1 Chronicles 11 - 13

David Anointed King over All Israel

Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Previously, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over My people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David cut a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; then they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh through Samuel.

David Captures Jerusalem

4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5 Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6 And David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 Then David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 And David became greater and greater, and Yahweh of hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. 11 These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time. 12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim. Now the Philistines had gathered together there to battle, and there was a portion of the field full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the midst of that portion and delivered it, and struck down the Philistines. So Yahweh saved them by a great salvation. 15 Then three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam, while the camp of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. 16 And David was then in the fortress, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 17 Then David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and carried it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, David was not willing to drink it, but poured it out to Yahweh; 19 and he said, “Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did. 20 Now Abshai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty. And he swung his spear against three hundred who were slain by him; and he had a name as well as the thirty. 21 Of the three in the second rank he was the most honored and became their commander; however, he did not attain to the first three. 22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 23 He had also struck down an Egyptian, an impressive man, five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and had a name as well as the three mighty men. 25 Behold, he was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David appointed him over his guard. 26 Now the mighty men of the military forces were

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

Shammoth the Harorite,

Helez the Pelonite,

Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

Abiezer the Anathothite,

Sibbecai the Hushathite,

Ilai the Ahohite,

Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the sons of Benjamin,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

Hurai of the brooks of Gaash,

Abiel the Arbathite,

Azmaveth the Baharumite,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,

Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite,

Eliphal the son of Ur,

Hepher the Mecherathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

Hezro the Carmelite,

Naarai the son of Ezbai,

Joel the brother of Nathan,

Mibhar the son of Hagri,

Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad the son of Ahlai,

Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

Hanan the son of Maacah

and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

Jediael the son of Shimri

and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

Eliel the Mahavite

and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam,

and Ithmah the Moabite,

Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s Mighty Men

Now these are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he was still restricted because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were equipped with bows, using both the right hand and the left to sling stones and to shoot arrows from the bow; they were Saul’s relatives from Benjamin. 3

The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite,

and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty. Then Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,

Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,

Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the Korahites,

and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

From the Gadites, mighty men of valor separated themselves to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men of war who had gone out for military duty, who could handle large shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains.

Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

14 These of the sons of Gad were chiefs of the army; he who was least was equal to one hundred and the greatest to one thousand. 15 These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month when it was overflowing all its banks and they made all those in the valleys flee, both to the east and to the west. 16 Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out before them, and he answered and said to them, “If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violence in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and reprove.” 18 And the Spirit clothed Amasai, who was the chief of the thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David,

And with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

And peace to him who helps you;

Indeed, your God helps you!”

Then David received them and made them chiefs of the band. 19 Now from Manasseh also some defected to David when he was about to go to battle with the Philistines against Saul. But they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines after counsel sent him away, saying, “At the cost of our heads he may defect to his master Saul.” 20 As he went to Ziklag there defected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands who belonged to Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the marauding band, for they were all mighty men of valor, and were commanders in the army. 22 For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great camp like the camp of God.

David’s Military Companies in Hebron

23 Now these are the numbers of the companies equipped for military duty, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the command of Yahweh. 24

The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800, equipped for military duty.

Of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor for military duty, 7,100.

Of the sons of Levi 4,600.

Now Jehoiada was the leader of the house of Aaron, and with him were 3,700,

also Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house 22 commanders.

Of the sons of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, 3,000; for until now the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

Of the sons of Ephraim 20,800, mighty men of valor, men who had a name in their fathers’ households.

Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king.

Of the sons of Issachar, men who knew how to discern the times, to know what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their relatives were at their command.

Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went out in the army, who could arrange themselves for battle with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart.

Of Naphtali there were 1,000 commanders, and with them 37,000 with large shield and spear.

Of the Danites who could arrange themselves for battle, there were 28,600.

Of Asher there were 40,000 who went out in the army to arrange themselves for battle.

From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for the army for battle.

38 All these, being men of war who could draw up in battle lines, came to Hebron with their whole heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them. 40 Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and on oxen, great provisions of flour, fig cakes and bunches of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep. There was gladness indeed in Israel.

Uzza Dies from Touching the Ark

Then David took counsel with the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from Yahweh our God, let us send everywhere to our relatives who remain in all the lands of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may gather with us; 3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, Yahweh, who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7 And they drove the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were leading the cart. 8 Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 Then they came to the threshing floor of Chidon. And Uzza reached out with his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10 And the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzza, and He struck him down because he reached out with his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of Yahweh’s breaking out against Uzza; and that place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12 So David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God back to me?” 13 And David did not move the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 Thus the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed the household of Obed-edom with all that he had.

1 Peter 3 - 4

Wives and Husbands

In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear. 3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, not fearing any intimidation. 7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

He must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Righteousness

13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear, 16 having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might bring you to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose—because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin— 2 so as to no longer live the rest of the time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have worked out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, maligning you, 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For to this the gospel has been proclaimed even to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh as men, they live in the spirit according to the will of God. 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God— 11 whoever speaks, as one speaking the oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing the Suffering of Christ

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. 13 But to the degree you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be put to shame, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Proverbs 26

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,

So glory is not fitting for a fool.

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in flying,

So a curse without cause does not come to pass.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

And a rod for the back of fools.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest you yourself also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence

Who sends words by the hand of a fool.

Like the legs which hang limp on the lame,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like one who binds a stone in a sling,

So is he who gives glory to a fool.

Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a drunkard,

So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like an archer who wounds everyone,

So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

Like a dog that returns to its vomit

Is a fool who repeats his folly.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The sluggard says, “There is a fierce lion in the road!

A lion is among the streets!”

As the door turns on its hinges,

So does the sluggard on his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

He is too weary to return it to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can respond with a discreet answer.

Like one who seizes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and becomes passionate about strife not belonging to him.

Like a madman who shoots

Firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man who deceives his neighbor,

And says, “Am I not joking?”

With no wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer, strife quiets down.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the stomach.

Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross

Are fiery lips and an evil heart.

He who hates disguises it with his lips,

But he sets up deceit within himself.

When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart.

Though his hatred covers itself with guile,

His evil will be revealed in the assembly.

He who digs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone, it will turn back on him.

A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

And a flattering mouth works ruin.