21 NOW SATAN, SETTING HIMSELF AGAINST ISRAEL, incited David to count the people. So he instructed Joab and his public officers to go out and number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and to report the number to him. Joab answered, 'Even if the LORD should increase his people a hundredfold, would not your majesty still be king and all the people your slaves? Why should your majesty want to do this? It will only bring guilt on Israel.' But Joab was overruled by the king; he set out and went up and down the whole country. He then came to Jerusalem and reported to David the numbers recorded: those capable of bearing arms were one million one hundred thousand in Israel, and four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah. Levi and Benjamin were not counted by Joab, so deep was his repugnance against the king's order. God was displeased with all this and proceeded to punish Israel. David said to God, 'I have done a very wicked thing: I pray thee remove thy servant's guilt, for I have been very foolish.' And the LORD said to Gad, David's seer, 'Go and tell David, "This is the word of the LORD: I have three things to offer you; choose one of them and I will bring it upon you."' So Gad came to David and said to him, 'This is the word of the LORD: "Make your choice: three years of famine, three months of harrying by your foes and close pursuit by the sword of your enemy, or three days of the LORD's own sword, bringing pestilence throughout the country, and the LORD's angel working destruction in all the territory of Israel." Consider now what answer I am to take back to him who sent me.' Thereupon David said to Gad, 'I am in a desperate plight; let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; and let me not fall into the hands of man.' So the LORD sent a pestilence throughout Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel died. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but, as he was destroying it, the LORD saw and repented of the evil, and said to the destroying angel at the moment when he was standing beside the threshing- floor of Ornan the Jebusite, 'Enough! Stay your hand.' When David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, with his sword drawn in hand and stretched out over Jerusalem, he and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell prostrate to the ground; and David said to God, 'It was I who gave the order to count the people. It was I who sinned, I, the shepherd, who did wrong. But these poor sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, let thy hand fall upon me and upon my family, but check this plague on the people.' The angel of the LORD, speaking through the lips of Gad, commanded David to go to the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite and set up there an altar to the LORD. David went up as Gad had bidden him in the LORD's name. Ornan's four sons who were with him hid themselves, but he was busy threshing his wheat when he turned and saw the angel. As David approached, Ornan looked up and, seeing the king, came out from the threshing-floor and prostrated himself before him. David said to Ornan, 'Let me have the site of the threshing-floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD; sell it me at the full price, that the plague which has attacked my people may be stopped.' Ornan answered David, 'Take it and let your majesty do as he thinks fit; see, here are the oxen for whole-offerings, the threshing-sledges for the fuel, and the wheat for the grain-offering; I give you everything.' But King David said to Ornan, 'No, I will pay the full price; I will not present to the LORD what is yours, or offer a whole-offering which has cost me nothing.' So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold for the site, and built an altar to the LORD there; on this he offered whole-offerings and shared-offerings, and called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire falling from heaven on the altar of whole-offering. Then, at the LORD's command, the angel sheathed his sword. It was when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing- floor of Ornan the Jebusite that he offered sacrifice there. The tabernacle of the LORD and the altar of whole-offering which Moses had made in the wilderness were then at the hill-shrine in Gibeon; but David had been unable to go there and seek God's guidance, so shocked and shaken was he 22 at the sight of the angel's sword. Then David said, 'This is to be the house of the LORD God, and this is to be an altar of whole-offering for Israel.' DAVID NOW GAVE ORDERS to assemble the aliens resident in Israel, and he set them as masons to dress hewn stones and to build the house of God. He laid in a great store of iron to make nails and clamps for the doors, more bronze than could be weighed and cedar-wood without limit; the men of Sidon and Tyre brought David an ample supply of cedar. David said, 'My son Solomon is a boy of tender years, and the house that is to be built to the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, renowned and celebrated in every land; therefore I must make preparations for it myself.' So David made abundant preparation before his death. He sent for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD the God of Israel. 