1 Chronicles 22; 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Chronicles 24; John 8:28-59

1 Then David said, "This is where the LORD God's temple will be, along with Israel's altar for entirely burned offerings."

2 David gave orders to gather the immigrants living in the land of Israel, and he appointed masons who would cut stones for building God's temple.

3 David also provided a huge amount of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for the braces, so much bronze that it couldn't be weighed,

4 and innumerable cedar logs from the Sidonians and the Tyrians, who gave them to David.

5 David thought, My son Solomon is too inexperienced to build the LORD's temple. It must be great beyond compare in order to win fame and glory throughout all lands, so I myself will prepare things for him. So David made extensive preparations before his death.

6 David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel.

7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had intended to build a temple for the name of the LORD my God.

8 But the LORD told me: You've shed much blood and waged great wars. You won't build a temple for my name because you've spilled so much blood on the ground before me.

9 A son has just been born to you. He'll be a man of peace, and I'll give him peace with all his surrounding enemies. In fact, his name will be Solomon, and I'll give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.

10 He will be the one to build a temple for my name. He'll become my son, and I'll become his father, and I'll establish his royal throne over Israel forever.

11 "Now, my son, may the LORD be with you so that you may successfully build the temple of the LORD your God, as he promised you.

12 May the LORD be sure to give you insight and understanding so that when he appoints you over Israel, you will observe the Instruction from the LORD your God.

13 Then, if you carefully follow the regulations and case laws that the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel, you'll prosper. Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid or lose heart!

14 With great effort I've now provided for the LORD's temple one hundred thousand kikkars of gold, one million kikkars of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can't be weighed, as well as wood and stone, though you may add to these.

15 You also have innumerable people to do the work: stonecutters, masons, and carpenters with every skill required for any task,

16 whether in gold, silver, bronze, or iron. So get to work, and may the LORD be with you."

17 Then David ordered all of Israel's leaders to help his son Solomon:

18 "The LORD your God is with you! He's given you peace on every side. He's placed under my power the land's people, so that the land is under the control of the LORD and his people.

19 Now then, dedicate yourselves to seeking the LORD your God. Get to work and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the chest containing the LORD's covenant together with God's holy equipment may be brought into the temple built for the LORD's name."

1 When David had grown old after a long life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

2 He then gathered together all Israel's leaders along with the priests and the Levites.

3 When the Levites were counted, the head count of every male 30 and older totaled 38,000.

4 Of these, there were 24,000 to supervise the work on the LORD's temple, 6,000 officers and judges,

5 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 praising the LORD with instruments made for offering praise.

6 Then David divided them into three groups named after Levi's family members: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

7 The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.

8 Ladan's family: Jehiel the first, Zetham, and Joel—three in all.

9 Jehiel's family: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran—three in all. These were the heads of the households of Ladan.

10 Shimei's family: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were Shimei's family:

11 Jahath was the first, and Ziza the second; since Jeush and Beriah didn't have many children, they became a single household.

12 Kohath's family: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel—four in all.

13 Amram's family: Aaron and Moses. Aaron, together with his sons, was set apart to make the holiest objects holy, to make offerings before the LORD, to serve him, and to give blessings in his name forever.

14 As for Moses the man of God, his sons were considered to be Levites.

15 Moses' family: Gershom and Eliezer.

16 Gershom's family: Shebuel the first.

17 Eliezer's family: Rehabiah the first; Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many children.

18 Izhar's family: Shelomoth the first.

19 Hebron's family: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

20 Uzziel's family: Micah the first and Isshiah the second.

21 Merari's family: Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's family: Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died without sons, but he did have daughters who married their relatives from Kish's family.

23 Mushi's family: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth—three in all.

24 These were the members of Levi's family according to their households. The household heads were registered, along with a listing of the names of each person 20 years old and above who carried out assigned tasks in the LORD's temple.

25 David said, "Since the LORD, Israel's God, has given his people peace and has made his home in Jerusalem forever,

26 the Levites need no longer carry the dwelling or any of the equipment used in its service."

27 David's last instructions were to count the Levites 20 years old and above.

28 Their assignment was to be at the side of the Aaronites to serve in the LORD's temple, maintaining the courtyards and side rooms and cleansing all of the holy objects and doing whatever was needed in the service of God's temple.

29 They were responsible for the stacks of bread, the fine flour for grain offerings, the wafers of unleavened bread, the cakes made on the griddle, the offering mixed with oil, as well as all the measuring.

