David said to the whole Israelite assembly,“ If you so desire and the LORD our God approves, let’s spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us.

大卫对以色列全会众说：“你们若以为美，见这事是出于耶和华我们的神，我们就差遣人走遍以色列地，见我们未来的弟兄，又见住在有郊野之城的祭司利未人，使他们都到这里来聚集。

大卫对以色列全会众说：“你们若以为好，见这事是出于耶和华—我们的上帝，我们就派人到远近各处去见仍留在以色列各地我们的弟兄，以及住在有郊野之城的祭司和利未人，使他们都到我们这里来聚集。

大卫对以色列全会众说：“你们若以为好，见这事是出于耶和华—我们的神，我们就派人到远近各处去见仍留在以色列各地我们的弟兄，以及住在有郊野之城的祭司和利未人，使他们都到我们这里来聚集。

然后对以色列全体会众说：“如果你们赞成，而且这是我们上帝耶和华的旨意，我们就派人到以色列各地把其他同胞，包括住在城邑及草场的祭司和利未人召集来。

然后大卫对以色列全体会众说：“你们如果认为好，认为这事是出于耶和华我们的神，我们就差遣人走遍各地，去见留在以色列各地的兄弟，以及和他们在一起住在那些有草场的城的祭司和利未人，叫他们都聚集到我们这里来。

大衛對以色列全會眾說：「你們若以為美，見這事是出於耶和華－我們的神，我們就差遣人走遍以色列地，見我們未來的弟兄，又見住在有郊野之城的祭司利未人，使他們都到這裏來聚集。

大衛對以色列全會眾說：「你們若以為好，見這事是出於耶和華－我們的上帝，我們就派人到遠近各處去見仍留在以色列各地我們的弟兄，以及住在有郊野之城的祭司和利未人，使他們都到我們這裏來聚集。

大衛對以色列全會眾說：「你們若以為好，見這事是出於耶和華－我們的神，我們就派人到遠近各處去見仍留在以色列各地我們的弟兄，以及住在有郊野之城的祭司和利未人，使他們都到我們這裏來聚集。

然後對以色列全體會眾說：「如果你們贊成，而且這是我們上帝耶和華的旨意，我們就派人到以色列各地把其他同胞，包括住在城邑及草場的祭司和利未人召集來。

然後大衛對以色列全體會眾說：“你們如果認為好，認為這事是出於耶和華我們的神，我們就差遣人走遍各地，去見留在以色列各地的兄弟，以及和他們在一起住在那些有草場的城的祭司和利未人，叫他們都聚集到我們這裡來。

大衛對以色列全體大眾說：『你們若以為好，若以為是出於永恆主我們的上帝，那麼我們就發急令，差遣人去見我們的族弟兄、那些在以色列各地其餘之民、連同祭司和利未人、那些在有牧場之城的，叫他們集合到我們這裏來。

謂以色列會眾曰、爾曹若以為善、此事由於我上帝耶和華、則可遣人往以色列全地、請我儕其餘之昆弟、及居邑郊之祭司利未人、使之咸集於此、

告以色列族會眾、曰、如蒙我上帝耶和華祐、俾爾樂為、則遣人召以色列族地未至之同宗、及諸邑之祭司、利未人、群集於此、

謂以色列會眾曰、如爾以為善、且以為出乎主我之天主、則我儕遣人往以色列遍地、見所有未至之同族、又見祭司及利未人、即居於其邑與其郊者、使咸集於此、

He then said to the whole assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.

David spoke to the whole community of Israel. He said,“ Let’s send word to the rest of our people no matter how far away they live. They live in all the territories of Israel. Let’s also send word to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and on their grasslands. Let’s invite everyone to come and join us. Let’s do it if it seems good to you and if that’s what the Lord our God wants.

And David said to all the assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us.

Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows:“ If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.

Then he said to the whole assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you, and if this is from the LORD our God, let’s spread out and send the message to the rest of our relatives in all the districts of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands, that they should gather together with us.

David said to all the assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lord our God, let us send word everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they meet with us;

And David said to all the assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us;

And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad every where unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us;

Then he said to the whole assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you, and if this is from the Lord our God, let us spread out and send the message to the rest of our relatives in all the districts of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands, that they should gather together with us.