'Solomon, my son,' he said, 'I had intended to build a house in honour of the name of the LORD my God; but the LORD forbade me and said, "You have shed much blood in my sight and waged great wars; for this reason you shall not build a house in honour of my name. But you shall have a son who shall be a man of peace; I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; his name shall be Solomon, 'Man of Peace', and I will grant peace and quiet to Israel in his days. He shall build a house in honour of my name; he shall be my son and I will be a father to him, and I will establish the throne of his sovereignty over Israel for ever." Now, Solomon my son, the LORD be with you! May you prosper and build the house of the LORD your God, as he promised you should. But may the LORD grant you wisdom and discretion, so that when he gives you authority in Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. You will prosper only if you re careful to observe the decrees and ordinances which the LORD enjoined upon Moses for Israel; be strong and resolute, neither faint-hearted nor dismayed. 'In spite of all my troubles, I have here ready for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver, with great quantities of bronze and iron, more than can be weighed; timber and stone, too, I have got ready; and you may add to them. Besides, you have a large force of workmen, masons, sculptors, and carpenters, and countless man skilled in work of every kind, in gold and silver, bronze and iron. So now to work, and the LORD be with you!' David ordered all the officers of Israel to help Solomon his son: 'Is not the LORD your God with you? Will he not give you peace on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my power, and they will be subject to the LORD and his people. Devote yourselves, therefore, heart and soul, to seeking guidance of the LORD your God, and set about building his sanctuary, so that the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD and God's holy vessels may be brought into a house built in honour of his name.' 23 David was now an old man, weighed down with years, and he appointed Solomon his son king over Israel. he gathered together all the officers of Israel, the priests, and the Levites. The Levites were enrolled from the age of thirty upwards, their males being thirty-eight thousand in all. Of these, twenty-four thousand were to be responsible for the maintenance and service of the house of the LORD, six thousand to act as officers and magis- trates, four thousand to be door-keepers, and four thousand to praise the LORD on musical instruments which David had made for the service of praise. David organized them in divisions, called after Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the sons of Levi. The sons of Gershon: Laadan and Shimei. The sons of Laadan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham and Joel, three. These were the heads of the families grouped under Laadan. The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah, four. Jahath was the chief and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah, having few children, were reckoned for duty as a single family. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, four. The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his sons in perpetuity, to dedicate the most holy gifts, to burn sacrifices before the LORD, to serve him, and to give the blessing in his name for ever, but the sons of Moses, the man of God, were to keep the name of Levite. The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. The sons of Gershom: Shubael the chief. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. When Eleazar died, he left daughters but no sons, and their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jeremoth, three. Such were the Levites, grouped by families in the father's line whose heads were entered in the detailed list; they performed duties in the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty upwards. For David said, 'The LORD God of Israel has given his people peace and has made his abode in Jerusalem for ever. The Levites will no longer have to carry the tabernacle or any of the vessels for its service.' By these last words of David the Levites were enrolled from the age of twenty upwards. Their duty was to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD: they were responsible for the care of the courts and the rooms, for the cleansing of all holy things, and the general service of the house of God; for the rows of the Bread of the Presence, the flour for the grain-offerings, unleavened wafers, cakes baked on the griddle, and pastry, and for the weights and measures. They were to be on duty continually before the LORD every morning and evening, giving thanks and praise to him, and at every offering of whole-offerings to the LORD, on sabbaths, new moons and at appointed seasons, according to their prescribed number. The Levites were to have charge of the Tent of the Presence and of the sanctuary, but the sons of Aaron their kinsmen were charged with the service of worship in the house of the LORD. 24 The divisions of the sons of Aaron: his sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadab and Abihu died before their father, leaving no sons; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar held the office of priest. David, acting with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and with Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, organized them in divisions for the discharge of the duties of their office. The male heads of families proved to be more numerous in the line of Eleazar than in that of Ithamar, so that sixteen heads of families were grouped under the line of Eleazar and eight under that of Ithamar. He organized them by drawing lots among them, for there were sacred offices and officers of God in the line