Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 The sons of Re’uven the firstborn of Isra’el — he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Yosef the son of Isra’el, though not in such a way as for him to be regarded in the genealogy as the firstborn.

2 For Y’hudah became greater than his brothers, inasmuch as the ruler came from him; nevertheless, the birthright went to Yosef.

3 So these are the sons of Re’uven the firstborn of Isra’el: Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi.

4 The descendants of Yo’el: his son Sh’ma‘yah, his son Gog, his son Shim‘i,

5 his son Mikhah, his son Re‘ayah, his son Ba‘al,

6 and his son Be’erah. Tilgat-Piln’eser king of Ashur carried him away captive; he was leader of the Re’uveni.

7 His brothers, by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records were: Ye‘i’el the leader, Z’kharyah

8 and Bela the son of ‘Azaz the son of Sh’ma the son of Yo’el. He lived in ‘Aro‘er, with territory extending to N’vo and Ba‘al-M‘on;

9 while to the east he occupied territory that extended to the beginning of the desert as one comes from the Euphrates River; because their cattle multiplied in the land of Gil‘ad.

10 In the time of Sha’ul they went to war with the Hagri’im; after defeating them they occupied their tents throughout all the territory east of Gil‘ad.

11 The descendants of Gad lived across from them, in the territory from Bashan to Salkhah:

12 Yo’el was the leader, Shafam second, then Yanai and Shafat in Bashan.

13 The houses of their fathers’ brothers were: Mikha’el, Meshulam, Sheva, Yorai, Ya‘kan, Zia and ‘Ever — seven altogether.

14 These are the sons of Avichayil the son of Huri the son of Yaroach the son of Gil‘ad the son of Mikha’el the son of Yeshishai the son of Yachdo the son of Buz;

15 Achi the son of ‘Avdi’el the son of Guni was leader of their fathers’ house.

16 They lived in Gil‘ad, in Bashan, in its towns and in all the pasture lands of the plain as far as their borders.

17 All these were listed in genealogies during the times of Yotam king of Y’hudah and Yarov‘am king of Isra’el.

18 The descendants of Re’uven, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh included 44,760 brave men who were available for warfare, able to take up shield and sword, shoot with the bow, or make use of other war skills.

19 These made war with the Hagri’im, Y’tur, Nafish and Nodav.

20 They received help against them, so that the Hagri’im and all who were allied with them suffered defeat at their hands; because they cried out to God while they were fighting, and he did as they requested, because they put their trust in him.

21 From their livestock they carried off 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2,000 donkeys; they also took captive 100,000 persons.

22 Many were slaughtered, because the war was of God, and they lived in their territory until the captivity.

23 The descendants of the half-tribe of M’nasheh lived and increased in the territory from Bashan to Ba‘al-Hermon, S’nir and Mount Hermon.

24 The leaders of their fathers’ houses were: ‘Efer, Yish‘i, Eli’el, ‘Azri’el, Yirmeyah, Hodavyah and Yachdi’el, strong, brave, famous men, leaders of their fathers’ houses.

25 But they broke faith with the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed ahead of them.

26 So the God of Isra’el stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Ashur and the spirit of Tilgat-Piln’eser king of Ashur; and he carried them away as captives — the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh — and brought them to Halach, Havor, Hara and to the Gozan River, where they are to this day.

27 The sons of Levi: Gershon, K’hat and M’rari.

28 The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el.

29 The children of ‘Amram: Aharon, Moshe and Miryam. The sons of Aharon: Nadav, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar.

30 El‘azar fathered Pinchas, Pinchas fathered Avishua,

31 Avishua fathered Buki, Buki fathered ‘Uzi,

32 ‘Uzi fathered Z’rachyah, Z’rachyah fathered M’rayot,

33 M’rayot fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv,

34 Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Achima‘atz,

35 Achima‘atz fathered ‘Azaryah, ‘Azaryah fathered Yochanan,

36 and Yochanan fathered ‘Azaryah. He functioned ascohenin the house that Shlomo built in Yerushalayim.

37 ‘Azaryah fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv,

38 Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Shalum,

39 Shalum fathered Hilkiyah, Hilkiyah fathered ‘Azaryah,

40 ‘Azaryah fathered S’rayah, S’rayah fathered Y’hotzadak,

41 and Y’hotzadak went into captivity whenAdonaicarried Y’hudah and Yerushalayim away at the hands of N’vukhadnetzar.

1 The sons of Levi: Gershom, K’hat and M’rari.

2 These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Livni and Shim‘i.

3 The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el.

4 The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi.

These are the families of theL’vi’imaccording to father’s clans:

5 [The descendants] of Gershom: his son Livni, his son Yachat, his son Zimah,

6 his son Yo’ach, his son ‘Iddo, his son Zerach, his son Ye’atrai.

