadab's home, with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart.

When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, because God will have gone out ahead of you to destroy the Philistine army."

So David did just as God had ordered, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

including Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives,

from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives,

from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives,

from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives,

from Hebron's descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives,

and from Uzziel's descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives.

Because you didn't carry it from the very first, the LORD our God attacked us, since we didn't care for it appropriately."

The descendants of Levi carried the Ark of God the way Moses had commanded and in accordance with the command from the LORD that is, with poles on their shoulders.

Then David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of groups of thousands proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Obed-edom's house, rejoicing as they went.

David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod.

wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another,

Call out, "Save us, God, you who delivers us! Gather us and rescue us from the nations! We will thank your holy name and rejoice as we praise you!

Praise the LORD God of Israel, who lives from eternity to eternity! Then all of the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from God:

"""You won't be building a house for me to inhabit, will you? After all, I haven't lived in a house from the day I brought out Israel until today. Instead, I've lived from tent to tent and from one place to another.

"Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David: "This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "I took you from the pasture myself from tending sheep to become Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.

during the time I had commanded judges to administer my people Israel. I'll also grant you deliverance from all your enemies.

I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you.

"LORD, there is no one like you, and we have heard from no god other than you.

What other one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, God, which you have redeemed from slavery to become your own people, making a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You did awesome miraculous deeds, driving out nations that stood in their way.

After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and then took possession of Gath and its towns from Philistine control.

David confiscated 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and hamstrung all of the chariot horses except for a reserve force of 100 chariots.

When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them.

David also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, cities under Hadadezer's control. Later on, Solomon crafted the bronze sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels for the Temple.

to King David, which David also dedicated to the LORD, along with silver and gold that he confiscated from all the surrounding nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with David, Hanun and the Ammonites spent 1,000 silver talents to hire chariots and mercenaries from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah.

They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who arrived and encamped at Medeba. The Ammonites also were mustered and came out to battle from their home cities.

When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed some special forces from Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans,

When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Joab's brother Abishai back to the city and Joab left for Jerusalem.

The Arameans retreated from Israel, and David's forces killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and Shophach, the commander of their army.

David confiscated the crown of their king from his head, and found that its weight was a talent in gold. A precious stone had been set in it, and it was placed on David's head. He also confiscated a great amount of war booty that had been plundered from the city,

These descendants from the giants in Gath died at the hands of David and his servants.

David ordered Joab and the commanders of the army, "Go take a census of Israel from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report so I can be aware of the total number."

Either three years of famine, or three months of reversals as you are swept away by your enemies while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or three days with the sword of the LORD, consisting of pestilence infecting the land, with the angel of the LORD wreaking destruction from border to border throughout all of Israel.' Decide right now what I am to answer to the one who sent me."