of Eleazar and in that of Ithamar. Shemaiah the clerk, a Levite, son of Nethaneel, wrote down the names in the presence of the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and of the heads of the priestly and levitical families, one priestly family being taken from the line of Eleazar and one from that of Ithamar. The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, the fifth to Malchiah, the sixth to Muijamin, the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abiah, the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecanaiah, the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim, the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab, the fifteenth to Bilgah, the six- teenth to Immer, the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses, the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel, the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul, the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah. This was their order of duty for the discharge of their service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the rule prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, who had received his instructions from the LORD the God of Israel. Of the remaining Levites: of the sons of Amram: Shuabel. Of the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah. Of Rehabiah: Isshiah, the chief of Rehabiah's sons. Of the line of Izhar: Shelomoth. Of the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath. The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziek the third and Jekameam the fourth. The sons of Uzziek: Micah. Of the sons of Micah: Shamir; Micah's brother: Isshiah. Of the sons of Isshiah: Zechari- ah. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi and also Jaaziah his son. The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri. Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons; of Kish: the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel; and the sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth. These were the Levites by families. These also, side by side with their kinsmen the sons of Aaron, cast lots in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and levitical families, the senior and junior houses casting lots side by side. 25 David and his chief officers assigned special duties to the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, leaders in inspired prophecy to the accom- paniment of harps, lutes, and cymbals; the number of the men who per- formed this work in the temple was as follows. Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah; these were under Asaph, a leader in inspired prophecy under the king. Of the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, Izri, Isaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, Mattithiah, these six under their father Jeduthun, a leader in inspired prophecy to the accompaniment of the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD. Of the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattathiah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth; all these were sons of Heman the king's seer, given to him through the promises of God for his greater glory. God h ad given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters, and they all served under their father for the singing in the house of the LORD; they took part in the service of the house of God, with cymbal, lutes, and harps, while Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king. Reckoned with their kinsmen, trained singers of the LORD, they brought the total number of skilled musicians up to two hundred and eighty-eight. They cast lots for their duties, young and old, master-singer and apprentice side by side. The first lot fell to Joseph: he and his brothers and his sons, twelve. The second to Gedaliah: he and his brothers and his sons, twelve. The third to Zaccur: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fourth to Izri: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fifth to Nethaniah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The sixth to Bukkiah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The seventh to Asarelah: his sons and brothers, twelve. The eights to Isaiah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The ninth to Mattaniah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The tenth to Shimei: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The eleventh to Azareel: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twelfth was Hashabiah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The thirteenth To Shubael; his sons and his brothers, twelve. The fourteenth to Mat- tithiah: his sons and his brothers, twelve, the fifteenth to Jeremoth: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The sixteenth to Hananiah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The seventeenth to Joshbekashah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The eighteenth to Hanani: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The nineteenth to Mallothi: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twentieth to Eliathah: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty- first to Hothir: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-second to Giddalti: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-third to Mahazioth: his sons and his brothers, twelve. The twenty-fourth to Romanti-ezer: his sons and his brothers, twelve. 