2 Chronicles 23 Cross References - ISV

¹ Jehoiada Establishes Joash as King
Seven years later, Jehoiada mustered up some courage and made a deal with the officers who commanded units of hundreds of soldiers, including Jehoram’s son Azariah, Jehochanan’s son Ishmael, Obed’s son Azariah, Adaiah’s son Maaseiah, and Zichri’s son Elishaphat. ² They traveled throughout Judah and gathered together the descendants of Levi from all the cities of Judah, along with the Israeli family leaders. ³ Everybody went to Jerusalem, and the whole group made a covenant with the king in God’s Temple, where Jehoiada addressed them: “Look! The king’s son is going to rule, just as the LORD promised David’s descendants. ⁴ So here’s what you’ll need to do: One third of you priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty during the Sabbath will serve as guards at the temple gates. ⁵ Another third of you priests and descendants of Levi will take your places in the royal palace, while another third of you priests and descendants of Levi will stand near the Foundation Gate. The rest of you will remain in the courtyard of the LORD’s Temple. ⁶ Nobody is to enter the LORD’s Temple except for the priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially holy, but all the rest of the people must observe the LORD’s instructions. ⁷ The descendants of Levi will surround the king, brandishing weapons in their hands, and anybody who enters the Temple will be killed. Stay near the king wherever he enters and leaves.”
⁸ What Jehoiada the priest ordered is precisely what the descendants of Levi and all of Judah did. Each of them took the men who were on duty on the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not release the divisions from service, ⁹ and Jehoiada the priest issued the spears and shields that King David had placed in storage in God’s Temple to the officers in charge of the units of hundreds. ¹⁰ He set the rest of the people to serve as guards for the king, and each one brandished weapons in his hand, from the south side of the Temple to the north side of the Temple, around the altar, and surrounding the palace. ¹¹ Then he brought out the king’s son, put a crown on him, and presented him with the Testimony,
¹² Joash is Crowned and Athaliah Executed
When Athaliah heard all the commotion of the people running around and praising the king, she went straight to the LORD’s Temple to confront the people. ¹³ She looked around, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the gate, accompanied by officers and trumpeters who stood beside the king, along with all the people of the land rejoicing and sounding trumpets while singers lead the celebration with their musical instruments. Athaliah tore her robes and yelled “Treason! Treason!”
¹⁴ But Jehoiada the priest summoned the captains of hundreds who had been appointed in charge over the army and ordered them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and execute anyone who follows her.” The priest also told them, “Don’t execute her in the LORD’s Temple.” ¹⁵ So they arrested her when she arrived at the entrance to the Horse Gate near the royal palace, and then they executed her there.
¹⁶ Jehoiada’s Reforms
After this, Jehoiada drew up a covenant between himself as an individual with all the people, and between himself as king, that they would be the LORD’s people. ¹⁷ Then all the people went to the temple of Baal, broke its altars and idols to pieces, and executed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. ¹⁸ Jehoiada also placed the offices of the LORD’s Temple under the authority of the Levitical priests whom David had assigned over the LORD’s Temple, just as is required by the Law of Moses, to offer the LORD’s burnt offerings with joy and singing, just as David had ordered. ¹⁹ Jehoiada also stationed inspectors at the LORD’s Temple so that no one would enter who was ritually unclean in any manner. ²⁰ He also took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the people’s governors, and all the people of the land, and they all marched with the king from the LORD’s Temple through the upper gate to the royal palace, where they installed the king on his royal throne. ²¹ There all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city stayed quiet, because they had executed Athaliah with a sword.

³ Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

⁴ But during the seventh year of her reign, Jehoiada went out and called together the rulers of hundreds, the captains, and the guards, and assembled them together inside the LORD’s Temple. He made a covenant with them, making them take an oath in the LORD’s Temple, and then he revealed the king’s son to them. ⁵ He ordered them: “Here’s what we’ll do: A third of you will enter here on this coming Sabbath dressed as guardians of the watch for the king’s palace, ⁶ with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace and defend it. ⁷ Two of you who enter here on this coming Sabbath are to stand watch at the LORD’s Temple, ⁸ guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going.”
⁹ So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.
¹⁰ The priest issued king David’s personal spears and shields that had been stored in the LORD’s Temple to the captains of hundreds. ¹¹ So the guards stood assembled, every soldier with weapons in hand, surrounding the king from the right side corner of the Temple to the left side corner, including around the altar and the Temple.
¹² Then he brought out the king’s son, put the royal crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and installed him as king. They anointed him, applauded, and said, “May the king live!”
¹³ When Athaliah heard all of the commotion coming from those who were guarding the people, she approached the people who were in the LORD’s Temple. ¹⁴ She looked around—and there was the king, standing near a column, as was the royal custom! He was accompanied by the commanding officers, along with trumpeters who stood beside the king. All the people of the land sounded trumpets in their excitement.
But Athaliah tore her clothes and bellowed, “It’s a plot! A conspiracy!”
¹⁵ Athaliah is Executed
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of the army, “Take her out the back way and execute anybody who follows her,” since the priest had also issued this order: “Let’s not put her to death in the LORD’s Temple.” ¹⁶ So they arrested Athaliah, took her out through the same entrance used by the horses for entering the king’s palace, and executed her.
¹⁷ A Covenant is Made
Then Jehoiada entered into a covenant with the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would live as the LORD’s people, and also entered into a covenant with the king and the people. ¹⁸ Then all of the people of the land entered Baal’s temple, tore it down, and broke his altars and his images to pieces, killing Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars. Furthermore, Jehoiada the priest appointed officers to guard the LORD’s Temple, ¹⁹ and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the LORD’s Temple, marching through the guard’s gate to the king’s palace, where Joash took his seat on the throne of the kings. ²⁰ After this, everyone throughout the land rejoiced and the city was at peace, because they had executed Athaliah at the king’s palace.

¹² They also entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their ancestors with all their heart and soul,

³⁸ “Because of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our descendants of Levi, and our priests hereby set their seals upon it.”

