The One Year Bible TLB (153 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
July 18The divisions of the Temple guards were named after the leaders. Like the other Levites, they were responsible to minister at the Temple.
13
They were assigned guard duty at the various gates without regard to the reputation of their families, for it was all done by coin-toss.
14-15
The responsibility of the east gate went to Shelemiah and his group; of the north gate to his son Zechariah, a man of unusual wisdom; of the south gate to Obed-edom and his group (his sons were given charge of the storehouses);
16
of the west gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road, to Shuppim and Hosah.
17
Six guards were assigned daily to the east gate, four to the north gate, four to the south gate, and two to each of the storehouses.
18
Six guards were assigned each day to the west gate, four to the upper road, and two to the nearby areas.
19
The Temple guards were chosen from the clans of Korah and Merari.
20-22
Other Levites, led by Ahijah, were given the care of the gifts brought to the Lord and placed in the Temple treasury. These men of the Ladan subclan from the clan of Gershom included Zetham and Joel, the sons of Jehieli.
23-24
Shebuel, son of Gershom and grandson of Moses, was the chief officer of the treasury. He was in charge of the divisions named after Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
25
The line of descendants from Eliezer went through Rehabiah, Jeshaiah, Joram, Zichri, and Shelomoth.
26
Shelomoth and his brothers were appointed to care for the gifts given to the Lord by King David and the other leaders of the nation such as the officers and generals of the army.
27
For these men dedicated their war loot to support the operating expenses of the Temple.
28
Shelomoth and his brothers were also responsible for the care of the items dedicated to the Lord by Samuel the prophet, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, Joab the son of Zeruiah, and anyone else of distinction
*
who brought gifts to the Lord.
29
Chenaniah and his sons (from the subclan of Izhar) were appointed public administrators and judges.
30
Hashabiah and 1,700 of his clansmen from Hebron, all outstanding men, were placed in charge of the territory of Israel west of the Jordan River; they were responsible for the religious affairs and public administration of that area.
31-32
Twenty-seven hundred outstanding men of the clan of the Hebronites, under the supervision of Jerijah, were appointed to control the religious and public affairs of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These men, all of whom had excellent qualifications, were appointed on the basis of their ancestry and ability at Jazer in Gilead in the fortieth year of King David’s reign.
27:
1
The Israeli army was divided into twelve regiments, each with 24,000 troops, including officers and administrative staff. These units were called up for active duty one month each year. Here is the list of the units and their regimental commanders:
2-3
The commander of the First Division was Jashobeam. He had charge of 24,000 troops who were on duty the first month of each year.
4
The commander of the Second Division was Dodai (a descendant of Ahohi). He had charge of 24,000 troops who were on duty the second month of each year. Mikloth was his executive officer.
5-6
The commander of the Third Division was Benaiah. His 24,000 men were on duty the third month of each year. (He was the son of Jehoiada the High Priest and was the chief of The Thirty, a group including the mightiest of David’s men.) His son Ammizabad succeeded him as division commander.
7
The commander of the Fourth Division was Asahel (the brother of Joab), who was later replaced by his son Zebadiah. He had 24,000 men on duty the fourth month of each year.
8
The commander of the Fifth Division was Shamuth from Izrah, with 24,000 men on duty the fifth month of each year.
9
The commander of the Sixth Division was Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; he had 24,000 men on duty the sixth month of each year.
10
The commander of the Seventh Division was Helez from Pelona in Ephraim, with 24,000 men on duty the seventh month of each year.
11
The commander of the Eighth Division was Sibbecai of the Hushite subclan from Zerah, who had 24,000 men on duty the eighth month of each year.
12
The commander of the Ninth Division was Abiezer (from Anathoth in the tribe of Benjamin), who commanded 24,000 troops during the ninth month of each year.
13
The commander of the Tenth Division was Maharai from Netophah in Zerah, with 24,000 men on duty the tenth month of each year.
14
The commander of the Eleventh Division was Benaiah from Pirathon in Ephraim, with 24,000 men on duty during the eleventh month of each year.
15
The commander of the Twelfth Division was Heldai from Netophah in the area of Othniel, who commanded 24,000 men on duty during the twelfth month of each year.