And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If[ it seem] good unto you, and[ that it be] of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where,[ that are] left in all the land of Israel, and with them[ also] to the priests and Levites[ which are] in their cities[ and] suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:

David said to all the assembly of Israel,“ If it seems good to you, and if it is of Yahweh our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

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

So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love– I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus–

Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. When the LORD your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. So pray for this remnant that remains.’”

If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.”

Then David said,“ Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve before him perpetually.David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD up to the place he had prepared for it.David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.He told them:“ You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it.The first time you did not carry it; that is why the LORD God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.”The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

“ Instruct the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. You must also give the Levites grazing land around the towns.Thus they will have towns in which to live, and their grazing lands will be for their cattle, for their possessions, and for all their animals.The grazing lands around the towns that you will give to the Levites must extend to a distance of 500 yards from the town wall.“ You must measure from outside the wall of the town on the east 1,000 yards, and on the south side 1,000 yards, and on the west side 1,000 yards, and on the north side 1,000 yards, with the town in the middle. This territory must belong to them as grazing land for the towns.Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee. And you must give them forty-two other towns.“ So the total of the towns you will give the Levites is forty-eight. You must give these together with their grazing lands.The towns you will give must be from the possession of the Israelites. From the larger tribes you must give more; and from the smaller tribes fewer. Each must contribute some of its own towns to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance allocated to each.Then the LORD spoke to Moses:

He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient to the law of the LORD.When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount.The Israelites and people of Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also contributed a tenth of their cattle and sheep, as well as a tenth of the holy items consecrated to the LORD their God. They brought them and placed them in many heaps.In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps and finished in the seventh month.When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps,Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him,“ Since the contributions began arriving in the LORD’s temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the LORD has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.”Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the LORD’s temple. When this was done,they brought in the contributions, tithes, and consecrated items that had been offered. Konaniah, a Levite, was in charge of all this, assisted by his brother Shimei.Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah worked under the supervision of Konaniah and his brother Shimei, as directed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the supervisor of God’s temple.Kore son of Imnah, a Levite and the guard on the east side, was in charge of the voluntary offerings made to God and disbursed the contributions made to the LORD and the consecrated items.In the cities of the priests, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in making disbursements to their fellow priests according to their divisions, regardless of age.They made disbursements to all the males three years old and up who were listed in the genealogical records– to all who would enter the LORD’s temple to serve on a daily basis and fulfill their duties as assigned to their divisions.They made disbursements to the priests listed in the genealogical records by their families, and to the Levites twenty years old and up, according to their duties as assigned to their divisions,and to all the infants, wives, sons, and daughters of the entire assembly listed in the genealogical records, for they faithfully consecrated themselves.As for the descendants of Aaron, the priests who lived in the outskirts of all their cities, men were assigned to disburse portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the genealogical records.This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what the LORD his God considered good and right and faithful.He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God’s temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God.

They said to him,“ Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.”

These were the areas where Aaron’s descendants lived: The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands.( But the city’s land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.)The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,Hilez and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands,Ashan and its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all.The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.The clans of Gershom’s descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh( in Bashan).The clans of Merari’s descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.The clans of Kohath’s descendants also received territory within the tribe of Ephraim.They were allotted as cities of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands( in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands,Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands,Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath’s descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.The following belonged to Gershom’s descendants: Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands,Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its pasturelands, Abdon and its pasturelands,Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands.The following belonged to the rest of Merari’s descendants: Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan River east of Jericho: Bezer in the desert and its pasturelands, Jahzah and its pasturelands,Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.Within the territory of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, Mahanaim and its pasturelands,Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands.

This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things.When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it.Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles.“ On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually.They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.“ They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it.Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam.“ They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on a carrying beam.Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there– the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar– and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles.“ When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting.“ The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.”Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:“ Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites;but in order that they will live and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility.But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.”

But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Jehu told his supporters,“ If you really want me to be king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.”

The king said to Nathan the prophet,“ Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.”Nathan replied to the king,“ You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”That night the LORD told Nathan,“ Go, tell my servant David:‘ This is what the LORD says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with abundant advisers they are established.