July 14th

and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,

and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

¶Now the gatekeepers were Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their relatives (Shallum the chief

being stationed until now at the king’s gate to the east).

These were the gatekeepers for the camp of the sons of Levi.

Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent; and their fathers had been over the camp of Yahweh, keepers of the entrance.

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them previously, and Yahweh was with him.

Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting.

All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. These were recorded by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer established in their office of trust.

So they and their sons were over the gates of the house of Yahweh, even the house of the tent, as those who kept watch.

The gatekeepers were on the four sides, to the east, west, north, and south.

And their relatives in their villages were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them;

for the four chief gatekeepers who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God.

And they spent the night all around the house of God, because the watch was committed to them; and they were over opening it morning by morning.

Now some of them were over the utensils of service, for they counted them when they brought them in and when they took them out.

Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the utensils of the sanctuary and over the fine flour and the wine and the oil and the frankincense and the spices.

Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things which were baked in pans.

Some of their relatives of the sons of the Kohathites were over the showbread to prepare it every sabbath.

Now these are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the chambers of the temple free from other service; for they were over them in their work day and night.

These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites according to their generations, the heads who lived in Jerusalem.

¶Now in Gibeon, Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived, and his wife’s name was Maacah,

and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. And they also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem opposite their other relatives.

Ner became the father of Kish,

and Kish became the father of Saul,

and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal,

and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.

The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

Ahaz became the father of Jarah,

and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri;

and Zimri became the father of Moza.

Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan.

These were the sons of Azel.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

And the Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

And the battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was wounded by the archers.

Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died.

Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.

Then all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

Now it happened on the next day, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

So they stripped him and took his head and his weapons and sent them all around the land of the Philistines, to proclaim the good news to their idols and to the people.

And they placed his weapons in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

Then all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

so all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

Thus Saul died for his unfaithfulness, which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it,

and did not inquire of Yahweh. Therefore He put him to death and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

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.’ ”

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.

Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

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.

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.

Then David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.

And he built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.

And David became greater and greater, and Yahweh of hosts was with him.

And at Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

This man listened to Paul as he spoke, who, when he fixed his gaze on him and saw that he had faith to be saved from being lame,

said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk.

And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”

And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, proclaiming the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;

and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

And saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.”

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

And when they passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia.

And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.

And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

And they spent not a little time with the disciples.

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

And when Paul and Barnabas had not a little dissension and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brothers.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

Both the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”