7 The descendants of K’hat: his son ‘Amminadav, his son Korach, his son Asir,

8 his son Elkanah, his son Evyasaf, his son Asir,

9 his son Tachat, his son Uri’el, his son ‘Uziyah and his son Sha’ul.

10 The sons of Elkanah: ‘Amasai and Achimot.

11 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: his son Tzofai, his son Nachat,

12 his son Eli’av, his son Yerocham and his son Elkanah.

13 The sons of Sh’mu’el: Vashni the firstborn, then Aviyah.

14 The descendants of M’rari: Machli, his son Livni, his son Shim‘i, his son ‘Uzah,

15 his son Shim‘a, his son Hagiyah and his son ‘Asayah.

16 David appointed them to be in charge of the service of song in the house ofAdonaiafter the ark had found a permanent resting place.

17 They served as singers before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Shlomo had built the house ofAdonaiin Yerushalayim; and they carried out their tasks in a prescribed order.

18 Those who carried out these tasks and their descendants were — starting with descendants of the K’hati — Heman the singer, the son of Yo’el the son of Sh’mu’el,

19 the son of Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eli’el, the son of Toach,

20 the son of Tzuf, the son of Elkanah, the son of Machat, the son of ‘Amasai,

21 the son of Elkanah, the son of Yo’el, the son of ‘Azaryah, the son of Tz’fanyah,

22 the son of Tachat, the son of Asir, the son of Evyasaf, the son of Korach,

23 the son of Yitz’har, the son of K’hat, the son of Levi, the son of Isra’el.

24 His brother Asaf, who stood on his right, was Asaf the son of Berekhyah, the son of Shim‘a,

25 the son of Mikha’el, the son of Ba‘aseyah, the son of Malkiyah,

26 the son of Etni, the son of Zerach the son of ‘Adayah,

27 the son of Eitan, the son of Zimah, the son of Shim‘i,

28 the son of Yachat, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

29 On the left were their kinsmen the descendants of M’rari: Eitan the son of Kishi, the son of ‘Avdi, the son of Malukh,

30 the son of Hashavyah, the son of Amatzyah, the son of Hilkiyah,

31 the son of Amtzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,

32 the son of Machli, the son of Mushi, the son of M’rari, the son of Levi.

33 Their kinsmen theL’vi’imwere put in charge of all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

34 But Aharon and his sons were the ones who offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the service of the Especially Holy Place and to make atonement for Isra’el, in keeping with all that Moshe the servant of God had ordered to be done.

35 These are the descendants of Aharon: his son El‘azar, his son Pinchas, his son Avishua,

36 his son Buki, his son ‘Uzi, his son Z’rachyah,

37 his son M’rayot, his son Amaryah, his son Achituv,

38 his son Tzadok and his son Achima‘atz.

39 These were the settlements of the descendants of Aharon according to the territories assigned them: to the descendants of Aharon, of the clans of the K’hati — for the first lot fell to them —

40 they gave Hevron in the land of Y’hudah with the open land surrounding it,

41 but the fields and the dependent villages of the city they gave to Kalev the son of Y’funeh.

42 To the descendants of Aharon they gave the city of refuge Hevron, also Livnah with its surrounding open land, Yatir, Esht’moa with its surrounding open land,

43 Hilen with its surrounding open land, D’vir with its surrounding open land,

44 ‘Ashan with its surrounding open land, Beit-Shemesh with its surrounding open land;

45 and out of the tribe of Binyamin: Geva with its surrounding open land, ‘Alemet with its surrounding open land and ‘Anatot with its surrounding open land. All the cities for all their clans amounted to thirteen cities.

46 The rest of the descendants of K’hat were assigned by lot, clan by clan, ten cities from the half-tribe of M’nasheh.

47 The descendants of Gershom were assigned, clan by clan, thirteen cities from the tribes of Yissakhar, Asher, Naftali and M’nasheh in Bashan.

48 To the descendants of M’rari were assigned by lot, clan by clan, twelve cities from the tribes of Re’uven, Gad and Z’vulun.

49 So the people of Isra’el gave theL’vi’imthese cities with the surrounding open land.

50 From the tribes of the descendants of Y’hudah, Shim‘on and Binyamin they assigned these cities mentioned by name.

51 Some of the clans of the descendants of K’hat were given cities in territory from the tribe of Efrayim.

52 They gave them the city of refuge Sh’khem in the hills of Efrayim with the surrounding open land, also Gezer with the surrounding open land,

53 Yokme‘am with the surrounding open land, Beit-Horon with the surrounding open land,

54 Ayalon with the surrounding open land, and Gat-Rimmon with the surrounding open land;

55 and out of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: ‘Aner with the surrounding open land and Bil‘am with the surrounding open land, for the rest of the clans of the descendants of K’hat.