¹² and addressed them: “As leaders of your Levitical families, set yourselves apart, both you and your relatives, so you can be qualified to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I’ve prepared for it.

⁶ Nethanel’s son Shemaiah, a Levitical scribe, made an official record of them for the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, Abiathar’s son Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral households of both the priests and the descendants of Levi. One ancestral house was chosen for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.

¹³ The Priests and Levites Support Rehoboam
The priests and descendants of Levi throughout Israel also supported him in their districts, ¹⁴ because the descendants of Levi left their pasture lands and their property to live in Judah and Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from participating in priestly services to the LORD. ¹⁵ Jeroboam had appointed his own priests to serve at the high places and to serve the satyrs and calves that he had made. ¹⁶ As a result, anyone from all of the tribes of Israel who was determined to seek the LORD God of Israel followed the descendants of Levi to Jerusalem so they could sacrifice to the LORD God of their ancestors, ¹⁷ and they continued to strengthen the kingdom of Judah, supporting Solomon’s son Rehoboam for three years, by living the way David and Solomon did for three years.

² Jehoshaphat’s sons, Jehoram’s brothers, included Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel.

⁵ It is good for the person who lends generously, conducting his affairs with fairness.

¹⁶ Future Persecutions
“Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves.

¹⁵ Wise BehaviorSo, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,

³ So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where King David entered into a covenant with them in the presence of the LORD. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel.

¹² When your life is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who will come forth from your body, and I will fortify his kingdom.

¹⁶ Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain forever in my presence—your throne will be secure forever.”’”

⁴ and so that the LORD may fulfill his promise that he spoke about me when he said, ‘If your sons pay attention to how they live by walking truthfully in my presence with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

⁵ then I’ll make your royal throne secure forever, just as I agreed to do so for your father David when I said, ‘You are to not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

¹⁷ A Covenant is Made
Then Jehoiada entered into a covenant with the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would live as the LORD’s people, and also entered into a covenant with the king and the people.

⁹ along with 956 of their relatives according to their generations. All of these were leaders of families according to their ancestral households.
¹⁰ Priests in ServiceFrom the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, ¹¹ and Hilkiah’s son Azariah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Zadok, who was fathered by Meraioth, who was fathered by Ahitub, the Chief Operating Officer of the Temple of God. ¹² There was Jeroham’s son Adaiah, who was fathered by Pashhur, who was fathered by Malchijah, and Adiel’s son Maasai, who was fathered by Jahzerah, who was fathered by Meshullam, who was fathered by Meshillemith, who was fathered by Immer, ¹³ along with 1,760 of their relatives, who were leaders of their ancestral households, valiant and qualified to serve in the Temple of God.
¹⁴ Levitical FamiliesFrom the descendants of Levi there was Hasshub’s son Shemaiah, who was the grandson of Azrikam, who was fathered by Hashabiah, from the descendants of Merari; ¹⁵ along with Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mica’s son Mattaniah, who was the grandson of Zichri and great-grandson of Asaph, ¹⁶ and Shemaiah’s son Obadiah, who was the grandson of Galal, who was fathered by Jeduthun, and Asa’s son Berechiah, who was the grandson of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
¹⁷ The gatekeepers included Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and other relatives. Shallum was the leader. ¹⁸ He used to be stationed in the King’s Gate on the east side as one of the gatekeepers of the camp belonging to the descendants of Levi. ¹⁹ Kore’s son Shallum, who was the grandson of Ebiasaph and the great-grandson of Korah, and the descendants of Korah (who were relatives of his ancestral house) were over the service responsibilities and served as guardians of the entrances of the Tent, just as their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of the LORD and guardians of the entrance. ²⁰ Eleazar’s son Phinehas used to be Commander-in-Chief over them—the LORD was with him. ²¹ Meshelemiah’s son Zechariah was gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ²² All these, who had been set apart as gatekeepers at the entrances, numbered 212 and had been enrolled by genealogies in their villages.
David and Samuel the seer installed them in their positions of trust, ²³ so they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the House of the Tent, as guardians. ²⁴ The guardians were stationed on four sides—east, west, north, and south. ²⁵ Their relatives who lived in their villages were required to visit every seven days to be with them in turn, ²⁶ because the four senior gatekeepers (who were descendants of Levi) had been placed in charge of the chambers and the treasury of the Temple of God. ²⁷ They spent the night near the Temple of God, since they had been entrusted to guard it. They were in charge of opening it every morning.

³ So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where David entered into a covenant in the presence of the LORD. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel, just as the LORD had sent word through Samuel.

¹⁶ “Now therefore, LORD God of Israel, keep your promise that you made to my father, your servant David, when you said, ‘You are to not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants will watch their lives, to live according to my Law, just as you have lived in my presence.’

¹⁸ then I will make your royal throne secure, just as I agreed to do for your father David when I said, ‘You are to not lack a man to rule over Israel.’

⁷ Nevertheless, the Lord was unwilling to destroy David’s dynasty because of the covenant that he had made with David, especially since he had promised to give him and to his sons the reigning presence of an heir forever.

¹⁶ Jehoiada’s Reforms
After this, Jehoiada drew up a covenant between himself as an individual with all the people, and between himself as king, that they would be the LORD’s people.

²⁹ I will establish his dynasty forever, and his throne as long as heaven endures.

³⁶ His dynasty will last forever and his throne will be like the sun before me.

²⁵ Their relatives who lived in their villages were required to visit every seven days to be with them in turn,

³ descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000. ⁴ “24,000 of these,” David said, “are to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the LORD, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges, ⁵ with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the LORD with the musical instruments that I have had crafted.”
⁶ David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levi’s sons.

³ Along with Zadok, one of Eleazar’s descendants, and Ahimelech, one of Ithamar’s descendants, David organized their service according to their assigned responsibilities.
⁴ More leaders were located among Eleazar’s descendants than among those of Ithamar, so sixteen leaders were appointed from the leaders of the ancestral households of Eleazar’s descendants and eight from those of Ithamar. ⁵ They were chosen by impartial lottery, since there were trustees of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s descendants and among Ithamar’s descendants. ⁶ Nethanel’s son Shemaiah, a Levitical scribe, made an official record of them for the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, Abiathar’s son Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral households of both the priests and the descendants of Levi. One ancestral house was chosen for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.