16-22
The top political officers of the tribes of Israel were as follows:
Over Reuben, Eliezer (son of Zichri);
Over Simeon, Shephatiah (son of Maacah);
Over Levi, Hashabiah (son of Kemuel);
Over the descendants of Aaron, Zadok;
Over Judah, Elihu (a brother of King David);
Over Issachar, Omri (son of Michael);
Over Zebulun, Ishmaiah (son of Obadiah);
Over Naphtali, Jeremoth (son of Azriel);
Over Ephraim, Hoshea (son of Azaziah);
Over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel (son of Pedaiah);
Over the other half of Manasseh, in Gilead, Iddo (son of Zechariah);
Over Benjamin, Jaasiel (son of Abner);
Over Dan, Azarel (son of Jeroham).
23
When David took his census, he didn’t include the twenty-year-olds or those younger, for the Lord had promised a population explosion for his people.
*
24
Joab began the census, but he never finished it, for the anger of God broke out upon Israel; the final total was never put into the annals of King David.
25
Azmaveth (son of Adiel) was the chief financial officer in charge of the palace treasuries, and Jonathan (son of Uzziah) was chief of the regional treasuries throughout the cities, villages, and fortresses of Israel.
26
Ezri (son of Chelub) was manager of the laborers on the king’s estates.
27
And Shimei from Ramath had the oversight of the king’s vineyards; and Zabdi from Shiphma was responsible for his wine production and storage.
28
Baal-hanan from Gedera was responsible for the king’s olive yards and sycamore trees in the lowlands bordering Philistine territory, while Joash had charge of the supplies of olive oil.
29
Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the plains of Sharon, and Shaphat (son of Adlai) had charge of those in the valleys.
30
Obil, from the territory of Ishmael, had charge of the camels, and Jehdeiah from Meronoth had charge of the donkeys.
31
The sheep were under the care of Jaziz the Hagrite. These men were King David’s overseers.
32
The attendant to the king’s sons was Jonathan, David’s uncle, a wise counselor and an educated man.
*
Jehiel (the son of Hachmoni) was their tutor.
33
Ahithophel was the king’s official counselor, and Hushai the Archite was his personal advisor.
34
Ahithophel was assisted by Jehoiada (the son of Benaiah) and by Abiathar. Joab was commander-in-chief of the Israeli army.
It is clear, then, that God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not because Abraham obeyed God’s laws but because he trusted God to keep his promise.
14
So if you still claim that God’s blessings go to those who are “good enough,” then you are saying that God’s promises to those who have faith are meaningless, and faith is foolish.
15
But the fact of the matter is this: when we try to gain God’s blessing and salvation by keeping his laws we always end up under his anger, for we always fail to keep them. The only way we can keep from breaking laws is not to have any to break!
16
So God’s blessings are given to us by faith, as a free gift; we are certain to get them whether or not we follow Jewish customs if we have faith like Abraham’s, for Abraham is the father of us all when it comes to these matters of faith.
17
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say that God made Abraham the father of many nations. God will accept all people in every nation who trust God as Abraham did. And this promise is from God himself, who makes the dead live again and speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past.
18
So, when God told Abraham that he would give him a son who would have many descendants and become a great nation, Abraham believed God even though such a promise just couldn’t come to pass!
19
And because his faith was strong, he didn’t worry about the fact that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred, and that Sarah his wife, at ninety,
*
was also much too old to have a baby.
20
But Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened.
21
He was completely sure that God was well able to do anything he promised.
22
And because of Abraham’s faith God forgave his sins and declared him “not guilty.”
23
Now this wonderful statement—that he was accepted and approved through his faith—wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.
24
It was for us, too, assuring us that God will accept us in the same way he accepted Abraham—when we believe the promises of God who brought back Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25
He died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God,
*
filling us with God’s goodness.
5:
1
So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
2
For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.
3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient.
4
And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.
5
Then, when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
That man is a fool who says to himself, “There is no God!” Anyone who talks like that is warped and evil and cannot really be a good person at all.
2
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who are wise, who want to please God.
3
But no, all have strayed away; all are rotten with sin. Not one is good, not one!