56 The descendants of Gershom were given, from the clans of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: Golan in Bashan with the surrounding open land and ‘Ashtarot with the surrounding open land;

57 and from the tribe of Yissakhar: Kedesh with the surrounding open land, Davrat with the surrounding open land,

58 Ramot with the surrounding open land and ‘Anem with the surrounding open land;

59 and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with the surrounding open land, ‘Avdon with the surrounding open land,

60 Hukok with the surrounding open land and Rechov with the surrounding open land;

61 and from the tribe of Naftali: Kedesh in the Galil with the surrounding open land, Hamon with the surrounding open land and Kiryatayim with the surrounding open land.

62 To the rest [of theL’vi’im], the descendants of M’rari, were given, from the tribe of Z’vulun: Rimmono with the surrounding open land and Tavor with the surrounding open land;

63 and beyond the Yarden at Yericho, on the east side of the Yarden, they were given, from the tribe of Re’uven: Betzer in the desert with the surrounding open land, Yahatz with the surrounding open land,

64 K’demot with the surrounding open land and Mefa‘at with the surrounding open land;

65 and from the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil‘ad with the surrounding open land, Machanayim with the surrounding open land,

66 Heshbon with the surrounding open land and Ya‘zer with the surrounding open land.

1 The sons of Yissakhar were: Tola, Pu’ah, Yashuv and Shimron — four.

2 The sons of Tola were: ‘Uzi, Refayah, Yeri’el, Yachmai, Yivsam and Sh’mu’el. They were heads of their fathers’ clans, descended from Tola; they were strong, brave men in their generations. In the time of David they numbered 22,600.

3 The son of ‘Uzi was Yizrachyah, and the sons of Yizrachyah were: Mikha’el, ‘Ovadyah, Yo’el and Yishiyah — five, all of them leaders.

4 With them, by their generations, in their fathers’ clans, were army troops organized for war, 36,000 of them, because they had many women and children.

5 Their kinsmen among all the clans of Yissakhar, strong, brave men, numbered 87,000, listed in genealogical records.

6 [The sons of] Binyamin were: Bela, Bekher and Y’dia‘el — three.

7 The sons of Bela were: Etzbon, ‘Uzi, ‘Uzi’el, Yerimot and ‘Iri — five; they were leaders of fathers’ clans, strong, brave men. They numbered 22,034, listed in genealogical records.

8 The sons of Bekher were: Z’mirah, Yo’ash, Eli‘ezer, Elyo‘enai, ‘Omri, Yeremot, Aviyah, ‘Anatot and ‘Alemet; all these were sons of Bekher.

9 Listed in genealogical records by generations under leaders of fathers’ clans, who were strong, brave men, were 20,200.

10 The son of Y’dia‘el was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were: Ye‘ush, Binyamin, Ehud, Kena‘anah, Zeitan, Tarshish and Achishachar.

11 All these were descendants of Y’dia‘el, leaders of their fathers’ clans, who were brave, strong men; they numbered 17,200, all fit to fight with the army.

12 [More descendants of Binyamin:] Shupim, Hupim, the sons of ‘Ir.

Hushim, the son of another [of Isra’el’s sons, namely, Dan].

13 The sons of Naftali were: Yachtzi’el, Guni, Yetzer, Shalum, the sons of Bilhah.

14 The descendants of M’nasheh: his concubine the woman from Aram bore Makhir the father of Gil‘ad; Asri’el [Gil‘ad’s son] was descended from her.

15 Makhir’s wife was from the families of Hupim and Shupim, and his sister’s name was Ma‘akhah. M’nasheh’s second son was Tz’lof’chad, and Tz’lof’chad had daughters.

16 Ma‘akhah the wife of Makhir bore a son whom she named Peresh, the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.

17 The son of Ulam was B’dan. These were the descendants of Gil‘ad the son of Makhir the son of M’nasheh.

18 His sister Hammolekhet [the governor] bore Ish-Hod, Avi‘ezer and Machlah.

19 The sons of Sh’mida were Achyan, Sh’khem, Lik’chi and Ani‘am.

20 The descendants of Efrayim were: Shutelach, his son Bered, his son Tachat, his son El‘adah, his son Tachat,

21 his son Zavad and his son Shutelach; also ‘Ezer and El‘ad, whom the men of Gat born in the land killed when they came down to raid their cattle.