¹³ assigned by lottery according to their ancestral households, whether large or small alike, for their gate assignments. ¹⁴ The lot for the eastern gate fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, who was a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the northern gate. ¹⁵ Obed-edom’s lot indicated the south gate, and his sons were also allotted responsibility for the storehouse. ¹⁶ For Shuppim and Hosah the lot indicated the west at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road.
Each guard corresponding to each guard,

⁸ When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God’s presence, ⁹ he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests.

⁵ He ordered them: “Here’s what we’ll do: A third of you will enter here on this coming Sabbath dressed as guardians of the watch for the king’s palace, ⁶ with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace and defend it.

² The LORD told me, “This gate is to remain shut. It will not be opened. No man is to enter through it, because the LORD God of Israel entered through it, so it is to remain shut. ³ The Regent Prince will be seated there, as Regent Prince, and will dine in the LORD’s presence, entering through the portico of the gate and exiting through it also.”

² The Regent Prince is to enter through the portico of the gate from outside and is to stand at the doorframe of the gate where the priests are to present the Regent Prince’s burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the Regent Prince is to worship at the threshold of the gate and go out. The gate is not to be closed until evening. ³ The people who live in the land are to worship at the doorway of the gate on the Sabbaths and New Moons in the LORD’s presence.’”

² Now a man who had been crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day people would lay him at what was called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from those who were going into the Temple.

⁶ with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace and defend it. ⁷ Two of you who enter here on this coming Sabbath are to stand watch at the LORD’s Temple,

²⁸ David issued these orders: “Instead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the LORD relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God, ²⁹ including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes. ³⁰ They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the LORD right through until the evening, ³¹ whenever burnt offerings are presented to the LORD, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the LORD’s presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service. ³² By doing this, they will fulfill their obligation as trustees over the Tent of Assembly and the Sanctuary, attending to the needs of their relatives, who are descendants of Aaron, in keeping with their service on behalf of the Temple of the LORD.”

¹² You are to set boundaries for the people all around: ‘Be very careful that you don’t go up on the mountain or touch the side of it. Anyone who touches the mountain is certainly to be put to death. ¹³ No hand is to touch that person, but he is certainly to be stoned or shot; whether animal or person, he is not to live.’ They are to approach the mountain only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast.”

¹⁴ If a man acts deliberately against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you are to take him to die even if he’s at my altar.

¹⁰ Appoint Aaron and his sons so that they are to take responsibility for their priesthood. Any unauthorized person who approaches it is to be put to death.”

³⁸ The Encampment of Moses and AaronIn front of the tent and east of the Tent of Meeting, Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons encamped facing the east. They were tasked to perform the duties of the sanctuary and care for the needs of the Israelis. Any unauthorized person who approached was to be executed.

⁸ guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going.”
⁹ So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.

⁹ So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.

¹ The Priestly DivisionsWith respect to the descendants of Aaron, classes of service were organized for Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, the descendants of Aaron. ² But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, leaving no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar became priests. ³ Along with Zadok, one of Eleazar’s descendants, and Ahimelech, one of Ithamar’s descendants, David organized their service according to their assigned responsibilities.
⁴ More leaders were located among Eleazar’s descendants than among those of Ithamar, so sixteen leaders were appointed from the leaders of the ancestral households of Eleazar’s descendants and eight from those of Ithamar. ⁵ They were chosen by impartial lottery, since there were trustees of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s descendants and among Ithamar’s descendants. ⁶ Nethanel’s son Shemaiah, a Levitical scribe, made an official record of them for the king, the officers, Zadok the priest, Abiathar’s son Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral households of both the priests and the descendants of Levi. One ancestral house was chosen for Eleazar and one for Ithamar.
⁷ The first lottery was chosen in favor of Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah, ⁸ third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim, ⁹ the fifth for Malchijah, the sixth for Mijamin, ¹⁰ the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah, ¹¹ the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah, ¹² the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim, ¹³ the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab, ¹⁴ the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer, ¹⁵ the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez, ¹⁶ the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel, ¹⁷ the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul, ¹⁸ the twenty-third for Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth for Maaziah. ¹⁹ These were appointed to enter the Temple of the LORD according to their protocols established by their ancestor Aaron, as commanded by the LORD God of Israel.
²⁰ Other Levitical DivisionsNow with respect to the descendants of Levi there remained Shubael from the descendants of Amram and Jehdeiah from the descendants of Shubael; ²¹ with respect to Rehabiah, Isshiah their chief from the descendants Rehabiah; ²² with respect to the Izharites, Shelomoth, Jahath from the descendants of Shelomoth; ²³ with respect to the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth; ²⁴ with respect to the descendants of Uzziel, Micah; with respect to the descendants of Micah, Shamir; ²⁵ with respect to Micah’s brother Isshiah; with respect to the descendants of Isshiah, Zechariah; ²⁶ with respect to Merari’s sons, Mahli and Mushi; with respect to the sons of Jaaziah, Beno;

⁹ The priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah is wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it because there is no other except it here.”
So David said, “There is none like it. Give it to me.”

⁷ David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem.

⁶ You are to put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the doorway of the tent of the Tent of Meeting.

¹¹ So the guards stood assembled, every soldier with weapons in hand, surrounding the king from the right side corner of the Temple to the left side corner, including around the altar and the Temple.

¹² Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
Then Solomon took his place in front of the LORD’s altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands.

¹⁶ You are to put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.

¹⁸ When he finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two Tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.

¹⁸ When he occupies his royal throne, he must make a copy of this Law for himself from a scroll used by the Levitical priests. ¹⁹ It is to remain with him the rest of his life so he may learn to fear the LORD his God and observe all the words of this Law and these statutes, in order to fulfill them. ²⁰ He is not to exalt himself over his relatives, nor turn aside from the commandment—neither to the right nor to the left—so that he and his sons may reign long in Israel.”

