Monday, 02 December

1.   And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses , the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty–four thousand. 2.   Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty–four thousand; 3.   he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4.   Over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 5.   The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 6.   This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7.   The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 8.   The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 9.   The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 10.   The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 11.   The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 12.   The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 13.   The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 14.   The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 15.   The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty–four thousand. 16.   Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17.   over the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18.   over Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19.   over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20.   over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half–tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21.   over the half– tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22.   over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23.   But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because the LORD had said He would multiply Israel like the stars of the heavens. 24.   Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David. 25.   And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king’s treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. 26.   Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground. 27.   And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28.   Baal–Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil. 29.   And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30.   Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31.   and Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David’s property. 32.   Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons. 33.   Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion. 34.   After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the king’s army was Joab.

1.   The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2.   And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers." 3.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. 4.   But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, Which shall devour the palaces of Ben–Hadad. 5.   I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven, And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir," Says the LORD. 6.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom. 7.   But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces. 8.   I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, And the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn My hand against Ekron, And the remnant of the Philistines shall perish," Says the Lord GOD. 9.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. 10.   But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces." 11.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever. 12.   But I will send a fire upon Teman, Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah." 13.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory. 14.   But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. 15.   Their king shall go into captivity, He and his princes together," Says the LORD.

1.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. 2.   But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound. 3.   And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him," Says the LORD. 4.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed. 5.   But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem." 6.   Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment , Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals. 7.   They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy name. 8.   They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god. 9.   "Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, Whose height was like the height of the cedars, And he was as strong as the oaks; Yet I destroyed his fruit above And his roots beneath. 10.   Also it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, And led you forty years through the wilderness, To possess the land of the Amorite. 11.   I raised up some of your sons as prophets, And some of your young men as Nazirites. Is it not so, O you children of Israel?" Says the LORD. 12.   "But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, And commanded the prophets saying, ‘Do not prophesy!’ 13.   "Behold, I am weighed down by you, As a cart full of sheaves is weighed down. 14.   Therefore flight shall perish from the swift, The strong shall not strengthen his power, Nor shall the mighty deliver himself; 15.   He shall not stand who handles the bow, The swift of foot shall not escape, Nor shall he who rides a horse deliver himself. 16.   The most courageous men of might Shall flee naked in that day," Says the LORD.

1.   That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life–– 2.   the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us–– 3.   that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4.   And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5.   This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6.   If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7.   But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8.   If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9.   If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10.   If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.