Daily Text and Bible Reading: Saturday, May 17 [Press play below]

27.1 This is the number of Israelites, the heads of the paternal houses, the chiefs of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers who ministered to the king in every matter of the divisions that would come in and go out month by month during all the months of the year; there were 24,000 in each division.
27.2 Over the first division of the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.3 Of the sons of Perez, he was the head of all the chiefs of the groups assigned to serve during the first month.
27.4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite with his division, and Mikloth was the leader, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.5 The chief of the third group assigned to serve during the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the chief priest, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.6 This Benaiah was a mighty warrior of the thirty and in charge of the thirty, and over his division was his son Ammizabad.
27.7 The fourth for the fourth month was Asahel, Joab’s brother, and his son Zebadiah after him, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.8 The fifth chief for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.9 The sixth for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.10 The seventh for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the Ephraimites, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.12 The ninth for the ninth month was Abi-ezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.13 The tenth for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.14 The 11th for the 11th month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.15 The 12th for the 12th month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel, and 24,000 were in his division.
27.16 These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel: Of the Reubenites, Eliezer the son of Zichri was leader; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah;
27.17 of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok;
27.18 of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
27.19 of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel;
27.20 of the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah;
27.21 of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner;
27.22 of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.
27.23 David did not count those 20 years of age and under, because Jehovah had promised to make Israel as many as the stars of the heavens.
27.24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had started to take the count, but he did not finish; and God’s anger came against Israel because of this, and the number was not entered into the account of the history of the times of King David.
27.25 Over the treasuries of the king was Azmaveth the son of Adiel. Jonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers.
27.26 Over the field workers who cultivated the soil was Ezri the son of Chelub.
27.27 Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards; over the produce of the vineyards for the wine supplies was Zabdi the Shiphmite.
27.28 Over the olive groves and the sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite; over the oil supplies was Joash.
27.29 Over the herds that grazed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds in the valley plains.
27.30 Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite; over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite.
27.31 Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All of these were the chiefs of King David’s property.
27.32 Jonathan, David’s nephew, was an adviser, a man of understanding and a secretary, and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni looked after the king’s sons.
27.33 Ahithophel was an adviser to the king, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.
27.34 After Ahithophel there were Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and Abiathar; and Joab was chief of the king’s army.

28.1 David then congregated all the princes of Israel to Jerusalem: the princes of the tribes, the chiefs of the divisions ministering to the king, the chiefs of thousands and the chiefs of hundreds, the chiefs of all the property and livestock of the king and of his sons, together with the court officials and every mighty and capable man.
28.2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. It was my heart’s desire to build a house as the resting-place for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah and as the footstool of our God, and I made preparations to build.
28.3 But the true God told me, ‘You will not build a house for my name, for you are a man of wars, and you have shed blood.’
28.4 However, Jehovah the God of Israel chose me out of all the house of my father to become king over Israel forever, for he chose Judah as leader and of the house of Judah, my father’s house, and of my father’s sons, I was the one whom he approved, to make me king over all Israel.
28.5 And of all my sons—for Jehovah has given me many sons—he chose my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingship of Jehovah over Israel.
28.6 “He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son and I will become his father.
28.7 I will firmly establish his kingship forever if he resolutely observes my commandments and my judicial decisions, as he is now doing.’
28.8 So I say before the eyes of all Israel, Jehovah’s congregation, and in the ears of our God: Carefully observe and search for all the commandments of Jehovah your God, so that you may possess the good land and pass it on as a permanent inheritance to your sons after you.
28.9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul, for Jehovah searches through all hearts, and he discerns every inclination of the thoughts. If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him, he will reject you forever.
28.10 See, now, for Jehovah has chosen you to build a house as a sanctuary. Be courageous and go to work.”
28.11 David then gave to his son Solomon the architectural plan of the porch and of its houses, its storerooms, its roof chambers, its inner rooms, and the house of the propitiatory cover.
28.12 He gave him the architectural plan of everything that had been conveyed to him through inspiration for the courtyards of Jehovah’s house, for all the dining rooms around it, for the treasuries of the house of the true God, and for the treasuries of the things made holy;
28.13 also for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, for all the duties of the service of Jehovah’s house, and for all the utensils of the service of Jehovah’s house;
28.14 also for the weight of the gold, the gold for all the utensils for the different services, the weight of all the utensils of silver, and for all the utensils for the different services;
28.15 also the weight for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, the weight of the different lampstands and their lamps, and the weight of the silver lampstands, for each lampstand and its lamps according to its use;
28.16 also the weight of the gold for the tables of the layer bread, for each table, as well as the silver for the tables of silver,
28.17 for the forks, the bowls, the pitchers of pure gold, and the weight of the small gold bowls, for each small bowl, and the weight of the small silver bowls, for each small bowl.
28.18 He also gave the weight for the refined gold for the incense altar and for the representation of the chariot, namely, the cherubs of gold that spread their wings out and overshadow the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.
28.19 David said: “The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he gave me insight to put all the details of the architectural plan in writing.”
28.20 Then David said to his son Solomon: “Be courageous and strong and go to work. Do not be afraid or be terrified, for Jehovah God, my God, is with you. He will not desert you or abandon you, but he will be with you until all the work for the service of Jehovah’s house is finished.
28.21 And here are the divisions of the priests and of the Levites for all the service of the house of the true God. You have willing, skilled workers to perform every kind of service, as well as the princes and all the people who will carry out all your instructions.”