¹ Saul is Anointed KingSamuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “The LORD has anointed you Commander-in-Chief over his inheritance, has he not?

²⁴ Then Samuel told all the people, “Do you see the man whom the LORD has chosen? For there is no one like him among all the people.”
Then all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

¹⁰ So I stood next to him and killed him, because I knew that he wouldn’t live after he had fallen. I took the crown that had been on his head, along with the bracelet that had been on his arm, and I have brought them to your majesty.”

¹⁶ When David’s friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

³⁴ Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then sound a trumpet and declare ‘Long live King Solomon!’

³⁹ Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, “Long live King Solomon!”

¹² Then he brought out the king’s son, put the royal crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and installed him as king. They anointed him, applauded, and said, “May the king live!”

¹¹ However, the king’s daughter Jehoshabeath took Ahaziah’s son Joash away from the king’s children who were about to be assassinated and hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. That’s how King Jehoram’s daughter Jehoshabeath, who was also the priest Jehoiada’s wife and Ahaziah’s sister, hid him from Athaliah. As a result, she was not able to kill him.

¹⁰ Therefore, kings, act wisely! Earthly rulers, be warned! ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the son before he becomes angry, and you die where you stand. Indeed, his wrath can flare up quickly. How blessed are those who take refuge in him.

³ You go before him with wonderful blessings, and put a crown of fine gold on his head.

⁵ He established a decree in Jacob, and established the Law in Israel, that he commanded our ancestors to reveal to their children

²⁰ I have found my servant David; I have anointed him with my sacred oil,

³⁹ You have dishonored the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown on the ground.

¹⁸ I will clothe his enemies with disgrace, but on him his crown will shine.”

¹⁶ “Bind up the testimony, and seal up the teaching among my disciples.

²⁰ for instruction and for testimony? Surely they are speaking like this because the truth hasn’t dawned on them.

²³ “Oh, yes! Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens will be your nursing mothers. They will bow to you with their faces to the ground, and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.

⁹ Both the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed him kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

²⁶ The kings of the earth take their stand, and rulers meet together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
²⁷ For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,

⁹ But we do see someone who was made a little lower than the angels. He is Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might experience death for everyone.

¹² Trial and TemptationHow blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor’s crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers! God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who keep on loving him, has he not?

⁴ Around the throne were 24 other thrones, and on these thrones sat 24 elders wearing white robes and gold victor’s crowns on their heads.

¹⁰ the 24 elders bow down and worship in front of the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever. They throw their victor’s crowns in front of the throne and say,

¹⁰ You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows except himself.

³² Jehu looked up toward the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” When two or three eunuchs looked out at him, ³³ he ordered, “Throw her down!”
So they did, and her blood splashed against the wall and on the horses, while Jehu trampled her underfoot. ³⁴ Later on, after he had come in to eat and drink, he ordered, “Go and see to this cursed woman, and bury her, because she was a king’s daughter.” ³⁵ But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing left of her except her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. ³⁶ So they returned and reported to Jehu, and he responded, “This fulfills this message from the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the foreigner, who said: ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh on the property of Jezreel, ³⁷ and her corpse will lie like dung on the surface of the field on the property in Jezreel, but no one will say, “This is Jezebel.”’”

¹³ When Athaliah heard all of the commotion coming from those who were guarding the people, she approached the people who were in the LORD’s Temple. ¹⁴ She looked around—and there was the king, standing near a column, as was the royal custom! He was accompanied by the commanding officers, along with trumpeters who stood beside the king. All the people of the land sounded trumpets in their excitement.
But Athaliah tore her clothes and bellowed, “It’s a plot! A conspiracy!”
¹⁵ Athaliah is Executed
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of the army, “Take her out the back way and execute anybody who follows her,” since the priest had also issued this order: “Let’s not put her to death in the LORD’s Temple.” ¹⁶ So they arrested Athaliah, took her out through the same entrance used by the horses for entering the king’s palace, and executed her.

¹ Silver TrumpetsThe LORD also told Moses, ² “Make two trumpets, crafting them from beaten silver, for use in calling the congregation together and for notifying the camps to set out for travel. ³ Sound them when the whole assembly is to gather together at the entrance to the appointed place of meeting. ⁴ When one trumpet is blown, the elders and the heads of the thousands of the Israelis are to gather to you. ⁵ When you sound an alarm, the ones encamped on the east side are to begin to travel. ⁶ When you sound the alarm the second time, those encamped on the south are to begin to travel. Alarms are to be sounded for their travels. ⁷ But when you blow the trumpet to assemble the whole congregation, don’t use the same sound as you do for sounding an alarm. ⁸ The descendants of Aaron the priest are to blow the trumpets. Have them do this for you permanently throughout your generations to come.”
⁹ Sounding the Trumpet in Battle“When you wage war in your land against an enemy who is hostile to you, you are to sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before the face of the LORD your God and you will be delivered from your enemies. ¹⁰ At the beginning of the month, during your time of rejoicing at the appointed place, sound the trumpet over your burnt offering, then sacrifice your peace offering, since they are to be your memorial before the LORD your God. I am the LORD your God.”

⁸ So the soldiers took provisions with them, along with their trumpets, and Gideon sent all the rest of the soldiers of Israel back to their own tents, but he retained the 300 men. And the Midian encampment was below him in the valley.

¹⁸ When I sound my trumpet, accompanied by everyone who is with me, you must blow your trumpets all around the entire encampment. Then shout out, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”
¹⁹ So Gideon and the 100 men with him arrived at the outer perimeter of the encampment at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had posted sentries. They blew their trumpets and smashed the jars that they were carrying in their hands. ²⁰ When the three companies sounded their trumpets and broke the jars, they held the torches in their left hands and sounded their trumpets with their right hands. Then they cried out, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” ²¹ They stood up, each soldier in his assigned place surrounding the encampment, and the entire army ran away, sounding the alarm to retreat.
²² As the 300 trumpets were being sounded, the LORD turned the swords of the Midianite soldiers against one another throughout the entire army, and the army ran away as far as Beth-shittah in the direction of Zererah. They got as far as the outskirts of Abel-meholah, near Tabbath.