30 They were to be present every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and to do the same every evening.

31 Whenever entirely burned offerings were offered to the LORD for the sabbaths, the new moons, and festivals, a designated number were to serve in the LORD's presence continuously.

32 In this way they were to observe the instructions for the meeting tent, the instructions for the sanctuary, and the instructions for Aaron's family and relatives about serving in the LORD's temple.

1 The divisions of the Aaronites: Aaron's family: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, without having sons, and so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3 David, with the help of Zadok from Eleazar's family and Ahimelech from Ithamar's family, divided them according to their appointed duties.

4 Since Eleazar's family was found to have more male heads than Ithamar's family, they divided them so that Eleazar's family had sixteen household heads and Ithamar's family had eight.

5 They divided both groups by lots because there were holy leaders, even outstanding leaders, among both Eleazar's and Ithamar's descendants.

6 Shemaiah, Nethanel's son, the levitical scribe, recorded their names in the presence of the king; the leaders; Zadok the priest; Ahimelech, Abiathar's son; and the household heads of the priests and Levites. One household was taken from Eleazar followed by one from Ithamar.

7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

11 the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,

12 the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

13 the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

14 the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

15 the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,

16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,

17 the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,

18 the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

19 These were to enter the LORD's temple according to their appointed duty and by the procedure established for them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the LORD God of Israel had instructed him.

20 The rest of the Levites included: from Amram's family: Shubael; from Shubael's family: Jehdeiah;

21 from Rehabiah and his family: Isshiah the first;

22 from the Izharites: Shelomoth; from Shelomoth's family: Jahath;

23 Hebron's family: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth;

24 Uzziel's family: Micah; from Micah's family: Shamir;

25 Micah's brother Isshiah; from Isshiah's family: Zechariah;

26 Merari's family: Mahli, Mushi and his son Jaaziah's family;

27 Merari's family by his son Jaaziah: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri;

28 from Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons;

29 from Kish and his family: Jerahmeel;

30 and Mushi's family: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites according to their households.

31 Both the household head and his youngest brother cast lots, just as their relatives, Aaron's descendants, had done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the priestly and levitical households.

28 So Jesus said to them, "When the Human One is lifted up, then you will know that I Am. Then you will know that I do nothing on my own, but I say just what the Father has taught me.

29 He who sent me is with me. He doesn't leave me by myself, because I always do what makes him happy."

30 While Jesus was saying these things, many people came to believe in him.

31 Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

33 They responded, "We are Abraham's children; we've never been anyone's slaves. How can you say that we will be set free?"

34 Jesus answered, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

35 A slave isn't a permanent member of the household, but a son is.

36 Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you really will be free.

37 I know that you are Abraham's children, yet you want to kill me because you don't welcome my teaching.

38 I'm telling you what I've seen when I am with the Father, but you are doing what you've heard from your father."

39 They replied, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus responded, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do Abraham's works.

40 Instead, you want to kill me, though I am the one who has spoken the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.

41 You are doing your father's works." They said, "Our ancestry isn't in question! The only Father we have is God!"

42 Jesus replied, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. I haven't come on my own. God sent me.

43 Why don't you understand what I'm saying? It's because you can't really hear my words.

44 Your father is the devil. You are his children, and you want to do what your father wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has never stood for the truth, because there's no truth in him. Whenever that liar speaks, he speaks according to his own nature, because he's a liar and the father of liars.

45 Because I speak the truth, you don't believe me.

46 Who among you can show I'm guilty of sin? Since I speak the truth, why don't you believe me?

47 God's children listen to God's words. You don't listen to me because you aren't God's children."

48 The Jewish opposition answered, "We were right to say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, weren't we?"

49 "I don't have a demon," Jesus replied. "But I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

50 I'm not trying to bring glory to myself. There's one who is seeking to glorify me, and he's the judge.

51 I assure you that whoever keeps my word will never die."

52 The Jewish opposition said to Jesus, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never die.'

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the prophets died, so who do you make yourself out to be?"

54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is meaningless. My Father, who you say is your God, is the one who glorifies me.

55 You don't know him, but I do. If I said I didn't know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him, and I keep his word.

56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see my day. He saw it and was happy."

57 "You aren't even 50 years old!" the Jewish opposition replied. "How can you say that you have seen Abraham?"

58 "I assure you," Jesus replied, "before Abraham was, I Am."

59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.