4
They eat my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying! Don’t they really know any better?
5
Terror shall grip them, for God is with those who love him.
6
He is the refuge of the poor and humble when evildoers are oppressing them.
7
Oh, that the time of their rescue were already here, that God would come from Zion now to save his people. What gladness when the Lord has rescued Israel!
When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and he pays wonderful interest on your loan!
July 19David now summoned all of his officials to Jerusalem—the political leaders, the commanders of the twelve army divisions, the other army officers, those in charge of his property and livestock, and all the other men of authority in his kingdom.
2
He rose and stood before them and addressed them as follows:
“My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a temple in which the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord could rest—a place for our God to live in.
*
I have now collected everything that is necessary for the building,
3
but God has told me, ‘You are not to build my temple, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’
4
“Nevertheless, the Lord God of Israel has chosen me from among all my father’s family to begin a dynasty that will rule Israel forever; he has chosen the tribe of Judah, and from among the families of Judah, my father’s family; and from among his sons, the Lord took pleasure in me and has made me king over all Israel.
5
And from among my sons—the Lord has given me many children—he has chosen Solomon to succeed me on the throne of his kingdom of Israel.
6
He has told me, ‘Your son Solomon shall build my Temple; for I have chosen him as my son and I will be his father.
7
And if he continues to obey my commandments and instructions as he has until now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’”
8
Then David turned to Solomon and said:
*
“Here before the leaders of Israel, the people of God, and in the sight of our God, I am instructing you to search out every commandment of the Lord so that you may continue to rule this good land and leave it to your children to rule forever.
9
Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your fathers. Worship and serve him with a clean heart and a willing mind, for the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every thought. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will permanently throw you aside.
10
So be very careful, for the Lord has chosen you to build his holy Temple. Be strong and do as he commands.”
11
Then David gave Solomon the blueprint of the Temple and its surroundings—the treasuries, the upstairs rooms, the inside rooms, and the sanctuary for the place of mercy.
12
He also gave Solomon his plans for the outer court, the outside rooms, the Temple storage areas, and the treasuries for the gifts dedicated by famous persons. For the Holy Spirit had given David all these plans.
13
The king also passed on to Solomon the instructions concerning the work of the various groups of priests and Levites; and he gave specifications for each item in the Temple which was to be used for worship and sacrifice.
14
David weighed out enough gold and silver to make these various items,
15
as well as the specific amount of gold needed for the lampstands and lamps. He also weighed out enough silver for the silver candlesticks and lamps, each according to its use.
16
He weighed out the gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed and for the other gold tables, and he weighed the silver for the silver tables.
17
Then he weighed out the gold for the solid gold hooks used in handling the sacrificial meat and for the basins, cups, and bowls of gold and silver.
18
Finally, he weighed out the refined gold for the altar of incense and for the gold Guardian Angels whose wings were stretched over the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord.
19
“Every part of this blueprint,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”
20
Then he continued, “Be strong and courageous and get to work. Don’t be frightened by the size of the task, for the Lord my God is with you; he will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly.
21
And these various groups of priests and Levites will serve in the Temple. Others with skills of every kind will volunteer, and the army and the entire nation are at your command.”
29:
1
Then King David turned to the entire assembly and said: “My son Solomon, whom God has chosen to be the next king of Israel, is still young and inexperienced, and the work ahead of him is enormous; for the temple he will build is not just another building—it is for the Lord God himself!
2
Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building it—enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and marble.
3
And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of God, I am giving all of my own private treasures to aid in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected.
4-5
These personal contributions consist of millions of dollars of gold from Ophir and huge amounts of silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings. It will also be used for the articles made of gold and silver and for the artistic decorations. Now then, who will follow my example? Who will give himself and all that he has to the Lord?”
6-7
Then the clan leaders, the heads of the tribes, the army officers, and the administrative officers of the king pledged huge sums of gold, silver, and foreign currency, also 675 tons of bronze and 3,750 tons of iron.
8
They also contributed great amounts of jewelry, which were deposited at the Temple treasury with Jehiel (a descendant of Gershom).
9
Everyone was excited and happy for this opportunity of service, and King David was moved with deep joy.