³⁹ Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, “Long live King Solomon!” ⁴⁰ All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise!

¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab asked him, “Is it really you, you destroyer of Israel?”
¹⁸ But Elijah replied, “I’m no destroyer of Israel. But you and your ancestor’s household have been doing that, because you have abandoned the LORD’s commandments and have followed the Baals.

¹³ At this, each man quickly grabbed his own garment, placed it under him at the top of the stairs, sounded a trumpet, and announced, “Jehu is king!”

²³ Joram reined his horse around to flee and cried out to Ahaziah, “Ahaziah! Treachery!”

³ The king stood beside a pillar and made a covenant in the presence of the LORD: to follow after the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book. All the people consented to enter into the covenant.

⁴⁰ Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.

¹⁶ Music Ministry AppointmentsDavid also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices. ¹⁷ So the descendants of Levi appointed Joel’s son Heman, his relative Berechiah’s son Asaph, as well as certain relatives of Merari’s sons, including Kushaiah’s son Ethan, ¹⁸ their second order relatives Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, as well as the trustees Obed-edom and Jeiel. ¹⁹ The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals). ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers, ²¹ and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves. ²² Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it.

²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were appointed to sound the trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were trustees for the ark.

²⁷ David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod.

¹ The MusiciansAlong with officers in his army, David consecrated to assist in service to the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun those who prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals.
The list of those who participated in this service included: ² from the descendants of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph mentored by Asaph himself, who prophesied under the supervision of the king; ³ from Jeduthun, these six of his descendants: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, mentored by their father Jeduthun, who played a lyre and prophesied, giving thanks and praise to the LORD; ⁴ from Heman, these descendants: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. ⁵ All of these were descendants of Heman the king’s seer, according to God’s promise to exalt him, since God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ They were all under their father’s supervision regarding music in the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the Temple of God.
Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under command of the king. ⁷ They and their relatives who had been skillfully trained in singing to the LORD, numbered 288. ⁸ Their duties, whether significant or insignificant, whether performed by teacher or pupil alike, were assigned by lottery.

³¹ While standing in his appointed place, the king made a public covenant with the LORD to follow the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, and to do so with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book.

⁵ There they are seized with terror, because God is with those who are righteous.

¹⁰ The city rejoices when the righteous prosper, and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.

² As the righteous grow powerful, people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, people groan.

¹² In addition, no human being knows his time: Like fish captured in a cruel net, or as birds caught in a snare, so also are human beings caught by bad timing that surprises them.

¹ God will Judge EveryoneTherefore, you have no excuse—every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who act like this is based on truth.

²⁵ As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, “Go in and execute them. Don’t let even one man escape.” So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baal’s temple,

⁸ guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going.”

¹⁵ Athaliah is Executed
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of the army, “Take her out the back way and execute anybody who follows her,” since the priest had also issued this order: “Let’s not put her to death in the LORD’s Temple.”

⁷ “Desecrate my Temple,” he told them, “and fill its courtyard with the dead!” So they went out and began striking down people throughout the city.

⁷ Adoni-bezek used to brag, “Seventy kings without thumbs and big toes used to eat what was left under my table. God has repaid me for what I’ve done.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he later died there.

¹⁰ Athaliah’s Revolt
As soon as Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she set out to destroy the entire royal family of Judah.

²⁸ The priests carried on repairs from above the Horse Gate as far as their own houses.

⁶ You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the person of bloodshed and deceit.

²³ But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days. But I put my full confidence in you.

⁴⁰ The whole valley of dead bodies and ashes and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east will be holy to the LORD. It won’t be uprooted or overthrown again, forever.”

² because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others.

¹³ For the one who has shown no mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁵ Then I heard the angel in charge of the water say, “You are just. You are the one who is and who was, the Holy One, because you have judged these things. ⁶ You have given them blood to drink because they spilled the blood of saints and prophets. This is what they deserve.” ⁷ Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and just.”

² When the LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb, ³ it was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us—we who are here today—all of us who are now living.

¹⁷ You have declared this very day that the LORD will be your God. You are to walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commands, and judgments, and obey his voice. ¹⁸ The LORD affirmed this day that you are his prized possession. Therefore observe his commands, ¹⁹ so he may elevate you far above all the nations that he has made. Then you will live to the praise, fame, and glory of God, and so be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, as he has promised.”

¹ Remembering the Exodus and ConquestThese are the terms of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelis in the land of Moab in addition to the covenant that he made with them in Horeb. ² Moses called all Israel together and addressed them: “You saw everything that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to his whole country. ³ Those great feats that you saw with your own eyes are signs and great wonders. ⁴ Yet to this day, the LORD hasn’t given you a heart that understands, eyes that perceive, and ears that discern. ⁵ Though I’ve led you for 40 years in the desert, neither your clothes nor your shoes have worn out. ⁶ You didn’t have bread to eat or wine or anything intoxicating to drink, so that you would learn that I am the LORD your God. ⁷ Then you reached this place, where King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan had come out to meet and fight with us, but we defeated them. ⁸ We captured their land and handed it as an inheritance to the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant, carrying them out so that you’ll be wise in everything you do.”
¹⁰ Entering into a Covenant Relationship“All of you are standing today in the presence of the LORD your God—the heads of your tribes, your elders, your magistrates, all the men of Israel, ¹¹ along with your children, your wives, even the foreigner in your camp, including the woodchopper and the water drawer— ¹² to enter into a covenant with the LORD your God and into the oath that he is about to make with you today, ¹³ so that he will elevate you to be a people for him. And he will be God to you, just as he promised you and swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ¹⁴ Now, I’m not making this covenant and oath with you alone, ¹⁵ but with whoever is here with us standing in the presence of the LORD our God today, as well as with those who aren’t here with us today.”

²¹ “No,” the people replied to Joshua. “We will serve the LORD.”
²² Joshua responded, “You are giving testimony against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”
They replied, “We are witnesses!”
²³ Joshua said, “Therefore abandon the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
²⁴ The people replied, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey his voice.”
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, making statutes and ordinances in Shechem.

