Study Desk

Some of the sons of the cohanim mixed together the ingredients for the perfumes.

Also there were the singers, heads of fathers' clans among the L'vi'im. They lived in the accommodations and were free from other kinds of service, for they were employed in their own work day and night.

So Sha'ul died for the transgression he committed against Adonai , because of the word of Adonai that he did not keep and because he sought the counsel of a spirit

He was with David at Pas-Damim, where the P'lishtim had assembled for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley; and when the people fled from the P'lishtim,

Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said: "We are yours, David; on your side, son of Yishai! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers; for your God helps you." David welcomed them and made them senior officers.

They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.

Following are the numbers of those who came armed for war to David in Hevron, in order to transfer to him the kingdom of Sha'ul, according to what Adonai had said.

The descendants of Y'hudah bearing shields and spears numbered 6,800, armed for war.

Of the descendants of Shim‘on, strong, brave men for war, there were 7,100.

Of the descendants of Binyamin the kinsmen of Sha'ul, there were 3,000; for up until then, the majority of them had remained loyal to the house of Sha'ul.

Of Z'vulun, 50,000 men were fit for military service, experienced in war and able to use all kinds of weapons; they were brave, and none was doubleminded.

Of Asher, 40,000 men were fit for military service and experienced in war.

On the other side of the Yarden, from the Re'uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M'nasheh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for battle.

They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. Moreover, those who were near them — and even those as far as Yissakhar, Z'vulun and Naftali — brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: baked goods, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Isra'el.

The whole assembly said they would do this, for in the view of all the people it seemed right.

The ark of God stayed with the family of ‘Oved-'Edom the Gitti in his house for three months; and Adonai blessed the household of ‘Oved-'Edom and all he had.

David then knew that Adonai had set him up as king over Isra'el; because, for the sake of his people Isra'el, his royal power had been greatly increased.

David erected buildings for himself in the City of David, prepared a place for the ark of God, and set up a tent for it.

David assembled all Isra'el in Yerushalayim to bring the ark of Adonai up to its place, which he had prepared for it.

David called for Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim and for the L'vi'im — Uri'el, ‘Asayah, Yo'el, Sh'ma‘yah, Eli'el and ‘Amminadav —