Beriah, and Shema. They were leaders of the families living in Aijalon and chased out the inhabitants of Gath.

Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.

These were the family leaders listed in the genealogical records; they lived in Jerusalem.

Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

The sons of Ulam were warriors who were adept archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.

Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families.

Their relatives, who were leaders of their families, numbered 1,760. They were capable men who were assigned to carry out the various tasks of service in God's temple.

The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader;

he serves to this day at the King's Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.

Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord's dwelling place.

All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet had appointed them to their positions.

They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the Lord's sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle).

The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides -- east, west, north, and south.

The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God's sanctuary.

They would spend the night in their posts all around God's sanctuary, for they were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key every morning.

Some of them were in charge of the articles used by those who served; they counted them when they brought them in and when they brought them out.

Some of them were in charge of the equipment and articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices.

Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each Sabbath.

The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks.

These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.

Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.

In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel's commanding general. The Lord your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.'"

These were the leaders of David's warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the Lord's word.

and said, "God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.

Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors.

The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,

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.

They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin.) These were:

Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,

Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.

These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.

When David went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh.

They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army.

From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.

From Levi there were 4,600.

From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.

From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.

From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.

From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command -- they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.

From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.

From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.

From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.

From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.

All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.

Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating.

They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,

while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.

along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;

Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style;

Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director;

Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark;

Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.

When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod.

All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord's covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments.

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;

and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God's covenant.

When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it,

including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers.

Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord. (For his loyal love endures!)

Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance.

Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.

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

Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were the king's leading officials.

So Hanun seized David's servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away.

Messengers came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back."

The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.

When Hadadezer's subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

Later there was a battle with the Philistines in Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.

These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by the hand of David and his soldiers.

Joab reported to David the number of warriors. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers.

Now the Lord's tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center in Gibeon.

The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.

The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran -- three in all. These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.

The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were Shimei's sons -- four in all.

Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.

The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer sacrifices before the Lord, to serve him, and to praise his name.

The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites.

These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the Lord's temple and were twenty years old and up.

According to David's final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted.

Their job was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the Lord's temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God's temple.

and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the Lord on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the Lord regularly in accordance with regulations.

They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the Lord's temple.

The divisions of Aaron's descendants were as follows: The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the holy place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.

David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility:

From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.

All these were the sons of Heman, the king's prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.