22 Efrayim their father mourned for a long time, and his kinsmen came to comfort him.

23 Then he had sexual relations with his wife, and she conceived and bore a son whom he called B’ri‘ah [in calamity], because his household had suffered a calamity.

24 His daughter was She’erah, who built upper and lower Beit-Horon and Uzen-She’erah.

25 Refach was his son, and Reshef, then his son Telach, his son Tachan

26 his son La‘dan, his son ‘Ammihud, his son Elishama,

27 his son Nun and his son Y’hoshua.

28 Their possessions and settlements were Beit-El with its towns; Na‘aran to the east; and to the west, Gezer with its towns; also Sh’khem with its towns, as far as ‘Ayah and its towns;

29 and, near the territory of the descendants of M’nasheh, Beit-Sh’an with its towns, Ta‘nakh with its towns, Megiddo with its towns and Dor with its towns. In these places lived the descendants of Yosef the son of Isra’el.

30 The children of Asher were: Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, B’ri‘ah and their sister Serach.

31 The sons of B’ri‘ah were: Hever and Malki’el, who fathered Birzayit.

32 Hever fathered Yaflet, Shomer, Hotam and their sister Shua.

33 The sons of Yaflet were: Pasakh, Bimhal and ‘Ashvat; these were the sons of Yaflet.

34 The sons of Shemer were: Achi, Rohgah, Hubah and Aram.

35 The sons of his brother Helem were: Zofach, Yimnah, Shelesh and ‘Amal.

36 The sons of Zofach were: Suach, Harnefer, Shu‘al, Beri, Yimrah,

37 Betzer, Hod, Shama, Shilshah, Yitran and Be’era.

38 The sons of Yeter were: Y’funeh, Pispah and Ara.

39 The sons of ‘Ula were: Arach, Hani’el and Ritzya.

40 All these were descendants of Asher, leaders of their fathers’ clans, elite, strong, brave men, the most important of the princes. Those fit for battle service, listed in genealogies, numbered 26,000 men.

1 Binyamin fathered Bela his firstborn son; his second, Ashbel; his third, Achrach;

2 his fourth, Nochah; and his fifth, Rafa.

3 Bela had sons: Adar, Gera, Avihud,

4 Avishua, Na‘aman, Achoach,

5 Gera, Sh’fufan and Huram.

6 These are the sons of Ehud, the heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Geva (they were carried away captive to Manachat;

7 those who carried them off were Na‘aman, Achiyah and Gera): he fathered ‘Uzah and Achichud.

8 Shacharayim fathered children on the plains of Mo’av; after sending away his wives Hushim and Ba‘ara,

9 it was through his wife Hodesh that he fathered: Yovav, Tzivya, Mesha, Malkam,

10 Ye‘utz, Sokhya and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of clans.

11 Through Hushim he fathered Avituv and Elpa‘al.

12 The sons of Elpa‘al: ‘Ever, Mish‘am, Shemed — he built Ono and Lod with its towns —

13 and B’ri‘ah and Shema — they were heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Ayalon, who drove away the people living in Gat.

14 Achyo, Shashak, Yeremot,

15 Z’vadyah, ‘Arad, ‘Eder,

16 Mikha’el, Yishpah and Yocha were the sons of B’ri‘ah.

17 Z’vadyah, Meshulam, Hizki, Hever,

18 Yishm’rai, Yizli’ah and Yovav were the sons of Elpa‘al.

19 Yakim, Zikhri, Zavdi,

20 Eli‘einai, Tziltai, Eli’el,

21 ‘Adayah, B’rayah and Shimrat were the sons of Shim‘i.

22 Yishpan, ‘Eved, Eli’el,

23 ‘Avdon, Zikhri, Hanan,

24 Hananyah, ‘Eilam, ‘Anatotyah,

25 Yifdeyah and P’nu’el were the sons of Shashak.

26 Shamsh’rai, Sh’charyah, ‘Atalyah,

27 Ya‘areshyah, Eliyah and Zikhri were the sons of Yerocham.

28 These were leaders of fathers’ houses through all their generations, leading men who lived in Yerushalayim.

29 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, whose wife’s name was Ma‘akhah;

30 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Nadav,

31 G’dor, Achyo and Zekher.

32 Miklot fathered Shim’ah. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.

33 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al.

34 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah.

35 The sons of Mikhah: Piton, Melekh, Ta’rea and Achaz.

36 Achaz fathered Y’ho‘adah; Y’ho‘adah fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza;

37 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son was El‘asah and his son was Atzel.

38 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel.