¹⁴ They also made a vow to the LORD with loud voices, shouting, trumpets, and horns.

¹⁰ I’m intending to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel so his burning anger may turn away from us.

³¹ While standing in his appointed place, the king made a public covenant with the LORD to follow the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes, and to do so with all of his heart and soul, and to carry out what was written in the covenant contained in the book. ³² He also made everyone who was present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand in agreement with him. As a result, the inhabitants of Jerusalem reconfirmed the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

³ So let’s make a promise to our God by which we divorce all of these foreign wives—as well as those born to them—in accordance with the counsel of our Lord and of those who tremble at our God’s command. Furthermore, let it be done according to the Law.

¹² They responded, “We will restore these things, and will assess no interest charges against them. We will do what you are requesting!”
So I called the priests and made them take an oath to fulfill this promise. ¹³ I also shook my robes, and said, “May God shake out every man from his house and his possessions who does not keep this promise. May he be emptied out and shaken just like this.”
All the assembly said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD. And the people kept their promise.

²⁹ joined with their relatives and their leaders. They entered into an oath—enforced by a curse—to walk in God’s Law that was given through God’s servant Moses, and to be careful to obey all of the commands of the LORD, our Lord, as well as his regulations and statutes: ³⁰ “We will not give our daughters in marriage to the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons. ³¹ As for the people of the land who bring merchandise or grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. We will forego planting crops, and we will cancel debts during every seventh year.”
³² Commitments for Temple ServiceWe also obligated ourselves to contribute annually a third of a shekel for services relating to the Temple of our God— ³³ for the bread set out on the table, for the daily grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moon festivals, for the appointed festivals, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the service of the Temple of our God.
³⁴ We—the priests, the descendants of Levi, and the people—cast lots to determine when to bring the wood offering into the Temple of our God, just as our ancestors’ families were appointed annually to maintain the altar fire of the LORD our God, as recorded in the Law. ³⁵ We also cast lots to determine when to bring the first fruits of our land and the annual first fruits of all fruit of every tree to the Temple of the LORD, ³⁶ as well as the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as recorded in the Law, along with the firstlings of our herds and our flocks, to present to the Temple of our God for the priests that minister in the Temple of our God. ³⁷ We also determined to present the first fruits of our ground grain, our offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, wines, and oil to the priests, to the chambers of the Temple of our God, and the tithes of our land to the descendants of Levi, so those descendants of Levi could collect the tithes in all the towns where we worked: ³⁸ “And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, will be with the descendants of Levi when the descendants of Levi receive tithes, and the descendants of Levi will bring the tithe of the tithes into the store rooms of the Temple of our God. ³⁹ For the Israelis and the descendants of Levi will bring the grain offering, the wine, and the oil into the chambers where the vessels of the sanctuary are, along with the ministering priests, the porters, and the singers. We will not neglect the Temple of our God.”

⁵ One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ and another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will have written on his hand, ‘the LORD’s,’ and will adopt the name of Israel.”

³ Tear down their altars, cut down their sacred poles, and burn them. Cut down the carved images of their gods to erase their memory from that place.”

⁵ That prophet or diviner of dreams must be executed, because he advocated rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and because he lured you from the way in which the LORD your God instructed you to live. Purge the evil from among you.”
⁶ Dealing with Idolaters“Your own blood brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your friend who is like your soul mate may entice you quietly. He may tell you, ‘Let’s go and serve other gods,’ (whom neither you nor your ancestors have known ⁷ from the gods of the people that surround you—whether near or far from you—from one end of the earth to the other). ⁸ You must not yield to him, listen to him, look with pity on him, show compassion to him, or even cover up for him. ⁹ But you must surely execute him. You must be the first to put him to death with your own hand, and then the hands of the whole community.

⁴⁰ But Elijah said, “Arrest the prophets of Baal. Don’t let even one of them get away.” So the people seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and executed them there.

²⁵ As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, “Go in and execute them. Don’t let even one man escape.” So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baal’s temple, ²⁶ from which they brought out the sacred pillars and burned them. ²⁷ They also cut down the pillar to Baal, tore apart Baal’s temple, and turned it into a latrine—and it remains that way today. ²⁸ That’s how Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel.

¹⁸ Then all of the people of the land entered Baal’s temple, tore it down, and broke his altars and his images to pieces, killing Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars. Furthermore, Jehoiada the priest appointed officers to guard the LORD’s Temple, ¹⁹ and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the LORD’s Temple, marching through the guard’s gate to the king’s palace, where Joash took his seat on the throne of the kings.

⁴ Hezekiah’s Reforms
He removed the high places, demolished the sacred pillars, and tore down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had crafted, because the Israelis had been burning incense to it right up until that time. Hezekiah called it a piece of brass.

⁴ They tore down the altars of Baals in his presence. He chopped down the incense altars that stood high above them. He broke into pieces the Asherim, the carved images, and the cast images, ground them to dust, and scattered the residue on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

⁷ he also tore down altars, destroyed the Asherim and the carved images, grinding them into dust, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

¹⁸ Their idols will utterly vanish.

² Cessation of Prophecy“At that time,” declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, “I will eliminate the names of the idols from the land, and they will not be remembered anymore. I will also force both prophet and demon to leave the land. ³ It will also come about that if any man would dare to prophesy, then his father and his mother who bore him will respond to him, ‘You will not live, because you are speaking lies in the name of the LORD.’ Then his father and mother who bore him will stab him for prophesying.

