So they hired them thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle , that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at 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, exceeding much.

And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.

And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.

Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.

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

Go and speak unto David, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Take which thou wilt:

either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before thy foes, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of Jehovah, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Jehovah destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.

Then the angel of Jehovah commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar unto Jehovah: for the full price shalt thou give it me, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal-offering; I give it all.

And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for Jehovah, nor offer a burnt-offering without cost.

So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

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

And David commanded to gather together the sojourners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.

and cedar-trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-trees in abundance to David.

And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Jehovah must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Jehovah, the God of Israel.

And David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.

But the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.

Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days:

Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed.

David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son,'saying ,

Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.

Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;

and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made,'said David , to praise therewith.

And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, for ever, to burn incense before Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever.

And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them to wife .

and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.

For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;

and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;

and to offer all burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Jehovah;

And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.

And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers houses, eight.

Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,

the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,

the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,

the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.

This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Jehovah according to the ordinance given unto them by Aaron their father, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was:

All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto Jehovah, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve:

the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:

for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.

All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.

Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.

And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers houses, for every gate.

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.

To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, watch against watch.

Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.

For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.

The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.

Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.

Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers houses . In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.

And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers houses , whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.

Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit , the heads of fathers houses and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year-of every course were twenty and four thousand.

But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.

Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.

Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.