39 The sons of his brother ‘Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Ye‘ush the second and Elifelet the third.

40 The sons of Ulam were strong, brave men, archers; they had many children and grandchildren, a hundred and fifty. All these were descendants of Binyamin.

1 So all Isra’el was listed by genealogies, and these were recorded in the book of the kings of Isra’el. Then Y’hudah was carried away captive to Bavel because of their unfaithfulness.

2 The first people to return to their possessions in the cities were the Isra’elim, thecohanim, theL’vi’imand the temple servants.

3 In Yerushalayim lived some descendants of Y’hudah, some descendants of Binyamin and some descendants of Efrayim and of M’nasheh:

4 ‘Utai the son of ‘Ammihud, the son of ‘Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the descendants of Peretz the son of Y’hudah.

5 Of the Shiloni: ‘Asayah the firstborn and his sons.

6 Of the descendants of Zerach: Ye‘u’el and their kinsmen, 690.

7 Of the descendants of Binyamin: Salu the son of Meshulam the son of Hodavyah the son of Hasnu’ah,

8 Yivneyah the son of Yerocham, Elah the son of ‘Uzi the son of Mikhri, Meshulam the son of Sh’fatyah the son of Re‘u’el the son of Yivneyah,

9 and their kinsmen, according to their generations — altogether 956. All these men were leaders of fathers’ clans.

10 Of thecohanim: Y’da‘yah, Y’hoyariv, Yakhin,

11 ‘Azaryah the son of Hilkiyah the son of Meshulam the son of Tzadok the son of M’rayot the son of Achituv the ruler of the house of God,

12 ‘Adayah the son of Yerocham the son of Pash’chur the son of Malkiyah, Ma‘asai the son of ‘Adi’el the son of Yachzerah the son of Meshulam the son of Meshilmit the son of Immer,

13 and their kinsmen, leaders of their fathers’ clans, 1,760 very competent men available for serving in the house of God.

14 Of theL’vi’im: Sh’ma‘yah the son of Hashuv the son of ‘Azrikam the son of Hashavyah, from the descendants of M’rari;

15 Bakbakar; Heresh; Galal; Matanyah the son of Mikha the son of Zikhri the son of Asaf;

16 ‘Ovadyah the son of Sh’ma‘yah the son of Galal the son of Y’dutun; and Berekhyah the son of Asa the son of Elkanah, who lived in the towns of the N’tofati.

17 The gatekeepers: Shalum, ‘Akuv, Talmon, Achiman and their kinsmen; Shalum was the chief.

18 Previously they had guarded the king’s gate to the east; they were gatekeepers for the camp of the descendants of Levi.

19 Shalum the son of Kore the son of Evyasaf the son of Korach and his kinsmen from his father’s clan the Korchim were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tent. Their ancestors had been in charge of the camp ofAdonai, keepers of the entryway.

20 Pinchas the son of El‘azar had been ruler over them long before;Adonaihad been with him.

21 Z’kharyah the son of Meshelemyah guarded the entryway to the tent of meeting.

22 All these chosen to be gatekeepers numbered 212. Their genealogies were recorded in their towns; they had been appointed to their positions by David and Sh’mu’el the seer.

23 They and their descendants supervised the gates of the house ofAdonai, that is, the house of the tent, by periods of duty.

24 The gatekeepers served on the four sides, east, west, north and south.

25 From time to time their kinsmen had to come in from their towns to help them for seven days.

26 For the four chief gatekeepers were on permanent duty; they were theL’vi’imin charge of accommodations and supplies in the house of God.

27 They spent their nights in the vicinity of the house of God, because they were in charge of it; they were responsible for opening it up each morning.

28 Some of [theL’vi’im] were in charge of the articles used for the service; they had to keep records of them when bringing them in and out.

29 Others were in charge of the equipment, the holy utensils, the fine flour, the wine, the olive oil, the frankincense and the spices.

30 Some of the sons of thecohanimmixed together the ingredients for the perfumes.

31 Mattityah, one of theL’vi’im, who was the firstborn of Shalum the Korchi, was permanently in charge of baking operations.

32 Some of their kinsmen, from the descendants of the K’hati, were in charge of preparing the showbread everyShabbat.

33 Also there were the singers, heads of fathers’ clans among theL’vi’im. They lived in the accommodations and were free from other kinds of service, for they were employed in their own work day and night.

34 These were heads of fathers’ clans among theL’vi’im, according to their generations, and they were leaders; they lived in Yerushalayim.

35 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, Ye‘i’el, whose his wife’s name was Ma‘akhah;

36 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Ner, Nadav,

37 G’dor, Achyo, Z’kharyah and Miklot.

38 Miklot fathered Shim’am. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.

39 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al.

