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.

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 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 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.

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 attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.

When all the Israelites in the Jezreel Valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled. So the Philistines moved in and occupied their towns.

That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me— Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.

But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”

If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”

Then he commanded,“ No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.”Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it.This is the number of the descendants of Aaron( the priests) and the Levites who were called together:From the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as their leader.From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as their leader.From the clan of Gershon, 130, with Joel as their leader.From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200, with Shemaiah as their leader.From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with Eliel as their leader.From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with Amminadab as their leader.Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.He said to them,“ You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.

“ Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites from their property certain towns to live in, along with the surrounding pasturelands.These towns will be for the Levites to live in, and the surrounding lands will provide pasture for their cattle, flocks, and other livestock.The pastureland assigned to the Levites around these towns will extend 1,500 feet from the town walls in every direction.Measure off 3,000 feet outside the town walls in every direction— east, south, west, north— with the town at the center. This area will serve as the larger pastureland for the towns.“ Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, where a person who has accidentally killed someone can flee for safety. In addition, give them forty two other towns.In all, forty eight towns with the surrounding pastureland will be given to the Levites.These towns will come from the property of the people of Israel. The larger tribes will give more towns to the Levites, while the smaller tribes will give fewer. Each tribe will give property in proportion to the size of its land.”The Lord said to Moses,

In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity— a tithe of all they produced.The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.They began piling them up in late spring, and the heaps continued to grow until early autumn.When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw these huge piles, they thanked the Lord and his people Israel!“ Where did all this come from?” Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites.And Azariah the high priest, from the family of Zadok, replied,“ Since the people began bringing their gifts to the Lord’s Temple, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare. The Lord has blessed his people, and all this is left over.”Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the Temple of the Lord. When this was done,the people faithfully brought all the gifts, tithes, and other items dedicated for use in the Temple. Conaniah the Levite was put in charge, assisted by his brother Shimei.The supervisors under them were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah. These appointments were made by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the chief official in the Temple of God.Kore son of Imnah the Levite, who was the gatekeeper at the East Gate, was put in charge of distributing the voluntary offerings given to God, the gifts, and the things that had been dedicated to the Lord.His faithful assistants were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah. They distributed the gifts among the families of priests in their towns by their divisions, dividing the gifts fairly among old and young alike.They distributed the gifts to all males three years old or older, regardless of their place in the genealogical records. The distribution went to all who would come to the Lord’s Temple to perform their daily duties according to their divisions.They distributed gifts to the priests who were listed by their families in the genealogical records, and to the Levites twenty years old or older who were listed according to their jobs and their divisions.Food allotments were also given to the families of all those listed in the genealogical records, including their little babies, wives, sons, and daughters. For they had all been faithful in purifying themselves.As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were living in the open villages around the towns, men were appointed by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to all the Levites listed in the genealogical records.In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.

The older counselors replied,“ If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

This is a record of the towns and territory assigned by means of sacred lots to the descendants of Aaron, who were from the clan of Kohath.This territory included Hebron and its surrounding pasturelands in Judah,but the fields and outlying areas belonging to the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh.So the descendants of Aaron were given the following towns, each with its pasturelands: Hebron( a city of refuge), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,Holon, Debir,Ain, Juttah, and Beth shemesh.And from the territory of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, each with its pasturelands. So thirteen towns were given to the descendants of Aaron.The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten towns from the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh by means of sacred lots.The descendants of Gershon received by sacred lots thirteen towns from the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and from the Bashan area of Manasseh, east of the Jordan.The descendants of Merari received by sacred lots twelve towns from the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.So the people of Israel assigned all these towns and pasturelands to the Levites.The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were assigned to them by means of sacred lots.The descendants of Kohath were given the following towns from the territory of Ephraim, each with its pasturelands:Shechem( a city of refuge in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer,Jokmeam, Beth horon,Aijalon, and Gath rimmon.The remaining descendants of Kohath were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam from the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.The descendants of Gershon received the towns of Golan( in Bashan) and Ashtaroth from the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh, each with its pasturelands.From the territory of Issachar, they were given Kedesh, Daberath,Ramoth, and Anem, each with its pasturelands.From the territory of Asher, they received Mashal, Abdon,Hukok, and Rehob, each with its pasturelands.From the territory of Naphtali, they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim, each with its pasturelands.The remaining descendants of Merari received the towns of Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmon, and Tabor from the territory of Zebulun, each with its pasturelands.From the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, they received Bezer( a desert town), Jahaz,Kedemoth, and Mephaath, each with its pasturelands.And from the territory of Gad, they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,Heshbon, and Jazer, each with its pasturelands.

“ The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects.When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.“ Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, ladles, jars, pitchers, and the special bread.They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.“ Next they must cover the lampstand with a blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil.Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.“ Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar.They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine goatskin leather, and place them on the carrying frame.“ They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.All the altar utensils— the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers— must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry.“ Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the oil of the lampstand, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. In fact, Eleazar will be responsible for the entire Tabernacle and everything in it, including the sanctuary and its furnishings.”Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,“ Do not let the Kohathite clans be destroyed from among the Levites!This is what you must do so they will live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person.The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.”

But King Joram was wounded in the fighting and returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds.) So Jehu told the men with him,“ If you want me to be king, don’t let anyone leave town and go to Jezreel to report what we have done.”

the king summoned Nathan the prophet.“ Look,” David said,“ I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”Nathan replied to the king,“ Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,“ Go and tell my servant David,‘ This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.