10
While still in the presence of the whole assembly, David expressed his praises to the Lord: “O Lord God of our father Israel, praise your name for ever and ever!
11
Yours is the mighty power and glory and victory and majesty. Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything.
12
Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength.
13
O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name,
14
but who am I and who are my people that we should be permitted to give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we only give you what is yours already!
15
For we are here for but a moment, strangers in the land as our fathers were before us; our days on earth are like a shadow, gone so soon, without a trace.
16
O Lord our God, all of this material that we have gathered to build a temple for your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you!
17
I know, my God, that you test men to see if they are good; for you enjoy good men. I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.
18
“O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel! Make your people always want to obey you, and see to it that their love for you never changes.
19
Give my son Solomon a good heart toward God, so that he will want to obey you in the smallest detail and will look forward eagerly to finishing the building of your Temple, for which I have made all of these preparations.”
20
Then David said to all the people, “Give praise to the Lord your God!” And they did, bowing low before the Lord and the king.
21
The next day they brought a thousand young bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs as burnt offerings to the Lord; they also offered drink offerings and many other sacrifices on behalf of all Israel.
22
Then they feasted and drank before the Lord with great joy.
And again
*
they crowned King David’s son Solomon as their king. They anointed him before the Lord as their leader, and they anointed Zadok as their priest.
23
So God appointed Solomon to take the throne of his father David; and he prospered greatly, and all Israel obeyed him.
24
The national leaders, the army officers, and his brothers all pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.
25
And the Lord gave him great popularity with all the people of Israel, and he amassed even greater wealth and honor than his father.
26-27
David was king of the land of Israel for forty years; seven of them during his reign in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.
28
He died at an old age, wealthy and honored; and his son Solomon reigned in his place.
29
Detailed biographies of King David have been written in the history of Samuel the prophet, in the history written by Nathan the prophet, and in the history written by the prophet Gad.
30
These accounts tell of his reign and of his might and all that happened to him and to Israel and to the kings of the nearby nations.
When we were utterly helpless, with no way of escape, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners who had no use for him.
7
Even if we were good, we really wouldn’t expect anyone to die for us, though, of course, that might be barely possible.
8
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
9
And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty? Now he will save us from all of God’s wrath to come.
10
And since, when we were his enemies, we were brought back to God by the death of his Son, what blessings he must have for us now that we are his friends and he is living within us!
11
Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins—making us friends of God.
12
When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die,
*
for all sinned.
13
We know that it was Adam’s sin that caused this
*
because although, of course, people were sinning from the time of Adam until Moses, God did not in those days judge them guilty of death for breaking his laws—because he had not yet given his laws to them nor told them what he wanted them to do.
14
So when their bodies died it was not for their own sins
*
since they themselves had never disobeyed God’s special law against eating the forbidden fruit, as Adam had.
What a contrast between Adam and Christ who was yet to come!
15
And what a difference between man’s sin and God’s forgiveness!
For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his
sin.
But this one man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God’s
mercy.
16
Adam’s
one
sin brought the penalty of death to many, while Christ freely takes away
many
sins and gives glorious life instead.
17
The sin of this one man, Adam, caused
death to be king over all,
but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are
kings of life
*
because of this one man, Jesus Christ.
18
Yes, Adam’s
sin
brought
punishment
to all, but Christ’s
righteousness
makes men
right with God,
so that they can live.
19
Adam caused many to be sinners because he
disobeyed
God, and Christ caused many to be made acceptable to God because he
obeyed.
20
The Ten Commandments were given so that all could see the extent of their failure to obey God’s laws. But the more we see our sinfulness, the more we see God’s abounding grace forgiving us.
21
Before, sin ruled over all men and brought them to death, but now God’s kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, who may go and find refuge and shelter in your tabernacle up on your holy hill?
2
Anyone who leads a blameless life and is truly sincere.
3
Anyone who refuses to slander others, does not listen to gossip, never harms his neighbor,
4
speaks out against sin, criticizes those committing it, commends the faithful followers of the Lord, keeps a promise even if it ruins him,
5
does not crush his debtors with high interest rates, and refuses to testify against the innocent despite the bribes offered him—such a man shall stand firm forever.