40 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah.

41 The sons of Mikhah were: Piton, Melekh and Ta’rea.

42 Achaz fathered Ya‘ra; Ya‘ra fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza;

43 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son El‘asah and his son Atzel.

44 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel.

1 Now the P’lishtim pressed their attack on Isra’el; and the men of Isra’el fled before the P’lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa.

2 The P’lishtim pursued Sha’ul; overtook him and his sons; and the P’lishtim killed Y’honatan, Avinadav and Malkishua, the sons of Sha’ul.

3 The fighting went hard against Sha’ul; then the archers overtook and wounded him, so that he was in agony.

4 Sha’ul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised men will come and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer refused; he was too frightened. So Sha’ul took his sword and fell on it.

5 When his armor-bearer saw that Sha’ul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died.

6 Thus Sha’ul, his three sons and all his household died together.

7 When all the men of Isra’el who were in the valley saw them fleeing and that Sha’ul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; then the P’lishtim came and lived in them.

8 The following day, when the P’lishtim came to strip the dead, they found Sha’ul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa.

9 They stripped him, then took his head and his armor and sent them all over the territory of the P’lishtim to carry the news to their idols and to the people.

10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his skull to the temple of Dagon.

11 When everyone in Yavesh-Gil‘ad heard all that the P’lishtim had done to Sha’ul,

12 all their warriors set out, took away the body of Sha’ul and the bodies of his sons, brought them to Yavesh, buried their bones under the pistachio tree in Yavesh and fasted seven days.

13 So Sha’ul died for the transgression he committed againstAdonai, because of the word ofAdonaithat he did not keep and because he sought the counsel of a spirit

14 instead of consultingAdonai. ThereforeAdonaiput him to death and turned the rulership over to David the son of Yishai.

1 Then all Isra’el gathered themselves to David in Hevron and said, “Here, we are your own flesh and bone.

2 In the past, even when Sha’ul was king, it was you who led Isra’el’s military campaigns; andAdonaiyour God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isra’el, and you will be chief over my people Isra’el.’”

3 So all the leaders of Isra’el came to the king in Hevron; and David made a covenant with them in Hevron in the presence ofAdonai. Then they anointed David king over Isra’el, asAdonaihad said through Sh’mu’el.

4 David and all Isra’el went to Yerushalayim, also known as Y’vus; and the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region, were there.

5 The inhabitants of Y’vus taunted David by saying, “You won’t get in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Tziyon, also known now as the City of David.

6 David said, “Whoever attacks the Y’vusi first will be commander-in-chief.” Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah attacked first and was made commander.

7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.

8 David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and going on around; while Yo’av repaired the rest of the city.

9 David grew greater and greater, becauseAdonai-Tzva’otwas with him.

10 These are David’s chief warriors, who, under his rulership, joined forces with him and with all Isra’el to make him king, asAdonaihad said concerning Isra’el;

11 here is the list of David’s warrior-heroes:

Yashov‘am son of a Hakhmoni, the chief officer; he is the one who raised his spear against 300 men and killed them in a single encounter.

12 After him was El‘azar the son of Dodo the Achochi, one of the three warriors.

13 He was with David at Pas-Damim, where the P’lishtim had assembled for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley; and when the people fled from the P’lishtim,

14 they stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P’lishtim; andAdonaisaved them with a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock and came to David during harvest season at the cave of ‘Adulam when the army of the P’lishtim had set up camp in the Refa’im Valley.

16 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P’lishtim was in Beit-Lechem.

17 David had a craving and said, “I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!”

18 The three broke through the army of the P’lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; instead, he poured it out toAdonai

19 and said, “My God forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of these men who went and put their lives in jeopardy? They risked their lives to bring it!” — and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.

20 Avishai the brother of Yo’av was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three.

21 Of the three in the second rank he had the most honor and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.

22 B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el, was a man of many exploits. He struck down two lion-hearted men of Mo’av. One day when it was snowing, he went down into a pit and killed a lion.

23 Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man who was very tall, seven-and-a-half feet: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand the size of a weaver’s beam; he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

24 These are things that B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada did that earned him a name among the three warrior-heroes.