26 The divisions of the door-keepers: Korahites: Meselemiah son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph. Sons of Meshelemiah: Zechariah the eldest, Jediael the second, Zebediah the third, Jathniel the fourth, Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elionai the seventh. Sons of Obed-edom: Shemaiah the eldest, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Neth- aneel the fifth, Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth (for God had blessed him). Shemaiah, his son, was the father of sons who had authority in their family, for they were men of great ability. Sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad and his brothers Eilhu and Semachiah, men of ability. All these belonged to the family of Obed-edom; they, their sons and brothers, were men of ability, fit for service in the temple; total: sixty-two. Sons and brothers of Meshelemiah, all men of abil- ity, eighteen. Sons of Hosah, a Merarite: Shimri the chief (he was not the oldest, but his father had made him chief), Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. Total of Hosah's sons and brothers: thirteen. The male heads of families constituted the divisions of the door-keepers; their duty was to serve in the house of the LORD side by side with their kinsmen. Young and old, family by family, they cast lots for the gates. The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah; then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a prudent counsellor, and he was allotted the north gate. To Obed-edom was allotted the south gate, and the gatehouse to his sons. Hosah was allotted the west gate, together with the Shallecheth gate on the ascending causeway. Guard corresponded to guard. Six Levites were on duty daily on the east side, four on the north and four on the south, and two at each gatehouse; at the western colonnade there were four at the causeway and two at the colonnade itself. These were the divisions of the door-keepers, Korahites and Merarites. Fellow-Levites were in charge of the stores of the house of God and of the stores of sacred gifts. Of the children of Laadan, descendants of the Ger- shonite line through Laadan, heads of families in the groups of Laadan the Gershonite, Jehiel and his brothers Zetham and Joel were in charge of the stores of the house of the LORD. Of the families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, Shubael son of Gershom, son of Moses, was overseer of the stores. The line of Eliezer his brother: his son Rehabiah, his son Isaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. This Shelomoth and his kinsmen were in charge of all the stores of the sacred gifts dedicated by David the king, the heads of families, the officers over units of a thousand and a hundred, and other officers of the army. They had dedicated some of the spoils taken in the wars for the upkeep of the house of the LORD. Everything which Samuel the seer, Saul, son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, in short every sacred gift, was under the charge of Shelomoth and his kinsmen. Of the family of Izhar, Kenaniah and his sons acted as clerks and magistrates in the secular affairs of Israel. Of the family of Hebron, Hashabiah and his kinsmen, men of ability to the number of seventeen hundred, had the oversight of Israel west of the Jordan, both in the work of the LORD and in the service of the king. Also of the family of Hebron, Jeriah was the chief. (In the fortieth year of David's reign search was made for the family histories of the Hebron- ites, and men of great ability were found among them at Jazer in Gilead.) His kinsmen, all men of ability , two thousand seven hundred of them, heads of families, were charge by King David with the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in religious and civil affairs alike. 27 THE NUMBER OF THE ISRAELITES——that is to say, of the heads of fami- lies, the officers over units of a thousand and a hundred, and the clerks who had their share in the king's service in the various divisions which took monthly turns of duty throughout the year——was twenty-four thousand in each division. First, Jashobeam son of Zabdiel commanded the division for the first month with twenty-four thousand in his division; a member ofthe house of Perez, he was the chief officer of the temple staff for the first month. Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite commanded the division for the second month with twenty-four thousand in his division. Third, Benaiah son of Jehoiada the chief priest, commander of the army, was the chief officer for the third month with twenty-four thousand in his division (he was the Benaiah who was one of the thirty warriors and was chief among the thirty); but his son Ammizabad commanded his division. Fourth, Asahel, the brother of Joab, was the officer commanding for the fourth month with twenty-four thousand in his division; and his successor was Zebediah his son. Fifth, Shamhuth the Zerahite was the officer commanding for the fifth month with twenty-four thousand in his division. Sixth, Ira son of Ikkesh, a man of Tekoa, was the officer commanding for the sixth month with twenty- four thousand in his division. Seventh, Helez an Ephraimite, from a place unknown, was the officer commanding for the seventh month with twenty-four thousand in his division. Eighth, Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the family of Zerah, was the officer commanding for the eighth month with twenty-four thousand in his division. Ninth, Abiezer, from Anathoth in Benjamin, was the officer commanding for the ninth month with twenty- four thousand in his division. Tenth, Maharai the Netophathite, of the family of Zerah, was the officer