29.1 King David now said to all the congregation: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for it is not a temple for man but for Jehovah God.
29.2 And I have spared no effort to prepare for the house of my God, providing the gold for the goldwork, the silver for the silverwork, the copper for the copperwork, the iron for the ironwork, the timbers for the timberwork, onyx stones, and stones to be set with mortar, mosaic pebbles, every kind of precious stone, and alabaster stones in great quantity.
29.3 Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, there is also my private treasure of gold and silver that I am giving to the house of my God, in addition to all that I have prepared for the holy house,
29.4 including 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for coating the walls of the houses,
29.5 the gold for the goldwork and the silver for the silverwork, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who volunteers to come forward today with a gift in hand for Jehovah?”
29.6 So the princes of the paternal houses, the princes of the tribes of Israel, the chiefs of thousands and of hundreds, and the chiefs of the business of the king came forward voluntarily.
29.7 And they gave to the service of the house of the true God: 5,000 talents of gold, 10,000 darics, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of copper, and 100,000 talents of iron.
29.8 Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of Jehovah, under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.
29.9 The people rejoiced over making these voluntary offerings, for they made the voluntary offerings to Jehovah with a complete heart, and David the king also rejoiced greatly.
29.10 Then David praised Jehovah before the eyes of all the congregation. David said: “May you be praised, O Jehovah the God of Israel our father, throughout all eternity.
29.11 Yours, O Jehovah, are the greatness and the mightiness and the beauty and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah. You are the One exalting yourself as head over all.
29.12 The riches and the glory are from you, and you rule over everything, and in your hand there are power and mightiness, and your hand is able to make great and to give strength to all.
29.13 And now, O our God, we thank you and praise your beautiful name.
29.14 “And yet, who am I and who are my people that we should be in a position to make voluntary offerings like this? For everything is from you, and we have given to you what comes from your own hand.
29.15 For we are foreign residents in your presence and settlers, just like all our forefathers. For our days on the earth are like a shadow—without hope.
29.16 O Jehovah our God, all this wealth that we have prepared to build for you a house for your holy name is from your own hand, and it all belongs to you.
29.17 I well know, O my God, that you examine the heart and that you take pleasure in integrity. In the uprightness of my heart, I have voluntarily offered all these things, and I am overjoyed to see your people who are present here make voluntary offerings to you.
29.18 O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our forefathers, keep these inclinations and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and direct their hearts to you.
29.19 And give a complete heart to my son Solomon, so that he may observe your commandments, your reminders, and your regulations and do all these things and build the temple for which I have made preparation.”
29.20 David then said to all the congregation: “Now praise Jehovah your God.” And all the congregation praised Jehovah the God of their forefathers and bowed low and prostrated themselves to Jehovah and to the king.
29.21 And they continued to offer sacrifices to Jehovah and to offer up burnt offerings to Jehovah on the following day, 1,000 young bulls, 1,000 rams, 1,000 male lambs, and their drink offerings; they offered sacrifices in great number for all Israel.
29.22 They continued eating and drinking before Jehovah on that day with great rejoicing, and for a second time they made Solomon the son of David king and anointed him before Jehovah as leader, and also Zadok as priest.
29.23 And Solomon sat on Jehovah’s throne as king in place of David his father, and he was successful, and all the Israelites were obedient to him.
29.24 All the princes, the mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
29.25 And Jehovah made Solomon exceedingly great before the eyes of all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as no king over Israel ever had before.
29.26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel,
29.27 and the length of his reign over Israel was 40 years. In Hebron he reigned for 7 years, and in Jerusalem he reigned for 33 years.
29.28 And he died at a good old age, satisfied with long life, wealth, and glory; and his son Solomon became king in his place.
29.29 As for the history of King David, from beginning to end, it is written among the words of Samuel the seer, Nathan the prophet, and Gad the visionary,
29.30 together with all his kingship, his mightiness, and the events of the times involving him and Israel and all the surrounding kingdoms.