¹ Daily Offerings
The LORD told Moses, ² “You are to command the Israelis about my offerings that they are to be sure to bring edible offerings to me, presented by fire, and a pleasing aroma to me, at their appointed time. ³ Tell them that this is the offering, presented by fire, that you are to offer to the LORD: two one year old lambs, offered daily every day. ⁴ Offer the first lamb in the morning and the second toward the evening, ⁵ accompanied by one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with one fourth of a hin of pure olive oil. ⁶ This burnt offering, which was prescribed at Mount Sinai, is to be offered every day as a pleasing aroma made by fire to the LORD.
⁷ “The drink offering is to be one fourth of a hin for each lamb. You are to pour out a drink offering of strong wine to the LORD in the Holy Place. ⁸ You are also to offer the second lamb toward the evening. Just like the morning sacrifice, you are to present the grain offering, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering, as a presentation made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.”
⁹ Sabbath Offerings“Every Sabbath day, you are to offer two one year old lambs without any defects with two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for grain offering, mixed with olive oil, along with their corresponding drink offering. ¹⁰ This burnt offering is to be presented every Sabbath, as well as the regular burnt offering, along with its corresponding drink offering.”
¹¹ Monthly Offerings“On the first day of each month, you are to offer a burnt offering to the LORD consisting of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, all of them without any defects, ¹² along with three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for each bull, two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, for the one ram, ¹³ and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This burnt offering will be a pleasing aroma, incinerated as an offering to the LORD. ¹⁴ Their drink offerings are to be half a hin of wine for each bull, one third of a hin for the ram, and one fourth of a hin for each lamb. This burnt offering is to be presented each and every month throughout the year. ¹⁵ One goat is to be offered at regular intervals as a sin offering to the LORD, accompanied by its corresponding drink offering.”
¹⁶ Annual Offerings“The LORD’s Passover is to take place on the fourteenth day of the first month. ¹⁷ You are to hold a festival on the fifteenth day of this month for seven days, during which time unleavened bread is to be eaten.”
¹⁸ A Week of Post-Passover Offerings“On the first day, you are to hold a sacred assembly. No servile work is to be done. ¹⁹ Bring an offering that is to be incinerated in the LORD’s presence, consisting of two young bulls, a ram, and seven one year old lambs, all without any defects, ²⁰ along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil. Offer three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths of an ephah for the ram, ²¹ and one tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs. ²² Then present one goat for a sin offering to make atonement for you, ²³ apart from the burnt offering in the morning, which you are to continue offering. ²⁴ Do this every day for seven days, as an edible sacrifice to the LORD made by fire, a pleasing aroma. It is to be offered apart from the regular burnt offering and its corresponding drink offering. ²⁵ On the seventh day you are to hold another sacred assembly for your benefit, on which no servile work is to be done.”
²⁶ First Fruit Offerings“On the first day of your harvest season, you are to hold a sacred assembly when you present your first fruits during the Festival of Weeks. No servile work is to be done. ²⁷ You are to offer this burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one year old lambs, ²⁸ along with their corresponding grain offerings of fine flour mixed with olive oil; specifically, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths of an ephah for the one ram, ²⁹ one tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs, ³⁰ and one goat to make atonement for you. ³¹ Offer them in addition to the regular burnt offering, accompanied by its grain offering and its corresponding drink offerings.”

¹ The Levitical DivisionsAfter David had reached old age, and had completed his reign, he set his son Solomon as king over Israel. ² David then gathered together all of the leaders of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi. ³ descendants of Levi 30 years old and above were counted for a total of 38,000. ⁴ “24,000 of these,” David said, “are to be set in charge of the work of the Temple of the LORD, with 6,000 serving as officers and judges, ⁵ with 4,000 gatekeepers, and with 4,000 offering praises to the LORD with the musical instruments that I have had crafted.”
⁶ David divided them into divisions based on Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, Levi’s sons.
⁷ An Abbreviated Genealogy of Levi’s SonsThe descendants of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. ⁸ The three descendants of Ladan included Jehiel (their chief), Zetham, and Joel. ⁹ The three descendants of Shimei included Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the heads of families of Ladan.
¹⁰ The descendants of Shimei included Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were sons of Shimei. ¹¹ Jahath served as chief and Zizah was second in rank, but since Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, they were enrolled as a single family unit.
¹² The four descendants of Kohath included Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ¹³ The descendants of Amram included Aaron and Moses. Aaron had been set apart to consecrate the most holy things, with the intent that he and his sons should present offerings in the LORD’s presence forever, ministering to him and pronouncing blessings in his name forever.
¹⁴ Meanwhile, as for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered among the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵ The descendants of Moses included Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶ The descendants of Gershom included Shebuel as their chief.
¹⁷ The descendants of Eliezer included Rehabiah as their chief. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.
¹⁸ The descendants of Izhar included Shelomith their chief.
¹⁹ The descendants of Hebron included Jeriah their chief, Amariah their second in rank, Jahaziel their third, and Jekameam their fourth.
²⁰ The descendants of Uzziel included Micah their chief and Isshiah their second in rank.
²¹ The descendants of Merari included Mahli and Mushi. The descendants of Mahli included Eleazar and Kish, ²² but Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters. Their relatives (the descendants of Kish) married them. ²³ The three descendants of Mushi included Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.
²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral households, with family heads documented according to the names of persons 20 years and older who were appointed to perform work in service to the Temple of the LORD.

²⁸ David issued these orders: “Instead, they are to assist by lending a hand to the descendants of Aaron regarding service to the Temple of the LORD relating to the courts, the chambers, purification of everything pertaining to holiness, and to anything else pertaining to service on behalf of the Temple of God, ²⁹ including assisting with the rows of showbread, selecting flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread, baked offerings, and oil-based offerings, no matter what the quantity or sizes. ³⁰ They are to take their stand morning by morning, thanking and praising the LORD right through until the evening, ³¹ whenever burnt offerings are presented to the LORD, whether on Sabbaths, New Moons, or scheduled festivals, regularly in the LORD’s presence in accordance with the number required to conduct their service.