25 He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.

26 There were also these warrior-heroes:

‘Asah’el the brother of Yo’av,

Elchanan the son of Dodo, from Beit-Lechem,

27 Shammah the Harori,

Heletz the P’loni,

28 ‘Ira son of ‘Ikesh from T’koa,

Avi‘ezer from ‘Anatot,

29 Sibkhai the Hushati,

‘Ilai the Achochi,

30 Mahrai the N’tofati,

Heled the son of Ba‘anah the N’tofati,

31 Ittai the son of Rivai from Giv‘ah, from the descendants of Binyamin,

B’nayahu from Pir‘aton,

32 Hurai from thevadis of Ga‘ash,

Avi’el the ‘Arvati,

33 ‘Azmavet the Bacharumi

Elyachba the Sha‘alvoni,

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizoni,

Y’honatan the son of Shageh the Harari,

35 Achi’am the son of Sakhar the Harari,

Elifal the son of Ur,

36 Hefer the M’kherati,

Achiyah the P’loni,

37 Hetzro the Karmeli,

Na‘arai the son of Ezbai

38 Yo’el the brother of Natan,

Mivchar the son of Hagri,

39 Tzelek the ‘Amoni,

Nachrai the Be’eroti, armor-bearer of Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah,

40 ‘Ira the Yitri,

Garev the Yitri,

41 Uriyah the Hitti,

Zavad the son of Achlai,

42 ‘Adina the son of Shiza the Re’uveni, a leader among the Re’uveni,

and thirty with him,

43 Hanan the son of Ma‘akhah,

Yoshafat the Mitni,

44 ‘Uziyah the ‘Asht’rati

Shama and Ye‘i’el the sons of Hotam the ‘Aro‘eri,

45 Y’dia‘el the son of Shimri,

Yocha his brother, the Titzi,

46 Eli’el from Machavim,

Yerivai and Yoshavyah the sons of Elna‘am,

Yitmah the Mo’avi,

47 Eli’el,

‘Oved,

and Ya‘asi’el from M’tzovayah.

1 Following are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was still being kept away from Sha’ul the son of Kish; they were among the warriors who helped him fight his battles.

2 They were archers who could use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow; they were Sha’ul’s kinsmen from Binyamin.

3 Their leader was Achi‘ezer, then Yo’ash, the sons of Sh’ma‘ah the Giv‘ati, Y’zi’el, Pelet, the sons of ‘Azmavet, B’rakhah, Yehu from ‘Anatot,

4 Yishma‘yah the Giv‘oni, one of the strongest of the thirty and commander of the thirty,

5 Yirmeyah, Yachzi’el, Yochanan, Yozavad from G’derah,

6 El‘uzai, Yerimot, B‘alyah, Sh’maryah, Sh’fatyah the Harufi,

7 Elkanah, Yishiyahu, ‘Azar’el, Yo‘ezer, Yashov‘am the Korchi,

8 and Yo‘elah and Z’vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G’dor.

9 From the Gadi a number of strong, brave, trained fighting men defected to David at the fortress in the desert. They could handle shield and spear, they were as fierce as lions, and they were as fast as deer on the hills:

10 ‘Ezer was the leader, ‘Ovadyah was second, Eli’av third,

11 Mishmanah fourth, Yirmeyah fifth,

12 ‘Atai sixth, Eli’el seventh,

13 Yochanan eighth, Elzavad ninth,

14 Yirmeyah tenth, and Makhbanai eleventh.

15 These descendants of Gad were army commanders; the least of them was worth a hundred, and the greatest worth a thousand.

16 These are the men who crossed the Yarden during the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and drove out all those who lived in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.

17 From the descendants of Binyamin and Y’hudah a number came to David at the fortress.

18 When David went out to meet them, he said, “If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge.”

19 Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said:

“We are yours, David;

on your side, son of Yishai!

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to your helpers;

for your God helps you.”

David welcomed them and made them senior officers.

20 From M’nasheh some defected to David when he was about to go with the P’lishtim to fight against Sha’ul; but they ended up not helping them; because the rulers of the P’lishtim, after consultation, sent David away, saying, “He will defect to his master Sha’ul at the cost of our heads.”

21 As he was on his way to Ziklag, those who defected to him from M’nasheh included ‘Adnach, Yozavad, Y’dia‘el, Mikha’el, Yozavad, Elihu and Tziltai, commanders of thousands from M’nasheh.

22 They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.

23 Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

24 Following are the numbers of those who came armed for war to David in Hevron, in order to transfer to him the kingdom of Sha’ul, according to whatAdonaihad said.

25 The descendants of Y’hudah bearing shields and spears numbered 6,800, armed for war.

26 Of the descendants of Shim‘on, strong, brave men for war, there were 7,100.

27 Of the descendants of Levi, there were 4,600.

28 Y’hoyada was the leader of the house of Aharon, and with him were 3,700;

29 also Tzadok, a young man, strong and brave, with twenty-two commanders from his father’s family.

