Day 207 of 365

1 Chr 11:1–12:40

11:1 Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

11:2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. The Lord your God said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.'"

11:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

11:4 David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

11:5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the city of David.

11:6 David said, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.

11:7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David.

11:8 He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

11:9 David grew greater and greater; for the Lord of hosts was with him.

11:10 Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

11:11 This is the number 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 and killed them at one time.

11:12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

11:13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.

11:14 They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory.

11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

11:16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

11:17 David longed, and said, "Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"

11:18 The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,

11:19 and said, "My God forbid it me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.

11:20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.

11:21 Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: however he did not attain to the three.

11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.

11:23 He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

11:24 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men.

11:25 Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the three: and David set him over his guard.

11:26 Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

11:27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

11:28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

11:29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

11:30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

11:31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

11:32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

11:33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

11:34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

11:35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

11:36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

11:37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

11:38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

11:39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

11:40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

11:42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,

11:43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

11:44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

11:45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,

11:46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,

11:47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

12:1 Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.

12:2 They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul's brothers of Benjamin.

12:3 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,

12:4 and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,

12:5 Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,

12:6 Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,

12:7 and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

12:8 Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;

12:9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

12:10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

12:11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12:12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

12:13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

12:14 These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.

12:15 These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.

12:16 There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.

12:17 David went out to meet them, and answered them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it."

12:18 Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, "We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you." Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

12:19 Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; but they did not help them; for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, "He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads."

12:20 As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.

12:21 They helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army.

12:22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

12:23 These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.

12:24 The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.

12:25 Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.

12:26 Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.

12:27 Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,

12:28 and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father's house twenty-two captains.

12:29 Of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

12:30 Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses.

12:31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.

12:32 Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.

12:33 Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all kinds of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could command and were not of double heart.

12:34 Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.

12:35 Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.

12:36 Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.

12:37 On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand.

12:38 All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

12:39 They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had made preparation for them.

12:40 Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.

Acts 23:18–35

18 So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, "Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you."

19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

20 He said, "The Judeans have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

21 Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."

23 He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night."

24 He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25 He wrote a letter like this:

26 "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27 "This man was seized by the Judeans, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

29 I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

30 When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you."

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

35 "I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.

Song 6:13–7:9

6:13 Return, return, Shulammite! Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of Mahanaim?

7:1 How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.

7:2 Your body is like a round goblet, no mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies.

7:3 Your two breasts are like two fawns, that are twins of a roe.

7:4 Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.

7:5 Your head on you is like Carmel. The hair of your head like purple. The king is held captive in its tresses.

7:6 How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, for delights!

7:7 This, your stature, is like a palm tree, your breasts like its fruit.

7:8 I said, "I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit." Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the smell of your breath like apples, Beloved

7:9 Your mouth like the best wine, that goes down smoothly for my beloved, gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.