commanding for the tenth month with twenty-four thousand in his division. Twelfth, Heldai, the Netophathite, of the family of Othniel, was the officer commanding for the twelfth month with twenty-four thousand in his division. The following were the principal officers in charge of the tribes of Israel: of Reuben, Eliezer son of Zichri; of Simeon, Shephatiah son of Maacah; of Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok; of Judah, Elihu a kinsman of David; of Issachar, Omri son of Michael; of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel; of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son od Pedaiah; of the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel sno of Abner; of Dan, Azareel son of Jeroham. These were the officers in charge of the tribes of Israel. David took no census of those under twenty years of age, for the LORD had promised to make the Israelites as many as the stars in the heavens. Joab son of Zeruiah did begin to take a census but he did not finish it; this brought harm upon Israel, and the census was not entered in the chronicles of King David's reign. Azmoth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's stores; Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the stores in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the fortresses. Ezri son of Kelub had oversight of the workers on the land; Shimei of Ramah was in charge of the vine-dressers, whole Zabdi of Shephem had charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine-cellars, Baal-hanan the Gederite supervised the wild olives and the sycamore-figs in the Shephelah; Joash was in charge of the oil-stores. Shitrai of Sharon was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon, Shaphat son of Adlai of the herds in the vales. Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite of the asses. Jaziz the Hagerite was in charge of the flocks. All these were the officers in charge of King David's possessions. David's favourite nephew Jonathan, a counsellor, a discreet and learned man, and Jehiel the Hachmonite, were tutors to the king's sons. Ahithophel was a king's counsellor: Hushai the Archite was the King's Friend. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the army. 28 DAVID ASSEMBLED AT JERUSALEM all the officers of Israel, the officers over the tribes, over the divisions engaged in the king's service, over the units of a thousand and a hundred, and those in charge of all the property and the cattle of the king and of his sons, as well as the eunuchs, the heroes and all the men of ability. Then King David rose to his feet and said, 'Hear me, kinsmen and people. I have in mind to build a house as a resting-place for the Ark of th Covenant of the LORD which might serve as a footstool for the feet of our God, and I made preparations to build it. But God said to me, "You shall not build a house in honour of my name, for you have been a fighting man and you have shed blood." Nevertheless, the LORD the God of Israel chose me out of all my father's family to be king over Israel in perpetuity; for it was Judah that he chose as a ruling tribe, and, out of the house of Judah, my father's family; and among my fathers sons it was I whom was pleased to make king over all Israel. And out of all my sons——for the LORD gave me many sons——he chose Solomon to sit upon the throne of the LORD's sovereignty over Israel; and he said to me, "It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me and I will be a father to him. I will establish his sovereignty in perpetuity, if only he steadfastly obeys my commandments and my laws as they are now obeyed." Now therefore, in the presence of all Israel, the assemmbly of the LORD, and within the hearing of our God, I bid you all study carefull the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and hand it down as an inheritance for all time to your children after you. And you, Solomon my son, acknowledge your father's God and serve him with whole heart and willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and discerns every invention of men's thoughts. If you search for him, he will let you find him, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. Remember, then, that the LORD has chosen you to build a house for a sanctuary: be steadfast and do it.' David gave Solomon his son the plan of the porch of the temple and its buildings, strong-rooms, roof-chambers and inner courts, and the shrine of expiation; also the plans of all he had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD and for the rooms around it and for the stores of God's house and for the stores of the sacred gifts, for the divisions of the priests and the Levites, for all the work connected with the service of the house of the LORD and for all the vessels used in its service. He prescribed the weight of gold for all the gold vessels used in the various services, and the weight of silver for all the silver vessels used in the various services; and the weight of gold for the gold lamp-stands, the weight required for each lamp-stand and its lamps according to the use of each; and the weight of gold for each of the tables for the rows of the Bread of the Presence, and of silver for the silver tables. He prescribed also the weight of pure gold for the forks, tossing-bowls and cups, the weight of gold for each of the golden dishes and of silver for each of the silver dishes; the weight also of refined gold for the altar of incense, and of gold for the model of the chariot, that its cherubim with their wings outspread to screen the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD. 