30 Of the descendants of Binyamin the kinsmen of Sha’ul, there were 3,000; for up until then, the majority of them had remained loyal to the house of Sha’ul.

31 Of the descendants of Efrayim, there were 20,800 strong, brave men, well known in their fathers’ families.

32 Of the half-tribe of M’nasheh, 18,000 were designated by name to come and make David king.

33 Of the descendants of Yissakhar, men who understood the times and knew what Isra’el ought to do, there were 200 leaders, and all their kinsmen were under their command.

34 Of Z’vulun, 50,000 men were fit for military service, experienced in war and able to use all kinds of weapons; they were brave, and none was doubleminded.

35 Of Naftali, there were 1,000 officers, and with them 37,000 troops having shields and spears.

36 Of Dan, 28,600 were experienced in war.

37 Of Asher, 40,000 men were fit for military service and experienced in war.

38 On the other side of the Yarden, from the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for battle.

39 All these soldiers who were experienced in war came to Hevron wholeheartedly to make David king over all Isra’el, and all the rest from Isra’el were single-hearted in wanting to make David king.

40 They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them.

41 Moreover, those who were near them — and even those as far as Yissakhar, Z’vulun and Naftali — brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: baked goods, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Isra’el.

1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds — with every leader.

2 Then David said to the entire assembly of Isra’el, “If it seems good to you, and if it is the will ofAdonaiour God, let’s send messengers to the rest of our kinsmen in the land of Isra’el, and also to thecohanimandL’vi’imin their cities with surrounding open land, asking them to join us;

3 and let’s bring back the ark of our God to ourselves, since we didn’t go after it when Sha’ul was king.”

4 The whole assembly said they would do this, for in the view of all the people it seemed right.

5 So David summoned all Isra’el to come together, from Shichor in Egypt all the way to the entrance of Hamat, to bring the ark of God from Kiryat-Ye‘arim.

6 David went up with all Isra’el to Ba‘alah, that is, Kiryat-Ye‘arim, which belonged to Y’hudah, to bring up from there the ark of God,Adonai, who is enthroned above thek’ruvim, bearing the Name.

7 They set the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Avinadav, with ‘Uza and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav, driving the cart.

8 David and all Isra’el celebrated in the presence of God with all their strength, with songs, lyres, lutes, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.

9 When they arrived at Kidon’s threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled; and ‘Uza put out his hand to steady the ark.

10 ButAdonai’s anger blazed up against ‘Uza, and he struck him down, because he had put out his hand and touched the ark, so that he died there before God.

11 It upset David thatAdonaihad broken out against ‘Uza; that place has been called Peretz-‘Uza [breaking-out of ‘Uza] ever since.

12 That day, God frightened David; he asked, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

13 So David didn’t bring the ark into the City of David; rather, David carried it aside into the house of ‘Oved-’Edom the Gitti.

14 The ark of God stayed with the family of ‘Oved-’Edom the Gitti in his house for three months; andAdonaiblessed the household of ‘Oved-’Edom and all he had.

1 Huram king of Tzor sent envoys to David with cedar logs, and with them stonemasons and carpenters, to build him a palace.

2 David then knew thatAdonaihad set him up as king over Isra’el; because, for the sake of his people Isra’el, his royal power had been greatly increased.

3 David took more concubines and wives in Yerushalayim, and David became father of more sons and daughters.

4 Here are the names of the children born to him in Yerushalayim: Shamua, Shovav, Natan, Shlomo,

5 Yivchar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nefeg, Yafia,

7 Elishama, Be‘elyada and Elifelet.

8 When the P’lishtim heard that David had been anointed king over all Isra’el, all the P’lishtim went up in search of David. On hearing of it, David went to attack them.

9 Now the P’lishtim came and made a raid in the Refa’im Valley.

10 David consulted God, asking, “Should I attack the P’lishtim? Will you hand them over to me?”Adonaianswered David, “Attack; I will hand them over to you.”

11 So they went up to Ba‘al-P’ratzim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my power like a river breaking through its banks.” This is why they called the place Ba‘al-P’ratzim [Lord of breaking through].

12 The P’lishtim had left their gods there, so David gave an order, and they were burned up completely.

13 The P’lishtim came up again and raided the valley.

14 David consulted God again, but God told him, “Don’t attack them! Turn away from them, and engage them opposite the balsam trees.

15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out, and attack; because God has gone out ahead of you to defeat the army of the P’lishtim.”

16 David did as God had ordered him to do and pursued his attack on the army of the P’lishtim from Giv‘on to Gezer.

17 So David’s reputation spread to all countries, andAdonaibrought the fear of him on all nations.