¹ The MusiciansAlong with officers in his army, David consecrated to assist in service to the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun those who prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals.
The list of those who participated in this service included: ² from the descendants of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph mentored by Asaph himself, who prophesied under the supervision of the king; ³ from Jeduthun, these six of his descendants: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, mentored by their father Jeduthun, who played a lyre and prophesied, giving thanks and praise to the LORD; ⁴ from Heman, these descendants: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. ⁵ All of these were descendants of Heman the king’s seer, according to God’s promise to exalt him, since God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶ They were all under their father’s supervision regarding music in the Temple of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the Temple of God.
Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under command of the king. ⁷ They and their relatives who had been skillfully trained in singing to the LORD, numbered 288. ⁸ Their duties, whether significant or insignificant, whether performed by teacher or pupil alike, were assigned by lottery.
⁹ Asaph’s first lottery was cast in favor of Joseph; the second went to Gedaliah, that is, to him, to his relatives, and his sons, for a total of twelve; ¹⁰ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹² the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁴ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁰ the thirteenth to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²¹ the fourteenth to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²² the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²³ the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁴ the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁵ the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁶ the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁷ the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁸ the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ²⁹ the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ³⁰ the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve; ³¹ the twenty-fourth to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his relatives, for a total of twelve.

⁵ and carried it, the tent where God met with his people, and all of the sacred implements that belonged in the tent. The Levitical priests carried these up to the City of David.

²⁵ Hezekiah stationed descendants of Levi in the LORD’s Temple to play cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the seer, and Nathan the prophet had directed, because the command to do so was from the LORD through those prophets.

²² All these, who had been set apart as gatekeepers at the entrances, numbered 212 and had been enrolled by genealogies in their villages.
David and Samuel the seer installed them in their positions of trust, ²³ so they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the House of the Tent, as guardians. ²⁴ The guardians were stationed on four sides—east, west, north, and south.

¹ The Korahite TrusteesThe guild of trustees included, from the descendants of Korah, Kore’s son Meshelemiah from Asaph’s descendants; ² Meshelemiah’s sons Zechariah, his firstborn, Jediael his second, Zebadiah his third, Jathniel his fourth, ³ Elam his fifth, Jehohanan his sixth, and Eliehoenai his seventh; ⁴ Obed-edom’s sons Shemaiah, his firstborn, Jehozabad his second, Joah his third, Sachar his fourth, Nethanel his fifth, ⁵ Ammiel his sixth, Issachar his seventh, and Peullethai his eighth, since God had blessed him.
⁶ Furthermore, his son Shemaiah had sons born to him who wielded authority in their ancestral households, since they were mighty men of valor. ⁷ These sons of Shemaiah included Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant, able men, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ All of these sons of Obed-edom, along with their sons and brothers, were valiant men, fully qualified for duty—62 descendants of Obed-edom. ⁹ Meshelemiah had 18 sons and brothers who were valiant men. ¹⁰ Hosah, one of Merari’s sons, had these sons: Shimri their chief (though not the firstborn, his father had appointed him chief), ¹¹ Hilkiah his second, Tebaliah his third, and Zechariah his fourth, with a total of 13 sons and brothers of Hosah
¹² With respect to their leaders, these courses of trustees had responsibilities, along with their relatives, regarding ministry within the Temple of the LORD ¹³ assigned by lottery according to their ancestral households, whether large or small alike, for their gate assignments. ¹⁴ The lot for the eastern gate fell to Shelemiah. They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, who was a wise counselor, and his lot indicated the northern gate. ¹⁵ Obed-edom’s lot indicated the south gate, and his sons were also allotted responsibility for the storehouse. ¹⁶ For Shuppim and Hosah the lot indicated the west at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road.
Each guard corresponding to each guard, ¹⁷ on the east six descendants of Levi were assigned for each day, on the north four for each day, on the south four for each day (as well as two pairs of guards assigned to the storehouse), ¹⁸ and for the colonnade on the west four were assigned at the road and two at the colonnade. ¹⁹ These were the ranks of trustees assigned among the descendants of Korah and the sons of Merari.
²⁰ Oversight of the TreasuriesNow with respect to the descendants of Levi, Ahijah was responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of God, including the treasuries containing dedicated gifts. ²¹ With respect to the descendants of Ladan, the Gershonite descendants pertaining to Ladan, the heads of families pertaining to Ladan the Gershonite, there was Jehieli. ²² The descendants of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were responsible for the treasuries of the Temple of the LORD.
²³ From the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were assigned ²⁴ Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom and a descendant of Moses (as chief officer in charge of the treasuries) ²⁵ and his brothers from Eliezer, including his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.
²⁶ Shelomoth and his brothers were responsible for all of the treasuries of dedicated gifts given by King David, by the heads of families, by the officers of groups of thousands and groups of hundreds, and by the leading army officers. ²⁷ They dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the Temple of the LORD from spoils of war. ²⁸ Furthermore, everything that Samuel the seer, Kish’s son Saul, Ner’s son Abner, and Zeruiah’s son Joab had dedicated—all of their dedicated gifts—were under the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.
²⁹ From the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned as officers and judges with responsibilities relating to external duties. ³⁰ From the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and his relatives—1,700 outstanding men—were assigned oversight of Israel west of the Jordan regarding all of the LORD’s work and services on behalf of the king.
³¹ From the descendants of Hebron, Jerijah was assigned chief of the descendants of Hebron. During the fortieth year of David’s administration, a search was made by genealogical record, family by family, to find men of great ability, including those found at Jazer in Gilead. ³² King David appointed Jerijah, his relatives, and 2,700 competent men who were each family heads, to oversee the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding everything pertaining to God as well as matters relating to the king.

⁹ So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.
¹⁰ The priest issued king David’s personal spears and shields that had been stored in the LORD’s Temple to the captains of hundreds.

¹⁹ and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the LORD’s Temple, marching through the guard’s gate to the king’s palace, where Joash took his seat on the throne of the kings.

³⁵ except the high places were not torn down, and the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. But he rebuilt the upper gate of the LORD’s Temple.

²⁰ After this, everyone throughout the land rejoiced and the city was at peace, because they had executed Athaliah at the king’s palace.

¹⁰ The righteous person will rejoice when he sees your vengeance; when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked. ¹¹ A person will say, “Certainly, the righteous are rewarded; certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

²⁰ Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has condemned her for you!”

¹ The Vision of WorshipAfter these things, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God. ² His judgments are true and just. He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her immorality. He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants.” ³ A second time they said, “Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.” ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down and worshipped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Amen! Hallelujah!”