'All this was drafted by the LORD's own hand,' said David; 'my part was to consider the detailed working out of the plan.' Then David said to Solomon his son, 'Be steadfast and resolute and do it; be neither faint-hearted nor dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work needed for the service of the house of the LORD. Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites, ready for all the service of the house of God. In all the work you will have the help of every willing craftsman for any task; and the officers and all the people will be entirely at your command.' 29 King David then said to the whole assembly, 'My son Solomon is the one chosen by God, Solomon alone, a boy of tender years; and this is a great work, for it is a palace not for man but for the LORD God. Now to the best of my strength I have made ready for the house of my God gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the woodwork, together with cornelian and other gems for setting, stones for mosaic work, precious stones of every sort, and marble in plenty. Further, because I delight in the house of my God, I give my own private store of gold and silver for the house of my God——over and above all the store which I have collected for the sanctuary——namely three thousand talents of gold, gold from Ophir, and seven thousand talents of fine silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, for providing gold for the gold work, silver for the silver, and for any work to be done by skilled craftsmen. Now who is willing to give with open hand to the LORD today?' Then the heads of the families, the officers administrating the tribes of Israel, the officers over units of a thousand and a hundred, and the officers in charge of the king's service, responded willingly and gave for the work of the house of God five thousand talents of gold, ten thousand darics, ten thousand talents of sliver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Further, those who possessed precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, into the charge of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at this willing response, because in the loyalty of thheir hearts they had given willingly to the LORD; King David was also full of joy, and he blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly and said, 'Blessed art thou, LORD God of our father Israel, from of old and for ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for ever in heaven and on earth is thine; thine, O LORD, is the sovereignty, and thou art exalted over all as head. Wealth and honour come from thee; thou rulest over all; might and power are of thy disposing; thine it is togive power and strength to all. And now, we give thanks, our God, and praise thy glorious name. But what am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to give willingly like this? For everything comes from thee, and it is only of thy gifts that we give to thee. We are aliens before thee and settlers, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are like a shadow, we have no abiding place. O LORD our God, from thee comes all this wealth that we have laid up to build a house in honour of thy holy name, and everything is thine. I know, O my God, that thou dost test the heart and that plain honesty pleases thee; with an honest heart I have given thee all these gifts willingly, and have rejoiced now to see thy people here present give willingly to thee. O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our fathers, maintain this purpose for ever in thy people's thoughts and direct their thoughts toward thyself. Grant that Soloman my son may loyally keep thy commandments, thy solemn charge, and they stautes, that he may fulfil them all and build the palace for which I have prepared.' Then, turning to the whole assembly, David said, 'Now bless the LORD your God.' o all the assembly blessed the LORD the God of their fathers, bowing low and prosttrating themselves before the LORD and theking. The next day they sacrificed to the LORD and offered whole-offerings to him, a thousand oxen and a thousand rams, a thousand lamb, with the prescribed drink-offerings, and abundant sacrifices for all Israel. So they ate and drank before the LORD that day with great rejoicing. They then appointed Solomon, David's son, king a second time and anointed him as the LORD's prince, and Zadok as priest. So Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David, and he prospered and all Israel obeyed him. All the officers and the warriors, as well as all the sons of King David, swore fealty to King Solomon. The LORD made Solomon stand very high in the eyes of all Israel, and bestowed upon him sovereignty such as no king in Israel had had before him. David son of Jesse had ruled over the whole of Israel, and the length of his reign over Israel was forty years; he ruled for seven years in Hebron, and for thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died in ripe old age, full of years, wealth, and honour; and Solomon his son ruled in his place. The events of King David's reign from first to last are recorded in th books of Samuel the seer, of Nathan the prophet, and of Gad the seer, with a full acount of his reign, his prowess, and of the times through which he and Israel and all the kingdoms of the world had passed. The New English Bible (with Apocrypha)
Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, 1970
Submitted October 01, 2019 at 02:01AM by MarleyEngvall https://ift.tt/2n4YimK
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